Nobody explained my role as a swim parent.

I built SwimTrack for swim parents in Portugal: a reading library, qualifying times explained, free season planning in My season, and Meet Navigator for covered meet days.

I volunteered. I became an official. I ended up president of our local club. When he asked for harder training, we changed teams. When he asked again, we changed again. I learned the deck by walking it for hours. In the stands, I studied start times, seeds and lanes, then cheered when Liam and his teammates swam.

Meets weren't all highs. I faced heat sheets you can't read, splits you can't compare, and qualifying cuts that move under your feet. I also saw relay false starts, DQs in a swimmer's best event, and mental meltdowns on the blocks. As a dad, I wanted to fix it. Each time I tried, I seemed to make it worse.

I searched the internet and found useful resources. They helped me move into the role of a support parent, and away from being a pressure parent. I learned when to speak, when to stay quiet, and which words helped Liam through disappointment. I am his parent, not his coach. Training, entries and technique stay with his coach. Finding all this took work, so I put it in one place for other parents.

I organise SwimTrack one season at a time. Each escalão brings new questions about what is happening, whether it is normal, and what you can do. Meets are moments in that year. When I cover one, I also show when your swimmer is in the water.