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Swimming advice for teens

30 replies

Thepeopleversuswork · 08/08/2024 20:26

Looking for some advice: my DD (13) is not keen on most exercise. Swimming is one of the few activities she enjoys and is good at. For a time she was a member of a youth swimming club but was put off by the aggressively competitive element and it also required a greater time commitment than we could give (four sessions per week, often during my work hours or her school hours).

I am keen to nudge her back into it but she’s too old and too advanced for most swimming lessons and I don’t think a competitive club would work. Aside from just going to the pool for fun are there other swimming clubs which are a bit more relaxed?

We’re in South London. Willing to travel a bit but not too far. Any thoughts welcome.

OP posts:
Thepeopleversuswork · 08/08/2024 21:10

Thanks all. I think another club would be good. The ones I have found seem very competitive and require serious commitment (several hours a week) and I just don’t think she is motivated enough to keep it up. I think maybe we will just start lane swimming again for now.

OP posts:
PatChaunceysFruitCake · 08/08/2024 20:54

Where I live there are 'swim fit' sessions which include the types of sets she would have done at her club but without a competitive element.

TBH though, at her age i'd just try another club. She is more likely to be motivated if she makes some friends at the club and enjoys the social element?

erinaceus · 08/08/2024 20:46

I was going to suggest lifeguard training, or other swim-adjacent options such as scuba diving.

thentheycameforme · 08/08/2024 20:44

What about lifeguard training?

DoublePeonies · 08/08/2024 20:41

We have a lanes session early ish at the weekends. So not a club, but a bit more swimming lengths rather than messing about. Might be worth looking for?

Or, there is a swim to a mile (sometimes 1650m) similar to the couch 2 5k for running. Or swimming training programmes on one of the fitness watches. Maybe Garmin. Would sonething like that work?