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Extra-curricular activities

Find advice on the best extra curricular activities in secondary schools and primary schools here.

Original poster

Does anyone child do comparative swimming?

62 replies

Gileswithachainsaw · 11/04/2017 12:17

Dd has been given the chance to try out for a swim club which claims it's the first step towards eventually competing

She trys out this week and obviously I know she may not make the cut this time around however I'm interested to know what goes on. Before I rearrange everything work etc wise in order to try and accommodate this is it really something worth doing that can lead to other opportunities or is it just more money and waiting around at pools Grin

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Original poster
Gileswithachainsaw · 11/04/2017 12:58

Yes i will see how she gets on and go from there. But I can't vomit to 5am starts I have another child and a job eye

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Scabetty · 11/04/2017 12:53

Dd did this for a few years. You need commitment as a parent. Early mornings and evenings. Weekends at galas. Always chasing county/regional times. Dd loved the social side but time as a family was limited. I have other children who had other interests so we juggled. No harm having a try out though.

MaidenMotherCrone · 11/04/2017 12:52

Family member was at National level, at the pool 5am 5 days a week and Sat/Sun was all taken up with meets.

It's a huge commitment to get to that level.

Original poster
Gileswithachainsaw · 11/04/2017 12:47

And how old is old enough to get themselves there and back including taxis if need be?

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Original poster
Gileswithachainsaw · 11/04/2017 12:42

Mornings?

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Whitelisbon · 11/04/2017 12:30

My dd was on the swim team for 3 years, and decided to drop it after summer last year.
It's a lot of money, and time hanging around swimming pools. Early mornings, late nights, etc. And we went through hundreds of pairs of goggles, swim hats, costumes.
Dd loved it, it was great exercise and she made some fantastic friends, but it all became too much in the end up, with school, homework, other clubs, and family time all suffering.
She quit last year when she was 13, and I was very relieved.

2014newme · 11/04/2017 12:30

Depends on the child whether they enjoy it! It's good exercise, team sports etc as per any competitive sport.

Original poster
Gileswithachainsaw · 11/04/2017 12:29

Me too I mean she already does other stuff after school I'm just loathed to limit sports stuff as it's what she enjoys and is good at and if she does this club the cost at this moment isn't very high and by the time she's 11/12 she can probably get herself to these things but I would also like to know if there are benefits as you say Smile

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Nowthereistwo · 11/04/2017 12:22

I'm worried about the cost/benefit of this in terms of amount of time you need to commit to be good/on the team. Do they get enough out of it to make it worthwhile long-term?

2014newme · 11/04/2017 12:20

Sorry this is 9 year olds.

2014newme · 11/04/2017 12:20

I used to do it as a child. My dd wants to do it, she is a very good swimmer but already competes in other sports and I'm struggling to fit it all in.

Friends whose kids do it spend a lot of time ay the pool, eg all day Sat and sun last weekend. They find it very boring spending so many hours poolside.

Original poster
Gileswithachainsaw · 11/04/2017 12:17

Competitive swimming rather

Ffs phone

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