First club swimming training overwhelming-normal?

Oh it's always good to hear that newbie-swimmers are settling in.

We've always found it really handy to have some close friends outside school. Maybe it's just her personality, but DD didn't ever get involved in playground/friendship dramas.

Time to dig out the fleece lined woolly hats this week, I think!

@NewSwimmingMum - perfectly normal to feel like that after first one. DS stopped last year after 11 years and used to struggle at first having gone from half hour class to 1 hour 3 times a week. 10 is probably a little bit older than some starters to competitive swimming but she will soon fit in fine with the others and keep up for the full session. Definitely plenty of snacks. DS used to have a banana pre swim and chocolate milk afterwards or fruit malt. You may not be allowed to do shorter hours if they have a minimum requirement. DS first squad was 3 sessions of one hour swim and half hour land training (age 6) and he moved up age 8 to four sessions a week including one early morning and all sessions mandatory. Depends on the club. Your DD will get used to the training intensity quite quickly.

DD has been in squad for 5 years (albeit with a lot of "not swimming" during lockdowns). I used to sit and watch from time to time.

Just to reassure you and your DD that it will take several weeks to get fit enough to participate properly. DD's club usually has a "newbie" lane with a dedicated coach/volunteer to ease the transition.

Snacks snacks snacks.....and plenty of sleep.

@NewSwimmingMum she will! DS was swimming about 7000m in a session once they got well into training (in a performance squad all at regional and above standard).

One thing he is really struggling with is no longer being allowed to eat the amount he was used to. He complained last week about the lack of snacks in the house and then remembered why they’ve disappeared.

@NewSwimmingMum you’ll never travel snackless again! Once they train a lot they need a lot of food. It’s always worth having something to hand.

DS nearly died at the end of his first ever training session.

He’s just left the sport, but swam at national level so I don’t think the first session was too indicative of how it will go in the long term! 😀

I agree with speaking to the coach and see if she can trial a month where she gets out after an hour. Don’t want to put her off or injure. If she feels up to staying she can.

Top tip- chocolate milk after training. They don’t feel like eating after a heavy session and that will stop the teary tiredness until they unwind, easy on the stomach and a complete nutrition package.

I'm a swimming teacher op its sounds like lack of stamia which will be build up in due course, I used to be a club swimmer when I was younger and it was a case of building up stamia week by week it got that little be easier, then you move up a lane and it got harder again . As an adult il be tired doing two lengths even though I'm a very good swimmer because my stagmia is next to none at the moment.

[quote NewSwimmingMum]@MauraandLaura they used to do a fair few lengths and she had 200m badge. [/quote]
Its a tricky one OP.

She is ten and normally I would have scooted my good swimmers off to club around 8/9 instead of them plodding through the levels. Those kids are going to have a couple of years on her at least. And you will have to be careful she doesn't get burn out as she isn't physically able to keep up. If she was physically spent and emotional after her first session its too much for her.

I would not let her do the 1.5 sessions and only let her do 1 hour till she strong enough to do it because she could give herself an injury as her body isn't physically ready for that amount fo strain. As she swims further distances her swim stroke will start to fall to pieces as it becomes a balance of stamina and technique. If she is absolutely spent she may get coaches constantly pulling her over her style which will dishearten her.

What did the coach say after her first session? Did they give you any feed back? Some one should have had a least a quick chat to see how she was feeling (and how she looked)

Yeah, it’s a big leap from swimming lessons. I remember being exhausted after my first few sessions- but quickly became fitter.

Training never gets “easier” - that’s the nature of training. She will get fitter and stronger and have more stamina, but then training gets harder, longer and more frequent. Some girls will go on to compete at the Olympics by the time they’re 13/14 years old so yeah it’s a tough environment.

If she’s genuinely struggling though perhaps ask if she can be moved to a slower lane?

It will get easier as she gets fitter. Going from 30m in a small pool to 90min in a 25m pool is a huge leap. My dc all started out with a club at 5 with 30 min lessons then they started having 2x30min with the last 5-10min of each in the big pool and then a 30 min lesson and a 60m lesson with half in the big pool, building up to 60 min a couple of times a week, then 90 min and 2 hour lessons up to 9 hours a week. Even doing it gradually like that it’s often a struggle when they move up for a few weeks.

who**

Ex swimming teacher here how passed my kids on to the local swim club.

What distances was she swimming before she moved up to club? My teaching pool was only 20 meters but they could easily swim 200 meters with out stopping.