When to stop swimming lessons?

[ThomasRichard]

DS is 9 and wants to stop going to swimming lessons. He’s a decent enough swimmer - ASA level 5 and can do a few lengths of a 25m pool without taking a break - but his technique could use some work.

I swam at club level for years so don’t really know what’s reasonable to expect. He’s suggested he stops the lessons and keeps up practice by swimming in the lanes while DD has her lesson. I just want him to be able to enjoy water sports (don’t be rude!) and to get himself out of trouble if he falls in.

Any experience?

It sounds as if he can do enough as a life-saving skill, and enough to be able to enjoy swimming say on holiday. So swimming without lessons seems reasonable.

Perfecting strokes is a pointless exercise unless they enjoy the lessons and/or want to - stressing the want to - swim competitively.

Swimming is easier and more enjoyable if you are actually good at it. I have never swum competitively but am a strong swimmer swimmer and want the same for my DC. Interestingly one of mine begged to give up at this stage and then later decided she loved it and joined swim club

My DDs are both club swimming now, they were too young IMHO to stop swimming when they got through all 10 levels. Being a strong swimmer is a really important life skill. DD1 is Y6 now and although a strong swimmer will never be a competitive club swimmer so we are discussing swapping to a different sports club when she starts secondary but she'll do lanes with me to maintain fitness (not sure this is a good idea, I swim regularly but she's much faster than me). She does love swimming but can't compete with girls a foot taller than her. Her technique is reasonable after 3 years of club swimming so I'm hoping that she's old enough now that she won't forget it all so she'll always enjoy lane swimming.

I think with any skill a child can hit a bit of a brick wall but working through it is a lesson in resilience. I'd talk to the teacher and see what they say, or maybe try a new teacher or an intensive course in the holidays. I don't think level 5/6 is a good enough swimmer yet, especially at 9 they will lose skill quickly if they give up swimming.