To not want to raise an Olympian?

[LeytonPolo]

DS2 is almost seven, he's been on his local swim team, a summer only team since he was five. He usually comes in first or second but they're more fun races than actually competitive and the pool of competition isn't that wide iyswim.

We've been approached by a coach that works for another swim team, who saw DS swim recently and want's him to come to a trial they're having for their junior team.

The swim team is in the next town over, it's a 30 min drive, it's much bigger and much more competitive, coach said kids under 10 are expected to do training outside the pool as well as two 2 hour sessions during the week in the pool for under 8's and the amount of sessions would grow depending on the child once they turned 8.

It's also year round with only a few weeks off here and their instead of just for the summer.

Coach kept naming Olympian swimmers that had trained there at one point or another as children, I know nothing about the olympics, so this really didn't mean anything to me but it's clear that it's a very serious team who expect kids to pull their weight.

DS wants to go to the trial, DH is more excited then he is, but it honestly seems like a lot of effort & pressure for swimming.

We have 2 teens, we both work full time, I can't even imagine where we'll find the time to make sure DS trains outside the pool or what that would even entail.

I don't want to go the trial and waste everyone's time if we're just going to turn it down but I really don't think a small shot at the olympics is worth it.

Okay everyone, I found a pretty decent middle ground

Found another swimming team, that's more kid friendly, it's about a 20 min walk, so quite local, they have an all year team, no trials, all kids are accepted but put into different categories/teams depending on ability, they have friendly races against each other until age 10 but the man on the phone said that anyone serious goes over to the club that the coach is from and that a few kids do this around 11/12, so turning down this trial isn't his last ever opportunity, it's also one weekend training a week. Overall it just feels, less stressful/hot house and more focused on the fun aspect of swimming as well.

I've still got to convince DH though, he's really jumped on board the Olympic bandwagon, he was taking about 2030 this afternoon

Sounds good OP

That sounds ideal.

Well done :)

Sounds perfect

Your DH founds rather like mine. When DS was about 2 weeks old DH made him a notice for his bedroom door which said "2040 Tour de France winner". DS is nearly, rides a bike well (and was riding without support at just 3) and has done a few races, but he's not that bothered.

My dd is 9, and trains at her sport for 22 hours a week over 5 days and has done since she was 7. More when she has county or regional training or when there are competitions. I'm a single parent with a demanding job, and 2 other dc. Their dad isn't on the scene, so it all falls to me- the cost and all the organising and ferrying around. She's missed out on birthday parties, school events, she leaves school at lunchtime once a week to train, we've missed out on summer holidays as she couldnt be away for long periods of time...

We've travelled over the country for training and completions, and my dd has absolutely loved every minute, so it was an easy decision to make.

Unfortunately, she's going through a bad patch which she can't explain, and it looks like she will fall out of age. For her sport, that means that she'll never make it big. Bizarrely, I seem more disappointed about this than she does. It has made me realise how invested I have become and how difficult it will be to watch her pull away from her sport. She is just sad she won't see her team friends as much

I'd say go for it, but don't let it take over your family life, like it has ours...

Sounds great, OP. Your DHneeds a reality check, though - maybe a google about the number if people who make a living from swimming...

Whojamaflip - but what about the commitment to your other children, who you say already miss out on things as a result?

That sounds perfect op!

I have an 11yo who plays sport ( not swimming ) at a national level and he loves it. He's travelled a lot and made most of his closest friends through his sport. He know he won't make a living out of it and also needs to study at school.

Yes, it does take a lot of our time and some money ( mostly for travel and training ) but so far he's very happy . There are worse things to be interested in. I'm suprised and saddened at some of the attitudes on this thread ( all athletes are stupid or junkies).

OP I hope you son enjoys his new club .

Well the athletes at our local club who are currently competing in the Rio Olympics seem to have done ok and are not drug addled. They are having the time of their lives with the most amazing opportunities. But yes they have worked bloody hard. And equally many others will work just as hard and not make it to the elite level which must be incredibly frustrating. Very inspirational for the kids that train at the club to have Olympians training there.

As a parent of two competitive swimmers (one at british#1).
If he wants to try let him - the most important thing is he enjoys it and wants to go.
He may do it for 6 months or 10 years but surely he deserves the chance to try??

My daughter has been part of a swimming club from 8, she's now 14. Yes it's expensive, time consuming, our house runs like a military operation as we have a 12yr old too. But she loves it, she's fit and healthy and has made some great friends. Our take on it as long as she is happy and wants to do it we will get up and silly o'clock to take her and play taxi. The minute she wants to stop she can.

My cousin is a winter Olympian. She is amazing. She trains very hard but she still has a life. Her parents spent time taking her all over the world for her sport and she was taught at home as a child instead of going to school.

Find another club that is closer to home and has a better team spirit

Ignore any talk of Olympics, unless your child is 100% dedicated to swimming, give it a miss. The kids at our school (primary 6/7) who are in swimming clubs are expected to train 5 days a week, sometimes before 6am, at different pools around the city. It's a MASSIVE commitment, which will all fall on you, so you can't be half hearted about it ie, it's all or nothing.

My DD2 does triathlon and is very good at it. She has swim training twice a week, bike and running twice a week and also swims 3 mornings before school herself.
She absolutely loves it and would train every minute of the day if she got the chance because she wants to do it and she wants to win.
What it costs me at the moment with bikes, tri suits, trainers travel etc is ridiculous but as long as I can afford it and she wants to do it I will encourage her as much as I can.
My husband and I miss out on things like weddings/parties due to her competitions and I also have 2 other children to fit in round it but as far as I am concerned it is just part and parcel of being parent!

Competitive swimming is fun and good exercise. You can't base your decision on having other kids! It's a great honour for you're son to be asked to a trial. He's been seen as having talent so let it shine. Why would you not want your kid to be the best they can?

I have a couple of friends who have worked with more than one sport coaching Olympic coaches. Swimming has been about the worst sport of all to realise the benefit of cross training and bringing other fitness to the pool. So training still centres around hours and hours of ploughing up and down those black lines, even from the very youngest ages. That's not to say any serious up and coming athlete isn't doing lots of training volume. But swimming has been pretty myopic about what the benefits actually are. Your middle ground option sounds like a great one and do not let any coach convince you that what is lost at the age of 8 cannot be caught up with enthusiasm rather than burnout come age 14!

I agree you have to find a way to make it work. Easier said then done I know. But you have to at least let him try it

My son does 2 sessions of football training 1 1/2 hours long and then a football match on Sunday, sometimes a full day tournament which adds up to about 2 hours constant play time over the whole day. It is just a little kids football club so what is described above isn't really that much.

I'd say give it a go, we have one life and need to grab opportunities whilst they are there. It doesn't mean ds has to do it forever!

"You can't base your decision on having other kids! "

Why the heck not? Every person in the family deserves time, attention and support.

Anyway, OP has found a compromise which is great.

meandt I guess different squads have different attitudes. Dd's team also offer land training, weight training (when older) and yoga, as part of the training schedule. I've also heard the head coach when a parent said their child couldn't come because they had gymnastics at the same time, not to worry as that's also a great workout and is good to keep them flexible so to keep going and not worry about making it to his training.

Don't see the problem. If he wants to do the trial, let him. You don't have to decide right now whether you want to/can take him to extra lessons. It's rather presumptious to assume he's Olympic material before he's even had the trial! Take each step as they come.