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Extra-curricular activities

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

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Original poster

What after Stage 7 swimming?

34 replies

AllTheShoes · 03/11/2016 21:33

Dd1 just go moved up into Stage 7, and (looking at the timetable for our local pool) it seems as though it's the final ASA stage. Is that the point at which children either go into a squad of some sort or drop it? Should there be some sort of option locally for once a week swimming for fun and fitness, and if so, what would it be called (so I can google it)?

I don't think she'll want to do more than once a week (she'd probably rather fit in some more dance) but on the other hand, it seems a shame not to keep up those skills as she doesn't get any more school swimming and we don't go that often as a family.

OP posts:

Wafflenose · 03/11/2016 21:39

There are stages 8-10, which are often taught together in the same class, usually for an hour, but not all pools do them. We are going to have to move pools after Stage 7 too. Do you have any local ones that you can try ringing around? Others might offer the Challengers series too. But I think there is a gap in the market for children's Swim Fit type lessons - it seems to be competitive or nothing at all. My older daughter gave up halfway through Stage 8 (she was only 7 and was finding an hour of constant lengths tedious) and didn't want to go down the competitive route, but this left nothing at all until school lessons kicked in later on. I have to try to take her in the school holidays to make sure she still swims. Like you, I'm keen to keep the other child in lessons for as long as possible.

Original poster

AllTheShoes · 03/11/2016 21:56

There are a couple of other pools, but not as easily accessible - I'll have a look at their websites and see what they have to offer. I'd like her to keep going as her technique is good but she's not that fast and could do with a bit more stamina.

I was thinking of just doing a crash course in the holidays, but those seem to stop at Stage 3/4 around here. Maybe I can find one that's for diving or synchronised swimming - I think she'd like that.

OP posts:

Barbeasty · 04/11/2016 08:10

After level 7 you can do levels 8-10 in different disciplines, the ASA website has details here

It also looks as though they have links to affiliated clubs so it might help find the relevent pool.

Our pool moves into the 8-10 competative levels automatically at the end of level 7, still doing 1 lesson a week but increasing it to an hour.

JemimaMuddledUp · 04/11/2016 08:16

At our local pool the levels carry on until Level 10. There is then the option of Swimfit (weekly training sessions working on technique etc) and Rookie Lifeguard stages. There is also the opportunity to train with the Swimming Club for competitive swimming if you are good enough and that way inclined.

How old is she? My DC carried on swimming on their own after finishing the stages, children over 8 can swim without an adult at our pool. DD is 10 and happily swims lengths by herself, working on her times and technique. She only competes with school as she doesn't want to commit to 6am training sessions with the swimming club!

ReallyTired · 04/11/2016 12:24

There is synchro swimming, water polo, under water hockey, diving as an alternative to swim lessons or club swimming.

golfbuggy · 04/11/2016 12:28

Our local pool "merged" Stages 8-10 and only offered competitive swimming. This meant that DD dropped out after a term as she had no desire to swim competitively. She now only swims when we go as a family, which I think is a real shame. Feels like there's a gap in the market for more structured, more "leisure" swimming lessons. I think DD would benefit from a regular lesson where she still got e.g. input into her strokes, but without the necessity to specialise.

ReallyTired · 04/11/2016 12:38

Swimming instruction becomes pointless when there is no goal. A child who has passed stage 7 can swim well. Their strokes are well developed.
At that point it's necessary to ask the child what they want to do. Ie. Do they want to race, dive or do synchro. If a child doesn't want to specialise then they could in theory take lessons in all three.

Drivingmadness · 04/11/2016 13:21

Dc2 not keen on competitive swim club, but still swims, with other older girls at level 10. Work on techniques, tumbleturns, sometimes life saving, sometimes water polo. Last 30 Min.

Original poster

AllTheShoes · 05/11/2016 10:54

Jemima She's 8. It's actually another consideration - she was the smallest in stage 6, so I assume will be even more so in stage 7 and beyond. Swimfit sounds ideal, though I don't think it's available locally.

golf I completely agree.

Really I agree that she can swim now, but looking ahead I'd like her to maintain / improve her ability as it will be a good thing throughout her life if she enjoys swimming, in terms of fitness. She'd be happy with something like rookie life guarding or diving, if I could find it locally. It just seems a shame if she stops completely purely because I can't find anything suitable.

OP posts:

M00MINMAMMA · 19/11/2016 01:22

Jumping in here because my ds also stopped at stage 7 as he doesn't like how aggressive our local clubs are. DH is Australian and gobsmacked that it is competition or nothing for swimming here - he swam every morning before school for fun but it's just not possible anywhere around where we live. Early morning swimming is adults or clubs only. I do think there's a real gap for kids who want to continue developing technique and have structured practice without the pressure of club training.

myfavouritecolourispurple · 22/11/2016 12:02

Our local pool is the same in that early morning swimming is for clubs and/or adults.

But our pool 's lessons go up to stage 10 and honours, and has swimfit. My 14 year old still swims once a week for an hour in a structured coaching session. He doesn't want to swim with a club and probably isn't really good enough, but he is a competent swimmer and enjoys what he does do. He has done his ASA gold and is working towards Honours. I think it's good that our leisure centre caters for the teen swimmer.

As well as the stages, he did a bit of personal survival (SEAL awards).

Rookie lifeguard is another option which is available from 8 years old.

CMOTDibbler · 22/11/2016 12:18

Why don't you just go swimming more often as a family? Ds and I go swimming together and he'll play while I do lengths, then he'll join me for a few hundred metres, we'll play diving/tumbleturns etc, swim some more and so on. If timing works out, he'll come lane swimming with me, but can duck out to play.

InformalRoman · 23/11/2016 10:39

Pressure on pool time and availability of coaching staff often makes it impossible to offer Swimfit type options. It would be good if swimming was seen as more of a life skill than a hobby.

Potnoodlewilld0 · 23/11/2016 10:44

Swimming teacher here.

op if this is something she wants to continue then reslly you need to be looking at club swimming now. You don't need to go all through the stages and if she is good enough they will accept her with a bit of work needed.

I think the last stages are a waste of time money if it's just swimming you want to continue.

Potnoodlewilld0 · 23/11/2016 10:46

Club swimming style is different to normal swimming so I think leaving them in normal
Stage swimming encourages bad habits to develop

PotatoPrint · 01/07/2017 10:39

But club swimming requires more than one session a week doesn't it? And a commitment to competitive swimming.

We're at a similar stage and I'd be interested in my child continuing for health/fun/technique rather than club swimming.

I swim twice a week for fitness/fun and occasionally think about adult lessons. I don't want to be competitive though (apart from with myself) and imagine my daughter would be the same. She loves swimming as a hobby.

BertrandRussell · 01/07/2017 10:42

If she's 8 why doesn't she just go once a week with friends? That's what mine did.

PotatoPrint · 01/07/2017 10:43

Mines 8 too and sadly doesn't have that many friends who swim lengths for fun! If any

BertrandRussell · 01/07/2017 10:51

Quite glad there arenMt that many 8 year olds who swim lengths for fun, frankly!

PotatoPrint · 01/07/2017 11:01

I'm not sure what your point is? people go to the gym, I swim, others play football etc.

My daughter enjoys swimming and I was wondering how she could continue after stage 7, like the OP. I know there's swimfit but I think that's an older age. Surely doing an exercise you enjoy isn't that unusual...

shggg245 · 01/07/2017 11:24

My two boys have just joined a swimming club as they both want to keep fit and have fun. They're no way near as good as the other swimmers who have been going for years but it's about improving your own times and techniques and they'll catch up.

The competition will come if and when they're ready and not before. It was lovely to hear all the kids cheering and encouraging them on in the time trials so I think it's good for confidence. I'd def look at a club.

Lowdoorinthewal1 · 01/07/2017 12:42

Maybe check out what your local swim club offers. Ours has a 'junior' section, which is basically a non-competitive group for younger swimmers who either can't make the age related times to stay in the competitive strand or don't want to be in the competitive strand. You can swim once a week in this junior squad.

I think a lot of bigger clubs offer this type of thing as an alternative route for those not suited to competitive training.

Original poster

AllTheShoes · 01/07/2017 14:10

She gave up (tried stage 8 but it was late in the evening for her, and she was tired and didn't enjoy it). So its just the occasional family swim now.

Bertrand She can't drive herself to the pool, nor can her friends. So I can take her, if she wants, but there are quite limited times in which it's open for general swimming at the weekend, so fitting it in can be tricky between her activities, when her friends are free, my own commitments etc.

OP posts:

PotatoPrint · 01/07/2017 14:14

Oh sorry to hear that AllTheShoes. I was hoping to hear your daughter had found something and is recommend to mine!

I think there's junior rookies near me I can look out for but she loves actual swimming! I could take her with me but I don't think they encourage kids in the lanes /the pools full of kids playing when we could go.

catkind · 02/07/2017 10:06

I'm sure they'd be fine with kids swimming lengths in the lanes potato - they just don't want them playing and getting in the way. Just make sure she knows the lane etiquette. Bet she'd be faster than me!

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