Poolside chat: Calling all parents of competitive swimmers!

[Marypoppins19]

I thought it might be helpful to share our highs/lows/questions/thoughts in one place. Who’s joining me!?

[turkeyboots]

Are we all back poolside now?
We moved over the summer and getting used to new club and pools. And a whole new competition structure as we're in Ireland now. DD loves her more relaxed club and coaching is excellent. And her coaches are very confident of her getting to nationals, the smaller population means less competition!

[QueenofLouisiana]

Yes, we’re back! Land training starts up this week too- another night accounted for. At least the open water season is over, so no lake practices.

[April2020mom]

I took some lessons as a child and teenager too. I’m not a competitive swimmer however. We just moved to a different area over the summer so I have been looking at baby swimming lessons for the kids. Not sure what skills will be taught in the lessons but I want my two children to learn to swim properly.

Can anyone tell me what skills are expected to start with? Are there different stages and levels? How long are the lessons? Do I need to pay for anything? Are the children being pushed appropriately to challenge themselves and achieve? What are the teachers like? Do they get into the water or not?

How do I go about searching for more information?

[Temporaryanonymity]

Ex swimmer here. Neither of my children have shown the remotest interest in swimming so once they reached a standard I was happy with they gave up on the swimming lessons.

I just wanted to say hats off to you all. I don't know how my parents managed full time jobs and our swimming commitments. It's certainly a huge sacrifice for parents to make in terms of time, money and effort that probably few people outside swimming realise.

I'm so grateful my parents did it for me and it opened up a whole load of opportunities for me (I was never going to set the pool ablaze in glory) and I'm sorry my kids aren't interested.

So well done to you all.

[estherfrewen]

Hi - yes we're back too. Not quite full timetable, but not far off. New Head Coach this season, so will see how that goes. First competition in a fortnight. Off training soon, and then up at 4.10 tomorrow. Oh the joy ...!

[WidowTwonky]

Is anyone in Leeds next weekend for the yorkshires?

[turkeyboots]

New club struggles for water time, but somehow has no late night or v early morning sessions. It feels much so much more doable than the three 5am starts DD was in for in last club. I'm so grateful that I am standing for a committee role!

It's a huge ask of parents to have kids in pool til 9 and then up again at 4 or 5. I swam as a teen and am v grateful to parents in retrospect. Even if my Dad used to bring sleeping bag and have a nap at early sessions!
We have regional short course galas here at end of Sept and a new race suit to buy. Gah.

[estherfrewen]

Yes I would be so grateful for no early/late sessions! Sleeping bag - nice idea 😀

[AdventuresRUs]

Looks like we are going this route. Our youngest is 6 and a promising swimmer - her swim coach wants her to swim for the club when she is 7. Then rather surprisingly she suggested the 9 year old tries out. She isnt as natural a fish but loves swimming and is teachable . She did a few sessions with the swim club in the summer and is waiting for trials.

She will be so disappointed if she doesnt get in!

[AdventuresRUs]

Ours definitley leads on to early mornings if they progress but I think is sunday and wed evenings to begin with. Will find out if she gets in!

[turkeyboots]

As I swam I at least had an idea of what we were getting into if DD likes it. But so many other parents had no clue and the early mornings, late nights and endless galas really wore them down. Then add in a bit of snottiness over attendance and the politics of moving to the next squad and they quit. Not a good experience for the kids at all.
Worth pushing for info on commitment expectations in advance.

[Ivytheterrible]

I’m now a competitive Masters swimmer (after being a pretty good swimmer in childhood) My 7yr old did her first gala at the weekend and is totally addicted! I think I’d rather she did a different sport as swimming is so tough and time-consuming! I’m not sure I have what it takes to be a swimming mum!

[QueenofLouisiana]

Turkey I feel your pain about the racing suit. I’m threatening DS with death if he’s outgrown his racing jammers- he’s only worn them a few times and I’d like to get them at the least to the end of the year.

I’m planning a few trips to the LAC with DS this term to get some LC training in. There are few chances to swim LC here, so will need to do it ourselves. Aiming for once a month or so. DS will enjoy lunch afterwards and I’ll enjoy Westfield!

[QueenofLouisiana]

@April2020mom
I think before the children start it is best if they can get into a pool and are used to getting wet- especially their faces. It’s unlikely as an early stage that the lessons would be pushing children- more about being safe and enjoying the moving through water and learning to swim. The achievement part will generally come later.

I’d ask at your local pool about how the teachers work as everywhere is different. You may need to try a few pools to find one that offers something you are happy with at a price you are willing to pay.

[estherfrewen]

We never have LC training either, which is a pain. Probably take a step back this year though as now year 10 so school taking over.

Good luck with Yorkshire Winter Comp, Widow T. We are there for older age a couple of weeks later. Not my favourite competition. Lower age competition is always so crowded!

[ealingwestmum]

HI all, just checking in to wish everyone's DC a great season!

Y10 here also, DD aiming for Nationals this year, after an up and down year last with some recurring shoulder injuries. All geared up, but I need to keep an eye out for balancing the increasing school workload vs the hours swimming per week.

Agree here on what a difference lack of LC access/training can have, especially as xmas comes around so quickly and then LC season starts. We are fortunate that she has access 1 x week, but inner London is LC pool poor, if your club doesn't access LAC or CP pools.

For those of you who don't have clubs who organise training camps for LC, I would highly recommend Ed Sinclair's Maximum Performances, run throughout the year. DC come from all over, and the organisation and coaching is brilliant. Training venues include LAC, CP and Millfield giving swimmers LC exposure across all competitive ages.

[estherfrewen]

You can actually see our club swimmers dying at 40 metres in a LC 50 metre race 😀 - until that point we do really well!

Hope your DD gets to nationals. Best of luck. We’ve done home nations but not sure the next step to British will happen. Not if the amount of homework this week is anything to go by...!

[ealingwestmum]

Thank you esther. And same here re the volume increase in homework!

[AdventuringThroughLife]

Ive had an email saying there will be club trials in October! Were going to visit on sunday to watch a session.

[estherfrewen]

Good luck for trial, Adventuring. Good idea to watch a sessions first and have a chat to other parents.

[QueenofLouisiana]

Interestingly, I’ve booked DS into a maximum performance camp in October. Good to know that they are useful.

[screamuntilthewarisover]

Hi all,

My daughter (just8) has had some great swims since the summer holiday break and got a new PB in nearly every race.

Anyone know about age restrictions for cat 2/ junior gala’s? My daughter was 8 in September.

I’ve tried looking at the ASA website but still not able to get a clear answer. The year she turns 9, so January or when she is 9 or the January after she is 9?

It’s so confusing!!

Thanks all

[AdventuringThroughLife]

Mine had their trial last week! DD - 9year old did really well I think, swam really nicely. DD 6 year old did her absolute best bless her. The trial coaches were amazing with the group and lovely with my little one!
I have no idea if they will want her yet but her coach put her forwards so we'll see. If not she can try again when older!

I chatted to some parents. It looks like it starts with 2-3 hours a week and then takes over! Reassure me they do get to have other hobbies too....

[estherfrewen]

Typed long response and lost it!

Try again ... fantastic, Adventuring. Well done on the trial. On three hours they will have lots of time for other activities. As they get older that will increase with early mornings too, so for the moment just enjoy the ride, making lots of friends and being really fit. At 9, your older one can compete, which will occupy weekends. At 6, your younger one can do internal club champs, which are great. But just don’t stop everything else for swimming! Enjoy it for what it is for now.

Hi, Scream. Most galas are age on day so as soon as had 9th birthday can compete. My ds started age 6 and swum first proper gala age 8 on the Saturday before celebrating 9th birthday on the Sunday. There are some galas where you can be 8. These are generally limited to the number of clubs that take part. Check out Newcastle Swim Team website as I think they have just done the Shrimp Meet and that definitely has 8 year olds. For the most part though it will only be club champs until turns 9 am afraid. My son had 3 years of swimming before first official comp. His second comp the following month was the county champs...! Just make sure you get all the club champ times you can now, as that will mean it should be easy to get swims in full galas when she is 9.

Some galas do use age on 31 December, but generally higher level and often with the proviso that for age 9 age group, they do have to be 9. The age at end of year only impacts really on age 10 and over.

County champs and regional champs are age at end of year. Most county websites will already have next years county champ qts up - Yorkshire Swimming do and while each county will vary, it will give you some idea. And well done on the pbs !

[ealingwestmum]

Scream: well done to your daughter on her PBs. We miss those days...lucky to get one or 2 in a meet

Great to hear the trial was positive for your DDs Adventuring, and that you're ready to embark on the swimming journey!

Hope everyone else's DC have settled well into their new season.