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Extra-curricular activities

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Original poster

Poolside chat: Calling all parents of competitive swimmers!

999 replies

Marypoppins19 · 06/04/2018 08:13

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

OP posts:
Madcats · 12/04/2021 13:05

We are back to 2 1/2 hrs/week (the other pool we use somehow didn't think to finish repairing whatever it is they have been repairing for months).

I am really hoping DD gets her enthusiasm for sport back.

I find it really annoying that people are allowed to pile into Primark, but the kids have to stay socially distanced in their chlorine pools (so only 1/2 the squad can swim together). It's better than nothing, I suppose.

InspectorAlleyn · 12/04/2021 17:57

DD (11) is back 6 hours from today and DS (7) is back 3 hours. I am quite excited to be back in a routine! Even youngest DS (5) will be back in the pool this week (he’s not been back since lockdown 1).

turkeyboots · 15/04/2021 09:17

Oh DD will be jealous. She misses the pool. Here in Ireland we don't expect pools to open to club training til June at least. And it's still too cold to take the kids into open water safely we are told.

sanam2019 · 15/04/2021 11:56

DD (10) back to 3h per week (4h in normal times). They were easy on them the first two sessions, thankfully. Club has mentioned LevelX races coming up for Surrey Age group qualification, I hope they do it as late as possible to give them time to get ready and train properly for it.

Eccle80 · 16/04/2021 16:34

My two have been back this week too, and my youngest is back to swimming lessons tomorrow as well

Fourmagpies · 20/04/2021 22:03

DS (13) is back with 5 x 1.5 hour sessions, easing them in, no mornings until May. He has grown so much in the last year so it'll be interesting to see what times he gets once they start racing again. I can't see him catching up with his faster cohorts after this past year but who knows?! He loves swimming so is happy to keep training.

Dithercats · 20/04/2021 23:11

here in wales....progressed from zoom to land training.
pools open mid-may
DD literally cannot wait!

mondaywine · 21/04/2021 09:09

DD 11 returns on Monday for 5 hours a week. She’s over the moon. They had land training last night and the buzz and laughter was quite something to see. I’m so happy for her and hope this will allow her to start feeling better about herself again. We had some Scottish Virtual meets at the back end of the year and she’d managed to really pick her times back up again. Hoping that as this has been a much shorted time out the water (4 months this time, 6 last time) the return to fitness may be a little easier.

Scarlet1990 · 21/04/2021 13:43

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Helenjohanna · 11/05/2021 11:18

We have Level X Friday week, and they're asking for volunteers to time swimmers. I'm happy to volunteer, but worried that I'll mess up. I'm a bit of a ditz, especially in noisy, echoey environments. Might be a silly question, but is it easy?!

Also, my son is in the absolute beginner squad; are there likely to be any weekend commitments over the next few months? Friends are beginning to ask if we can book excursions. I've asked the secretary, but she hasn't responded.

Eccle80 · 11/05/2021 11:55

@Helenjohanna

We have Level X Friday week, and they're asking for volunteers to time swimmers. I'm happy to volunteer, but worried that I'll mess up. I'm a bit of a ditz, especially in noisy, echoey environments. Might be a silly question, but is it easy?!

Also, my son is in the absolute beginner squad; are there likely to be any weekend commitments over the next few months? Friends are beginning to ask if we can book excursions. I've asked the secretary, but she hasn't responded.

I would say timekeeping is pretty easy. I was worried about doing it, but once I actually did it, it was fine! Just make sure you know how the stopwatch works, press start on the beep/whistle, then watch for the swimmer touching the wall to press stop. Hope it goes well!

It’s hard to know but I suspect there won’t be many open meets etc until the autumn, probably just level x type stuff

Eccle80 · 11/05/2021 11:58

How are everyone’s swimmers getting on being back? Mine are both happy to be swimming again, the 9 year old wanted to give up in between the second and third lockdowns but is enjoying it again now. Eldest is desperate for competitions to come back though!

I’ve been wondering what is going to happen with swimming restrictions wise, will they be allowed back in changing rooms after 21st June and for parents to spectate again?

Helenjohanna · 11/05/2021 12:21

Cool. I've offered to help :-)

WidowTwonky · 11/05/2021 14:09

My swimmer pleased to be back. Had one level x event and managed 4 PBs, a couple of them were huge! He’s chuffed.
I trained for a time keeper. It was fine, though worried about remembering the legalities of turns and having to DQ anyone. Only actually did it twice in the end as always seemed to have to take along younger DC so it wasn’t possible. Go for it!

Fingerscrossed1234 · 11/05/2021 15:22

My DD (13) back for a week and then hurt her shoulder so still in the pool but only kicking. Frustrating- too much too soon. Our club is looking at June for X racing and then the counties will run in July with the 8 fastest swimmers. Hoping everyone has had a better start than us!

Oldpeoplesprinting · 11/05/2021 15:23

Timing is fun! I did it last week at an in-club meet & enjoyed it. Only tip is to really listen to the starter - if you’re a bit late hitting the start button you could give someone quite a big pb (especially on a 50m!)!

Depending where you are & also what level, the South East region are putting on meets at the end of July as a regionals type replacement (as fas as I’m aware) - both long course, one for under 14s & one for over. Not sure re anything else. My DDs club are planning on a ‘closed’ meet with a couple of local clubs in addition to some level x stuff, which will be great - whether or not we can watch I don’t know yet... my guess is probably no, but on the other hand I’m sure they could do with the spectator fees. Will have to wait & see.

Oldpeoplesprinting · 11/05/2021 15:25

@Fingerscrossed1234 that’s great re your counties - do you mind saying where you are?

WidowTwonky · 11/05/2021 15:36

We’re able to watch our meets through zoom. Seems to work ok. As long as you have the start lists - no chance it’s good enough to be able to decipher who is who!

Fingerscrossed1234 · 11/05/2021 15:36

Not at all- we are in Surrey and the details are on their website.

Helenjohanna · 11/05/2021 15:53

@Oldpeoplesprinting

Timing is fun! I did it last week at an in-club meet & enjoyed it. Only tip is to really listen to the starter - if you’re a bit late hitting the start button you could give someone quite a big pb (especially on a 50m!)!

Depending where you are & also what level, the South East region are putting on meets at the end of July as a regionals type replacement (as fas as I’m aware) - both long course, one for under 14s & one for over. Not sure re anything else. My DDs club are planning on a ‘closed’ meet with a couple of local clubs in addition to some level x stuff, which will be great - whether or not we can watch I don’t know yet... my guess is probably no, but on the other hand I’m sure they could do with the spectator fees. Will have to wait & see.

We're in Central Bedfordshire. I don't know much about our swimming club. I have an account on Team Spotify, but there's very little on it. I don't even know much about Level X. If my son's in the very beginner squad, presumably he won't be competing for some time, and this Level X is just to get an idea of his current level.

I'm looking to go away for a weekend in June. It sounds like we should be all right for that.

Oldpeoplesprinting · 11/05/2021 17:28

@Fingerscrossed1234 that’s great - lucky Surrey! I hope some of the others follow ASAP 🤞

@Helenjohanna if he’s fairly new to it then Level x is perfect as it won’t be as full-on as a proper meet, but the times still count. Hope it all goes well!

Eccle80 · 11/05/2021 20:20

Interesting to hear Surrey are doing counties, I assumed none of that was happening this year! Are they using level X for qualifying?
I had seen the regional things but didn’t pay much attention as mine aren’t at that level. I think our club are planning some level X in June but don’t know the details yet, last time they only did 50s.

mondaywine · 12/05/2021 21:57

Very jealous of those of you with meets on the horizon. We are back in the pool in outboard of Scotland but at our committee this week, have discussed we may not even be able to hold our club champs which are in November. No sign of meets except at the elite or top level.

Helenjohanna · 12/05/2021 22:56

That seems rather over-cautious. What a shame.

Oldpeoplesprinting · 14/05/2021 16:44

@mondaywine that’s not great news - why couldn’t they do club champs? They don’t need to let spectators in - club champs would be an easy one to do. That seems really over the top (& definitely a way to kill off grass routes swimming in Scotland)

I’m guessing Surrey must be using level x to qualify for counties - personally think it seems a bit soon & not particularly fair to some kids who might not have got all their pool hours back, but it’s done with good intentions I suppose.

My hope is ‘proper’ open meets from September - that will still be 18 months since the last ones which is a very long time out of competition! I feel for the older kids - it’s not so bad for 13 & under but the older ones will struggle with all that time off. I know a LOT have dropped off in the last year which is so sad.