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!?

Morning scream

If I understand correctly, if Club 1 participates in inter-club galas as friendlies but are not licensed meets (level 4 or 3), then these are not official galas where swimmers times are logged by SE. If the same goes for Junior Squad, then there will be a lag on formal development as swim times will not be officially recorded by SE resulting in lack of wider meet participation. Similar to school galas which is great, less pressure etc but swimmers will not develop the full discipline of gala rules, including avoiding DQs etc that's critical to a swimmer.

The Junior Squad (again, if I've understood correctly), currently has ages from 10+. If your DD joins, she'll be the youngest at 8? There is no issue with this per se, unless the squad has ages say, 12 - 18+ plus where there will be a wide mental develop gap, even if swimming wise there's less gap due to her ability. But I don't believe there are legal issues on age, and when she turns 9 (so if she's 9 before 31 Dec 19), she can race in licensed galas from now, or following year if she's 9 after 01 Jan 2020.

Based on her appetite to swim, her ability levels of both clubs want her in Juniors, I'd say Club 2 sounds like the better fit to enable her to grow into the sport rather than 'fudge' into a squad set up that has to accommodate all ages groups (vs ability and age as considerations) due to the Club's size.

I imagine the ages are just a guideline. All clubs will have different squads and age groups. Our top squad is age 13 to 18, but until quite recently minimum age was 15. We didn’t have enough kids so they brought in younger ones. Squads should be based on ability rather than age generally - although we do have an amazing 11 year old, fastest in the country, but they aren’t in top squad as that would be too much from a friendship group point of view - far too big an age spread in squad.

My DS joined squad at 6 despite minimum age at time being 8. That lower age was then relaxed and others joined at 7. It all depends on what the coach wants and what he is prepared to justify to other parents.

At 8, your DD needs to be really careful not to do too much and burn out or risk injury. Girls generally develop faster than boys in swimming until about 12/13. Girls in our squad usually move up a year before boys of the same age and are quicker. Personally, from loooooong experience poolside, I wouldn’t want to do more than 3 or 4 a week at that age. You need to leave space to step up gradually over the years. If you do 6 or 7 squads aged 8, what do you do at 10 or 12?

We had a swimmer join this year from a very very small club where they swum 3 or 4 age 15. Now 16 they are swimming 5 or 6 with us - a slightly less small club! This year they are multiple county champion and have a realistic shot at British qualifying.

It is great to enjoy it and be successful when young. Mine won county regional and national medals before age 13. Then was overtaken by everyone as he is tiny! His rivals are now 6 foot 3 generally. He is 5 foot 5. He still turns out six times a week and qualifies for everything but is an also ran. He doesn’t care and will never stop. I think if he had over swum age 9 or 10 he wouldn’t by swimming now. Loads quit early teens. We noticed so many missing names at counties this year.

Am rambling, but what I want to say is enjoy it, take it slowly and gradually, and then you will be in it for the long haul. Celebrate the successes - the pbs will tumble like crazy at this age - but don’t wear out the fun too soon and don’t overswim. A good coach will advise you on how many your DD should do at 8. If they push for 5 plus squads, they are not acting in her best interests.

Good luck!

I'd just add that whilst many see swimming as just an individual sport, being in an inclusive team set up is equally important, and not just for relays etc. Having team peers who pick you up when things are tough as well as sparring with them race wise to get themselves ready for external competitor swimmers are all key to happy squads, so look for set ups that provide these.

Absolutely, Ealing. My DS’ friendship group are his squad. As a small club, he has a dozen kids who he can count on, boys and girls, and even when new kids move in age 15 plus they are very quickly part of that group. Some he has swum with for 9 years, others 6 months. Nothing cements friendships like getting up at 4.30 am! And to see them looking after the 9 year olds at counties just like senior swimmers looked after them years ago is lovely.

Earlingwestmum and estherferwen

Thanks for your advice. Feel like a whole different ball game since we joined club 2.

She was added to the inter town squad at 6 so is used to competing but I know I need to be careful and not allow her to do so much.

She trains Sunday, Monday and Tuesday at club 2 and Thursday and occasionally Sunday club 1.

Plus whenever gala’s are.

Does this sound too much? No morning training as of yet and won’t be for a while yet (I like sleep)!

The majority of kids who move to a big club retain club 1, due to a sence of loyalty/ more opportunity to race/ most middle of the pack kids at big club are best of the bunch at club 1.

She has friends at club 1 but they are all minimum 2 years older than her and the age difference is becoming more noticeable. Plus recently my daughter has swam faster than all but one in her group. The girls her age are not the same session as her.

At club 2 she is still the youngest but the age gap is less.

Any advice is much appreciated!

Thanks all

She sounds like she is showing lots of promise scream. I'm going to leave esther and others to give you more meaningful feedback though as I am limited on first hand experience of young, innately talented swimmers and how they progress..mine was a late developer and really only started competition swimming from 11. Some really understand the water quicker than others.

If the swimmers are happy and retention is good in the older age groups with club 2, then it bodes well, and great that there seems to be a collaborative relationship between the 2 clubs also covering all swimmers' abilities (and friendships).

Only you can tell what's too much. What ever age they're at. They are as light as a feather and can be super quick at 8/9, but as some of the other posters can vouch, just be mindful that they don't head for burn out, especially with girls when they hit puberty. Bones get heavier, growth spurts can be out of sync with ligament growth etc etc and they have a tendency to drop out more at 13/14.

final point, it's always hard for swimmers when they move up squads (and in your case, clubs!), and maintaining friendships is not always easy as they get older. Some will also get resentful of others' success, and you really get to know those who have your back and are genuinely supportive of each other's development.

Politics everywhere I'm afraid, but better DC learn this in their early life and deal with it in all different scenarios than be naive to it.

Mayblossom i know how you feel. It is difficult when child tells you coach is being unfair. My ds said this to us. He swam for two small clubs. At club one he was second fastest for freestyle as very small club but slower child always chosen to represent club. My ds of 12 was always picked for IM bit prefers fs. He put up with it last year but has just left ad fed up. Second club he swims for has some very fast swimmers so he does not get chosen but knows swimmers are chosen on ability and has friends there so is happy to continue but now he is also doing Aqathlons. 400m fs swim, quick change then then 3km run.

Would echo the fact that there are always issues on a squad move up. Takes a little while to settle in, but generally a couple of years younger at 8 shouldn’t be an issue. We usually found friendships struggled a bit when the older friend moved up to secondary and younger friend still primary. Then when younger one moved to secondary too it was all fine again. Again at the difference between say 13 and 15 - problem disappears again when 15 and 17.

Generally it is parents who bother more about respective pbs. Kids just seem to get on with it and it can vary from month to month. It was a good lesson for my DS to realise boys who started at 11 would soon pick up the pace and be as fast or faster than he was. Good life lesson! I would just go with whatever club you’re happiest at and enjoy it for what it is. Generally swimmers are good at most sports and by age 11 one of our best swimmers was playing badminton at a high standard instead!

Hey all! Hope you can help! Thanks in advance!! My DS(7) has a trial for a club coming up. He's pretty good for his age and would live to compete, which is why we r going for the trial. What kind of things will they be looking for? He will be the youngest in the club which usually takes from 8, and the trial is for all under 11s. Will they be expecting a 7 year old to be of the same standard as a 10/11 yr old? (I doubt he'd swim as fast as he's little! And I'm guessing if they r trying out for a club, the 10 yr olds will be good for age), or (I hope) are they just looking for him to be good for age and have some talent they can nurture? (We r looking forward to it, and philosophical about him not getting through, but I'd hate for it all to be a bad experience for him, with the older ones lapping him!!)

PS. Should say, he keeps up with the year 5 and 6 (10/11) kids in his stage 7 lessons, but I am expecting kids of 10 trying out for a club will be more like stage 10(?) And fast(?)

Hi - well done on the trial! I doubt they will be expecting speed, although all clubs are different. We had a club trial last week that I watched, and they did some land training to check for flexibility, some dive starts, lots of 25m swims on all four strokes - not as much on fly as the other strokes. They usually look for a nice still head and a general “feel” for the water. They did quite a few drills to make sure they could follow instructions. Technique far more than speed. If he gets in at 7, he will only be able to swim club championships. At 8 they can do small inter club comps, but not all clubs run these and a mini league - again not all clubs do this. At 9 he can compete properly. That can mean a long wait for proper competition - my son started at 6 and almost quit before 9 as he couldn’t compete except for club champs and his friends who were a bit older could, so that’s something to think about. Other than that, it’s been a great experience so fingers crossed for you both 🙂

Thanks Esther - given what you say about competing, do you think it's better to wait? Just wondering your thoughts as we r so new to this world of swimming :)

It’s hard to say really. It worked out well for my son and we are still here nine years later! Depends on the club I think. If their junior squads are good at enforcing technique and don’t try and push him too hard too soon then the step up will probably be good as you don’t want him getting bored in lessons and stopping. I would definitely give the trial a go and see what you both think about it afterwards. Is he just 7 or nearly 8?

Thanks :) he's just 7, so still quite young. I think we'll do the trial and just see it as a learning experience and a chance for an extra swim :) If he gets in and likes it and it all seems friendly we'll go for it. If it doesn't go too well, we'll revisit when he's closer to 8 maybe :)

Sounds like a plan! Best of luck and let us know how he does. I think he will get in as they must have seen something good to offer a trial if below usual age 😀

Thanks! Will let you know (just hoping it's a pleasant experience for him) :)

Hi @HoolaHoopsAndMonsterMunch good to have you poolside! I hope he enjoys his trial.
I think competitive swimming chooses the child rather than the child choosing swimming. At that age, coaches are looking for potential, position in the water and the capacity to improve.
DS was picked up by a coach at 8 and has competed since 9. He has aspects of stroke which were terrible and had to be pulled apart and completely re-taught.

Thanks Queen! And good to hear the things the coaches might be looking for! We'll keep you posted about how he gets on!

A stupid question please: what should be an expected record for swimming 2.5km for a 11 yrs old please. She swims very well however has never entered any competition (only started in a competitive swimming club recently). The 2.5km goal is for a charity swim she aims for. Thanks so much.

Hi - if it’s for a charity swim I really wouldn’t worry about a time. The most my son has ever swum in competition is 1500m - am guessing open water swims may be longer but not pool swimming. I would just enjoy the experience - that’s a fantastic thing to do for charity.

If you just want an approx time I had a look on British Swimming and 11 year girls 1500m time is about 25 minutes and that is top 50 swims for this year at that age. I would say double that and add a bit for 2.5km so say an hour.

Very best of luck to her!

Thanks so much estherfrewen, it is a pool swimming. As of today training, she needs 30mins for 1.5km non-stop then slows down much more to finish the rest and actually had some rest before the last 500m.
Another question please, what is your recommendation for a very good, non froggy goggles please. Thank you

Hi - my son always has Speedo Fastskin goggles for training and racing - about £25 usually but last ages.

How long until the charity swim? Just work at the stamina and am sure she will do very well. That is a great time for a new club swimmer for a 1500m

I have just order one now, thanks so much. There is only more than a week to the swim day so we hit the pool 5 days this week and next week.

Hi green, good to see you on a different thread! That's really impressive swimming, very best of luck to her in her training and completing her goal over the next few weeks!

Same goggles here as esther. In our case the necessity to keep water out to protect DD's contact lenses is crucial. She's blind as a bat without wearing them in pool now, though we have to be really careful as it does contravene the optician's conditions of use for under 16's.

Let us know how she got on!