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!?

Hello Ealing, she is wearing Ortho-K overnight contact lense so no-one actually notices that she is short-sighted, there are couple of issues with it however we decided to carry on with it(the last couple of years or so). If you’d like to consider for MiniEaling please let me know.

With her current goggles she has to stop every couple of laps to rewear it as they get froggy, it isnt a nice break rather than a hassle so I am very looking forward for her to try on these new goggles(once they arrive).
She could swim well for 1.5km only stopping to adjust the goggles(however keeps changing to all styles, she said 1 style bores her) then another 500m is much slower then needs a few mins break to finish the rest 500m. This was what happened last night.

Just to add another sentence to make it clearer on the over night contact lense: Ortho-K allows her to have 20/20 during the day without any lense(wearing it before bed, minimum of 6 hours sleep).

Ah, thanks for that, I had to look up what Ortho-K was. To be honest, her prescription changes every 3 - 6 months (maybe it's the growing still, I really don't know why), now nearing -6. She's counting down to when she could look at laser as an option and has got used to being ultra careful in water. I would also worry about there needing to be a minimum number of hours sleep required for the O-K lenses to work effectively during the day. Something I cannot guarantee (7 would be her average I think).

Just more things to consider; welcome to the ups and downsides of competitive swimming with all its accompanying paraphernalia!

DS has trialled and got into the club :) Hooray! Thanks for all the advice on the thread! It was a completely not scary, very relaxed trial! Just involved a few lengths of different strokes! I guess we can officially properly join the thread now!!

The delivery arrives however the kind neighbor who received it for us wasnt home when we knocked so we are now in the pool with the old goggle which needs to be adjusted after every lap...
Ealing, one of the reason I chose Ortho K for her was for the numbers dont get worse as much. She started with 1 eye -1.25 and the other -2.5 then the last 2 years the -1.25 stays however -2.5 has become -3:(. Her doctor suspected that it could be because she didnt wear the left and right correctly some nights(she agrees). It still is worth to consider especially her numbers are still changing(however agrees, minimum sleep might be tough to make for busy miniEaling especially on training days :(.

And 2.5km only stopping each lap to adjust the old/loose goggles, she has made it to 57mins.

Good news, Hoola 🙂. Well done to your DS

Thanks estherfrewen !! He's v happy!!!

Let's hope they really help when you finally get your hands on them green!

Good luck to your DS Hoola, and to you as a swim parent

Well done to mini Hoola. Don't worry if technique goes out the window for the first few sessions. For many, it is a big step up but they soon get fit.

DS is really struggling at the minute. Training is HARD but we’ve not been swimming long enough to judge whether he’s not up to it or if it’s just the current schedule. I know training goes in cycles throughout the season so do you guys know if it’s this point in the year when they really push them?
I would’ve thought the peak might have gone (counties and regional QTs have passed) but then again are they stepping it up for those finals? Or is he just tired and grumpy?
He’s only 10 and has been swimming with them for maybe 18 months

Hi, Widow. Training does go in cycles. Do you have anything from the coaches as to what training cycle they are in and what that will consist of? If he is young in a squad of older ones? When are your regionals? Ours at the moment are focussing on British for a few at Easter but then regionals in May for all the squads. Max aerobic training tends to be mid-cycle with the move towards sprints/technique and then race prep as the event gets closer. If your regionals are May then perhaps in the aerobic phase for that. But all coaches will have slightly different idea.

Is the coach approachable? It Is probably best to have a word. Has there been a squad move up for your DS or is he the youngest? Does he have a lot on at school? He may be growing. So much can affect swimming but it is important he is happy there otherwise it becomes a joyless slog! How often is he training? Sorry .. so many questions there...

Just as a comparison, our 10 year olds in general are swimming perhaps 4 to 6 times a week depending in squad. Trying to think back my DS had to keep a swim diary at that age for his squad and it was usually between 1500m and 2500m per session, depending on what cycle it was. He had swum for 4 years at that stage.

Thanks esther. We have regionals age group in May and our squad isn’t elite so none of ours are in the nationals.
His squad is probably second class - as in most make counties, and some make regionals. Aged 10-13.
They swim 7 sessions a week but last night they had their usual 20 min land training but a solid 80 mins fc. No fins. No snorkels. No stopping! He found it really hard.
We have a few sessions cancelled over the next couple of weeks (due to alterations) so think we’ll take the chance to rest and see if he feels any better

Hi, Widow - that's a lot of fc for a 10 year old! Does he do all 7 sessions? We are a small town club and our top squad has 8 sessions available but they only need to do 6. Age range 13 to 18 with three British qualifiers plus 3 or 4 home nation qualifiers. So that amount for 10 seems a lot. I think missing a few for squad alterations is probably a good idea - he is still v young and you don't want him getting put off now.

Just spoken to DH who used to coach. He says 80 minutes on one stroke continuously is ridiculous! Far too much strain on a body in one plane. Do they do that a lot?

No, it was an unusually hard session. Which is why I’m hoping it’s the peak of the training cycle. I’m pleased to hear that it sounds intense to you too, and I can let DS know that it’s as tough as it gets. Training is normally much more balanced.
Hopefully make him feel better about it as he was really down last night. Thanks esther

And no he tends to skip the morning sessions (we don’t get home til 930pm so getting poolside again for 530am is too much for a 10 yo). So he only does 4 sessions a week.

Ah that’s good if it was just a one off. Four sessions sounds ideal at that age. Hope he feels a bit happier soon 🙂

First competition done here tonight for my 9 year old ! Friendly between clubs rather than licensed. No medals but 8 seconds off PB for 50 M freestyle (& was only 4 seconds off county qualifying time. Very proud of her)!

That's brilliant, Wandastartup! Well done her. What a great start to her competitive swimming 🏊

Joining in here. My 10 year old has been in a swimming club for almost 18 months. It’s a smaller club and they don’t train as much as others seem to. He is doing his first junior league meeting with them tonight, hopefully he will enjoy it although it looks like he could be swimming backstroke which is his least favourite!

Hello and welcome! Good luck for tonight - I miss the league meets as our club don’t swim them any more. Hope he does well 🏊‍♀️

Thank you, he did, his individual backstroke was a decent effort given it isn’t his best stroke, and he did lots of relays too (all but one of which he was doing free which is his best one). He enjoyed himself and the team did well overall. I enjoyed cheering them all on too though it was even hotter than the normal poolside i’m used to!

Let’s talk it bag.

My daughter currently has the basic decathlon kickboard and pull bouy but it’s seen better days. Wondering if it’s worth upgrading? Any suggestions?

Seems like most of the kids have decathlon stuff so things often get mixed up easily.

I like the tyr kit bag.

Glad he had a good time. Relays always fun and swimming is such an individual sport it is great when they get chance to do a team event.

Re kit - we have a Speedo outlet shop nearby and tend to get stuff there. You get an extra 10% off with British Swimming membership card. Used Finis for a while as club had a tie in but didn't like that much. Like Tyr.