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!?

Well done mini-ealing! Yes we had a good one thanks. He prefers sc to lc as we don't have any lc training, but very happy with his swims. Roll on the next competition ...!

Well we survived Regionals. Just a hoodie and a hat were purchased - no racing/swim suits 'needed' (but this might be because we pointed out DD had plenty of pocket money in her bank account).

DD had several PBs, but the best swimmers really are in a different league. We made a couple of finals (so far better than we had imagined after Counties). Most importantly DD seemed to enjoy herself.
Well done miniEaling too.

I was especially chuffed with MY recent purchases - a cheap inflatable camping pillow (I should probably have bought a self inflating one, but this survived 2 weekends partially inflated and it packs really small) and noise-cancelling headphones with an assortment of audiobooks downloaded from our library onto my phone. I was able to escape into the books whilst looking as if I might be paying attention.

That’s great, Madcats. Well done to your DD. Pillow sounds like a great idea. How on earth did swim parents manage in the past before iPads and Premier Inns....?!

Gosh I completely forgot to congratulate miniEsther.

We tend to do the early morning drive (haven't done Nationals) but do favour Premier Inns or IBIS.

Hope the comparative newbies' DC are coping with the training.

No problem but thank you. Nice month now to next gala. Phew. We like to stay over if more than hour and a half away. Make a weekend of it as only got DS. I remember when I had a life....

I've just learned how to download Netflix episodes.

But it's a little too late now I'm redundant other than training pick ups as most galas she travels and stays with the team...

I miss it, a little. And can't believe I've actually said that after the gruelling years

Regionals finished here this evening. We were there literally until the bitter end!

New hoodie (obvs) and goggles purchased. Club gave each qualifier a new, specially printed shirt, which DS was pleased about as he says it’s nicer to wear than his usual club shirt.

He wants a few days off swimming and is hoping to play cricket next weekend.

DS has had the email! He’s on the list for nationals. Am slightly over-excited as it’s the first time he’s made it and he has spent 15 months training with this in mind.

That is amazing news Queen! Well done to your DS, so you should be proud!

Well done Queens DS. Amazing 🌟

Thank you! I’m now frantically trying to find accommodation for the trip. We thought English national meet might be a possibility, didn't think too much about the British Champs.
I’m already saving up for the hoodie.

That’s fantastic, Queen! Well done him. What event(s) is he doing? We are to sunny Swansea for Welsh.

Esther that's great news also - congratulations to your DS!

Congratulations to Queen! To Esther too. Best of luck to both children for the forthcoming Nationals.

DD is having a bit of a rest this week (also known as charging to the other side of the country to see elderly relatives who we ought to see more often...but there always seems to be something on). In the past 7 days she has swum precisely 10 lengths of a lovely empty lane pool and gone down a few waterslides. That's how normal people swim, isn't it?

Back to training on Friday!

Thank you 😀

Sounds like v enjoyable swimming, Madcats ! We are away too. Have lost the ability to sleep in though due to all those 5am swims...

@Estherfrewen well done to your swimmer! How exciting!!
DS is a backstroker, clearly hates getting his face wet.

Would anyone mind if I joined?

Was hoping for a bit of advice from mums with older swimmers who may have been in my position once.

My 9 yr old joined his club shortly after his 8th birthday- he's been going just over a year now. He trains 3 times a week for 45 mins. He's doing well- but in his cohort of 9 yr olds is one of the weaker swimmers. Not that he is bad at all, the others just happen to be very strong. (And there's quite a few of them)

Now he is at competing age, it is becoming obvious that he isn't going to be the one picked for the team, or in the open meets stand much of a chance.

I know this sounds a little defeatist- and I'm honestly not- but it is a little disheartening when he works as hard as everyone else.

Has anyone any experience of this? Did things improve as they got a little older?

He loves it so quitting is definitely not an option, and I am not expecting him to be an Olympian or anything- but a more even footing against the others would be nice....

Hi, Wine and welcome

I have seen countless amazing 9 10 and 11 year olds who have bet overtaken by ones they used to beat comfortably. I've also seen ones who were at the back of the pack qualify for British age 14, including a boy eo couldn't swim that stroke legally age 10! Equally some age 8 are still good age 15. Basically what you are swimming age 9 doesn't matter a jot as long as you are enjoying it! Concentrate on good technique and keeping going. He is still v young.

Sorry for mistakes - typing on phone....

Thank you Esther- made me feel much better...

I was a bit worried that my post made me look like a really pushy mother that's stamping my feet with the attitude that if he doesn't win, then he's not doing it!! And that really isn't the case.. And he isn't aware at all of my worries. It's just such a massive commitment isn't it?

Now he's crossed the 9 yr threshold I guess the gala talk has picked up- and I'm seeing the same few names always on the team lists. He did a gala a couple of weeks ago- one where they issued speeding tickets so they didn't take their best swimmers- his club won and it was lovely watching him celebrate with his team and made all the training in the pool worth it.. It would be lovely it he got to experience that a little more, that's all I suppose..

DS and I were talking about this last night. Aged 9 he made 1 county time and maybe 2 county development time. He was in the first heat for them all I think. His breaststroke was never legal and he frequently DQed in fly. His saving grace was that he is part of a tiny club and the coaches decided he had “something”, so kept giving him pool time.

He’s 14 now and off to British Championships next month. Some of the boys who trounced him time and time again have vanished completely, some dropped back and are now regaining form as puberty changes their bodies. Some, like him, are coming from no-where.

Not sure what they future will hold/ they have a long time to go until they swim as adults.

It is a very demanding sport for family as well as the swimmer! My son was an early developer but is very small now compared to his peers. He is very much part of the pack rather than a medal threat but has got so much out of the sport. Still swimming away nine years later....!

Ditto the thoughts of Queen and esther; and welcome wine! The key to sustaining a swimmer through high and low periods is if they still enjoy it.

My DD, now nearly 16 didn't hit any county times until 12/13, and then started to hit county/regional times. A difficult injury season this year has resulted in her not reaching nationals this summer but after some dark soul searching moments she is determined to get fitter and recover for next season. It makes no difference to me if she does or doesn't achieve that goal, so long as her heart's still in swimming and she feels part of a supportive team.

As esther says, a swimming life gives them so much more - we see it more at this time of year when those that have long departed for their uni years return in their holidays to swim and partake in the club camaraderie; hopefully having made friends for life.

(disclaimer - this is NOT a stealth boast! DS is a good swimmer, yes! But he doesn't have raw talent, he just likes swimming so swims alot! No Phelps in the making!)

Ok, so I'm worn out and seeking advice from anyone that might have been through this (as I don't think swim teachers believe me :) !). .. so DS LOVES swimming and when he swims he is the happiest child in the world! Out of the pool he's lovely too, but a bit of a handful! In the pool he is happy, calm and content! And after a swim he is just looovvely :) problem is he is 7, and wants to swim ALL the time! I'm exhausted!!! Since age 4 it has been a constant battle to get enough lessons in. We have changed lessons sooo much because the teachers change, the levels change, there are no lessons in holidays so need to keep finding crash courses or private lessons and today I am just shattered with trying to find enough lessons for him for the rest of the term and for the holiday approaching, that don't get cancelled, or that can sustain his appetite! He has a trial for a club coming up, and I think it'll help once he's in, but it won't start til september! In the meantime, I am frantically always on the phone trying to get in extra lessons ... It's been 3 YEARS of this! With ever increasing demands (he now wants to swim everyday- I've limited to 4 days because I can't afford it and nor can I find enough lessons!) But I want to nurture his love and it makes such a difference to his mood and happiness when he swims!!!

Just really after a hand hold! And any advice from parents who may have had a child like this!!!??? (please tell me in not alone!!!) Did you get through it!? Have things settled in a club? (Our club train twice a week at his level, so will still need at least 2 top up classes a week and I can see no end to ringing around and trying to get things sorted!! (And just when they do get sorted, from experience so far, the lessons change, levels change, lessons are cancelled etc... and it's just constant!!! Grrrrrrrr!!!! :)!!)

Ps. Just to add ... I don't mind at all ferrying him around to lessons, and am fine about sitting poolside for hours now and probably for many years to come! I'm also actually quite looking forward to him entering galas once he's in a club and ready and old enough! And from threads like this am preparing for all that might entail! It's the mental and emotional effort of trying to arrange and organise endless lessons that is driving me nuts! But I never really hear anyone else having these problems and feel a bit alone!! Anyone?

Welcome wine and WornOut.

At DD's club there is a mid-teen who has finally hit his growth spurt and is beginning to pick up speed. His dad encouraged him to stick with it and now his DS is really enjoying the progress. They are a swim family, so the Dad had the 'benefit' of personal experience.

It sounds as if WornOut's son is super-keen. DD used to enjoy swimming, but once a week and an occasional playdate swim was good enough for her until she joined a club.

Towards the end of the ASA stages, they start to put emphasis on swimming sets (groups of lengths, rather than 25 metres). Is he at that stage and confident in all strokes? If he is, I would simply take him along to the local sports centre and let him get on with it (at that age, you will probably need to be in the water/sit on the edge). Is there a special holiday pass you could get/membership to keep costs down? Take a friend? If you are lucky you might discover that your local sports centre runs a holiday club (with bits of swimming in)?

After this weekend we are winding down for much of the summer - regional swim camp will come as a bit of a shock!