Poolside Chat: parents of competitive swimmers

[2ducksandI]

Seems I managed to fill the other thread with talk of taking fridges to away galas! And I didnt even mean a fridge I meant an electric cool box So I've started another thread. Hope you all find it.

Thanks all

It's definitely not covid, and the coach should know this so I don't think that's what this policy is about. DS had covid a few weeks ago and I kept him off training and a gala at that time (another reason DS really really wants to go to this gala!) and I was up front and honest etc.. I explained to the coach DS had covid and was sorry he couldn't attend gala or training. So the coach knows he's had covid not that long ago, and thus is unlikely to have it again right now. DS has no covid symptoms (no temperature, no cough, no positive lateral flow). Just all feels mean to me to prevent him attending a gala when he's well but recently had a cold. Loads of kids have colds in the squad all the time and attend galas. The difference seems to be they don't let the coach know, so I'm learning to not be honest. Don't think this is a good thing to learn though - or teach DS.

This coach is one for digging his heels in, so doubt I'll get anywhere in persuading him to let DS go to the gala, no matter how gently I try and pursuade 🤷

Barbeasty, coach is phoning me tomorrow so I will ask him for clarification then (maybe he'll surprise me and be kind for a change)

That sounds very unfair. I sympathise.

I hope the conversation with the coach was productive.

Good luck to anyone swimming this weekend. It feels like meets are coming thick & fast now.

Morning!

Ds and I attended a level 1 meet last week - and yes it's that regional, national, British meet qualifying time of year! Quite annoying though as ds is a para swimmer so we don't find out until late what the times are to qualify. British champs is done on para points and they've not yet released what the threshold is.

@itsgettingweird ah thats annoying but fingers crossed for him. We have our county relays tomorrow. DS may or may not be in the A team with his friends they are not telling them what teams they are in or events they are swimming until at the gala. I really hope he isnt disappointed he's already feeling a bit down about his swimming ability as it is.

[quote Hellocatshome]@itsgettingweird ah thats annoying but fingers crossed for him. We have our county relays tomorrow. DS may or may not be in the A team with his friends they are not telling them what teams they are in or events they are swimming until at the gala. I really hope he isnt disappointed he's already feeling a bit down about his swimming ability as it is.[/quote]
Best of luck to him.

If it's any consolation sometimes these decisions which appear (and also actually be be) unfair are a blessing in disguise. They build a determination and resilience.

One year my ds was picked as the freestyle leg 4 in the freestyle relay and freestyle leg of the medley. Then it was changed.

All other relays had swim offs during training for places. This relay didn't. Perhaps because the swimmer who replaced him in the medley was the coaches son

Ds didn't agree. Other parents were annoyed as they knew ds was slightly quicker and more reliable at getting the times.

He had the last say when his 1 length (long course) was quicker than the other boys lengths he swam.

The other lad quit not long after. Ds is now a national level para swimmer. 🤷‍♀️

British Champs starts lists are out and they've had to reject some swimmers who've met qualifying times.

It's blowing up on their Facebook and Twitter.

@Porseb yes some very upset swimmers at training this morning 😪

@Porseb

British Champs starts lists are out and they've had to reject some swimmers who've met qualifying times.

It's blowing up on their Facebook and Twitter.

Is this the April champs?

I've not really paid much attention to this as not a para swimming event.

[quote Hellocatshome]@Porseb yes some very upset swimmers at training this morning 😪[/quote]
It is very sad as many thought they had qualified and didn't think they wouldn't be allowed to swim.

Perhaps instead of qualifying times, British Swimming should have issued consideration times.

@itsgettingweird - yes the selection trials in April

Agee about consideration times.

Our regional times are tough. So much so that in some events only 1 or 2 swimmers have auto times. Then there is consideration times and a published list of how many swimmers will be accepted as a maximum for each event in each age group.

So it's easy to see if you are likely to get in, on the border or unlikely to make the cut even if you have a consideration time.

Our club had a few swimmers qualified. I think having looked quickly at the link above there may have been a few more who would have qualified and didn't get in?

All the ones on the rejection list have qualifying times but probably the slower end of the QTs

@Porseb

All the ones on the rejection list have qualifying times but probably the slower end of the QTs

Such a shame for them. I wonder if BS didn't foresee so many people coming back from covid so well and making the times? A little misjudgement on their behalf? I know it's dressed up as capacity but I'd be interested to know how they also misjudged that? Restrictions are less now!

Ds had LC training this morning after a gym session.

Yes it’s gutting for those rejected. Didn’t impact my SS but one of his friends has been

So DS's will he won't he make the A team for relays dilemma was solved as some kids had to drop out. Fun day at the relays and a happy swim son.

I've not really followed the British Swimming Champs entry process as DD has barely scraped Regionals.

I think they could have tried harder to manage expectations. I imagine quite a few kids were happy to get what they thought was going to be a QT and didn't bother to swim it again at subsequent meets. I seem to remember that some if our forthcoming meets wouldn't admit swimmers with National Times. Hoteliers won't be too chuffed either!

It's good to hear your child enjoyed the relays Hellocatshome. It really helps swimmers to feel part of the team.

We love a good relay in our household 😬

Sometimes when swimmers are chasing qualifying times, the fun stuff gets forgotten about but is so important for fostering a really good team culture.

Totally agree relays are the best

It's such a fun event to watch and the ones I can't wait to see again now we can spectate.

My ds won't make any relay teams as he's not as fast as the able bodied swimmers but he has got all 6 of his events at regionals.

I remember there was a chat before on good electric coolboxes.

I need one that can be plugged into mains to use at hotels.

Any recommendations?

That was me asking about the electric cool box, in the end we went for a Vango cool box (not electric) but it claims to keep things cool for up to 5 days, not tried it yet it will get its first outing at Regionals at the end of April. We decided electric would just be too much faff.

Looking online I'm beginning to think it's not as easy as i thought it would be!

Regionals is just day trip and 2 afternoons for us so luckily I have time to mull it over!

But we are 2 days away for junior para nationals in June and then up to 5 days away for nationals (if he qualifies) in august. I'm thinking coolboxes are better when the air temp is cooler?

It would probably be best to ask about coolboxes on a busier bit of Mumsnet- is there a camping thread?

We had a coolbox that worked on mains or car battery. We probably bought it from Halfords or the middle aisle if Lidl/Aldi for about £50.

It was quite noisy in a hotel room and it killed our car battery! We only tend to use it with ice blocs in these days and tend to book apartments.

Thanks.

Was chatting to my dad last night and asked him if he'd ever owned one as they use to travel a lot to south of France by car.

Turns out he has a mains one that can run on car battery (we wouldn't need to) in the loft I can borrow whenever I need.

How did I not know this before 🤷‍♀️🤦‍♀️🤣🤣🤣

I am staying in Coventry for para juniors in June and I've found an ibis with Asda right next door.

Then Sheffield in summer for nationals. I'd either travel up night before and have it loaded or take it enjoy and buy stuff at supermarket to fill it. Until I know what he's swimming and when I can't plan that far ahead.

It's so annoying that para swimming has different entry requirements and they don't come out as early as AB swimmers.

Most places where the larger meets are held now have quite easy access to supermarkets so if very hot, probably easier to buy stuff on the day.

I tend to drop at pool for warm up and nip into shop during warm up so I can still get back to watch if spectators are permitted.

If anyone needs tips on cooking in hotel rooms, let me know 😉