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.

[quote Hellocatshome]@Madcats just to make you a bit more jealous, we live a 5 minute walk from the pool our Counties is held at!

Swim son has just been told he needs a bag for next weekends gala that he can put a spare hat and goggles in to take with him to marshalling. What sort of bag do people use, the draw string mesh bags seem a bit big just for a hat and goggles?[/quote]
Ds has one of these

www.decathlon.co.uk/p/pool-waterproof-pouch-3l-blue-white/_/R-p-170091

Yes we do have separate County Championships, but it gets complicated by clubs of clubs. City of Bristol, for example, has swimmers competing in Gloucester, Somerset and possibly Wiltshire.

I seem to remember the Somerset/Devon/Dorset borders get a bit complicated too.

How's counties gone for those swimming this weekend?

Terrible for my DD - same times as 2 years ago and much slower than she was in December (bar the relay which doesn't count). I don't know why she wanted to go poor love.
She only trains 4 hours a week and was regional on 5-6 before but she's grown 8 inches and put on 3 stone in lockdown and is a different shape completely.
I wonder if this is what will make her give up completely now - she's medalled at counties a fair bit in the past and was top 10 in the region for a while. She's insanley talented at sport but doing extra subjects at school, competing in 3 sports and living in the middle of nowhere mean there isn't anymore time to swim

That must be hard Garysmum. DS went through a stage where he didn't seem to make much progress but has done well recently and did well today. They do seem to go through spurts of PBs and then not.He's grown several inches overall the last 2 years and is now taller than me. Our Counties is long course. For 400 free and 200 back he knocked 20 secs off time from 2 years ago and 4.5 secs off 50 free. 2 were also PBs when comparing to short course times.

Not sure what happened there! He's grown several inches!

@Garysmum thats such a shame for your DD I know a couple of 13/14 year olds now swimming slower than they did when they were 11. My own DS is only 11 and hasnt managed to beet his PBs set in October, although he seems to have had a bit of a growth spurt so I dont know if that accounts for it.

DS used to be measured every week at training, and yes, when they have a growth spurt their performance drops markedly. We had one weekend when he was off the pace on all his swims, and found at the next measuring session that he had grown half an inch over that week.

I think when they grow suddenly their social awareness changes and they almost need to relearn - even just where the wall is and their dive etc.

I've no scientific evidence for this but it's my observation.

Then then suddenly chop time off!

Garysmum hope your dd is ok in the morning. It's hard for them when they do do what the want or what they thought they would.

Four well done hour ds. That's some pbs!!!!

Spacial awareness!

January galas are the worst. Year after year DD always preforms poorly as do all the older kids.
I don't know if it's the Christmas break or the season or the dark. But they all perk up again as it gets brighter.

We're at Inspire Luton now and can easily see through the window. Other parents are doing the same. I've been really nervous about getting this right. I'm sure DS is due here at 11.50 for his warm-up, but we decided to come early in case I got it wrong and we thought it would be nice to watch eatlier races.

@Helenjohanna good luck mini Helenjohanna 🤞

[quote Hellocatshome]@Helenjohanna good luck mini Helenjohanna 🤞[/quote]
Thank you. We listened in to other parents talking and got more of a gist of how it all works. It is a shame that we can't spectate because it would be a lot easier to grasp it all.

Ask lots of questions! Other parents are always happy to explain things and give you tips that will make life easier.

I just spoke to a dad and he reassured me that DS will be looked after. I do feel sad that we literally dropped him off at a back door! We're watching him through the window and he's warming up with some others.

He will be absolutely fine his coaches and team mates will look after him. Honestly the kids take it all in their stride its us parents who have kittens about it all!

DD’s LC gala last weekend was no spectators and I actually quite enjoyed not having to watch! She would send her times and if she got a medal after each race and I had a lovely day at home 😂.

She is still testing positive (day 7) so no development camp for her today ☹️, but at least she will be out for counties and regionals!

I definitely stressed more about the DSs swimming than they did! The older swimmers tend to take the younger ones under their wing and look after them.

This is all lovely to read! Thank you!

We just spoke to the mum of one of the others from his relay team and she was lovely. I feel more settled now.

Garysmum I’m sorry it didn’t go better for her, hope she is ok. It’s so hard seeing them upset about things.

Helenjohanna good luck to him! It is easier when you can watch to get the hang of it all, but he will be fine. Hopefully there will be another meet soon where you can watch.

Our counties aren’t until next weekend, second time for my 13 year old (though he only had one event last time), first for my 10 year old

Let us know how he gets on!

He just did it. He lost half a pool's length. Really slow compared with the others. Tbh, he's lost it for the team. Does it matter?

He just did it. He lost half a pool's length. Really slow compared with the others. Tbh, he's lost it for the team. Does it matter?

In the grand scheme of things no it doesn't matter, to your DS right now it might matter a lot. I am always careful to just ask DS if he had fun after a gala, I dont say anything else about it unless he initiates conversation about it.

He says he's just happy that he took part, which is a relief!