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.

First weekend of counties over. DD got a PB and a gold! There is a break next weekend and then we are back the weekend after. I need a drink! No spectators was a pain with having to drop off, leave and then come back.

Well done mini Inspector, sounds like she may have been at the same Counties as my DS, the one and only race he qualified for was today and he PB'd no where near a medal but we didn't expect him to be. We are lucky enough to live a 5 minute walk from the pool so actually no spectators makes my day much more relaxing but I do hope this is thenlast no spectators event given we are having no covid rules from the end of Feb.

@Hellocatshome It does sound like the same one. I am very envious that you live so close to the pool. We are 40 minutes away and it’s hard to gauge when to set off so we don’t miss finals on YouTube but aren’t late for collection 😂. Well done to your DS!

Well done to minis hello and inspector.

PBs are great and what out coaches always you should be aiming for.

Of course they love the bling too

I've enjoyed having this weekend to chill although ds swim training moved from 6am to 5am yesterday!

Counties weekend for us too, though we did allow spectators. No medals but some nice PBs.
We finish off at end of Feb at our local pool. No crack of dawn set off for that

We had our last weekend of Counties. We were allowed to spectate. Large international pool with plenty of room so it didn't feel crowded at all. DS had 3 races yesterday and got a PB in all of them. Way off medals but he's definitely getting better times at the moment, and importantly still enjoys it.

Well done Mini Widow and Magpies

It’s so exciting to have so many galas on the horizon finally. We have our district finals this weekend. It’s split over two weekends. DD has two events out of 4 but gutted not to be in breaststroke. There’s been so few galas up to now that she doesn’t have an accredited time despite being faster in training consistently. It’s a hard one for the younger end as they were 10/11 pre covid so don't have the times. Heard last night there’s going to be a test spectator event next month which is exciting. The restriction on numbers up here means that I haven’t even been needed as a timekeeper since galas returned!

Good luck miniiwan and well done to the minis who swam last week. Love hearing about PBs.

Ds and I have been catching up on world para series in Aberdeen. He qualified for the domestic competition but unfortunately we couldn't go due to his exams, it being term time here and so I'm working and my mums health (she has terminal cancer and possibly only weeks ).

We did consider flying up tomorrow eve but couldn't get flights and hotels to match up! It's probably worked out for the best considering the weather! Although college is also cancelled so no exam either 🤦🏼‍♀️

So sorry to read that about your DM itsgettingweird

Hope everyone is staying safe in this horrendous weather

Sorry to hear about your DM itsgettingweird I lost my DM almost a year ago to lymphoma.

Sorry to hear that four and thanks for the messages.

Mum has peritoneal cancer and was diagnosed October 2016. So she's done very well. Since before Christmas we've noticed how much she's gone downhill quicker than previously.

Dad was a swimmer and was very involved in the club ds now swims with (and is still a member!) but he also has cancer before pandemic and has quit his role with asa.

Told worse case weeks last week so although she still having chemo it's a difficult time because it's a horrid waiting game. Wanting her to have a life but knowing it's not going to be years or even until the end of this year (unless a miracle happens ).

Ds doesn't know and mum and dad still want him booked into all meets.

But I couldn't get him to Aberdeen until this evening (not sure with this weather that would've happened anyway!) and dad originally was going to take him instead but I just felt (before this news) it wasn't a wise plan.

He's at the NEC in Birmingham next week as they are trialling para swimmers in an aim to add more inclusivity so that's exciting for him.

I've just dropped mini-Ying off to her first ever county competition - a relay gala. She was nine in November and is swimming with the 10-11 girls, she is very excited. Gutted that covid regs have meant we can't watch this one, but I think she's going to have a great time.
We're not a swimming family (not sure where she got it!!) so we're all learning the lingo and regulations as we go.

Hi all. Hope everyone's counties have been going ok and I hope mini ying enjoyed her relays. Fab way for them to start and get the idea of the big comps.

I've just dropped ds off in Birmingham for the weekend at the National event camp. I'm sure he'll have a great time but it'll be hard work.
Quite nice for him as the talent para officer is there as well as the head coach from his home club as he's a skills coach (not for the distance ds is doing). Also he has another 2 para swimmers he knows there too.

And he also has his own room. Because he has a physical disability he's been given an accessible room (he's fully ambulant 🤣).

He's quite looking forward to being able to have swimmers come to his room but have his own space when he's had enough of others (he also autistic so that's quite common 🙈🤣)

Hope your DS had a good weekend weird. How did he find it? That's good that they get their own rooms.

He loved it thanks!

He only got his own room because he was given an accessible room due to his disability. (He'd have been fine in a normal one but hey ho!)

There was 5 para swimmers and they met them as a group and asked for their feedback.

They are going to continue doing some joint ventures and also the spectate para swimming camps too.

There are a number of galas around at the moment named as National Qualifiers, my son has been entered into one. But where do I find the National Qualifying times to know if he has actually qualified?

www.britishswimming.org/events-and-tickets/british-swimming-championships-2022/
@Hellocatshome - I think this is the link

If you look under the “coaches” tab the QTs are there.

@craggyrat Thanks, there is no chance he is making those times, although he is only 11

There are also British and Home Nation Summer meets - the qualifying window has just opened.

These will be based on rankings by age group for events.

Top 24 to British Summer, then next 20 to each of the Home Nations (England, Scotland, Wales), I think.

Link below explains

www.britishswimming.org/news/latest-swimming-news/summer-meets-qualifying-window-set-open/

Glad all have enjoyed their recent meets :) and sorry to hear about your mum itsgettingweird.

I was just wondering if your kids train with colds and/or attend galas after recovering from recent colds? Do you ever tell the coach if your kid is under the weather (I thought it was best to, but now not so sure)

The coach has said DS isn't allowed to attend a gala he's been excited about for ages, this weekend. His reason is that DS has had a cold this week (and I therefore thought he should miss 2 training sessions to ensure he was well rested for the upcoming gala) and even if he's completely better on Friday, he's not allowed to attend. This feels a bit ridiculous to me, especially as the others who have colds (and who DS probably caught his from) but haven't told the coach, are going to the gala.

How do I explain this weekend that although he's now fine, he can't attend the gala because he was poorly earlier in the week??

Any thoughts?

@TooEarlyForMe do they have a policy about not being able to attend a gala if you miss sessions in the week before? It should be in writing somewhere if they do. It does seem particularly unfair though, galas are usually less strenuous than training anyway.

Is it not Covid related? We don’t have any guidance around missing training = missing gala, but we are advised to stay away if we have any Covid symptoms

Is it because of the cold or because it means he’s displaying potential symptoms of COVID?

I’d maybe ask for clarification about why, if he’s rested this week and recovered, he shouldn’t attend. And maybe gently point out that it will just encourage people not being honest in future.