Starting club swimming

[afrikat]

My 6, almost 7 year old DD is nearing the end of stage 5 and is a lovely little swimmer. The local swimming club will take her once she reaches stage 6, after a trial. I believe it's only one session a week at that point, plus her weekly lesson still. Has anyone else started club swimming this young? Would it be better to wait for a bit? She's already pretty active with gymnastics, ballet, hip hop and performing arts but is keen to do the swimming too

My dc started at the swimming club at 4.
The gave beginners lessons. They were much better value than the local Council ones, and were much better at teaching strokes. They had teens in the water with the littlies.

Then they moved up groups as they gained skills rather than by ages.
However, once they got to about 8 or 9, they started ramping up the number of times a week they wanted them to train.
If they get good, it can begin to take over your life.

My two both started club swimming later. We have kids of her age in our club although they would probably be in stage 7.

I think it’s really up to you and there are advantages and disadvantages. One thing it is worth being aware of is that they can’t really compete until they are 9 other than in club championships. At just 7 that is a very big wait!

If they get good, it can begin to take over your life.

This is true for any sport though.

Not all kids who do competitive swimming do loads of training. We have lots who do other sports as well and train a couple of times a week.

Hi, similar position here. My 6 year old is currently in Level 6 and doing a mix of lessons through the local swimming club and externally.

Traditionally, swimmers could trial for the club Academy after Level 6, but due to a backlog after Covid the club introduced 60min lessons at Level 6 and 7 to focus on racing skills and stamina. A few parents with kids in the year above mine said they wish they had held back a bit because the jump to swimming in groups with much bigger, older kids has been offputting and the kids haven't been enjoying those training sessions. The club has advised me that the kids who stay on for the longer Level 6 and Level 7 lessons are better prepared and then progress through the Academy quicker.

The external teachers generally agree that the club is less hot on technique than other lessons, especially once kids hit the Academy. School coach says involvement in a range of sports is still important at this young age. We're happy with the hybrid approach at the moment and we'll see how things go.

Oh do pop onto the competitive swimming thread; we all have vastly different experiences.

Our story: DD(15) had swimming lessons from the age of about 4 (by 6 or 7 it went up to a 45 minute session; that was probably the 'learn to swim' stage 7 or 8). Initially the sheer amount of swimming was too much so the teacher toned it back but said we should try to get a club trial.

We joined a club in year 3 (one Sunday afternoon and an evening - we skipped a session the finished at 9pm for quite a few months). By that point she could swim all strokes and do unremarkable turns and starts.

Looking back I wouldn't change our approach (DD is never going to be an Olympian, but we are confident that she will always want to swim). We made sure she had a good mix of activities when she was 6-11 (perhaps too many) and let her give plenty up.

All clubs have a different vibe/ethos. There is usually scope to join later or swap clubs. I remember how huge the older teens looked when my little 7 1/2 year old went for her swim trial. Luckily the little ones swim in a smaller school pool until they are about 11, so only see the older ones at galas and when they volunteer for DofE awards.

There's no rush.

Thanks all that's really helpful. @Madcats I'll check out the thread, thanks

The stamina jump feels quite big at that age and stage. I’ve got a similar aged child and she enjoys the technique lessons at our club but I think it’s not right for her to go into the development training as they seem much more pressured about times and the vibe feels very different. In the technique lessons it’s all about doing your best and improving- the other classes are much more cut throat and it feels too much at 6.