Swim clubs - experience / commitment needed

[bakingmummy21]

DD8.5 has always been a strong swimmer and enjoys lessons and swimming on hols. She was keen to try for a swim club and has been offered a place. I’m obviously delighted for her but also apprehensive, everyone I spoke to say it’s a huge commitment. That doesn’t bother me so much, more that it’ll be too much for her and she might lose her love for swimming. I don’t want to push her into it but nor do I want to hold her back if she has potential. We’ll of course support her any way we can. Can anyone share experiences of swim clubs and competitive swimming at this age so we can be aware? TIA.

My three all did swimming club. They loved it and as a consequence of going, they became excellent swimmers. They learned all four strokes and they learned to dive. They got picked for representing the club in galas. They are grown up now but still swim regularly. My youngest swims in Masters events and has a national ranking in breaststroke.

It was a commitment but I have no regrets and neither have they.

It depends on the child. My sibling and I were in a competitive swimming club from the age of 9, they stopped at 15 I continued to 18 (made more complicated by me being at boarding school so training at the club full time in the holidays and having individual training at school). My sibling swims for pleasure now. I don't. I haven't really swum since we stopped taking our (now adult) children on holiday. A pool is for going up and down in ghe fastest possible time and I can't get that out of my brain so can't just relax and enjoy a pool.... Neither of my children wanted to join a club although both were very strong swimmers and as adults both swim for pleasure.