dd 7 loves swimming but is so lazy in lessons

[lexcat]

DD is was a very good swimmer for her age, but she just seem to think she knows it and just doesn't make any effort. Just had a 1to1 lesson with her past teacher and she just confirmed what I thought, her style as gone out the window.
What I can't understand is dd whats to swim better, can't wait to move up classes (does group lessons) because she only two level off been considered for swim club which is what she really wants to do.
How can I encouage better concentration and commitmient to her swimming but at the same time I don't want to push her to much and put her off a sport that she loves so much.

Lots of 7 yr olds just don't have the sort of commitment and focus that you seem to expect of yoru dd.

You say that and her best friend still 6 who likes swimming but not as mad on it as dd (who whats to swim everyday). Started swimming lessons later then dd is flying through the different classes. But shes also the teachers pet as she is very hard working and tries hard at everything she does.
Dd on the other hand is very bright but lazy but was hoping we may have found something for her final to really work hard at or a least try to make an efford.

My dd was like that for years with swimming too. Not sure there is an answer - you can tell her what she needs to do to progress, but after that it's really up to her.

As a swimming teacher I can say that it's definately not always the children that love it most that progress fastest. Concentration is important as is the body awareness needed to re-enact what you see demonstrated.

But swimming is a good sport for all abilities. Lots of children get a lot of enjoyment from it even when they're never going to be elite swimmers. Even at club level there's a huge range and I'm sure your dd will get there in the end and enjoy it as far as she wants to take it.

At the moment she does 2 group leesons a week and I try to take her at the weekend.
But she's about to drop 1 lesson (doesn't like teacher and whats to enjoy the warm weather. Wants to start again in September). She has now had the chance to have the occasional 1to1 lesson which is costly.
Should I keep the 1to1 up as thats seems to be the only time she makes progress or should I let it go.

It depends really on your priorities - if you can afford it and she enjoys it then why not, but if it means sacrificing something else then maybe not.

If it's mainly a concentration issue then I think 1-1 teaching can work very much better than group teaching, another thing that often works well to get past a plateaux is a weeks 'intensive' course going every day.