summer team burn out?

[Anonymous]

Are there families who only do short course and long course season with their year round teams, and skip summer swim team season? We've always done both....but we are currently frustrated with the disorganized summer team board, summer team drama, bad coaches, or rotating door of new coaches. And it is so much volunteering and such a commitment. It is starting to feel like a burden instead of fun. Anyone else feel like this? We used to love summer team. Parents more frustrated than the kids. Yes, its about the kids- but the parents have to make this such a priority.

[Anonymous]

Right here! I was hesitant to give it up but really glad I did. We love swimming but that was just too much.

[Anonymous]

You only need to check with your swimmers. They may welcome a summer off - or they may say they’d rather do summer and sit out long course. If they opt for summer, angle for a few easy volunteer slots.

[Anonymous]

You can or find a new team. We don’t do a lot of the winter meets. Slow down if they are burnt out.

[Anonymous]

I’m right there with you. The only reason we’ve stuck with summer swim is that my DD loves it and the environment is great. If it was anything like what you’ve described we would definitely bail.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You can or find a new team. We don’t do a lot of the winter meets. Slow down if they are burnt out.

Parents are more burnt out than our kids. And it’s summer team issues- not year round team team issues. Just wondering if others feel like this.

[Anonymous]

I definitely feel like this. My kids enjoy it, but each year becomes less fun for them as winning becomes more and more important to our team. Who cares what division? It is summer swim, let's all have fun.

[Anonymous]

You're allowed to tell your kids no, OP, if that's what you're asking. Your burnout and frustration are valid reasons to skip summer swim (which sounds like a nightmare - if our team were like that, I would want to skip, too). Your kids will live. If there's a way for them to participate and you to avoid the drama, great, but you don't have to give your kids every desired opportunity when it comes at great cost to you.

[Anonymous]

We skip long course and do summer swim team because it is more fun for our kids (and us.) But no one is planning on swimming past HS so we aren't thinking long term.

[Anonymous]

I know more kids skipping club in the summer or ratcheting it way back than skipping summer swim. Summer swim is supposed to be a fun, laid back thing that they look forward to. If it isn't, your pool is doing something wrong

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I definitely feel like this. My kids enjoy it, but each year becomes less fun for them as winning becomes more and more important to our team. Who cares what division? It is summer swim, let's all have fun.

What does this mean? It is still a sport, they should be trying to win. Are they curtailing the fun events for the kids?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I definitely feel like this. My kids enjoy it, but each year becomes less fun for them as winning becomes more and more important to our team. Who cares what division? It is summer swim, let's all have fun.

What does this mean? It is still a sport, they should be trying to win. Are they curtailing the fun events for the kids?

Recruiting fast swimmers to join our team, letting certain swimmers wear tech suits, swimming up younger kids and benching an older kid. I don't feel that we should try to win this hard. And my kid is on of the "fast" ones. It really kills the spirit of the kid who gets benched because a younger kid swims their spot on the relay- or they didn't get picked to wear a tech suit "because they aren't as fast" I see a lot of kids lose their love of summer swim, and that is why a lot of the older kids quit.

Is that really what summer swim is supposed to be about? Win at all costs?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I definitely feel like this. My kids enjoy it, but each year becomes less fun for them as winning becomes more and more important to our team. Who cares what division? It is summer swim, let's all have fun.

What does this mean? It is still a sport, they should be trying to win. Are they curtailing the fun events for the kids?

Recruiting fast swimmers to join our team, letting certain swimmers wear tech suits, swimming up younger kids and benching an older kid. I don't feel that we should try to win this hard. And my kid is on of the "fast" ones. It really kills the spirit of the kid who gets benched because a younger kid swims their spot on the relay- or they didn't get picked to wear a tech suit "because they aren't as fast" I see a lot of kids lose their love of summer swim, and that is why a lot of the older kids quit.

Is that really what summer swim is supposed to be about? Win at all costs?

Unless your pool is set up to deal with the fall out, that's a good way to start a program's back slide. We had a neighborhood pool try to get too cute with moving swimmers around to different age groups. By the end of the season, the parent reps and coach were reaching out to families and apologizing because a large group of girls quite entirely

What team determines who can wear fast suits? Either you own one and decide to be that kid at a regular meet or you don't?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I definitely feel like this. My kids enjoy it, but each year becomes less fun for them as winning becomes more and more important to our team. Who cares what division? It is summer swim, let's all have fun.

What does this mean? It is still a sport, they should be trying to win. Are they curtailing the fun events for the kids?

Recruiting fast swimmers to join our team, letting certain swimmers wear tech suits, swimming up younger kids and benching an older kid. I don't feel that we should try to win this hard. And my kid is on of the "fast" ones. It really kills the spirit of the kid who gets benched because a younger kid swims their spot on the relay- or they didn't get picked to wear a tech suit "because they aren't as fast" I see a lot of kids lose their love of summer swim, and that is why a lot of the older kids quit.

Is that really what summer swim is supposed to be about? Win at all costs?

`

I have no issue swimming the fastest kid in A meets - that makes sense. B meets are for everyone. But the tech suit is just wrong. They should not be part of summer because of the financial implications. Once you allow tech suits, you diminish inclusivity by pricing kids out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I definitely feel like this. My kids enjoy it, but each year becomes less fun for them as winning becomes more and more important to our team. Who cares what division? It is summer swim, let's all have fun.

What does this mean? It is still a sport, they should be trying to win. Are they curtailing the fun events for the kids?

Recruiting fast swimmers to join our team, letting certain swimmers wear tech suits, swimming up younger kids and benching an older kid. I don't feel that we should try to win this hard. And my kid is on of the "fast" ones. It really kills the spirit of the kid who gets benched because a younger kid swims their spot on the relay- or they didn't get picked to wear a tech suit "because they aren't as fast" I see a lot of kids lose their love of summer swim, and that is why a lot of the older kids quit.

Is that really what summer swim is supposed to be about? Win at all costs?

Our team does not allow swimmers to wear tech suits except at divisionals. No A or B meets.