What helps kids build endurance/stamina to swim a full length (& beyond)?

[Anonymous]

My 2nd grader can swim freestyle and backstroke with what appears to me to be pretty solid technique (although I'm not that knowledgeable about swimming), but can only get about 1/3 of the way down an Olympic-length swimming pool before getting tired. We’d like for her to be able to join a summer swim team this year, which would require her to be able to swim at least a length. Is this likely just a matter of having her swim more regularly this spring to build up her endurance, or does she probably need more lessons to improve her technique/skills to be able to swim further/longer (and if so, would we be better off doing a few private lessons vs a dozen group lessons), or both? Thanks so much!

[Anonymous]

The good news is that an Olympic length swimming pool is 50 meters and summer swimming pools are 25 meters. Your kid is closer to the summer swim goal than it appears.

Swimming more regularly will help with endurance. Better technique is less fatiguing. If you can swing both private lessons and more group lessons, do that. If you can only pick one then just swimming more regularly will probably be more helpful.

[Anonymous]

As the PP said - a pool is 25 meters for summer.

Try and S&T program - sign them up now. Where are you located?

With more time in the water they should be able to make it prior to try outs.

[Anonymous]

I would be really surprised if your child was actually swimming in an Olympic sized pool. They are not that common/ not usually configured that way. In my experience if a kid has the technique but isn’t making it across it’s a fear issue. What causes her to stop? Does she stand up? Try swimming in deeper water so she can’t. (Swim right beside her so you can catch if needed).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would be really surprised if your child was actually swimming in an Olympic sized pool. They are not that common/ not usually configured that way. In my experience if a kid has the technique but isn’t making it across it’s a fear issue. What causes her to stop? Does she stand up? Try swimming in deeper water so she can’t. (Swim right beside her so you can catch if needed).

It's the MLK indoor pool (with the divider in so they don't actually go the whole length, but I was eyeballing it as 1/3 the length of the entire pool if the divider wasn't there)... I thought it was Olympic size but might be wrong?

And to the PP mentioning stroke & turn, I thought they needed to be able to swim the 25 meters first in order to qualify for that? At least for the Montgomery County one I think they do.

Thanks all!

[Anonymous]

The thing that built stamina for my kids when they got to that point was play. Sharks and minnows, races across the shallow end. How far can you swim underwater contests. Jumping off the diving board and swimming to the side Etc . . .

Just time in the water and a fun attitude so that it didn’t seem scary or like work and the stamina came.

[Anonymous]

Other sports that require running help too. Soccer, basketball.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My 2nd grader can swim freestyle and backstroke with what appears to me to be pretty solid technique (although I'm not that knowledgeable about swimming), but can only get about 1/3 of the way down an Olympic-length swimming pool before getting tired. We’d like for her to be able to join a summer swim team this year, which would require her to be able to swim at least a length. Is this likely just a matter of having her swim more regularly this spring to build up her endurance, or does she probably need more lessons to improve her technique/skills to be able to swim further/longer (and if so, would we be better off doing a few private lessons vs a dozen group lessons), or both? Thanks so much!

It’s this. At this stage, it’s all about building up that endurance. Technique will come later. Most swim teams have pre-swim teams that will work on this. Otherwise, I would sign her up for lessons at a pool with 25 yard lap lanes. Doesn’t matter if it’s individual or group.

[Anonymous]

Yes, amount of time in water. My 5 yo is a pool nut, has terrible inefficient form but can go end to end just because she’s in there at every opportunity.

[Anonymous]

You should sign up for summer swim. I think you’ll be surprised how fast your kid improves once they’re in the pool every day with a team.

Also, keep in mind that swim coaches know this. The kid has to be able to swim the stroke beforehand, but they build up endurance incredibly fast once swim team starts.

The requirement is kids have to be able to swim one 25 meter lap in 60 seconds. This is very very slow.

They divide up the kids based on ability so there’s a fast lane, medium and slow. Just sign up

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You should sign up for summer swim. I think you’ll be surprised how fast your kid improves once they’re in the pool every day with a team.

Also, keep in mind that swim coaches know this. The kid has to be able to swim the stroke beforehand, but they build up endurance incredibly fast once swim team starts.

The requirement is kids have to be able to swim one 25 meter lap in 60 seconds. This is very very slow.

They divide up the kids based on ability so there’s a fast lane, medium and slow. Just sign up

I agree with this. You’d be surprised how much other swimmer can motivate your child to complete their laps. And once your child does it 1-2x, they know they can do it every time. Sign him/her up and be amazed by the growth!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You should sign up for summer swim. I think you’ll be surprised how fast your kid improves once they’re in the pool every day with a team.

Also, keep in mind that swim coaches know this. The kid has to be able to swim the stroke beforehand, but they build up endurance incredibly fast once swim team starts.

The requirement is kids have to be able to swim one 25 meter lap in 60 seconds. This is very very slow.

They divide up the kids based on ability so there’s a fast lane, medium and slow. Just sign up

I agree with this. You’d be surprised how much other swimmer can motivate your child to complete their laps. And once your child does it 1-2x, they know they can do it every time. Sign him/her up and be amazed by the growth!

We definitely want to sign her up, just want to make sure they don't turn her away because she can't quite make it across the pool yet! (We're planning to do it at one of the county pools, like Long Branch or Glenmont, so there's no pre-team or anything like that.)

Thanks for all the advice. I think we will sign her up for the Youth 4 county group lessons-- hopefully that will be enough to get her there, if not we'll maybe try some family pool trips later in the spring and get her practicing that way.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would be really surprised if your child was actually swimming in an Olympic sized pool. They are not that common/ not usually configured that way. In my experience if a kid has the technique but isn’t making it across it’s a fear issue. What causes her to stop? Does she stand up? Try swimming in deeper water so she can’t. (Swim right beside her so you can catch if needed).

It's the MLK indoor pool (with the divider in so they don't actually go the whole length, but I was eyeballing it as 1/3 the length of the entire pool if the divider wasn't there)... I thought it was Olympic size but might be wrong?

And to the PP mentioning stroke & turn, I thought they needed to be able to swim the 25 meters first in order to qualify for that? At least for the Montgomery County one I think they do.

Thanks all!

You are too late for the county stroke and turn. The clinic started last October. 25m is supposedly the requirement. The truth is they take anyone. They don’t seem to turn anyone away. You could try other stroke clinics.

[Anonymous]

Definitely sign her up for summer swim. The daily practice will help tremendously, and swimming in a lane next to peers is a wonderful motivator .

If you want to help build endurance before then, get a kickboard and let her use that for practice laps. It'll help her strengthen her legs for kicking without worrying about the breathing tempo or freaking out that she'll go under if she stops - she can slow down for a second to catch her breath, then keep going. But only do this if she wants it - at this age, keeping swim fun is the most important thing. Don't let it become a chore.

[Anonymous]

Going to practice 3 times a week. That’s all they do is swim laps in different sets. Builds stamina and endurance.