Frustrated with how our swim team takes over the pool

[Anonymous]

I am wondering if our pool is unusual or this is truly how all summer swim teams work.

Pool opens at 11 (swim team morning practice is before then on weekdays). When you arrive at the official open of the pool, nearly every covered table has already been claimed by a swim team family who was there for practice.

Pool is not closed but largely taken over by both swim and dive team afternoon practices M-Th from 3:30-7:15 (multiple age groups so it takes a long time) and a shorter one on Fridays.

In addition, the pool is closed or partially closed for meetings every week at least twice for multiple hours.

Also there is a LOUD pep rally every Friday afternoon at the end of the short practice. This happens even in the middle of other events announced to the community.

The pool is closed other times for other special team building events.

It is frankly hard to find a time the pool won’t be over run by some sort of swim team event which generally involves a lot of bullhorn usage. It seems to increase every year and this year it’s just reached a tipping point for me this year. I have very fond memories of summer swim growing up but it was just a couple hours every morning and one meet a year.

[Anonymous]

Yes. That’s normal. Join the swim team.

[Anonymous]

I don't see the problem!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes. That’s normal. Join the swim team.

I am not going to do that, but I was frankly embarrassed trying to meet up with friends who have toddlers to admit that basically we could swim for an hour or so before their kids needed to go home to nap or we could deal with the bullhorns. And we would not be able to get a table under shade until the swim team families decided to leave.

[Anonymous]

Normal until mid-July.

[Anonymous]

Yep. Our pool opens at 10:30 with practice ending at 9:30. Pool is closed for the hour in between so life guards can clean and set up for the day. Pool is closed during home meets until about 1pm on Saturdays. This is normal.

[Anonymous]

One meet a year? Are you sure you were on a summer swim team? Summer swim has always consisted of two meets per week, one A and one B meet. Then you have relay carnivals at some point and divisional at the end of summer.

I would assume that evening practices will lessen as school is out; at least at most pools, this is the case. Yes, you'll have a pep really every Friday and then generally closed at least once a week for an A or B meet. Team building events sounds weird though. Maybe you can join the board and have more say of what happens at your pool?

[Anonymous]

It sounds like you may need to join a different pool. You aren't going to change the swim team, which sounds like it has a lot of support.

[Anonymous]

You were embarrassed? You must have a low threshold. Time for a new pool!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes. That’s normal. Join the swim team.

I am not going to do that, but I was frankly embarrassed trying to meet up
with friends who have toddlers to admit that basically we could swim for an hour or so before their kids needed to go home to nap or we could deal with the bullhorns. And we would not be able to get a table under shade until the swim team families decided to leave.

If you have toddlers, wouldn’t you be in the baby pool area anyway?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes. That’s normal. Join the swim team.

I am not going to do that, but I was frankly embarrassed trying to meet up with friends who have toddlers to admit that basically we could swim for an hour or so before their kids needed to go home to nap or we could deal with the bullhorns. And we would not be able to get a table under shade until the swim team families decided to leave.

I feel like you might be blowing this out of proportion. Also why is that embarrassing? Sounds like a you problem.

[Anonymous]

That's terrible, OP. And should NOT be normal. Say something to the pool manager, and tell him that families with young children are paying customers too, and they need access to some covered tables and not have to deal with bullhorns all the time. Pick one or two things you want from the manager and insist on those - you'll more likely to eek out a win.

[Anonymous]

That’s more than our pool does, but we don’t have afternoon swim practices. Fortunately the season is pretty short. I think it ends around 7/20? One more month and they’ll be gone!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:One meet a year? Are you sure you were on a summer swim team? Summer swim has always consisted of two meets per week, one A and one B meet. Then you have relay carnivals at some point and divisional at the end of summer.

I would assume that evening practices will lessen as school is out; at least at most pools, this is the case. Yes, you'll have a pep really every Friday and then generally closed at least once a week for an A or B meet. Team building events sounds weird though. Maybe you can join the board and have more say of what happens at your pool?

No the afternoon practices will continue to the end of July. They had some afternoon practice last year for the first time but it’s more this year plus all the team building and the pranks (which I know are not officially sanctioned a blind eye is turned).

And yes I typed the wrong thing - when I swam it was one meet a week not one a year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes. That’s normal. Join the swim team.

I am not going to do that, but I was frankly embarrassed trying to meet up with friends who have toddlers to admit that basically we could swim for an hour or so before their kids needed to go home to nap or we could deal with the bullhorns. And we would not be able to get a table under shade until the swim team families decided to leave.

Are these friends members? Or are you inviting people to join you at your club? If they are members they need to figure out how they want to deal with the situation. If they are not members, swim families have priority over them. I am guessing the swim families are supporting the financial health of the pool to a greater degree than non-swim club families. And I'm sure it is built in recruitment. Many clubs have struggled to keep membership up post Covid and need the money.