DC or NoVa Swim team for relatively unathletic kid

[Anonymous]

10yo girl loves water and based on conversations with friends, wants to join a school-year swim team. But friends are very very athletic and fast swimmers on a competitive, high intensity team, whereas our child is just not particularly fast or skilled. I know her interest is social and for fun in the water rather than a desire to win races. As she’s not sporty, I’m thrilled she has a physical activity she enjoys and I want to encourage it and not ruin it by signing her up for something where she might feel like she is “failing.” Also didn’t grow up in the US and not at all familiar with how swim teams even work. Do you all have any suggestions for an option for her? Thank you!

[Anonymous]

Try the Tollefson program that runs out of St Albans

[Anonymous]

Goldfish swim force is the least competitive swim team I know. It’s ages 5-12

[Anonymous]

York hands down - they have groups that are less intense and work to keep it very social. I have a 10 year old who is also not super competitive or skilled and it was the perfect fit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:10yo girl loves water and based on conversations with friends, wants to join a school-year swim team. But friends are very very athletic and fast swimmers on a competitive, high intensity team, whereas our child is just not particularly fast or skilled. I know her interest is social and for fun in the water rather than a desire to win races. As she’s not sporty, I’m thrilled she has a physical activity she enjoys and I want to encourage it and not ruin it by signing her up for something where she might feel like she is “failing.” Also didn’t grow up in the US and not at all familiar with how swim teams even work. Do you all have any suggestions for an option for her? Thank you!

You will want to sign her up for the same USA swimming club as her friends if she wants the social aspect. Many, but not all clubs, will have less intensive and less days per week options practicing at the same time/location based on age. She just might be in the "slow" lanes while her friends are in the "faster" lanes. It all really depends on the club.

Which club do her friends swim for?

[Anonymous]

I'd start with a summer league swim team. If she's just doing developmental meets it shouldn't be all that competitive against others and she'll always be progressing and beatting her best time. It's also great exercise.

[Anonymous]

As a non-American, it was confusing to work out initially. All the clubs that are members of Potomac Valley Swimming are listed here: https://pvswim.org/pvs_club.htm. PV is the local swim committee (LSC) for this region.

Take a look at their websites and see how they describe their various training groups. The recommendations you've received are good, but you might find a training site or practice schedule that suits you better.

[Anonymous]

Second the rec for York. My kid had a great experience even though his times rarely reached BB level. He eventually moved onto other sports but I think the disciple of swim really helped him - and he still has great swim technique and can swim for exercise.