Winter Swim Option for 6 and 7 Year Olds that Swim in A Meets

[Anonymous]

Is there a winter swim option in the Vienna/Oakton/east Fairfax/north Burke area that would work for both my 6 and 7 year olds? I only want to do one pick up and one drop off, and I am looking for someone who will physically be in the water with my kids (not standing on the side of the pool). Both kids are in a summer swim program at a division 4 pool. My 7 year old is legal in all 4 strokes, swims in A meets, made divisionals last year, and made all-star relays this year. My 6 year old is legal in all strokes except butterfly and swims in some A meets.

I'm open to semi-private lessons (including at a FCPA rec center) if someone knows a great instructor they can recommend by name.

I am not interested in Swim with Beth, my kids did the year-round option last year and I was not impressed with the 10-to-1 ratio and the instructor not getting into the water. I'm also not interested in club swimming like Machine or York since my 6 year old is not ready for that yet.

Thank you for your thoughts!

[Anonymous]

Why do you want someone in the water? Sounds like your children have learned the strokes just fine without it. Kids with a decent natural feel for the water do not need someone consistently in the water with them after age 6. They have to learn by listening, seeing a demonstration, and then trying it for themselves and getting feedback. You’re better off giving up the coach in the water requirement and just looking for a low swimmer to coach ratio so your kids get enough individual attention.

[Anonymous]

You can do Machine Performance Center 1:2 lesson in Vienna, but they only have limited hours during the school year. If you homeschool, they have more availability during the day. They won’t get in the water. I don’t know anyone outside of SWB or a developmental swimming lesson that has in-water instructors. You should try-out for a club team and do 2 nights per week. NCAP- Burke Bronze III would be good, and Machine has a similar option at Oakmont and Audrey Moore. Centreville Swim Club at Cub Run could work, as can Mason Makos at GMU. I would not do lessons. They will get so much better swimming on a club team.

[Anonymous]

What you are looking for doesn't exist.

[Anonymous]

Try the Competitive Stroke School at Burke Racquet and Swim:
https://burkeracquet.com/aquatics-lessons-programs/#swim-lessons

[Anonymous]

York has a swim school (coaches in the water) but it’s at Yorktown HS in Arlington.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:York has a swim school (coaches in the water) but it’s at Yorktown HS in Arlington.

It's not for kids who can legally swim strokes. My kid did it years ago. It's for kids much younger.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why do you want someone in the water? Sounds like your children have learned the strokes just fine without it. Kids with a decent natural feel for the water do not need someone consistently in the water with them after age 6. They have to learn by listening, seeing a demonstration, and then trying it for themselves and getting feedback. You’re better off giving up the coach in the water requirement and just looking for a low swimmer to coach ratio so your kids get enough individual attention.

OP here. I think my 7 year old would do fine with a coach outside the water, but my 6 year old needs someone to physically move his body. He is not old enough to watch and listen and then replicate what was done.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Try the Competitive Stroke School at Burke Racquet and Swim:
https://burkeracquet.com/aquatics-lessons-programs/#swim-lessons

OP here. Thanks for the tip, as I hadn't heard of this place. Unfortunately it's 30 minutes from my home so too far for me. It also looks like it might be geared toward younger swimmers since it only requires them to be able to swim breast stroke for 6 yards.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You can do Machine Performance Center 1:2 lesson in Vienna, but they only have limited hours during the school year. If you homeschool, they have more availability during the day. They won’t get in the water. I don’t know anyone outside of SWB or a developmental swimming lesson that has in-water instructors. You should try-out for a club team and do 2 nights per week. NCAP- Burke Bronze III would be good, and Machine has a similar option at Oakmont and Audrey Moore. Centreville Swim Club at Cub Run could work, as can Mason Makos at GMU. I would not do lessons. They will get so much better swimming on a club team.

The problem is my son is not ready for club swim and I do not have the bandwidth to do 2 dropoffs/pickups with both spouses going into the office in DC 5 days a week.

Thanks for the tip about Machine Performance Center. I had forgotten about them but will look into them.

[Anonymous]

Mini FISH at Spring Hill would work for you. 6 & 7 year would both fit with that club (at the same practice time) and they have coaches in the water for the 6 year old learning to be legal.

[Anonymous]

Machine also has stroke mechanics programs at some of their competitive swim sites. Typically one day a week and only working on strikers/texhnique. No meets.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Mini FISH at Spring Hill would work for you. 6 & 7 year would both fit with that club (at the same practice time) and they have coaches in the water for the 6 year old learning to be legal.

Thanks, I did look into this but my kids get out of school at 4PM so the times don't work for us.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why do you want someone in the water? Sounds like your children have learned the strokes just fine without it. Kids with a decent natural feel for the water do not need someone consistently in the water with them after age 6. They have to learn by listening, seeing a demonstration, and then trying it for themselves and getting feedback. You’re better off giving up the coach in the water requirement and just looking for a low swimmer to coach ratio so your kids get enough individual attention.

OP here. I think my 7 year old would do fine with a coach outside the water, but my 6 year old needs someone to physically move his body. He is not old enough to watch and listen and then replicate what was done.

Your 6 year old swims A meets but needs someone in the pool with him to physically move his body during practice?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is there a winter swim option in the Vienna/Oakton/east Fairfax/north Burke area that would work for both my 6 and 7 year olds? I only want to do one pick up and one drop off, and I am looking for someone who will physically be in the water with my kids (not standing on the side of the pool). Both kids are in a summer swim program at a division 4 pool. My 7 year old is legal in all 4 strokes, swims in A meets, made divisionals last year, and made all-star relays this year. My 6 year old is legal in all strokes except butterfly and swims in some A meets.

I'm open to semi-private lessons (including at a FCPA rec center) if someone knows a great instructor they can recommend by name.

I am not interested in Swim with Beth, my kids did the year-round option last year and I was not impressed with the 10-to-1 ratio and the instructor not getting into the water. I'm also not interested in club swimming like Machine or York since my 6 year old is not ready for that yet.

Thank you for your thoughts!

This is exactly what Swim Farm does. But you’d need to travel to Arlington pools