Swim team parents: how did you prepare your kids?

[Anonymous]

Swim Team is the worst. At least at the club where I am. Taught by 15 yo who are rude and mean to little kids and make them cry. I mean, the coaches are kids themselves so...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you can afford it, get your child one-on-one lessons with an instructor at your summer pool. At ours, there are always lots of college kids who teach just in the summer. That worked very well in the early years when my child needed more detailed instruction (she's now a club swimmer and loves it!)

Good luck! And more importantly, have fun!

+1 at our pool, the high school-aged assistant coaches work giving private lessons on the side. Ask your junior or senior coaches for leads.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Swim Team is the worst. At least at the club where I am. Taught by 15 yo who are rude and mean to little kids and make them cry. I mean, the coaches are kids themselves so...

Our club is the polar opposite. Sorry to hear that there are clubs like that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Swim Team is the worst. At least at the club where I am. Taught by 15 yo who are rude and mean to little kids and make them cry. I mean, the coaches are kids themselves so...

You should switch pools. A lot of our assistant coaches are teens and even tween for pre team, but my kids love them - they cheer extra for them in meets and treat them like rock stars (and we use them as babysitters lol). There are great sw communities out there, so keep looking!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you can afford it, get your child one-on-one lessons with an instructor at your summer pool. At ours, there are always lots of college kids who teach just in the summer. That worked very well in the early years when my child needed more detailed instruction (she's now a club swimmer and loves it!)

Good luck! And more importantly, have fun!

+1 at our pool, the high school-aged assistant coaches work giving private lessons on the side. Ask your junior or senior coaches for leads.

This is what we're doing this summer and it's the best. My kids adore their 19 yo swim instructor and are learning a ton. They are all smiles and loving it (versus county lessons which are always a slog).

[Anonymous]

Private lessons with a USA swimming coach. Or a winter swim team if she can make it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Swim Team is the worst. At least at the club where I am. Taught by 15 yo who are rude and mean to little kids and make them cry. I mean, the coaches are kids themselves so...

You should switch pools. A lot of our assistant coaches are teens and even tween for pre team, but my kids love them - they cheer extra for them in meets and treat them like rock stars (and we use them as babysitters lol). There are great sw communities out there, so keep looking!

1000x this. The little kids adore our junior coaches. Everyone cheers everyone on no matter the level of ability. Summer swim should be fun.

[Anonymous]

Lots of year round clubs have a stroke mechanics program that is usually one day a week. Great way to get kids to learn proper technique.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Swim Team is the worst. At least at the club where I am. Taught by 15 yo who are rude and mean to little kids and make them cry. I mean, the coaches are kids themselves so...

Our club is the polar opposite. Sorry to hear that there are clubs like that.

This is not our experience at Potomac pool. Most people on our team swim for All Star Aquatics during the week and just show up for the A meets so teenage coaches aren’t a problem

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Swim Team is the worst. At least at the club where I am. Taught by 15 yo who are rude and mean to little kids and make them cry. I mean, the coaches are kids themselves so...

Switch clubs. Seriously. Our head coach, young (but not a teen), is amazing, and I know there are other excellent programs out there.

As for my kid: we went through the Goldfish ranks. I think she got some solid basic technique there. I wish her winter team focused more on technique.