Switching clubs mid year

[Anonymous]

We are very unhappy with our new club. My kids are scared of the head coach. They were assigned to groups of kids younger than them even though their swim histories warranted higher placement. They swim in different swim meets and have practice on different days. As a single parent, I can't be everywhere at once. So, other after school activities had to stop. We knew there would be sacrifices to join this team and we all agreed to make the move knowing that because the team has such a good performance record and we all enjoyed the trial run. So far we've done nothing but regret the move and my kids have learned next to nothing. Despite knowing I might have to pay for the entire contract, I'm looking for a different team.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We are very unhappy with our new club. My kids are scared of the head coach. They were assigned to groups of kids younger than them even though their swim histories warranted higher placement. They swim in different swim meets and have practice on different days. As a single parent, I can't be everywhere at once. So, other after school activities had to stop. We knew there would be sacrifices to join this team and we all agreed to make the move knowing that because the team has such a good performance record and we all enjoyed the trial run. So far we've done nothing but regret the move and my kids have learned next to nothing. Despite knowing I might have to pay for the entire contract, I'm looking for a different team.

where are you located?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We are very unhappy with our new club. My kids are scared of the head coach. They were assigned to groups of kids younger than them even though their swim histories warranted higher placement. They swim in different swim meets and have practice on different days. As a single parent, I can't be everywhere at once. So, other after school activities had to stop. We knew there would be sacrifices to join this team and we all agreed to make the move knowing that because the team has such a good performance record and we all enjoyed the trial run. So far we've done nothing but regret the move and my kids have learned next to nothing. Despite knowing I might have to pay for the entire contract, I'm looking for a different team.

I'm confused - are you OP, who switched and is finding out that the grass wasn't greener or a new/different poster?

[Anonymous]

Where are you?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I know it sounds crazy, but I never thought we’d be here. We’ve been with the same club for 6-7 years. In the last couple of years things have not been great with the head coach. It’s getting to the point that the kids try to avoid his practices. Another coach recently hired is great, but it might be too little too late.

Both kids are strong swimmers and could easily move to a more competitive team. The reason we have not done so is mainly due to the convenience of their current team’s practice location.

My one kid can likely stick it out through the spring, but my other one needs something else and now. I’m pretty sure we will be stuck paying fees of our current team.

Do we need to just stick it out? My one kid has a particular club in mind they want to move to.

It doesn’t sound crazy. It’s a swim club, not a marriage. Switch if it makes sense.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I know it sounds crazy, but I never thought we’d be here. We’ve been with the same club for 6-7 years. In the last couple of years things have not been great with the head coach. It’s getting to the point that the kids try to avoid his practices. Another coach recently hired is great, but it might be too little too late.

Both kids are strong swimmers and could easily move to a more competitive team. The reason we have not done so is mainly due to the convenience of their current team’s practice location.

My one kid can likely stick it out through the spring, but my other one needs something else and now. I’m pretty sure we will be stuck paying fees of our current team.

Do we need to just stick it out? My one kid has a particular club in mind they want to move to.

It doesn’t sound crazy. It’s a swim club, not a marriage. Switch if it makes sense.

Move- go with your gut

[Anonymous]

OP, the poster who pointed out the risk of leaving one kid behind at the current club is spot-on. Some clubs are known for being a bit vindictive. That was our experience with our old club when we switched our older, more competitive swimmer but wanted to leave our younger swimmer behind. The owner/head coach basically told us that the younger one had to go also. So definitely consider whether that’s a risk with your club and you’ll actually be double paying to move 2 kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, the poster who pointed out the risk of leaving one kid behind at the current club is spot-on. Some clubs are known for being a bit vindictive. That was our experience with our old club when we switched our older, more competitive swimmer but wanted to leave our younger swimmer behind. The owner/head coach basically told us that the younger one had to go also. So definitely consider whether that’s a risk with your club and you’ll actually be double paying to move 2 kids.

Get over it. All clubs are like this except maybe RMSC bc it’s so huge- we switched clubs (from a big “famous” one with multiple sites) and the coach refuses to talk to my child. It’s like this everywhere. Can’t take the heat get out of the kitchen. It’s sports, not a hotel with concierge service.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, the poster who pointed out the risk of leaving one kid behind at the current club is spot-on. Some clubs are known for being a bit vindictive. That was our experience with our old club when we switched our older, more competitive swimmer but wanted to leave our younger swimmer behind. The owner/head coach basically told us that the younger one had to go also. So definitely consider whether that’s a risk with your club and you’ll actually be double paying to move 2 kids.

Get over it. All clubs are like this except maybe RMSC bc it’s so huge- we switched clubs (from a big “famous” one with multiple sites) and the coach refuses to talk to my child. It’s like this everywhere. Can’t take the heat get out of the kitchen. It’s sports, not a hotel with concierge service.

+1 We switched clubs and the old club coaches won't even make eye contact with my kid when they're all at the same meet. Some serious "you betrayed me" vibes being given off by people who are supposed to have the best interests of young athletes in mind.

Fortunately, my kid is doing much better in meets and now routinely beats some of the swimmers who were faster than my kid last year.

The best "revenge" is living well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, the poster who pointed out the risk of leaving one kid behind at the current club is spot-on. Some clubs are known for being a bit vindictive. That was our experience with our old club when we switched our older, more competitive swimmer but wanted to leave our younger swimmer behind. The owner/head coach basically told us that the younger one had to go also. So definitely consider whether that’s a risk with your club and you’ll actually be double paying to move 2 kids.

Get over it. All clubs are like this except maybe RMSC bc it’s so huge- we switched clubs (from a big “famous” one with multiple sites) and the coach refuses to talk to my child. It’s like this everywhere. Can’t take the heat get out of the kitchen. It’s sports, not a hotel with concierge service.

Very odd. We switched clubs and have no issues with the old club. My kids see their old coaches at meets sometimes and they say hi. If your old coaches act like this, you made the right move.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, the poster who pointed out the risk of leaving one kid behind at the current club is spot-on. Some clubs are known for being a bit vindictive. That was our experience with our old club when we switched our older, more competitive swimmer but wanted to leave our younger swimmer behind. The owner/head coach basically told us that the younger one had to go also. So definitely consider whether that’s a risk with your club and you’ll actually be double paying to move 2 kids.

Get over it. All clubs are like this except maybe RMSC bc it’s so huge- we switched clubs (from a big “famous” one with multiple sites) and the coach refuses to talk to my child. It’s like this everywhere. Can’t take the heat get out of the kitchen. It’s sports, not a hotel with concierge service.

Very odd. We switched clubs and have no issues with the old club. My kids see their old coaches at meets sometimes and they say hi. If your old coaches act like this, you made the right move.

Agree!!!!!!!