Frustrated with how our swim team takes over the pool

[Anonymous]

It sounds like the problem is the fact that there are both morning and afternoon practices at your pool. My pool growing up only had practices in the mornings. So does our current pool. Kids can book private lessons with coaches in the afternoon for pretty reasonable rates, and only a couple of kids at a time, so they don’t take up much of the pool. I could not be a bigger fan of summer swim, but I think the bigger swim leagues around here take it to a bit of an extreme.

[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.

Well aren’t you a peach. Find a new pool. You clearly don’t fit in this one.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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?

Some families have toddlers and older kids (like our friends).

[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.

That’s So embarrassing for you! How did you survive it?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: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.

Complain to the board loudly about that. We changed to have 13-18 practicing last. Their parents don't attend practice and kids can't stick around when they aren't practicing, so no parents camping out while their kids swim. The rest is normal

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: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.

Yeah, do this and let us know how it goes I'm sure they'll hop right on changing things. Don't take no for an answer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

What a terrible stance. OP is a member. The pool has too many swim practices and apparently some swim families are taking over.

It's clear there are a lot of swim families on this board who are selfish and don't care that they're pushing out other families from their pools, but come on. Exercise your basic politeness muscle. Share your facilitties. Don't spread out your stuff too much. Tell the kids to keep the noise down so you don't need the bullhorn that much.

It's all part of living in a society.

[Anonymous]

Can you switch to a pool with a separate lap pool? We have one lap pool for practices, one pool for playing, and a baby pool. So it’s busier when there is practice but the pool is still open and able to be used.

We do close for meets when we host them, but you won’t be able to get away from that.

[Anonymous]

Ours isn't quite that bad, they only have evening practices 3 days per week and it's just an hour, from 6:30-7:30pm. They also only use a couple of lanes for that and the pool is pretty big so it doesn't really affect anyone. Evening practices for dive team are also just twice a week.

They just started morning practices so I think more families are staying and hanging out for hours after practice now than there will be in a few weeks.

[Anonymous]

I think this is pretty common but at our pool, swim doesn’t start until 4pm, so you have most of the day. Also, they only take up the main pool, and if you have toddlers, you are not likely in that pool anyway.
Don’t know what to say about hogging the tables, that’s sort of life at the pool or anywhere. People who get there earlier get the “coveted” tables. But aren’t you in the pool with your toddlers anyway?

[Anonymous]

I think you can contact pool manager. Ours is pretty similar but they won’t allow swim team families out of the area surrounding the pool deck. So they can’t monopolize the entire park area.
I don’t recall this being an issue for us prior to summer swim. And now, with only one HS DC still participating it still isn’t an issue. But honestly, swim team was one of our favorite activities for DC so that may impact our tolerance. I am happy to see the program still thriving for our community.

[Anonymous]

Ugh. Swim teams are so entitled.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

What a terrible stance. OP is a member. The pool has too many swim practices and apparently some swim families are taking over.

It's clear there are a lot of swim families on this board who are selfish and don't care that they're pushing out other families from their pools, but come on. Exercise your basic politeness muscle. Share your facilitties. Don't spread out your stuff too much. Tell the kids to keep the noise down so you don't need the bullhorn that much.

It's all part of living in a society.

I'm the PP you're responding to. I am not a swim club mom/family. But I've seen plenty you young moms who bring friends and commandeer a section of the pool area and no one is supposed to disturb their napping kids. I find that weird. Pools are generally loud. Sure, this pool sounds like it could be better run. But for OP to be "embarrassed" means she needs a different kind of pool. I'd say she's looking for a CC on a neighborhood pool budget.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
Ugh. Swim teams are so entitled.

And frequently pay the bills.

[Anonymous]

I think pool boards have more power here than pool managers. Managers are usually swim team graduates! Take a blanket and find a spot in the shade to enjoy with your toddlers?