End of Year Banquet Questions

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Flashback. Every year as a mediocre swimmer I would get so irrationally hyped before the banquet would just hope and hope that I would win a real award. The coaches would push coming to the last practices even if you didn’t qualify, and I was always there like an eager fool hoping to put in the last bits of work before the banquet.

Maybe it would be the year a coach finally noticed my hard work even if my times sucked? Maybe there would be new award categories?!

Our pool awarded trophies to everyone with a base size that reflected how well you did. I always got the flat plain base participation trophy with the swimmer statue glued directly on it. Some years they did away with that and just did participation certificates. I hated my brother and the girls who got the super tall colored trophies for high points and stuff. The worst were the years when one kid would get both high points and most improved. I know trophies are a dime a dozen now and kids get them for breathing, but back then kids actually displayed and compared them and they were rare. My team wasn’t the best but somehow my age group had girls who went on to D1 and top D3s.

I quit the year after I was a 13-14 and they gave me a made-up trophy because there were only 3 girls in my age group and I didn’t get high points or most improved. For many years after 9-10s my brother was the only boy in his age group and also did dive and would be given a box for his awards at the end of the night. My parents would make me wait while they took a million photos of him on the pool steps with his hardware.

I remember crying in my bed after those stupid banquets!

Wow you have issues!

[Anonymous]

Catered main entree (pasta/burgers/etc) and then potluck for the sides. Each kid is awarded their ribbons from the season and the coach talks about each kid. There are a few awards that aren't based on swim performance - but attitude, volunteerism, etc. We have music, kids swim, we have some parent relays which the kids love, and generally hang out. It is a late night, but fun.

This is in PMSL - so no A/B meets.

[Anonymous]

Our team does two. We have a team breakfast that is free on the Friday morning before Divisionals. It's held during the Friday morning practice time and very few parents attend. Bagels, fruit, juice and coffee. This is where the paper plate awards are given out.

Saturday night after Divisionals is the family team banquet. It's held at the pool and starts with the Family Relays. These are fun relays but some families are pretty competitive. Years ago the dinner used to be pot luck but it's been catered for probably about a dozen years. Usually BBQ. The team does cover part of the cost. I think it's been about $10 per person. After dinner they hand out the trophies and the evening ends with a slideshow. We always get a good turnout.

Yes, everyone gets a trophy but we actually give out bigger trophies to swimmers who are available for every A meet. You don't actually have to qualify and swim in an A meet - you just have to indicate that you're available to swim at every A meet. So a kid who never swims a single A meet may get a bigger trophy than the super star who misses one meet because they're at a club meet.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our team does two. We have a team breakfast that is free on the Friday morning before Divisionals. It's held during the Friday morning practice time and very few parents attend. Bagels, fruit, juice and coffee. This is where the paper plate awards are given out.

Saturday night after Divisionals is the family team banquet. It's held at the pool and starts with the Family Relays. These are fun relays but some families are pretty competitive. Years ago the dinner used to be pot luck but it's been catered for probably about a dozen years. Usually BBQ. The team does cover part of the cost. I think it's been about $10 per person. After dinner they hand out the trophies and the evening ends with a slideshow. We always get a good turnout.

Yes, everyone gets a trophy but we actually give out bigger trophies to swimmers who are available for every A meet. You don't actually have to qualify and swim in an A meet - you just have to indicate that you're available to swim at every A meet. So a kid who never swims a single A meet may get a bigger trophy than the super star who misses one meet because they're at a club meet.

So you just give giant participation trophies? That’s the dumbest thing I’ve heard in awhile. Thanks for the laugh!

[Anonymous]

The team provides pulled pork and chicken bbq (that one of the dad’s smokes) and then the parents potluck the sides and desserts. No charge.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our families have to pay to attend. This year it’s $200 for our family of 4.

Our family of 4 would be near $300. That is ridiculous. I have far better ways to spend that kind of money.

[Anonymous]

Potluck, but I'd rather pay for food depending on the cost but no more than $15 a person.

[Anonymous]

If the divide between A meet and B meet swimmers is so painful, they should just hold two banquets. Also for the kids going to bed crying because they got a made up award, there is nothing stopping them from doing swim year round.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Geez I’m always shocked at how many people seem to not like their summer team and still participate

Ours is great! A meet and B meet kids are friends, A meet and B meet parents volunteer, everyone gets a paper plate award, a few kids get special awards buts its usually not the A meet kids (my kid is an A meet kid and never gets anything special and we’re all good with that)

Banquet is catered at the pool with a slideshow. It’s wonderful! We feel lucky it still feels like summer swim. Some annoying competitive parents, sure, some complain-y kids, but overall great. Sad it’s over this weekend!

This is very similar to ours. One of my kids has had to deal with some teammate drama this season that's made it less fun, but that's relatively minor. We have lots of enthusiastic new families, a bunch of new officials, and our awesome coach is returning next year. If we disliked it, we wouldn't do it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Flashback. Every year as a mediocre swimmer I would get so irrationally hyped before the banquet would just hope and hope that I would win a real award. The coaches would push coming to the last practices even if you didn’t qualify, and I was always there like an eager fool hoping to put in the last bits of work before the banquet.

Maybe it would be the year a coach finally noticed my hard work even if my times sucked? Maybe there would be new award categories?!

Our pool awarded trophies to everyone with a base size that reflected how well you did. I always got the flat plain base participation trophy with the swimmer statue glued directly on it. Some years they did away with that and just did participation certificates. I hated my brother and the girls who got the super tall colored trophies for high points and stuff. The worst were the years when one kid would get both high points and most improved. I know trophies are a dime a dozen now and kids get them for breathing, but back then kids actually displayed and compared them and they were rare. My team wasn’t the best but somehow my age group had girls who went on to D1 and top D3s.

I quit the year after I was a 13-14 and they gave me a made-up trophy because there were only 3 girls in my age group and I didn’t get high points or most improved. For many years after 9-10s my brother was the only boy in his age group and also did dive and would be given a box for his awards at the end of the night. My parents would make me wait while they took a million photos of him on the pool steps with his hardware.

I remember crying in my bed after those stupid banquets!

Another poster said you need help. I strongly disagree and believe your feelings/memories are valid. While you were jealous, you were a kid who still worked hard and believed what your coaches told you. There are thousands of kids just like you in MCSL and NVSL. Not great athletes, but great members of the team. Good coaches recognize effort and grit during the season. Your times sucked because your coaches didn't help you improve. You can teach better swim technique, but you can't teach a work ethic.

I wasn't a great athlete either when I was younger. But today, I'm very successful and highly-compensated in the business world. The only advice I would give you is to let go of the pain associated with your past memories and focus on your achievements today. Teach your kids (who also might not be good athletes) to find a way to succeed without natural talent and that you'll support them in their quest.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If the divide between A meet and B meet swimmers is so painful, they should just hold two banquets. Also for the kids going to bed crying because they got a made up award, there is nothing stopping them from doing swim year round.

Exactly. Complaining without a plan to do something about a problem is pointless. When I did this, my dad would say "so what are you going to do about it?" If I didn't have a plan, he didn't want to hear me complain.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If the divide between A meet and B meet swimmers is so painful, they should just hold two banquets. Also for the kids going to bed crying because they got a made up award, there is nothing stopping them from doing swim year round.

Except, for some, the cost. Get your head out of your bubble.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our families have to pay to attend. This year it’s $200 for our family of 4.

What does that cover?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our families have to pay to attend. This year it’s $200 for our family of 4.

What does that cover?

I am curious what $200 food and drink cover for a family of 4. I assume this is the cost to attend banquet only.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If the divide between A meet and B meet swimmers is so painful, they should just hold two banquets. Also for the kids going to bed crying because they got a made up award, there is nothing stopping them from doing swim year round.

Except, for some, the cost. Get your head out of your bubble.

So other than prohibiting year round swimmers from doing summer swim, how do you resolve this?

I am tired of every award being eliminated so those that don't get awards feel better about themselves. It happens in our schools way too often. And now in Sports too???