s/o What's with all of the swim teams around here?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What if your kid's not that into swimming?

Swim team is a great way to learn to swim better. If my kid doesn't like or have a desire to do it, my kid doesn't do it. I'm not sure what you're asking.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm actually kind of amazed at how un-diverse swimming is. Only sport I've seen this so far.

I don't have swim team experience yet (son will try out next year), but 95% of our local pool swim team is Asian. I just figured it was a reflection of where you live.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm actually kind of amazed at how un-diverse swimming is. Only sport I've seen this so far.

I don't have swim team experience yet (son will try out next year), but 95% of our local pool swim team is Asian. I just figured it was a reflection of where you live.

Where do YOU live?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm actually kind of amazed at how un-diverse swimming is. Only sport I've seen this so far.

HAHHAAHHAHAHHAHAAH. Lacrosse much?

Also, there are not a lot of swim teams here. People swim in the summer here because it's hot. In Ohio and Indiana, nearly everyone swims on the team in the summer and half the kids swim year round.

[Anonymous]

I did not grow up around here, but swim team was big for my area, too. Lots of neighborhood pools and at each pool, most kids were on the team.

Our current pool has a very active, social team. There are early am practices as well as 5pm practices, so most people can find a way to make it work.

Having my kids on the team is not important to me, per se, but it's a great way for them to develop stamina in the water, which is a safety issue.

My not-overly athletic kids LOVE it!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It was big when I grew up in NJ in the 80s too. And it was a big deal (to me and my family) when I decided to quit in middle school. I won't force my kids to do it, but I'll certainly encourage it. Our other activities are quiet over the summer so it's a nice way to spend time as a family for a couple months.

I grew up in California in the '70s and also swam because of the social and family aspects. Similarly, my cousins who grew up in NJ in the '70s and '80s swam for the same reason (in lakes, not pools, which my sisters and I found appalling!). My kids have grown up here doing the same. They've never been year-round swimmers and have played another sport in high school and college, but they love the swim team -- it's fun.

Other benefits are:
* you gain a survival skill -- we love sailing, kayaking, and canoeing, so it was essential that the kids learn to swim;
* you gain a money-making skill -- our kids have all had summer jobs lifeguarding;
* you gain a lifelong health skill -- my sisters and I all swam during our pregnancies when we had to give up running and cycling, my mother swam into her late '70s even after a knee replacement.

To the PP who compared a swim team to a fraternity or sorority, here's the difference: swim team is open to everyone. In fact, the great thing about the swim team is that many social boundaries of high school and middle school are crossed in the summer when jocks, theatre geeks, nerds, preppies and hipsters are all hanging out at the neighborhood pool together.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm actually kind of amazed at how un-diverse swimming is. Only sport I've seen this so far.

Hello, basketball? Or "undiverse" only goes one-way?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm actually kind of amazed at how un-diverse swimming is. Only sport I've seen this so far.

Hello, basketball? Or "undiverse" only goes one-way?

Very true.

I think that it has more to do with SES than race or neighborhood (although those things are often intertwined). Parents who work multiple jobs or long hours to cover the basics are less likely to participate in things that require a lot of time or extra money.

[Anonymous]

swimming is big in MC, it's the one sport where all the kids get together regardless whether they go to private or public schools. good way to meet people in your area.

[Anonymous]

I grew up here in the 70s, 80s, and 90s and my whole family was big into NVSL competitive swimming.

I do find it harder now as a working parent and I am trying to figure out a way to make it work for my 5 yo so I can get her involved with it too; it would make me really sad if she were to miss out on this b/c of my work hours! So, I agree with the poster who mentioned how hard it is if you work.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I grew up here in the 70s, 80s, and 90s and my whole family was big into NVSL competitive swimming.

I do find it harder now as a working parent and I am trying to figure out a way to make it work for my 5 yo so I can get her involved with it too; it would make me really sad if she were to miss out on this b/c of my work hours! So, I agree with the poster who mentioned how hard it is if you work.

I live closer in and the pools have practices mornings and afternoons for all ages to clearly accommodate working parents.

Farther out, it seems that they pool do not do this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm actually kind of amazed at how un-diverse swimming is. Only sport I've seen this so far.

Hello, basketball? Or "undiverse" only goes one-way?

Very true.

I think that it has more to do with SES than race or neighborhood (although those things are often intertwined). Parents who work multiple jobs or long hours to cover the basics are less likely to participate in things that require a lot of time or extra money.

Do you mean like in AAU basketball where the fees are hundreds of dollars per season plus tournament fees?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I grew up here in the 70s, 80s, and 90s and my whole family was big into NVSL competitive swimming.

I do find it harder now as a working parent and I am trying to figure out a way to make it work for my 5 yo so I can get her involved with it too; it would make me really sad if she were to miss out on this b/c of my work hours! So, I agree with the poster who mentioned how hard it is if you work.

I live closer in and the pools have practices mornings and afternoons for all ages to clearly accommodate working parents.

Farther out, it seems that they pool do not do this.

Yeah, I grew up going to Tuckahoe and they had p.m. practices also, but we currently live further out as well and our current pool does not.

I am actually looking around for a new pool membership b/c I am not thrilled with our current pool (for a number of reasons) and this is one of the things I am looking for!

[Anonymous]

We travel to pool clubs that I know are in areas with over 50% black and Hispanic populations and won't see more than 5 kids who are black or Hispanic on the team. I'm sure lacrosse is similar.

[Anonymous]

SMH, I just don't really get the swim team concept. I spent my summers away at camp and we swam daily, but it wasn't a competitive thing and the focus was on individual mastery and fun, not competition. My husband grew up barely even learning how to swim. His level of swimming competence is minimal -- basically splashing around in a pool and do the occasional lap or two. I'd definitely like my kids to be competent, strong swimmers, but don't necessarily need to them to consider it a competitive sport unless they want it to be for them.