Frustrated with how our swim team takes over the pool

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If there was a pool that the team didn’t practice in the evening I’d consider switching.

But yeah summer swim dominates all pools.

How old are you? Sounds like a retirement community is what you need.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP you probably should have posted this on the elementary school topic and then the cliquey swim mommies wouldn't have jumped on you this way.

She tried to but Jeff moved it to where it belongs.

God bless Jeff™

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm on a pool board for one of these pools and there are (I'll say this probably unkindly) some cranks who have OP's attitude and I'll say I don't give it any credence. It's a NEIGHBORHOOD pool and we have lots of constituents and we do a really good job of balancing all the competing demands, but here's the rub: About 200 families out of around 400 member families are there BECAUSE OF THE SWIM TEAM. Over half the membership is tied to the swim team, and probably another 20% are older members whose kids went through swim team. So swim team is kind of at the core DNA of the neighborhood pools. The problem we see time and again is the small portion of lap swimmers who want the entirety of the pool to themselves, 8 at a time. And then the few members who expect it to be the quiet pool at a posh resort and don't like the family hustle and bustle. Join a country club if you want to avoid the swim team, but otherwise stop being a crank.

So then 1/2 are not connected to the swim team. People don’t join for swim team - they join the pool first and then the swim team. Kids may join because friends . . .

[Anonymous]

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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.

Wouldn't the toddlers need to go home for nap time anyway? Or you think the pool should be so quiet that they can nap there?

Ours is not as extreme - there is a very active swim team but it's a larger space (multiple pools), it's rarely closed for their events, and we can't have bullhorns due to community noise restrictions. But it's very fun and festive. This is my kid's first year doing it but we went all the time in the toddler/preschool years and it was a lot of fun - they actually loved watching the pep rallies and stuff too.

If it's a neighborhood pool, the focus is going to swim team and kid activities. Not sorry but that's how it goes - kids need to be out and active and burning off energy, a high-strung adult can find othet things to do. Some nap time toddlers who don't even belong to the pool (per the post that you wanted to bring them as guests) are not the pool's primary focus. This isn't some Caribbean resort designed for lounging around.

Most members at any pool are not participating in swim team. Also, guess what most kids are probably not on the swim team either. Why do you think the team makes sure to get swim team parents on the board? This is a minority group that is VERY invested and spends a lot of time at the pool, so they care more and do what they need to do to make sure they can use the pool how they want to use the pool.

If there are that many people that are as resentful as you think, run a different set of board members on a platform of cancelling swim team

You can probably figure out why this doesn't typically happen, but I'll spell it out. The people who are willing to give their time to be on a pool board (which sucks as a job) are swim team parents who are doing it out of self-interest as it will benefit their kid(s) directly, the reason many people do things in this life. Even if you do get non-swim team people to run, the swim team reps email the team and tell people who to vote for and round up votes to ensure the person is elected. Swim team families are paying attention, engaged, and motivated to vote which involves showing up in person to fill out and submit a ballot.

Canceling swim team is not necessary. Basic consideration just helps.

Our balloting is by e-mail. Who has to vote in person anymore?

We vote in person at the annual meeting. We barely make quorum.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If there was a pool that the team didn’t practice in the evening I’d consider switching.

But yeah summer swim dominates all pools.

Not all pools. Join a different one.

Exactly. Our team uses half the pool between 5 and 6:30 pm while school is in session. It’s not even very busy or crowded. Then once school is out they practice in the morning and are done at 10:00 am. The pool opens at 11:00. There’s very little overlap.

[Anonymous]

We only have morning practice. Pep rallies on Fridays. Swim meets.. yeah. It all adds up. I say join the swim team and join the fun!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If there was a pool that the team didn’t practice in the evening I’d consider switching.

But yeah summer swim dominates all pools.

How old are you? Sounds like a retirement community is what you need.

I’m a PP who said we ended up joining a country club. It’s wonderful, and the swim team only practices in the afternoon but only uses half of the pool and none of the baby pool. Meets are rare (2 home ones a season). I think the best part is there are no crazy parent swim volunteers who get off on little power trips. Instead the practices and meets are staffed with paid coaches and college students. It’s so much better all around. I should add that my kids did swim team at our previous pool and now this one, and getting the insane swim parents out of the picture makes all the difference. OP look at country clubs. Not all of them are expensive, and they’re worth every penny

[Anonymous]

OP, when your toddler is a little older you may very well find yourself joining the swim team and being profoundly grateful for everything it gives your kid.

And your pool is your choice. You can seek out a pool with different facilities or a different culture if you don't like the one you belong to now. But remember that swim teams build community, and some day you may want one.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Email the board and ask them to talk to the team coaches and reps to ask all the bigger kids who are not using tables to drop their stuff elsewhere.

I’d do this and ask for no bullhorn when the pool is open to non swim team members. Reasonable requests.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm with you, OP. They should open the baby pool during the morning swim team practices and families with young kids would love it! Just one guard looking at the baby pool... how much could that cost?

My kids have done the swim team but I was really irritated at how late our pool opened when my kids were little.

Plus the swim parents make the place feel cliqueish.

I don't think OP is a crank. I think DCUM Swimming forum is just full of crazy swim team families!

There are no lifeguards during swim practice. The coaches are certified. Lifeguards don’t show up until 10:30 for the pool’s official open at 11. And it’s open until 9pm. Pretty typical for even a non-swim team pool.

Our pool actually offers lap swimming (with sign up times) from 6-7:30am (before swim team practice starts). I believe it’s a member of the pool board that comes and guards.

During the summer afternoons our pool sometimes rents to an nearby summer camp. Those kids don’t have to get out for adult swim, but all the other kids do. They kids of families who pay for the whole season—yes Swim teamers and non swim teamers. Is it fair? Eh. This is a case of “you can’t always get what you want”—join the pool board to have your voice be heard.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm on a pool board for one of these pools and there are (I'll say this probably unkindly) some cranks who have OP's attitude and I'll say I don't give it any credence. It's a NEIGHBORHOOD pool and we have lots of constituents and we do a really good job of balancing all the competing demands, but here's the rub: About 200 families out of around 400 member families are there BECAUSE OF THE SWIM TEAM. Over half the membership is tied to the swim team, and probably another 20% are older members whose kids went through swim team. So swim team is kind of at the core DNA of the neighborhood pools. The problem we see time and again is the small portion of lap swimmers who want the entirety of the pool to themselves, 8 at a time. And then the few members who expect it to be the quiet pool at a posh resort and don't like the family hustle and bustle. Join a country club if you want to avoid the swim team, but otherwise stop being a crank.

I’m on a board too and agree with this. I’ll add that the lap swimmers are the most annoying and entitled people. They are the biggest whiners.

[Anonymous]

This sounds unusual. Yes, at our pool the pool is crowded at afternoon practice times, hard to park etc, but there are no bullhorns used and families do not take over the tables after morning practice (because the pool closes and they need to get out). But frankly, weekends are more crowded and that has zero to do with summer swim.

[Anonymous]

It sounds like you’ve let your frustrations simmer for too long and now you’re unnecessarily angry. Just talk to the manager or board about insufficient shade and insufficient space to accommodate both the team and other membership groups. Let them figure out solutions. If they aren’t interested in your concerns, then it’s time to look for a new pool if it bothers you that much.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

So then 1/2 are not connected to the swim team. People don’t join for swim team - they join the pool first and then the swim team. Kids may join because friends . . .

Completely wrong at our pool. Many families join ONLY for the swim team. This is a significant source of revenue for the pool and without it the pool may have to close.

[Anonymous]

I agree with above posters that it's perfectly reasonable to ask for a few courtesies: swim team families should clear the tables and chairs by pool-opening time, or ask for a designated area for swim team belongings.

Also, what happens if you just saunter up to an occupied table and say "are you leaving when swim practice is done? Mind if I drop my things here and share the shade until you leave?"