Frustrated with how our swim team takes over the pool

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am totally shocked that so many people are telling the OP to just get over it!

She's not asking for swim team to disappear, but it really sounds like her team is taking over the pool way too often in some really annoying ways.

Morning practice and pool not opening until 11? Totally normal.
Afternoon practices when the kids are still in school? Again totally normal.
A handful of pool closures for meets and maybe one big end of season party? Totally normal.

Afternoon practices once school is out? Definitely not normal at any of the pools with which I'm familiar. I'd find that unacceptable.
Bullhorns for swim team activities when the pool is open to everyone? Definitely not normal.
Closures for team building events throughout the season? Definitely not normal.

OP, like someone else said, I'd pick one or two things (for me, it would be bullhorns during open hours and afternoon practices after school is out) and go push for those things.

We are a swim team family with four kids - this is our eighth summer - and I totally agree with all of this. Sounds like the team at OP's pool is over the top. We're in a double-digit division and are very chill - I wonder if OP's pool is in a more competitive division.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am totally shocked that so many people are telling the OP to just get over it!

She's not asking for swim team to disappear, but it really sounds like her team is taking over the pool way too often in some really annoying ways.

Morning practice and pool not opening until 11? Totally normal.
Afternoon practices when the kids are still in school? Again totally normal.
A handful of pool closures for meets and maybe one big end of season party? Totally normal.

Afternoon practices once school is out? Definitely not normal at any of the pools with which I'm familiar. I'd find that unacceptable.
Bullhorns for swim team activities when the pool is open to everyone? Definitely not normal.
Closures for team building events throughout the season? Definitely not normal.

OP, like someone else said, I'd pick one or two things (for me, it would be bullhorns during open hours and afternoon practices after school is out) and go push for those things.

Whether not a pool has afternoon practice is something that parents look for when choosing a pool. OP didn't look into it, but taking it away from families who did look into it and chose this pool and waited on the waiting list because they needed afternoon practice isn't fair.

Bullhorns, I agree with you. Closing for team building activities. I agree with you. But information about the swim team, including the schedule, is clear on the website. If OP didn't read the website that's on them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am totally shocked that so many people are telling the OP to just get over it!

She's not asking for swim team to disappear, but it really sounds like her team is taking over the pool way too often in some really annoying ways.

Morning practice and pool not opening until 11? Totally normal.
Afternoon practices when the kids are still in school? Again totally normal.
A handful of pool closures for meets and maybe one big end of season party? Totally normal.

Afternoon practices once school is out? Definitely not normal at any of the pools with which I'm familiar. I'd find that unacceptable.
Bullhorns for swim team activities when the pool is open to everyone? Definitely not normal.
Closures for team building events throughout the season? Definitely not normal.

OP, like someone else said, I'd pick one or two things (for me, it would be bullhorns during open hours and afternoon practices after school is out) and go push for those things.

We are a swim team family with four kids - this is our eighth summer - and I totally agree with all of this. Sounds like the team at OP's pool is over the top. We're in a double-digit division and are very chill - I wonder if OP's pool is in a more competitive division.

DP. Our pool is in the low single digits, really big team, and I agree with all of those also. We're not in an area where most kids spend the entire summer at camp though, so evening practices are small and limited to just a couple of lanes. So they're accommodating the few kids who can't make it in the morning but there just aren't that many compared to the number who want to come in the morning.

[Anonymous]

If you move into a house near a college campus you should know that there will be loud drunk kids at night.

If you join a pool with a swim team you should know that there will be closures and disruptions that aren’t to your liking.

I posted earlier that I’m a swim parent and I get how frustrating it can be, but 14 pages in and I think people just need to accept that the world will never be exactly as they want it, you’ll be happier if you can accept that and move on instead of grumbling constantly and teaching your kids that any discomfort or inconvenient is worth complaining about.

You’ll be ok, this is a small blip in your life—don’t make it bigger than it need to be.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Pool membership is a privilege and a choice, not a right. If you don't like what you are purchasing you are free to take your money elsewhere. If you don't like the policies you are free to run for the board to help change them. If you don't like the facilities you are free to volunteer to help improve them. If you don't like it when other people are there exercising their right to use the pool.according to the rules, you are free to adjust your own schedule in response. But you can't expect all of these factors to self-adjust to match your tastes, especially when one of these factors is a permitted activity organized by volunteers for other people's children. What if someday there is an activity there for your child that inconveniences someone else? Should it give way just because I don't like it? Community means everyone gives a little and forgives a little. If you feel like you are being asked to give too much, maybe you would be happier in a different community.

The most reasonable response on this thread.

[Anonymous]

I’m a parent that is all in on summer swim, but the bullhorn seems extra. And it sounds like there is an opportunity to teach kids common courtesy of not covering every table with their stuff if they’re not actively using it. That has nothing to do with swim team, it’s just helping kids understand that they need to be thoughtful of those around them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sounds like OP and maybe a few others should be looking for a new pool. There are so many pools to pick from. Maybe you need to trade proximity for a pool that better meets your needs.

It took us 7 years to get off the waitlist at the closest pool to us, which is still 20-30 min drive away, depending on traffic Where are you that it’s so easy to just join another pool?

DP
There are a ton in the Springfield and Burke areas.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Breton Woods is a less expensive county club.

Their website doesn’t list the cost.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Pool membership is a privilege and a choice, not a right. If you don't like what you are purchasing you are free to take your money elsewhere. If you don't like the policies you are free to run for the board to help change them. If you don't like the facilities you are free to volunteer to help improve them. If you don't like it when other people are there exercising their right to use the pool.according to the rules, you are free to adjust your own schedule in response. But you can't expect all of these factors to self-adjust to match your tastes, especially when one of these factors is a permitted activity organized by volunteers for other people's children. What if someday there is an activity there for your child that inconveniences someone else? Should it give way just because I don't like it? Community means everyone gives a little and forgives a little. If you feel like you are being asked to give too much, maybe you would be happier in a different community.

I agree with most of what you have written except for the bolded. As other pool board members have clearly stated earlier in the thread, the board is made up of swim team parents who don't care about the general membership. So it's a losing battle. I stay completely out of the politics of the pool because it would make me insane dealing with these swim team parents and how the pool caters to the team. But it also means that I'm not volunteering for anything pool-related. I pay my dues, I follow the rules, I work around the swim team and that's the best I can do. I'm not switching to another pool when my teens can walk to this one.

My only request to our pool is to let people know the schedule of practices and closures. How was OP supposed to know how much swim team takes over the pool when they don't clearly outline this stuff on the website? If OP has a toddler, there is no way she would have known to ask these questions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

That is SUCH BS. Pools are in high demand and it's NOT because of swim team. PLENTY of people would still want to join. We are considering dropping our membership BECAUSE of swim team.

You have no idea what you are talking about. There a ton of pools in NoVa with no waitlist.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

That is SUCH BS. Pools are in high demand and it's NOT because of swim team. PLENTY of people would still want to join. We are considering dropping our membership BECAUSE of swim team.

You have no idea what you are talking about. There a ton of pools in NoVa with no waitlist.

+1

[Anonymous]

OP here and I’m amazed that this is still going. I had posted in a different forum and it got moved here, which is fine if it’s the most available place. I was genuinely interested in what other pools do and it sounds like ours is one extreme.

And all the people telling me I didn’t do my research- I have said at least twice now that we have been members for a while now and when we joined there was NO afternoon practice at all (for either swim or dive) and not as many “extra” events. None of the changes are communicated before you have to join for the year. And we paid a significant initiation fee when we joined. I don’t think we will leave but I do think it’s reaching a tipping point of annoyance that I am considering saying something. But given that the board is loaded with people who think “swim team is the heart of the community” so I am not thinking I will have much luck.

[Anonymous]

It’s super annoying how kids take over pools and then adults don’t have a place to swim.

I have seen this happen at municipal pool, YMCA and neighborhood pool.

I told our HOA that we the swim team takes over pool, maybe they should be paying for our membership fees. I’m not paying for a pool I can’t use.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sounds like OP and maybe a few others should be looking for a new pool. There are so many pools to pick from. Maybe you need to trade proximity for a pool that better meets your needs.

It took us 7 years to get off the waitlist at the closest pool to us, which is still 20-30 min drive away, depending on traffic Where are you that it’s so easy to just join another pool?

Bethesda

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sounds like OP and maybe a few others should be looking for a new pool. There are so many pools to pick from. Maybe you need to trade proximity for a pool that better meets your needs.

It took us 7 years to get off the waitlist at the closest pool to us, which is still 20-30 min drive away, depending on traffic Where are you that it’s so easy to just join another pool?

Bethesda

Certain areas of nova are the same