Freeloading swim team parents suck

[Anonymous]

*paid refs. Not paid volunteers

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

the system is bloated and they should look into ways to reduce that demand

Agree. I feel like the current volunteer requirements are from 25 years ago when there were fewer 2-working-parent and single-parent households.

I'd be happy to write a check to hire part-time timers and judges. Just like soccer doesn't expect parents to ref games.

Hahaha. You know hard it is to even find paid officials for a few meets a year?!?

DP. There aren’t any teens or retired people who can do this? My kids participate in every other sport I can think of except swim. All have paid volunteers. Depending on the sport and their ages, it is always teens or retired individuals. Every game or tournament. And from reading this thread, it sounds like so many of these volunteer hours are about concessions. Why not get rid of them all together? I don’t understand how many of these jobs are really necessary vs. nice to have.

Whoever suggested using taskrabbit for volunteer hours was brilliant.

10% or less of the volunteer hours are for concessions.

Re: hiring teens or retired people: Teens who are qualified are swimming. Retired will pass out from the heat.

[Anonymous]

I’m way too drunk on Saturday afternoons to be standing in the blistering heat working a stopwatch for 9 year olds to swim across a pool. Deuces.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m way too drunk on Saturday afternoons to be standing in the blistering heat working a stopwatch for 9 year olds to swim across a pool. Deuces.

🙄 maybe you should look into rehab because the A meets start at 9 am and are over by 12.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Superior beings,
If you don't want kids with non-volunteer parents on your swim team, then make it SUPER CLEAR that enrollment is limited to parent volunteer families only. Drop kids whose parent doesn't occupy a volunteer role in the first A or B meet.

I feel like the leagues are shaming me because I can only volunteer part-time. I can't volunteer for every B meet during the season. I can't commit to judge training, like stroke and turn. But I do what I can with the time I have available.

Teams absolutely make it super clear. And give numerous chances to back out. People know and just don’t care. Takers gonna take.

My kid wants to swim, so I sign him up. I have other kids that play other sports, I have elderly parents that I’m the caretaker for, and I have a job. So I don’t volunteer. I offer to write a check for whatever, but I’m not denying my son an opportunity to swim because his grandparents are dying or I have to work. If it comes back to bite me, as previous posters have threatened, than that’s fine with me.

What exactly are we paying for with swim team sign up fees anyway? It’s not cheap. My other son plays little league, and for the $125 sign up fee they get a uniform, paid umpires, and an end of year party budget. For swim team I buy the swimsuits, volunteers run everything, and concession sales pay for social events.

How is your little league so cheap!? Ours is over $200 season plus a $50 opt out fee for volunteers if you want to do nothing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't really understand the focus on timers. Timing swim meets was one of the more enjoyable things I did to support my child's sports. You get to sit down, chat with other parents and every few minutes stand up and push a button. Plus you get to see excited kids pop out of the pool. I actually only timed a few meets a year because I normally worked the hated Clerk of the Course. I even enjoyed that because the vast majority of the kids were a lot of fun.

I'm glad it was enjoyable for you. When I started timing, I had a 5 year old swimmer, a toddler who loved nothing more than to run headfirst towards the pool, and a first responder husband who worked shift work.

So, I'd go to B meet, because my kid still needed help, and then pay for childcare so I could go time other people's kids at the A meet. I would happily have taken that money and given it to someone to time for me or to be used for touch pads or something else.

This makes no sense. If your kid isn't swimming in an A Meet, you don't have to volunteer. There are also other ways to volunteer and not be on the pool deck.

Our team requires B meet parents to volunteer, so if I couldn't volunteer at a B meet, because I had two little kids with me, then I had to volunteer at A. What's hard to understand about that?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't really understand the focus on timers. Timing swim meets was one of the more enjoyable things I did to support my child's sports. You get to sit down, chat with other parents and every few minutes stand up and push a button. Plus you get to see excited kids pop out of the pool. I actually only timed a few meets a year because I normally worked the hated Clerk of the Course. I even enjoyed that because the vast majority of the kids were a lot of fun.

I'm glad it was enjoyable for you. When I started timing, I had a 5 year old swimmer, a toddler who loved nothing more than to run headfirst towards the pool, and a first responder husband who worked shift work.

So, I'd go to B meet, because my kid still needed help, and then pay for childcare so I could go time other people's kids at the A meet. I would happily have taken that money and given it to someone to time for me or to be used for touch pads or something else.

This makes no sense. If your kid isn't swimming in an A Meet, you don't have to volunteer. There are also other ways to volunteer and not be on the pool deck.

Our team requires B meet parents to volunteer, so if I couldn't volunteer at a B meet, because I had two little kids with me, then I had to volunteer at A. What's hard to understand about that?

There is no reason that a 5 year old needs to be participating in a swim meet. That child should be on pre-team where there is only 1 inter squad meet. That’s your bad for putting a 5 year old on the actual swim team.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Superior beings,
If you don't want kids with non-volunteer parents on your swim team, then make it SUPER CLEAR that enrollment is limited to parent volunteer families only. Drop kids whose parent doesn't occupy a volunteer role in the first A or B meet.

I feel like the leagues are shaming me because I can only volunteer part-time. I can't volunteer for every B meet during the season. I can't commit to judge training, like stroke and turn. But I do what I can with the time I have available.

Teams absolutely make it super clear. And give numerous chances to back out. People know and just don’t care. Takers gonna take.

My kid wants to swim, so I sign him up. I have other kids that play other sports, I have elderly parents that I’m the caretaker for, and I have a job. So I don’t volunteer. I offer to write a check for whatever, but I’m not denying my son an opportunity to swim because his grandparents are dying or I have to work. If it comes back to bite me, as previous posters have threatened, than that’s fine with me.

What exactly are we paying for with swim team sign up fees anyway? It’s not cheap. My other son plays little league, and for the $125 sign up fee they get a uniform, paid umpires, and an end of year party budget. For swim team I buy the swimsuits, volunteers run everything, and concession sales pay for social events.

How is your little league so cheap!? Ours is over $200 season plus a $50 opt out fee for volunteers if you want to do nothing.

NP here. Yours is cheap to me! Our season is $250 plus $150 volunteer fee!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't really understand the focus on timers. Timing swim meets was one of the more enjoyable things I did to support my child's sports. You get to sit down, chat with other parents and every few minutes stand up and push a button. Plus you get to see excited kids pop out of the pool. I actually only timed a few meets a year because I normally worked the hated Clerk of the Course. I even enjoyed that because the vast majority of the kids were a lot of fun.

I'm glad it was enjoyable for you. When I started timing, I had a 5 year old swimmer, a toddler who loved nothing more than to run headfirst towards the pool, and a first responder husband who worked shift work.

So, I'd go to B meet, because my kid still needed help, and then pay for childcare so I could go time other people's kids at the A meet. I would happily have taken that money and given it to someone to time for me or to be used for touch pads or something else.

This makes no sense. If your kid isn't swimming in an A Meet, you don't have to volunteer. There are also other ways to volunteer and not be on the pool deck.

Our team requires B meet parents to volunteer, so if I couldn't volunteer at a B meet, because I had two little kids with me, then I had to volunteer at A. What's hard to understand about that?

There is no reason that a 5 year old needs to be participating in a swim meet. That child should be on pre-team where there is only 1 inter squad meet. That’s your bad for putting a 5 year old on the actual swim team.

At our pool, coaches make that decision, not parents.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Superior beings,
If you don't want kids with non-volunteer parents on your swim team, then make it SUPER CLEAR that enrollment is limited to parent volunteer families only. Drop kids whose parent doesn't occupy a volunteer role in the first A or B meet.

I feel like the leagues are shaming me because I can only volunteer part-time. I can't volunteer for every B meet during the season. I can't commit to judge training, like stroke and turn. But I do what I can with the time I have available.

Teams absolutely make it super clear. And give numerous chances to back out. People know and just don’t care. Takers gonna take.

My kid wants to swim, so I sign him up. I have other kids that play other sports, I have elderly parents that I’m the caretaker for, and I have a job. So I don’t volunteer. I offer to write a check for whatever, but I’m not denying my son an opportunity to swim because his grandparents are dying or I have to work. If it comes back to bite me, as previous posters have threatened, than that’s fine with me.

What exactly are we paying for with swim team sign up fees anyway? It’s not cheap. My other son plays little league, and for the $125 sign up fee they get a uniform, paid umpires, and an end of year party budget. For swim team I buy the swimsuits, volunteers run everything, and concession sales pay for social events.

No, the fee is to pay the coaches, buy the ribbons and other stuff the team needs. It sucks you have so many issues at home, but we all do. So, grow up and do your share.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't really understand the focus on timers. Timing swim meets was one of the more enjoyable things I did to support my child's sports. You get to sit down, chat with other parents and every few minutes stand up and push a button. Plus you get to see excited kids pop out of the pool. I actually only timed a few meets a year because I normally worked the hated Clerk of the Course. I even enjoyed that because the vast majority of the kids were a lot of fun.

I'm glad it was enjoyable for you. When I started timing, I had a 5 year old swimmer, a toddler who loved nothing more than to run headfirst towards the pool, and a first responder husband who worked shift work.

So, I'd go to B meet, because my kid still needed help, and then pay for childcare so I could go time other people's kids at the A meet. I would happily have taken that money and given it to someone to time for me or to be used for touch pads or something else.

This makes no sense. If your kid isn't swimming in an A Meet, you don't have to volunteer. There are also other ways to volunteer and not be on the pool deck.

Our team requires B meet parents to volunteer, so if I couldn't volunteer at a B meet, because I had two little kids with me, then I had to volunteer at A. What's hard to understand about that?

There is no reason that a 5 year old needs to be participating in a swim meet. That child should be on pre-team where there is only 1 inter squad meet. That’s your bad for putting a 5 year old on the actual swim team.

At our pool, coaches make that decision, not parents.

That’s ludicrous. Our swim team is extremely large and very welcoming of swimmers of all abilities, and there is not a single 5 year old on the team. I also find it hard to believe that the coach would force you to place a 5 year old on the team vs pre-team. My DD was ok’d to join the team when she was 7, but she didn’t want to, and they didn’t say you can’t do the pre-team anymore, you must be in the full team. Come on, no 5 year old is that special.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't really understand the focus on timers. Timing swim meets was one of the more enjoyable things I did to support my child's sports. You get to sit down, chat with other parents and every few minutes stand up and push a button. Plus you get to see excited kids pop out of the pool. I actually only timed a few meets a year because I normally worked the hated Clerk of the Course. I even enjoyed that because the vast majority of the kids were a lot of fun.

I'm glad it was enjoyable for you. When I started timing, I had a 5 year old swimmer, a toddler who loved nothing more than to run headfirst towards the pool, and a first responder husband who worked shift work.

So, I'd go to B meet, because my kid still needed help, and then pay for childcare so I could go time other people's kids at the A meet. I would happily have taken that money and given it to someone to time for me or to be used for touch pads or something else.

This makes no sense. If your kid isn't swimming in an A Meet, you don't have to volunteer. There are also other ways to volunteer and not be on the pool deck.

Our team requires B meet parents to volunteer, so if I couldn't volunteer at a B meet, because I had two little kids with me, then I had to volunteer at A. What's hard to understand about that?

There is no reason that a 5 year old needs to be participating in a swim meet. That child should be on pre-team where there is only 1 inter squad meet. That’s your bad for putting a 5 year old on the actual swim team.

At our pool, coaches make that decision, not parents.

That’s ludicrous. Our swim team is extremely large and very welcoming of swimmers of all abilities, and there is not a single 5 year old on the team. I also find it hard to believe that the coach would force you to place a 5 year old on the team vs pre-team. My DD was ok’d to join the team when she was 7, but she didn’t want to, and they didn’t say you can’t do the pre-team anymore, you must be in the full team. Come on, no 5 year old is that special.

You do realize that other teams and other parents may do things differently than you do. You do realize this?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't really understand the focus on timers. Timing swim meets was one of the more enjoyable things I did to support my child's sports. You get to sit down, chat with other parents and every few minutes stand up and push a button. Plus you get to see excited kids pop out of the pool. I actually only timed a few meets a year because I normally worked the hated Clerk of the Course. I even enjoyed that because the vast majority of the kids were a lot of fun.

I'm glad it was enjoyable for you. When I started timing, I had a 5 year old swimmer, a toddler who loved nothing more than to run headfirst towards the pool, and a first responder husband who worked shift work.

So, I'd go to B meet, because my kid still needed help, and then pay for childcare so I could go time other people's kids at the A meet. I would happily have taken that money and given it to someone to time for me or to be used for touch pads or something else.

This makes no sense. If your kid isn't swimming in an A Meet, you don't have to volunteer. There are also other ways to volunteer and not be on the pool deck.

Our team requires B meet parents to volunteer, so if I couldn't volunteer at a B meet, because I had two little kids with me, then I had to volunteer at A. What's hard to understand about that?

There is no reason that a 5 year old needs to be participating in a swim meet. That child should be on pre-team where there is only 1 inter squad meet. That’s your bad for putting a 5 year old on the actual swim team.

At our pool, coaches make that decision, not parents.

That’s ludicrous. Our swim team is extremely large and very welcoming of swimmers of all abilities, and there is not a single 5 year old on the team. I also find it hard to believe that the coach would force you to place a 5 year old on the team vs pre-team. My DD was ok’d to join the team when she was 7, but she didn’t want to, and they didn’t say you can’t do the pre-team anymore, you must be in the full team. Come on, no 5 year old is that special.

You do realize that other teams and other parents may do things differently than you do. You do realize this?

Most 5 year olds are not swimming a full legal stroke.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Superior beings,
If you don't want kids with non-volunteer parents on your swim team, then make it SUPER CLEAR that enrollment is limited to parent volunteer families only. Drop kids whose parent doesn't occupy a volunteer role in the first A or B meet.

I feel like the leagues are shaming me because I can only volunteer part-time. I can't volunteer for every B meet during the season. I can't commit to judge training, like stroke and turn. But I do what I can with the time I have available.

Teams absolutely make it super clear. And give numerous chances to back out. People know and just don’t care. Takers gonna take.

My kid wants to swim, so I sign him up. I have other kids that play other sports, I have elderly parents that I’m the caretaker for, and I have a job. So I don’t volunteer. I offer to write a check for whatever, but I’m not denying my son an opportunity to swim because his grandparents are dying or I have to work. If it comes back to bite me, as previous posters have threatened, than that’s fine with me.

What exactly are we paying for with swim team sign up fees anyway? It’s not cheap. My other son plays little league, and for the $125 sign up fee they get a uniform, paid umpires, and an end of year party budget. For swim team I buy the swimsuits, volunteers run everything, and concession sales pay for social events.

You are full of excuses. You think you're the only busy parent? What a selfish bunch of BS. We're talking about at least volunteering SOME of your time, and a lot of the jobs are not a big deal. You're already up at the pool for the meet. You can't sit on your butt during a meet and slap some stickers on ribbons?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't really understand the focus on timers. Timing swim meets was one of the more enjoyable things I did to support my child's sports. You get to sit down, chat with other parents and every few minutes stand up and push a button. Plus you get to see excited kids pop out of the pool. I actually only timed a few meets a year because I normally worked the hated Clerk of the Course. I even enjoyed that because the vast majority of the kids were a lot of fun.

I'm glad it was enjoyable for you. When I started timing, I had a 5 year old swimmer, a toddler who loved nothing more than to run headfirst towards the pool, and a first responder husband who worked shift work.

So, I'd go to B meet, because my kid still needed help, and then pay for childcare so I could go time other people's kids at the A meet. I would happily have taken that money and given it to someone to time for me or to be used for touch pads or something else.

This makes no sense. If your kid isn't swimming in an A Meet, you don't have to volunteer. There are also other ways to volunteer and not be on the pool deck.

Our team requires B meet parents to volunteer, so if I couldn't volunteer at a B meet, because I had two little kids with me, then I had to volunteer at A. What's hard to understand about that?

There is no reason that a 5 year old needs to be participating in a swim meet. That child should be on pre-team where there is only 1 inter squad meet. That’s your bad for putting a 5 year old on the actual swim team.

At our pool, coaches make that decision, not parents.

That’s ludicrous. Our swim team is extremely large and very welcoming of swimmers of all abilities, and there is not a single 5 year old on the team. I also find it hard to believe that the coach would force you to place a 5 year old on the team vs pre-team. My DD was ok’d to join the team when she was 7, but she didn’t want to, and they didn’t say you can’t do the pre-team anymore, you must be in the full team. Come on, no 5 year old is that special.

You do realize that other teams and other parents may do things differently than you do. You do realize this?

I defy anyone to identify a team that forced a 5 YEAR OLD to be on the swim team vs. the pre-team. That parent was complaining about volunteering and the answer is that your 5 year old, who still needs supervision which makes volunteering difficult, doesn’t need to be on the actual swim team. The child is 5 for crying out loud!!