Best swimming instruction for swim team prep

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

So Goldfish is NOT it. Looking for a program my 7 year old could start now to be prepared for a summer league.

I don't understand--is this for your neighborhood/recreation association team?
You DC will get taught the additional things they need to know learn how to swim better on the summer league team, which is recreational anyway. I thougth most pools/clubs stratify kids based on ability anyway.

This is like getting doing private basketball, baseball or soccer training for a rec league. SMH. This area is crazy.

Many local pools have minimum requirements for joining the team, such as two legal strokes and being able to swim the length of the pool without stopping.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

So Goldfish is NOT it. Looking for a program my 7 year old could start now to be prepared for a summer league.

I don't understand--is this for your neighborhood/recreation association team?
You DC will get taught the additional things they need to know learn how to swim better on the summer league team, which is recreational anyway. I thougth most pools/clubs stratify kids based on ability anyway.

This is like getting doing private basketball, baseball or soccer training for a rec league. SMH. This area is crazy.

Summer teams vary so much in this area. If you find a pool with a very small team (less than 60 kids) then they will pretty much any kid with a pulse to fill a lane and teach them what they need to know. Once you get to teams over 120, it is a very different story. They generally have swimmers and some very good ones. So they have levels to their kids and where kids are placed for the summer. It sounds like OP is trying to give her kid a chance to getting on the competitive team. The minimum of that is usually back and free - 25 metes if under the age of 8 and 50 meters if older than that. If your kid is legal in fly or breaststroke - particularly at a young age they will take you and put you in a lane.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

So Goldfish is NOT it. Looking for a program my 7 year old could start now to be prepared for a summer league.

I don't understand--is this for your neighborhood/recreation association team?
You DC will get taught the additional things they need to know learn how to swim better on the summer league team, which is recreational anyway. I thougth most pools/clubs stratify kids based on ability anyway.

This is like getting doing private basketball, baseball or soccer training for a rec league. SMH. This area is crazy.

I don’t disagree that this area is crazy, but the quality of summer swim instruction varies greatly. Our summer league team is very large, and the kids get very little actual instruction, largely because of the sheer number of kids and varying levels of proficiency. There is 1 head coach (who at our pool did very little but kind of hang out and occasionally chase her toddler around), and there are some new HS grads and some of the HS aged kids doing most of the instruction. Is it fun for the kids, absolutely, is your kid going to learn how to be technically sound, not so much.

This is pretty normal for summer league. It is supposed to be a lot of fun. Some teams try really hard to work with kids but there is a minimum level of proficiency that is required.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

So Goldfish is NOT it. Looking for a program my 7 year old could start now to be prepared for a summer league.

I don't understand--is this for your neighborhood/recreation association team?
You DC will get taught the additional things they need to know learn how to swim better on the summer league team, which is recreational anyway. I thougth most pools/clubs stratify kids based on ability anyway.

This is like getting doing private basketball, baseball or soccer training for a rec league. SMH. This area is crazy.

I don’t disagree that this area is crazy, but the quality of summer swim instruction varies greatly. Our summer league team is very large, and the kids get very little actual instruction, largely because of the sheer number of kids and varying levels of proficiency. There is 1 head coach (who at our pool did very little but kind of hang out and occasionally chase her toddler around), and there are some new HS grads and some of the HS aged kids doing most of the instruction. Is it fun for the kids, absolutely, is your kid going to learn how to be technically sound, not so much.

What's your endgame for a kid who is 7 years old?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

So Goldfish is NOT it. Looking for a program my 7 year old could start now to be prepared for a summer league.

I don't understand--is this for your neighborhood/recreation association team?
You DC will get taught the additional things they need to know learn how to swim better on the summer league team, which is recreational anyway. I thougth most pools/clubs stratify kids based on ability anyway.

This is like getting doing private basketball, baseball or soccer training for a rec league. SMH. This area is crazy.

Summer teams vary so much in this area. If you find a pool with a very small team (less than 60 kids) then they will pretty much any kid with a pulse to fill a lane and teach them what they need to know. Once you get to teams over 120, it is a very different story. They generally have swimmers and some very good ones. So they have levels to their kids and where kids are placed for the summer. It sounds like OP is trying to give her kid a chance to getting on the competitive team. The minimum of that is usually back and free - 25 metes if under the age of 8 and 50 meters if older than that. If your kid is legal in fly or breaststroke - particularly at a young age they will take you and put you in a lane.

At most pools, during the summer, any kid can swim in the mid-week meets against other pools in at least one stroke regardless of ability (minimum requirement being making it the length of the pool for her 7yo). Competitive teams are the ones swimming Saturday mornings.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

So Goldfish is NOT it. Looking for a program my 7 year old could start now to be prepared for a summer league.

I don't understand--is this for your neighborhood/recreation association team?
You DC will get taught the additional things they need to know learn how to swim better on the summer league team, which is recreational anyway. I thougth most pools/clubs stratify kids based on ability anyway.

This is like getting doing private basketball, baseball or soccer training for a rec league. SMH. This area is crazy.

I don’t disagree that this area is crazy, but the quality of summer swim instruction varies greatly. Our summer league team is very large, and the kids get very little actual instruction, largely because of the sheer number of kids and varying levels of proficiency. There is 1 head coach (who at our pool did very little but kind of hang out and occasionally chase her toddler around), and there are some new HS grads and some of the HS aged kids doing most of the instruction. Is it fun for the kids, absolutely, is your kid going to learn how to be technically sound, not so much.

What's your endgame for a kid who is 7 years old?

I’m the PP you’re responding to but I don’t have a 7 year old. I was responding to someone who was under the impression that you would learn everything you need to know to swim better during summer swim, and I was just pointing out that I would not use summer swim as somewhere your kid will learn to swim properly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

So Goldfish is NOT it. Looking for a program my 7 year old could start now to be prepared for a summer league.

I don't understand--is this for your neighborhood/recreation association team?
You DC will get taught the additional things they need to know learn how to swim better on the summer league team, which is recreational anyway. I thougth most pools/clubs stratify kids based on ability anyway.

This is like getting doing private basketball, baseball or soccer training for a rec league. SMH. This area is crazy.

Summer teams vary so much in this area. If you find a pool with a very small team (less than 60 kids) then they will pretty much any kid with a pulse to fill a lane and teach them what they need to know. Once you get to teams over 120, it is a very different story. They generally have swimmers and some very good ones. So they have levels to their kids and where kids are placed for the summer. It sounds like OP is trying to give her kid a chance to getting on the competitive team. The minimum of that is usually back and free - 25 metes if under the age of 8 and 50 meters if older than that. If your kid is legal in fly or breaststroke - particularly at a young age they will take you and put you in a lane.

At most pools, during the summer, any kid can swim in the mid-week meets against other pools in at least one stroke regardless of ability (minimum requirement being making it the length of the pool for her 7yo). Competitive teams are the ones swimming Saturday mornings.

The idea of being at interminable B meet for my kid to do one lap of freestyle makes my head hurt.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

So Goldfish is NOT it. Looking for a program my 7 year old could start now to be prepared for a summer league.

I don't understand--is this for your neighborhood/recreation association team?
You DC will get taught the additional things they need to know learn how to swim better on the summer league team, which is recreational anyway. I thougth most pools/clubs stratify kids based on ability anyway.

This is like getting doing private basketball, baseball or soccer training for a rec league. SMH. This area is crazy.

Summer teams vary so much in this area. If you find a pool with a very small team (less than 60 kids) then they will pretty much any kid with a pulse to fill a lane and teach them what they need to know. Once you get to teams over 120, it is a very different story. They generally have swimmers and some very good ones. So they have levels to their kids and where kids are placed for the summer. It sounds like OP is trying to give her kid a chance to getting on the competitive team. The minimum of that is usually back and free - 25 metes if under the age of 8 and 50 meters if older than that. If your kid is legal in fly or breaststroke - particularly at a young age they will take you and put you in a lane.

At most pools, during the summer, any kid can swim in the mid-week meets against other pools in at least one stroke regardless of ability (minimum requirement being making it the length of the pool for her 7yo). Competitive teams are the ones swimming Saturday mornings.

The idea of being at interminable B meet for my kid to do one lap of freestyle makes my head hurt.

Then volunteer! The time will fly by.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

So Goldfish is NOT it. Looking for a program my 7 year old could start now to be prepared for a summer league.

I don't understand--is this for your neighborhood/recreation association team?
You DC will get taught the additional things they need to know learn how to swim better on the summer league team, which is recreational anyway. I thougth most pools/clubs stratify kids based on ability anyway.

This is like getting doing private basketball, baseball or soccer training for a rec league. SMH. This area is crazy.

I don’t disagree that this area is crazy, but the quality of summer swim instruction varies greatly. Our summer league team is very large, and the kids get very little actual instruction, largely because of the sheer number of kids and varying levels of proficiency. There is 1 head coach (who at our pool did very little but kind of hang out and occasionally chase her toddler around), and there are some new HS grads and some of the HS aged kids doing most of the instruction. Is it fun for the kids, absolutely, is your kid going to learn how to be technically sound, not so much.

What's your endgame for a kid who is 7 years old?

Not PP, but summer swim is a ton of fun and much more fun if your kid actually makes meets. At our pool, most kids do not make A meets which is where a lot of the fun of summer swim is.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are you in NoVa? York has a swim school program at Yorktown that is exactly what you are looking for. Twice a week, instructors in the pool giving personalized instruction but aimed toward getting kids onto a “real” swim team.

My kindergartener has loved it and can now do 3 of 4 strokes legally for 25Y. They even had a cute little practice meet a couple weekends ago - introduced the starter system, lots of encouragement and silly little prizes. I really can’t recommend it enough.

I only see a swim team site. Is there a link?

Registration isn’t open at the moment. Late June I think it opens? This link shows the existence of the program: https://www.teamunify.com/RegGroupSelectOne.jsp?showonly=1®id=80262 . You can always email to get more info and the exact registration date.

It's a year round program that starts in the fall and runs through May ish? Any of the good programs are going to be full year. I don't know of any beyond basic swim lessons that start so close to summer season. Most are winding down

[Anonymous]

NCAP has a great swim school. You could see if they have late spring sessions.

[Anonymous]

You could also just wait for swim team. They practice so much he'll pick it up in 2 weeks. It's okay for him to not be a superstar at age 7.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

So Goldfish is NOT it. Looking for a program my 7 year old could start now to be prepared for a summer league.

I don't understand--is this for your neighborhood/recreation association team?
You DC will get taught the additional things they need to know learn how to swim better on the summer league team, which is recreational anyway. I thougth most pools/clubs stratify kids based on ability anyway.

This is like getting doing private basketball, baseball or soccer training for a rec league. SMH. This area is crazy.

I don’t disagree that this area is crazy, but the quality of summer swim instruction varies greatly. Our summer league team is very large, and the kids get very little actual instruction, largely because of the sheer number of kids and varying levels of proficiency. There is 1 head coach (who at our pool did very little but kind of hang out and occasionally chase her toddler around), and there are some new HS grads and some of the HS aged kids doing most of the instruction. Is it fun for the kids, absolutely, is your kid going to learn how to be technically sound, not so much.

What's your endgame for a kid who is 7 years old?

B meets are fun, too!!

Not PP, but summer swim is a ton of fun and much more fun if your kid actually makes meets. At our pool, most kids do not make A meets which is where a lot of the fun of summer swim is.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

So Goldfish is NOT it. Looking for a program my 7 year old could start now to be prepared for a summer league.

I don't understand--is this for your neighborhood/recreation association team?
You DC will get taught the additional things they need to know learn how to swim better on the summer league team, which is recreational anyway. I thougth most pools/clubs stratify kids based on ability anyway.

This is like getting doing private basketball, baseball or soccer training for a rec league. SMH. This area is crazy.

Summer teams vary so much in this area. If you find a pool with a very small team (less than 60 kids) then they will pretty much any kid with a pulse to fill a lane and teach them what they need to know. Once you get to teams over 120, it is a very different story. They generally have swimmers and some very good ones. So they have levels to their kids and where kids are placed for the summer. It sounds like OP is trying to give her kid a chance to getting on the competitive team. The minimum of that is usually back and free - 25 metes if under the age of 8 and 50 meters if older than that. If your kid is legal in fly or breaststroke - particularly at a young age they will take you and put you in a lane.

At most pools, during the summer, any kid can swim in the mid-week meets against other pools in at least one stroke regardless of ability (minimum requirement being making it the length of the pool for her 7yo). Competitive teams are the ones swimming Saturday mornings.

The idea of being at interminable B meet for my kid to do one lap of freestyle makes my head hurt.

Then volunteer! The time will fly by.

Lol, I have volunteered at B meets where my kid has done the max number of events and time most definitely does not fly when you are doing umpteen heats of kids that will DQ in any stroke other than freestyle, or if they don’t DQ will take several minutes to complete a 25.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Fairfax Rec programs are terrible.

Second this. Please do not do them.

i have to ‘third’ this