Started Stroke & Turn and am not impressed

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:It feels way too crowded and there are 7-8 kids in one lane. Also, they take everyone. There are 3 5-6 year-olds who can barely swim 10 meter and they are there and still take up an entire lane. I thought the requirement is to be able to swim 25m?

What are my other options? Kid is 8. FINS?

What location is this? If this is MoCo, they do pro-rated refunds until Dec so that might be something to consider.

I had a 5yo go through this and although he could go 25m w/o stopping, that was only 1 or 2 lengths in the beginning of practice/session and then he'd be grabbing the wall or rope for breaks or bobbing off the bottom to propel himself using the rope to propel himself, etc, he figured out all the "tricks". Although he was comfortable in the "big pool", he just didn't have the endurance at that age. This gradually went away and by the time he was 7 he didn't do it anymore.

In my experience, these younger/weaker swimmers would be in the lane closest to the wall and wouldn't be in a lane w/ a stronger 8yo swimmer like your DC so I'm not sure why this would be an issue unless they aren't running the session this way in which case you should raise this with the coach - lane grouping by age/ability is common practice and they should be doing this.

I think OP is saying the younger kids that shouldn’t be there are in a lane to themselves, which is then forcing the other lanes to be overcrowded. OP, my kid got more out of FINS than stroke and turn for similar reasons. They did a year of FINS (age 8) and then moved to a club the following year.

Parents, please stop over-estimating your kids’ abilities or throwing them into something like a stroke and turn clinic knowing full well they aren’t ready for it. It ruins the experience for everyone else who is appropriately there because they are constantly having to adjust the session for the kids that aren’t ready to be there.

I would stop expecting parents to have any idea about what level is appropriate. They are parents not swimming experts.

I didn't grow up around swim and do my best to place my kids in the right programs, but it's always a gamble that I got it right. I try to get advice, but it can be hit or miss. If I get it wrong, I expect someone on the coaching staff to tell me and discuss options.

Are you saying that before you put your kid in stroke and turn you didn’t know that he didn’t have the endurance to do more than a few 25s at the beginning of practice? It never occurred to you that, before putting your 5 year old in something where the age range of participants is up to 18, maybe you should talk to someone with the program about what it entailed and whether it would be appropriate for your 5 year old? Please, give me a break, you do not need swim savvy to be able to do that.

You've just made up a requirement for stroke and turn that doesn't currently exist. Maybe this could be the basis for a new program that you are in charge of.

I mean it’s common sense that a 1 hour long class with participants up to age 18 is not designed for a kid who after more than 1 25 is hanging on the lane lines, grabbing the wall, etc.

Yes, of course, a 5yo isn't going to have the endurance and strength of an 18 year old. But, not all the lanes are doing the same thing at the same level within that hour, so it turns out it S&T is in fact designed that way.

If they didn't want 5yo participating, they would specify a higher age. If they wanted 100m or 200m endurance or some sort of set endurance, they would specify that. They don't - it's ages 5 to 18 and able swim 25m. The kids they have are the kids that belong there.

OP here. You clearly did not read my post. I am saying these kids cannot swim 25m. Not saying they need to swim 100m or even 50. They are doing doggie paddle for like 10m. I get that these younger kids are learning to swim, but they don't belong in a Stroke and Turn imo. They are at best at the Floaters 1 class at City of Rockville Swim Center.

That would be the question for the coach/coordinator.

My response above was not to you directly but was a side thread response to a different poster where I described my experience previously in S&T with my 5yo who could swim a 25 or 2 in the beginning of the of a practice but didn't have the endurance at 5 and would devolve to to wall grabbing, pulling on lane ropes, etc and such for most of the rest of the session. That lessened as he aged and was gone as a 7yo. My point was my son technically met the requirements of the program and therefor "belonged" there despite what others thought - the requirement is 25m, not repeated, sustained 25m throughout the hour long session. In your case, if these kids didn't or couldn't have met this 25m requirement when they were evaluated then they shouldn't be there, that's true. But maybe they were barely able to do this and they let them in...maybe not, who knows? But, they are there now and my guess is they aren't going anywhere.

It seems like with your newfound knowledge, the only unfortunate thing is that you didn't know this earlier to get your kid started in S&T last year or maybe even the year before... these kids you are watching doggie paddle for 10m will be 2nd year club swimmers and legal in all 4 strokes when they get to your son's current age.

[Anonymous]

You get what you pay for. We did stroke and turn olney for years and it was good enough--good price, kept my kid swimming once a week so summer swim wasn't a shock. My kid isn't super into swimming so it was fine for him, but no it's never going to be amazing.

[Anonymous]

I think this is just what happens when there is limited lane space. Ideally there would be enough space to have 4 kids per lane grouped by similar ability. But the reality at most pools is that you have to put 8 kids in a lane with a wider range of abilities. If they capped the program at a smaller number, people would be upset that hardly anyone would participate.

My 6 year old DC is in a similar program. Based on how well DC did on the summer team they have been placed in a lane with 7 and 8 year olds in the once a week winter program. Some of the kids in DC's lane are two grades older. DC is struggling with the multiple laps at a time and the drills being introduced. They are out of practice now that swimming isn't every day. Developmentally the drills are a bit advanced for DC to grasp, as DC is not yet 6 and a half. But at the same time DC is too advanced for the lane of 5 and 6 year olds barely making it across the pool and needing lots of rest after each 25. DC just goes at the back of the line and does what they can while getting some help from the coach that's in the water. There is really no good place for DC with the limited space. I figure DC is building good endurance if nothing else.

[Anonymous]

We did FINS and didn't feel like our kids progressed well. We are now doing stroke and turn through ASA and have found a huge difference. They work a lot on technique and place the kids in different groups based on whether they are legal in 4 strokes, versus legal in 2-3 strokes, versus only being able to swim 10 meters. There are about 4 kids in a lane.

[Anonymous]

My 4.5 year old has been doing private classes and her teacher (and aquatic director) said he is ready for the stroke group class. I was a bit shocked because ny girls did not start stroke class until 6 or so and my son can barely swim the whole lap. However, this is the expert and he told me to sign him up for that class where all the other kids are going to be much older and most likely stronger swimmers. He said my son is too good for the level before… what can a parents do?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My 4.5 year old has been doing private classes and her teacher (and aquatic director) said he is ready for the stroke group class. I was a bit shocked because ny girls did not start stroke class until 6 or so and my son can barely swim the whole lap. However, this is the expert and he told me to sign him up for that class where all the other kids are going to be much older and most likely stronger swimmers. He said my son is too good for the level before… what can a parents do?

I would reach out to the stroke and turn program and get their take, and also go watch a current stroke and turn class to see for yourself what it’s like and whether your 5 year old should be there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My 4.5 year old has been doing private classes and her teacher (and aquatic director) said he is ready for the stroke group class. I was a bit shocked because ny girls did not start stroke class until 6 or so and my son can barely swim the whole lap. However, this is the expert and he told me to sign him up for that class where all the other kids are going to be much older and most likely stronger swimmers. He said my son is too good for the level before… what can a parents do?

I would reach out to the stroke and turn program and get their take, and also go watch a current stroke and turn class to see for yourself what it’s like and whether your 5 year old should be there.

There is no current class to watch and the aquatic director is also the program director. He won’t teach the class, but I would think I should do what he suggests. I know my son is young (4.5), but what can I do? If the more advanced kids will have a problem with him being in the same class maybe they can do private classes instead?
My point is that I don’t get to judge and decide whether my son belongs in the stroke group. He can swim a whole lap without stopping and therefore he belongs to this class and not the one below. He will be 2+ years you get than the other kids and much smaller…

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My 4.5 year old has been doing private classes and her teacher (and aquatic director) said he is ready for the stroke group class. I was a bit shocked because ny girls did not start stroke class until 6 or so and my son can barely swim the whole lap. However, this is the expert and he told me to sign him up for that class where all the other kids are going to be much older and most likely stronger swimmers. He said my son is too good for the level before… what can a parents do?

I would reach out to the stroke and turn program and get their take, and also go watch a current stroke and turn class to see for yourself what it’s like and whether your 5 year old should be there.

There is no current class to watch and the aquatic director is also the program director. He won’t teach the class, but I would think I should do what he suggests. I know my son is young (4.5), but what can I do? If the more advanced kids will have a problem with him being in the same class maybe they can do private classes instead?
My point is that I don’t get to judge and decide whether my son belongs in the stroke group. He can swim a whole lap without stopping and therefore he belongs to this class and not the one below. He will be 2+ years you get than the other kids and much smaller…

Your kid is 4 and a half, I would absolutely vet a class where he will be the youngest by several years before placing him in it. Come on this is basic parenting, you absolutely are in complete control of deciding whether you feel comfortable placing your kid in a stroke program with kids several years older.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My 4.5 year old has been doing private classes and her teacher (and aquatic director) said he is ready for the stroke group class. I was a bit shocked because ny girls did not start stroke class until 6 or so and my son can barely swim the whole lap. However, this is the expert and he told me to sign him up for that class where all the other kids are going to be much older and most likely stronger swimmers. He said my son is too good for the level before… what can a parents do?

I would reach out to the stroke and turn program and get their take, and also go watch a current stroke and turn class to see for yourself what it’s like and whether your 5 year old should be there.

There is no current class to watch and the aquatic director is also the program director. He won’t teach the class, but I would think I should do what he suggests. I know my son is young (4.5), but what can I do? If the more advanced kids will have a problem with him being in the same class maybe they can do private classes instead?
My point is that I don’t get to judge and decide whether my son belongs in the stroke group. He can swim a whole lap without stopping and therefore he belongs to this class and not the one below. He will be 2+ years you get than the other kids and much smaller…

Your kid is 4 and a half, I would absolutely vet a class where he will be the youngest by several years before placing him in it. Come on this is basic parenting, you absolutely are in complete control of deciding whether you feel comfortable placing your kid in a stroke program with kids several years older.

That’s not intentional obviously I would prefer for him to be with kids around his age, but I donMt want to pay for swim lessons unless he is learning. I was told that in the level before stroke, kids are wearing floaters. My son does not want/need a floater. What should I do in your opinion?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My 4.5 year old has been doing private classes and her teacher (and aquatic director) said he is ready for the stroke group class. I was a bit shocked because ny girls did not start stroke class until 6 or so and my son can barely swim the whole lap. However, this is the expert and he told me to sign him up for that class where all the other kids are going to be much older and most likely stronger swimmers. He said my son is too good for the level before… what can a parents do?

I would reach out to the stroke and turn program and get their take, and also go watch a current stroke and turn class to see for yourself what it’s like and whether your 5 year old should be there.

There is no current class to watch and the aquatic director is also the program director. He won’t teach the class, but I would think I should do what he suggests. I know my son is young (4.5), but what can I do? If the more advanced kids will have a problem with him being in the same class maybe they can do private classes instead?
My point is that I don’t get to judge and decide whether my son belongs in the stroke group. He can swim a whole lap without stopping and therefore he belongs to this class and not the one below. He will be 2+ years you get than the other kids and much smaller…

Your kid is 4 and a half, I would absolutely vet a class where he will be the youngest by several years before placing him in it. Come on this is basic parenting, you absolutely are in complete control of deciding whether you feel comfortable placing your kid in a stroke program with kids several years older.

That’s not intentional obviously I would prefer for him to be with kids around his age, but I donMt want to pay for swim lessons unless he is learning. I was told that in the level before stroke, kids are wearing floaters. My son does not want/need a floater. What should I do in your opinion?

Stroke and turn ready would mean you know ugly free style, backstroke. You might even know the other two or components of breast and fly.

You are learning to make the strokes not ugly. You also usually need to be able to swim the length of the pool.

You are definitely not floaties before S&T. Floaties are still being worn the first few level of lessons.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My 4.5 year old has been doing private classes and her teacher (and aquatic director) said he is ready for the stroke group class. I was a bit shocked because ny girls did not start stroke class until 6 or so and my son can barely swim the whole lap. However, this is the expert and he told me to sign him up for that class where all the other kids are going to be much older and most likely stronger swimmers. He said my son is too good for the level before… what can a parents do?

I would reach out to the stroke and turn program and get their take, and also go watch a current stroke and turn class to see for yourself what it’s like and whether your 5 year old should be there.

There is no current class to watch and the aquatic director is also the program director. He won’t teach the class, but I would think I should do what he suggests. I know my son is young (4.5), but what can I do? If the more advanced kids will have a problem with him being in the same class maybe they can do private classes instead?
My point is that I don’t get to judge and decide whether my son belongs in the stroke group. He can swim a whole lap without stopping and therefore he belongs to this class and not the one below. He will be 2+ years you get than the other kids and much smaller…

Your kid is 4 and a half, I would absolutely vet a class where he will be the youngest by several years before placing him in it. Come on this is basic parenting, you absolutely are in complete control of deciding whether you feel comfortable placing your kid in a stroke program with kids several years older.

At 4.5 they take regular swim classes except if they are superstars and they'd need to do multiple full laps comfortably.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My 4.5 year old has been doing private classes and her teacher (and aquatic director) said he is ready for the stroke group class. I was a bit shocked because ny girls did not start stroke class until 6 or so and my son can barely swim the whole lap. However, this is the expert and he told me to sign him up for that class where all the other kids are going to be much older and most likely stronger swimmers. He said my son is too good for the level before… what can a parents do?

I would reach out to the stroke and turn program and get their take, and also go watch a current stroke and turn class to see for yourself what it’s like and whether your 5 year old should be there.

There is no current class to watch and the aquatic director is also the program director. He won’t teach the class, but I would think I should do what he suggests. I know my son is young (4.5), but what can I do? If the more advanced kids will have a problem with him being in the same class maybe they can do private classes instead?
My point is that I don’t get to judge and decide whether my son belongs in the stroke group. He can swim a whole lap without stopping and therefore he belongs to this class and not the one below. He will be 2+ years you get than the other kids and much smaller…

Your kid is 4 and a half, I would absolutely vet a class where he will be the youngest by several years before placing him in it. Come on this is basic parenting, you absolutely are in complete control of deciding whether you feel comfortable placing your kid in a stroke program with kids several years older.

That’s not intentional obviously I would prefer for him to be with kids around his age, but I donMt want to pay for swim lessons unless he is learning. I was told that in the level before stroke, kids are wearing floaters. My son does not want/need a floater. What should I do in your opinion?

Are you in the DMV? Because this is not consistent with how my kid (who FWIW is now a high level club swimmer) worked their way through lessons. Stroke and turn was not the next level after floaties. Maybe what you are describing as stroke and turn is different than my understanding of stroke and turn.

[Anonymous]

OP, I get it, DD was in stroke and turn last year and it was a joke. The other kids could barely swim across and my kid had to wait every time for the others to finish or she would whiz past them in the lane. They didn’t even work on flip turns until close to the end of the year. The dive practices were also a joke, they had to sit on the edge and roll into the water. I was so disappointed but we stuck it though because being in the water was better than nothing at all. Strangely enough, the first year we did stroke and turn, it wasn’t that bad. All the kids knew most of the strokes and they were around the same level. Maybe it’s just luck of the draw, whoever signs up at that time slot and is the same age as your kid is who you get.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My 4.5 year old has been doing private classes and her teacher (and aquatic director) said he is ready for the stroke group class. I was a bit shocked because ny girls did not start stroke class until 6 or so and my son can barely swim the whole lap. However, this is the expert and he told me to sign him up for that class where all the other kids are going to be much older and most likely stronger swimmers. He said my son is too good for the level before… what can a parents do?

The 5 year olds struggling through stroke and turn do not look like they’re having fun. Maybe go to the pool on a Sunday evening and decide if you really want that for your kid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, I get it, DD was in stroke and turn last year and it was a joke. The other kids could barely swim across and my kid had to wait every time for the others to finish or she would whiz past them in the lane. They didn’t even work on flip turns until close to the end of the year. The dive practices were also a joke, they had to sit on the edge and roll into the water. I was so disappointed but we stuck it though because being in the water was better than nothing at all. Strangely enough, the first year we did stroke and turn, it wasn’t that bad. All the kids knew most of the strokes and they were around the same level. Maybe it’s just luck of the draw, whoever signs up at that time slot and is the same age as your kid is who you get.

What?

They were doing flip turns last week! It’s still October, practices just started. I think we would have quit if we’d had to wait until the end of the year.