s/o What's with all of the swim teams around here?

[Anonymous]

This is interesting. I'm from a different state and was a competitive swimmer growing up but in our region your team or swimming competitively had nothing to do with pools that you were members of. There were a few local year round clubs, practices were at local high schools or middle schools to work around the school's team schedule if it was during the boys or girls season. Summers were practice outdoor at local city public pools (I think summer training was something like $60 for 3 months, it wasn't a sport for just the affluent by any stretch since I wasn't one, the coaches were great but not getting paid, most grew up competing in the area and just gave back because they loved it).

I don't get how the membership pools teams translate to high school or middle school teams, or is it more for kids who are the 12 and under set and then only a few go on to actually make it their sport of choice?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm actually kind of amazed at how un-diverse swimming is. Only sport I've seen this so far.

Hello, basketball? Or "undiverse" only goes one-way?

Very true.

I think that it has more to do with SES than race or neighborhood (although those things are often intertwined). Parents who work multiple jobs or long hours to cover the basics are less likely to participate in things that require a lot of time or extra money.

Do you mean like in AAU basketball where the fees are hundreds of dollars per season plus tournament fees?

THis is almost funny to me. Both of mine play competitive sports where the fees are thousands of dollars, per sport per kid per season. Plus equipment, tournament fees, travel costs, etc. I have no idea how people making a normal living have their kids playing. It's outrageous.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is interesting. I'm from a different state and was a competitive swimmer growing up but in our region your team or swimming competitively had nothing to do with pools that you were members of. There were a few local year round clubs, practices were at local high schools or middle schools to work around the school's team schedule if it was during the boys or girls season. Summers were practice outdoor at local city public pools (I think summer training was something like $60 for 3 months, it wasn't a sport for just the affluent by any stretch since I wasn't one, the coaches were great but not getting paid, most grew up competing in the area and just gave back because they loved it).

I don't get how the membership pools teams translate to high school or middle school teams, or is it more for kids who are the 12 and under set and then only a few go on to actually make it their sport of choice?

Summer swim teams have nothing to do with regular "competitive" swimming. Almost anyone can join, as long as they can do all strokes legally. You just join the team of the pool you belong to, or the club that will take you. Winter swim is much more competitve, and there is some cross over--the most competitive summer teams are almost all full of 'winter' swimmers, meaning kids who do it as a sport of choice, not just for fun in the summer. (See Div 1 NVSL teams like Overlee and Chesterbrook)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I know it's unfair of me, but I resent the major focus on swim teams around here. Most of the teams meet in the morning (and most mornings of the week) so my young kids can't be on the team since it conflicts with the camps they attend while I'm at work. Anyway, my complaint is that at our pool and the others near here it's hard for kids to make friends and not feel like an outsider if they're not on the swim team.

Last night we enjoyed hanging at the pool but it was dominated by a big group of probably 20 kids swimming and goofing off together and it was obvious by their jokes and conversations that they all know each other from the team. I wish there were more social events at our pool for kids that didn't revolve around the team. We all pay the same amount to enjoy the pool and it's atmosphere.

My friend brags that at her pool, the swim team kids act like a fraternity & sorority. She thinks that's fun. I think that's unfortunate.

It seems strange to "resent" swim teams!

[Anonymous]

I find it weird to resent swim teams as well...

It isn't fair to begrudge people who have different interests/priorities than you do. You value camps for your kids. Some of us value swim team. Do you resent tennis teams as well? They usually meet in the mornings. What about t-ball? For some of us, it is really hard to make 5:30 practice and games during the work week?

My point is that these sports/clubs/teams try to accommodate the most number of children, but not everybody will be able to participate due to scheduling conflicts. That is just life...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm actually kind of amazed at how un-diverse swimming is. Only sport I've seen this so far.

Hello, basketball? Or "undiverse" only goes one-way?

Basketball teams are plenty diverse.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I find it weird to resent swim teams as well...

It isn't fair to begrudge people who have different interests/priorities than you do. You value camps for your kids. Some of us value swim team. Do you resent tennis teams as well? They usually meet in the mornings. What about t-ball? For some of us, it is really hard to make 5:30 practice and games during the work week?

My point is that these sports/clubs/teams try to accommodate the most number of children, but not everybody will be able to participate due to scheduling conflicts. That is just life...

I love summer swim team. At our pool, they do have evening practice but it is certainly easier to participate in the morning rather than going to camp all day and then come to practice. Many of the families that are very invested in swim team are with young kids and SAHMs that love the structure swim team imposes on an otherwise unstructured summer. I personally love the balance. I like my kids to have a lot of unstructured time and they get this during swim season along with lots of social and swim team commitments. It is also fabulous for the kids that are 13 and up and can be home by themselves rather than at camp. My absolutely favorite thing is that relationships are built between 7 yr olds and 15 yr olds. The younger kids really look up the older ones and get to interact in a way they really don't in any other sport.

[Anonymous]

To the people who said it's weird that I resent swim teams... First of all, I didn't use that word. I admit it's a little bit of sour grapes because the one pool around here that has evening practices is way too expensive for us.

But the pool in the summer is an odd situation in that it'd be like paying to play on a grassy field but having the field over run with a big soccer team that's taking up tons of space, chanting, cheering, etc. I pay a lot to use the pool but in June and July the pool is often closed for meets or half the pool is closed to non-team members in case the tesm kids want to practice.

I like that there are teams but I don't have to watch and be right next to other team's practices, rallies and parties. One reason we chose our pool is because there's a big area with other things to do like a playground and volleyball court. But during swim team season that area is roped off on a night every weekend for loud swim team dinners and parties so my kids can't use it. That's annoying.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm actually kind of amazed at how un-diverse swimming is. Only sport I've seen this so far.

Well, I dont know where you are swimming but some of the very best teams in the area are primarily black. Takoma Park has an absolutely amazing team that is at least 75-80% black. Several community pools in PG County and Montgomery Co have phenomemal swim teams that are at least 50% if not more like 99%, black. One of the best area summer leagues is the Prince-Mont league. It has a few DC clubs and then the rest are in PG and MoCo. You may need to get out more.

[Anonymous]

When it comes to swim teams, it seems to me that if you live here with kids the philosophy is "If you can't beat 'em join 'em." The people who like the swim teams all have their children participating. I can see how it could be a fun summer lifestyle, but I wonder about folks who want something different? It seems a little lonely if you're on the outside of this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:To the people who said it's weird that I resent swim teams... First of all, I didn't use that word. I admit it's a little bit of sour grapes because the one pool around here that has evening practices is way too expensive for us.

But the pool in the summer is an odd situation in that it'd be like paying to play on a grassy field but having the field over run with a big soccer team that's taking up tons of space, chanting, cheering, etc. I pay a lot to use the pool but in June and July the pool is often closed for meets or half the pool is closed to non-team members in case the tesm kids want to practice.

I like that there are teams but I don't have to watch and be right next to other team's practices, rallies and parties. One reason we chose our pool is because there's a big area with other things to do like a playground and volleyball court. But during swim team season that area is roped off on a night every weekend for loud swim team dinners and parties so my kids can't use it. That's annoying.

So quit.

[Anonymous]

By the way, the Baltimore-Washington area is considered one of the premier feeders of young swimmers for the top national swim teams and Olympics.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm actually kind of amazed at how un-diverse swimming is. Only sport I've seen this so far.

Well, I dont know where you are swimming but some of the very best teams in the area are primarily black. Takoma Park has an absolutely amazing team that is at least 75-80% black. Several community pools in PG County and Montgomery Co have phenomemal swim teams that are at least 50% if not more like 99%, black. One of the best area summer leagues is the Prince-Mont league. It has a few DC clubs and then the rest are in PG and MoCo. You may need to get out more.

Oh, and I am a white mom and our NW DC team, MVP Dolphins, is primarily white but also has kids who are black, Hispanic, Asian, quite a nice mix actually and a great group of kids. It is open to any and all who want to join. Practices are in the evenings at the Lab School's indoor. Home meets are also at lab School and on Saturdays. We travel to away meets all around DC, MoCo, and PG. The coaches are really great and it a fun team for all ages. Google it if you are looking for a nice, summer team.

[Anonymous]

So quit.

So quit what? Do you mean then don't join a pool? My kids should be able to go to a pool near our house to cool off and have fun over the summer. I had no idea when we joined the pool though that probably 95% of the kids over 6 at our pool are on the team. It definitely has an in crowd feel and I've heard other parents at other pools say the same thing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm actually kind of amazed at how un-diverse swimming is. Only sport I've seen this so far.

Well, I dont know where you are swimming but some of the very best teams in the area are primarily black. Takoma Park has an absolutely amazing team that is at least 75-80% black. Several community pools in PG County and Montgomery Co have phenomemal swim teams that are at least 50% if not more like 99%, black. One of the best area summer leagues is the Prince-Mont league. It has a few DC clubs and then the rest are in PG and MoCo. You may need to get out more.

Oh, and I am a white mom and our NW DC team, MVP Dolphins, is primarily white but also has kids who are black, Hispanic, Asian, quite a nice mix actually and a great group of kids. It is open to any and all who want to join. Practices are in the evenings at the Lab School's indoor. Home meets are also at lab School and on Saturdays. We travel to away meets all around DC, MoCo, and PG. The coaches are really great and it a fun team for all ages. Google it if you are looking for a nice, summer team.

One of the best teams in the area, Theresa Banks, is 100% black. It is not true any more that AA do not swim.