what age is "too late" to try swim team?

[Anonymous]

I'm a lifeguard and swim coach. I think a lot of folks here have given good advice. Is there some reason you are so stuck on swimming OP? Isn't there something else your kid could try? Soccer? Baseball? Biking? Whatever? Someone who doesn't like to swim is going to hate being on a swim team. Swim team is really hard work, kind of lonely, and boring if you don't love it.

[Anonymous]

OP here. I appreciated and accepted the good advice I received, and several posts into this thread I said I would probably bypass swim team for my son and look into one of the program mentioned (although I certainly think that my 6 yr old is not too old to try it!). I am not hung up on swim team at all - I just want my kids to be strong confident swimmers who are able to swim for recreation and exercise their whole lives - I was looking at swim team as means to that end for my older child, and hopefully in a vehicle which he would enjoy, make friends and enjoy comeraderie. Fyi I was on my high school swim team, as was DH, and we both swim for exercise as adults and spend a lot of time on the water in the summer. But here there seem to be many pool club teams that do not sound competitive, and instead are just a fun summer activity for a lot of kids who are playing other sports the other 10 mos of the year. I think it is pretty clear from my post that I wasn't seeking an ultra competitive swim program for DS. My kids play soccer, basketball, baseball - if someone came and asked me if their child could try basketball for the first time at age 10 despite never having played, I would respond certainly he/she could, on a rec not travel team, and it would be helpful to take some skills clinics. So to those who answered with helpful advice and concrete suggestions, and there were many of you, I do appreciate and have taken your advice to heart. To those who said I am forcing my son into swimming inseas of another sport, This was my response.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. I appreciated and accepted the good advice I received, and several posts into this thread I said I would probably bypass swim team for my son and look into one of the program mentioned (although I certainly think that my 6 yr old is not too old to try it!). I am not hung up on swim team at all - I just want my kids to be strong confident swimmers who are able to swim for recreation and exercise their whole lives - I was looking at swim team as means to that end for my older child, and hopefully in a vehicle which he would enjoy, make friends and enjoy comeraderie. Fyi I was on my high school swim team, as was DH, and we both swim for exercise as adults and spend a lot of time on the water in the summer. But here there seem to be many pool club teams that do not sound competitive, and instead are just a fun summer activity for a lot of kids who are playing other sports the other 10 mos of the year. I think it is pretty clear from my post that I wasn't seeking an ultra competitive swim program for DS. My kids play soccer, basketball, baseball - if someone came and asked me if their child could try basketball for the first time at age 10 despite never having played, I would respond certainly he/she could, on a rec not travel team, and it would be helpful to take some skills clinics. So to those who answered with helpful advice and concrete suggestions, and there were many of you, I do appreciate and have taken your advice to heart. To those who said I am forcing my son into swimming inseas of another sport, This was my response.

I didn't say anything snarky above, but I also don't want you to think that there are swim teams during the summer that are laid back and will have lots of kids in your son's position. We've been at 3 different summer pools over the years and no kid would be on the team if he couldn't safely get across the pool doing a pretty good freestyle and back stroke. He would have to do 50 meter for all strokes, except for fly. I'm not saying this to be mean, but in my experience, I just wanted you to know that summer teams aren't really about unsure swimmers learning how to cross the pool without stopping. The 45 min. Daily practice works on diving, flip turns, making strokes legal, streamlining, etc. they aren't working on the bare basics. I think your son could do it if he wanted, but would suggest he get private lessons leading up to the summer so he can at least do a 50 free and 50 back in a reasonably okay manner. Your sin can decline to attend any meets if he wanted, but they don't encourage that. Good luck!