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

[Anonymous]

I was at teh Coaches Long course meet last night-the top8 in the county for each stroke. It was as diverse as it could be

black, white, asian hispanic, midlde eastern it had it all. Open your eyes if you think it is a white persons sport.

[Anonymous]

Some swim teams are more competitive than others. I know of families that belong to the swim team but only practice twice a week in the evenings and only attend the B meets every so often. Those kids still get to do all the same social activities. I've seen many pools with 2-3 nights a week practices for working parents. Some pools are larger than others too and the swim team events are off to the side not particularly impacting the rest of the members.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

It sounds like maybe you should shop around for a different pool with a more relaxed social vibe.

[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.

You left out Kingfish and Theresa Banks, primarily African American but many Hispanic and white swimmers, along with Takoma Park (TPDC), which dominate Division A of the Prince Mont Swim League. I agree, the swimmers are phenomenal to watch. Their swim meets have a family, party like atmosphere and the swimming is top notch. I only wish more media attention would be given to these teams.

[Anonymous]

When our pool is closed for meets or social events we are allowed to use 2 other local pools. They have the same reciprocity when they have meets.

DD is too young for swim team but when she is old enough I plan on having her swim. I have good memories of summer swim team and I want the same for her.

[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.

You left out Kingfish and Theresa Banks, primarily African American but many Hispanic and white swimmers, along with Takoma Park (TPDC), which dominate Division A of the Prince Mont Swim League. I agree, the swimmers are phenomenal to watch. Their swim meets have a family, party like atmosphere and the swimming is top notch. I only wish more media attention would be given to these teams.

Summer competitive swimming remains a very segregated experience in this area.

The Prince Mont Swim League has many African American and Hispanic swimmers, with member clubs consisting of many public swimming facilities. The Montgomery County and Northern Virginia Swiiming Leagues are dominated by the Caucasian and also Asian swimmers, mainly from private area summer swim clubs.

It would be healthy for the sport to translate the Prince Mont League's success into more area participation by minority swimmers in the year-round, competitive club teams.

[Anonymous]

Hi, this is the OP. So it sounds like many people have really fond memories of swim team from their own childhoods and want to continue the tradition with their own kids. It seems the teams are emotionally important to many, not just for he physical competition aspects but the social aspects as well.

Interesting. I wonder why these were never big where I grew up or why it wasn't as big a thing where where we used to live? Anyway, thanks to those who commented.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Yes. Quit the pool. Stop whining like an entitled brat and go elsewhere. Your kids don't have a good given right to a pool near the house. Neither do you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Yes. Quit the pool. Stop whining like an entitled brat and go elsewhere. Your kids don't have a good given right to a pool near the house. Neither do you.



"God-given right," not "good given right." Yeesh.

[Anonymous]

FYI who do you think pays a lot of money to keep these pools running? It is the swim team fees............

without swim teams your pool would be closed. If you don't believe it, look how empty the pool wil be in two weeks once swimming si over. It wouldn't survive without a swim team.

[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.

I don't have swim team experience yet (son will try out next year), but 95% of our local pool swim team is Asian. I just figured it was a reflection of where you live.

Where do YOU live?

Still no answer/follow-up. Can I call BS now?

[Anonymous]

FYI who do you think pays a lot of money to keep these pools running? It is the swim team fees............

without swim teams your pool would be closed. If you don't believe it, look how empty the pool wil be in two weeks once swimming si over. It wouldn't survive without a swim team.

I'm not sure it's the fees of the swim team but the fees of the parents paying to be members of that pool so their child can join a swim team. Most swim teams are not open to the public. You also have to be a member of the pool.

[Anonymous]

In our neighborhood...the swim team is like a cult. And, FYI...the neighborhood HOA fees go into a reserve that pay for the pool...not the modest amount one has to pay for the swim team. The community pays for the pool...and shouldn't be run out by the swim team which is a small fraction of the overall community.

[Anonymous]

Hmmm, I might be missing something but I always assumed the popularity of swim teals, particularly at the community pools, was that there was a spot for everyone? I know it can get more competitive but this always seemed like a good place to put kids who did not do other sports, but again, I might be missing something.

[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.

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.

That is right, Theresa Banks is in the same league as Takoma Park and MVP Dolphins and they are awesome!! I am not sure it is fully 100% black, there my be a few others but, it doesn't really matter. They are one of the best swim teams around and largely AA. Also Kingfish Swim Club ( I think that is name). Super nice parents, great coaches, and kids are great swimmers. Yeah, that is an old, old stereotype and, one of the moms on either TB or Kingfish told me, flat out, the swim club was started, in part, to fly in the face of the stupid myth that "black people can't/don't/won't swim". They wanted their kids to know how to swim and love to swim and to help eradicate that stereotype. It has worked too because those teams produce great swimmers.