Families that never volunteer - swim team

[Anonymous]

Summer swim at our pool is like the pain Olympics. I’m glad it ends today. New reps next year, let’s see if they can turn it around at our pool.

[Anonymous]

My favorite is the family that always volunteers for the last two B meets every year. Then they are "sick" or have a "work commitment" come up at the last minute. Miraculously they are always "better" or done with work in time to watch their kids swim in that meet. Happens every year with the same family.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My favorite is the family that always volunteers for the last two B meets every year. Then they are "sick" or have a "work commitment" come up at the last minute. Miraculously they are always "better" or done with work in time to watch their kids swim in that meet. Happens every year with the same family.

So why isn’t anyone handing them a stop watch upon their arrival? “Great! You are here, let’s get you over to lane 6!”

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My favorite is the family that always volunteers for the last two B meets every year. Then they are "sick" or have a "work commitment" come up at the last minute. Miraculously they are always "better" or done with work in time to watch their kids swim in that meet. Happens every year with the same family.

So why isn’t anyone handing them a stop watch upon their arrival? “Great! You are here, let’s get you over to lane 6!”

Or just tell them they can’t swim next year! Grow a pair!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My favorite is the family that always volunteers for the last two B meets every year. Then they are "sick" or have a "work commitment" come up at the last minute. Miraculously they are always "better" or done with work in time to watch their kids swim in that meet. Happens every year with the same family.

Passive aggressive does not work with them. You have to tell them to their faces. Consequences matter.

[Anonymous]

I read this with fascination. We belong to a pool but my child has never done swim team. Why? Not because of the volunteer commitment, but because practices are on weekday mornings. Practice ends too late for her to go to camp. Even if I could find one that would take her late, she’d have to be transported mid morning. I have to work, so that just never seemed feasible. I know, I know, lots of people have more flexibility or can hire someone. Totally get that. What I don’t understand is how someone is able to manage the logistics of practices, but can’t figure out how to volunteer. How can you manage practices and a whole day with a kid at home but not be able to work a meet?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I read this with fascination. We belong to a pool but my child has never done swim team. Why? Not because of the volunteer commitment, but because practices are on weekday mornings. Practice ends too late for her to go to camp. Even if I could find one that would take her late, she’d have to be transported mid morning. I have to work, so that just never seemed feasible. I know, I know, lots of people have more flexibility or can hire someone. Totally get that. What I don’t understand is how someone is able to manage the logistics of practices, but can’t figure out how to volunteer. How can you manage practices and a whole day with a kid at home but not be able to work a meet?

How many camps does she go from mid-June to end of July? People either skip the whole week of practices or ask to move up to middle/high school practice time (7:30 AM) for that week.

Your kid doesn't have to join a swim team, but if you/she wants to, you can make it work.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I read this with fascination. We belong to a pool but my child has never done swim team. Why? Not because of the volunteer commitment, but because practices are on weekday mornings. Practice ends too late for her to go to camp. Even if I could find one that would take her late, she’d have to be transported mid morning. I have to work, so that just never seemed feasible. I know, I know, lots of people have more flexibility or can hire someone. Totally get that. What I don’t understand is how someone is able to manage the logistics of practices, but can’t figure out how to volunteer. How can you manage practices and a whole day with a kid at home but not be able to work a meet?

How many camps does she go from mid-June to end of July? People either skip the whole week of practices or ask to move up to middle/high school practice time (7:30 AM) for that week.

Your kid doesn't have to join a swim team, but if you/she wants to, you can make it work.

NP how do you know the schedule for their pool? Do you understand that many families need camp or childcare every week of the summer. For our pool morning practice finishes at 9am which can work for some camps, but others have practice mid morning. Luckily we have afternoon practice options but there is no way at all I could ever have made it work if I had not got to permanently work from home after Covid. This “middle high school practice time” that you speak of is not universal for all pools in any way.

[Anonymous]

Our team has a late afternoon practice option - 4:30-5:30pm. If kid in day camp for a week or two, we could get them to the afternoon practice. Realize the would not work for all families (or pools)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our team has a late afternoon practice option - 4:30-5:30pm. If kid in day camp for a week or two, we could get them to the afternoon practice. Realize the would not work for all families (or pools)

This is what most pools do: a few afternoon practices each week for kids who aren't available in the mornings.

[Anonymous]

WE CAN'T RUN THE MEETS without the volunteers

You don't need 30+ volunteers

[Anonymous]

NP how do you know the schedule for their pool? Do you understand that many families need camp or childcare every week of the summer. For our pool morning practice finishes at 9am which can work for some camps, but others have practice mid morning. Luckily we have afternoon practice options but there is no way at all I could ever have made it work if I had not got to permanently work from home after Covid. This “middle high school practice time” that you speak of is not universal for all pools in any way.

You work around swim team's schedule, not the other way around. If you can't do it and/or if you can afford to having camps or childcare the whole summer, join club swim or no summer swim at all.

The whole point of this thread is to perform your obligation (volunteering). Unless you have reasonable excuses (single mom with little kids for example), do volunteer. Nobody likes moocher.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I read this with fascination. We belong to a pool but my child has never done swim team. Why? Not because of the volunteer commitment, but because practices are on weekday mornings. Practice ends too late for her to go to camp. Even if I could find one that would take her late, she’d have to be transported mid morning. I have to work, so that just never seemed feasible. I know, I know, lots of people have more flexibility or can hire someone. Totally get that. What I don’t understand is how someone is able to manage the logistics of practices, but can’t figure out how to volunteer. How can you manage practices and a whole day with a kid at home but not be able to work a meet?

You have to check around to different pools. Our pool only has evening swim team, which is great for camps, summer school, jobs, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

WE CAN'T RUN THE MEETS without the volunteers

You don't need 30+ volunteers

Yes you do. 3 timers per lane is 18 (x 2 if it’s a B meet so you can do half shifts). Then you need people to Marshall (2 minimum) stroke and turn, referee and start. You also need relay start/finish judges. That’s just the officials!

In addition, you need people to do the table and awards, an announcer, and people to set up and take down the meet. Then there’s concessions!

And then there’s all of the work that happens outside of meet day—buying supplies, equipment, and organizing pep rallies and team events. If you aren’t signing up for something I have no problem saying no swimming for your kid.

Do something. Our team has 200 kids, more than enough parents to handle all of the work.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I read this with fascination. We belong to a pool but my child has never done swim team. Why? Not because of the volunteer commitment, but because practices are on weekday mornings. Practice ends too late for her to go to camp. Even if I could find one that would take her late, she’d have to be transported mid morning. I have to work, so that just never seemed feasible. I know, I know, lots of people have more flexibility or can hire someone. Totally get that. What I don’t understand is how someone is able to manage the logistics of practices, but can’t figure out how to volunteer. How can you manage practices and a whole day with a kid at home but not be able to work a meet?

Yes I think that’s part of the irritation with families that have the logistics down to drop off and pick up to multiple practices a day but never the time to volunteer.