Summer Swim Team - swimmers train off season commonly?

[Anonymous]

So our DD is on a summer swim team and is a little frustrated that she is one of the slowest swimmers. We don't train or take lessons outside of summer pool time, but heard some other swim moms talking about their swim programs etc(and they talked price which seemed pretty steep), and I now wonder if we giving our daughter short shrift by not doing lessons or something in off season? Swim season is so short, which we like b/c it's a chance to keep active even when hot hot hot. But DD is thinking of quitting simply because she is falling behind in performance. We tell her not to focus on that and just compete against herself, and enjoy the sport and learning new swim techniques but I wonder if we should try to get some lessons or at least more pool time in off season? Don't think we will sign up for the $600 swim program but don't want her to give up b/c we are not keeping with the team standards.

[Anonymous]

If she wants to be good, yes she needs to do it year round. Classes or team.

[Anonymous]

I have friends who do YMCA swim team in the winter to keep their skills up. Our pool offers winter/spring clinics to prep for summer. Both options are cheaper than the "all in" year round swim teams.

[Anonymous]

This is the way it is on our team. Pretty much all of the A team swimmers swim over the winter. My kids didn't want to so they were slower in comparison and quit. It's frustrating. I agree with you that it should be fun and casual but some folks take it very seriously and I guess others figure that if you can't beat em, join em.

[Anonymous]

There are two tiers of swimmers. Year round swimmers and summer swimmers. Same for diving. It becomes more apparent as they get older.

[Anonymous]

Swim mom here. Try your local rec center. There are a lot of options for winter swim ranging from practice one to five days a week. Our rec center has a one day winter practice which we like and it's cheap. Or you can be crazy and have them swimming every morning before school.

It's an independent sport in a way. Focus on her individual times getting better as you noted. Great sport for a full body workout and you won't worry as much when they swim in the ocean. You sound like a great Mom. Keep her swimming.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There are two tiers of swimmers. Year round swimmers and summer swimmers. Same for diving. It becomes more apparent as they get older.

Will she be ostracized or kicked off team if she is just a 'summer swimmer'.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So our DD is on a summer swim team and is a little frustrated that she is one of the slowest swimmers. We don't train or take lessons outside of summer pool time, but heard some other swim moms talking about their swim programs etc(and they talked price which seemed pretty steep), and I now wonder if we giving our daughter short shrift by not doing lessons or something in off season? Swim season is so short, which we like b/c it's a chance to keep active even when hot hot hot. But DD is thinking of quitting simply because she is falling behind in performance. We tell her not to focus on that and just compete against herself, and enjoy the sport and learning new swim techniques but I wonder if we should try to get some lessons or at least more pool time in off season? Don't think we will sign up for the $600 swim program but don't want her to give up b/c we are not keeping with the team standards.

Well, she should do winter swim if she likes it only.
My kids are in a large summer swim team where many kids not only swim winter, they train seriously in the early mornings in the summer too.
Neither of which necessarily makes you one of the fastest swimmers on the team nor does it guarantee you a slot in the A meets either. Some kids with all-star times swim only in the B meets.
There's a few kids who don't swim in the winter who DO make the A meets.

Many of the kids don't swim winter and still swim summer. Your kids just have to get used to not necessarily being the fastest swimmer.
Swim team is about participating, having fun and beating your own times.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There are two tiers of swimmers. Year round swimmers and summer swimmers. Same for diving. It becomes more apparent as they get older.

Will she be ostracized or kicked off team if she is just a 'summer swimmer'.

That's totally ridiculous.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There are two tiers of swimmers. Year round swimmers and summer swimmers. Same for diving. It becomes more apparent as they get older.

Will she be ostracized or kicked off team if she is just a 'summer swimmer'.

That's totally ridiculous.

Well, her slow times does impact team performance, and if everyone else is doing the time, want to make sure we aren't totally outside of the spec.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There are two tiers of swimmers. Year round swimmers and summer swimmers. Same for diving. It becomes more apparent as they get older.

Will she be ostracized or kicked off team if she is just a 'summer swimmer'.

That's totally ridiculous.

Well, her slow times does impact team performance, and if everyone else is doing the time, want to make sure we aren't totally outside of the spec.

Her slow times do not impact the team performance. What are you talking about ?
Does she swim Saturday A meets? If that's the case there isn't anyone else faster anyway.

Does she swim the B meets? If so the times do not matter for anything.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There are two tiers of swimmers. Year round swimmers and summer swimmers. Same for diving. It becomes more apparent as they get older.

Will she be ostracized or kicked off team if she is just a 'summer swimmer'.

That's totally ridiculous.

Well, her slow times does impact team performance, and if everyone else is doing the time, want to make sure we aren't totally outside of the spec.

You sound tightly wound about it. Might as well sign her up for a winter program.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There are two tiers of swimmers. Year round swimmers and summer swimmers. Same for diving. It becomes more apparent as they get older.

Will she be ostracized or kicked off team if she is just a 'summer swimmer'.

That's totally ridiculous.

Well, her slow times does impact team performance, and if everyone else is doing the time, want to make sure we aren't totally outside of the spec.

Her slow times do not impact the team performance. What are you talking about ?
Does she swim Saturday A meets? If that's the case there isn't anyone else faster anyway.

Does she swim the B meets? If so the times do not matter for anything.

Oh, B meets don't count! Awesome, thanks. I'm not sporty at all so don't know how this works.

[Anonymous]

OP, if you loved your kid, you'd have already written the check to get your kid training year-round.

[Anonymous]

If you are in Rockville, they have a great swim center that has lessons year round. You sign up for them in sessions that last 6-8 weeks. The groups are capped around 7-8 people.