Swim Team Volunteering - it helps if you are nice

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:Yes - new to swim and am so confused about everything. Would be nice if there was some introductions or something.
Also maybe leave some easy volunteering jobs for the new parents!

All the SAHMs take the easy food jobs at our pool, like serving nachos, bringing soda or ice cream versus working a full B meet. I always thought volunteering should be per child. These families with 3 kids should have to more than I do for my 1 kid.

Managing three kids at a swim meet is kind of hard.

That said, we do both volunteer.

If they're all swimming, they should be with their coaches and teammates.

Have you been to a swim meet? They swim for literally 45-60 seconds out of four hours.

So? They’re still supposed to hang in the team area. During Covid parents weren’t even allowed in the building for winter meets. 8 and unders had to go in and manage on their own. It’s good for kids to develop some independence. They don’t need to be hanging all over mom and dad at meets. Unless your children have special needs or behavior challenges they can handle this.

NP. Have you met children before? Some of these kids are 5/6/7. They're not going to hang out with their coaches for four hours when their parents are 6 feet away. Nor do their coaches want to have to be supervising a gigantic herd of little kids. Do you even do summer swim?

+1
coaches aren’t babysitters.

what pool lets 5 year olds race? 6 and 7 year olds can absolutely hang out with their teammates in a giant herd. That's part of the fun of summer swim

Um every pool if they can swim across. Saw a three year old once.

Our pool only lets 6 and under swim with permission and permission is only granted if their times will be competitive. Making it across is not an every pool standard for meets.

How do they ever get times if they have to be competitive in a B meet? Clearly it’s different everywhere but the pp said “who lets a 5 year old race?” And you’re still in agreement that if they can swim legally and, at your poo, be conpetitive then they can race. The division is 8 & under not 6-8. There are definitely 5 year olds at swim meets that need supervision. Frankly I think expecting to be hands off at age 7-8 for the length of a B meet is ridiculous.

Coaches can tell which kids can swim well vs. make it across the pool based on practice. I think our young swimmers would be embarrassed if we insisted they hang out with us instead of their friends.

[Anonymous]

I can’t even. Every year like clockwork these posts show up after the first week of swim events.

Poor op. She stopped ignoring the emails and complaints about lack of volunteers and signed up. She showed up and not enough people talked to her. Got her feelings hurt because someone said there weren’t enough volunteers and now has deemed them all cliquey. And she hasn’t been able to break into this “major” role she envisioned with these people she doesn’t like after her first event. Did I miss anything?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I can’t even. Every year like clockwork these posts show up after the first week of swim events.

Poor op. She stopped ignoring the emails and complaints about lack of volunteers and signed up. She showed up and not enough people talked to her. Got her feelings hurt because someone said there weren’t enough volunteers and now has deemed them all cliquey. And she hasn’t been able to break into this “major” role she envisioned with these people she doesn’t like after her first event. Did I miss anything?

Yes, it sounds like OP volunteered for an amorphous set up job and then arrived after set up was over

"I showed up 5 min before my assigned time, dressed appropriately to help. I introduced myself to the lead of the activity and was told “well the real work was the set up.” I then stood around for 90 minutes trying to make myself useful and then cleaned up, took out trash, and carried tables."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I can’t even. Every year like clockwork these posts show up after the first week of swim events.

Poor op. She stopped ignoring the emails and complaints about lack of volunteers and signed up. She showed up and not enough people talked to her. Got her feelings hurt because someone said there weren’t enough volunteers and now has deemed them all cliquey. And she hasn’t been able to break into this “major” role she envisioned with these people she doesn’t like after her first event. Did I miss anything?

Hey, obnoxious swim mom has entered the chat! Just continue to sit with your Yeti of wine and gossip with your swim mom friends. Did I miss anything?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I can’t even. Every year like clockwork these posts show up after the first week of swim events.

Poor op. She stopped ignoring the emails and complaints about lack of volunteers and signed up. She showed up and not enough people talked to her. Got her feelings hurt because someone said there weren’t enough volunteers and now has deemed them all cliquey. And she hasn’t been able to break into this “major” role she envisioned with these people she doesn’t like after her first event. Did I miss anything?

Hey, obnoxious swim mom has entered the chat! Just continue to sit with your Yeti of wine and gossip with your swim mom friends. Did I miss anything?

NP. I think you missed who the obnoxious one actually is. (Hint: look in the mirror).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I can’t even. Every year like clockwork these posts show up after the first week of swim events.

Poor op. She stopped ignoring the emails and complaints about lack of volunteers and signed up. She showed up and not enough people talked to her. Got her feelings hurt because someone said there weren’t enough volunteers and now has deemed them all cliquey. And she hasn’t been able to break into this “major” role she envisioned with these people she doesn’t like after her first event. Did I miss anything?

Hey, obnoxious swim mom has entered the chat! Just continue to sit with your Yeti of wine and gossip with your swim mom friends. Did I miss anything?

Sure Ok.
But is that not an accurate recounting of what happened? It’s the same at any group you join. I did not go to the PTA the first meeting expecting to be welcomed with open arms and crowned the newly minted PTA President that day and have a tantrum when it didn’t happen. OPs expectations are insane.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I can’t even. Every year like clockwork these posts show up after the first week of swim events.

Poor op. She stopped ignoring the emails and complaints about lack of volunteers and signed up. She showed up and not enough people talked to her. Got her feelings hurt because someone said there weren’t enough volunteers and now has deemed them all cliquey. And she hasn’t been able to break into this “major” role she envisioned with these people she doesn’t like after her first event. Did I miss anything?

Hey, obnoxious swim mom has entered the chat! Just continue to sit with your Yeti of wine and gossip with your swim mom friends. Did I miss anything?

Sure Ok.
But is that not an accurate recounting of what happened? It’s the same at any group you join. I did not go to the PTA the first meeting expecting to be welcomed with open arms and crowned the newly minted PTA President that day and have a tantrum when it didn’t happen. OPs expectations are insane.

It’s insane to expect that people are pleasant to a new volunteer at an event where they literally have to beg people to be volunteers? You reap what you sow, if your team culture involves being unwelcoming to new people don’t be surprised when you have trouble getting people to volunteer.

[Anonymous]

I really think it depends on the pool and the team. Everyone associated with our swim team has always been incredibly nice and appreciative of volunteers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I can’t even. Every year like clockwork these posts show up after the first week of swim events.

Poor op. She stopped ignoring the emails and complaints about lack of volunteers and signed up. She showed up and not enough people talked to her. Got her feelings hurt because someone said there weren’t enough volunteers and now has deemed them all cliquey. And she hasn’t been able to break into this “major” role she envisioned with these people she doesn’t like after her first event. Did I miss anything?

Hey, obnoxious swim mom has entered the chat! Just continue to sit with your Yeti of wine and gossip with your swim mom friends. Did I miss anything?

Sure Ok.
But is that not an accurate recounting of what happened? It’s the same at any group you join. I did not go to the PTA the first meeting expecting to be welcomed with open arms and crowned the newly minted PTA President that day and have a tantrum when it didn’t happen. OPs expectations are insane.

Jesus, why the hell not?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:At our old pool, swim team parents were the worst. They were a tight clique who were not welcoming to new families unless their kids are superstar swimmers.

Plus they are so entitled. Our club lays out clear hours on the web site when the lap pool is reserved for swim team. Numerous times I e had swim team parents try to kick me out when I try to swim during non swim hours. We had fifteen minutes left to swim before swim team hours started and they tried to kick us out and when we refused they told the kids to just jump in the pool. It was so obnoxious.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I can’t even. Every year like clockwork these posts show up after the first week of swim events.

Poor op. She stopped ignoring the emails and complaints about lack of volunteers and signed up. She showed up and not enough people talked to her. Got her feelings hurt because someone said there weren’t enough volunteers and now has deemed them all cliquey. And she hasn’t been able to break into this “major” role she envisioned with these people she doesn’t like after her first event. Did I miss anything?

Hey, obnoxious swim mom has entered the chat! Just continue to sit with your Yeti of wine and gossip with your swim mom friends. Did I miss anything?

NP. I think you missed who the obnoxious one actually is. (Hint: look in the mirror).

Nope I’m looking at the parents who act like they are the Queen Bees because they have been part of the team forever, and feel like extending basic courtesy to new people is beneath them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I can’t even. Every year like clockwork these posts show up after the first week of swim events.

Poor op. She stopped ignoring the emails and complaints about lack of volunteers and signed up. She showed up and not enough people talked to her. Got her feelings hurt because someone said there weren’t enough volunteers and now has deemed them all cliquey. And she hasn’t been able to break into this “major” role she envisioned with these people she doesn’t like after her first event. Did I miss anything?

Hey, obnoxious swim mom has entered the chat! Just continue to sit with your Yeti of wine and gossip with your swim mom friends. Did I miss anything?

Sure Ok.
But is that not an accurate recounting of what happened? It’s the same at any group you join. I did not go to the PTA the first meeting expecting to be welcomed with open arms and crowned the newly minted PTA President that day and have a tantrum when it didn’t happen. OPs expectations are insane.

It’s insane to expect that people are pleasant to a new volunteer at an event where they literally have to beg people to be volunteers? You reap what you sow, if your team culture involves being unwelcoming to new people don’t be surprised when you have trouble getting people to volunteer.

They weren’t unkind to her. They just didn’t talk to her enough apparently. It’s a two way street. Sometimes it’s uncomfortable to be the new person but you just suck it up and approach people.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I can’t even. Every year like clockwork these posts show up after the first week of swim events.

Poor op. She stopped ignoring the emails and complaints about lack of volunteers and signed up. She showed up and not enough people talked to her. Got her feelings hurt because someone said there weren’t enough volunteers and now has deemed them all cliquey. And she hasn’t been able to break into this “major” role she envisioned with these people she doesn’t like after her first event. Did I miss anything?

Hey, obnoxious swim mom has entered the chat! Just continue to sit with your Yeti of wine and gossip with your swim mom friends. Did I miss anything?

Sure Ok.
But is that not an accurate recounting of what happened? It’s the same at any group you join. I did not go to the PTA the first meeting expecting to be welcomed with open arms and crowned the newly minted PTA President that day and have a tantrum when it didn’t happen. OPs expectations are insane.

Jesus, why the hell not?

Because these people have an investment in each other of more than an hour or two. It takes time. I expect them to be pleasant but I feel the burden is on ME to reach out also and form some of those friendships.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I can’t even. Every year like clockwork these posts show up after the first week of swim events.

Poor op. She stopped ignoring the emails and complaints about lack of volunteers and signed up. She showed up and not enough people talked to her. Got her feelings hurt because someone said there weren’t enough volunteers and now has deemed them all cliquey. And she hasn’t been able to break into this “major” role she envisioned with these people she doesn’t like after her first event. Did I miss anything?

Hey, obnoxious swim mom has entered the chat! Just continue to sit with your Yeti of wine and gossip with your swim mom friends. Did I miss anything?

Sure Ok.
But is that not an accurate recounting of what happened? It’s the same at any group you join. I did not go to the PTA the first meeting expecting to be welcomed with open arms and crowned the newly minted PTA President that day and have a tantrum when it didn’t happen. OPs expectations are insane.

It’s insane to expect that people are pleasant to a new volunteer at an event where they literally have to beg people to be volunteers? You reap what you sow, if your team culture involves being unwelcoming to new people don’t be surprised when you have trouble getting people to volunteer.

They weren’t unkind to her. They just didn’t talk to her enough apparently. It’s a two way street. Sometimes it’s uncomfortable to be the new person but you just suck it up and approach people.

OP arrived 5 minutes before the start of the meet and then proceeded to pester the person in charge. 5 minutes before start is usually a ridiculously busy time and most people won't want to engage in a long conversation welcoming a new volunteer at that moment. Maybe if OP had shown up 15 minutes earlier, her experience would be different.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I can’t even. Every year like clockwork these posts show up after the first week of swim events.

Poor op. She stopped ignoring the emails and complaints about lack of volunteers and signed up. She showed up and not enough people talked to her. Got her feelings hurt because someone said there weren’t enough volunteers and now has deemed them all cliquey. And she hasn’t been able to break into this “major” role she envisioned with these people she doesn’t like after her first event. Did I miss anything?

Hey, obnoxious swim mom has entered the chat! Just continue to sit with your Yeti of wine and gossip with your swim mom friends. Did I miss anything?

NP. I think you missed who the obnoxious one actually is. (Hint: look in the mirror).

Nope I’m looking at the parents who act like they are the Queen Bees because they have been part of the team forever, and feel like extending basic courtesy to new people is beneath them.

You seem to have a personal vendetta. None of that has been illustrated here. Where does OP actually illustrate that anyone was unkind? She’s reaching here to be offended by a comment about lack of volunteers. That’s it.