Frustrated with how our swim team takes over the pool

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes. That’s normal. Join the swim team.

I am not going to do that, but I was frankly embarrassed trying to meet up with friends who have toddlers to admit that basically we could swim for an hour or so before their kids needed to go home to nap or we could deal with the bullhorns. And we would not be able to get a table under shade until the swim team families decided to leave.

Wouldn't the toddlers need to go home for nap time anyway? Or you think the pool should be so quiet that they can nap there?

Ours is not as extreme - there is a very active swim team but it's a larger space (multiple pools), it's rarely closed for their events, and we can't have bullhorns due to community noise restrictions. But it's very fun and festive. This is my kid's first year doing it but we went all the time in the toddler/preschool years and it was a lot of fun - they actually loved watching the pep rallies and stuff too.

If it's a neighborhood pool, the focus is going to swim team and kid activities. Not sorry but that's how it goes - kids need to be out and active and burning off energy, a high-strung adult can find othet things to do. Some nap time toddlers who don't even belong to the pool (per the post that you wanted to bring them as guests) are not the pool's primary focus. This isn't some Caribbean resort designed for lounging around.

Most members at any pool are not participating in swim team. Also, guess what most kids are probably not on the swim team either. Why do you think the team makes sure to get swim team parents on the board? This is a minority group that is VERY invested and spends a lot of time at the pool, so they care more and do what they need to do to make sure they can use the pool how they want to use the pool.

If there are that many people that are as resentful as you think, run a different set of board members on a platform of cancelling swim team

This is actually a brilliant idea.

[Anonymous]

Wait -- you think that everyone should be quiet so your toddlers can nap AT THE POOL??? I'm not a swim team member, but that is absolutely nuts. We always took my daughter to the pool either before or after her nap -- there would be no way she could have napped at the pool, nor would I have expected kids playing in the pool to be quiet enough. Your entitlement on that issue rivals the swim team members.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes. That’s normal. Join the swim team.

I am not going to do that, but I was frankly embarrassed trying to meet up with friends who have toddlers to admit that basically we could swim for an hour or so before their kids needed to go home to nap or we could deal with the bullhorns. And we would not be able to get a table under shade until the swim team families decided to leave.

Wouldn't the toddlers need to go home for nap time anyway? Or you think the pool should be so quiet that they can nap there?

Ours is not as extreme - there is a very active swim team but it's a larger space (multiple pools), it's rarely closed for their events, and we can't have bullhorns due to community noise restrictions. But it's very fun and festive. This is my kid's first year doing it but we went all the time in the toddler/preschool years and it was a lot of fun - they actually loved watching the pep rallies and stuff too.

If it's a neighborhood pool, the focus is going to swim team and kid activities. Not sorry but that's how it goes - kids need to be out and active and burning off energy, a high-strung adult can find othet things to do. Some nap time toddlers who don't even belong to the pool (per the post that you wanted to bring them as guests) are not the pool's primary focus. This isn't some Caribbean resort designed for lounging around.

Most members at any pool are not participating in swim team. Also, guess what most kids are probably not on the swim team either. Why do you think the team makes sure to get swim team parents on the board? This is a minority group that is VERY invested and spends a lot of time at the pool, so they care more and do what they need to do to make sure they can use the pool how they want to use the pool.

If there are that many people that are as resentful as you think, run a different set of board members on a platform of cancelling swim team

This is actually a brilliant idea.

Meh, there are enough families who intend to join swim team one day or people who did it at one point, this would never work.

Someone at our pool did run explicitly on NOT ever having had a kid on a team at the pool and I voted for them because of this.

You just want a board that has some balance in perspectives.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wait -- you think that everyone should be quiet so your toddlers can nap AT THE POOL??? I'm not a swim team member, but that is absolutely nuts. We always took my daughter to the pool either before or after her nap -- there would be no way she could have napped at the pool, nor would I have expected kids playing in the pool to be quiet enough. Your entitlement on that issue rivals the swim team members.

Did OP say this? I didn't see it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wait -- you think that everyone should be quiet so your toddlers can nap AT THE POOL??? I'm not a swim team member, but that is absolutely nuts. We always took my daughter to the pool either before or after her nap -- there would be no way she could have napped at the pool, nor would I have expected kids playing in the pool to be quiet enough. Your entitlement on that issue rivals the swim team members.

Did OP say this? I didn't see it.

Some poster said they've seen this occur at their pool...parents who have kids nap and take over a section of pool deck for this. OP never said it was a practice or concern for them.

[Anonymous]

The main objection I'd have is the reserving of all the covered tables by early morning swim families. That's inconsiderate & easy enough to remedy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The main objection I'd have is the reserving of all the covered tables by early morning swim families. That's inconsiderate & easy enough to remedy.

Yes, I think having benches or cubbies for swimmers to put their stuff is actually a great and practical idea that would leave chairs and tables available for other users at the pool. I’d also consider asking about having more shaded areas through umbrellas or shade structures if there’s not enough to go around.

I think the lengthy afternoon practices are unusual. I have to wonder if that could be more efficient. Seems like a lot on top of morning hours.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes. That’s normal. Join the swim team.

I am not going to do that, but I was frankly embarrassed trying to meet up with friends who have toddlers to admit that basically we could swim for an hour or so before their kids needed to go home to nap or we could deal with the bullhorns. And we would not be able to get a table under shade until the swim team families decided to leave.

Are these friends members? Or are you inviting people to join you at your club? If they are members they need to figure out how they want to deal with the situation. If they are not members, swim families have priority over them. I am guessing the swim families are supporting the financial health of the pool to a greater degree than non-swim club families. And I'm sure it is built in recruitment. Many clubs have struggled to keep membership up post Covid and need the money.

How do you figure that swim team families support the pool more financially? We all pay the same fee to belong to the pool although, I think there is a nominal fee to join the team I can’t imagine it does more than cover the coaching salaries considering there are more than 5 hours of practice a day. Again I am happy to support summer swim I just feel like it’s gone too far.

It doesn't. They are wrong. The swim team fee goes to staff, officials, equipment, t-shirts. A nominal fee if anything goes to the club. Zero at ours. In fact we subsidize a bit out of other parts of the budget to *have* a swim team. It's not some moneymaker.

At our low key neighborhood pool, they wouldn't be at full membership without families that join because of swim team. So, while the swim team fees might not go to the club, the club definitely financially benefits from the team.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The main objection I'd have is the reserving of all the covered tables by early morning swim families. That's inconsiderate & easy enough to remedy.

+1

That is not ok. Our pool makes everyone clear the pool deck before they open the pool for the day. Even if you exit the gates and go right back in, you can’t just stay in there directly from swim practice. Saving spots during swim practice is obnoxious behavior. People on swim team do not have more of a right to the pool than non team people, if everyone is a paid pool member. Entitled attitudes from swim team people just make it worse for the team.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wait -- you think that everyone should be quiet so your toddlers can nap AT THE POOL??? I'm not a swim team member, but that is absolutely nuts. We always took my daughter to the pool either before or after her nap -- there would be no way she could have napped at the pool, nor would I have expected kids playing in the pool to be quiet enough. Your entitlement on that issue rivals the swim team members.

Did OP say this? I didn't see it.

OP commented later on the first page: "I am not going to do that, but I was frankly embarrassed trying to meet up with friends who have toddlers to admit that basically we could swim for an hour or so before their kids needed to go home to nap or we could deal with the bullhorns. And we would not be able to get a table under shade until the swim team families decided to leave. "

That sounds like they planned to have the kids at the nap at the pool. Did I read that wrong?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The main objection I'd have is the reserving of all the covered tables by early morning swim families. That's inconsiderate & easy enough to remedy.

DP: This is a huge problem at our pool too. I have complained about it and offered up the cubby solution when I served on the board, but no traction.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wait -- you think that everyone should be quiet so your toddlers can nap AT THE POOL??? I'm not a swim team member, but that is absolutely nuts. We always took my daughter to the pool either before or after her nap -- there would be no way she could have napped at the pool, nor would I have expected kids playing in the pool to be quiet enough. Your entitlement on that issue rivals the swim team members.

Did OP say this? I didn't see it.

OP commented later on the first page: "I am not going to do that, but I was frankly embarrassed trying to meet up with friends who have toddlers to admit that basically we could swim for an hour or so before their kids needed to go home to nap or we could deal with the bullhorns. And we would not be able to get a table under shade until the swim team families decided to leave. "

That sounds like they planned to have the kids at the nap at the pool. Did I read that wrong?

I have already explained this. The toddler crowd used to swim after nap but that time is now ALSO swim practice time. The pool is open but it is annoying. I have never, and would never, nor do I know a single person who has ever attempted to have a child nap at the pool, because that is insane.

[Anonymous]

We have morning practice only, no evening practices. And the younger kids go first, so those families are long gone by the time the pool opens. Teens practice last (10-11am) and they don’t tend to stay after.

Pool closes at 4pm e/o Wednesday and opens at 12pm e/o Saturday. It’s all done by mid July. Once you learn the rhythm it’s no big deal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The main objection I'd have is the reserving of all the covered tables by early morning swim families. That's inconsiderate & easy enough to remedy.

+1

That is not ok. Our pool makes everyone clear the pool deck before they open the pool for the day. Even if you exit the gates and go right back in, you can’t just stay in there directly from swim practice. Saving spots during swim practice is obnoxious behavior. People on swim team do not have more of a right to the pool than non team people, if everyone is a paid pool member. Entitled attitudes from swim team people just make it worse for the team.

A pool with this big of an issue on this front needs a hell of a lot more seating and umbrellas.

[Anonymous]

curious about the pep rally, what does that entail? I've never heard of that but it sounds like other pools do that too.