How did you get your kid swimming well enough for swim team?

[Anonymous]

We have a new 5 yo who has a strong doggy paddle, the ability to dive (with good form) to the bottom of the deep end, and the ability to float on her back. She doesn't yet have a front crawl (at all) and isn't confident in her backstroke. What should we be doing to get her ready to try for summer swim team? Is it reasonable for her to gain enough skills by next spring given fewer winter swimming opportunities? We're not fussed either way, but we do think she's like swim team and it seems like a good way to keep building her skills.

Right now she's signed up for Arlington P&R's Fin program, but I'm not sure how much progress she'll make in 30 minute group lessons. What should we be doing?

[Anonymous]

She should be able to do 1-2 real strokes across the pool. She needs more intensive lessons than 30 minutes group a week.

[Anonymous]

Weekly swim lessons all fall, winter and spring got our child ready to try out for and make the swim team this past summer. There's also pre-team, which helps younger kids build skills.

[Anonymous]

Is there a Red Cross swim lesson level one should be at?

[Anonymous]

At 5yo, they get good enough for the swim team by joining the swim team. Seriously, at that age, if development isn't a component of the program, find a new program. It's not the olympics.

[Anonymous]

My kids did swim lessons fall, winter and spring for the most part until they were ready for the team. Our summer pool also has a minis group they can do before they are ready for swim team.

[Anonymous]

Private lessons, with extra lap swimming as much as feasible. Going from no laps to many laps at that first summer swim practice is not fun and can be discouraging.

[Anonymous]

Pre team at 5 and 6. Our club swim team takes everyone but only the best swim a meets on weekends.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We have a new 5 yo who has a strong doggy paddle, the ability to dive (with good form) to the bottom of the deep end, and the ability to float on her back. She doesn't yet have a front crawl (at all) and isn't confident in her backstroke. What should we be doing to get her ready to try for summer swim team? Is it reasonable for her to gain enough skills by next spring given fewer winter swimming opportunities? We're not fussed either way, but we do think she's like swim team and it seems like a good way to keep building her skills.

Right now she's signed up for Arlington P&R's Fin program, but I'm not sure how much progress she'll make in 30 minute group lessons. What should we be doing?

Why not have her practice once a week for the next 10 months and see what happens.

What you should be doing is relaxing. She might like swim team for the next 15 years. She just turned 5 for pity sakes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We have a new 5 yo who has a strong doggy paddle, the ability to dive (with good form) to the bottom of the deep end, and the ability to float on her back. She doesn't yet have a front crawl (at all) and isn't confident in her backstroke. What should we be doing to get her ready to try for summer swim team? Is it reasonable for her to gain enough skills by next spring given fewer winter swimming opportunities? We're not fussed either way, but we do think she's like swim team and it seems like a good way to keep building her skills.

Right now she's signed up for Arlington P&R's Fin program, but I'm not sure how much progress she'll make in 30 minute group lessons. What should we be doing?

Why not have her practice once a week for the next 10 months and see what happens.

What you should be doing is relaxing. She might like swim team for the next 15 years. She just turned 5 for pity sakes.

That's what we did all summer. She swam lots for fun and is very comfortable in the water. Now it sounds like she's ready to start learning a formal stroke or two. Shes not going to figure out a forward crawl and rhythmic breathing without some guidance. Our club doesn't have pre team or minis. I just want to keep her improving. No hurry, but I'm not convinced she's going to learn anything in the parks and rec program. Thirty minutes is so short and they don't let you stay in the pool after the lesson. I was hoping someone in Arlington or with kids who have tried similar programs might have insight. Why so harsh?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We have a new 5 yo who has a strong doggy paddle, the ability to dive (with good form) to the bottom of the deep end, and the ability to float on her back. She doesn't yet have a front crawl (at all) and isn't confident in her backstroke. What should we be doing to get her ready to try for summer swim team? Is it reasonable for her to gain enough skills by next spring given fewer winter swimming opportunities? We're not fussed either way, but we do think she's like swim team and it seems like a good way to keep building her skills.

Right now she's signed up for Arlington P&R's Fin program, but I'm not sure how much progress she'll make in 30 minute group lessons. What should we be doing?

Why not have her practice once a week for the next 10 months and see what happens.

What you should be doing is relaxing. She might like swim team for the next 15 years. She just turned 5 for pity sakes.

That's what we did all summer. She swam lots for fun and is very comfortable in the water. Now it sounds like she's ready to start learning a formal stroke or two. Shes not going to figure out a forward crawl and rhythmic breathing without some guidance. Our club doesn't have pre team or minis. I just want to keep her improving. No hurry, but I'm not convinced she's going to learn anything in the parks and rec program. Thirty minutes is so short and they don't let you stay in the pool after the lesson. I was hoping someone in Arlington or with kids who have tried similar programs might have insight. Why so harsh?

B/c summer is 10 months away. So do swim lessons 2x a week.

[Anonymous]

My kids all did Goldfish Swim School for the fall/winter/spring before summer swim team. Goldfish is great, 4:1 ratio, warm water. Both my kids went into summer swim with a good free and back and at least passable knowledge of breast and fly. They LOVE summer swim. My son joined a year round swim team at age 6 because he loved his first season of summer swim so much.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We have a new 5 yo who has a strong doggy paddle, the ability to dive (with good form) to the bottom of the deep end, and the ability to float on her back. She doesn't yet have a front crawl (at all) and isn't confident in her backstroke. What should we be doing to get her ready to try for summer swim team? Is it reasonable for her to gain enough skills by next spring given fewer winter swimming opportunities? We're not fussed either way, but we do think she's like swim team and it seems like a good way to keep building her skills.

Right now she's signed up for Arlington P&R's Fin program, but I'm not sure how much progress she'll make in 30 minute group lessons. What should we be doing?

Why not have her practice once a week for the next 10 months and see what happens.

What you should be doing is relaxing. She might like swim team for the next 15 years. She just turned 5 for pity sakes.

That's what we did all summer. She swam lots for fun and is very comfortable in the water. Now it sounds like she's ready to start learning a formal stroke or two. Shes not going to figure out a forward crawl and rhythmic breathing without some guidance. Our club doesn't have pre team or minis. I just want to keep her improving. No hurry, but I'm not convinced she's going to learn anything in the parks and rec program. Thirty minutes is so short and they don't let you stay in the pool after the lesson. I was hoping someone in Arlington or with kids who have tried similar programs might have insight. Why so harsh?

B/c summer is 10 months away. So do swim lessons 2x a week.

Fall sign ups are now (or three weeks ago). I'm not going to apologise for looking for a quality program.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kids all did Goldfish Swim School for the fall/winter/spring before summer swim team. Goldfish is great, 4:1 ratio, warm water. Both my kids went into summer swim with a good free and back and at least passable knowledge of breast and fly. They LOVE summer swim. My son joined a year round swim team at age 6 because he loved his first season of summer swim so much.

Thanks. I'll look into them.

[Anonymous]

Why is it such a priority for her to be on the swim team?
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