Swim Meet Relay Policy? What is your summer teams relay policy?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Out family is new to swim. Are these relay swims important?

I think they’re just fun but even in NVSL it’s more competitive to get on than getting to an A meet. Only the top 4 in an age group do the relay.

It’s important for points but also really fun. My kids love being in the relay team, especially if they make relay carnival.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If your kid is a year round swimmer who always gets in A meets it might be nice to have your kid skip an A meet at some point just to give other kids a chance. Maybe one against a team your team normally beats easily. Like plan a trip or something for that weekend. My kid is turning out to be an A meet swimmer and I think it kind of works out that we will be out of town for at least one A meet because it will give some other kids a chance. As a former year round swimmer I remember some of the resentment thrown my way by high school and summer teammates because they hardly ever saw me at practice but I was always top seed in my events and on relays at the meets. In retrospect it would not have hurt at all to miss a summer league meet or two each season just to open up spots in the lineup for someone who feels like they’re never going to get a shot. It’s something I’m going to keep in mind if my kid sticks with swimming and stays an A meet swimmer. If we end up having a conflict some weekend I won’t go out of my way to prioritize the swim meet.

Or you do practices and participate on team. They should require 2-3 practices a week to compete.

My kids swim year round, attend summer swim team practice every day and work really hard. They have earned their spot at the same meets. They love summer swim and would be upset if we missed a meet. All kids can swim at B meets or work harder to make A meets

[Anonymous]

If you do to a division one pool and don’t do year round, no amount of hard work is getting a kid into a A meet

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If your kid is a year round swimmer who always gets in A meets it might be nice to have your kid skip an A meet at some point just to give other kids a chance. Maybe one against a team your team normally beats easily. Like plan a trip or something for that weekend. My kid is turning out to be an A meet swimmer and I think it kind of works out that we will be out of town for at least one A meet because it will give some other kids a chance. As a former year round swimmer I remember some of the resentment thrown my way by high school and summer teammates because they hardly ever saw me at practice but I was always top seed in my events and on relays at the meets. In retrospect it would not have hurt at all to miss a summer league meet or two each season just to open up spots in the lineup for someone who feels like they’re never going to get a shot. It’s something I’m going to keep in mind if my kid sticks with swimming and stays an A meet swimmer. If we end up having a conflict some weekend I won’t go out of my way to prioritize the swim meet.

Sorry, but I'm not having my kid skip an A meet just so someone else can swim. That's not how it works. Yeah, we do go on vacation and sometimes miss an A meet but if my kid is higher on the ladder we're not going to sit out just so someone else gets a chance. That's the ENTIRE point of B meets.

I have 2 A meet swimmers. One swims year round, one hardly ever is in the pool. The year round swimmer never goes to practice, but is a coach. The other one may go to practice occasionally. Both are in older age groups and the # of swimmers has slightly dwindled.

A meets should go by the ladder. Full stop. None of this trophy for participation crap. Luckily we're in a division closer to the bottom than the top and the competition aspect of it is not as intense. I have heard of controversy/complaining over who is in the A meet but it's been from a few known parents. It's never been a huge issue.

[Anonymous]

my kids have a goal of being on the relay too. They are not on the relay. The relay is worth 5 points. We definitely don't want kids skipping a meets to give my kids a chance when it means the team would likely lose the meet. We care about winning swim meets.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:my kids have a goal of being on the relay too. They are not on the relay. The relay is worth 5 points. We definitely don't want kids skipping a meets to give my kids a chance when it means the team would likely lose the meet. We care about winning swim meets.

+1

All teams want to win. I can't imagine making the top swimmers skip a meet to give someone a chance they didn't earn. If divisions are evenly matched there are few meets that teams are guaranteed to win.

[Anonymous]

The bottom division is dying for kids on their teams. Some of the lower third pools are growing their teams like gang busters (and therefore will be competitive). Some of the upper division pools will slide down the ladder if they don't get younger kids on the team.

You can cherry pick a team is swimming is that important to getting your kid into an A meet - but don't ask a kid to step aside, they did the work or have the talent.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

I have 2 A meet swimmers. One swims year round, one hardly ever is in the pool. The year round swimmer never goes to practice, but is a coach. The other one may go to practice occasionally. Both are in older age groups and the # of swimmers has slightly dwindled.

I am confused by both of your kids.

One of your kids never goes to practice, but coaches. Do they coach dry land? Do they coach some other sport? I am unsure how one can be a swim coach without going to practice. Obviously, if a kid goes to summer swim practice, and coaches there and swims elsewhere than that kid is participating in the team.

As for your other kid, they don't go to most practices at your pool, or swim elsewhere and they still make A meets? That's impressive. I have a summer only swimmers who make A meets and sometimes the relay, but they go to the summer practices and work hard there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ours does it by ladder. The problem I see is that most NVSL relays kids swim 25s, but our ladder is 50s. Plenty of kids could be higher on a 25 ladder becuase rhey have weak turns or lower endurance. Any pools have a separate 25 ladder?

I kind of think you’re grasping at straws here.

Oh I agree on this, that is why our pool holds a relay leg b meet so the coaches can get accurate 25 times for relay carnival.

Ok thanks - I can see that could be helpful in some cases so I rescind my prior skepticism.

[Anonymous]

My 9 year old just made his first A meet. He does not do club swim but our summer pool has a weekly indoor rec center practice which I think is great. Anyhoo - the real reason I’m excited about it was because he was poised to do great his 8 year old summer & swim A meets & then the season didn’t happen! So I am happily surprised that he was able to transition to 50s (except 25 fly which is great that they still can do).

Anyway - I see those 9 year old swimming this summer and appreciate their effort after no 8 real year old summer season! Good for them from me

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If your kid is a year round swimmer who always gets in A meets it might be nice to have your kid skip an A meet at some point just to give other kids a chance. Maybe one against a team your team normally beats easily. Like plan a trip or something for that weekend. My kid is turning out to be an A meet swimmer and I think it kind of works out that we will be out of town for at least one A meet because it will give some other kids a chance. As a former year round swimmer I remember some of the resentment thrown my way by high school and summer teammates because they hardly ever saw me at practice but I was always top seed in my events and on relays at the meets. In retrospect it would not have hurt at all to miss a summer league meet or two each season just to open up spots in the lineup for someone who feels like they’re never going to get a shot. It’s something I’m going to keep in mind if my kid sticks with swimming and stays an A meet swimmer. If we end up having a conflict some weekend I won’t go out of my way to prioritize the swim meet.

Sorry, but I'm not having my kid skip an A meet just so someone else can swim. That's not how it works. Yeah, we do go on vacation and sometimes miss an A meet but if my kid is higher on the ladder we're not going to sit out just so someone else gets a chance. That's the ENTIRE point of B meets.

I have 2 A meet swimmers. One swims year round, one hardly ever is in the pool. The year round swimmer never goes to practice, but is a coach. The other one may go to practice occasionally. Both are in older age groups and the # of swimmers has slightly dwindled.

A meets should go by the ladder. Full stop. None of this trophy for participation crap. Luckily we're in a division closer to the bottom than the top and the competition aspect of it is not as intense. I have heard of controversy/complaining over who is in the A meet but it's been from a few known parents. It's never been a huge issue.

Thank you! + 100. Would you have your starting soccer player skip a game or two because poor Timmy wants to start? If so, at what age do you stop doing that?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If your kid is a year round swimmer who always gets in A meets it might be nice to have your kid skip an A meet at some point just to give other kids a chance. Maybe one against a team your team normally beats easily. Like plan a trip or something for that weekend. My kid is turning out to be an A meet swimmer and I think it kind of works out that we will be out of town for at least one A meet because it will give some other kids a chance. As a former year round swimmer I remember some of the resentment thrown my way by high school and summer teammates because they hardly ever saw me at practice but I was always top seed in my events and on relays at the meets. In retrospect it would not have hurt at all to miss a summer league meet or two each season just to open up spots in the lineup for someone who feels like they’re never going to get a shot. It’s something I’m going to keep in mind if my kid sticks with swimming and stays an A meet swimmer. If we end up having a conflict some weekend I won’t go out of my way to prioritize the swim meet.

Or you do practices and participate on team. They should require 2-3 practices a week to compete.

My kids swim year round, attend summer swim team practice every day and work really hard. They have earned their spot at the same meets. They love summer swim and would be upset if we missed a meet. All kids can swim at B meets or work harder to make A meets

Sometimes its not as simple as working harder and they are working hard. Thats great yours attend summer practice but many do not.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If your kid is a year round swimmer who always gets in A meets it might be nice to have your kid skip an A meet at some point just to give other kids a chance. Maybe one against a team your team normally beats easily. Like plan a trip or something for that weekend. My kid is turning out to be an A meet swimmer and I think it kind of works out that we will be out of town for at least one A meet because it will give some other kids a chance. As a former year round swimmer I remember some of the resentment thrown my way by high school and summer teammates because they hardly ever saw me at practice but I was always top seed in my events and on relays at the meets. In retrospect it would not have hurt at all to miss a summer league meet or two each season just to open up spots in the lineup for someone who feels like they’re never going to get a shot. It’s something I’m going to keep in mind if my kid sticks with swimming and stays an A meet swimmer. If we end up having a conflict some weekend I won’t go out of my way to prioritize the swim meet.

Or you do practices and participate on team. They should require 2-3 practices a week to compete.

My kids swim year round, attend summer swim team practice every day and work really hard. They have earned their spot at the same meets. They love summer swim and would be upset if we missed a meet. All kids can swim at B meets or work harder to make A meets

Sometimes its not as simple as working harder and they are working hard. Thats great yours attend summer practice but many do not.

Summer swim is about getting kids into swimming but it is also about competition. If a kid is not good enough to swim at an A meet then that is life and the reason we spend hours upon hours at B meets.

My kid is a decent swimmer and always swim at the A meets. Just like I wouldn't ask the a baseball pitcher to step down because my kid, who it terrible at ball sports, wants a chance to pitch. I would also never ask a good swimmer to step down to give their spot to a kid who is slower. That is just not how it works.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

I have 2 A meet swimmers. One swims year round, one hardly ever is in the pool. The year round swimmer never goes to practice, but is a coach. The other one may go to practice occasionally. Both are in older age groups and the # of swimmers has slightly dwindled.

I am confused by both of your kids.

One of your kids never goes to practice, but coaches. Do they coach dry land? Do they coach some other sport? I am unsure how one can be a swim coach without going to practice. Obviously, if a kid goes to summer swim practice, and coaches there and swims elsewhere than that kid is participating in the team.

As for your other kid, they don't go to most practices at your pool, or swim elsewhere and they still make A meets? That's impressive. I have a summer only swimmers who make A meets and sometimes the relay, but they go to the summer practices and work hard there.

PP. The kid shows up to coach at practice but never actually swims in their own practice time. And yes, the other kid doesn't go to practice anywhere. Has not been in a pool for non recreation in over a year. It's luck. They're naturally good at a stroke not all kids are good at. And again, we're not in a super competitive division.

[Anonymous]

One of my kids just does summer swim and doesn't get into A meets. My other kid does swim year round and does get into A meets (although we are not in a competitive division as far as I can tell.) No way would I tell my year-round swimmer that he should take an A meet off to give another kid a chance. He works his tail off all year to be a strong swimmer (he is not a natural athlete.) Summer swim meets are his time to shine since the winter meets are so hyper competitive -- no way would my son ever come in first in a winter meet, but that happens regularly in the summer A meets.