Is your swim team making practices fun for the kids during this time?

[Anonymous]

If yes, how? My 12 year old seems a bit lost at practice with no goals and isn’t finding it fun. I feel like maybe the coaches need to switch up the practices because maybe it isn’t fun without being able to socialize with your teammates but it seems like it is all business.

How are other teams trying to keep the kids excited and engaged?

[Anonymous]

It is club swim this time of year, when has it ever been fun? Summer leagues are fun. Winter swim is conditioning.

[Anonymous]

They’ve upped the number of relays. That is considered fun by dd and her teammates.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They’ve upped the number of relays. That is considered fun by dd and her teammates.

Really? Our club won’t do relays at all because they don’t want four kids and a coach/timer gathered behind the block.

OP, winter swimming in my kids’ experience has never been “fun,” like summer swim. It’s more serious and competitive. They enjoy it though, and find their own fun and friendships.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They’ve upped the number of relays. That is considered fun by dd and her teammates.

Really? Our club won’t do relays at all because they don’t want four kids and a coach/timer gathered behind the block.

OP, winter swimming in my kids’ experience has never been “fun,” like summer swim. It’s more serious and competitive. They enjoy it though, and find their own fun and friendships.

They’re doing them differently. Not huddled together. Stand back and distance until it’s your turn. Get out and distance ASAP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

It is club swim this time of year, when has it ever been fun? Summer leagues are fun. Winter swim is conditioning.

+1. It’s winter swim.

[Anonymous]

Op here- they are running practices same as always except with the extreme precautions there basically is no socializing. Usually this is a good setup for my child as this child is always going for the next cut. But it seems as though without the meets and the cuts, and the fact that it is not social at all, it is a lot of swimming endlessly with no real reason.

I’m curious if other clubs have found fun and creative ways to keep the kids interested and engaged.

[Anonymous]

No, but they are doing well with precautions. My child isn't allow to interact with the other kids (nor any are) so they don't even know the names of the kids they share a lane with.

[Anonymous]

Op again: yes they are doing amazing with the precautions. But my child is unhappy.

Meanwhile I have another child in a different sport and that child is able to socialize and talk with other and is so happy.

So I feel like yes you need to be safe but maybe in the absence of social stuff you need to adapt?

But based on the lack of response sounds like they are all the same.

[Anonymous]

Well, in the other sports, you don't have your head underwater most of the time. And to keep the ability to use the venue, we have to out of the pool and in the care in under 5 minutes.

It is mostly the restrictions imposed to be able to use pools at all this year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Well, in the other sports, you don't have your head underwater most of the time. And to keep the ability to use the venue, we have to out of the pool and in the care in under 5 minutes.

It is mostly the restrictions imposed to be able to use pools at all this year.

**car

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Op again: yes they are doing amazing with the precautions. But my child is unhappy.

Meanwhile I have another child in a different sport and that child is able to socialize and talk with other and is so happy.

So I feel like yes you need to be safe but maybe in the absence of social stuff you need to adapt?

But based on the lack of response sounds like they are all the same.

It actually sounds like you’re not understanding what people are saying. You seem to think that bc of the pandemic, there is a lack of social interaction at swim and that’s why club swim is not fun and all business. Everyone is telling you that, in general, that’s how club swim has always been. It’s not like summer swim at all.

[Anonymous]

My kid is happy because they have been giving them doughnuts after most practices and the practices are shorter than usual.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Op again: yes they are doing amazing with the precautions. But my child is unhappy.

Meanwhile I have another child in a different sport and that child is able to socialize and talk with other and is so happy.

So I feel like yes you need to be safe but maybe in the absence of social stuff you need to adapt?

But based on the lack of response sounds like they are all the same.

It actually sounds like you’re not understanding what people are saying. You seem to think that bc of the pandemic, there is a lack of social interaction at swim and that’s why club swim is not fun and all business. Everyone is telling you that, in general, that’s how club swim has always been. It’s not like summer swim at all.

Not OP but my child loves hanging out in the locker room with buddies after practice. Our team did monthly dinners after practice. Coach would do a team huddle and highlight successes at practice. The swimming is hard, but the teamwork and camaraderie around it were big.

Not sure what to tell you, OP. My child is happy to be around people, even if it’s socially distanced. We can’t go in the facility, but I haven’t heard complaints.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Op again: yes they are doing amazing with the precautions. But my child is unhappy.

Meanwhile I have another child in a different sport and that child is able to socialize and talk with other and is so happy.

So I feel like yes you need to be safe but maybe in the absence of social stuff you need to adapt?

But based on the lack of response sounds like they are all the same.

It actually sounds like you’re not understanding what people are saying. You seem to think that bc of the pandemic, there is a lack of social interaction at swim and that’s why club swim is not fun and all business. Everyone is telling you that, in general, that’s how club swim has always been. It’s not like summer swim at all.

Not OP but my child loves hanging out in the locker room with buddies after practice. Our team did monthly dinners after practice. Coach would do a team huddle and highlight successes at practice. The swimming is hard, but the teamwork and camaraderie around it were big.

Not sure what to tell you, OP. My child is happy to be around people, even if it’s socially distanced. We can’t go in the facility, but I haven’t heard complaints.

Thats really nice. We've never had any of that. One year with a lower level group the coach did an outing for the kids but the was it. With Covid, social would be difficult as they need to keep kids separated.