How hard is it to make it onto a summer swim league

[Anonymous]

DS would be in the 8U group. Looks like he has to swim 25 yrds freestyle to get onto the team. His freestyle is not pretty and I'm not confident he can go the entire length without stopping. He's really excited about trying out for the team again this year, and will be disappointed if he doesn't make it.

[Anonymous]

I guess it depends on the team but pretty much everyone makes it. One year DD spent an extra year in the jr swim team (she hadn't swam in a year and forgot the backstroke). Can you take him to an indoor pool and do a few practice laps?

[Anonymous]

Depends on your pool. In the lower brackets, probably yes, and particularly a smaller team. Once teams get in the 150ish range they get more particular about what a kid can do. And if he cannot they jr. swim team/lessons will work.

[Anonymous]

Interesting. I didn't think they would put an 8 year old on the junior team. He'd probably be the oldest (he'll be 9 in August) and tallest. I'm just remembering the age/size of the kids on the junior team he did pre-pandemic.

I'm thinking about taking him up to an indoor pool to practice a little. Maybe that will be enough. I'm not sure he'll want to do the junior team if all of the kiddos are much younger/smaller and his friends are in 8U, 9-10.

[Anonymous]

I think it really depends on what kind of team? My kids did a summer team (at a country club) at that age and the requirements were pretty lax. They could swim 25M free and backstroke without stopping (that was required) but they were extremely forgiving on form and didn’t expect them to know any other strokes.

I have no idea about more competitive teams.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Interesting. I didn't think they would put an 8 year old on the junior team. He'd probably be the oldest (he'll be 9 in August) and tallest. I'm just remembering the age/size of the kids on the junior team he did pre-pandemic.

I'm thinking about taking him up to an indoor pool to practice a little. Maybe that will be enough. I'm not sure he'll want to do the junior team if all of the kiddos are much younger/smaller and his friends are in 8U, 9-10.

For our pool it is skill based and not age based. The requirement is two strokes and the ability to make it across the pool. If the kid can't they usually recommend private lessons or group lessons until the have the skills. If you think that this is something the he really wants either get him in a pool now and work with him or better yet sign him up for a stroke clinic. They usually are a month to month thing where the kid can get in the water one day a week. It will make a huge difference.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Interesting. I didn't think they would put an 8 year old on the junior team. He'd probably be the oldest (he'll be 9 in August) and tallest. I'm just remembering the age/size of the kids on the junior team he did pre-pandemic.

I'm thinking about taking him up to an indoor pool to practice a little. Maybe that will be enough. I'm not sure he'll want to do the junior team if all of the kiddos are much younger/smaller and his friends are in 8U, 9-10.

For our pool it is skill based and not age based. The requirement is two strokes and the ability to make it across the pool. If the kid can't they usually recommend private lessons or group lessons until the have the skills. If you think that this is something the he really wants either get him in a pool now and work with him or better yet sign him up for a stroke clinic. They usually are a month to month thing where the kid can get in the water one day a week. It will make a huge difference.

Do you have any suggestions for places that do stroke clinics?

[Anonymous]

It depends on the team. He’d be on our team without knowing two strokes and basically being able to get across the pool. The coaches would work with him to improve. We typically have 75-90 swimmers not counting the “mini” swimmers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Interesting. I didn't think they would put an 8 year old on the junior team. He'd probably be the oldest (he'll be 9 in August) and tallest. I'm just remembering the age/size of the kids on the junior team he did pre-pandemic.

I'm thinking about taking him up to an indoor pool to practice a little. Maybe that will be enough. I'm not sure he'll want to do the junior team if all of the kiddos are much younger/smaller and his friends are in 8U, 9-10.

For our pool it is skill based and not age based. The requirement is two strokes and the ability to make it across the pool. If the kid can't they usually recommend private lessons or group lessons until the have the skills. If you think that this is something the he really wants either get him in a pool now and work with him or better yet sign him up for a stroke clinic. They usually are a month to month thing where the kid can get in the water one day a week. It will make a huge difference.

Do you have any suggestions for places that do stroke clinics?

Only familiar with MD based options. Tollefson did pre-pandemic. MoCo Rec also did but their's were hard to get into and for a full year. Sea Devil Swimming also did. JFD does still I think out in Gaithersburg.

[Anonymous]

Depends on your pool. Ours used to be 25m to make it & it was fairly easy. They changed it to be 25m free & back & it’s a little harder now. They changed it because the team was large enough they didn’t “need” more kids & for safety reasons - not worrying the kids couldn’t make it through practice anymore.

[Anonymous]

There are quite a few depending on where you are located - this is just a sampling, there are a ton more:

https://tomdolanswimschool.com/

https://www.thestjames.com/sports/swimming

https://www.swimkids.us/

[Anonymous]

He would be in on our teAm if he can do it. We are lower division NVSL.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:He would be in on our teAm if he can do it. We are lower division NVSL.

What division?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:He would be in on our teAm if he can do it. We are lower division NVSL.

Division 16 and 17 are not very competitive and would take him. But once again look at the size of the team.

[Anonymous]

Thanks. OP here. The funny part about it is that he has a good backstroke. If he could do that all the way down the lane for tryouts, he'd have no problem. But I think he has a harder time with freestyle because he has to focus on arms, legs, and breathing all at once.