Winter swim — great coaching vs private lessons

[Anonymous]

My 7 year old will be new to winter swim this year. We have an opportunity to join a team with great coaches for the young ones but I worry the water is too cold for my kid based on how they have acted on semi-cold days this summer. I don’t want swim practice to become something they dread.

Alternatively we could join a team that practices at a pool with warmer water and supplement with occasional private lessons if it seems that stroke instruction is lacking. Can private lessons compensate for the coaching possibly not being as great? And how does one arrange private lessons? If I know someone who does private lessons can I have them just meet us at a rec center or gym where we are members to do it? I want to make sure we could actually do private lessons if needed before choosing this alternative.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My 7 year old will be new to winter swim this year. We have an opportunity to join a team with great coaches for the young ones but I worry the water is too cold for my kid based on how they have acted on semi-cold days this summer. I don’t want swim practice to become something they dread.

Alternatively we could join a team that practices at a pool with warmer water and supplement with occasional private lessons if it seems that stroke instruction is lacking. Can private lessons compensate for the coaching possibly not being as great? And how does one arrange private lessons? If I know someone who does private lessons can I have them just meet us at a rec center or gym where we are members to do it? I want to make sure we could actually do private lessons if needed before choosing this alternative.

I'll defer to others on the other pieces of your question, but on this check first about the requirements of the facility. We are in Arlington and only coaches who work through the county, pay for insurance and so on can give private lessons in the county-owned facilities. Before you choose this route, ask the management of your local rec center or gym what their rules are.

[Anonymous]

If it’s you that’s deciding that your kid will be swimming this winter, then I would choose lessons. If it’s your child who wants to do winter swim team, then I would choose swim team for them. I don’t think the pool temperature matters either way; a kid who is being forced to do something will dislike it regardless, but at least with lessons you can frame it as a necessity and the instructors will be used to working with a sometimes reluctant or cold kid. Even a very nurturing coach will start to lose patience with a child who doesn’t want to be there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My 7 year old will be new to winter swim this year. We have an opportunity to join a team with great coaches for the young ones but I worry the water is too cold for my kid based on how they have acted on semi-cold days this summer. I don’t want swim practice to become something they dread.

Alternatively we could join a team that practices at a pool with warmer water and supplement with occasional private lessons if it seems that stroke instruction is lacking. Can private lessons compensate for the coaching possibly not being as great? And how does one arrange private lessons? If I know someone who does private lessons can I have them just meet us at a rec center or gym where we are members to do it? I want to make sure we could actually do private lessons if needed before choosing this alternative.

Is your child practicing at an indoor or outdoor pool this summer?

[Anonymous]

OP, you seem entirely too concerned about the development of your 7 year old's swim technique. Your son will quit swimming before he's any good at the rate you're going.

[Anonymous]

At this age doing a Stroke and Turn program that's convenient to you is probably better than pushing into swim team. A 7yo needs to learn how to swim not just do laps. I would not join a club without good stroke and turn instruction for your child's age just because of water temp (this varies a lot, even at the same pool).

[Anonymous]

Get on a team now as its harder when they get older but you do need to supplement with private lessons.

[Anonymous]

I feel like I am missing information here because I am not sure how you know pool temperature. Do you mean you are interested in a team that will practice outdoors?

Also my kids have been doing club swim for years and have never had a private lesson. If you pay for the hefty club practice slot, wouldn’t think you would need to supplement.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I feel like I am missing information here because I am not sure how you know pool temperature. Do you mean you are interested in a team that will practice outdoors?

Also my kids have been doing club swim for years and have never had a private lesson. If you pay for the hefty club practice slot, wouldn’t think you would need to supplement.

I'm curious about this too. How did you find this out? I thought all indoor pools for lap swimming were about the same temperature ~80°.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I feel like I am missing information here because I am not sure how you know pool temperature. Do you mean you are interested in a team that will practice outdoors?

Also my kids have been doing club swim for years and have never had a private lesson. If you pay for the hefty club practice slot, wouldn’t think you would need to supplement.

If its outdoor in the fall/winter the pools are heated. You get them a big swim parka for when they come out. Yes, you have to supplement for technique.

[Anonymous]

OP you can also stop freeloading and volunteer to warm the water either by pissing in it or using space heaters or both.

[Anonymous]

Honestly, you sound like you need to chill. Club team plus private lessons for a 7 year old? He will be burned out by 12.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Honestly, you sound like you need to chill. Club team plus private lessons for a 7 year old? He will be burned out by 12.

+1

[Anonymous]

I think there are different approaches…DC is in one of the competitive teams. Most of the top swimmers I know have started competitive swim team 5-8 years old. Having said that there are many kids that join later (9-10, beyond that it becomes difficult). 7 is a good age to join if your son is to be serious in swimming. However you may not be sure about it at this point. I think you can do either let him/her do private lessons plus stroke classes, or swim team. Have you asked your child? My DC preferred (and still prefers) swimming with teammates and is not too fond of private lessons (DC says it’s boring). For developing strokes though, private lesson may be more helpful. Best of luck to you OP.