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[quote=Anonymous]OP, why are you thinking summer swim when it doesn't happen for quite a while?

[b]Would we have to join a private pool or can we do it at a public one? [/b]

I think that there are some public pool options for swim team (there are in Virginia) but you would be better off joining your community pool.  That way they are with kids that are nearby and when they make friends playdates are so much easier.

[b]Is it possible to only practice once or twice a week, or does it have to be more? [/b]

It is possible to practice once or twice a week, but why would you.  Summer swim usually is a short duration sport (6 weeks) where a lot of the younger kids make HUGE improvements really fast because they are in the water.  You are paying for it, use it.

[b]Are there evening practices, or only morning ones?[/b]

Call the pools near you.  Some pools offer evening and/or morning practices but not all.  We actually chose the pool we ended up joining because they had evening practices.  Evening practices tend to not be very good. When a pool can do practices before the pool is open to the public - they have music and do fun things, and kids are not distracted by their friends playing in the pool while they are swimming.

[b]
 Is it really expensive?[/b]

Summer swim is usually very cheap. Two months for under $200 and daily practice.  Most teams keep the team suits inexpensive and it does not require a lot of equipment. The cost is usually the pool membership.  But joining a pool is great.

[b]How much of the day should we expect meets to take up? [/b]

B meets are generally three hours and all swimmers swim them.  A meets are about 2 to 2 1/2 hours and not all swimmers will swim that.  They are twice a week.

[b]I hear the parent-volunteering requirements are pretty intense, what does that look like?  [/b]

This varies from team to team.  Most require a parent to work a meet a week or whatever meet their kid is swimming.  You time the kids, make snow cones, work at a table marking ribbons.  It is all really easy stuff and honestly makes the meets more interesting.  Gives you something to do. Some will want help with pep rallies and outside activities as well.  It is all fine because it shows your kid you are involved and it gets you active on the team.

[b]What's the difference between summer swim team and school-year? [/b]

School-year swim is either "Club" swim or "High School".  Club is usually very intense and requires difficult practices because you are swimming 50s, 100s, 200s, etc.  whereas summer swim is meant for athletic kids to keep up with club swimmers and you really only swim 25s (8&unders) and 50s.  Summer is mostly sprints.

Club and High School swim is where kids will get recruited for college.  It is more professional for lack of a better term. You move up in intensity in it, etc.

You can join club and swim there non-competitive track if your swimmer likes to swim.  Club is also expensive.  For a 9 month season it can run $1500 (if something like RMSC) to $5000 - huge range of cost.  Plus you have to pay meet fees each month.  The fees for the meet run $40-$60 per kid.
[b]
Are there even low-key swim teams out there at all, or is this just going to be too intense/demanding for us?  [/b]

Summer swim is a lot of fun.  Commit to it, and you will enjoy it.  Club is not as fun, but if your kid develops a passion for it, it can work.  I love our summer team.  During the pep rallies the kids all do the activities and the parents order food to the pool and bring great drinks.  It is like a party every week.  
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