Summer swim at a local pool is a great activity for any kid. Specific pools may differ, but here's how it works for our pool in Maryland.

For those who can can 'swim' enough not to drown upon entering the water, there is what is called "pre-team". Most kids who do pre-team are 4-8 though sometimes older kids do it too. It's run by coaches and older kids on the swim team get in the water and assist individual little kids.

Once you can swim a pool length approximating free-style (it can be messy!) you're ready for swim team. Most kids starting swim team are 6-8 though plenty of kids join older too. Practice is every day after school and in the mornings in the summer from Memorial day until mid-late July. There are plenty of kids who are just learning strokes, and also kids who are really proficient and swim in a club team year round. Faster kids swim in "A" meets and everyone else swims in "B" meets, and in addition to all the swimming, there are a ton of 'spirit' activities - Friday night potlucks and games, raft nights, pancake breakfast, special team cheers and dances. Many of the swim team kids stick around the pool most of the day and play with each other.

As kids get older, they can become pre-team assistance, "big buddies" to younger kids on the team, or even coaches. It's a great way to take on responsibility and build camaraderie with a big group of kids of all ages.

My kids love it. It's pretty much like camp for them - and all for ~$100 plus the cost of a swim suit. There is a lot of parent volunteering though to make it happen.

We also started doing winter swim, or 'club' swim. You definitely do not NEED to do that. Winter swim is all the exercise with none of the fun, and costs thousands of dollars. We only do winter swim because they love summer swim so much and wanted to become better swimmers. There are winter stroke clinics that are not as intense, and not as expensive, which are a good place to start if you think your child might like to do swim team next year but could stand to work on their strokes a bit first. As others have said, it's a bit late to join a team this summer since the season is already pretty well underway but it would be worth asking at your local pool.

OP if your kid can barely make it across the pool you should start with a summer team. The only requirement will be to pass the swim test which is usually 1 length of the pool and 1 minute of treading water. It's a great place for kids to start to learn the strokes because practice is every weekday. Our team has been practicing since Memorial Day. It may be too late to join a summer team especially if you aren't already a member of a pool. But you could call nearby pools and ask.

If you are looking for something over the winter I would start with some kind of swim school. You might think they are only for little ones but there are groups for older kids who are able to doggy paddle or kick a good distance but need an introduction to the strokes. This was a great fit for my 6 year old when he was just starting to be able to swim full lengths. It allowed him to get proficient enough in 2 strokes (freestyle and backstroke) to do well on the summer swim team.

The $2200+ school year options sound like the USA Swimming club teams. I would not recommend that for a kid who has never done any kind of swim team unless the group description specifically says it will introduce your kids to the strokes. Many of the developmental groups at club teams are not "learn to swim" programs but actually "learn to swim 4 strokes legally" programs... which requires some previous experience and exposure.

OP I am relatively new to swimming too. I have a just turned 10yo. There is summer swim which goes about 5 weeks, if you do this I would join whichever pool is closest to you or that you have friends at. It might be too late this summer. Summer swim is generally fun, kids hang out between races etc. Then there is year round swim which happens indoors and goes from Sept to May ( ish) There are many different teams with prices all over the place. At his age just pick the one closest to you or that has the best schedule for your family. He should only be expected to practice twice a week for an hour. Avoid teams that encourage 90 mins of practice 3-4 times a week for kids under 11/12.

Fellow immigrant mama here trying to figure out the ropes. We put our kids in swim team through the county rec centers that offer it for the summer.... it is around $200 as well for the summer 4x a week.

OP, I'd definitely ask your neighbor more about the neighborhood pool and its offerings. There may be a wait list or it may be something you can join right away. As others have said, local swimming pools often offer swimming lessons (our lessons are open to non-members), a pre-team (for kids about 5-7 who can swim the length of the pool), and a summer swim team (for kids up to 18).

One important thing that needs to be said, swim team is NOT an alternative to swim lessons.

Other than some specific pre-team options, if your kid is joining swim team, they really need to be able to swim at least a few full lengths of the pool, unassisted.

They don't need to know every one of the different strokes, but an awareness does help.

Anonymous wrote:hi moms, i'm an immigrant who barely knows how to swim. now i see that in the DC area people are really into swimming and swim team.
i thought swim team was competitions for older kids, but my neighbor said if my kid (7yo) can doggy paddle across the pool then he can start training with a swim team.
so what exactly is swim team? what ages/skill level do kids join and how long do they do it for. is it a lot of extra cost? the pool membership near me charges about $1000 a year for the family.

That’s a great time/skill level for swim. The membership is pricey but swim team is cheap - like $200 for daily practice.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Which pools in DC offer this? I know St Albans and American University do, but they are $2200+/child for 9 months.
Is there a cheaper option in NW DC? We would like something Sept-May/June.
Thank you!

What most of the posters are talking to you about is summer swim team, which is connected to neighborhood pools. Summer swim teams only run from Memorial Day through mid late July, which is why the cost is relatively cheap. What you just asked about in your previous post is joining a club, some of which have programs that run from September-late May/June, and those are much pricier.

Ah ok, thank you!

Anonymous wrote:Which pools in DC offer this? I know St Albans and American University do, but they are $2200+/child for 9 months.
Is there a cheaper option in NW DC? We would like something Sept-May/June.
Thank you!

What most of the posters are talking to you about is summer swim team, which is connected to neighborhood pools. Summer swim teams only run from Memorial Day through mid late July, which is why the cost is relatively cheap. What you just asked about in your previous post is joining a club, some of which have programs that run from September-late May/June, and those are much pricier.

Which pools in DC offer this? I know St Albans and American University do, but they are $2200+/child for 9 months.
Is there a cheaper option in NW DC? We would like something Sept-May/June.
Thank you!

If you want a pool membership anyway, swim team can be fun. Check the pools you would potentially join. Some pools are more conducive to balancing swim team with camps for working parents. Others have mid-morning practices.

For our pool, swim team including little kids who don’t swim meets, involves practice 5 days a week. 7pm for the last 3 weeks of school and 7am from school end through late July.
Meets are on Monday night and Saturday mornings - but not mandatory if your kid is not swimming. Friday morning we have “breakfast” after practice, most weekends there is a social event. At the end of the season there is a banquet.

Financial costs are minimal - $130 for the season, 2 swim suits and 2 towels, $50 or so for the additional social events, banquet, coach gift.

The time commitment can be significant, but it’s a built in social life for your kid if they like it.

Swim team is just for fun. Some people are super into it, but for us it’s a low key, fun activity for our kids. We have on child on our mini team (she is 7) and one on the regular swim team (10). It was $175 for both kids. Beware though, for many pools practice is in the morning so can be tough if you work. We have a babysitter for the summer and she takes them to swim team and they hang out at the pool afterwards.

All kids can join, the prices vary. Ours is about $75 per kid

I think all skills can join. Ours has preteam and you just practice until you're able to swim "competitively" but it's just in good fun

hi moms, i'm an immigrant who barely knows how to swim. now i see that in the DC area people are really into swimming and swim team.
i thought swim team was competitions for older kids, but my neighbor said if my kid (7yo) can doggy paddle across the pool then he can start training with a swim team.
so what exactly is swim team? what ages/skill level do kids join and how long do they do it for. is it a lot of extra cost? the pool membership near me charges about $1000 a year for the family.