Reach out to the team reps of the pool that you are interested in - they will let you know. Each pool has its own program and assessments.

It depends on the pool is the right answer. Some pools have specific requirements, some have pre-team which is teaching. Usually, there is an additional team.

Depends on the pool. At ours, they break them into groups and have one where as long as they can get across the pool, they can participate. My favorite part of summer swim is seeing how much those super little ones improve!

Anonymous wrote:Sometimes you get lucky and get a nice, competent coach. Mostly it's high school kids who don't have patience with little kids. And the coaches end up yelling at the kids, and kids cry. At least at our pool

This is not always the norm. We will only hire one rising Senior as a coach. We may have one additional graduated senior. The rest of our assistant coaches are college kids. Our coach is a professional swim coach.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How does it work? If you even get into a summer pool club do they teach your kids swimming or do you have to be already “legal” ? Kids are 5,7,8.

Usually they have to be able to swim 25m without drowning, but some pools require more and some require less. You don't usually need to be legal.

Unless there is a minis program, the amount of instruction will be limited. Practices are big groups with lots of kids in a lane. Get a private instructor if you want more instruction.

Ok so it’s not as demanding as year round swim. And they teach you how to do strokes other than free style so they can compete?

At our pool, the work on the kids with all the strokes but not to the extent where they will definitely get every kid legal in every stroke. If they need an 8 and under girl to swim fly and your kid is close, they may work with her. If they have a really strong group of kids in the age group, they may not.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How does it work? If you even get into a summer pool club do they teach your kids swimming or do you have to be already “legal” ? Kids are 5,7,8.

Usually they have to be able to swim 25m without drowning, but some pools require more and some require less. You don't usually need to be legal.

Unless there is a minis program, the amount of instruction will be limited. Practices are big groups with lots of kids in a lane. Get a private instructor if you want more instruction.

Ok so it’s not as demanding as year round swim. And they teach you how to do strokes other than free style so they can compete?

Not really, unless they are in the mini program. For most pools anyway. If you want to be on the team, your kid should at a minimum be able to do back and free legally. You need private lessons to learn the strokes. Many HS coaches offer them between practices.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How does it work? If you even get into a summer pool club do they teach your kids swimming or do you have to be already “legal” ? Kids are 5,7,8.

Usually they have to be able to swim 25m without drowning, but some pools require more and some require less. You don't usually need to be legal.

Unless there is a minis program, the amount of instruction will be limited. Practices are big groups with lots of kids in a lane. Get a private instructor if you want more instruction.

Ok so it’s not as demanding as year round swim. And they teach you how to do strokes other than free style so they can compete?

There's some instruction, but also a lot of "Lane 3, swim 50 yards backstroke. Go."

The fee is nominal. My kids joined being able to barely swim 25s and I credit the team with turning them into strong swimmers. If the goal is to have your kids learn to swim better, be part of a team, and have a ton of fun, swim team will get you there. If the goal is a good club swimmer, it won't

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How does it work? If you even get into a summer pool club do they teach your kids swimming or do you have to be already “legal” ? Kids are 5,7,8.

Usually they have to be able to swim 25m without drowning, but some pools require more and some require less. You don't usually need to be legal.

Unless there is a minis program, the amount of instruction will be limited. Practices are big groups with lots of kids in a lane. Get a private instructor if you want more instruction.

Ok so it’s not as demanding as year round swim. And they teach you how to do strokes other than free style so they can compete?

The swim team fee is often nominal. At our pool it is about $170 for an hour a day from mid May to mid July. It includes a meet on Monday, a PEP rally on Friday and approximately one other social activity every 2 weeks or so (pancake breakfast, laser tag, movie on the lawn, other stuff for 13&over etc.).

We also have a ‘mini’ program where the older kids (13&O)can apply to coach.

Sometimes you get lucky and get a nice, competent coach. Mostly it's high school kids who don't have patience with little kids. And the coaches end up yelling at the kids, and kids cry. At least at our pool

Anonymous wrote:Also, do you pay an additional fee for swim club aside from the pool?

Yes, usually there is a fee.

Anonymous wrote:How does it work? If you even get into a summer pool club do they teach your kids swimming or do you have to be already “legal” ? Kids are 5,7,8.

Usually they have to be able to swim 25m without drowning, but some pools require more and some require less. You don't usually need to be legal.

Unless there is a minis program, the amount of instruction will be limited. Practices are big groups with lots of kids in a lane. Get a private instructor if you want more instruction.

Also, do you pay an additional fee for swim club aside from the pool?

How does it work? If you even get into a summer pool club do they teach your kids swimming or do you have to be already “legal” ? Kids are 5,7,8.