Anonymous wrote:+100 don't wait. You're right that the 9yo needs to be working this winter in order to be able to enjoy swimming this summer. DC9 doesn't need to be able to keep up with racing times right off the bat, obviously - summer swim is made to be welcoming - but you want them to be able to keep up at practice so they gain fitness, skill, and confidence. They can race B meets as soon as they feel ready and people will cheer loudly for them! But to get there they need to work on (not master) freestyle with breathing and backstroke this winter. The other strokes can come later.

And you've got the whole winter to do it. In addition to the previous recommendations, I'd suggest looking into FINS, where you can also add private lessons as needed, and county lessons, which work best when you register for the concentrated bursts of 3x/week for 2 weeks (or similar). Quantity and frequency of pool time will be key: take them to the public pools to play during open swim, too, so they will get stronger in the water.

+1

I would not throw a 9 year old onto a summer swim team if they can not swim a 50 with flip turns. Sure kids show up who can't do this and yes, they will get better over the summer, but I have also seen a lot of 9 yr olds show up and quit because they are behind their peers and getting crushed even at B meets.

I would do some lessons over the winter. Even rec centers offer private lessons at a reasonable rate.

For dive, join a summer team. My kid started "late" at 10yo and loved it and is now diving with his high school team and a club team. Summer dive tends to be less intense than summer swim. It might be worth strengthening their swimming skills now in anticipation of the summer.

+100 don't wait. You're right that the 9yo needs to be working this winter in order to be able to enjoy swimming this summer. DC9 doesn't need to be able to keep up with racing times right off the bat, obviously - summer swim is made to be welcoming - but you want them to be able to keep up at practice so they gain fitness, skill, and confidence. They can race B meets as soon as they feel ready and people will cheer loudly for them! But to get there they need to work on (not master) freestyle with breathing and backstroke this winter. The other strokes can come later.

And you've got the whole winter to do it. In addition to the previous recommendations, I'd suggest looking into FINS, where you can also add private lessons as needed, and county lessons, which work best when you register for the concentrated bursts of 3x/week for 2 weeks (or similar). Quantity and frequency of pool time will be key: take them to the public pools to play during open swim, too, so they will get stronger in the water.

join a pool. pay the swim fee, make sure your kid can make it 1 length

Move this to swim forum

If you're in NOVA, Swim with Beth is a great stroke focused option at the JCC in Fairfax. Kids progress through lanes, and by the end of their time there, they have all the strokes and flip turns. Your 6 year-old would start out in lane one. Your 9 year-old is almost too old for the program but would would still benefit if they catch on quick. Also - like everyone else said - summer swim at a local pool. Can't beat it.

If you join a pool with a swim team all the kid needs to do is be able to swim a lap to "try out". Then they are on the team. The team teaches them to swim better.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Might get more advice in the swim/dive forum. But a lot of the swim schools will teach through all the strokes and some even offer low key winter teams.

I would start with Tom Dolan, Goldfish, Big Blue, Norman or one of the other swim schools definitely for the 6yr old. For the 9yr old, never too late. Check with those facilities about programs for older kids. This will help get them ready to try out a summer swim team next year if you belong to a pool. Private lessons can be tough to find in the winter, so any group opportunities either at one of these places or through your local parks and rec would help.

If close to Vienna the Machine Performance Center might be ideal for the 9 year old and would also have options for the 6 year old. Can start at learning strokes and progress to effectively a stroke and turn program.

Summer swim teams at local private pools take anyone who can survive a length.

Anonymous wrote:Might get more advice in the swim/dive forum. But a lot of the swim schools will teach through all the strokes and some even offer low key winter teams.

I would start with Tom Dolan, Goldfish, Big Blue, Norman or one of the other swim schools definitely for the 6yr old. For the 9yr old, never too late. Check with those facilities about programs for older kids. This will help get them ready to try out a summer swim team next year if you belong to a pool. Private lessons can be tough to find in the winter, so any group opportunities either at one of these places or through your local parks and rec would help.

Might get more advice in the swim/dive forum. But a lot of the swim schools will teach through all the strokes and some even offer low key winter teams.

Put your 6 year old in gymnastics. Gymnastics training can help with diving because it works on strength, flexibility, and body awareness in the air.

In addition, do swim lessons at whatever local place best suits your time. In the spring if your kids can make it across the pool, sign them up for a nearby summer swim team. If you tell us which county you are in, we can point you in a good direction or you can Google your county name and summer swim.

Start them in lessons now so they will be ready by the summer. 6yo can do pre-team - lot of kids that age don't qualify for the full team yet. 9yo would probably need private lessons to catch up to peers.

Join a pool. Sign up for the swim/dive team. It's really that simple.

DH and I never did this as kids so I don’t know where to start. My kids are 6 and 9, and can’t really swim any strokes so they can’t just start swim team. We did lessons as kids so they can survive in the pool, float etc. 6yo is interested in diving.

Where should I start here? Lessons for both until what point? Are we too late for the 9yo?