That’s pretty typical. They do practice early because there are typically 3-4 practice groups with an hoof practice each and the pool needs to get them fine before it opens for the day. Pools that are very swim team centric often have more practice options but lots of pools can’t have morning and afternoon practices because general members complain.

a heated pool is fine. An unheated pool is fine. They are moving and it warms up fast. Practice starts at 7 or 715. Pools vary in which age group goes first. Some pools have the older kids go first- some kids have the younger kids go first. Pros and cons to both. Honestly so much of swim practice ends up taking place in the afternoons before school gets out. I wouldn't worry about morning practice to much. If your kid is enjoying it and doing well, they will be motivated to get up for practice. If they are not into it, then they can trickle off, and just go to meets and social events.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Op here. What time do you drop off your kids at summer day camp? I assume that kids need to take a shower and rinse off chloride after the swim. Omg... I can't believe that outdoor pool opens as early as 4:30am. Isn't it dark outside?

Mine have had college sitters every summer except one. That one summer we did camps, they just showed up 30 min late. No one cared.

NP but what was your kids’ schedule with college sitter? Going to have one this summer

Ours isn’t that early.
Our younger kids are 830-930- older kids 930-1030.
I think a lot depends on the summer seim coach. If they have a regular job to go to they need to be done in time to do that.

Yes. They take a quick shower at the pool and go. And it's cold in the pool in June. Endurance and managing through the unpleasantness unites the team.

Wrt 430..sorry for the confusion. I meant 430 for club swimmers; that’s separate from summer swim.

Ours is around 9-11am

Anonymous wrote:Op here. What time do you drop off your kids at summer day camp? I assume that kids need to take a shower and rinse off chloride after the swim. Omg... I can't believe that outdoor pool opens as early as 4:30am. Isn't it dark outside?

Mine have had college sitters every summer except one. That one summer we did camps, they just showed up 30 min late. No one cared.

I am surprised that’s all they offer for practice. We have both morning and afternoon practice.

Swimming as a sport has a kind of culture of just taking the early mornings for granted: it's often the only time a pool is available. Our summer team starts at 8 just because lap swim starts at 7. Morning practice is great - it's quiet, the kids can spread out over the whole pool, everyone is fresh and concentrating, and the parents drink coffee on the deck if they can't or don't want to leave. People bring laptops and work, too. I love it there.

Op here. What time do you drop off your kids at summer day camp? I assume that kids need to take a shower and rinse off chloride after the swim. Omg... I can't believe that outdoor pool opens as early as 4:30am. Isn't it dark outside?

We have an early morning mixed-age one for kids who go to camp and then there are age group practices in mid/late morning and then specialty clinics in the late afternoon/early evening. Families figure out what schedule combo works for them, which may change week by week.

Anonymous wrote:Yes that's normal. Ours has a 6am practice for kids who need to be done early.

That's mid morning for the club swimmers who start at 5am during the school year.

Ahem. 430 for some others…

Yes that's normal. Ours has a 6am practice for kids who need to be done early.

That's mid morning for the club swimmers who start at 5am during the school year.

Is it common that summer swim team practice is in the mornings at outdoor pool at 7:15am to 8:15am once school ends? There is no afternoon options for practices once school ends. My kid won't be able to wake up to make it. Isn't it the outdoor pool (even with heated) cold in kid June at 7:15am?