My kid did it for 3 years and isn’t this year. It’s great exercise and a good way to start the day off if you have morning practices. Also a good way to make friends with other kids at the pool. I’d make your stick it out til the end, it’s only like 5 weeks, but maybe let them have a day off mid week or something if that’s part of the issue.

I would not let my kid quit in the middle of a season. You sign up, you do it. The next year, they decide whether they do it again.

You haven’t hit the fun part of swim team yet. The meets are fun for the kids and then the social events mostly start after school is out.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I never could see the point in swimming repeated lengths of the same water.

Same! Or running in endless circles around a track.

It’s not for everyone. When you’re used to it, it feels good to do the workout and see yourself improve in your race times. Just hanging out before and after practice is fun.

I was a swimmer and hoped my kids would do it, but they never liked it. Being on a very competitive team can also take the fun out of it. All the focus is on the fastest kids and others feel left out.

Anonymous wrote:I never could see the point in swimming repeated lengths of the same water.

Same! Or running in endless circles around a track.

How would you have swim team and it not be competitive? It's literally a sport that is raced. It can still be fun and have lots of team building and activities, but the actual swimming is a race. For most kids it's way more fun to race than it is to practice. You get everyone cheering for you, music at the meets, and ribbons. Even if you're not the fastest, it can still be a really fun experience with your friends. But I don't know how it's "Unnecessary" for it to be about racing....

Anonymous wrote:How is the swim
team coming off as
unnecessarily competitive?

How is it not unnecessarily competitive? Its supposed to be ‘fun’ but when you add all the competition and being faster than others then its no longer fun.

How is the swim
team coming off as
unnecessarily competitive?

PP here- I mean most new kids hate it the first few weeks. They haven’t seen the fun parts yet.

I think most kids hate it the first few weeks, mine included. But once school lets out and they go to meets and have activities it becomes more fun. Reassess in a few weeks.

You know what, kids are individuals. My DD is liking swim team even though she’s not among the fastest. But she says she hates volleyball and refuses to try it even though friends play. Different kids have different preferences. It’s ok.

Honestly, this sounds like hell.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How old? How is he doing swim wise? Is he improving? Maybe he doesn’t like it bc it is tiring, does not have a lot of friends doing it, is not very good at it, sees other kids are better, etc.

I’d evaluate all of those possibilities and see if there is a real reason to quit. Are there other factors making it unlikeable?

If you want him to learn to swim, then he learns to swim.

He knows how to swim. I don’t understand your comment about me wanting him to learn to swim. He can swim which is why he can be on the team.
Now the question is, does he really need to know all the techniques really well and compete which i think is the point of a swim team.. i don’t think he does.

DP - swimming is incredibly technical, OP. So, yes, if he wants to be even slightly competitive, he has to have good technique. A PP is right that many kids in that age group have been swimming club for a while and will be fast. If he were 8, I might say to give it time. But for many kids, it’s not much fun “competing” when you know you’re way behind.

So, yeah. Maybe try a B meet to see if he changes his mind, but this is absolutely not something he “needs” to do.

Is the water cold? Is the practice super early in another few days?

Oh it is early in the season and he's just getting used to the grind! Let him swim a few B meets and spring for the concessions stand when he's done. If he makes and A meet, buy him a donut! Swimming is 50% effort and 50% snack bar.

If he doesn't like it at the end of the summer, dont sign up again next year.

If you are in NVSL, it is early in the season. Hang in there for the pep rallies and the Friday breakfasts and the other fun activities. NVSL has, in my opinion, disadvantaged the younger kids by moving the season up a week. The fun stuff has not started and the daily practices are a grind. Our kids love the meet themes of the week and the other special events our coaches plan but if you bail now -you will miss the best part of the season.