Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Unfortunately, too many clubs don't want swimmers who just do it for exercise and enjoyment. There are a few clubs in this area who think that every swimmer has to treat it like they're going to the Olympics.

Anonymous wrote:
Therein lies the problem.

I don't really think it's an option. Sort of the whole point of "USA Swimming".

Unfortunately, USA Swimming clubs optimize the pools. Ultimately, 90% of the kids just want summer all year long. IMO there should be more AAU swim clubs, but they don't have them around the DC area. The USA swimming swim clubs are relatively expensive for what they are.

If the kid just likes swimming, get a family membership at a pool and take them swimming.

Swimming at a rec center solo is
really not sustainable over the long term.

You have to share lanes regularly with people that are far slower than you. Most of the good times to swim are taken by swim, dive, synchro swim clubs/ HS swim & dive/ lessons and meets.

This makes it not realistic to get a 60-90 minute workout swimming strokes (butterfly) and swimming fast on intervals. It works sometimes, but not often enough to be able to yield successful results.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Unfortunately, too many clubs don't want swimmers who just do it for exercise and enjoyment. There are a few clubs in this area who think that every swimmer has to treat it like they're going to the Olympics.

This is not actually true of HS aged swimmers. The biggest clubs in the area (NCAP, RMSC, Machine) all have low-key HS groups where they definitely don’t treat it like those kids are aiming for the Olympics.

It's also not true at the younger kid levels, at least for Machine. Their Gears programs are fun, specifically for younger kids, and don't require competing at meets.

Anonymous wrote:Unfortunately, too many clubs don't want swimmers who just do it for exercise and enjoyment. There are a few clubs in this area who think that every swimmer has to treat it like they're going to the Olympics.

Anonymous wrote:
Therein lies the problem.

I don't really think it's an option. Sort of the whole point of "USA Swimming".

Unfortunately, USA Swimming clubs optimize the pools. Ultimately, 90% of the kids just want summer all year long. IMO there should be more AAU swim clubs, but they don't have them around the DC area. The USA swimming swim clubs are relatively expensive for what they are.

If the kid just likes swimming, get a family membership at a pool and take them swimming.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I wish I had your problem OP. My oldest wants to quit and it’s making me sad. I think swimming is such a great sport and I wish they would continue regardless of their success or lack thereof. I would be so happy to have a kid who enjoyed swimming and wanted to stick with it!

We can swap spots. After six years of this, I am ready to move on with my life. It is not the money. It is not the time demands. It is not the coaches. It is the toxicity of the community.

Not all swim communtiites are toxic, especially when you drop down to the "in it for exercise, enjoyment, and personal growth" level in HS. There is no reason to be toxic there, and you won't even see other parents as the kids mostly take themselves to and from practice.

Anonymous wrote:Unfortunately, too many clubs don't want swimmers who just do it for exercise and enjoyment. There are a few clubs in this area who think that every swimmer has to treat it like they're going to the Olympics.

This is not true.

OP, there are less demanding club team levels.

My DC dropped down from what was then called Gold to Silver because Silver let you swim when you can and doing meets was optional. It let him get very involved in a different EC at school that was important to him, let him do a HS sport, and let him continue swimming any day he could, year round as scheduling allowed.

He enjoyed club swimming and felt it was very important to his physical health and mental focus. The Silver level let him keep doing that while also focusing on other parts of his life that also were important.

He has continued to use swimming this way in college and will likely join a masters club when he graduates to keep swimming with a group.

Anonymous wrote:Unfortunately, too many clubs don't want swimmers who just do it for exercise and enjoyment. There are a few clubs in this area who think that every swimmer has to treat it like they're going to the Olympics.

This is not actually true of HS aged swimmers. The biggest clubs in the area (NCAP, RMSC, Machine) all have low-key HS groups where they definitely don’t treat it like those kids are aiming for the Olympics.

Anonymous wrote:Unfortunately, too many clubs don't want swimmers who just do it for exercise and enjoyment. There are a few clubs in this area who think that every swimmer has to treat it like they're going to the Olympics.

Therein lies the problem.

Unfortunately, too many clubs don't want swimmers who just do it for exercise and enjoyment. There are a few clubs in this area who think that every swimmer has to treat it like they're going to the Olympics.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think it depends on your reasons for wanting them to be done. Are they no longer enjoying the sport but don’t know what else to do? Is it a team issue that switching teams would help solve? How old is the kid?

I just see no upside to it. The time commitment is extremely demanding given the returns at this point. I get it….teamwork, organization, friends but at what cost? There is no future where this gives back what has been given.

If your kid is on board, there are plenty of step down options at most clubs where they practice 2/3 times weekly and mostly swim with school teams.

Anonymous wrote:I can understand this post. My kids are ok at swimming, they enjoy it and it's good exercise and they've made friends. However, it is insanely expensive. It's a huge financial sacrifice for our family, and not sure it's worth the ongoing financial burden for kids who are just ok at it. We have looked extensively for cheaper options, and other than RMSC, it's all so expensive. I dread telling my kids that we can't continue. I wish RMSC had more openings and wasn't so competitive, but it is what it is.

I mean OP has literally said it has absolutely nothing to do with financial reasons but rather they themselves aren't getting anything out of it. OP is just living vicariously through their kid and it seems they only see value in their kid if they are extremely good at something.

I can understand this post. My kids are ok at swimming, they enjoy it and it's good exercise and they've made friends. However, it is insanely expensive. It's a huge financial sacrifice for our family, and not sure it's worth the ongoing financial burden for kids who are just ok at it. We have looked extensively for cheaper options, and other than RMSC, it's all so expensive. I dread telling my kids that we can't continue. I wish RMSC had more openings and wasn't so competitive, but it is what it is.

Take a parental gap year

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I wish I had your problem OP. My oldest wants to quit and it’s making me sad. I think swimming is such a great sport and I wish they would continue regardless of their success or lack thereof. I would be so happy to have a kid who enjoyed swimming and wanted to stick with it!

We can swap spots. After six years of this, I am ready to move on with my life. It is not the money. It is not the time demands. It is not the coaches. It is the toxicity of the community.

The important question is whether your kid finds the community toxic. If your kid is oblivious to whatever parental behind the scenes toxicity is there, then the answer is for you to step back, not pull your kid out of an activity they enjoy. Seriously, you don’t need to engage with the other parents. Volunteer, only come in to the pool area to watch your kid’s race and otherwise take a walk or read a book, etc. There are lots of things you can do to avoid the nonsense in the bleachers.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I wish I had your problem OP. My oldest wants to quit and it’s making me sad. I think swimming is such a great sport and I wish they would continue regardless of their success or lack thereof. I would be so happy to have a kid who enjoyed swimming and wanted to stick with it!

We can swap spots. After six years of this, I am ready to move on with my life. It is not the money. It is not the time demands. It is not the coaches. It is the toxicity of the community.

then find a new club. We tried 3 before we hit the sweet spot for my kid.