NotSoObvious Posted March 24, 2012 Share Posted March 24, 2012 I'm debating whether or not to sign my 9 year olds up for swim team this summer. They want to participate in the developmental team. There wouldn't be any meets, just DAILY practice from 9-10AM. It's pretty affordable, but it is about 25 minutes from our house. It would be great practice, but I'm not sure it's worth the drive. If we don't do swim team, we'd be driving to that pool 2-3 times a week to swim anyhow, which we'll still probably end up doing either way. I like that it will get us up and going all summer and I like that it will get my more sedentary child moving every day. What do you think? Do your kids do swim team? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PrincessMommy Posted March 24, 2012 Share Posted March 24, 2012 We've done swim team off and on for the past 8 years. We've mostly enjoyed it... but we've done the team not just swim lessons. And, it wasn't nearly so far away. I don't know that it would be worth it to do if it were that far away. Swim practice is usually only an hour for that age, so you'd be driving nearly as much as they'd be in the pool. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
staceyobu Posted March 24, 2012 Share Posted March 24, 2012 How strong of swimmers are they? I would think some work on learning strokes would be beneficial if they aren't already strong swimmers. We have done sort of a pre-swim team twice a week. My kids really like it. I like the exercise they get. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
readinmom Posted March 24, 2012 Share Posted March 24, 2012 Since it's developmental, I doubt they expect you to show up 5 days a week. You only plan to do this for the summer? Do what is comfortable for you. My oldest ds did swim team until he quit to focus on his main sport. I am thinking of enrolling my dd 9 for developmental as well. It is also five days a week, but I only plan on 3 days. Competitive swim team can be very time consuming. I'm just not up for it anymore right now, as selfish as that may sound. :glare: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NotSoObvious Posted March 24, 2012 Author Share Posted March 24, 2012 One is a very strong swimmer, the other struggles with some motor control, but swims well. Neither of them have done swim team before, but they've both completed all of the swim lesson levels. It didn't occur to me that they wouldn't have to go all five days a week. That's something to consider. That would give us a little more flexibility with our summer schedule, as well. Hmm. Thanks for your responses! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Photo Ninja Posted March 25, 2012 Share Posted March 25, 2012 It is a practical sport, one your dc can do for a lifetime, and your dc will gain skills. It is very good exercise. My dc did swim team for most their lives, year around, from about age 4 yo through high school, so just consider that you may starting something that they may want to continue every summer, or even year around. It is a time consuming sport. But if you want to take it summer by summer, the commitment is not bad. The only drawback I can see is that there are no meets where your dc can measure their skills. My dc would not like to practice daily without some kind of way to measure their improvement. Meets provide the opportunity for swimmers to see that they have dropped time in the event, that they have improved. But if your dc don't mind practicing without having meets, then do it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sassenach Posted March 25, 2012 Share Posted March 25, 2012 Swimming is a great sport. Most summer teams expect kids to make it to 3 practices a week. If your kids want to do it, I think you should go for it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
missmoe Posted March 25, 2012 Share Posted March 25, 2012 If you would end up there anyway, I would do it. Just go on the days that work for you. My kids did developmental team a few times and they were very low key about attendance. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NotSoObvious Posted March 25, 2012 Author Share Posted March 25, 2012 Great advice everyone, thanks! 3 days a week is totally doable, so that makes my decision much easier. I actually have one dd who loathes competition of any kind and was refusing to do regular swim team until I found this developmental team. So, for us, no meets will work, at least for this first season. The meets for the comp team are every Wed night until 10PM. That just doesn't work for my kids. They are asleep before 8. We'll try next year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JessReplanted Posted March 25, 2012 Share Posted March 25, 2012 My son is doing swimming now, 3 times a week, and it is at least 25 minutes away. He started at this program when we lived closer (still 10-15 minutes away). We love the instructor. Our son has become a great swimmer, and the exercise has been wonderful for him! He did participate in swim team last summer at the same place (YMCA), but the program was not directed with the same person, and we were not very impressed with it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SailorMom Posted March 25, 2012 Share Posted March 25, 2012 Both of my sons did it for a while - in fact - at about the same age. It was great for them, lots of camaraderie and exercise. However, they both complained how boring it was doing laps over and over :) Once they got really good at all the different strokes - it became very repetitive. Just not for my boys I guess. They both did it about a year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J-rap Posted March 25, 2012 Share Posted March 25, 2012 Can you carpool? That would make the decision much easier for me! My kids were on the swim team. Some of them stuck it out right through high school, and it really became a significant part of their growing up years. We can't speak highly enough of it. But, our pool was 8 blocks away. Our children could ride their bikes there. When practice was at 6:30 in the morning, that was very handy. :) They loved the competition part. Actually, it was kind of a love/hate deal. Some of them would get quite nervous. But, it's what really motivated them to work harder! Living in the state of 10,000 lakes (actually, it's more than that), I'm glad they are all strong swimmers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
61Keys Posted April 26, 2012 Share Posted April 26, 2012 My boys are on a developmental team. They love it. Our coaches mix in a little fun time or diving practice to break it up. Our team is in the fall and spring rather than the summer. It is well worth our drive. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amy g. Posted April 26, 2012 Share Posted April 26, 2012 I drive 45 minutes each way for my 16, 13, and 5 year old to be on swim team. We obviously feel like it is very good for them since this is our 15th year on the team. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.