She’s 7 and is swimming on the neighborhood team this summer. Tonight was her first practice. Imagine about 50 kids between the ages of 4 and 8 spread out over 6 lanes. It was just hilarious; like tadpoles in a puddle.
These are the kind of moments that make it great to be a parent.
I remember when I started swimteam at the same age…great times…lots of traveling with meets every weekend for both the winter and summer, but great times. enjoy!
Congrats!
My little girl is 11 and just started taking swim classes 2 weeks ago. It is really amazing, seeing in her case kids from probably 9 to 12 doing drills and swimming sets. They made her do flip turns the first day (but were really great with helping her and giving her instruction).
My daughter has done a kids tri last year but never had formal swim lessons. I was an adult volunteer in the lake to help the kids and seeing the young kids from 7-12 splash around in the lake - in some cases wearing floaties! - was hillarious.
I swim in the open lane and get in my swim set while she is also swimming. It’s great doing something together and although I still have to get her to be faster changing in the locker room after practice (I suspect having ten 11 year old girls talking doesn’t speed things up any) the drive home is fun. On the way home from practice a few nights ago she turned to me totally serious and said “Dad, we really have some great times together”. It was a parent moment.
Great to hear. We just signed our three year old up for swim lessons this summer. After I told him that he would be learning how to swim this summer, he very seriously informed me that he would be swimming in the Big Pool and that Daddy would be watching him.
So, how long do you think it will be before your daughter can swim faster than you?
Summer swim team is the best! I used to “coach” the 8 & unders. Every practice was borderline chaos. The best part was seeing how proud they were of themselves when they swam their first 25m race. They’d get so nervous beforehand.
I hope your daughter is having a blast!
Congrats!
Boy are you in for a lot of fun. Your little girl too. Just wait for the first meet. Make sure to bring playing cards, crayons & coloring book too for the little one. And your kid will eat lots of candy. If you are lucky there will be a snow cone machine at the meet too. Also get some flip flops for the mud. kid’s water and dirt/grass do not mix.
I have 3 daughters on the neighborhood swim team. Been a “swim parent” for 12 years now. Great memories. I also have 2 more kids that will be on in about 3 more years.
Here’s a tip. For the photo pkg, get a button. Each year, wear the button for that year and each year prior. Trust me, everyone will get a kick out of it, except maybe your kid???. My daughters’ 25? year-old coach’s parents come to the meets and they wear buttons from when she was 7. Too funny! My favorite is of my older two at ages 3 and 7. The 3 year old was almost the team mascot. 6 inches shorter than the next oldest, a 5 year old.
And the little ones are the best. Especially last heat for the 25 Free. Everyone cheering for the kids hanging on for dear life.
My 5 year-old barely made the team, but she is on it with her 8 and 12 year old sister, so she feels like a real big shot.
Keep us informed.
Yeah, I am a proud parent. And my 12 year-old can kick my butt in any race. I find it highly ironic she is not allowed to swim at the local fitness club without my supervision.
All right, enough gushing for now.
You just but some great memroies in my head both from coaching ans my swimming days.
A bit of advice-if you want it.
Don’t let you kid swim year round and at her age no more than 3 workouts a week. This should be fun keep it that way. She has a lot of years left to get competitive, no point in burning out early.
i think that’s good advice. if the kid is good it’s hard not to let them get too serious…but swimming as a sport is notorious for burning great talent out early. soccer is now doing the same thing–and unfortanately little knees are the price to pay.