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HarrisonFamily

Swimming lessons \club swimming

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HI

I have been taking my daughter for swimming lessons since she was 3 months old at the local pool, she is now 7 (8 in October) and reached level 9 ...Her teacher as asked if he could ask a local coach to come and watch her as he is a swim teacher not a coach and all her strokes are now perfect and just stamina is now required......

 

I learnt my strokes from the posters on the pool walls and the back of a frosties pack so some one please help...

 

What sort of differences would there be in club swimming compared to lessons, if she has real potential I don't want to get in the way but more than anything I just want her to be happy and enjoy swimming (at the moment she loves it...)

 

Anyone any idea what would be expected in club swimming...

 

Thank you

 

Helen

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Hi Helen, well done to your daughter.

 

My Rosie (14) has been swimming since she was a baby as well; she completed her gold level and is now doing a junior lifeguard qualification, she's an excellent swimmer and has been asked to join the local club/team. Team or club swimming is more competitive; they work on stroke technique, endurance and speed with the aim of entering into galas and races, this will entail travelling around the country. Rosie has decided to opt out of this as she really enjoys her swimming at the moment but is at a stage in her school work where she has a lot of work coming up and she wants to concentrate on that rather than having weekends and after school taken up with swimming practice/galas.

 

She does other after school activities (guitar lessons, wind band and track team) but has had to choose and has dropped Latin recently as she needs to balance out the demands of homework and other activities and also fit in time with me and her friends.

 

Soooo, just an idea of how we perceive the difference to be between swimming lessons and team coaching. I hope that she continues to enjoy it though. Fred on this forum is another swimmer and may be able to give you another view/opinion.

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I had lessons from a very young age and joined our local (but very good) club when i was around 8/9. You can take from it what you want, or at least i could at the time. I went 2/3 times a week to the training sessions and you trained according to your level - in this case there were 5 different levels from those just beginning to those with Olympic hopes. They did regular assessments and time trials to make sure you were ready to move up and swim meets against other clubs were there if you wanted to take part - but only if you wanted to. It is a good progression from lessons and i would really recommend it - great to meet other kids with a similar interest and also to start having something like that to dedicate regular time to at that sort of age. It really helped me and I'd definately say give i a try! :D

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Clubs are great. We're a big swimming family and our nieces compete regularly - they love it. It's one of the best all round fitness sports and I think contributes to many other things - healthy lifestyles in general as well as mental acuity. Christopher has been swimming since 3 months too, and i'll have his name down for the local club as soon as possible!

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My boys had lessons with the Council - from the age of 3yrs. Once they completed all levels and Gold, they moved to the Swimming club.

 

Both compete - more with each other as only 18mths apart :roll: . ES has beautiful stroke but lacks the desire to win sometimes so competitiions depend on the day. YS is at regional level and wants to go all the way in swimming - he often swims higher level competitions without ES

 

YS was 9 when he started - and your daughter will be put into a squad with appropriate hours for her level. She will then progress through the club - and compete if she wants too again at level appropriate galas. Most clubs start competions with Club Champs - which is the club only gala, so no pressure and generally good fun competing against your friends. There will also be "team" galas - in the form of a "league" which are great for team development

 

Both boys have great fitness for all other sports through Swimming, and many teachers/parents comment on their level of fitness and improved concentration at school. YS also is very calm under pressure - as he is used to being watched on the blocks by a few 100 spectators - the cricket team always leave hime to bowl last as he does not crack and has amazing focus :D

 

If you want anymore info please feel free to PM me :P

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Thanks for the replies I was a little nervous as a couple of parents who have teenage children at club level are spectating at the same time as my daughters lesson and they really scare me....the things the said as one of the children had missed a stroke and not won i would not like to repeat !!!!!!!

 

As long as she enjoys it I guess we can give it a go.

 

Thanks everyone

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:roll: I can imagine - though to be fair those parents are there at ALL sports :wink:

 

Before mine swam I actually vowed never to let them do it - as I witnessed a girl in a towel, still wet being shouted at by either a parent/coach outside in January :shameonu: I was not impressed - but it makes me more aware of what feedback/comments I make to mine if they don't swim as well as they would have liked.

 

If your daughter does not like the "club" environment - sometimes alongside there are "Amatuer Swimming Clubs" which usually run once or twice a week and do not compete. Also, you may have other pools in the area which have a club, but it is not as "big and competetive" as the one you are looking at, if that makes sense.

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