Kid just got bumped up from her swimming lessons to a competitive swim team.
We're really proud of her and excited that she has found a sport (a lifetime one at that) that she really enjoys.
BUT I'm interested in hearing from any swim team parents about what this time commitment, etc., is like.
She's starting out with training 4 times a week.
Which, again, if she likes it... is just amazing year round exercise.
And while there are certainly costs, it seems that swimming is one of the cheaper sports (I may be grossly misinformed... let me know).
The good news for us, is that as homeschoolers, we can actually fit in the training without it being a stress time-wise.
The bad news is that this means four days a week of trying to find a way to entertain Baby while we wait out her lessons (which is a definite concern... that's a lot to ask out of a 4 year old).
Any swim team experience or insights would be greatly appreciated.
She won't start doing meets until the Fall... so I don't have to worry about that right now. But, I'd love to know what that will entail. Especially since parents are required to volunteer at a couple meets every year.
Also, price wise... we're looking at $50 a month for 4 times a week training. That seems really good to me... but are there costs that are going to come up once they are attending meets?
Okay... over and out.
11 comments:
I am not at all familiar with the cost of swimming, but I'd say that if it's only $50 a month you're getting off scott free!
I pay $250 a month for both girls to dance 3 days a week each. Now throw in shoes, costumes, competition fees, pictures, etc and it's easily over $5000 a year. Oh dear God that hurt to type.
I only have my 3yr old to entertain twice a week-one day for gymnastics for my 5yo and one day for karate for my 7yo. We bring her favorite books to read, color together, she has a Leapster 2 that she can play then...and in times of meltdown desperation we turn to the cartoons on my phone!! Mostly I just bribe her with things that only she likes (like the Mickey Mouse book for the 400th time...) Is it at a Y or such? Is there any classes she could take at that time too?
And $50 is a freaking DEAL!!!! Even if you have to pay for meets and such! We pay 30/month for 1 day karate and 54/month for 1 day gymnastics..plus uniforms, spaaring equipt, belt costs, costume... I am not as brave as Smoochie and will not add it up!! :)
Physical activity that she loves? In this family? Priceless.
Smoochie,
Yes... I was thinking compared to dancing its MUCH cheaper!
I did some research on the higher levels and the price definitely climbs and is eventually double... but still that's only a little over 1K for a year.
Marie,
Unfortunately this is at our highschool pool and there is NOTHING to do, and if we stay in the pool area it's just a bench at the side. We've been doing the leapster which really does entertain her... but 4 days a week is maybe a stretch for that. Unfortunately mr F doesn't come home early enough. Maybe we'll make team friends and will be able to alternate which parent attends.
lucinda,
word.
Totally awesome. So happy to hear. Keep her away from ice hockey. Nate is in Year 1 and I think on equipment we have spent several hundred dollars and two months of team is $150. Not counting all the public skates we have done this year getting him ready. Ee gods.
It sounds great. The issue with swimming has been, for my girlfriend, that the training has been incredibly early (6 am). It sounds like that's not an issue for you, because the training is later. Go for it for a year and see how it develops- why not.
If the training is for an hour+, can you go to a local place or do something with Baby for that time? My 4 (almost 5 year)old is now old enough that when my husband takes her to the pool for lessons, she removes her suit and showers alone then meets him over on the family side- I never thought that would be possible! So perhaps Kid can be ok if you walk/go to a coffee shop/ find a better place to read to Baby? After she's comfortable, of course.
I tried to get my oldest into swimming, but his exercise-induced asthma back then was an issue. What a great life-time sport (that is also a safety skill) if it works out though. I think when the kids get older (middle and high school) the pool times are early - like ice times for hockey. But I don't know much else about it. Let her just enjoy it for now, and see how it goes. Especially if you don't have to worry about the pressure of any meets for 6 months or so...
I am only familiar with swimming as a member of the swim team in high school.
It is the only thing I ever quit.
Keep in mind, I sunk like a stone. I was 6'-1" and about 150 lbs. I had zero buoyancy. After dealing with practice before and after school with weight lifting on Saturday, I said screw it.
A friend on mine joined with me on a lark and set the school record. Bastard.
I was on my highschool's swim team, and started swimming competitively in middle school.
Your pool costs are quite reasonable.
I only had to wear itty bitty boy swimsuits and goggles; more material for Kid to wear, but with the amount of swimming, she may go through 2 to 3 suits a season (all that constant water and chlorine break-down a suit) and 1 pair of goggles. We can get into best types of goggles later.
Sometimes meets cost money. I was on a high school team, so meets never cost us a dime (thanks, taxpayers), but monthly tournaments did; $25 or so...back in the early 90s.
Our season was winter, but I continued to swim competitively in the other 3 seasons. That "club" swimming cost some money, but meets were part of that cost except for the big tournament, which again cost extra.
There are also some great clinics put on by MSU and U of M in the summer. Couple hundred for a week.
It was bar far my cheapest sport. Even track was more expensive because good shoes cost a gajillion. Football was pricey; pads, injuries... My brother played hockey from the age of 6 all the way through high school. No idea how that didn't break my parents.
I'm a Masters swimmer, and while I don't compete anymore, my costs never went more than $1500 a year when I was competing frequently. But that included suits, coaching, everything. It's a much cheaper sport than many others I've participated in, and if she's good at it and likes it, it's a phenomenal application point for colleges when the day comes.
As for the four-year-old, I have one of those. For the particularly boring events he must sometimes wait through, I break them into quadrants: Watching (the activity), Reading, Play-Doh, and Video Games/Movies (iPhone). Each quadrant lasts about 15 minutes, maybe longer.
Sorry I'm late responding... we were in Chicago.
Thankfully the team shares the highschool pool... which means that our swim practice is in the evenings. The highschool uses it in the morning and I know those kids are getting up insanely early.
Bob,
Ha! One of Kid's strengths is that she is engineered by nature for buoyancy. ;)
Deb & Smitty...
alright, thanks for the cost verification. It's a go.
Deb,
I'm also into the 15 minute breakdown... I think that will work, and keep me from feeling like it's a shitty time for her.
G,
That actually made me laugh out loud... only because Kid is like a paraplegic in the locker room... she acts like she can't do anything for herself. 4 times a week?... she'll catch on pretty quickly I'm sure. Until the team moves to our community pool we're stuck at the highschool which is literally in the middle of nowhere. I won't have time to drop her off and get anywhere... but there are fields... we could explore. Once they move it, there is playground and that will help immensely.
Angie,
hockey... eh? I bet that is pretty cute to watch!
Gigs,
I figure if you ask your kid if they want to be in swimming lessons 4 times a week and they say Yes... we should run with that. I only wish it were at the Y so I could be working out at the same time. Ah well.
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