Competive swim team for gradeschoolers, did you/your child enjoy the experience?

Question

What are the pros and cons of competitive swim team for an eight year old? My child has not yet swum competitively. Plus we live in a cold climate, where we get our share of snow. The season lasts from Sept til March or so.

There would be three practices a week, but you can just do two if that is all you can make. There would be meets on some Fridays evenings and Saturday mornings.

The meets seem kind of long, three hours or more. Was the experience fun? too stressful? great exercise? boring?

If you ever would like a summer job as a lifeguard do you really need to have been a competitive swimmer, in addition to the requisite life-saving classes?

Thanks for your input.

Answer 1

its a lot of work. i enjoyed it but im not up for waking up early doesnt mean that it will be same for your child. i didnt have to attend all the meets i only went to 1 actually. im not sure about the lifeguard thing but the swim team is really up to your child! :)

Answer 2

I started on a swim team when I was about that age. I really enjoyed it more when I was 9 & 10. At 7/8 it seemed hard to grasp. I swam through high school competitively and then I was burnt out, but it could have just been that I was a teenager. I got certified at a lifeguard at 16. I think you have to be a strong swimmer not necessarily the fastest to be a lifeguard. I went on to guard inside pool and lakes. It was a easy great paying job that was a lot of fun! I say go for it just take it easy for a year or so. I was in the best shape of my life when I was swimming. I love the team bonding and the friends I made in swimming and it kept me out of trouble because either I was swimming or too tired from swimming to get into trouble. My parents spent many a weekends watching me compete. I will always be grateful for that.  The only thing I longed for was some music when I was swimming. My dad said he couldn't believe that almost every day in high school I would come home from practice and tell him I swam between 3-5 miles. Any other questions email me. Good Luck!

Answer 3

I think it would be a fun experience.  I started swimming a little bit before I was 8. It's not super intense for the younger kids.  Just let your child have input.  If s/he doesn't like it than make sure you don't force them.  I am a lifeguard and you do not have to have competitive swim experience to do it.  You just need the ability to pass the training which is about a 500 yard swim in total for red cross.  But I love the sport and I would recommend that you try it out!  

Answer 4

On Club teams they usually have a place for children who aren't ready for swim team on my team we have a splish and a splash for that age group.