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Parents of the OT: Youth Sports
Posted on 8/26/14 at 9:34 am
Posted on 8/26/14 at 9:34 am
My little four year old has taken up swimming. She is a little fish. A friend of ours has a 6 year old that is on a competitive swim team. They are the same height, and the 6 year old is only a slightly better swimmer.
The coach wants to take her on as a non-competer for the fall/spring season - She'll be five by the summer long course season.
I'm told that swimming is a heavy commitment - no time for other sports. She's in ballet but it only meets once a week and honestly I don't see it being long term. Some weeks she hates going to a 45 minute lesson.
Anyone else ever put a 4-5 year old in competitive swimming?
For your enjoyment, an elite 6U swimmer swims the 25 yard freestyle in 18.01, she's at 19.97 at 4.
The coach wants to take her on as a non-competer for the fall/spring season - She'll be five by the summer long course season.
I'm told that swimming is a heavy commitment - no time for other sports. She's in ballet but it only meets once a week and honestly I don't see it being long term. Some weeks she hates going to a 45 minute lesson.
Anyone else ever put a 4-5 year old in competitive swimming?
For your enjoyment, an elite 6U swimmer swims the 25 yard freestyle in 18.01, she's at 19.97 at 4.
26
Posted on 8/26/14 at 9:36 am to anc
travel swimming 
Posted on 8/26/14 at 9:36 am to anc
just know that the swim team chicks are the freakiest.
Posted on 8/26/14 at 9:36 am to anc
just don't live vicariously through your child like most other parents. let her do what she loves to do.
Posted on 8/26/14 at 9:36 am to anc
That seems pretty young to do year round swimming, but if I was you, I'd sit her down and let her know her options and decide what she wants to do. I swam just summer league and then for my high school for a total of like 14-15 years and I loved it, but she may not love it.
Posted on 8/26/14 at 9:37 am to anc
quote:
an elite 6U swimmer
Posted on 8/26/14 at 9:37 am to colorchangintiger
quote:
just know that the swim team chicks are the freakiest.
This can't be stressed enough
Posted on 8/26/14 at 9:38 am to anc
make your 16 year old with the new car take her to practice
for real though..they have to enjoy doing it. it takes time and effort on both your parts. do not force it.
for real though..they have to enjoy doing it. it takes time and effort on both your parts. do not force it.
Posted on 8/26/14 at 9:38 am to anc
At 4-5 there should not be much competitiveness to it. If she likes it, support her and celebrate her acomplishments but PLEASE for the sake of parents everywhere dont be the overzelous competitive parent douche.
Posted on 8/26/14 at 9:38 am to anc
quote:Irrelevant. It's between you, your wife, and your daughter.
The coach wants
Posted on 8/26/14 at 9:39 am to anc
It should be her choice.
I started lessons at two. I stayed through lifeguarding because I enjoyed the activity. I never swam in meets, that was too much of a time commitment.
I started lessons at two. I stayed through lifeguarding because I enjoyed the activity. I never swam in meets, that was too much of a time commitment.
Posted on 8/26/14 at 9:41 am to anc
Make her swim until she can’t feel her arms……she’ll thank you when she makes the Olympic team
Posted on 8/26/14 at 9:41 am to anc
I was on a competitive swim team when I was a kid....it's nothing new. We would travel to Lafayette, Baton Rouge, New Orleans, Houma, all over South La for swim meets. I was probably about 7-10 years old. I know some kids doing it now a days are even younger.
Posted on 8/26/14 at 9:43 am to anc
4 years old just seems so young to be in something competitive
but what do I know, I'm new to this parenting thing
but what do I know, I'm new to this parenting thing
Posted on 8/26/14 at 9:44 am to anc
quote:
elite 6U swimmer
Oh my. 
Posted on 8/26/14 at 9:45 am to anc
I've had coaches try to get me to commit a kid to a single sport. Do not allow.
However, if she likes to swim, and has fun on the team, if its not a burden on the family, go for it and enjoy.
However, if she likes to swim, and has fun on the team, if its not a burden on the family, go for it and enjoy.
Posted on 8/26/14 at 9:50 am to anc
quote:
anc
Would you be ok with her telling you one day that she no longer wants to swim...?
If yes, you're doing it right
Posted on 8/26/14 at 9:52 am to anc
quote:
heavy commitment
My son started football at 4, he just started his third season at 6; he absolutely loves it. We have practice from 6-8:00 3 evenings a week and games on Saturday, a pretty heavy commitment. He's played soccer, t-ball, and basketball; but only wanted to play footbal this year. I told him that was fine. If that's what she wants to do, go for it.
If you're not involved in sports with your kids, you'll probably be wasting your time on something useless and less memorable...
This post was edited on 8/26/14 at 9:58 am
Posted on 8/26/14 at 9:54 am to anc
Go for it. If she likes it, she will stay with it. When she gets tired of it, go do something else.
F the haters.
F the haters.
Posted on 8/26/14 at 9:57 am to TexasTiger01
quote:
My son started football at 4, he just started his third season at 6; he absolutely loves it. We have practice from 6-8:00 3 evenings a week
the only thing kids that age are doing for that amount of time on the field is picking flowers....no way a 6 year old needs to be practicing football for 6 hours a week. The coached and parent are probably spending 3 of those hours trying to get them to pay attention. 
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