Lessons learned while underwater

"Swimmers take your mark, get set . . ."

"And GO!"

We just wrapped up our fifth summer on swim team. I have friends (actually, lots of them), who think we are insane to dedicate 3+ months each year to swimming. Daily practices (now spanning 2 hours because of the kids' ages) and meets every Saturday from 6am to noon take up a good chunk of our time.

While we may be just a little insane, we have also watched our kids blossom through the experience. Here are just some of the things we love about swim team:

It teaches the importance of teamwork. Swimming is both an individual and a team sport. Every single swimmer helps contribute to the overall success and ranking of the team, yet with the exception of relays, swimmers are competing individually. Even if a swimmer doesn't "win" a race, they can improve their own personal time.

Jack's medley relay team worked hard to stay together,

and ended up with a gold medal at the league championships!

It builds endurance and personal strength. In addition to the increased physical stamina gained by swimming laps for 30-45 minutes every single day, emotional strength is gained as well. The kids learn to overcome fears, to push themselves beyond what they thought they could do, and are rewarded for their accomplishments.

Case in point, every Wednesday, kids in the 10 and under age groups are challenged to an "Animal Swim". Depending on age and ability, they swim varying lengths and strokes without taking a breath. For the kids under age 6 (that was Grant this year!), they must swim freestyle from the deep end of the pool to the black line (about 3/4 the length of a 25m pool) without taking a single breath. Once they reach that point, they can try for the whole length of the pool. Then, they move on to the butterfly stroke, again swimming the entire length of the pool without a breath.

Last year, Jack tried all season to make it to the end of the pool, and couldn't do it. He was sad, but determined that this year, he'd do it. The very first week of morning practice, the coaches asked Jack to "demo" the Animal Swim. He'd never made it before, and I could tell he was nervous about it, especially with all the other kids watching.

He made it on the very first try this year. When he got out of the water, he said over and over "I just can't believe I made it!"

Over the course of the next several weeks, Jack kept trying to make it in butterfly, and Grant tried to make it to the black line. Each week, they came a little closer, until the very last Wednesday . . . when both boys made it! Their reward? A bag of animal crackers at our end-season-banquet, thunderous applause, and a whole lot of pride!

The kids learn to take encouragement from others. Our coaches are unbelievable. They're the reason we haven't joined a team closer to home. The way they uplift, motivate, and acknowledge the kids is amazing.

Early on in the season, Grant had a bit of stage fright when it came to the meets. He did fine in practice, but come line up on Saturday morning, he wanted nothing to do with it. Coach Frank gently and firmly coached Grant along, cracking jokes, calming his fears, and getting him pumped up to swim. It worked.

A couple of weeks before the end of the season, the coaches pulled us aside and asked if we thought Grant would be okay swimming at championships. 1200 swimmers, and an all-day event gave us pause . . . but in the end, we agreed. He was the only 4 year old in the entire league swimming at championships. We weren't sure what Grant's reaction would be when he saw the gigantic pool with the sides lined by all the people. But with Coach Frank (aka The Jolly Green Giant) by his side (and the promise of chocolate when he was done), that little shark dove in and swam with all his might.

It gives us something to laugh about. Rarely a practice or meet went by that we weren't laughing out loud about something—most often something Grant said or did. Here's just a few snapshots:

Still not quite sure what Grant is doing here.

Maybe tucking in his swimsuit strings—or maybe something else!

This swim start was the photo winner of the season. I laugh every time I see it!

Grant's "snake eyes" goggles hid his eyes from view, and so we could never quite read what was going on in that mind of his. He loved them though, and said they gave him super powers. Whatever it takes!

It builds friendships. Both kids have made great friends through our association with the families on swim team.

Jack and his teammate Joe have swam together the last three years. They are neck and neck as far as times go, and both push each other to be better. At the beginning of the season, they weren't talking much to each other, or really even acknowledging each other's presence. When I asked Jack why, he replied "It's because he's my arch enemy." Jack didn't want to get too friendly for fear of losing his focus, and getting beat! As the season progressed however, these two were unstoppable. Not just in the pool, but out of the pool as well.

"I am Hans" and "I am Franz" and "We are here to PUMP YOU UP!"

We've known Jordan through a mutual friend for several years. But this was her first year on our team, and she and Olivia became fast friends. It was fun for them both to have someone to hang out with!



It's family-oriented. Coaches, parents, and kids all work together to make swimming a success. Meets are run by volunteers, and parental involvement is required. We got to spend 6 hours every Saturday morning together as a family. No TV, no distractions (except for the snack bar), just us (and 100 other families!) hanging out together, cheering each other on.


It really was about the snack bar—there was no end to the treats and junk the boys craved on Saturday mornings!

I should have made a sign for Grant to wear that said "Will swim for food..."

Congratulating Olivia after winning her heat and getting

her own personal best at Championships!

The kids are rewarded for their efforts. In addition to visits to the snack bar, the kids receive ribbons for each and every race at each and every meet. Over the course of the season, with three kids, we've amassed quite a collection!

Jack finished the season with two gold medals and a silver medal. His free relay team and medley relay team both took first place, and Jack won the silver for the 8 & under butterfly race.

Grant and Olivia were both heat winners, and helped score points for the team.

We've gone through withdrawals some this week, missing the daily drive to, and the time spent at, the pool. While it is nice to have a break, the kids are already asking how long until swim team starts again!