Dear posters--
My boys swim on a YMCA swim team. Unfortunately the aquatics director is a clueless fool who is hostile to youth swimming. We have a great coach, but the team's ability to grow is severely handicapped because the aquatics director will only allow three lanes in the afternoon for the team. Apparently the Y has a policy to always keep lanes open for lap swimmers. Worse, the YMCA in the neighboring town had to shut down their pool, which left over a hundred boys and girls with no place to swim. Believe it or not, my YMCA (which is independent of Y national) refused to expand its team to accommodate these kids. I am working on a letter to the board of my YMCA asking them to change their policy. I'd like to bring up points related to:
--the benefits of youth swimming
--what's unique about youth swimming compared to other sports
--why a small team (25) diminishes the team experience (relays, etc.)
--any other thoughts
The whole situation is ridiculous and hopefully we can make a persuasive case to the board to change its policy. Thanks so much.
Oh, and in case you're wondering, no, my Y does not have any organized masters swimming program.
Parents
Former Member
--the benefits of youth swimming
--what's unique about youth swimming compared to other sports
--why a small team (25) diminishes the team experience (relays, etc.)
--any other thoughts
.
The benefits of youth swimming is obvious--growing obesity of our youth and general population. You can spout off some good numbers and percentages there. Keeps 'em clean and not smelling like sweaty teenagers, too :joker:
What is unique about swimming is that it offers kids a way to keep in shape, form friendships, perhaps travel, get involved in a high school sport (if offered), without having to join other sports which may have physical contact or other demands which they find uncomfortable. Relately low cost is always an added plus.
The sport is also easily transferrable to summer lifeguard positions and swimming instructors, which can come back to benefit the Y.
Our large team was nice because you always had fast kids coming up the ranks, as well as faster/older mentors who were there for you to "wow" over when they received scholarships in swimming to colleges, or won CIF titles year after year. There were kids at every level which kept the team alive and thriving. The team I grew up on is still thriving, 25 years after I quit at 18--a good 35 years.
Good luck with this undertaking. People who didn't grow up with swimming or don't understand the benefit of swimming sometimes just don't "get it", though, and changing their mind can be difficult.
--the benefits of youth swimming
--what's unique about youth swimming compared to other sports
--why a small team (25) diminishes the team experience (relays, etc.)
--any other thoughts
.
The benefits of youth swimming is obvious--growing obesity of our youth and general population. You can spout off some good numbers and percentages there. Keeps 'em clean and not smelling like sweaty teenagers, too :joker:
What is unique about swimming is that it offers kids a way to keep in shape, form friendships, perhaps travel, get involved in a high school sport (if offered), without having to join other sports which may have physical contact or other demands which they find uncomfortable. Relately low cost is always an added plus.
The sport is also easily transferrable to summer lifeguard positions and swimming instructors, which can come back to benefit the Y.
Our large team was nice because you always had fast kids coming up the ranks, as well as faster/older mentors who were there for you to "wow" over when they received scholarships in swimming to colleges, or won CIF titles year after year. There were kids at every level which kept the team alive and thriving. The team I grew up on is still thriving, 25 years after I quit at 18--a good 35 years.
Good luck with this undertaking. People who didn't grow up with swimming or don't understand the benefit of swimming sometimes just don't "get it", though, and changing their mind can be difficult.
