The 9 benefits of Joining a Swim Team for Children

Have you ever thought, wow, my child really enjoys swim lessons, and is progressing very fast? Maybe it’s time to consider your child taking it to the next level and joining a swim team? By reading this post, you will be able to grasp a better understanding of whether it’s the right decision to make. Joining a swim team offers countless opportunities and benefits to get involved at such a young age. To help, I have created my top 5 tips on why joining a swim team is beneficial.

Learning Life Lessons:

Even at a young age, swimming on a team teaches you many valuable lessons.

Dedication:

Swimming will educate your child that if they want to reach a goal or succeed, they must put dedication and commitment into it.

Whether it's from wanting to reach a toy in the deep end or swim 25 yards without stopping, if they want it, they have to work for it.

Patience:

By joining a team, your child will be able to become more patient. A primary example is learning how to wait for their turn when your coach is talking or working with another swimmer.

Time Management:

Even at a young age, children are taught how to manage and improve their time management skills. By balancing school and swimming, this would allow for your child to learn how to operate in a fun and motivating way.

With swim practice being something I looked forward to every week. As a child, there was always a rule that I was not allowed to go to swim practice unless all of my homework was finished. This motivated me to get all of my school work done, so I was able to go to practice.

Working in a Team:

When looking at other sports, most tend to be team sports. Although swimming is both an individual and team sport, it is a balance between motivating your teammates to their goals as well as working hard for yourself.

Your child will learn how their individual effort affects the team itself. Whether that being a fun relay at the end of practice, or cheering on their teammates at competitions.

Make New Friends

By joining a swim team, both you and your child will be expanded to meet new people, and create friendships with people who you share a common interest with.

Your child will establish bonds with their teammates, which will improve their social skills, as well as good sportsmanship by cheering on their friends swimming either at meets or practices.

After having 14 years of competitive swim team experience, I have created lifelong friendships that have supported me throughout my entire swimming career. It's a fantastic feeling to be a part of a team that motivates and boosts you through your success and failures. I will forever cherish these lifelong memories from the day I joined a swim team.

Developing Stroke Technique

At the beginning of swimming, it might seem as if it’s a one skill sport. You will learn that there are many different swimming techniques to improve your swimming.

As a competitive swimmer, I was always told you could continuously improve on something. Whether that being from my kick to the way I turn my head, I was always motivated to get better.

Swimming practice offers many opportunities to improve your child’s technique and in just a matter of time. Before you know it, your child will be able to swim 25 yards without stopping, then next be ready to dive off the blocks. This will only allow your child to feel a sense of fulfillment and be super proud of themselves.

A Fun way to Exercise

Swimming provides a fun way to get a low impact exercise that works the entire body. Whether that being from splashing around in the water, swimming laps, or even working on technique.

Like other sports, they tend only to be offered seasonal but, swimming can be enjoyed all year round.

You will know every time you’re taking your child to swim practice; they are receiving the most beneficial workout to ensure your child is staying healthy and fit while having fun.

Learn Water Safety

Along with getting private phenomenal swim lessons, joining a swim team allows only for growth and improvement regarding water safety.

When your child starts to swim more regularly, this allows for confidence and familiarity in the water. Whether your child is swimming in the ocean, pool, or even a lake, they will be able to adjust quickly and become more comfortable.

Some techniques of water safety that go on during a swim practice are only entering the pool if a coach has told you to, proper breathing techniques, tilting of the head, entering and leaving the pool, and many more.

Alyson Currao’s bio:

Swim Instructor in Naples, FL

Hi! My name is Alyson Currao. I have spent the past 14 years as a competitive swimmer, with the opportunity to compete on an NCAA DII Woman’s Swimming team. I am currently graduating May 2020 from Lynn University with a Bachelor of Science in Event Management. I have over 5 years of experience teaching swim lessons from Infants to High Schoolers.