This post is written in partnership with Goldfish Swim School.
Since we started lessons at Goldfish Swim School, my oldest has had one goal: make it to Goldfish’s swim team, called the Swim Force. He loved the idea of being on a team with other kids and getting to do what he calls “real swimming.”
He’s been on the Swim Force for a few months now, and it’s been a great fit for our family. It’s a challenging and encouraging environment that fits with Goldfish’s philosophy of moving at the child’s pace. There’s a lot of hard work, but also a lot of fun!
How does it work?
At Swim Force, team members start swimming the length of the pool, rather than the width. The pool is divided up into three lanes: beginner, intermediate, and advanced.
The kids swim for an hour, focusing on proper technique. Some nights are focused on improving one stroke; other nights the kids work on several. At the end, there’s time for some fun!
What about competition?
The Goldfish Swim Force has quarterly swim meets on Friday evenings. Kids can swim in up to three events, and they get a ribbon for first, second, or third place. After the swimming, there’s pizza! The swim meets are low pressure and are focused on having fun and doing your best. They’re a great fit for my anxious little guy.
Swim meets are also totally optional! You don’t have to do meets to be on the Swim Force. Some quarters we do a meet; some we don’t. It’s all about what works best for our family.
How do we join?
The Swim Force is the “final level” of swim at Goldfish Swim School. Once your child has progressed through all the levels of lessons, they will be able to be part of Goldfish’s swim team. This is so important because it ensures your child is comfortable and safe in the water, and that they’ve built the skill and endurance necessary for a higher level of swimming.
The Goldfish Swim School Swim Force is a great introduction to competitive swimming, and it’s a low-risk way to see if swimming is something your child wants to purse long-term. Best of all, it provides kids with a way to have fun while moving their bodies, something that’s incredibly important for their development.
As always, Goldfish is teaching my kids so much more than how to swim. That’s why we love it so much.
