Swim Weekend

Two years ago when Snapper's swim lessons teacher asked me to have her try the summer swim team at our community pool in Little Rock, I never dreamed we would be where we are today. At her last meet in September, Snapper posted one of the fastest 8&under girls 25-yard butterfly times in the state of Florida in the last 2 years. She amazes us with her love of this sport, her hard work at practice, and her consistent great performance at meets. When the opportunity came up for Snapper to go to an out-of-town meet, we decided she has earned it.

We left on Saturday morning for a meet at a club 2 hours away. The 3 other girls on Snapper's relay team got to go too, which made it extra special. We all stayed in the same hotel and we focused on making it a fun, relaxed weekend for everyone. At the meet we all set up our canopies and chairs together. Some of the kids brought board games; some brought soccer balls and volleyballs. In the long waits between swims, the kids ran around and played together. Every time one of the kids went to swim, the others came along to cheer. We all shared dinner together at Olive Garden, and ate breakfast together in the hotel. At the hotel on Saturday evening and Sunday morning, we took all the kids to the hotel pool to play. All the parents sat around and visited. Even if there had been no meet swimming, it still would have been a really great weekend.

But there was meet swimming. We found that the relaxed atmosphere, play time, and support from their teammates made all the kids swim better than ever before! All of them put down new best times in multiples events. Snapper tracks the USA Swimming Motivational Time Standards and tries to earn faster cuts each time she swims. At this meet she got BB cuts in her 50-yard butterfly and backstroke, which are faster cuts than she has ever gotten before! It was really exciting for her. Here are a few of my favorite photos from the weekend.