Feedback on strong programs for Middle School-aged swimmers

[Anonymous]

Looking for some insight and advice....

We are moving from overseas to NoVa in June and trying to make some housing decisions based upon proximity to swim. DS is a AAA/AAAA level swimmer. We had originally decided to live in the Burke/WS/Fairfax Station area and have DS train with NCAP Burke in the Bronze I group. He attended some practices during a visit earlier this year and really clicked with the younger male coaches. However, the housing market is terrible and and we haven't been able to find a house in close proximity so I think we need to expand our search area.

We've also been offered housing on FT Belvoir and a slot at Mansion House Swim Club but can't figure out the best club option if we go that route. NCAP Alexandria Age Group Performance at Franconia and Marlins Senior Silver program at George Washington Rec seem to be the closest. DS needs to be with a great group of middle school-aged boys and have a strong connection with his coaches. He needs to feel safe and supported....coaches he can have fun with, be allowed to still be a kid and have fun while also motivating and developing him. Would we likely find that with either of these two programs?

Are there other programs we should be considering?

Our hope was to buy a house in a neighborhood with a strong NVSL summer team that feeds into a strong HS team within a 10 min drive of club practice. That is proving next to impossible to find. I worry about living further east in FFC as the schools aren't as highly rated and the HS swim teams don't appear as strong. Living on Belvoir allows you to transfer into any FCPS school so would likely look at Hayfield or South County.

Any feedback on the dynamics in either of these programs would be appreciated!!

[Anonymous]

At your swimmers level he needs to be with a strong cohort to challenge him. I think you are on the right track with NCAP.

Marlins has a good program, but he will have no cohort and that will not push him.

I would worry less about NVSL and high school programs. They do not matter in the scheme of swim in the U.S. Colleges look at USA Swimming times and cuts.

In this area club swimmers only practice with their HS team one or two days a week because HS teams have few lanes to practice.

[Anonymous]

Naval academy Annapolis has some teams. Think they are separate from military through. Naval academy has great camps.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Naval academy Annapolis has some teams. Think they are separate from military through. Naval academy has great camps.

Sorry thinking fort mead.

[Anonymous]

I know you are talking about Virginia, but one of the best clubs here (with a good cohort) is RMSC.

You can click around PVS in Swimcloud to get an idea of the club rankings and the size and point level of the swimmers.

If you can move further south OCCS is a great swim club. They really are a Richmond base swim club (and Richmond has much stronger swim clubs/league than PVS and NoVa) but they PO box to get into PVS.

[Anonymous]

Not sure if you can Army/Navy country club it - but the Country Club League is much faster at the higher levels than NVSL or CCL.

But summer swim doesn't count for much as another poster stated.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:At your swimmers level he needs to be with a strong cohort to challenge him. I think you are on the right track with NCAP.

Marlins has a good program, but he will have no cohort and that will not push him.

I would worry less about NVSL and high school programs. They do not matter in the scheme of swim in the U.S. Colleges look at USA Swimming times and cuts.

In this area club swimmers only practice with their HS team one or two days a week because HS teams have few lanes to practice.

I agree with NCAP. Lots of people spend time in the car to get kids to practices. When is your son's bday? He'll be able to drive himself for half of HS. I wouldn't worry about the HS program or the summer swim team. Are you focusing only on VA for job reasons?

[Anonymous]

If your swimmer is of a certain level, sounds like he is - there are only two clubs that will push him. NCAP or RMSC.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Not sure if you can Army/Navy country club it - but the Country Club League is much faster at the higher levels than NVSL or CCL.

But summer swim doesn't count for much as another poster stated.

This is so wrong I’m sorry

My child swims against Army Navy and while our club is fast, our mcsl is faster so the top nvsl teams must be too

Army Navy is the fastest in country club has basically has zero competition in the A division other than Washington Golf and that’s it. Joke of a league

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If your swimmer is of a certain level, sounds like he is - there are only two clubs that will push him. NCAP or RMSC.

Machine

[Anonymous]

RMSC and MCSL are the best in the DC area.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If your swimmer is of a certain level, sounds like he is - there are only two clubs that will push him. NCAP or RMSC.

Machine

+1 - their High Performance programs are geared for middle schoolers

And OCCS, ASA (I realize the latter is in Maryland, but so is RMSC).

[Anonymous]

Would highly recommend the West Springfield area- there are competitive NVSL teams (Hunt Valley, Orange Hunt, Rolling Hills) and the West Springfield HS Swim Team is competitive too.

For club, would recommend NCAP Burke, NCAP Alexandria, or Machine.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I know you are talking about Virginia, but one of the best clubs here (with a good cohort) is RMSC.

You can click around PVS in Swimcloud to get an idea of the club rankings and the size and point level of the swimmers.

If you can move further south OCCS is a great swim club. They really are a Richmond base swim club (and Richmond has much stronger swim clubs/league than PVS and NoVa) but they PO box to get into PVS.

Would definitely throw OCCS in the mix for consideration, but they are not a Richmond based club at all. They have some practice options in the Eastern PWC area, but their high performance groups (NTG and pre-national) are based out of Manassas.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I know you are talking about Virginia, but one of the best clubs here (with a good cohort) is RMSC.

You can click around PVS in Swimcloud to get an idea of the club rankings and the size and point level of the swimmers.

If you can move further south OCCS is a great swim club. They really are a Richmond base swim club (and Richmond has much stronger swim clubs/league than PVS and NoVa) but they PO box to get into PVS.

Would definitely throw OCCS in the mix for consideration, but they are not a Richmond based club at all. They have some practice options in the Eastern PWC area, but their high performance groups (NTG and pre-national) are based out of Manassas.

OCCS is pretty incredible.