NCAP and Machine pricing?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We swim at Fairfax Foxes. The instruction is excellent and for us, it’s about 1/3 less the cost of ncap, and the lane size is pretty great. Most nights, it’s 5 or less kids. Sometimes 2-3. Coach is very flexible to make things work, and many of the asst coaches are in education and great with the kids. With only 300 kids, the head coach knows every kid by name. That matters.

We have a friend that moved from a local unnamed team to Fairfax Foxes and they have been SO happy. I don't know if they are producing champions, but their 9 year old was very happy and that matters a lot.

It’s a great team but not the best fit for a highly competitive swimmer. For those with Sectional cuts and above, you need a strong cohort to train with and access to the bigger meets.

The very first post of this thread:

I'm looking for a new club for my average B/BB swimmer and was shocked at NCAPs and Machines prices.

Exactly. I had a friend whose kid was a super star basketball player. Full ride offered from many big time schools. But the kid was so burnt out, they didn’t take any scholarship and just went “as a student”. Find the right fit-the rest will fall in line. If you’re one of the 0.01% that’s going to the Olympics, then we’ll talk.

DP - the OP also noted that it’s not like their kids will be getting the top of the line coaches, or something to that effect.

As the parent of three B/BB kids, all of whom swim with Machine, the above is false. All of my kids have, at times, been coached by the same guy who oversees their national training group for our site. It’s super cool, actually, to watch from the bleachers and see how he works with them.

Our kids usual coaches are also outstanding. Even while they doesn’t coach at the national level, they’ve gotten to know my kids and have been a very positive influence for them. Are we lucky we can afford Machine? Yes. But this idea that only fast kids benefit from excellent coaching is bizarre. Part of what we’re paying for with Machine is great coaching at all levels. I have no illusions that my kids will swim D1, go to trials, etc. But if they love swimming, benefit from strong, positive coaching relationships - that’s worth it.

What Machine site are you at? We are also with Machine and this sounds incredible but it is definitely not the case at our site.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We swim at Fairfax Foxes. The instruction is excellent and for us, it’s about 1/3 less the cost of ncap, and the lane size is pretty great. Most nights, it’s 5 or less kids. Sometimes 2-3. Coach is very flexible to make things work, and many of the asst coaches are in education and great with the kids. With only 300 kids, the head coach knows every kid by name. That matters.

We have a friend that moved from a local unnamed team to Fairfax Foxes and they have been SO happy. I don't know if they are producing champions, but their 9 year old was very happy and that matters a lot.

It’s a great team but not the best fit for a highly competitive swimmer. For those with Sectional cuts and above, you need a strong cohort to train with and access to the bigger meets.

The very first post of this thread:

I'm looking for a new club for my average B/BB swimmer and was shocked at NCAPs and Machines prices.

Exactly. I had a friend whose kid was a super star basketball player. Full ride offered from many big time schools. But the kid was so burnt out, they didn’t take any scholarship and just went “as a student”. Find the right fit-the rest will fall in line. If you’re one of the 0.01% that’s going to the Olympics, then we’ll talk.

DP - the OP also noted that it’s not like their kids will be getting the top of the line coaches, or something to that effect.

As the parent of three B/BB kids, all of whom swim with Machine, the above is false. All of my kids have, at times, been coached by the same guy who oversees their national training group for our site. It’s super cool, actually, to watch from the bleachers and see how he works with them.

Our kids usual coaches are also outstanding. Even while they doesn’t coach at the national level, they’ve gotten to know my kids and have been a very positive influence for them. Are we lucky we can afford Machine? Yes. But this idea that only fast kids benefit from excellent coaching is bizarre. Part of what we’re paying for with Machine is great coaching at all levels. I have no illusions that my kids will swim D1, go to trials, etc. But if they love swimming, benefit from strong, positive coaching relationships - that’s worth it.

What Machine site are you at? We are also with Machine and this sounds incredible but it is definitely not the case at our site.

UMD. And yes, I know there's variability across sites for larger clubs like Machine and NCAP, for better and worse. We're lucky it's the former.