Is it worth even doing HS swim?

[Anonymous]

I have a very good (but not great) swimmer who swims year-round with one of the large teams in VA. Is there any point to doing HS swim? It looks like the HS swimmers just keep swimming with the club even after they join the HS team, and HS meets cause conflicts for us that DS doesn't really want to deal with. What's the advantage to being on the HS team, if a kid isn't looking to swim in college? I thought it would be a great social experience, since that's what I remember best about my own time in HS, but I don't really see that if the kids aren't even practicing together.

[Anonymous]

They have a lot of fun during meets and at after meet dinners. My child really enjoyed it last year though yes, she did prioritize her club team practices and December club champs meet.

There isn’t any real advantage, it’s for the joy of the thing. If a kid doesn’t do it it’s no big deal, but they may feel left out.

[Anonymous]

Not sure where you are, but FCPS schools have them practice 1x a week mandatory or they can't swim in the meet. Then each week there is either a dinner or breakfast. In addition there are at least one meet a week, and they usually go out after. It is fun!!!! not the grind of club. It is different from all other HS sports but the kids love it. (I'm sure there is an exception) but mine see it like summer swim.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Not sure where you are, but FCPS schools have them practice 1x a week mandatory or they can't swim in the meet. Then each week there is either a dinner or breakfast. In addition there are at least one meet a week, and they usually go out after. It is fun!!!! not the grind of club. It is different from all other HS sports but the kids love it. (I'm sure there is an exception) but mine see it like summer swim.

same pp, and we are thankful to have a coach that lets them miss a meet if there is an important club meet without penalty. we are very appreciative.

[Anonymous]

Anyone want to share which schools these are, if they are in FCPS? Our HS coach is definitely not ok with meet-missing, and the vibe is not especially "fun."

[Anonymous]

We are Lake Braddock. Coach understands missing for a champ meet. I'm sure she wishes they didn't, but she is understanding which helps so much with my swimmer's stress level. They do have a cap of missing 3 meets if they want to move on to post season.

It is hard for club swimmers who are trying to keep it together with school and their club coach, so we are so thankful. I will say, when my kids are seniors, I bet they'll skip those meets if they don't want to swim in college, because they love HS swim

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Anyone want to share which schools these are, if they are in FCPS? Our HS coach is definitely not ok with meet-missing, and the vibe is not especially "fun."

That's a shame. High school sports should be fun.

[Anonymous]

We are at Woodson- one practice per week for club swimmers, and coaches are okay with missing for winter champs. There’s kids from all the major clubs, so luckily the absences are distributed over two separate weekends normally.

[Anonymous]

Kind of nice to be on a HS team. Opportunity to meet some new kids and represent school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We are at Woodson- one practice per week for club swimmers, and coaches are okay with missing for winter champs. There’s kids from all the major clubs, so luckily the absences are distributed over two separate weekends normally.

Sadly this year NCAP invite and winter classic are the same weekend gonna be a weird weekend

[Anonymous]

My good but not great swimmer loves HS swim. Her team requires a minimum of four practices per week total but three of those can be with your club. DC prefers to do three days with the HS team and 1-2 with her club. There are lots of social activities outside of practice...dinners, breakfasts, post meet get togethers, etc. There is absolutely at least one weekend per season where most of the top swimmers are gone for champs meets. The coach is fine with that (official policy is you can miss up to three meets and still letter/swim in districts and beyond) and takes the opportunity to let the kids who are there swim events they don't otherwise get to.

[Anonymous]

We are West Springfield and a similar story. Mandatory 1 day a week practices and club swimmers often miss for championship meets in Dec. Overall the vibe is fun and similar to NVSL.

[Anonymous]

HS swim is a great balance to the doldrums of winter swim. Dual meets are a lot more fun than 3 day invites. It breaks up the long winter season!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Anyone want to share which schools these are, if they are in FCPS? Our HS coach is definitely not ok with meet-missing, and the vibe is not especially "fun."

That's a shame. High school sports should be fun.

I agree with this. High School swim should be fun. If the coach does not make it fun or some what relaxing, he/she will lose the more competitive club swimmers.

[Anonymous]

HS swimming is more like summer swimming.

Summer meets-Most fun

HS meets-Also fun

Typical Club meets- fun at times but least fun by far. Its the day job basically and meets are just an opportunity to measure your fitness and see the results of your hard work in practice, especially if you're not part of the AAA plus crowd.

Club practices are fun because kid has lots of friends. HS practices are ok but rarely go, not mandatory and they kind of muck up the schedule tbh. Coach understands club swimmers practice with their club.