Less competitive swim teams in Down County Montgomery

[Anonymous]

Teen DC has joined the high school swim team, loves it. They are now thinking about joining summer swim team but are convinced that club swimming is not an option. Are there less competitive clubs in close-in Montgomery County MD that would welcome/accommodate a new to competitive swimming teen?

[Anonymous]

It may not be close enough, but Machine's Senior Green (or possibly Silver) could be a good fit. The Maryland locations are Fairland (Laurel) and UMD-College Park. IME, they're very welcoming to swimmers of all ages, which isn't true of many clubs. I don't know that your DC could join now, but it's worth looking into. At the less intense levels, they don't insist on meets, though they're an option for kids who want to. Not cheap, but we've loved it so far for our younger kids and have only heard great things from friends with older kids there.

[Anonymous]

^^meant to include a link: https://www.machineaquatics.com/competitive-programs

Scroll down for "Senior Programs," which are for kids 13 and over.

[Anonymous]

Tiburones sounds like a good fit!

[Anonymous]

I'm curious to know why OP's high school kid is convinced that club swimming is not an option? Is there typically a conflict between high school swim practices and/or meets with competitive club meets?

A girl from our summer pool never joined her high school swim team, preferring to stick with her highly-competitive club team. She ended up with a full ride to a D1 school to swim.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm curious to know why OP's high school kid is convinced that club swimming is not an option? Is there typically a conflict between high school swim practices and/or meets with competitive club meets?

A girl from our summer pool never joined her high school swim team, preferring to stick with her highly-competitive club team. She ended up with a full ride to a D1 school to swim.

I’m OP. HS swim is DC’s first exposure to competitive swimming. They like the social aspects of HS swimming and exploring something new. DC can swim 3 of 4 strokes and I think that they will pick up fly easily. They think that no club will want them at their skill level. I’m willing to look into it.

Not expecting D1 or D2 results at all. Supporting DC to explore competitive sports, manage their ADHD and pick up some skills to enable them to improve.

[Anonymous]

All the clubs, including RMSC have lower level clubs. The county has a stroke and turn and I'm forgetting the name of the class but another pre-team class. City of Rockville has classes too.

[Anonymous]

I second Tiburones. You can do High School prep and do meets if you want to, or just swim practices if you don't. Coaches are good. Small club.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:All the clubs, including RMSC have lower level clubs. The county has a stroke and turn and I'm forgetting the name of the class but another pre-team class. City of Rockville has classes too.

RMSC is not a non-competitive club. It is probably one of the most competitive clubs in Montgomery County.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:All the clubs, including RMSC have lower level clubs. The county has a stroke and turn and I'm forgetting the name of the class but another pre-team class. City of Rockville has classes too.

RMSC is not a non-competitive club. It is probably one of the most competitive clubs in Montgomery County.

That's true but they do have various groups at different ages that accommodate a range of skill/ability. Only the best will be invited to NTG but depending on ability and spot availability there might be room in one of the base level senior groups.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:All the clubs, including RMSC have lower level clubs. The county has a stroke and turn and I'm forgetting the name of the class but another pre-team class. City of Rockville has classes too.

RMSC is not a non-competitive club. It is probably one of the most competitive clubs in Montgomery County.

That's true but they do have various groups at different ages that accommodate a range of skill/ability. Only the best will be invited to NTG but depending on ability and spot availability there might be room in one of the base level senior groups.

DP - aren't the lower level senior groups for experienced swimmers who don't want to practice as often? Kids who've swum at RMSC for a while and who, for whatever reason, aren't super fast or committed? Knowing how RMSC works, it doesn't seem like the kind of club that would welcome new HS-age swimmers unless they're super fast.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:All the clubs, including RMSC have lower level clubs. The county has a stroke and turn and I'm forgetting the name of the class but another pre-team class. City of Rockville has classes too.

RMSC is not a non-competitive club. It is probably one of the most competitive clubs in Montgomery County.

RMSC is what OP DOESN’T want.
Tiburones or Joe Flaherty Dolphins are good options.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:All the clubs, including RMSC have lower level clubs. The county has a stroke and turn and I'm forgetting the name of the class but another pre-team class. City of Rockville has classes too.

RMSC is not a non-competitive club. It is probably one of the most competitive clubs in Montgomery County.

RMSC is what OP DOESN’T want.
Tiburones or Joe Flaherty Dolphins are good options.

Sounds like it, but OP should keep in mind the quality of coaching I know coaches from both of these groups. They're not on the same level as the coaches for the more competitive clubs, even those who just coach the senior groups.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:All the clubs, including RMSC have lower level clubs. The county has a stroke and turn and I'm forgetting the name of the class but another pre-team class. City of Rockville has classes too.

RMSC is not a non-competitive club. It is probably one of the most competitive clubs in Montgomery County.

That's true but they do have various groups at different ages that accommodate a range of skill/ability. Only the best will be invited to NTG but depending on ability and spot availability there might be room in one of the base level senior groups.

DP - aren't the lower level senior groups for experienced swimmers who don't want to practice as often? Kids who've swum at RMSC for a while and who, for whatever reason, aren't super fast or committed? Knowing how RMSC works, it doesn't seem like the kind of club that would welcome new HS-age swimmers unless they're super fast.

This. RMSC is less competitive for boys, but, he is going to need to know all his strokes at a minimum to be placed in the senior group. They also simply may not have any spots open in the senior group because the senior group is going to be filled with kids who can't make the higher level groups and have been in the club for years. They do not kick kids out of the club.

[Anonymous]

Tollefson is another option. They could get him up to speed on all his strokes, then he could move over to the team when ready.