ASA or TOLL development program for 8&U

[Anonymous]

I have an 8&U who needs some stroke fine tuning and endurance training. Legal in 3 of 4 and close in the 4th but loses gas quickly. Possibly interested in year round swim team in the future but taking that slow and just want to keep swimming post-first year of summer swim. TOLL and ASA are geographically closest. Which would be the better program to choose? Or is there another that is good? Thanks in advance.

[Anonymous]

You have to try out for ASA, but TOLL seems to take most kids these days. ASA is much better for serious development (NDG coach was just recognized as top 50 in the country), though TOLL does have some solid swimmers.

[Anonymous]

They’re both great for that age group

For more serious swimmers 11 and over ASA is probably the better bet tho TOLL is very very solid up until 14

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You have to try out for ASA, but TOLL seems to take most kids these days. ASA is much better for serious development (NDG coach was just recognized as top 50 in the country), though TOLL does have some solid swimmers.

Sorry I mean stroke and turn classes, not swimteam.

[Anonymous]

For development I would choose Toll.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You have to try out for ASA, but TOLL seems to take most kids these days. ASA is much better for serious development (NDG coach was just recognized as top 50 in the country), though TOLL does have some solid swimmers.

True but I’m not sure what they really means for the individual swimmer experience.

[Anonymous]

TOLL stroke and turn is excellent. They really pay a lot of attention to technique.

[Anonymous]

For stroke clinics go with whatever makes the best logistical sense for your family. At an intro level, the technique coaching will be largely the same.

[Anonymous]

ASA parent here. If your 8 year old isn’t legal in all four strokes it’s unlikely ASA will take them on the team, and their tryouts have passed already. Toll stroke is turn is excellent for stroke development

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:ASA parent here. If your 8 year old isn’t legal in all four strokes it’s unlikely ASA will take them on the team, and their tryouts have passed already. Toll stroke is turn is excellent for stroke development

Any experience with ASA's rising stars program for stroke and turn?

[Anonymous]

The one your child gets into. Its so hit or miss on coaches and what coach they get what year. The coach matters.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:ASA parent here. If your 8 year old isn’t legal in all four strokes it’s unlikely ASA will take them on the team, and their tryouts have passed already. Toll stroke is turn is excellent for stroke development

Basic stroke development (avoiding DQs) can be had almost anywhere. However, there's far more to stroke development than that. Higher level coaches can "fix" stroke inefficiencies and pacing in ways that can generate significant time drops. Thus, it's far better to pick a team where your child can develop through a series of "shaping" coaches as he or she gets older.

Bottom line, get your 8-year old fully legal in all 4 strokes, establish some solid meet times in core events, then try out as a 9 year old. But remember, the most important factor in all of this is the motivation of your child. He or she has to WANT to get better and faster. It doesn't matter how much you want this to happen - you're not in the pool.

[Anonymous]

My 9 year old did Rising Stars last year and really enjoyed it. We saw a big improvement for just one hour a week. We did all 3 sessions and noticed the biggest difference in the third session where the goal is to prepare kids for summer swim teams. The only negative was that you can only do it once a week so there is no endurance option. We are on the fence about whether to do Rising Stars again or do TOLL.