What to do

[Anonymous]

DS is a rising junior and has been in the same club for several years. This last year there has been a sort of an upheaval and the coaching situation appears not good at this time. Many of DS’s peers and friends have joined other teams and there is no one left that swims close to his level.

Reasons to stay: practice location is close to home and price is good.

Reasons to leave: no peers at his level, small team, and I don’t know who his main coach will be as some have left and the ones remaining are not going to be sufficient. Unless there are new coaches in the works we have not heard about yet.

If we leave and go to another club, it will be more expensive, further away, but he will have many friends in his practice group and swimmers who can challenge him.

I almost feel like quitting altogether is better than staying. But he is getting really fast and has potential for an amazing junior year.

If he stays, then I think he is really on his own but would still get to do a lot of meets including some competitive ones. And there’s also the high school season.

WWYD?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DS is a rising junior and has been in the same club for several years. This last year there has been a sort of an upheaval and the coaching situation appears not good at this time. Many of DS’s peers and friends have joined other teams and there is no one left that swims close to his level.

Reasons to stay: practice location is close to home and price is good.

Reasons to leave: no peers at his level, small team, and I don’t know who his main coach will be as some have left and the ones remaining are not going to be sufficient. Unless there are new coaches in the works we have not heard about yet.

If we leave and go to another club, it will be more expensive, further away, but he will have many friends in his practice group and swimmers who can challenge him.

I almost feel like quitting altogether is better than staying. But he is getting really fast and has potential for an amazing junior year.

If he stays, then I think he is really on his own but would still get to do a lot of meets including some competitive ones. And there’s also the high school season.

WWYD?

I wouldn't consider driving an option, there appear to be many who do. Driving friends, you can decorate your windshields the same and wave as you go by on the way to practice, get matching bumper stickers Rah rah MySC.

I don't know about swimming, but in my experience many of the travel programs (soccer basketball etc.) aren't all that amenable to making/maintaining friendships. It's always about the club. Often times the spots are all tryout spots.

[Anonymous]

Given that your son is a rising junior, this really should be his call unless switching to a different club would be cost prohibitive. If you can afford to switch but are just noting that any new club would be more expensive, I would let him make this decision.

[Anonymous]

One option is to speak with club leaders and try to sort out a coach for your son's level and reach out to those you know at his level locally to try to build out a practice group. It's probably late for this, but it would have been an option.

At this late time I'd ask your son what he wants to do. He's old enough to make the decision.

[Anonymous]

What does he want to do? To me, this is a no brainer unless cost is a significant factor to your family. You go where he has friends and will enjoy swimming.

[Anonymous]

I love how so many use location as a determining factor in which club to choose for club swimming, which is especially “travel swimming”, yet will choose “travel ___” clubs that are easily 30+ minutes away.

[Anonymous]

Go where he will be happiest. Swimming is a good activity but odds of any kid achieving beyond the High School level are slim. This is supposed to be fun. What decision moves you closest to that?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I love how so many use location as a determining factor in which club to choose for club swimming, which is especially “travel swimming”, yet will choose “travel ___” clubs that are easily 30+ minutes away.

Swim practice for senior groups can start before 5am. Geography is key.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I love how so many use location as a determining factor in which club to choose for club swimming, which is especially “travel swimming”, yet will choose “travel ___” clubs that are easily 30+ minutes away.

Swim practice for senior groups can start before 5am. Geography is key.

No if I’m committed enough to practice before 5am then I’m absolutely making sure it’s with a good program not just the closest program.

[Anonymous]

A few thoughts - 1) don’t stay in a program that is failing and had bad unprofessional coaches. We were once the last to leave and it sucked for my swimmer. He was 8th grade with sectional cuts and he had no peers.

2) we moved to great program with a very professional coach and it was great for him to get held to high standards and be with a competitive group. The driving sucked and we lost our carpool but it was worth it.

3) there is almost no money in men’s college swimming- so don’t count on scholarships. If it is a financial hardship to pay, don’t sacrifice college savings.

[Anonymous]

there’s ... the high school season.

That's all he needs

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I love how so many use location as a determining factor in which club to choose for club swimming, which is especially “travel swimming”, yet will choose “travel ___” clubs that are easily 30+ minutes away.

Swim practice for senior groups can start before 5am. Geography is key.

No if I’m committed enough to practice before 5am then I’m absolutely making sure it’s with a good program not just the closest program.

Sure. But I'm not driving past one good program to go to a different, further good program.

[Anonymous]

Wouldn’t his opinion on this be the main factor?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I love how so many use location as a determining factor in which club to choose for club swimming, which is especially “travel swimming”, yet will choose “travel ___” clubs that are easily 30+ minutes away.

Swim practice for senior groups can start before 5am. Geography is key.

No if I’m committed enough to practice before 5am then I’m absolutely making sure it’s with a good program not just the closest program.

Sure. But I'm not driving past one good program to go to a different, further good program.

The kid is a junior. If their times make them a recruit, I’m driving. If not, we’re not

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I love how so many use location as a determining factor in which club to choose for club swimming, which is especially “travel swimming”, yet will choose “travel ___” clubs that are easily 30+ minutes away.

Swim practice for senior groups can start before 5am. Geography is key.

No if I’m committed enough to practice before 5am then I’m absolutely making sure it’s with a good program not just the closest program.

Sure. But I'm not driving past one good program to go to a different, further good program.

The kid is a junior. If their times make them a recruit, I’m driving. If not, we’re not

Alot of it comes down to whether or not the coaches give you the B-team heebie-jeebies. If the coach so much as hinted, they are going to focus on other kids and you weren't their favorite, they would automatically make my special list. Unfortunately, much of modern youth travel athletics seems to operate these ways. They have to have a big team to pay for coaches to go to national trials, but only a few of the kids can make it to take them there, so most of the kids end up paying for the coaching of the few kids.

I reported the RSFC for having "private" tryouts at the public facility I don't know if Olney has that practice.