Moving to Area with 14 Year Old Middle Distance Swimmer

[Anonymous]

Hello All,

Moving to the Alexandria/Arlington area later this summer (still deciding between schools) and have a competitive 14-year-old boy swimmer. Specializes in 200 fly, back and free and 200/400 IM. Do any of the clubs/sites in the area specialize in training for these events.

Thank you

[Anonymous]

Hmmm… I would try Machine, AAC or NCAP Marymount. They are all in Virginia.

Across the river in Maryland is RMSC, NCAP Prep, and ASA if you need more options but guessing the first Virginia sites I mentioned are plenty for which your kid can try out.

Also, get in either an NVSL or country club summer swim circuit. It is a lot of fun around here to be a swimmer!

Welcome to DC!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hmmm… I would try Machine, AAC or NCAP Marymount. They are all in Virginia.

Across the river in Maryland is RMSC, NCAP Prep, and ASA if you need more options but guessing the first Virginia sites I mentioned are plenty for which your kid can try out.

Also, get in either an NVSL or country club summer swim circuit. It is a lot of fun around here to be a swimmer!

Welcome to DC!

Thanks for the info and will certainly look into summer swim. I most familiar with NCAP and RMSC as i have seen them at National meets. RMSC is probably not an option because of location but you think Marymount is the best site for NCAP for those distances? I will also check out AAC and Machine.

Thanks again!

[Anonymous]

AAC is your cheapest option with the best practice times. Coach is great

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:AAC is your cheapest option with the best practice times. Coach is great

They will not specialize your kid like NCAP.

And I think it would be better to know what kid of cuts does your kid make currently.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:AAC is your cheapest option with the best practice times. Coach is great

They will not specialize your kid like NCAP.

And I think it would be better to know what kid of cuts does your kid make currently.

2 back is probably his best event at 1:53, goes 1:45 in 2 free and 1:56 in 2 fly. He is currently a freshman. AAC does appear to have some strong swimmers in 15/16 age group.

[Anonymous]

NCAP has a lot of experience with great swimmers. Good luck!

[Anonymous]

NCAP MU has a great training group of current 13-14 year olds. I would definitely check them out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:AAC is your cheapest option with the best practice times. Coach is great

They will not specialize your kid like NCAP.

And I think it would be better to know what kid of cuts does your kid make currently.

2 back is probably his best event at 1:53, goes 1:45 in 2 free and 1:56 in 2 fly. He is currently a freshman. AAC does appear to have some strong swimmers in 15/16 age group.

So there are only like 10 boys in the country with those kinds of times. The only club that is going to be able to work with that kind of talent would be NCAP and honestly it would be a disservice to your son to be at any other club in this area. AAC has one strong boy in the 15-16 range and his parent is his coach which I think explains a lot of his success. You would not get the same treatment.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:NCAP MU has a great training group of current 13-14 year olds. I would definitely check them out.

This. Two girls and one boy at least that are nationally ranked at 13-14.

[Anonymous]

I would reach out to AAC (Arlington Aquatic Club) and their head coach, Evan Stiles. They do hold tryouts (not sure if that would apply to your son or not) and they fill up quickly.

https://www.gomotionapp.com/team/pvsaac/page/home

[Anonymous]

Who does your current coach recommend? I'm guessing NCAP, but there are various sites. I would definitely lean on your current coach to give some guidance.

[Anonymous]

You really need to decide between NCAP MU and ACC (elite training group). Both Clubs are going to want your son if those times are legit and will find a spot for him. I would set up phone interviews with both site's coaches and have your son do a "tryout session" with each Club to get his sense of which coach and set of kids he feels he connects with.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You really need to decide between NCAP MU and ACC (elite training group). Both Clubs are going to want your son if those times are legit and will find a spot for him. I would set up phone interviews with both site's coaches and have your son do a "tryout session" with each Club to get his sense of which coach and set of kids he feels he connects with.

Both clubs will want him. Any club would with those times. But he will not have a strong cohort at AAC. The boys have been not very strong in recent years. Their girls are stronger. Last year and this year sees the boys all gone minus a recently age up into 15-18 who is phenomenal. But not sure if that swimmer will stay or move to NCAP after this year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:AAC is your cheapest option with the best practice times. Coach is great

They will not specialize your kid like NCAP.

And I think it would be better to know what kid of cuts does your kid make currently.

2 back is probably his best event at 1:53, goes 1:45 in 2 free and 1:56 in 2 fly. He is currently a freshman. AAC does appear to have some strong swimmers in 15/16 age group.

So there are only like 10 boys in the country with those kinds of times. The only club that is going to be able to work with that kind of talent would be NCAP and honestly it would be a disservice to your son to be at any other club in this area. AAC has one strong boy in the 15-16 range and his parent is his coach which I think explains a lot of his success. You would not get the same treatment.

With these times, OP should already be well aware of which clubs are well represented at the same meets and where other comparable swimmers are. It’s not a mystery, it’s very obvious after just perusing swim cloud.