Year round swim for mid level swimmer

[Anonymous]

Looking for a swim program for my 13 year old that is year round. He’s a good swimmer, swims in our summer A meets, but he’s not a rock star. Times aren’t fast enough for ASA or NCAP or anything like that. We used to do Sea Devils and were not happy with them. He also did Toll stroke and turn and endurance but the other kids were learning strokes and he didn’t feel he was getting much out of it for the insane price.

The hope is he can make his high school swim team but I know he needs to swim this off season for that to happen. Any suggestions for programs would be much appreciated. We are in bethesda and ideally would find something close by.

[Anonymous]

You do realize that clubs like NCAP and most clubs offer a variety of practice groups? Don’t need to be AAA/AAAA and above. I would talk to other families who have club swimmers in locations you’re interested in. Different clubs and sites within a club have sub cultures.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Looking for a swim program for my 13 year old that is year round. He’s a good swimmer, swims in our summer A meets, but he’s not a rock star. Times aren’t fast enough for ASA or NCAP or anything like that. We used to do Sea Devils and were not happy with them. He also did Toll stroke and turn and endurance but the other kids were learning strokes and he didn’t feel he was getting much out of it for the insane price.

The hope is he can make his high school swim team but I know he needs to swim this off season for that to happen. Any suggestions for programs would be much appreciated. We are in bethesda and ideally would find something close by.

try RMSC's KSAC site, not so many kids 13 & over will try that, especailly before it reopens in 2028.

https://rmscswimming.com/rmsc-20252026-season-tryout-information-montgomery-county-recreation-sites

[Anonymous]

I'm assuming you are in MoCo - are there summer teams in MoCo that offer winter options? What about any programs at the JCC?

[Anonymous]

PP - Sorry, missed the Bethesda mention.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Looking for a swim program for my 13 year old that is year round. He’s a good swimmer, swims in our summer A meets, but he’s not a rock star. Times aren’t fast enough for ASA or NCAP or anything like that. We used to do Sea Devils and were not happy with them. He also did Toll stroke and turn and endurance but the other kids were learning strokes and he didn’t feel he was getting much out of it for the insane price.

The hope is he can make his high school swim team but I know he needs to swim this off season for that to happen. Any suggestions for programs would be much appreciated. We are in bethesda and ideally would find something close by.

try RMSC's KSAC site, not so many kids 13 & over will try that, especailly before it reopens in 2028.

https://rmscswimming.com/rmsc-20252026-season-tryout-information-montgomery-county-recreation-sites

We are at KSAC, they are full. I wouldn't count on it but it may be easier. City of Rockville has preteam and stroke and turn.

[Anonymous]

YMCA?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:YMCA?

NP - this is your best bet close to Bethesda, OP. There aren't many other close-by options. If you're willing to drive, QOSA or Machine (at Fairland or College Park) are other good options. Technically NCAP has less intense levels, but very few kids get into those groups. Same with RMSC.

[Anonymous]

Try a different Tollefson group, and your kid doesn’t need A times to swim with ASA, or NCAP. Maybe look into TIBU? Maybe try out for RMSC- you never know what kids age up and spots will open.

[Anonymous]

There are kids at NCAP who don't have A times for sure. There are some fast kids but also others who pay so they fill the lanes.

[Anonymous]

Agreed that I wouldn't pay premium price for fitness-level swimming. Which SDS site did you try?

[Anonymous]

QOSA has a lot of different options. If you don't want to commit to the team, you can do swim team prep once a week.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There are kids at NCAP who don't have A times for sure. There are some fast kids but also others who pay so they fill the lanes.

A lot of times these are the kids that started at age 8 but never got very fast. Those kids are then funneled through ultimately to Gold 3.

[Anonymous]

Swim Tiburones might be a good option but is in Rockville/Germantown/Gaithersburg so might not be that convenient for you.