Which is the easiest swim team to make for 8 year old in Bethesda/CC/Rockville area?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thanks everyone for all the responses! We live in Bethesda (very close to Burning Tree and Holton), so we'll definitely try the ones that runs at Holton (NCAP, Sea Devils). She is still working on improving breaststroke and butterfly (not legal yet)

I would not to NCap. They are the most expensive of any of the teams. They had a sexual assault incident many years ago but the same management is in place (look up Curle-Burke and it will come up). Some of their coaches are great but others are terrible. I'd advise you to look elsewhere, speaking from experience.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thanks everyone for all the responses! We live in Bethesda (very close to Burning Tree and Holton), so we'll definitely try the ones that runs at Holton (NCAP, Sea Devils). She is still working on improving breaststroke and butterfly (not legal yet)

I would not to NCap. They are the most expensive of any of the teams. They had a sexual assault incident many years ago but the same management is in place (look up Curle-Burke and it will come up). Some of their coaches are great but others are terrible. I'd advise you to look elsewhere, speaking from experience.

And my kid swims with NCAP and we pay less than similar programs with other clubs. DDs coach is great. But they wouldn’t take a kid the age of OPs who isn’t legal in all four strokes so the other stuff is a lot point anyway.

[Anonymous]

^^^ moot point

[Anonymous]

Would try RMSC again, SDS, Tollefson, JFD. ASA and NCAP as well, although just evaluate the potential fit when you attend the tryouts--excellent programs, but your DD will want to make sure she is fairly committed to swimming.

At 8.5 now, means she would likely be 9 by the time SC seasons starts (around the October opens), so she would need to be ready to start swimming 50s or longer events. Practice requirements at this age also start to increase a bit, although there is oftentimes some flexibility. You mention competing sports--might be worth taking a look at current practice and meet schedules for teams you are interested in joining. Practice times can be all over the place. And it can be challenging balancing swimming and others sports; certainly can be done (we do it), but at some point there will likely be conflicts.

At your DDs age, would suggest putting a premium on stroke development, enjoying the sport, and patience. There will be ebbs and flows as she grows.

Also might want to factor in location. RMSC (KSAC or RV), Tollefson (Prep), JFD (Pep), SDS (Holton), ASA (Stoner Ridge) ,and NCAP (Holton, Prep, or AU). Age group coaches at 9 are pretty solid across the board at these clubs (RMSC can be up or down a bit at times), Tollefson (good), JFD (kids seem to enjoy the Prep program, although it is a bit on the smaller side), SDS (don't know much about the program), ASA (good) and NCAP (three sites closest to Bethesda are all good). There are a few other programs/sites as well, but since you mentioned B/CC/RV, seems like you may live in lower MoCo.

Like some of the posts mentioned above, most coaches would like to see all 4 strokes legal at this age. Probably still time to get there if your DD is close or puts in some work. A few of the coaches may also look at potential and/or feel for the water, not just speed or how refined the strokes are at this age. So if your DD has, for example, a natural breaststroke kick, they may consider those things as well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Would try RMSC again, SDS, Tollefson, JFD. ASA and NCAP as well, although just evaluate the potential fit when you attend the tryouts--excellent programs, but your DD will want to make sure she is fairly committed to swimming.

At 8.5 now, means she would likely be 9 by the time SC seasons starts (around the October opens), so she would need to be ready to start swimming 50s or longer events. Practice requirements at this age also start to increase a bit, although there is oftentimes some flexibility. You mention competing sports--might be worth taking a look at current practice and meet schedules for teams you are interested in joining. Practice times can be all over the place. And it can be challenging balancing swimming and others sports; certainly can be done (we do it), but at some point there will likely be conflicts.

At your DDs age, would suggest putting a premium on stroke development, enjoying the sport, and patience. There will be ebbs and flows as she grows.

Also might want to factor in location. RMSC (KSAC or RV), Tollefson (Prep), JFD (Pep), SDS (Holton), ASA (Stoner Ridge) ,and NCAP (Holton, Prep, or AU). Age group coaches at 9 are pretty solid across the board at these clubs (RMSC can be up or down a bit at times), Tollefson (good), JFD (kids seem to enjoy the Prep program, although it is a bit on the smaller side), SDS (don't know much about the program), ASA (good) and NCAP (three sites closest to Bethesda are all good). There are a few other programs/sites as well, but since you mentioned B/CC/RV, seems like you may live in lower MoCo.

Like some of the posts mentioned above, most coaches would like to see all 4 strokes legal at this age. Probably still time to get there if your DD is close or puts in some work. A few of the coaches may also look at potential and/or feel for the water, not just speed or how refined the strokes are at this age. So if your DD has, for example, a natural breaststroke kick, they may consider those things as well.

Good advice.

I will also suggest a spring tune up program, like FINS. This will help with stroke development and have her ready to go right away at the beginning of summer swim season. A lot of the club tryouts will be towards the end of summer swim season which is great for the kids who have been working all summer.

[Anonymous]

Tiburones is a nice and supportive group for less competitive kids. Not sure the location would be that convenient for you though.

[Anonymous]

Try to do a stroke & turn class this spring. FINS, Tollefson and I believe ASA all have options, tho I don't know when their session start. It would give her a jump start on technique for the summer.

Will she swim as an 8 year old this summer or does she turn 9 before June 1?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My DD (8.5 years old now) tried RMSC last year but didn't make it. She was doing a few other sports and wasn't just focus on swimming. This year, she's more serious about swimming and would like to try a few team. She's not super fast though. We're in Bethesda. I know in this area, we could try ASA, NCAP, Sea Devils (Holton), FINS. Are all of them very competitive?

JFD at Prep or QO is a great option for swimmers who want a strong foundation but may need flexibility.
A committed swimmer from JFD with a little talent will do well because they really focus on technique. Race times aren’t always as fast as RMSC at first but those JFD kids go in to do really well.