ISCA -- how big of a deal are these meets?

[Anonymous]

It is an extremely competitive meet once you’re over 14.

[Anonymous]

when do they publish qualifying times for 2024 ISCA?

[Anonymous]

Probably pretty soon. Just periodically check the ISCA website.

[Anonymous]

ISCA is slower than NCSA and much easier to final. But know the winners generally have AAAA times so still good competition.

It is a lot of swimming - but your kid has a chance at finals with AAA times usually (and occasionally a AA time), which is a really good experience.

[Anonymous]

I wish our team did this one instead of NCSA. I like that finals are swum in LCM, and I like that part of FL better

[Anonymous]

Following up on this ISCA post... thoughts on taking a 9 year old to this meet. Seems like a lot at that age. Appears to have 6-7 qualifying events so could swim a lot. I am torn - I've done these travel things with other sports, and it always seems like a ton of $/time, but the kids do love it.

[Anonymous]

PP. Also do you look bad to the team/coach if you don't go?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We did ISCA and are not sure about doing it again, even if our kid qualifies. It falls during Spring Break, and while it's fund to go to Florida for Spring Break, you won't get much beach time or other enjoyment because: (i) your swimmer will need his/her rest if swimming multiple events on different days; (ii) you won't have an opportunity to get away, since you'll be spending 1/2 your day fighting for parking, sitting in the stands, and just generally waiting for things to move along. It's even worse if your kid makes the finals, because you'll head back to the pool that evening, ruining any dinner plans you might have.

The meet is not about beach or dinner plans- it is about swimming fast at a meet.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Following up on this ISCA post... thoughts on taking a 9 year old to this meet. Seems like a lot at that age. Appears to have 6-7 qualifying events so could swim a lot. I am torn - I've done these travel things with other sports, and it always seems like a ton of $/time, but the kids do love it.

I think this is a very personal decision based on your family’s finances, your child’s personality (how badly do they want to go), work schedule etc.

At 9, there is not a ton of correlation between fast times and future success (at that age, kids aren’t getting regional/national meet cuts such as sectionals, junior nats etc). you are really doing it for the experience of the team v. Getting times etc. I will say, my kid prefers ISCA to zones bc it is team travel with coach as opposed to PVS coaches they do not know (if your kid’s coach ever coaches their age group at zones, def do it bc best of both worlds!)

That may be worth it to some families and not others.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We did ISCA and are not sure about doing it again, even if our kid qualifies. It falls during Spring Break, and while it's fund to go to Florida for Spring Break, you won't get much beach time or other enjoyment because: (i) your swimmer will need his/her rest if swimming multiple events on different days; (ii) you won't have an opportunity to get away, since you'll be spending 1/2 your day fighting for parking, sitting in the stands, and just generally waiting for things to move along. It's even worse if your kid makes the finals, because you'll head back to the pool that evening, ruining any dinner plans you might have.

If these kinds of things bother you, being a swim parent is not for you in general.

[Anonymous]

It’s a money grab. If you have plenty of it and it doesn’t ruin a a family spring break vacation or something, go ahead. I would not prioritize taking a 9 year old if it means any kind of family sacrifice though. PP is right that fast at 9 doesn’t mean much in the long run.

[Anonymous]

I would skip it for a 9 year old.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:PP. Also do you look bad to the team/coach if you don't go?

Only your team/Coach can answer this. For our team, they truly, truly do not care. The kids care more then the coaches because they want to have enough for relays.