Less competitive swim teams in Down County Montgomery

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Tollefson is another option. They could get him up to speed on all his strokes, then he could move over to the team when ready.

TOLL isn't bad, but it's very expensive.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:All the clubs, including RMSC have lower level clubs. The county has a stroke and turn and I'm forgetting the name of the class but another pre-team class. City of Rockville has classes too.

RMSC is not a non-competitive club. It is probably one of the most competitive clubs in Montgomery County.

RMSC is what OP DOESN’T want.
Tiburones or Joe Flaherty Dolphins are good options.

Sounds like it, but OP should keep in mind the quality of coaching I know coaches from both of these groups. They're not on the same level as the coaches for the more competitive clubs, even those who just coach the senior groups.

I mean, I think that’s kind of the point?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Tollefson is another option. They could get him up to speed on all his strokes, then he could move over to the team when ready.

TOLL isn't bad, but it's very expensive.

DP - Which group at TOLL is suitable for this situation? They told me 11 was "too old" to start club swimming, so... yeah.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Tollefson is another option. They could get him up to speed on all his strokes, then he could move over to the team when ready.

TOLL isn't bad, but it's very expensive.

DP - Which group at TOLL is suitable for this situation? They told me 11 was "too old" to start club swimming, so... yeah.

Yeah. People are kind of missing the point here by suggesting RMSC and TOLL. I get that they are “better” but not at all for OP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:All the clubs, including RMSC have lower level clubs. The county has a stroke and turn and I'm forgetting the name of the class but another pre-team class. City of Rockville has classes too.

My ten year old couldn’t get into the lower RMSC groups with three strokes, so….. no.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Tollefson is another option. They could get him up to speed on all his strokes, then he could move over to the team when ready.

TOLL isn't bad, but it's very expensive.

DP - Which group at TOLL is suitable for this situation? They told me 11 was "too old" to start club swimming, so... yeah.

Yeah. People are kind of missing the point here by suggesting RMSC and TOLL. I get that they are “better” but not at all for OP.

I disagree. OP's kid could start at Toll doing stroke and turn to learn butterfly, then move over to the team. They are expensive but usually have spots. OP kid isn't going to be doing any club team if he isn't legal in all 4 strokes. He will just be doing stroke and turn.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I second Tiburones. You can do High School prep and do meets if you want to, or just swim practices if you don't. Coaches are good. Small club.

This is what you want, OP
https://www.gomotionapp.com/team/pvtibu/page/programs/high-school-prep1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Tollefson is another option. They could get him up to speed on all his strokes, then he could move over to the team when ready.

TOLL isn't bad, but it's very expensive.

DP - Which group at TOLL is suitable for this situation? They told me 11 was "too old" to start club swimming, so... yeah.

Yeah. People are kind of missing the point here by suggesting RMSC and TOLL. I get that they are “better” but not at all for OP.

I disagree. OP's kid could start at Toll doing stroke and turn to learn butterfly, then move over to the team. They are expensive but usually have spots. OP kid isn't going to be doing any club team if he isn't legal in all 4 strokes. He will just be doing stroke and turn.

Usually stroke and turn is fairly young kids. I don’t think OP’s son will appreciate being with 7 year olds. Correct me if I’m wrong and TOLL has older kids in stroke and turn.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Tollefson is another option. They could get him up to speed on all his strokes, then he could move over to the team when ready.

TOLL isn't bad, but it's very expensive.

DP - Which group at TOLL is suitable for this situation? They told me 11 was "too old" to start club swimming, so... yeah.

Yeah. People are kind of missing the point here by suggesting RMSC and TOLL. I get that they are “better” but not at all for OP.

I disagree. OP's kid could start at Toll doing stroke and turn to learn butterfly, then move over to the team. They are expensive but usually have spots. OP kid isn't going to be doing any club team if he isn't legal in all 4 strokes. He will just be doing stroke and turn.

Machine has a training group (Senior Green) for kids 13 & over, meeting twice per week, who need to be legal in three strokes. They're encouraged to compete, but don't have to. While not down county MoCo, but it is likely a better fit than stroke and turn, which is usually little kids. The High School Prep program at Tibu also looks like a great fit for an older kid who is legal in three strokes.

Moreover, if TOLL has the attitude that 11 is "too old" to start club swimming (for a kid who is legal in all four strokes), they're less likely overall to be a super welcoming place for a high school kid starting out with club. They're also considerably more expensive than either Tibu or Machine, neither of which are cheap.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Tollefson is another option. They could get him up to speed on all his strokes, then he could move over to the team when ready.

TOLL isn't bad, but it's very expensive.

DP - Which group at TOLL is suitable for this situation? They told me 11 was "too old" to start club swimming, so... yeah.

That's terrible.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Tollefson is another option. They could get him up to speed on all his strokes, then he could move over to the team when ready.

TOLL isn't bad, but it's very expensive.

DP - Which group at TOLL is suitable for this situation? They told me 11 was "too old" to start club swimming, so... yeah.

That's terrible.

Not a great attitude at all. To the OP - there are notable Olympic swimmers who started late in life.

Rowdy Gaines - Olympic gold medalist who began his swimming career later in life. He began swimming competitively at the age of 17, which is extremely late. Initially, he pursued soccer and basketball before realizing his talent for swimming. Gaines won three gold medals in the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics at the age of 25.

Matt Biondi - started taking swimming seriously at the age of 14, and his dedication to the sport led him to become one of the most decorated Olympic swimmers in history. Biondi earned several gold, silver, and bronze medals in the 1984, 1988, and 1992 Olympics.

Jason Lezak - known for his incredible anchor leg in the 4x100m freestyle relay at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. He started swimming at the age of ten but didn’t focus on competitive swimming until college. Despite his late start, he went on to win eight Olympic medals throughout his career.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: Not a great attitude at all. To the OP - there are notable Olympic swimmers who started late in life.

Rowdy Gaines - Olympic gold medalist who began his swimming career later in life. He began swimming competitively at the age of 17, which is extremely late. Initially, he pursued soccer and basketball before realizing his talent for swimming. Gaines won three gold medals in the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics at the age of 25.

Matt Biondi - started taking swimming seriously at the age of 14, and his dedication to the sport led him to become one of the most decorated Olympic swimmers in history. Biondi earned several gold, silver, and bronze medals in the 1984, 1988, and 1992 Olympics.

Jason Lezak - known for his incredible anchor leg in the 4x100m freestyle relay at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. He started swimming at the age of ten but didn’t focus on competitive swimming until college. Despite his late start, he went on to win eight Olympic medals throughout his career.

I'm old enough to remember Rowdy Gaines and the 84 Olympics! I'll pass this on to DC. Thanks!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Tollefson is another option. They could get him up to speed on all his strokes, then he could move over to the team when ready.

TOLL isn't bad, but it's very expensive.

DP - Which group at TOLL is suitable for this situation? They told me 11 was "too old" to start club swimming, so... yeah.

That's terrible.

Not a great attitude at all. To the OP - there are notable Olympic swimmers who started late in life.

Rowdy Gaines - Olympic gold medalist who began his swimming career later in life. He began swimming competitively at the age of 17, which is extremely late. Initially, he pursued soccer and basketball before realizing his talent for swimming. Gaines won three gold medals in the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics at the age of 25.

Matt Biondi - started taking swimming seriously at the age of 14, and his dedication to the sport led him to become one of the most decorated Olympic swimmers in history. Biondi earned several gold, silver, and bronze medals in the 1984, 1988, and 1992 Olympics.

Jason Lezak - known for his incredible anchor leg in the 4x100m freestyle relay at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. He started swimming at the age of ten but didn’t focus on competitive swimming until college. Despite his late start, he went on to win eight Olympic medals throughout his career.

These guys were all incredible athletes. Lezak, for example, started swimming early and was a standout by 10, but he choose to be a multi-sport athlete in high school. That's not the same thing as starting late.

[Anonymous]

Lezak bio: https://www.allamericanspeakers.com/celebritytalentbios/Jason+Lezak/10287

-- Began swimming at age 5
-- Played high school basketball and became an All-American in water polo

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:All the clubs, including RMSC have lower level clubs. The county has a stroke and turn and I'm forgetting the name of the class but another pre-team class. City of Rockville has classes too.

My ten year old couldn’t get into the lower RMSC groups with three strokes, so….. no.

Generally you need four strokes but the bigger issue is space. It's easiest to get in at 6-7, there are very few spots to go to a 10 year old and not one that is not swimming well at 4 stokes. You're best bet is to take the stroke and turn and other classes.