11.5 year old boy swimming team advise (falls church VA)

[Anonymous]

What doesn’t your son like about meets? There could be different approaches depending on the reason or reasons.

[Anonymous]

OP here. Thanks everyone. I think my son swims beautifully but his personality is not very competative. He tried baseball, basket ball and soccer when he was young and he did not like them at all. He likes individual sports no confrontation.
Cost wise, I realize my daughter's dancing costs me more than 10k a year and am ready to upgrade my son's swimming club (to feel fair). I think it is worthy to give a try for at least one year and see what happens. That is why I am struggle with different clubs and programs.

[Anonymous]

Winter meets he said cold. and He is not very social so maybe feels alone in big meets.
Summer meets he is fine but sometimes he complains too many...

I hope he can see his own improvement and feel motivated. or make some swimming buddies, and feel belonging and contributing to a team.

Anonymous wrote:What doesn’t your son like about meets? There could be different approaches depending on the reason or reasons.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Winter meets he said cold. and He is not very social so maybe feels alone in big meets.
Summer meets he is fine but sometimes he complains too many...

I hope he can see his own improvement and feel motivated. or make some swimming buddies, and feel belonging and contributing to a team.

Anonymous wrote:What doesn’t your son like about meets? There could be different approaches depending on the reason or reasons.

Based on your reasons: he is not social, complains about summer meets sometimes (which are short), I don’t see how he will like meets going onward.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Thanks everyone. I think my son swims beautifully but his personality is not very competative. He tried baseball, basket ball and soccer when he was young and he did not like them at all. He likes individual sports no confrontation.
Cost wise, I realize my daughter's dancing costs me more than 10k a year and am ready to upgrade my son's swimming club (to feel fair). I think it is worthy to give a try for at least one year and see what happens. That is why I am struggle with different clubs and programs.

Here’s the thing, you may want to “upgrade” but what you are considering an “upgrade” may not be what is most suited to what your son wants out of swimming. I would not choose NCAP for a kid who does not enjoy competition. At his age he will be in a group where pretty much every other kid is participating in meets because they actually enjoy them. We are with NCAP and plenty of kids leave around your son’s age precisely because they don’t enjoy the competition part and want something more low-key. I think Machine Gears might work because it doesn’t require competition, and Machine has programs for older kids that also aren’t as competitive. The Fish age group program also sounds like a good fit for what your son wants out of swimming.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Winter meets he said cold. and He is not very social so maybe feels alone in big meets.
Summer meets he is fine but sometimes he complains too many...

I hope he can see his own improvement and feel motivated. or make some swimming buddies, and feel belonging and contributing to a team.

Anonymous wrote:What doesn’t your son like about meets? There could be different approaches depending on the reason or reasons.

Based on your reasons: he is not social, complains about summer meets sometimes (which are short), I don’t see how he will like meets going onward.

+1, the more OP says the more I feel like she is trying to fit a square peg into a round hole.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m going to be blunt, if your kid doesn’t like meets and doesn’t plan on participating in them why are you looking to pay $3k plus per year for competitive clubs?

Why not if they like swimming. We pay and my kid may due one meet a year as they have other activities as well. Coaches are supportive.

[Anonymous]

Thank you very much for the feedback, which gives more information about other kids at this age who fit better in NCAP etc. Parents are not swimmers and this is new sports for us.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Winter meets he said cold. and He is not very social so maybe feels alone in big meets.
Summer meets he is fine but sometimes he complains too many...

I hope he can see his own improvement and feel motivated. or make some swimming buddies, and feel belonging and contributing to a team.

Anonymous wrote:What doesn’t your son like about meets? There could be different approaches depending on the reason or reasons.

Based on your reasons: he is not social, complains about summer meets sometimes (which are short), I don’t see how he will like meets going onward.

+1, the more OP says the more I feel like she is trying to fit a square peg into a round hole.

[Anonymous]

Machine's Gear programs do not require competition. Not sure on NCAPs policies for the similar level. Machine's Tysons location also has maintenance programs 1x a week and NCAP may have something similar. Agree on FISH and would definitely check out York as it is a smaller club. As PP have said, AAC is cheaper because it is subsidized by Arlington County. No other clubs that you are looking at have the subsidy so the cost will be higher (not having to pay for lane rental is a huge, huge savings).

[Anonymous]

Does your son want to keep swimming? Or is he open to exploring other sports?

I've found that MS is when lots of kids find new activities after the usual ES sports wrap up. My MSer (also in 22043) played LL through 6th grade. I thought he would continue with baseball but no. He now does Flag Football and volleyball. Another friend does golf. Others lacrosse, basketball and even squash.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m going to be blunt, if your kid doesn’t like meets and doesn’t plan on participating in them why are you looking to pay $3k plus per year for competitive clubs?

Why not if they like swimming. We pay and my kid may due one meet a year as they have other activities as well. Coaches are supportive.

For people who aren’t money conscious, sure it’s fine. Sometimes though I think people stick their kids in the pricey programs even if it’s not a fit for what their swimmer wants out of the sport just to say oh Larlo swims with (insert name of big pricey club).

[Anonymous]

Doesn’t ncap require meets? Most competitive AG programs have a meet requirement. Saint James has a rec program. Not near you but I’d look for something like that.

[Anonymous]

Yes he wants to continue swimming. He has explored some sports and does not like any aggressive and confrontation type. He played baseball for a few years but was hit badly two weeks in a row and decided to quit. Swimming three years so far. He is asking to pick up tennis again as well. Any other sports to recommend?

Anonymous wrote:Does your son want to keep swimming? Or is he open to exploring other sports?

I've found that MS is when lots of kids find new activities after the usual ES sports wrap up. My MSer (also in 22043) played LL through 6th grade. I thought he would continue with baseball but no. He now does Flag Football and volleyball. Another friend does golf. Others lacrosse, basketball and even squash.

[Anonymous]

OP again. To me, sports is much better than screen so I am willing to spend time searching for programs and asking for advises...If he does not fit in these pricy competative team, we will change.

Thank you all for listening and advising.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m going to be blunt, if your kid doesn’t like meets and doesn’t plan on participating in them why are you looking to pay $3k plus per year for competitive clubs?

Why not if they like swimming. We pay and my kid may due one meet a year as they have other activities as well. Coaches are supportive.

For people who aren’t money conscious, sure it’s fine. Sometimes though I think people stick their kids in the pricey programs even if it’s not a fit for what their swimmer wants out of the sport just to say oh Larlo swims with (insert name of big pricey club).

[Anonymous]

Why not just stay in his Arlington club?