honestly the best swimmers and even divers that go to private are not recruited and their priority coaches/training are club. of course they compete in the meets bc it’s fun and the schools get bragging rights for their championship meet performances.
So in a nutshell no the coaches do not recruit |
go look it’s a thing |
Volleyball is getting huge. It is second only to outdoor track and field in the number of girls participating on high school teams https://www.nfhs.org/media/7213111/2023-24-nfhs-participation-survey-full.pdf. Almost 3.5 times the number of girls participate in HS volleyball than swimming/diving. If a private school were recruiting for a particular sport, wouldn't it make sense to be focused on sports with the highest demand? |
In my experience, the privates don't recruit, but the coaches do know who is coming to the open houses. Since swim times are available and are quantifiable, the coaches know who the good swimmers are in a class. So, they don't recruit, but they do reach out once the kid is interested. My DD met the swim coach when she did her shadow day for the private she ended up attending. |
Most may not have pools, but many have swim teams. |
It can be a bonus at schools known for swimming -- Stoneridge, Holton, Gonzaga, Prep. |
Our experience as well. My daughter was partnered with swimmers on shadow days as well. |
Neither Holton or SR overtly recruit for swimming. If you mention in admissions and are already looking, it can help if your kid is really good. The reason that people gravitate to these schools for swimming is that both schools offer helpful schedules. Holton offers early release/modified schedules. This meant that one trimester my DD didn’t get into her preferred trimester art class, but she’s always been able to get into her major classes even with an early out schedule. The schedule also works as the classes are shorter than some other block schedule schools, so she still feels like she has time to socialize, see teachers, etc. despite her training schedule. (She’s not a swimmer but does another sport.) |
Interesting to note the drastic difference between the U.S. and our major swimming rival Australia. Private school competitions and leagues are a huge part of their swimming system down under. Almost all the best private schools have an Olympic size pool and they recruit hard, award scholarships to the best swimmers available. For example, two of the Australia's best female swimmers Titmus and O'Callaghn both received a full ride at St. Peters Lutheran College, one of the best private schools in Brisbane area, and have trained and still training at the school based swim club called St Peters Western, by far the best swim club in the country if not the world in terms of overall success in major competitions in all levels. |
Recruiting and offering money to swim is absolutely a thing at one high school I’m aware of in MD. I know of several male and female swimmers that were actively recruited (starting in 6/7th grade) and who also received money to attend the school. |
what school? approximately what years did this happen? thanks, in case my Maryland swimmer gets real fast |
I have a hard time believing this bc there is not a single coed MD (MD/DMV I should say, bc McDonough is the exception) school where both teams are “good”. Swimming is not a priority sport. - parent of great swimmer, didn’t hear from a single school until swimmer was in admissions system, $0 |
It’s happening right now at Archbishop Spalding. There are both boys and girls that were recruited to swim that are receiving money from the school. Both teams are in MIAA/IAAM Division A but the girls team is much stronger. |
Prep definitely gives money for swimming. During their dominant run in the 2010s their team was built around Asian kids and Jewish kids. People their for the swimming scholarships not the “Jesuit education” |
Yep!!!!!! |