Any thoughts about NCAP at Georgetown vs Tollefson at Georgetown prep for 10 year old?

[Anonymous]

Our kids started with Toll at GP and eventually left to move to NCAP. Our experience was that Toll was great through about age 10. But it wasn’t enough for an 11+ swimmer who wanted to focus on swimming as their primary sport. We left in search of a step up in coaching and drills, emphasis on injury prevention (and swimming smart rather than just swimming more), and a more competitive peer set. We found all of that with NCAP. We love Dory and, despite some initial hesitation about a new coach, love Phil also. As others have said, it really depends on the child and what you’re looking for.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our kids started with Toll at GP and eventually left to move to NCAP. Our experience was that Toll was great through about age 10. But it wasn’t enough for an 11+ swimmer who wanted to focus on swimming as their primary sport. We left in search of a step up in coaching and drills, emphasis on injury prevention (and swimming smart rather than just swimming more), and a more competitive peer set. We found all of that with NCAP. We love Dory and, despite some initial hesitation about a new coach, love Phil also. As others have said, it really depends on the child and what you’re looking for.

Coach Phil and Coach Dory are great. It’s also a good group of kids in the Bronze groups, there is camaraderie, the kids like each other, and they have fun together at meets, in addition to the fact that they push each other to be better.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our kids started with Toll at GP and eventually left to move to NCAP. Our experience was that Toll was great through about age 10. But it wasn’t enough for an 11+ swimmer who wanted to focus on swimming as their primary sport. We left in search of a step up in coaching and drills, emphasis on injury prevention (and swimming smart rather than just swimming more), and a more competitive peer set. We found all of that with NCAP. We love Dory and, despite some initial hesitation about a new coach, love Phil also. As others have said, it really depends on the child and what you’re looking for.

Coach Phil and Coach Dory are great. It’s also a good group of kids in the Bronze groups, there is camaraderie, the kids like each other, and they have fun together at meets, in addition to the fact that they push each other to be better.

I could have written the above - another NCAP prep Bronze family. It's a nice group of kids, and the coaches do a great job. Worth trying. It's competitive, but not too intense at this age.

[Anonymous]

Tollefson does not turn out many competitive swimmers.
Start with that basic piece of info and see if it can still work for you.

It’s for kids who aren’t great swimmers or who focus on other sports. Not a bad program but expensive for what you get.

[Anonymous]

10-year-olds don't need dry land training

Anonymous wrote:These are very different programs- NCap is much more competitive. There is no dry land for 10 year olds at any team.

[Anonymous]

end cap is the best program out there tollefson is at the bottom of the pack

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What do you mean by different ? Is Tollefson also not competent?

Tollefson is not as competitive as NCAP. It’s a great fit though for kids who aren’t committed to swimming as their primary sport, or enjoy swimming but don’t have JO level times. It is pricey for that however. Also for what it’s worth, my 10 year old does dryland training with their NCAP site (not GP).

Ncap is equally pricey. Don’t conflate the kids with the JO times picking ncap meaning ncap is better. I think Dory is a great coach but Toll also has great programs. Both programs are very expensive and good options. NCAP very high burnout among kids who stay with them through age group swimming

[Anonymous]

NCap Prep has so many ethical issues I don’t even know where to begin

Screaming at kids, shaming them, ignoring them if they’re slow and focusing only on fast swimmers. Racist, sexist comments.

Sure they churn out fast kids but they do so by shaming- at least in 13/14 and above

I know many of Dory and Bruce’s swimmers and ex-swimmers who hate them but are too afraid to say anything or leave. The college kids who swam with them rarely come back to visit- except Ledecky of course. She’s the reason why that site is famous, but it’s not because the place is nurturing

It’s truly disturbing to hear about but I’m glad we’re elsewhere. My kid is fast but I’d never put them there.

That said I’ve heard the 11/12 coach- Kominsky (sp?) is lovely as is Stephen.

[Anonymous]

Toll parent here. There are quite a few kids joined at age 10 and made to JO and one even earned the 1st place in the MD state champ this past weekend. It worked for us. Our child continues to drop time, and I am confident we will have an AA time in 11-12 group. The program gives us flexibility to continue to do other team sports. Coaches are very responsive.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

10-year-olds don't need dry land training

Anonymous wrote:These are very different programs- NCap is much more competitive. There is no dry land for 10 year olds at any team.

Weird way to bump a year-old thread!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Dry land training for a 10YO? OMG.

Why OMG? My kids’ last swim club in ny had dryland for 8u twice a week. They learned how to stretch, meditate, mindfulness etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:NCap Prep has so many ethical issues I don’t even know where to begin

Screaming at kids, shaming them, ignoring them if they’re slow and focusing only on fast swimmers. Racist, sexist comments.

Sure they churn out fast kids but they do so by shaming- at least in 13/14 and above

I know many of Dory and Bruce’s swimmers and ex-swimmers who hate them but are too afraid to say anything or leave. The college kids who swam with them rarely come back to visit- except Ledecky of course. She’s the reason why that site is famous, but it’s not because the place is nurturing

It’s truly disturbing to hear about but I’m glad we’re elsewhere. My kid is fast but I’d never put them there.

That said I’ve heard the 11/12 coach- Kominsky (sp?) is lovely as is Stephen.

I’ve heard the same about NCAP. It’s quit intense.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Dry land training for a 10YO? OMG.

Why OMG? My kids’ last swim club in ny had dryland for 8u twice a week. They learned how to stretch, meditate, mindfulness etc.

It is a complete waste of time for 8u - time better spent for them at that age would be in the pool.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Dry land training for a 10YO? OMG.

Why OMG? My kids’ last swim club in ny had dryland for 8u twice a week. They learned how to stretch, meditate, mindfulness etc.

It is a complete waste of time for 8u - time better spent for them at that age would be in the pool.

I find people so insular here. Just because it’s not done the way you are accustomed doesn’t make it a complete waste of time. My kid had dryland at her club as an 8u swimmer, and families did not think it was a complete waste of time. They did core work, yoga and stretching. I would see the kids doing yoga before the meets. I bet that 20-30 years ago, dryland for 11/12 year olds was considered a complete waste of time by many, and now it is more standard.

[Anonymous]

ASA is a great program. They are holding tryouts on June 17 and 24. Go to their website for details and signups.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:ASA is a great program. They are holding tryouts on June 17 and 24. Go to their website for details and signups.

We've heard the same. There is definitely an informal ranking among swim clubs. Toll isn't at the top. Coaching quality varies significantly by group at Toll.