Any predictions on divisions next year - Prince Mont

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No one cares. I wish MCSL and PMSL would just merge, or create an east and a west.

NP - I care! How many teams are in PMSL?

Not many. 23-25. Some of the teams are TINY though

Good to know, thanks! I’m all for expanding MCSL, and if the geographic division thing reduces driving time, so much the better.

I don’t think the PrinceMont teams want to be in MCSL.

+1 -- these leagues have different histories, different rules, and different feels; they should not merge

I'd love to learn more than the PMSL website (or the MCSL one, for that matter) tells about the leagues! Talk to me.

PMSL was the first racially-integrated summer swim league in this area, and it continues to be much more diverse than MCSL -- both racially and geographically (with teams from Montgomery County, PG County, Howard County, Charles County, AA County, Calvert County, and DC). In MCSL, the teams have A meets on Saturdays and B meets on Wednesdays. That means the team is divided for meets with the better swimmers at the A meets and everyone else at the B meets. PMSL only has one meet on Saturdays with everyone together. This means PMSL meets last longer, but there's not a hierarchy/division within the team as is often the case with MCSL teams. In PMSL there's not a question each week about who is going to make the A meet.

MCSL is more competitive and intense at the upper divisions with swimmers wearing tech suits to dual meets. PMSL is generally lower key with people understanding this is summer swim and the purpose is to have fun (although there are still some very fast/competitive swimmers in the league). There's also a difference in the events swum at the meets. PMSL events include 100IM and 100 free (for 15-18) but everything else is 50s. MCSL swims 100IM, 100 free, 100 breast, 100 back + 50 fly. This means non year-round swimmers can often be more competitive in PMSL because they can swim a fast 50 fly, etc.

As a long time PMSL family, this is a great explanation. I love our league and while they are some exceptional swimmers, it is pretty low key and kids (and families) are in it for the fun of it.

I’m so glad to hear this! We’re new to Adelphi pool and I’m hoping we can do swim team in a few years but definitely just in it for fun/health/personal growth.

[Anonymous]

The more I learn about MCSL the more I'm glad to have stumbled into PMSL!

We are a pretty large team and often have lots of heats of littles - but there are only minor grumbles about it. I think it's worth it to feel like a cohesive team every Saturday.

We have also been fortunate to have a couple B meets (either with MCSL or other PMSL teams) and mini meets the last few years that gives the younger and non-winter swimmers more opportunities to place.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No one cares. I wish MCSL and PMSL would just merge, or create an east and a west.

NP - I care! How many teams are in PMSL?

Not many. 23-25. Some of the teams are TINY though

Good to know, thanks! I’m all for expanding MCSL, and if the geographic division thing reduces driving time, so much the better.

I don’t think the PrinceMont teams want to be in MCSL.

+1 -- these leagues have different histories, different rules, and different feels; they should not merge

I'd love to learn more than the PMSL website (or the MCSL one, for that matter) tells about the leagues! Talk to me.

PMSL was the first racially-integrated summer swim league in this area, and it continues to be much more diverse than MCSL -- both racially and geographically (with teams from Montgomery County, PG County, Howard County, Charles County, AA County, Calvert County, and DC). In MCSL, the teams have A meets on Saturdays and B meets on Wednesdays. That means the team is divided for meets with the better swimmers at the A meets and everyone else at the B meets. PMSL only has one meet on Saturdays with everyone together. This means PMSL meets last longer, but there's not a hierarchy/division within the team as is often the case with MCSL teams. In PMSL there's not a question each week about who is going to make the A meet.

MCSL is more competitive and intense at the upper divisions with swimmers wearing tech suits to dual meets. PMSL is generally lower key with people understanding this is summer swim and the purpose is to have fun (although there are still some very fast/competitive swimmers in the league). There's also a difference in the events swum at the meets. PMSL events include 100IM and 100 free (for 15-18) but everything else is 50s. MCSL swims 100IM, 100 free, 100 breast, 100 back + 50 fly. This means non year-round swimmers can often be more competitive in PMSL because they can swim a fast 50 fly, etc.

As a long time PMSL family, this is a great explanation. I love our league and while they are some exceptional swimmers, it is pretty low key and kids (and families) are in it for the fun of it.

I’m so glad to hear this! We’re new to Adelphi pool and I’m hoping we can do swim team in a few years but definitely just in it for fun/health/personal growth.

Welcome! Look forward to you joining the Dolphin family soon

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No one cares. I wish MCSL and PMSL would just merge, or create an east and a west.

NP - I care! How many teams are in PMSL?

Not many. 23-25. Some of the teams are TINY though

Good to know, thanks! I’m all for expanding MCSL, and if the geographic division thing reduces driving time, so much the better.

I don’t think the PrinceMont teams want to be in MCSL.

+1 -- these leagues have different histories, different rules, and different feels; they should not merge

I'd love to learn more than the PMSL website (or the MCSL one, for that matter) tells about the leagues! Talk to me.

PMSL was the first racially-integrated summer swim league in this area, and it continues to be much more diverse than MCSL -- both racially and geographically (with teams from Montgomery County, PG County, Howard County, Charles County, AA County, Calvert County, and DC). In MCSL, the teams have A meets on Saturdays and B meets on Wednesdays. That means the team is divided for meets with the better swimmers at the A meets and everyone else at the B meets. PMSL only has one meet on Saturdays with everyone together. This means PMSL meets last longer, but there's not a hierarchy/division within the team as is often the case with MCSL teams. In PMSL there's not a question each week about who is going to make the A meet.

MCSL is more competitive and intense at the upper divisions with swimmers wearing tech suits to dual meets. PMSL is generally lower key with people understanding this is summer swim and the purpose is to have fun (although there are still some very fast/competitive swimmers in the league). There's also a difference in the events swum at the meets. PMSL events include 100IM and 100 free (for 15-18) but everything else is 50s. MCSL swims 100IM, 100 free, 100 breast, 100 back + 50 fly. This means non year-round swimmers can often be more competitive in PMSL because they can swim a fast 50 fly, etc.

In MCSL, do A meet swimmers get to swim B meets too?

Since B meets aren’t “MCSL” meets each team makes their own rules. Remember the main point is for kids who don’t qualify to swim saturday mornings to get a chance to either benchmark their improvement or possibly bump someone out of an A spot. Some teams allow anyone to swim something they didn’t get a time in. Some teams make you swim up an age level if you did 2 or more events etc. it’s all up to the team. But the point is most teams have a way to exclude the kids who swim a lot of A meets from getting ribbons - the idea being they get plenty from the A meets.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The more I learn about MCSL the more I'm glad to have stumbled into PMSL!

We are a pretty large team and often have lots of heats of littles - but there are only minor grumbles about it. I think it's worth it to feel like a cohesive team every Saturday.

We have also been fortunate to have a couple B meets (either with MCSL or other PMSL teams) and mini meets the last few years that gives the younger and non-winter swimmers more opportunities to place.

Same! I had no clue that it was so different elsewhere. I like that summer swim is low key and I like that they only swim 25s and 50s at the younger ages since that makes it so accessible.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No one cares. I wish MCSL and PMSL would just merge, or create an east and a west.

Nope. We enjoy being the low key summer league. We aren't interested in A/B meets, high stress, and being cutthroat competitive....

How is your league not competitive? I just took a look at your week 5 results and the 8U posted club times in all strokes. These are not kids learning to swim. These are year round club swimmers times.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No one cares. I wish MCSL and PMSL would just merge, or create an east and a west.

Nope. We enjoy being the low key summer league. We aren't interested in A/B meets, high stress, and being cutthroat competitive....

How is your league not competitive? I just took a look at your week 5 results and the 8U posted club times in all strokes. These are not kids learning to swim. These are year round club swimmers times.

In my experience, the only cutthroat division in PMSL is A.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No one cares. I wish MCSL and PMSL would just merge, or create an east and a west.

Nope. We enjoy being the low key summer league. We aren't interested in A/B meets, high stress, and being cutthroat competitive....

How is your league not competitive? I just took a look at your week 5 results and the 8U posted club times in all strokes. These are not kids learning to swim. These are year round club swimmers times.

In my experience, the only cutthroat division in PMSL is A.

Yes, and there are club swimmers in all divisions. We are in one of the lower PMSL divisions and there are always a handful of kids that club swim and post great times. But those kids are the anomaly and not the norm. You will see a 15-18y post a :55 in a 100 free next to a kid who posts a 1:55. Folks are cheering on the second kid for getting out there, trying his best, and being a great part of the team.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Cheverly will go up to A and PGP will go down to B. Not sure about other divisions.

Not sure cheverly will go up. They won season on points but will probably finish 2nd or 3rd at divisionials.

I hope not! I love the vibe of the Cheverly team and wouldn't want it to become cut throat.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Cheverly will go up to A and PGP will go down to B. Not sure about other divisions.

Not sure cheverly will go up. They won season on points but will probably finish 2nd or 3rd at divisionials.

I hope not! I love the vibe of the Cheverly team and wouldn't want it to become cut throat.

You’re definitely going up.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No one cares. I wish MCSL and PMSL would just merge, or create an east and a west.

Nope. We enjoy being the low key summer league. We aren't interested in A/B meets, high stress, and being cutthroat competitive....

How is your league not competitive? I just took a look at your week 5 results and the 8U posted club times in all strokes. These are not kids learning to swim. These are year round club swimmers times.

In my experience, the only cutthroat division in PMSL is A.

Yes, and there are club swimmers in all divisions. We are in one of the lower PMSL divisions and there are always a handful of kids that club swim and post great times. But those kids are the anomaly and not the norm. You will see a 15-18y post a :55 in a 100 free next to a kid who posts a 1:55. Folks are cheering on the second kid for getting out there, trying his best, and being a great part of the team.

+1 some really good swimmers on our team but my kids have traditionally only done summer swim and they love it.

[Anonymous]

Our team is in Division A and I don’t find it to be cutthroat, at least compared to other sports.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our team is in Division A and I don’t find it to be cutthroat, at least compared to other sports.

There’s a lot of recruiting in Division A, unlike in the lower divisions where most of the pools are membership based and can’t recruit. That’s why you see certain teams dominating year after year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Cheverly will go up to A and PGP will go down to B. Not sure about other divisions.

Not sure cheverly will go up. They won season on points but will probably finish 2nd or 3rd at divisionials.

This didn't age too well!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our team is in Division A and I don’t find it to be cutthroat, at least compared to other sports.

There’s a lot of recruiting in Division A, unlike in the lower divisions where most of the pools are membership based and can’t recruit. That’s why you see certain teams dominating year after year.

This is true in that there are several teams that recruit but it still generally doesn't feel cutthroat because the rest of us accept that a few teams are very likely to win and the rest of us just do our best!