Most clubs seem to use 12 as a cutoff mark and then there are different programs for 13 and over. We are with NCAP and there is a HS group that is geared toward the kids that like swim but have other activities or are not quite good enough for the more intense HS groups, they don’t have to practice more than 3x a week. |
This is how RMSC is that you go to seniors at age 13. You can do 2-3 days a week but it's usually expected you do 4+ days a week at that age, preferably 5-6. Private clubs may be more flexible. Its also much harder to get into RMSC as a senior but I know several kids who have done it. |
I don't know many clubs with 2-3 days/week once a kid is 12 or 13. It usually becomes a 5-6 day/2 hours a week practice scenario. |
Puberty is not always kind to girls who are strong and fast early. They often have a build that starts to work against them as they gain body fat and curves. It’s easy for them to swim faster than the girls who are taller and scrawnier pre-puberty, but things change as the scrawny girls put on just the right amount of mass to long and lean. For boys it can be the kid who is big or muscular for their age who dominates initially, but then stops growing early. Tall and skinny with a good work ethic and good feel for the water is probably the most likely to have success after puberty. |
What schedule is typical in RMSC seniors? Everyone I know in the group is a 2-3d swimmer. |
http://pvswim.org/pvs_club.htm Here is the list of all the PVS clubs. This covers the metro region. If you are located somewhere where you are willing to go further out Maryland Swimming should have a similar list. PVS (Potomac Valley Swimming), Maryland Swimming, and Virginia Swimming are "LSCs" which is the competitive region in which clubs belong under the USA Swimming umbrella. Some of the practice allowances will be coach to coach also. My kids were able to be in the top group at RMSC, playing a second sport through 8th grade. A lot of weeks this meant 4 practices rather than 5 which was the general expectation. Their coach's philosophy was "if that's what it takes to keep them swimming this year, great" and the expectation was they would decide for 9th grade. |
the schedules are on the RMSC website and varies by location. Ours is 3 afternoons a week, 2-3 mornings a week (we only do weekend mornings). It's rare to have 2-3 days, usually at least 4. We'd do more if it wasn't so early and other activities. |
Agree coach to coach perspective changes things. I have known coaches that allow kids to miss practice for certain sports (soccer, track, etc) but not for other activities. So it depends on the club and the coaches. I also think you need to just try club and see if your kid even likes it. |
The basic senior group (not an advanced seniors group) description says 3 practices per week. |
Interesting. I know the schedule, but every kid I know in the group is in that group because they want just enough swimming to keep it up for HS or summer or because they enjoy it, but have another sport. When they have time they may do extra, but the "typical" schedule of those I know is 2-3d per week, so I was wondering if that is just who I know. It sounds like even though the minimum is 2d, kids feel pressure to attend more? That is not what I understood as the philosophy/purpose of the group. |
York has plenty of 2-3 days a week option for kids who are 9 and up and 11 and up. |
There are actually a lot of clubs that have 13 and over options that is not 5-6 days week. What the poster asking about this is not going to find though is one of the advanced training groups letting a kid practice only 2-3 times a week. |
Interesting - thanks. DD (11) is going to try out this summer for RMSC and probably also Machine. She’s got absurdly long limbs and is tall but hasn’t yet hit her pre-puberty growth spurt, so I’m curious to see how it plays out. DH and I are on the more muscle-y side, so I’m not sure where these genes are coming from! |
PAC is fine with 2-3 days/week for older kids. Lots of kids who swim for fun and aren't uber competitive. Perfect environment for my kid who likes to swim,but doesn't want to eat/sleep/breathe it. He is never going to be recruited, might swim on a college club team for fun, and enjoys the social/fitness aspects of it. |
Are you talking a private group or RMSC? Most RMSC do 4-5 days a week. We get zero pressure but its an expectation and if your child is only doing the minimum it would be very very hard to get into RMSC Seniors at that age except pure luck of no one else applying. |