Tollefson swim team

[Anonymous]

Any Tollefson families have feedback on the instruction and environment (i.e. do the kids have fun or is it hypercompetitive) at the team practices (specifically, L2)? DCs have done year-round competitive swimming but need better instruction on technique. Do the coaches provide good individualized feedback at practice and after meets? TIA for any input.

[Anonymous]

Why not NCAP?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why not NCAP?

OP here. We're looking for a smaller program. DCs have been in a large program now and it may not be the best fit. And, to be honest, we don't know much about NCAP but, from what I've read/heard, it may be a more intense environment than we want. Also, it seems like NCAP may be close to capacity in registration at this point.

[Anonymous]

Bringing this post back from the archives. Looking hard at Tollefson as an alternative to RMSC for my kids. Can anyone give me feedback on this program? (Stroke session, mostly) especially versus RMSC at MLK?

Thanks in advance!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Bringing this post back from the archives. Looking hard at Tollefson as an alternative to RMSC for my kids. Can anyone give me feedback on this program? (Stroke session, mostly) especially versus RMSC at MLK?

Thanks in advance!

My daughter did a few months of RMSC at MLK and hated it. She was in Junior 2 and it is almost all interval/endurance training. In the three months that she was there I saw no stroke instruction at all. They would always tell her to swim her best stroke, and she kept saying "mom, how am I supposed to get better at the others if they only let me swim one?" She went back to stroke and endurance classes at Tollefson and loved (and continues to love) it there. We are trying Team Toll this fall so we'll see how that goes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Bringing this post back from the archives. Looking hard at Tollefson as an alternative to RMSC for my kids. Can anyone give me feedback on this program? (Stroke session, mostly) especially versus RMSC at MLK?

Thanks in advance!

My daughter did a few months of RMSC at MLK and hated it. She was in Junior 2 and it is almost all interval/endurance training. In the three months that she was there I saw no stroke instruction at all. They would always tell her to swim her best stroke, and she kept saying "mom, how am I supposed to get better at the others if they only let me swim one?" She went back to stroke and endurance classes at Tollefson and loved (and continues to love) it there. We are trying Team Toll this fall so we'll see how that goes.

Thank you! That is exactly what I'm hoping to avoid. Tollefson tells me he never exceeds 6 kids per coach. That's pretty nice. Do you feel like 30 minutes is enough instruction?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Bringing this post back from the archives. Looking hard at Tollefson as an alternative to RMSC for my kids. Can anyone give me feedback on this program? (Stroke session, mostly) especially versus RMSC at MLK?

Thanks in advance!

My daughter did a few months of RMSC at MLK and hated it. She was in Junior 2 and it is almost all interval/endurance training. In the three months that she was there I saw no stroke instruction at all. They would always tell her to swim her best stroke, and she kept saying "mom, how am I supposed to get better at the others if they only let me swim one?" She went back to stroke and endurance classes at Tollefson and loved (and continues to love) it there. We are trying Team Toll this fall so we'll see how that goes.

Thank you! That is exactly what I'm hoping to avoid. Tollefson tells me he never exceeds 6 kids per coach. That's pretty nice. Do you feel like 30 minutes is enough instruction?

Absolutely. In that 30 minute time period my daughter gets quite a bit of individualized instruction. Ross is her usual coach (although he won't be this year since she is trying team) and he is walking up and down the side of the pool with every lap telling each kid to tweak this or that, raise your arm higher, twist toward the ceiling, etc. This even happens quite a bit during the endurance class (1hr). We have really come to love Tollefson. We originally switched to RMSC to try to save some cash, but it was a blessing in disguise that my daughter hated it because I feel like she is getting a whole lot more out of Tollefson. Completely worth the $, IMHO.

[Anonymous]

Thanks, PP. I talked to him today and really liked his low pressure approach. Sounds like it might be the right spot for us. By contrast, RMSC tryouts and notification process have been sloppy and confusing and stressful already, and we haven't even officially signed up yet!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thanks, PP. I talked to him today and really liked his low pressure approach. Sounds like it might be the right spot for us. By contrast, RMSC tryouts and notification process have been sloppy and confusing and stressful already, and we haven't even officially signed up yet!

No sweat!

Tollefson is super low pressure, which my daughter loves. But at the same time they will teach you excellent technique - which is what we are more interested in right now. I can't recommend it enough. Good luck!

[Anonymous]

My son started the Toll program last year. We couldn't be happier. I think they met him on his level and he improved without any stress. Only seeing happy kids at the pool and meeting Thierry parents after practice.

[Anonymous]

Also thinking about Tollefson and wondering if anyone has any current feedback.

[Anonymous]

We are also interested in the team. My child has done the stroke classes and I agree that they are generally very good. There was an instructor or two who did not seem as good though. I realize that happens anywhere but I was wondering if the coaches for the team are more consistently good.

[Anonymous]

If you are looking for a good way to get better faster through rigorous training and endurance which will push you to your limits, RMSC is the way to go. If you are looking for a long process through stroke instruction, choose TOLL. Socially, they are about equal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you are looking for a good way to get better faster through rigorous training and endurance which will push you to your limits, RMSC is the way to go. If you are looking for a long process through stroke instruction, choose TOLL. Socially, they are about equal.

RMSC doesn't do much stroke. Spend the extra money on a weekly private lesson.

[Anonymous]

RMSC does have a lot of swimming, but the stroke instruction is nonexistent. This will be our last year with RMSC. Looking for a new program now.