Any predictions on divisions next year - Prince Mont

[Anonymous]

Hoping PGP goes down -likely- I remember when we were in like H and it was great. Swimming for fun, not to shave milliseconds of a time.

[Anonymous]

MVP swim team is four times the cost of ours. How do we get recruited for free!?

[Anonymous]

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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!

What does recruiting look like for summer swim?

There are two teams in Division A (see above - one just moved up to A) that aren't part of a community pool. They rent pool space for summer swim, so basically can recruit kids from anywhere (who are willing to drive for meets or practice).

MVP does not recruit. It's true that there are no geographical restrictions, but 95% of the kids live in Upper NW DC, close to our pool. There are a few kids who travel to our team, but it's not because they were "recruited." Some have a longstanding relationship with our head coach, others come because they have friends on our team. But there's no recruiting going on. The biggest advantage MVP has is that there's very little competition for summer swim teams in the area.

MVP tried to recruit my kid at divisionals last year.

The MVP coach did not try to recruit your kid at Divisionals last year.

Correct. It was not the coach. An MVP parent rep did. It was very weird and my kid was uncomfortable.

And for all of the people saying “MVP doesn’t recruit” - yes they do. Kids in club swim tell other kids they should come swim for MVP. Parents tell other parents they should come swim for MVP. And MVP can take them, because they’re not a membership pool.

Agree that the coach is great.

Saying to friends you should join MVP is not exactly recruiting, its more like hey our team is fun, summer swim is fun, swim with us so we can hang out!

My kid is only 2nd year in but he really respects the coach and big part of reason he gets up for 7:00 swims and will return next summer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hoping PGP goes down -likely- I remember when we were in like H and it was great. Swimming for fun, not to shave milliseconds of a time.

The higher you go, the less fun it is.

[Anonymous]

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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!

What does recruiting look like for summer swim?

There are two teams in Division A (see above - one just moved up to A) that aren't part of a community pool. They rent pool space for summer swim, so basically can recruit kids from anywhere (who are willing to drive for meets or practice).

MVP does not recruit. It's true that there are no geographical restrictions, but 95% of the kids live in Upper NW DC, close to our pool. There are a few kids who travel to our team, but it's not because they were "recruited." Some have a longstanding relationship with our head coach, others come because they have friends on our team. But there's no recruiting going on. The biggest advantage MVP has is that there's very little competition for summer swim teams in the area.

MVP tried to recruit my kid at divisionals last year.

The MVP coach did not try to recruit your kid at Divisionals last year.

Correct. It was not the coach. An MVP parent rep did. It was very weird and my kid was uncomfortable.

And for all of the people saying “MVP doesn’t recruit” - yes they do. Kids in club swim tell other kids they should come swim for MVP. Parents tell other parents they should come swim for MVP. And MVP can take them, because they’re not a membership pool.

Agree that the coach is great.

Saying to friends you should join MVP is not exactly recruiting, its more like hey our team is fun, summer swim is fun, swim with us so we can hang out!

My kid is only 2nd year in but he really respects the coach and big part of reason he gets up for 7:00 swims and will return next summer.

I don't know why MVP folks are resisting this so much. The fact is that some teams, like MVP and Kingfish, can have new club swimmers join every year simply by asking them to or because the club swimmer is looking for a place to land. Most pools can't do that, because they are constrained by membership rules.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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!

What does recruiting look like for summer swim?

There are two teams in Division A (see above - one just moved up to A) that aren't part of a community pool. They rent pool space for summer swim, so basically can recruit kids from anywhere (who are willing to drive for meets or practice).

MVP does not recruit. It's true that there are no geographical restrictions, but 95% of the kids live in Upper NW DC, close to our pool. There are a few kids who travel to our team, but it's not because they were "recruited." Some have a longstanding relationship with our head coach, others come because they have friends on our team. But there's no recruiting going on. The biggest advantage MVP has is that there's very little competition for summer swim teams in the area.

MVP tried to recruit my kid at divisionals last year.

The MVP coach did not try to recruit your kid at Divisionals last year.

Correct. It was not the coach. An MVP parent rep did. It was very weird and my kid was uncomfortable.

And for all of the people saying “MVP doesn’t recruit” - yes they do. Kids in club swim tell other kids they should come swim for MVP. Parents tell other parents they should come swim for MVP. And MVP can take them, because they’re not a membership pool.

Agree that the coach is great.

Saying to friends you should join MVP is not exactly recruiting, its more like hey our team is fun, summer swim is fun, swim with us so we can hang out!

My kid is only 2nd year in but he really respects the coach and big part of reason he gets up for 7:00 swims and will return next summer.

I don't know why MVP folks are resisting this so much. The fact is that some teams, like MVP and Kingfish, can have new club swimmers join every year simply by asking them to or because the club swimmer is looking for a place to land. Most pools can't do that, because they are constrained by membership rules.

Agree completely. It's not a high pressure college recruiting approach but it is an effort to get "good" swimmers to join in a way that's different from membership based pools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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!

What does recruiting look like for summer swim?

There are two teams in Division A (see above - one just moved up to A) that aren't part of a community pool. They rent pool space for summer swim, so basically can recruit kids from anywhere (who are willing to drive for meets or practice).

MVP does not recruit. It's true that there are no geographical restrictions, but 95% of the kids live in Upper NW DC, close to our pool. There are a few kids who travel to our team, but it's not because they were "recruited." Some have a longstanding relationship with our head coach, others come because they have friends on our team. But there's no recruiting going on. The biggest advantage MVP has is that there's very little competition for summer swim teams in the area.

MVP tried to recruit my kid at divisionals last year.

The MVP coach did not try to recruit your kid at Divisionals last year.

Correct. It was not the coach. An MVP parent rep did. It was very weird and my kid was uncomfortable.

And for all of the people saying “MVP doesn’t recruit” - yes they do. Kids in club swim tell other kids they should come swim for MVP. Parents tell other parents they should come swim for MVP. And MVP can take them, because they’re not a membership pool.

Agree that the coach is great.

Saying to friends you should join MVP is not exactly recruiting, its more like hey our team is fun, summer swim is fun, swim with us so we can hang out!

My kid is only 2nd year in but he really respects the coach and big part of reason he gets up for 7:00 swims and will return next summer.

I don't know why MVP folks are resisting this so much. The fact is that some teams, like MVP and Kingfish, can have new club swimmers join every year simply by asking them to or because the club swimmer is looking for a place to land. Most pools can't do that, because they are constrained by membership rules.

We're resisting because you dont know what you're talking about. The vast majority of club swimmers on MVP have been on the team since they were very young. There were a few who came over post-COVID from Takoma Park because they didn't have a team for a couple of years. I can literally think of one MVP swimmer who is a club swimmer who joined later and had previously been on a different swim team. And, trust me, I know a lot more about MVP than you do.

[Anonymous]

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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....

I would at least be interested in B meets. It takes a special kid to go to practice early in the morning every day for 7 weeks to be fine finishing out of the top 10 and only getting to swim back and free time and time again.

I guess my kids are pretty special! They love summer swim and, honestly, only ever get participation ribbons. They are much better swimmers now than they were in May and we've really never had trouble getting them up for 7am practice. Between the concessions and hanging out with their friends, they have had a great time without worrying about being "good enough" to be with their better teammates.

[Anonymous]

our PMSL team has B meets, but they are with non-PMSL teams. Sometimes the top swimmers don't swim, and kids either swim strokes they'll be doing that Saturday for practice, or if they typically do really well at those, they'll swim the stroke(s) they don't normally swim.

[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 well. Cheverly won divisionals by 70 points.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hoping PGP goes down -likely- I remember when we were in like H and it was great. Swimming for fun, not to shave milliseconds of a time.

The higher you go, the less fun it is.

What makes it more fun? Kids are discouraged that they're likely to go down, so I'm looking for upsides so they don't completely lose interest. I can't imagine the coaching would be all that different.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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!

What does recruiting look like for summer swim?

There are two teams in Division A (see above - one just moved up to A) that aren't part of a community pool. They rent pool space for summer swim, so basically can recruit kids from anywhere (who are willing to drive for meets or practice).

MVP does not recruit. It's true that there are no geographical restrictions, but 95% of the kids live in Upper NW DC, close to our pool. There are a few kids who travel to our team, but it's not because they were "recruited." Some have a longstanding relationship with our head coach, others come because they have friends on our team. But there's no recruiting going on. The biggest advantage MVP has is that there's very little competition for summer swim teams in the area.

MVP tried to recruit my kid at divisionals last year.

The MVP coach did not try to recruit your kid at Divisionals last year.

Correct. It was not the coach. An MVP parent rep did. It was very weird and my kid was uncomfortable.

And for all of the people saying “MVP doesn’t recruit” - yes they do. Kids in club swim tell other kids they should come swim for MVP. Parents tell other parents they should come swim for MVP. And MVP can take them, because they’re not a membership pool.

Agree that the coach is great.

Saying to friends you should join MVP is not exactly recruiting, its more like hey our team is fun, summer swim is fun, swim with us so we can hang out!

My kid is only 2nd year in but he really respects the coach and big part of reason he gets up for 7:00 swims and will return next summer.

I don't know why MVP folks are resisting this so much. The fact is that some teams, like MVP and Kingfish, can have new club swimmers join every year simply by asking them to or because the club swimmer is looking for a place to land. Most pools can't do that, because they are constrained by membership rules.

We're resisting because you dont know what you're talking about. The vast majority of club swimmers on MVP have been on the team since they were very young. There were a few who came over post-COVID from Takoma Park because they didn't have a team for a couple of years. I can literally think of one MVP swimmer who is a club swimmer who joined later and had previously been on a different swim team. And, trust me, I know a lot more about MVP than you do.

You’re no different than the other open membership clubs. Just own it.

[Anonymous]

I'm a Cheverly parent and don't particularly want our team to move up, unless there's a plan for supporting the other 170 kids on the team that aren't in the top 20, including B meets and more than one and maybe two events a week if you are lucky. Our team has some very talented kids and they are centered around 8-10 year round swim families. That probably is not a unique issue. Can team divide into divisional squads?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm a Cheverly parent and don't particularly want our team to move up, unless there's a plan for supporting the other 170 kids on the team that aren't in the top 20, including B meets and more than one and maybe two events a week if you are lucky. Our team has some very talented kids and they are centered around 8-10 year round swim families. That probably is not a unique issue. Can team divide into divisional squads?

+1
But it is what it is. I guess parents could get move involved and help organize more B meets but that seems unlikely. People always want more things but don't step up to make them happen.
The overall membership will not be on board with having more swim practices unless they are super early so the horde will all have to practice together.
My kid is in one of the older age categories and always swim 3 events at meets (and if often last) but I feel for the younger kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm a Cheverly parent and don't particularly want our team to move up, unless there's a plan for supporting the other 170 kids on the team that aren't in the top 20, including B meets and more than one and maybe two events a week if you are lucky. Our team has some very talented kids and they are centered around 8-10 year round swim families. That probably is not a unique issue. Can team divide into divisional squads?

They're talented because, as you note, they're swimming club swim. Have your kid swim club!

The majority of those 8-10 year round swim families are doing a ton of work for the team week after week. If you want more B meets, which I support, please volunteer to organize them. It will take a lot of coordination behind the scenes to get that set up for next year.