2026 MCSL Division Seedings

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are the seedings out today?

Some parents are just obsessed and monitor all the kids, which is creepy and take the fun out of swimming.

I think a lot of parents actually want to move down divisions where it will be more fun.

It's not much more fun in the lower divisions. There are two types of parents, those who have club swimmers that are pushed to win (so that the team wins A meets), and those whose kids swim only during the summer and don't care about winning meets. This creates a bit of a tension and can tear a lower division team apart.

Not true. Over the years, we've been in B through F and and I would say the best in terms of being in the fun but still competitive sweetspot is D and E. Once you are in the top 3 divisions, it's mostly going to be year round swimmers swimming A meets.

I would argue that C is fun too. Our team’s division (which has varied over the years) really hasn’t impacted what % of non-club kids make A meets. We have some club kids who are very strong but barely make A meets because their cohort just happens to be extremely strong, and other age groups where many non-club kids are making A meets.

We are in C this year and I disagree. We were in lower divisions in the past and it was a lot more fun. This year is toxic with the competition and there are very few non-club kids making A meets other than in age groups where we don't have enough swimmers to fill lanes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are the seedings out today?

Some parents are just obsessed and monitor all the kids, which is creepy and take the fun out of swimming.

I think a lot of parents actually want to move down divisions where it will be more fun.

It's not much more fun in the lower divisions. There are two types of parents, those who have club swimmers that are pushed to win (so that the team wins A meets), and those whose kids swim only during the summer and don't care about winning meets. This creates a bit of a tension and can tear a lower division team apart.

Not true. Over the years, we've been in B through F and and I would say the best in terms of being in the fun but still competitive sweetspot is D and E. Once you are in the top 3 divisions, it's mostly going to be year round swimmers swimming A meets.

I would argue that C is fun too. Our team’s division (which has varied over the years) really hasn’t impacted what % of non-club kids make A meets. We have some club kids who are very strong but barely make A meets because their cohort just happens to be extremely strong, and other age groups where many non-club kids are making A meets.

We are in C this year and I disagree. We were in lower divisions in the past and it was a lot more fun. This year is toxic with the competition and there are very few non-club kids making A meets other than in age groups where we don't have enough swimmers to fill lanes.

Lower divisions can be fun at B meets. At A meets, there is still pressure to win, and the few club kids who swim are often expected to rack up most of the points. That isn't very much fun for them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are the seedings out today?

Some parents are just obsessed and monitor all the kids, which is creepy and take the fun out of swimming.

I think a lot of parents actually want to move down divisions where it will be more fun.

It's not much more fun in the lower divisions. There are two types of parents, those who have club swimmers that are pushed to win (so that the team wins A meets), and those whose kids swim only during the summer and don't care about winning meets. This creates a bit of a tension and can tear a lower division team apart.

Not true. Over the years, we've been in B through F and and I would say the best in terms of being in the fun but still competitive sweetspot is D and E. Once you are in the top 3 divisions, it's mostly going to be year round swimmers swimming A meets.

I would argue that C is fun too. Our team’s division (which has varied over the years) really hasn’t impacted what % of non-club kids make A meets. We have some club kids who are very strong but barely make A meets because their cohort just happens to be extremely strong, and other age groups where many non-club kids are making A meets.

We are in C this year and I disagree. We were in lower divisions in the past and it was a lot more fun. This year is toxic with the competition and there are very few non-club kids making A meets other than in age groups where we don't have enough swimmers to fill lanes.

Lower divisions can be fun at B meets. At A meets, there is still pressure to win, and the few club kids who swim are often expected to rack up most of the points. That isn't very much fun for them.

That’s a great point. We are an upper-division team, and the pressure on any one kid at A meets is minimal because we have so many strong swimmers in every age group.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are the seedings out today?

Some parents are just obsessed and monitor all the kids, which is creepy and take the fun out of swimming.

I think a lot of parents actually want to move down divisions where it will be more fun.

It's not much more fun in the lower divisions. There are two types of parents, those who have club swimmers that are pushed to win (so that the team wins A meets), and those whose kids swim only during the summer and don't care about winning meets. This creates a bit of a tension and can tear a lower division team apart.

Not true. Over the years, we've been in B through F and and I would say the best in terms of being in the fun but still competitive sweetspot is D and E. Once you are in the top 3 divisions, it's mostly going to be year round swimmers swimming A meets.

I would argue that C is fun too. Our team’s division (which has varied over the years) really hasn’t impacted what % of non-club kids make A meets. We have some club kids who are very strong but barely make A meets because their cohort just happens to be extremely strong, and other age groups where many non-club kids are making A meets.

We are in C this year and I disagree. We were in lower divisions in the past and it was a lot more fun. This year is toxic with the competition and there are very few non-club kids making A meets other than in age groups where we don't have enough swimmers to fill lanes.

Lower divisions can be fun at B meets. At A meets, there is still pressure to win, and the few club kids who swim are often expected to rack up most of the points. That isn't very much fun for them.

Our club swimmers don't go to practices and dominate the meets. It must be fun for them or why are they doing it? If its not fun, drop out or do less and let others get to swim A meets. There should be a requirement to acutally participate in the team and do practices vs. just show up for A meets.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Being in Division A sounds like a miserable Summer, but that’s just me.

*nods grimly*

Being in division A is purely ruined by Rockville. Why would anyone want to swim against them there is no fun

It's really not as bad as you might think. What I hear from the families of the other division A swimmers is that competing against the Rays is a spiritual experience. Some even find inspiration knowing they breathe the same air as the Rays.

I've also heard that when Rays are in the pool with other teams, the water just feels a little different.

Many of the families are likely RMSC families, as it's convenient and affordable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are the seedings out today?

Some parents are just obsessed and monitor all the kids, which is creepy and take the fun out of swimming.

I think a lot of parents actually want to move down divisions where it will be more fun.

It's not much more fun in the lower divisions. There are two types of parents, those who have club swimmers that are pushed to win (so that the team wins A meets), and those whose kids swim only during the summer and don't care about winning meets. This creates a bit of a tension and can tear a lower division team apart.

Not true. Over the years, we've been in B through F and and I would say the best in terms of being in the fun but still competitive sweetspot is D and E. Once you are in the top 3 divisions, it's mostly going to be year round swimmers swimming A meets.

I would argue that C is fun too. Our team’s division (which has varied over the years) really hasn’t impacted what % of non-club kids make A meets. We have some club kids who are very strong but barely make A meets because their cohort just happens to be extremely strong, and other age groups where many non-club kids are making A meets.

We are in C this year and I disagree. We were in lower divisions in the past and it was a lot more fun. This year is toxic with the competition and there are very few non-club kids making A meets other than in age groups where we don't have enough swimmers to fill lanes.

Lower divisions can be fun at B meets. At A meets, there is still pressure to win, and the few club kids who swim are often expected to rack up most of the points. That isn't very much fun for them.

Our club swimmers don't go to practices and dominate the meets. It must be fun for them or why are they doing it? If its not fun, drop out or do less and let others get to swim A meets. There should be a requirement to acutally participate in the team and do practices vs. just show up for A meets.

The club swimmers are doing their club practices at the same time, or right before, the summer team practices. You try to spending 3.5 hours swimming 5 days straight and see how that goes for you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Being in Division A sounds like a miserable Summer, but that’s just me.

*nods grimly*

Being in division A is purely ruined by Rockville. Why would anyone want to swim against them there is no fun

It's really not as bad as you might think. What I hear from the families of the other division A swimmers is that competing against the Rays is a spiritual experience. Some even find inspiration knowing they breathe the same air as the Rays.

I've also heard that when Rays are in the pool with other teams, the water just feels a little different.

Many of the families are likely RMSC families, as it's convenient and affordable.

Yup, they are

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are the seedings out today?

Some parents are just obsessed and monitor all the kids, which is creepy and take the fun out of swimming.

I think a lot of parents actually want to move down divisions where it will be more fun.

It's not much more fun in the lower divisions. There are two types of parents, those who have club swimmers that are pushed to win (so that the team wins A meets), and those whose kids swim only during the summer and don't care about winning meets. This creates a bit of a tension and can tear a lower division team apart.

Not true. Over the years, we've been in B through F and and I would say the best in terms of being in the fun but still competitive sweetspot is D and E. Once you are in the top 3 divisions, it's mostly going to be year round swimmers swimming A meets.

I would argue that C is fun too. Our team’s division (which has varied over the years) really hasn’t impacted what % of non-club kids make A meets. We have some club kids who are very strong but barely make A meets because their cohort just happens to be extremely strong, and other age groups where many non-club kids are making A meets.

We are in C this year and I disagree. We were in lower divisions in the past and it was a lot more fun. This year is toxic with the competition and there are very few non-club kids making A meets other than in age groups where we don't have enough swimmers to fill lanes.

Lower divisions can be fun at B meets. At A meets, there is still pressure to win, and the few club kids who swim are often expected to rack up most of the points. That isn't very much fun for them.

Our club swimmers don't go to practices and dominate the meets. It must be fun for them or why are they doing it? If its not fun, drop out or do less and let others get to swim A meets. There should be a requirement to acutally participate in the team and do practices vs. just show up for A meets.

The club swimmers are doing their club practices at the same time, or right before, the summer team practices. You try to spending 3.5 hours swimming 5 days straight and see how that goes for you.

maybe club coaches would be ok with substituting some summer league practices for club practices, lmao

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are the seedings out today?

Some parents are just obsessed and monitor all the kids, which is creepy and take the fun out of swimming.

I think a lot of parents actually want to move down divisions where it will be more fun.

It's not much more fun in the lower divisions. There are two types of parents, those who have club swimmers that are pushed to win (so that the team wins A meets), and those whose kids swim only during the summer and don't care about winning meets. This creates a bit of a tension and can tear a lower division team apart.

Not true. Over the years, we've been in B through F and and I would say the best in terms of being in the fun but still competitive sweetspot is D and E. Once you are in the top 3 divisions, it's mostly going to be year round swimmers swimming A meets.

I would argue that C is fun too. Our team’s division (which has varied over the years) really hasn’t impacted what % of non-club kids make A meets. We have some club kids who are very strong but barely make A meets because their cohort just happens to be extremely strong, and other age groups where many non-club kids are making A meets.

We are in C this year and I disagree. We were in lower divisions in the past and it was a lot more fun. This year is toxic with the competition and there are very few non-club kids making A meets other than in age groups where we don't have enough swimmers to fill lanes.

Lower divisions can be fun at B meets. At A meets, there is still pressure to win, and the few club kids who swim are often expected to rack up most of the points. That isn't very much fun for them.

Our club swimmers don't go to practices and dominate the meets. It must be fun for them or why are they doing it? If its not fun, drop out or do less and let others get to swim A meets. There should be a requirement to acutally participate in the team and do practices vs. just show up for A meets.

There are odd pressures on _younger_ club swimmers during the summer (the older ones have clear expectations on them and have learned how to deal with them). Younger club swimmers sometimes feel quite torn between the fun and friends of summer team and the explicit requirements coming from the club. My kid does morning practice with the summer team and evenings with the club. The meets are closely packed, with PVS 12u/14u meets sometimes narrowly avoiding summer ones (at the older ages they just let the conflicts fall where they may), so kids try to do both and really get tired. The club doesn't have much regard for the summer operation, while the summer team tries to welcome the kids whenever they're not at club, but they miss out on stuff all the same.

It's not like this is some kind of massive burden (it's the shape of the sport, and the sport is a choice, always) - it's just that seeing the club swimmers only jumping in for the A meets doesn't capture the whole picture. These middle years (mid-upper AG swimming) are kind of tricky to navigate, or at least to schedule.

Even given all of that, however, I do think that part of what makes summer team a real experience is the group nature of it. I do think club swimmers should be part of summer practices and activities as much as they can be, because contributing to your team means more than just points.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are the seedings out today?

Some parents are just obsessed and monitor all the kids, which is creepy and take the fun out of swimming.

I think a lot of parents actually want to move down divisions where it will be more fun.

It's not much more fun in the lower divisions. There are two types of parents, those who have club swimmers that are pushed to win (so that the team wins A meets), and those whose kids swim only during the summer and don't care about winning meets. This creates a bit of a tension and can tear a lower division team apart.

Not true. Over the years, we've been in B through F and and I would say the best in terms of being in the fun but still competitive sweetspot is D and E. Once you are in the top 3 divisions, it's mostly going to be year round swimmers swimming A meets.

I would argue that C is fun too. Our team’s division (which has varied over the years) really hasn’t impacted what % of non-club kids make A meets. We have some club kids who are very strong but barely make A meets because their cohort just happens to be extremely strong, and other age groups where many non-club kids are making A meets.

We are in C this year and I disagree. We were in lower divisions in the past and it was a lot more fun. This year is toxic with the competition and there are very few non-club kids making A meets other than in age groups where we don't have enough swimmers to fill lanes.

Lower divisions can be fun at B meets. At A meets, there is still pressure to win, and the few club kids who swim are often expected to rack up most of the points. That isn't very much fun for them.

Our club swimmers don't go to practices and dominate the meets. It must be fun for them or why are they doing it? If its not fun, drop out or do less and let others get to swim A meets. There should be a requirement to acutally participate in the team and do practices vs. just show up for A meets.

You should talk to your rep/team leadership to see if you can get this rule in place for your team.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are the seedings out today?

Some parents are just obsessed and monitor all the kids, which is creepy and take the fun out of swimming.

I think a lot of parents actually want to move down divisions where it will be more fun.

It's not much more fun in the lower divisions. There are two types of parents, those who have club swimmers that are pushed to win (so that the team wins A meets), and those whose kids swim only during the summer and don't care about winning meets. This creates a bit of a tension and can tear a lower division team apart.

Not true. Over the years, we've been in B through F and and I would say the best in terms of being in the fun but still competitive sweetspot is D and E. Once you are in the top 3 divisions, it's mostly going to be year round swimmers swimming A meets.

I would argue that C is fun too. Our team’s division (which has varied over the years) really hasn’t impacted what % of non-club kids make A meets. We have some club kids who are very strong but barely make A meets because their cohort just happens to be extremely strong, and other age groups where many non-club kids are making A meets.

We are in C this year and I disagree. We were in lower divisions in the past and it was a lot more fun. This year is toxic with the competition and there are very few non-club kids making A meets other than in age groups where we don't have enough swimmers to fill lanes.

Lower divisions can be fun at B meets. At A meets, there is still pressure to win, and the few club kids who swim are often expected to rack up most of the points. That isn't very much fun for them.

Our club swimmers don't go to practices and dominate the meets. It must be fun for them or why are they doing it? If its not fun, drop out or do less and let others get to swim A meets. There should be a requirement to acutally participate in the team and do practices vs. just show up for A meets.

You should talk to your rep/team leadership to see if you can get this rule in place for your team.

And then the team may lose club swimmers who may be training for long course meets in June/July. This will lead to the summer team losing A meets and, at least in MCSL, not having fast swimmers as part of the computer simulations that dictate which division the team will be in the following year. Dropping divisions is a sure fire way to lose many families, especially those with top swimmers or who aspire to be.

A better rule would be that the club swimmers must show up to at least 1 (and ideally 2) practices a week. If they can't, then they need to show up to a B meet to cheer on the team. Club swimmers are often the de facto leaders of summer swim teams.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are the seedings out today?

Some parents are just obsessed and monitor all the kids, which is creepy and take the fun out of swimming.

I think a lot of parents actually want to move down divisions where it will be more fun.

It's not much more fun in the lower divisions. There are two types of parents, those who have club swimmers that are pushed to win (so that the team wins A meets), and those whose kids swim only during the summer and don't care about winning meets. This creates a bit of a tension and can tear a lower division team apart.

Not true. Over the years, we've been in B through F and and I would say the best in terms of being in the fun but still competitive sweetspot is D and E. Once you are in the top 3 divisions, it's mostly going to be year round swimmers swimming A meets.

I would argue that C is fun too. Our team’s division (which has varied over the years) really hasn’t impacted what % of non-club kids make A meets. We have some club kids who are very strong but barely make A meets because their cohort just happens to be extremely strong, and other age groups where many non-club kids are making A meets.

We are in C this year and I disagree. We were in lower divisions in the past and it was a lot more fun. This year is toxic with the competition and there are very few non-club kids making A meets other than in age groups where we don't have enough swimmers to fill lanes.

Lower divisions can be fun at B meets. At A meets, there is still pressure to win, and the few club kids who swim are often expected to rack up most of the points. That isn't very much fun for them.

Our club swimmers don't go to practices and dominate the meets. It must be fun for them or why are they doing it? If its not fun, drop out or do less and let others get to swim A meets. There should be a requirement to acutally participate in the team and do practices vs. just show up for A meets.

The club swimmers are doing their club practices at the same time, or right before, the summer team practices. You try to spending 3.5 hours swimming 5 days straight and see how that goes for you.

My kids have gone from RMSC to Summer swim as its the right thing to do. If they aren't going to do practices they shouldn't be on the team. If they are too tired, then don't take up a slot.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are the seedings out today?

Some parents are just obsessed and monitor all the kids, which is creepy and take the fun out of swimming.

I think a lot of parents actually want to move down divisions where it will be more fun.

It's not much more fun in the lower divisions. There are two types of parents, those who have club swimmers that are pushed to win (so that the team wins A meets), and those whose kids swim only during the summer and don't care about winning meets. This creates a bit of a tension and can tear a lower division team apart.

Not true. Over the years, we've been in B through F and and I would say the best in terms of being in the fun but still competitive sweetspot is D and E. Once you are in the top 3 divisions, it's mostly going to be year round swimmers swimming A meets.

I would argue that C is fun too. Our team’s division (which has varied over the years) really hasn’t impacted what % of non-club kids make A meets. We have some club kids who are very strong but barely make A meets because their cohort just happens to be extremely strong, and other age groups where many non-club kids are making A meets.

We are in C this year and I disagree. We were in lower divisions in the past and it was a lot more fun. This year is toxic with the competition and there are very few non-club kids making A meets other than in age groups where we don't have enough swimmers to fill lanes.

Lower divisions can be fun at B meets. At A meets, there is still pressure to win, and the few club kids who swim are often expected to rack up most of the points. That isn't very much fun for them.

Our club swimmers don't go to practices and dominate the meets. It must be fun for them or why are they doing it? If its not fun, drop out or do less and let others get to swim A meets. There should be a requirement to acutally participate in the team and do practices vs. just show up for A meets.

You should talk to your rep/team leadership to see if you can get this rule in place for your team.

And then the team may lose club swimmers who may be training for long course meets in June/July. This will lead to the summer team losing A meets and, at least in MCSL, not having fast swimmers as part of the computer simulations that dictate which division the team will be in the following year. Dropping divisions is a sure fire way to lose many families, especially those with top swimmers or who aspire to be.

A better rule would be that the club swimmers must show up to at least 1 (and ideally 2) practices a week. If they can't, then they need to show up to a B meet to cheer on the team. Club swimmers are often the de facto leaders of summer swim teams.

They aren't doing b meets, they aren't doing practices and worse the parents don't volunteer during the A meets. They aren't the leaders as they are only there for the A meets and they don't talk to anyone other than a select few.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are the seedings out today?

Some parents are just obsessed and monitor all the kids, which is creepy and take the fun out of swimming.

I think a lot of parents actually want to move down divisions where it will be more fun.

It's not much more fun in the lower divisions. There are two types of parents, those who have club swimmers that are pushed to win (so that the team wins A meets), and those whose kids swim only during the summer and don't care about winning meets. This creates a bit of a tension and can tear a lower division team apart.

Not true. Over the years, we've been in B through F and and I would say the best in terms of being in the fun but still competitive sweetspot is D and E. Once you are in the top 3 divisions, it's mostly going to be year round swimmers swimming A meets.

I would argue that C is fun too. Our team’s division (which has varied over the years) really hasn’t impacted what % of non-club kids make A meets. We have some club kids who are very strong but barely make A meets because their cohort just happens to be extremely strong, and other age groups where many non-club kids are making A meets.

We are in C this year and I disagree. We were in lower divisions in the past and it was a lot more fun. This year is toxic with the competition and there are very few non-club kids making A meets other than in age groups where we don't have enough swimmers to fill lanes.

Lower divisions can be fun at B meets. At A meets, there is still pressure to win, and the few club kids who swim are often expected to rack up most of the points. That isn't very much fun for them.

Our club swimmers don't go to practices and dominate the meets. It must be fun for them or why are they doing it? If its not fun, drop out or do less and let others get to swim A meets. There should be a requirement to acutally participate in the team and do practices vs. just show up for A meets.

There are odd pressures on _younger_ club swimmers during the summer (the older ones have clear expectations on them and have learned how to deal with them). Younger club swimmers sometimes feel quite torn between the fun and friends of summer team and the explicit requirements coming from the club. My kid does morning practice with the summer team and evenings with the club. The meets are closely packed, with PVS 12u/14u meets sometimes narrowly avoiding summer ones (at the older ages they just let the conflicts fall where they may), so kids try to do both and really get tired. The club doesn't have much regard for the summer operation, while the summer team tries to welcome the kids whenever they're not at club, but they miss out on stuff all the same.

It's not like this is some kind of massive burden (it's the shape of the sport, and the sport is a choice, always) - it's just that seeing the club swimmers only jumping in for the A meets doesn't capture the whole picture. These middle years (mid-upper AG swimming) are kind of tricky to navigate, or at least to schedule.

Even given all of that, however, I do think that part of what makes summer team a real experience is the group nature of it. I do think club swimmers should be part of summer practices and activities as much as they can be, because contributing to your team means more than just points.

There is only the pressure their parents and they put on themselves. The teacms don't care that much. I think its strange you'd only go to A meets. They aren't really contributing anything other than times and they really aren't part of the team.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are the seedings out today?

Some parents are just obsessed and monitor all the kids, which is creepy and take the fun out of swimming.

I think a lot of parents actually want to move down divisions where it will be more fun.

It's not much more fun in the lower divisions. There are two types of parents, those who have club swimmers that are pushed to win (so that the team wins A meets), and those whose kids swim only during the summer and don't care about winning meets. This creates a bit of a tension and can tear a lower division team apart.

Not true. Over the years, we've been in B through F and and I would say the best in terms of being in the fun but still competitive sweetspot is D and E. Once you are in the top 3 divisions, it's mostly going to be year round swimmers swimming A meets.

I would argue that C is fun too. Our team’s division (which has varied over the years) really hasn’t impacted what % of non-club kids make A meets. We have some club kids who are very strong but barely make A meets because their cohort just happens to be extremely strong, and other age groups where many non-club kids are making A meets.

We are in C this year and I disagree. We were in lower divisions in the past and it was a lot more fun. This year is toxic with the competition and there are very few non-club kids making A meets other than in age groups where we don't have enough swimmers to fill lanes.

Lower divisions can be fun at B meets. At A meets, there is still pressure to win, and the few club kids who swim are often expected to rack up most of the points. That isn't very much fun for them.

Our club swimmers don't go to practices and dominate the meets. It must be fun for them or why are they doing it? If its not fun, drop out or do less and let others get to swim A meets. There should be a requirement to acutally participate in the team and do practices vs. just show up for A meets.

You should talk to your rep/team leadership to see if you can get this rule in place for your team.

And then the team may lose club swimmers who may be training for long course meets in June/July. This will lead to the summer team losing A meets and, at least in MCSL, not having fast swimmers as part of the computer simulations that dictate which division the team will be in the following year. Dropping divisions is a sure fire way to lose many families, especially those with top swimmers or who aspire to be.

A better rule would be that the club swimmers must show up to at least 1 (and ideally 2) practices a week. If they can't, then they need to show up to a B meet to cheer on the team. Club swimmers are often the de facto leaders of summer swim teams.

They aren't doing b meets, they aren't doing practices and worse the parents don't volunteer during the A meets. They aren't the leaders as they are only there for the A meets and they don't talk to anyone other than a select few.

Not on our team and on other teams where we know there are club swimmers. Some of the parents are the head referee or head timer, while others are just timers. If there are parents who don't volunteer, that's a separate issue from club swimmers attending summer team practices.

Also, I've seen summer team practices where club swimmers have gotten injured because the coach put kids of the same age into the same lane - kicks to the face often result. While this is on the coach, club swimmers get justifiably annoyed if lanes are over crowded and swimmers aren't coached to let a faster swimmer pass.