2026 Summer Swim Crazy - Word on the Street

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So parents and kids are allowed to be jerks as long as they win?

Wow.

Summer swim has really changed. So sad.

Summer swim has always been this way at high division pools. Kids and parents like to win. Don’t like it? Join a different pool.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

We had multiple families try to join our team based on their club times and get upset that they would have to get on the pool's waitlist. They thought there was a cut the line policy for fast kids.

Not sure if this is true or trolling, but many teams looking to move up divisions will move families with top club swimmers up the waitlist. This is reality (so don’t complain about line cutting), but shouldn’t be demanded by a family. It’s a conversation to be had discretely with the coach and reps.

This cannot be true. What the absolute hell? That shows lack of sportsmanship and not in the spirit of summer league. Also if coaches have to pad their roster with ringers, that shows poor coaching and not working with the talent you have.

It absolutely is true. Rules prohibit recruiting, but line cutting isn’t recruiting.

That is disgusting.

Not to the families that belong to winning pools. Don’t hate the player, hate the game.

People say this happens but the teams likely doing it deny it completely. But ten year waitlists would not get new young swimmers on the team.

If true, would definitely fall into crappy behavior for a summer league that is supposed to be fun.

Other than OKM (no waitlist, largely pulls from Lake Braddock school area), Hunt Valley (no waitlist, largely pulls from West Springfield school area), plus Fair Oaks and Crosspointe (both of which sort of have restrictions because of HOA/boundary restrictions), which teams in NVSL D1-D3 *don’t* have a waitlist? Because, to me, when teams DON’T have a waitlist but are only building teams within their current population (little kids who may become good swimmers notwithstanding), that’s much more impressive AND shows how much better their coaches are at developing young swimmers. This said, we swim in a top NVSL division, and very few of the teams actually have noticeable transfers from one team to another year to year, so other than a handful of exceptions we’ve noticed in the past few years, I don’t think this line-cutting-for-fast-kids is happening.

Why the focus on Divisions 1-3? Just curious.

Presumption here, but the above cut-the-line policy allegations, which come up year-to-year (because drama) tend to focus on NVSL D1-2 ITB teams

I’m the PP that said I was ok with pools that allow “cutting”. Im not aware of any pool with such policy or of any specific instances of cutting. I’m just saying I don’t care one way or another.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

We had multiple families try to join our team based on their club times and get upset that they would have to get on the pool's waitlist. They thought there was a cut the line policy for fast kids.

Not sure if this is true or trolling, but many teams looking to move up divisions will move families with top club swimmers up the waitlist. This is reality (so don’t complain about line cutting), but shouldn’t be demanded by a family. It’s a conversation to be had discretely with the coach and reps.

This cannot be true. What the absolute hell? That shows lack of sportsmanship and not in the spirit of summer league. Also if coaches have to pad their roster with ringers, that shows poor coaching and not working with the talent you have.

It absolutely is true. Rules prohibit recruiting, but line cutting isn’t recruiting.

That is disgusting.

Not to the families that belong to winning pools. Don’t hate the player, hate the game.

People say this happens but the teams likely doing it deny it completely. But ten year waitlists would not get new young swimmers on the team.

If true, would definitely fall into crappy behavior for a summer league that is supposed to be fun.

Other than OKM (no waitlist, largely pulls from Lake Braddock school area), Hunt Valley (no waitlist, largely pulls from West Springfield school area), plus Fair Oaks and Crosspointe (both of which sort of have restrictions because of HOA/boundary restrictions), which teams in NVSL D1-D3 *don’t* have a waitlist? Because, to me, when teams DON’T have a waitlist but are only building teams within their current population (little kids who may become good swimmers notwithstanding), that’s much more impressive AND shows how much better their coaches are at developing young swimmers. This said, we swim in a top NVSL division, and very few of the teams actually have noticeable transfers from one team to another year to year, so other than a handful of exceptions we’ve noticed in the past few years, I don’t think this line-cutting-for-fast-kids is happening.

Why the focus on Divisions 1-3? Just curious.

Presumption here, but the above cut-the-line policy allegations, which come up year-to-year (because drama) tend to focus on NVSL D1-2 ITB teams

I’m the PP that said I was ok with pools that allow “cutting”. Im not aware of any pool with such policy or of any specific instances of cutting. I’m just saying I don’t care one way or another.

I’m okay with it too. Pools can do what they want.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

We had multiple families try to join our team based on their club times and get upset that they would have to get on the pool's waitlist. They thought there was a cut the line policy for fast kids.

I fully support cut lines based on times. My impression is that good portion of pool boards probably wouldn't go for it given the sometimes adversarial relationship given the competing interests. I know our pool would definitely say no.

Not what Summer swim is about.

But it is. Pools live and die based on membership. Parents pay for pool membership and swim team fees. Winning summer swim teams attract young families with little kids whom they want to learn to swim from older, top performing kids.

Yes, summer swim is full of fun and friendship, but it’s much better when you win. You may not lime it, but reputation matters.

Pools are making money off of their swim team? That'd be news to most NVSL swim team pools.

[Anonymous]

I was at the pool today and there was a completely different crowd than the swim team usuals. What a breath of fresh air.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

We had multiple families try to join our team based on their club times and get upset that they would have to get on the pool's waitlist. They thought there was a cut the line policy for fast kids.

I fully support cut lines based on times. My impression is that good portion of pool boards probably wouldn't go for it given the sometimes adversarial relationship given the competing interests. I know our pool would definitely say no.

Not what Summer swim is about.

But it is. Pools live and die based on membership. Parents pay for pool membership and swim team fees. Winning summer swim teams attract young families with little kids whom they want to learn to swim from older, top performing kids.

Yes, summer swim is full of fun and friendship, but it’s much better when you win. You may not lime it, but reputation matters.

Pools are making money off of their swim team? That'd be news to most NVSL swim team pools.

Assume those swim team families aren't pool members anymore. Now dow the math.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

We had multiple families try to join our team based on their club times and get upset that they would have to get on the pool's waitlist. They thought there was a cut the line policy for fast kids.

Not sure if this is true or trolling, but many teams looking to move up divisions will move families with top club swimmers up the waitlist. This is reality (so don’t complain about line cutting), but shouldn’t be demanded by a family. It’s a conversation to be had discretely with the coach and reps.

This cannot be true. What the absolute hell? That shows lack of sportsmanship and not in the spirit of summer league. Also if coaches have to pad their roster with ringers, that shows poor coaching and not working with the talent you have.

It absolutely is true. Rules prohibit recruiting, but line cutting isn’t recruiting.

That is disgusting.

Not to the families that belong to winning pools. Don’t hate the player, hate the game.

People say this happens but the teams likely doing it deny it completely. But ten year waitlists would not get new young swimmers on the team.

If true, would definitely fall into crappy behavior for a summer league that is supposed to be fun.

Other than OKM (no waitlist, largely pulls from Lake Braddock school area), Hunt Valley (no waitlist, largely pulls from West Springfield school area), plus Fair Oaks and Crosspointe (both of which sort of have restrictions because of HOA/boundary restrictions), which teams in NVSL D1-D3 *don’t* have a waitlist? Because, to me, when teams DON’T have a waitlist but are only building teams within their current population (little kids who may become good swimmers notwithstanding), that’s much more impressive AND shows how much better their coaches are at developing young swimmers. This said, we swim in a top NVSL division, and very few of the teams actually have noticeable transfers from one team to another year to year, so other than a handful of exceptions we’ve noticed in the past few years, I don’t think this line-cutting-for-fast-kids is happening.

Why the focus on Divisions 1-3? Just curious.

Crosspointe doesn’t have boundary restrictions. Anyone can join.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

We had multiple families try to join our team based on their club times and get upset that they would have to get on the pool's waitlist. They thought there was a cut the line policy for fast kids.

Not sure if this is true or trolling, but many teams looking to move up divisions will move families with top club swimmers up the waitlist. This is reality (so don’t complain about line cutting), but shouldn’t be demanded by a family. It’s a conversation to be had discretely with the coach and reps.

This cannot be true. What the absolute hell? That shows lack of sportsmanship and not in the spirit of summer league. Also if coaches have to pad their roster with ringers, that shows poor coaching and not working with the talent you have.

It absolutely is true. Rules prohibit recruiting, but line cutting isn’t recruiting.

That is disgusting.

Not to the families that belong to winning pools. Don’t hate the player, hate the game.

People say this happens but the teams likely doing it deny it completely. But ten year waitlists would not get new young swimmers on the team.

If true, would definitely fall into crappy behavior for a summer league that is supposed to be fun.

Other than OKM (no waitlist, largely pulls from Lake Braddock school area), Hunt Valley (no waitlist, largely pulls from West Springfield school area), plus Fair Oaks and Crosspointe (both of which sort of have restrictions because of HOA/boundary restrictions), which teams in NVSL D1-D3 *don’t* have a waitlist? Because, to me, when teams DON’T have a waitlist but are only building teams within their current population (little kids who may become good swimmers notwithstanding), that’s much more impressive AND shows how much better their coaches are at developing young swimmers. This said, we swim in a top NVSL division, and very few of the teams actually have noticeable transfers from one team to another year to year, so other than a handful of exceptions we’ve noticed in the past few years, I don’t think this line-cutting-for-fast-kids is happening.

Why the focus on Divisions 1-3? Just curious.

Crosspointe doesn’t have boundary restrictions. Anyone can join.

A few years ago, we tried to join out of the neighborhood and the Board said they had sold all the limited non-resident memberships, and referenced this:
https://crosspointeva.org/associate-memberships-non-residents/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

We had multiple families try to join our team based on their club times and get upset that they would have to get on the pool's waitlist. They thought there was a cut the line policy for fast kids.

Not sure if this is true or trolling, but many teams looking to move up divisions will move families with top club swimmers up the waitlist. This is reality (so don’t complain about line cutting), but shouldn’t be demanded by a family. It’s a conversation to be had discretely with the coach and reps.

This cannot be true. What the absolute hell? That shows lack of sportsmanship and not in the spirit of summer league. Also if coaches have to pad their roster with ringers, that shows poor coaching and not working with the talent you have.

It absolutely is true. Rules prohibit recruiting, but line cutting isn’t recruiting.

That is disgusting.

Not to the families that belong to winning pools. Don’t hate the player, hate the game.

People say this happens but the teams likely doing it deny it completely. But ten year waitlists would not get new young swimmers on the team.

If true, would definitely fall into crappy behavior for a summer league that is supposed to be fun.

Other than OKM (no waitlist, largely pulls from Lake Braddock school area), Hunt Valley (no waitlist, largely pulls from West Springfield school area), plus Fair Oaks and Crosspointe (both of which sort of have restrictions because of HOA/boundary restrictions), which teams in NVSL D1-D3 *don’t* have a waitlist? Because, to me, when teams DON’T have a waitlist but are only building teams within their current population (little kids who may become good swimmers notwithstanding), that’s much more impressive AND shows how much better their coaches are at developing young swimmers. This said, we swim in a top NVSL division, and very few of the teams actually have noticeable transfers from one team to another year to year, so other than a handful of exceptions we’ve noticed in the past few years, I don’t think this line-cutting-for-fast-kids is happening.

I’m always impressed with teams like DR, LRR, and Mantua who have very strict HOA- (or similar)-only memberships.

[Anonymous]

LRR has 2,722 homes and 3 pools to serve its residents. While most pools are limited by HOA resident restrictions, LRR is buoyed by this restriction. Gets a lot more families in the door.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We’ve already had a family quit in a huff and complain to the pool board when they found out their wildly differently-aged kids couldn’t attend the same practice. We have a huge team full of siblings; practice HAS to be by age group.

This happens every year on my team too. I see both sides. It's honestly just random how practice times are decided. We're trying to balance a really fun camp my DD wanted to do that starts at 9. For my DS there were 3 times for his age group and you couldn't pick which you wanted. We'd love an earlier one (for camps) and I know parents who were upset they got the earlier one and wanted the 9am slot (to sleep in). I kind of wish they had a spot to ask for your preference. I totally understand it if they're unable to match any preferences, though.

My family is obsessed with evening swim until school gets out. 6-7pm practice times are amazing. I wish it was 6-7pm all summer long actually.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Fake time trial at practice yesterday. Mom of an eight year old proclaimed "IT'S A
A COMPETITION" and peacocked when her kid won.

I have seen this so many times. It is hilarious.

I have a hilarious mom on my team who shouts things at her sons like "mama didn't raise no losers!" "I brought you into this world and I can bring you out of it." She's truly a funny person, but sometimes it shocks all of us. lol. She's not mean to the other kids and just wants hers to do their best.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

We had multiple families try to join our team based on their club times and get upset that they would have to get on the pool's waitlist. They thought there was a cut the line policy for fast kids.

I fully support cut lines based on times. My impression is that good portion of pool boards probably wouldn't go for it given the sometimes adversarial relationship given the competing interests. I know our pool would definitely say no.

Not what Summer swim is about.

But it is. Pools live and die based on membership. Parents pay for pool membership and swim team fees. Winning summer swim teams attract young families with little kids whom they want to learn to swim from older, top performing kids.

Yes, summer swim is full of fun and friendship, but it’s much better when you win. You may not lime it, but reputation matters.

Pools are making money off of their swim team? That'd be news to most NVSL swim team pools.

Assume those swim team families aren't pool members anymore. Now dow the math.

You're presupposing that the pool membership is dependent upon swim families, which isn't the case at the majority of NVSL pools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Fake time trial at practice yesterday. Mom of an eight year old proclaimed "IT'S A
A COMPETITION" and peacocked when her kid won.

I have seen this so many times. It is hilarious.

I have a hilarious mom on my team who shouts things at her sons like "mama didn't raise no losers!" "I brought you into this world and I can bring you out of it." She's truly a funny person, but sometimes it shocks all of us. lol. She's not mean to the other kids and just wants hers to do their best.

Wonder if she will read this thread? Is her quote verbatim?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Fake time trial at practice yesterday. Mom of an eight year old proclaimed "IT'S A
A COMPETITION" and peacocked when her kid won.

I have seen this so many times. It is hilarious.

I have a hilarious mom on my team who shouts things at her sons like "mama didn't raise no losers!" "I brought you into this world and I can bring you out of it." She's truly a funny person, but sometimes it shocks all of us. lol. She's not mean to the other kids and just wants hers to do their best.

guess we all find different things funny....