Tell me about swimming for a small winter swim club

[Anonymous]

DD, 9, is looking at a few of the smaller swim clubs after having done an RMSC-type club elsewhere last year. The one in our area was way too big and intense for her. What's it like in the smaller clubs? We've been told some of the clubs may have only 14-15 swimmers in an age group. Do they socialize? Is there more camaraderie than you might find in a larger more anonymous club? Please be specific about your club if you can. We know we've missed the tryouts for many of the clubs and will be calling around this week.

[Anonymous]

Are you in Maryland?

[Anonymous]

Yes, in Maryland. Sorry for not putting that in the post. Getting used to being here.

[Anonymous]

Hate to hijack your thread but can anyone suggest a NOVA team too? Thank you!

[Anonymous]

Not sure if it's considered small, but check out the Sea Devils. Coaches and teammates are supportive. In our experience, mist of the socialization among kuds took place before and after practice, and during meets. However, they held a few events during the year where all the swimmers would come together from different practice locations.

[Anonymous]

Have you considered Joe Flaherty's Dolphins?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hate to hijack your thread but can anyone suggest a NOVA team too? Thank you!

Fairfax Foxes

[Anonymous]

My daughter swims with Tollefson. She loves it. So far, they have laser tag, haunted forest and a travel meet planned - all before the end of this year. They usually have a secret Santa over the holidays and some sort of community service activity as well. Lots of ways for the kids to socialize other than just on the pool deck. Highly recommend it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My daughter swims with Tollefson. She loves it. So far, they have laser tag, haunted forest and a travel meet planned - all before the end of this year. They usually have a secret Santa over the holidays and some sort of community service activity as well. Lots of ways for the kids to socialize other than just on the pool deck. Highly recommend it.

My child is starting at Tollefson this year and was so excited to find about the laser tag and haunted forest!

[Anonymous]

I think both Tollefson and Lowell Community Lionfish are still accepting swimmers. Late for ASA and RMSC (but it sounds like you wouldn't want that anyway).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My daughter swims with Tollefson. She loves it. So far, they have laser tag, haunted forest and a travel meet planned - all before the end of this year. They usually have a secret Santa over the holidays and some sort of community service activity as well. Lots of ways for the kids to socialize other than just on the pool deck. Highly recommend it.

My child is starting at Tollefson this year and was so excited to find about the laser tag and haunted forest!

I'm not sure if the laser tag and haunted forest are for all groups or just my daughters group - sometimes they do have group specific activities. The secret Santa, service project, Halloween treats and travel meets are definitely for everyone. Which group will your daughter be in?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My daughter swims with Tollefson. She loves it. So far, they have laser tag, haunted forest and a travel meet planned - all before the end of this year. They usually have a secret Santa over the holidays and some sort of community service activity as well. Lots of ways for the kids to socialize other than just on the pool deck. Highly recommend it.

My child is starting at Tollefson this year and was so excited to find about the laser tag and haunted forest!

I'm not sure if the laser tag and haunted forest are for all groups or just my daughters group - sometimes they do have group specific activities. The secret Santa, service project, Halloween treats and travel meets are definitely for everyone. Which group will your daughter be in?

Age Group Elite. Those two events were mentioned in a recent email we received.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My daughter swims with Tollefson. She loves it. So far, they have laser tag, haunted forest and a travel meet planned - all before the end of this year. They usually have a secret Santa over the holidays and some sort of community service activity as well. Lots of ways for the kids to socialize other than just on the pool deck. Highly recommend it.

My child is starting at Tollefson this year and was so excited to find about the laser tag and haunted forest!

I'm not sure if the laser tag and haunted forest are for all groups or just my daughters group - sometimes they do have group specific activities. The secret Santa, service project, Halloween treats and travel meets are definitely for everyone. Which group will your daughter be in?

Age Group Elite. Those two events were mentioned in a recent email we received.

Yep. Your daughter is gonna love Toll!

[Anonymous]

How is Tollefson pronounced? Is the Toll like the word toll as in toll booth or is the first o pronounced like the word all?

[Anonymous]

OP here and thank you for the tips. It seems like there are a lot of Tollefson boosters here but I heard from a dad that he didn't have the best experience in the stroke clinic his child did. He said the coach was pretty negative and not at all encouraging.

Correct me if I'm wrong but doesn't Toll have the model of mixing kids in their clinics and their teams for certain sessions and then the team kids do practice separately?