NCAP v RMSC v Machine

[KRR5105]

I'm looking for a winter swim team for my almost 10 year old. We have friends on ASA and Capitol Sea Devils so have very good insight into those teams, but I'd like to know more about NCAP, RMSC and Machine. I've gone through previous posts, but was hoping for some fresh views since I know the season is coming to an end for these teams (at least for the younger children). If you're on one of these teams, what do you like? What don't you like, or would you change? I understand the differences in cost. I know RMSC is large and we can expect a lot to a lane. How about for the other teams? I also know that RMSC is next to impossible to get into ...

My child is a fairly decent summer swimmer in an MSCL team that kind of hangs in the middle of the divisions. We're lucky in that our home is convenient to locations for each of these teams. (Preferences on location would be KSAC for RMSC, Holton or American for NCAP and Madeira for Machine.)

I know there are strong feelings on all sides. Hoping to keep positive, or at least constructive. I'm not looking to produce an Olympian, but do want my child to participate in a sport through middle and high school, if at all possible. We've tried basketball and soccer and swimming is the one she enjoys the most (in addition to ballet).

Thank you in advance for your thoughts.

[Anonymous]

KSAC/RMSC tryout was yesterday, you might be too late to join. Our son started KSAC at age 10 without any prior swimming team experience. Usually you will start at Junior group (9-12).

We also tried NCAP/GP in the summer after one season of KSAC/RMSC, but were not selected. NCAP becomes harder to get in when kids age up.

[Anonymous]

KSAC site is the most difficult to get into for RMSC. I have an older child there on the "elite swimmer" track and a younger one in the "non-elite" track. Both are happy. My younger child tried out at age 11, after swimming elsewhere. He was the fastest boy at the try out and got one of 4 available spots for 11-12 year olds two springs ago. There are typically more girls trying out than boys at age 10, so the competition is extremely steep and space is extremely limited. The current "seniors" coach is very well liked. That's the non-elite group for kids age 13 and up. In the past, folks thought being relegated to this group was horrible. But the current coach has turned things around, is challenging kids at an appropriate level and is very will liked. The "Juniors" program at KSAC (age 10-12) was fine, but nothing amazing.

If you can get a spot in the coveted Advanced Juniors Group, take it! (but I suspect this is unlikely as most spots are filled with kids coming up from the current 8 & under RMSC, KSAC kids). The Advanced Juniors Group is excellent training but the coaches are not at all warm and fuzzy. If you, as a parent, need a lot of positive interactions with your kids, coach, they are not the ones for you. There is little hand holding, and the coaches want to deal only with the kids and are not very accessible/warm to parents. I found this fine, but others may feel differently.

[Anonymous]

Can’t you just sign him up for whatever his friends are signing up for at the pool that is close to you and see how it goes?
If you can afford it? You do seem to be taking this WAY too seriously.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Can’t you just sign her up for whatever his friends are signing up for at the pool that is close to you and see how it goes?
If you can afford it? You do seem to be taking this WAY too seriously.

If you live near the Holton pool why would you consider driving to Madeira?? That’s crazy town.

[Anonymous]

KRR5105 wrote:I'm looking for a winter swim team for my almost 10 year old. We have friends on ASA and Capitol Sea Devils so have very good insight into those teams, but I'd like to know more about NCAP, RMSC and Machine. I've gone through previous posts, but was hoping for some fresh views since I know the season is coming to an end for these teams (at least for the younger children). If you're on one of these teams, what do you like? What don't you like, or would you change? I understand the differences in cost. I know RMSC is large and we can expect a lot to a lane. How about for the other teams? I also know that RMSC is next to impossible to get into ...

My child is a fairly decent summer swimmer in an MSCL team that kind of hangs in the middle of the divisions. We're lucky in that our home is convenient to locations for each of these teams. (Preferences on location would be KSAC for RMSC, Holton or American for NCAP and Madeira for Machine.)

I know there are strong feelings on all sides. Hoping to keep positive, or at least constructive. I'm not looking to produce an Olympian, but do want my child to participate in a sport through middle and high school, if at all possible. We've tried basketball and soccer and swimming is the one she enjoys the most (in addition to ballet).

Thank you in advance for your thoughts.

These pools are fairly far from each other. You should not be driving all over creation for a 10 year olds swim team unless there’s a serious problem with all of the teams at the pool that is closest to you (doubtful) or if your child has special needs and only meshes with one coach at a distant pool.
Most especially if your child is going to be swimming 3 days a week, sometimes in the early morning and sometimes during heavy rush hour times. Start with what is closest to home and where she has friends. Has the thought of a carpool not occurred to you?

Our kids have had great experiences with NCAP and Tiburones. We see other swim teams at the pool where kids also seem happy and the coaches seem good. Have you thought of going to the pool and observing the coaches she might end up with? People also like All Star Aquatics.

Are any of your summer coaches winter coaches anywhere?

And a pretty good swimmer from a middle of the pack MCSL team means that she is pretty average to start with. Find something that will be a positive start for her.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:KSAC site is the most difficult to get into for RMSC. I have an older child there on the "elite swimmer" track and a younger one in the "non-elite" track. Both are happy. My younger child tried out at age 11, after swimming elsewhere. He was the fastest boy at the try out and got one of 4 available spots for 11-12 year olds two springs ago. There are typically more girls trying out than boys at age 10, so the competition is extremely steep and space is extremely limited. The current "seniors" coach is very well liked. That's the non-elite group for kids age 13 and up. In the past, folks thought being relegated to this group was horrible. But the current coach has turned things around, is challenging kids at an appropriate level and is very will liked. The "Juniors" program at KSAC (age 10-12) was fine, but nothing amazing.

If you can get a spot in the coveted Advanced Juniors Group, take it! (but I suspect this is unlikely as most spots are filled with kids coming up from the current 8 & under RMSC, KSAC kids). The Advanced Juniors Group is excellent training but the coaches are not at all warm and fuzzy. If you, as a parent, need a lot of positive interactions with your kids, coach, they are not the ones for you. There is little hand holding, and the coaches want to deal only with the kids and are not very accessible/warm to parents. I found this fine, but others may feel differently.

Can't agree with you more ! But kids adore these coaches (mine does !) and as long as kids love to go to practices, that matters. I think most coaches do not like parents get involved except emotional/logistic support to the swimmers. Mine also went to Juniors first three years ago, later got into Advanced Juniors. If coaches see swimmers are ready to a high level group, they usually will move them.

[Anonymous]

We didn’t like Madeira Machine location. It had very short sessions good for technique but not very good for building endurance.
Have you looked at JFD, TOLL, Seadevils at Holton ?

[Anonymous]

We've been with rmsc, tiburones, and ncap. I would recommend tibu and ncap. RMSC can be fine if you get the right coaches but the environment in general is less focused on getting each swimmer to their maximum potential. Of the 3, we saw the best results and happiest swimmers with ncap. As for the site, the pp who told you to choose a close pool is spot on. Don't drive more than a half hour to a site. If your DC is 10, soon you'll have 6-14 practices a week and you need to be able to manage that.

As a practical matter, your DC may not be selected for all teams. Go try out and then make decisions.

[Anonymous]

If Madeira is convenient for you (assuming it’s a less than 30 min drive), I would consider also Arlington Aquatic Club. They are way better than RMSC in terms of coaching and have very good results at senior level. There is also high performance Dragon in McLean which is 95% Asian but in recent years added couple non-Asian swimmmers with AA+ times

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:KSAC site is the most difficult to get into for RMSC. I have an older child there on the "elite swimmer" track and a younger one in the "non-elite" track. Both are happy. My younger child tried out at age 11, after swimming elsewhere. He was the fastest boy at the try out and got one of 4 available spots for 11-12 year olds two springs ago. There are typically more girls trying out than boys at age 10, so the competition is extremely steep and space is extremely limited. The current "seniors" coach is very well liked. That's the non-elite group for kids age 13 and up. In the past, folks thought being relegated to this group was horrible. But the current coach has turned things around, is challenging kids at an appropriate level and is very will liked. The "Juniors" program at KSAC (age 10-12) was fine, but nothing amazing.

If you can get a spot in the coveted Advanced Juniors Group, take it! (but I suspect this is unlikely as most spots are filled with kids coming up from the current 8 & under RMSC, KSAC kids). The Advanced Juniors Group is excellent training but the coaches are not at all warm and fuzzy. If you, as a parent, need a lot of positive interactions with your kids, coach, they are not the ones for you. There is little hand holding, and the coaches want to deal only with the kids and are not very accessible/warm to parents. I found this fine, but others may feel differently.

Can't agree with you more ! But kids adore these coaches (mine does !) and as long as kids love to go to practices, that matters. I think most coaches do not like parents get involved except emotional/logistic support to the swimmers. Mine also went to Juniors first three years ago, later got into Advanced Juniors. If coaches see swimmers are ready to a high level group, they usually will move them.

I just sat at JOs with two RMSC families (my son is on a different team). Both complained how impossible it was to get their children move up, even with zone cuts! At the same time, they said some children of same age were moved up even without a single JO cut.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We've been with rmsc, tiburones, and ncap. I would recommend tibu and ncap. RMSC can be fine if you get the right coaches but the environment in general is less focused on getting each swimmer to their maximum potential. Of the 3, we saw the best results and happiest swimmers with ncap. As for the site, the pp who told you to choose a close pool is spot on. Don't drive more than a half hour to a site. If your DC is 10, soon you'll have 6-14 practices a week and you need to be able to manage that.

As a practical matter, your DC may not be selected for all teams. Go try out and then make decisions.

This is correct about RMSC. Many of us supplement with private lessons so the savings of doing RMSC are lessened with private. There is no 1-1 attention, very large group in the juniors and if your child needs support, you'll need to look for it elsewhere. Jr. advanced is a smaller group but regular juniors is a free for all. Getting on is hard but its hit or miss depending on if kids drop out for other activities or move up/age. Sometimes there are lots of openings, sometimes 1-2. Usually its easier to get in during the spring.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:KSAC site is the most difficult to get into for RMSC. I have an older child there on the "elite swimmer" track and a younger one in the "non-elite" track. Both are happy. My younger child tried out at age 11, after swimming elsewhere. He was the fastest boy at the try out and got one of 4 available spots for 11-12 year olds two springs ago. There are typically more girls trying out than boys at age 10, so the competition is extremely steep and space is extremely limited. The current "seniors" coach is very well liked. That's the non-elite group for kids age 13 and up. In the past, folks thought being relegated to this group was horrible. But the current coach has turned things around, is challenging kids at an appropriate level and is very will liked. The "Juniors" program at KSAC (age 10-12) was fine, but nothing amazing.

If you can get a spot in the coveted Advanced Juniors Group, take it! (but I suspect this is unlikely as most spots are filled with kids coming up from the current 8 & under RMSC, KSAC kids). The Advanced Juniors Group is excellent training but the coaches are not at all warm and fuzzy. If you, as a parent, need a lot of positive interactions with your kids, coach, they are not the ones for you. There is little hand holding, and the coaches want to deal only with the kids and are not very accessible/warm to parents. I found this fine, but others may feel differently.

Can't agree with you more ! But kids adore these coaches (mine does !) and as long as kids love to go to practices, that matters. I think most coaches do not like parents get involved except emotional/logistic support to the swimmers. Mine also went to Juniors first three years ago, later got into Advanced Juniors. If coaches see swimmers are ready to a high level group, they usually will move them.

Mine is does not feel that way about the coaches. If you have an issue, the coaches are not helpful at all.

[Anonymous]

RMSC coaches remind more of security guards in a prison than mentors. Few have competitive swimming experience themselves.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:RMSC coaches remind more of security guards in a prison than mentors. Few have competitive swimming experience themselves.

Can't disagree. They are hit or miss. Some are better than others. Some try but there are way to many kids and others don't even make an effort and stand next to the pool just screaming (which the kids cannot hear) every so often. I question is some have been in the pool within the last 5+ years. It would be nice if they'd get in and show them.