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[quote=Anonymous]Hi all, I'm trying to figure out where to enroll my DD (age 8) for swim during the school year. I feel a bit overwhelmed with options and am also totally new to swimming, so thought I'd ask for some feedback here. Based on recommendations at our pool, these are the options I'm currently considering, but I'm very open to other suggestions.

Logistics: we live in NE DC. Swim options in the District seem really limited. We do a summer league in MoCo, it's a huge pain and I don't know if we will do it again next year because it takes 30 minutes to get there and it's multiple days a week, plus some of the meets are further.

DD swim level: right now DD swims a "legal" freestyle stroke and usually a legal backstroke. Her breathing is good. She has started to learn breast and fly but they are messy and need a lot of work. She wants to keep building endurance/speed in freestyle/backstroke, and wants to get good enough at breast and fly that she could race in those in the summer, and just as a challenge because she likes swim challenges. She is obsessed with swimming, happiest in the pool, it's just her favorite thing and she doesn't like other sports so we're trying to support that.

Option #1: Weekly lessons at Old City Swim school. I just learned about this school from a neighborhood friend. It looks like they do offer lessons for her level but might be more of a "learn to swim" place for younger kids? I got on the waitlist as they have no open classes listed on their website. If you have more info about this place let me know! It would definitely be most convenient.

Option #2: NCAP Developmental lessons at AU. This is a bit of a trek for us but it's on Sunday so we could probably make it work. Looks like it gets very well reviewed and would work on technique, which is what she wants. Worried it might be too strict or competitive -- she loves swimming and follows instruction very well but she's not intense. For her it's fun and she likes progressing. But she's not obsessed with winning and I think an over-focus on that will kill her interest.

Option #3: MoCo stroke and turn clinic. One of these is not far from our summer pool. I'm again not thrilled about the distance but again it's Sunday nights so probably fine. Definitely most cost-friendly option. It seems a lot of people from our pool do this so maybe some friendly faces there (though this is not really an issue for her -- she's good at going into activities where she doesn't know anyone). I've seen mixed reviews on how much direct instruction kids get though. Is it a way to really grow and progress, and is it just kind of a placeholder swim practice for kids who do summer swim and want to swim in the winter but not on a competitive team.

Option #4: Private lessons nearby (Old City offers them and also I'm sure we could find a college student or something willing to give lessons). If we do this, I don't think we can do it weekly due to cost. Once or twice a month and then we'd just take her to an indoor pool when we could to practice. Plus side is that it's 1:1 and would be customize, downside is that it would not be as consistent, no social benefit, doesn't really help us as a family get to know the swim world better.

WWYD? Are there other options I'm not recognizing? I know I just wrote a ton and probably sound like a crazy obsessive mom. I'm not. I'm just clueless, like to do a lot of research before committing to something like this, and know that the NCAP and MoCo stroke and turn will do sign ups later in July so I want to figure it out before then. Thanks in advance for any advice or info![/quote]

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