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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Isn't Toll's strongest swimmer an older sectionals swimmer?

Looks like from OP's post, and I could be wrong, the kid wanted to try a faster team- but (and as a PP mentioned) unless they are elite, those bigger clubs won't pay any attention to him.

Not saying the club in question acted in the right way, btw. But after having been in club swim for a while, I can tell you all clubs are vicious to a certain degree. And I'm willing to bet there's another side of the story, but who knows.[/quote]

Each club can be different and yes, some are friendlier than others and/or have different philosophies.  And each kid does club swim for their own reasons.  TOLL might work well for some and not for others.  We are not currently with TOLL, but pretty sure if you are part of the club or are familiar with the club, you are familiar with the swimmer.  And if it is who I think it is, he is a really good kid and have no reason to believe, unless someone else has first-hand knowledge, that he did something wrong.  So here is an honest take (and to each their own, this is just one view):

TOLL has been growing the program over the past few years--in size and reputation.  This includes increased branding and hosting more meets (e.g. SC/LC opens, etc.).  And it is natural to want to reduce turnover, especially among your fastest swimmers, and to maintain a healthy pipeline of swimmers across the board.  A big part of the appeal for some of the swimmers out there is to be part of a competitive program that will help them grow.

If one of TOLL's most recognized swimmers is leaving the program, I get that it stings in multiple ways.  They are losing a strong swimmer and it potentially sets a precedent for others.  There can be a domino effect and it can be challenging for TOLL to keep certain swimmers; this isn't a new issue.  Perhaps this swimmer wanted a new challenge--informed, thoughtful decision to make a move to foster his personal development.  As it currently stands, if you really want to develop at TOLL, have cut times, and you show the requisite potential, there is a good chance you may have to swim up.  Being moved at 11 to swim with 14/15 year olds or 13/14 to swim with 18 year olds out of necessity/parity isn't for everyone.  It can work for some swimmers, but maybe not so much for others.  The physical demands of what an 11 year old can handle vs. a 14 year old can handle can be signicant in terms of yardage, sets, intervals, and even equipment such as paddles.  So moving to a program with comparably capable or fast swimmers may provide a better option, especially if the peers are in the same age group.

TOLL has some strong swimmers across the board--a few 14+ and promising swimmers in the 12U groups.  And I get that the TOLL coaches put a lot of time and effort into developing their swimmers, including the one who is leaving.  This departure seems to have really hurt the coaching staff on both a deeply personal and professional level and the response was unfortunate and extreme.  The experience may or may not impact some swimmers who decide to join, leave, or stay with the club.  If TOLL works for you, stay.  If you are interested, check out the program, try out, and get a feel for what may work for you.

[/quote]
My DD is a 12&U swimmer at a big club and we were at more than 1 meet with TOLL this year and they had a handful of 12&U female swimmers who can compete with anyone. To the point you made about swimming up though, their next group of swimmers were so far behind that level that I would imagine those top girls have to be swimming up to get regular practice that challenges them. I think part of the success of the big clubs is being able to provide an appropriate practice cohort for their best swimmers within their own age group.

While I understand the struggle of trying to build a program to compete with the big clubs in this area, it’s pretty crappy to turn on a 12 year old kid for moving on. [/quote]

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