We received feedback on DC's RMSC tryout in the past by writing to the general email for the site and requesting it. (We were told we could do so.)

My kids tried out for RMSC last year at ages 7 and 9. Neither one made it. My 7yo was legal in all four strokes, but not very fast (and was just barely legal in fly). We did a small low-key club. He tried out for ASA this year as an 8yo and made it (again, not the fastest, but his stroke mechanics look really good now).

RMSC did not provide us feedback last year.

OP here. Really appreciate the feedback! The try outs for non-KSAC sites being on the same day/time is a challenge. I got freaked out reading on here that they have 100 kids trying out for just 15-20 spots. How do they differentiate with such a large group of kids?? And does RMSC really give feedback if you don’t make the cut? We tried out for ASA and they told us nothing.

Anonymous wrote:From what I remember they typically want to see that you're legal or close to legal in all 4 strokes. My child made the team at 8 and was decent at free, back and breaststroke but borderline in butterfly.

This is likely true for 8 year olds, but my 6 year old joined minis being legal in free and back only. Did have very solid fundamentals in those two strokes, though. Became legal in all 4 in first season on team.

Anonymous wrote:If you think you ever want to join RMSC, try out as young as possible, and keep trying in repeat years if DC does not get in. The older they get, the fewer the spaces, the less judgement placed on potential vs actual evidence, and the higher the standards. Conventional wisdom around here is to try out at more than one site if possible so that you have more than one chance. You can also ask for feedback from your tryout if DC does not get in. But I would definitely *not* wait a year to try to improve. Try for RMSC now and also try out for or visit other clubs as a backup plan so that you can get going this coming fall.

This is the best advice here.

- current RMSC family

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Depending on where you are there are also other clubs. My DC went out to RMSC last year, he knows freestyle and backstroke but has knowledge of breaststroke. He did not make the team because they had limited spots (like 25-1 for the ratio of tryout spots versus spots on the team). We in turn went to a low-key club where he learned a lot (legal in all strokes), The problem is that he does not want to try out for RMSC even though he is still a mini, because he got to befriend some other swimmers. Since I am new to this, I do not know the meaning, but he made the all-star cut time in MCSL.

Which club if you don't mind me asking? We'd like to find some avenue to continue swimming for our 8yo in the winter, as they are enjoying summer swim team (first year). But I suspect they are not quite good enough for RMSC, plus they still have other interests.

Again this is all about where you live... We live very close to the RMSC MLK site so we only tried out for that site. But as somebody said we also tried out for PAC, Machine, and FAST all @ Fairland-- since it was the closest. But there are several other clubs around check out
https://www.pvswim.org/pvs_club.htm
and see which is closest to you that matches what you want.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Depending on where you are there are also other clubs. My DC went out to RMSC last year, he knows freestyle and backstroke but has knowledge of breaststroke. He did not make the team because they had limited spots (like 25-1 for the ratio of tryout spots versus spots on the team). We in turn went to a low-key club where he learned a lot (legal in all strokes), The problem is that he does not want to try out for RMSC even though he is still a mini, because he got to befriend some other swimmers. Since I am new to this, I do not know the meaning, but he made the all-star cut time in MCSL.

Which club if you don't mind me asking? We'd like to find some avenue to continue swimming for our 8yo in the winter, as they are enjoying summer swim team (first year). But I suspect they are not quite good enough for RMSC, plus they still have other interests.

Here is a list of USA Swimming affiliated clubs in the Potomac Valley region: https://pvswim.org/pvs_club.htm

There are also other ways to swim year-round, but this is the framework for competitive swim in this area.

Anonymous wrote:Depending on where you are there are also other clubs. My DC went out to RMSC last year, he knows freestyle and backstroke but has knowledge of breaststroke. He did not make the team because they had limited spots (like 25-1 for the ratio of tryout spots versus spots on the team). We in turn went to a low-key club where he learned a lot (legal in all strokes), The problem is that he does not want to try out for RMSC even though he is still a mini, because he got to befriend some other swimmers. Since I am new to this, I do not know the meaning, but he made the all-star cut time in MCSL.

Which club if you don't mind me asking? We'd like to find some avenue to continue swimming for our 8yo in the winter, as they are enjoying summer swim team (first year). But I suspect they are not quite good enough for RMSC, plus they still have other interests.

From what I remember they typically want to see that you're legal or close to legal in all 4 strokes. My child made the team at 8 and was decent at free, back and breaststroke but borderline in butterfly.

If you think you ever want to join RMSC, try out as young as possible, and keep trying in repeat years if DC does not get in. The older they get, the fewer the spaces, the less judgement placed on potential vs actual evidence, and the higher the standards. Conventional wisdom around here is to try out at more than one site if possible so that you have more than one chance. You can also ask for feedback from your tryout if DC does not get in. But I would definitely *not* wait a year to try to improve. Try for RMSC now and also try out for or visit other clubs as a backup plan so that you can get going this coming fall.

Depending on where you are there are also other clubs. My DC went out to RMSC last year, he knows freestyle and backstroke but has knowledge of breaststroke. He did not make the team because they had limited spots (like 25-1 for the ratio of tryout spots versus spots on the team). We in turn went to a low-key club where he learned a lot (legal in all strokes), The problem is that he does not want to try out for RMSC even though he is still a mini, because he got to befriend some other swimmers. Since I am new to this, I do not know the meaning, but he made the all-star cut time in MCSL.

They are looking for both technique and time. I would try out this year instead of waiting. They have more requirements the older the child gets. Depending on when his birthday is, he may be trying out as a 9 year-old next year.

It depends on location and spaces as you said For comparison, my (at the time just turned 8 in august) girl in 2022 had a total of exactly one summer competitive swim season under her belt. She did go to MCSL divisionals that summer, but we were in a bottom 1/4 team at the time. She got into the MLK Minis. If she is doing As in sometimes multiple events as a 7, I think you should be fine. I couldn't speak to the other sites.

Also interested in the answer to this. Part of me thinks trying out will be a waste of time and to focus instead on a stroke and turn class for this year and try out next year when DC will be 8.

I anticipate the answer to my question depends largely on the RMSC site - but generally speaking, what does it take to make RMSC Minis? Is Minis easier to get into than other area clubs? Are they looking more at technique or time? DC (7) swims A meets in free and sometimes back on a mid-tier MCSL league summer team - is not consistently legal in breast or fly. The top 8 & U kids swim competitively during the year. With kids starting so young, I'm starting to fear we've missed the boat for a competitive club. DC is very interested in joining one and being competitive, so would welcome any recs on what they can do during the year to set them up to try-out for a club for the 2025-26 season.