So, we have a seven-year old who started in Machine this year after having done summer swim/stroke & turn through the summer team, and a weekly municipal swim class from 2-7. Kid has a barely legal breast stroke and has the feet for the butterfly, but not really the arms or the arms in tandem with the feet. Anyway, he claims that no one at Machine is helping with his strokes, just lots of laps. He's enjoying it but is frustrated that he cannot get the butterfly down. I don't think a seven year old needs more than 3X a week in the pool, so I am not sure what to do, here. A few private lessons? Stroke and turn?

Anonymous wrote:We love it. In our third year with no complaints. Coaching is terrific and consistent. Strong communication to parents. Facility is wonderful. During practice, I usually set up at one of the table areas in the bleachers and get work done. Also lots of options nearby to run errands — Trader Joe’s, Whole Foods etc. I know other parents have gotten cheap memberships at the gym and will work out during practice.

PP above you - there’s also a Costco not far away and a masters swim team that practices weekday evenings at Eppley. I also just love walking around campus/trails.

It’s our first year (moved from Fairland) and I have been so impressed with the communication thus far. And most importantly, my kids are happy with their coaches.

We love it. In our third year with no complaints. Coaching is terrific and consistent. Strong communication to parents. Facility is wonderful. During practice, I usually set up at one of the table areas in the bleachers and get work done. Also lots of options nearby to run errands — Trader Joe’s, Whole Foods etc. I know other parents have gotten cheap memberships at the gym and will work out during practice.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The University of Maryland is heinous. Every road is closed. Could not find parking garage. Arghhhhhh.

UMD does suck when you’re not familiar with it. My advice is to enter campus using University Blvd, not Route 1. If you just want to drop off and then look for parking, enter campus on Stadium Drive from University. As you are entering on Stadium, Eppley is on the left. You will go through a traffic circle and exit 3/4 of the way around (which is still Stadium Drive). Then you will curve left onto Valley Drive which you take to the drop off area. If you want to park first and walk your kid to the pool, turn onto Terrapin Trail off of University and that takes you right to the garage.

DP - to be extra clear (bc the parking does suck), after you drop off your kid, go back out to University the way you came and turn right onto University, then turn right onto Terrapin Trail. That takes you right to the garage. It's an easy walk down the path from the garage to the pool, but the drive is annoying.

If you have the time, it's logistically easier to park at the garage first, then have your swimmer walk to the pool. I know that's not always an option, but we've found it works well when we have the time.

Anonymous wrote:The University of Maryland is heinous. Every road is closed. Could not find parking garage. Arghhhhhh.

UMD does suck when you’re not familiar with it. My advice is to enter campus using University Blvd, not Route 1. If you just want to drop off and then look for parking, enter campus on Stadium Drive from University. As you are entering on Stadium, Eppley is on the left. You will go through a traffic circle and exit 3/4 of the way around (which is still Stadium Drive). Then you will curve left onto Valley Drive which you take to the drop off area. If you want to park first and walk your kid to the pool, turn onto Terrapin Trail off of University and that takes you right to the garage.

The University of Maryland is heinous. Every road is closed. Could not find parking garage. Arghhhhhh.

Anonymous wrote:Can swimmers be dropped off at the door and you then seek parking?

Yes, you can drop off at the pool (it’s in the Eppley Recreation Center) and then search out parking.

Can swimmers be dropped off at the door and you then seek parking?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DP, the Terrapin Trail garage is pretty convenient. It’s right behind the pool and there is a paved walking path that leads directly from the garage to the pool. It’s permit only until maybe 5 pm on weekdays and after that it is free. It’s right near Comcast Center too, so events at Comcast may affect parking there.

I'm the earlier PP who said the parking sucks - the Terrapin Trail garage is indeed right behind the pool, just a short walk away. If you're running late, though, and need to drop your swimmer(s) off right by Eppley, you have to go back out to University to get to the parking garage. Ideally you could park there and the kids could walk, but traffic being what it is, that's not always possible if you want them to be on time.

I'm also comparing it to Fairland, which has ample parking close to the pool. So much easier.

So, for the PP asking about parking, there is convenient, free parking available but you do need to build time in for traffic (and College Park traffic sucks) and the 5 minutes or so it will take to get to the pool from the Terrapin Trail garage.

Anonymous wrote:DP, the Terrapin Trail garage is pretty convenient. It’s right behind the pool and there is a paved walking path that leads directly from the garage to the pool. It’s permit only until maybe 5 pm on weekdays and after that it is free. It’s right near Comcast Center too, so events at Comcast may affect parking there.

I'm the earlier PP who said the parking sucks - the Terrapin Trail garage is indeed right behind the pool, just a short walk away. If you're running late, though, and need to drop your swimmer(s) off right by Eppley, you have to go back out to University to get to the parking garage. Ideally you could park there and the kids could walk, but traffic being what it is, that's not always possible if you want them to be on time.

I'm also comparing it to Fairland, which has ample parking close to the pool. So much easier.

Anonymous wrote:DP, the Terrapin Trail garage is pretty convenient. It’s right behind the pool and there is a paved walking path that leads directly from the garage to the pool. It’s permit only until maybe 5 pm on weekdays and after that it is free. It’s right near Comcast Center too, so events at Comcast may affect parking there.

Lol, showing my age, it’s Xfinity Center now.

DP, the Terrapin Trail garage is pretty convenient. It’s right behind the pool and there is a paved walking path that leads directly from the garage to the pool. It’s permit only until maybe 5 pm on weekdays and after that it is free. It’s right near Comcast Center too, so events at Comcast may affect parking there.

Can you elaborate on why parking sucks? This is our first year there and coach was like “convenient garage.”

We're switching to the UMD site from Fairland for scheduling reasons, and have heard nothing but great things about the UMD coaches. I don't know who the seniors coach is, but the head site coach is terrific. We've also liked Machine generally as an organization - very well run.

The parking sucks at UMD.

Looking for positive/negative feedback about Machine at College Park, likely the silver level, for a newer senior swimmer.