Anonymous wrote:OP, why not look at Machine which is also at Audrey Moore?

Machine is great. But they are also very intense.

OP, why not look at Machine which is also at Audrey Moore?

Also check out Fairfax Foxes. We have been really impressed with the coaching and general team culture.

Anonymous wrote:This was our first year club swimming. It's been fine, but our club focuses a lot on yardage. There isn't a lot of stroke refinement or practicing starts, turns, etc. to cut time. Maybe that's the norm?

What has been your experience with Fish swimming? They practice at Audrey Moore, which would be ideal for us. My kid could definitely do the tryout requirement (100 IM).

Can you elaborate on what is "yardage". What practice group is your 11-year old? How many practices per week and how many yards per pracitce?

FISH Parent Here. Very solid team with coaches who certainly know their stuff. Swimmers excel at all distance levels. I would simply recommend you sign-up your swimmer for a tryout to get a true sense for the team. Good luck!

+1 for Makos. Have kids with different coaches. The focus is on technique more than distance. They actually discouraged younger swimmers from signing up for long distance, as technique matters more.

Makos is a great choice. A lot less yardage and more technique.

We did not like the Marlins. They have the grind the kids out model with yardage. What is messed up is that they produce some fast age group swimmers (but not many considering the size of the club) but then around 13-14 when other clubs increase swimmer yardage the kids start getting blown away. They peak their kids way too early to be long time swimmers.

My kid practices with Zach at Audrey Moore. They have worked on strike refinement/turns/underwaters/starts since September and I have seen a lot of improvement with my kid in all these areas.

That said, if you're looking for a change, Fish is a great team. The only complaint I've heard from Audrey Moore Fish parents is that because their main pool is in McLean, that's the center on gravity for scheduling. (Mandatory weekend practice there, summer pool that way for LC practice)

If I was going to move my kid somewhere else (especially if it was wanting more technique) I'd choose Makos.

Anonymous wrote:FISH seems to have more distance swimmers at the top meets. Coaches are a mix. Really depends on what group you are in. Try out and see if your child likes the coach/group.

They do have some distance swimmers but the majority of their top swimmers are not best at distance.

If you are looking for less yardage, then I can tell you FISH is absolutely not the answer and this is very common knowledge across the LSC.

They have great coaches and do what they are striving to do at a high level which makes them a good club as one poster said above but just know what they strive to do is make good distance swimmers by pounding yardage from a young age.

FISH seems to have more distance swimmers at the top meets. Coaches are a mix. Really depends on what group you are in. Try out and see if your child likes the coach/group.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:FISH is a great club. How old is your swimmer?

Choosing a pool that is easy to get to is important.

Can I ask which club you are at currently?

11 years old. Currently in Marlins.

FISH will be good. Historically they were a top club and focused on technique. I think that they have had some coaching change ups in recent years. Any other pools beside Audrey More that you are near you?

Anonymous wrote:FISH is a great club. How old is your swimmer?

Choosing a pool that is easy to get to is important.

Can I ask which club you are at currently?

11 years old. Currently in Marlins.

FISH is a great club. How old is your swimmer?

Choosing a pool that is easy to get to is important.

Can I ask which club you are at currently?

This was our first year club swimming. It's been fine, but our club focuses a lot on yardage. There isn't a lot of stroke refinement or practicing starts, turns, etc. to cut time. Maybe that's the norm?

What has been your experience with Fish swimming? They practice at Audrey Moore, which would be ideal for us. My kid could definitely do the tryout requirement (100 IM).