Anonymous
04/10/2025 02:01
Subject: NCSA 2026
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Legit question. Is there a point to going to the 14 and under NCSAs? Other than to say your kid was there? I get taking them out of school and the expense of the trip in high school but why don’t do it beforehand? Just for the experience of a big meet? My kid qualifies every year but we haven’t gone and I’m wondering if we should?
How old is your kid? What club do they swim for? Need to look at other factors.
She is 12. I don’t think the Club matters.
I asked club to determine what meets she regularly participates in and the level of competition.
Age wise, yes it’s beneficial for 12 year olds to start participating in meets that are 4-5 days long, with prelims & finals format where she’s out of her routine (flight/hotel/unusual diet) because as she enters high school there will be a steeper learning curve for her, when meet performance is more critical.
On top of that, it’s a great way to bond with your team, participate in relays, and it’s just fun.
Anonymous
04/09/2025 21:34
Subject: NCSA 2026
Totally worth it. The benefits are endless. Learning how to handle the pressure of a big meet before being in an OPEN meet. Learning how to sleep, eat and prepare for a meet thats not at your local pool/area and you are not in your home. Racing kids that don't typically race. Meeting new friends from all over that they may stay in contact with over the next 4 years into college. Its hard to put a price on any of this but its totally worth it. AND its run so well. The awards ceremony are awesome. The announcer is awesome. So many fast times as the environment is electric at finals. Plus it shows your kid that you got their back, fully believe in them and you support their efforts enough to do a big meet. To me, thats worth the entire trip.
Anonymous
04/09/2025 20:26
Subject: NCSA 2026
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Legit question. Is there a point to going to the 14 and under NCSAs? Other than to say your kid was there? I get taking them out of school and the expense of the trip in high school but why don’t do it beforehand? Just for the experience of a big meet? My kid qualifies every year but we haven’t gone and I’m wondering if we should?
How old is your kid? What club do they swim for? Need to look at other factors.
She is 12. I don’t think the Club matters.
Anonymous
04/09/2025 20:25
Subject: NCSA 2026
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Legit question. Is there a point to going to the 14 and under NCSAs? Other than to say your kid was there? I get taking them out of school and the expense of the trip in high school but why don’t do it beforehand? Just for the experience of a big meet? My kid qualifies every year but we haven’t gone and I’m wondering if we should?
I will say there is value to a kid getting to experience a meet like this, learning what it is like to travel and maintain training and nutrition routines, learning to manage prelims and finals against higher level competition, etc. My swimmer had a rough experience the first time they went, it was a lot of swimming (even without making finals and being in relays at the young end of the age group), they were in an unfamiliar place (the meet is huge and exceptionally loud) and caught between is this vacation or is this business. The 2nd time they went was a night and day difference, they knew what to expect, they treated it like business, they scheduled themselves wisely and the results spoke for themselves (made finals every night, dropped time between prelims and finals in every event they finaled in, swam on every relay at night). I would rather my kid have gotten that experience so that when they show up to the higher level travel meets in HS they go into it knowing the expectations and what they need to do to perform their best.
+1000. My younger kid just did their first travel meet (not NCSAs) and we both learned a great deal. It was also an excellent bonding experience with kids who are likely to be long-term peers and teammates. Fwiw, there are plenty of potential ways to keep costs down if you are able to take the time away from school/work, too.
Anonymous
04/09/2025 19:19
Subject: NCSA 2026
Anonymous wrote:Legit question. Is there a point to going to the 14 and under NCSAs? Other than to say your kid was there? I get taking them out of school and the expense of the trip in high school but why don’t do it beforehand? Just for the experience of a big meet? My kid qualifies every year but we haven’t gone and I’m wondering if we should?
How old is your kid? What club do they swim for? Need to look at other factors.
Anonymous
04/09/2025 19:08
Subject: NCSA 2026
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Legit question. Is there a point to going to the 14 and under NCSAs? Other than to say your kid was there? I get taking them out of school and the expense of the trip in high school but why don’t do it beforehand? Just for the experience of a big meet? My kid qualifies every year but we haven’t gone and I’m wondering if we should?
I will say there is value to a kid getting to experience a meet like this, learning what it is like to travel and maintain training and nutrition routines, learning to manage prelims and finals against higher level competition, etc. My swimmer had a rough experience the first time they went, it was a lot of swimming (even without making finals and being in relays at the young end of the age group), they were in an unfamiliar place (the meet is huge and exceptionally loud) and caught between is this vacation or is this business. The 2nd time they went was a night and day difference, they knew what to expect, they treated it like business, they scheduled themselves wisely and the results spoke for themselves (made finals every night, dropped time between prelims and finals in every event they finaled in, swam on every relay at night). I would rather my kid have gotten that experience so that when they show up to the higher level travel meets in HS they go into it knowing the expectations and what they need to do to perform their best.
All of this. It was an incredible learning experience for my kid. Plane travel, staying in a strange place, having your routine thrown off. All very important.
Anonymous
04/09/2025 19:04
Subject: NCSA 2026
Anonymous wrote:Legit question. Is there a point to going to the 14 and under NCSAs? Other than to say your kid was there? I get taking them out of school and the expense of the trip in high school but why don’t do it beforehand? Just for the experience of a big meet? My kid qualifies every year but we haven’t gone and I’m wondering if we should?
I will say there is value to a kid getting to experience a meet like this, learning what it is like to travel and maintain training and nutrition routines, learning to manage prelims and finals against higher level competition, etc. My swimmer had a rough experience the first time they went, it was a lot of swimming (even without making finals and being in relays at the young end of the age group), they were in an unfamiliar place (the meet is huge and exceptionally loud) and caught between is this vacation or is this business. The 2nd time they went was a night and day difference, they knew what to expect, they treated it like business, they scheduled themselves wisely and the results spoke for themselves (made finals every night, dropped time between prelims and finals in every event they finaled in, swam on every relay at night). I would rather my kid have gotten that experience so that when they show up to the higher level travel meets in HS they go into it knowing the expectations and what they need to do to perform their best.
Anonymous
04/09/2025 18:49
Subject: NCSA 2026
Legit question. Is there a point to going to the 14 and under NCSAs? Other than to say your kid was there? I get taking them out of school and the expense of the trip in high school but why don’t do it beforehand? Just for the experience of a big meet? My kid qualifies every year but we haven’t gone and I’m wondering if we should?
Anonymous
04/09/2025 17:05
Subject: NCSA 2026
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:I hope it gets bumped a week later. Too rushed with all the spring champs weekends.
If is get bumped a week then the 14U meet would be the same week as spring break. Guess good reason for my kid to skip it as there is no way we are spending spring break in Orlando.
I mean, at that time of year it’s always someone’s spring break. All areas and school districts do not have the same spring break.
Anonymous
04/09/2025 15:35
Subject: NCSA 2026
Anonymous wrote:I hope it gets bumped a week later. Too rushed with all the spring champs weekends.
If is get bumped a week then the 14U meet would be the same week as spring break. Guess good reason for my kid to skip it as there is no way we are spending spring break in Orlando.
Anonymous
04/09/2025 14:55
Subject: NCSA 2026
I hope it gets bumped a week later. Too rushed with all the spring champs weekends.
Anonymous
04/09/2025 07:47
Subject: Re:NCSA 2026
Thanks. It’s not on the website and I heard it might change, but perhaps not.
Anonymous
04/09/2025 07:46
Subject: NCSA 2026
It is pretty much the same year to year. For planning purposes at least.
Anonymous
04/09/2025 07:09
Subject: NCSA 2026
Are they changing location? They have only been held at the Rosen for the last decade. And typically the third week in March.
Anonymous
04/09/2025 06:43
Subject: NCSA 2026
Has anyone heard when and where spring NCSAs are next year? The website only lists this year. Thanks!