Anonymous
Post 04/14/2025 11:33     Subject: NCAP and Machine pricing?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:

When looking at pricing, Machine and NCAP are in the 5K range and a lot of the other clubs are in the $3500 range for similar practice schedules.

But, for a competitive swimmer Machine and NCAP have less kids in a lane, the coaches pull out swimmers and work one on one, and they attend a lot more meets and travel meets. I don't know of any other clubs in the area that do as many. They do out of area meets that are without qualifying times to give that experience. If you have a swimmer at that level, that is a big deal.

For an average B/BB swimmer you are not going to get your money’s worth out of the most expensive clubs. However, if your kid is a high performer, the extras you get by being at a club like NCAP (cohort of other fast swimmers to train with, the chance to participate in travel meets with other fast swimmers, training trip opportunities, training that is geared toward elite swimmers as you get older, access to their top coaches) make the extra money worthwhile.


I get that, but does NCAP really have 2000 AAAA swimmers?

Nope, but this is the DMV, plenty of parents that want to say their kid swims with NCAP. I don’t understand it either. Unless no other club was as convenient to my house, or only NCAPs practice times worked for our schedules, I wouldn’t put a B/BB swimmers in NCAP.
Anonymous
Post 04/14/2025 11:22     Subject: NCAP and Machine pricing?
This is why we did PAC.
Practices at Fairland. They were in the lanes next to Machine kids for 1/4 of the price.
Plus PAC charges monthly not yearly so if your kid wants to stop swimming you’re not out the whole years fee.
Anonymous
Post 04/14/2025 11:16     Subject: NCAP and Machine pricing?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:

When looking at pricing, Machine and NCAP are in the 5K range and a lot of the other clubs are in the $3500 range for similar practice schedules.

But, for a competitive swimmer Machine and NCAP have less kids in a lane, the coaches pull out swimmers and work one on one, and they attend a lot more meets and travel meets. I don't know of any other clubs in the area that do as many. They do out of area meets that are without qualifying times to give that experience. If you have a swimmer at that level, that is a big deal.

For an average B/BB swimmer you are not going to get your money’s worth out of the most expensive clubs. However, if your kid is a high performer, the extras you get by being at a club like NCAP (cohort of other fast swimmers to train with, the chance to participate in travel meets with other fast swimmers, training trip opportunities, training that is geared toward elite swimmers as you get older, access to their top coaches) make the extra money worthwhile.


I get that, but does NCAP really have 2000 AAAA swimmers?
Anonymous
Post 04/14/2025 10:36     Subject: NCAP and Machine pricing?
Look at the dates of the programs. Some smaller clubs only charge you Sept-April (SCY season) and have separate groups/prices for LCM season because most kids swim with their summer leagues. NCAP is a full year commitment.
Anonymous
Post 04/14/2025 10:04     Subject: NCAP and Machine pricing?
Anonymous wrote:

When looking at pricing, Machine and NCAP are in the 5K range and a lot of the other clubs are in the $3500 range for similar practice schedules.

But, for a competitive swimmer Machine and NCAP have less kids in a lane, the coaches pull out swimmers and work one on one, and they attend a lot more meets and travel meets. I don't know of any other clubs in the area that do as many. They do out of area meets that are without qualifying times to give that experience. If you have a swimmer at that level, that is a big deal.

For an average B/BB swimmer you are not going to get your money’s worth out of the most expensive clubs. However, if your kid is a high performer, the extras you get by being at a club like NCAP (cohort of other fast swimmers to train with, the chance to participate in travel meets with other fast swimmers, training trip opportunities, training that is geared toward elite swimmers as you get older, access to their top coaches) make the extra money worthwhile.
Anonymous
Post 04/14/2025 09:51     Subject: NCAP and Machine pricing?


When looking at pricing, Machine and NCAP are in the 5K range and a lot of the other clubs are in the $3500 range for similar practice schedules.

But, for a competitive swimmer Machine and NCAP have less kids in a lane, the coaches pull out swimmers and work one on one, and they attend a lot more meets and travel meets. I don't know of any other clubs in the area that do as many. They do out of area meets that are without qualifying times to give that experience. If you have a swimmer at that level, that is a big deal.
Anonymous
Post 04/14/2025 09:47     Subject: NCAP and Machine pricing?
They have no impetus to provide lower pricing. They dominate the market in Northern Virginia specifically inside the beltway with respect to facilities and available lanes.

I do know that NCAP provides benefits to coaches while other clubs treat there coaches as independent contractors so that could be part of it. Not sure about Machine.
Anonymous
Post 04/14/2025 09:42     Subject: NCAP and Machine pricing?
Anonymous wrote:The only programs I am aware of that NCAP and Machine are 2-3x more expensive than are RMSC and AAC, and that is due to the fact that those clubs are county programs. In MD at least the smaller clubs may be a little cheaper, but definitely not 2-3x cheaper.



Potomac Marlins are less money.
Anonymous
Post 04/14/2025 09:19     Subject: Re:NCAP and Machine pricing?
Depending on the age of your swimmer, you may want to look at a non-competitive club. That USA Swimming fee a lot of the competitive clubs tack on is big - and usually a contributing factor to the overall cost. When we switched from our non-competitive "winter swim" program to Club, I was really surprised at the jump in cost.

I know Machine used to have a Stroke Mechanics program (again, depending on your child's age...) and that is non-competitive. The price is not crazy and you are swimming twice a week.
Anonymous
Post 04/14/2025 08:44     Subject: NCAP and Machine pricing?
Anonymous wrote:Why is NCAP and Machine pricing 2-3x more expensive than some of the smaller niche clubs for identical practice schedules? I'm looking for a new club for my average B/BB swimmer and was shocked at NCAPs and Machines prices. It's not like they will be getting coached by the top end coaches these clubs have. I just cannot comprehend this. It seems NCAP and Machine's business model is to eat up all the lanes they can, starve out all the competition, and then price gouge us.


Maybe it's lane density? I've seen NCAP swim with 3-4 swimmers per lane with 6-10 lanes, while a smaller club swims 8-10 swimmers per lane with 2 lanes at a practice session. Same number of coaches and swimmers at a practice session, but 2-3x the number of lanes.
Anonymous
Post 04/14/2025 08:35     Subject: NCAP and Machine pricing?
One reason for the difference in pricing may be the NCAP/Machine programs may include some dryland component a couple of times per week.

Note:not with either program, but when we were considering other options I noticed this.
Anonymous
Post 04/14/2025 08:29     Subject: NCAP and Machine pricing?
Anonymous wrote:For my B swimmer it's really about fit in all directions: does the schedule fit our lives (including the commute) at a price we think is fair for the number of workouts per week? We've been with 2 clubs on these terms and happy both times. DC swims for fitness, emotional centering, and prep for summer swim, so 2-3 times per week is enough.


Should also add that neither club we have been with was NCAP or MACH.
Anonymous
Post 04/14/2025 08:28     Subject: NCAP and Machine pricing?
For my B swimmer it's really about fit in all directions: does the schedule fit our lives (including the commute) at a price we think is fair for the number of workouts per week? We've been with 2 clubs on these terms and happy both times. DC swims for fitness, emotional centering, and prep for summer swim, so 2-3 times per week is enough.
Anonymous
Post 04/14/2025 08:23     Subject: NCAP and Machine pricing?
The only programs I am aware of that NCAP and Machine are 2-3x more expensive than are RMSC and AAC, and that is due to the fact that those clubs are county programs. In MD at least the smaller clubs may be a little cheaper, but definitely not 2-3x cheaper.
Anonymous
Post 04/14/2025 07:36     Subject: NCAP and Machine pricing?
Why is NCAP and Machine pricing 2-3x more expensive than some of the smaller niche clubs for identical practice schedules? I'm looking for a new club for my average B/BB swimmer and was shocked at NCAPs and Machines prices. It's not like they will be getting coached by the top end coaches these clubs have. I just cannot comprehend this. It seems NCAP and Machine's business model is to eat up all the lanes they can, starve out all the competition, and then price gouge us.