Anonymous wrote:What about for McLean HS?

Wealthy schools have strong teams.

Anonymous wrote:Swimming does cut in most places here, so how good does someone have to be to make the team?

They start in the womb and don’t stop despite being born.

What about for McLean HS?

Definitely depends on the school. My kid’s HS is small. No cuts, everyone swims at least one event a weekend.

Depends on their ability

Anonymous wrote:Depends on the county and school.

This. About 1/2 of DS's HS team swim summer and/or club. 1/2 had never been on a team before and struggles to swim a 50 (and aren't legal in breast/fly..and sometimes back)

Seconded that it’s school dependent. What schools are you looking at, OP?

I can't speak for every school. But my kid swam four years for an FCPS school that makes at least minimal cuts. And DC didn't start summer swim until 11 and club swim until 12.

The answer to this is very school dependent, but it’s crazy to suggest that if your kid doesn’t start swimming until age 7 you are behind the 8-ball. If your child wants to pursue club swimming I maybe would not wait until age 11, but it definitely doesn’t need to be age 7. It’s also not accurate to suggest that good club swimmers are being cut. Generally the measure of a good club swimmer is one that at a minimum is making PVS champs meets. There aren’t PVS champs level swimmers getting cut from high school teams.

Depends on the county and school.

My son barely made the high school team and he has been on summer Swim Team since he was seven. However, summer after eighth grade, he invited a friend to join summer Swim Team with him that year. This kid barely knew how to swim. It was a rough first week of swim practice (he was placed with older elementary kids and not high school). They are sophomores now, and both on the high school Swim Team. My son is faster in fly, friend is faster in free (but close).

Anonymous wrote:Short answer: pretty good. Even kids who have been swimming for years get cut. Barring special athletic talent (the kid who is very good at every sport they try), you can’t get on many of the teams without being a good year round swimmer. And even that is not a guarantee.

Assuming you are one of the HSs with a strong team. There are some FCPS teams that are no cut. I'm sure the same is true in MD. Name your school for a more accurate answer.

Short answer: pretty good. Even kids who have been swimming for years get cut. Barring special athletic talent (the kid who is very good at every sport they try), you can’t get on many of the teams without being a good year round swimmer. And even that is not a guarantee.

Most of the kids in our circles were on summer team (not pre-team) by about age 7, with those who wanted year-round swim joining a competitive club before age 8 or a more open club before about age 10. Much later than that and more other kids are going to have measurably more experience, although of course each kid's talent, skill, and commitment will vary. It just gets harder (as with any sport) to get beginning- or intermediate-level instruction and coaching the older you get, but not impossible.

Swimming does cut in most places here, so how good does someone have to be to make the team?