Anonymous
07/22/2014 17:28
Subject: Re:Winter Swimming
Another small team is the Lowell Lionfish. I know some changes are anticipated for next season as the team has grown by leaps and bounds since it was started 2 years ago. Coach is Scott Bryant and he is great - my kids love him.
Anonymous
07/22/2014 17:21
Subject: Winter Swimming
Anonymous wrote:We have been in winter swimming a number of years so I feel like i know it pretty well.
Toll-was a smaller program but is growing which is hurting them a bit becuase they have a samll staff and it is expensive.
RMSC is big, you will see a lot of kids at the try out and when we tried out they had 12 spots open and probably 100 kids show up. Some of them had no business being there. We went with RMSC and it is totally fine for winter, a lot of meets and your child will get better but we feel it lacks individual coaching once you get out of minis.
If you cna move up to advanced jrs you get more individual attention but it is hard work. 3-5 practices a week.
The top summer pool coaches coach at RMSC
ASA-a low key program, decent, the coaches are younger
FINS is good for your average swimmers who want to maintain where they are.
NCAP is on par with RMSC but more individual coaching and much more expensive.
The meets are big, many events at meets have 120 swimmers in each race. The meets are very long and you can't go onto thte deck at all to tlak to your child.
Winter swiming and doing meets is not for everyone, some of the best swimmers do winter but hen some of them don't
PP, your post was very helpful. Do you know anything about the RMSC Stroke & Turn Clinics and SwiMontgomery? Wouldn't those be good for a summer league swimmer who is A Team/B Team and just wants to improve over the winter? Thinking I'll start my younger one with Stroke & Turn and then if he shows promise move up to SwiMontgomery and THEN eventually to try-outs.
Anonymous
07/21/2014 15:09
Subject: Winter Swimming
NP here. does any one have any info about Fairland Aquatics Swim Team. http://www.fast92.org/
Anonymous
07/18/2014 15:56
Subject: Winter Swimming
ASA- I think so. They dropped the total number. Tryouts might be tough. You should go if you are interested.
Anonymous
07/18/2014 15:43
Subject: Winter Swimming
We're looking at ASA and saw that they have a tryout listed on their website. Are they still taking swimmers?
Anonymous
07/18/2014 13:04
Subject: Winter Swimming
Agree with what PP mentioned. Y teams are underrated here because of the "snob factor" IMHO. However, the kids compete at Y Nationals and they have a great time in much the same way that summer teams do.
Another option is NCAP Developmental - meets 1x per week or NCAP lessons. Both meet 1x per week at AU, Georgetown Prep, other locations.
Another option is NCAP Developmental - meets 1x per week or NCAP lessons. Both meet 1x per week at AU, Georgetown Prep, other locations.
Anonymous
07/18/2014 12:55
Subject: Winter Swimming
A few thoughts-
Re: "but then some of them don't"- after around age 9, this is not true. All of the good swimmers swim winter, and it becomes hard to catch up later if there is not some background of winter swimming.
Practice amount- 1-2x week is fine for an 8&u. 2 is optimal, but 1 is much better than none.
Teams- Many teams are full for the coming seasons. ASA just cut lots of swimmers due to lack of space. Additional teams that have not been mentioned are: Machine, Best Times, BCC YMCA, Silver Spring YMCA, Sea Devils, Joe Flaherty's dolphins. Many teams are good and what is best for you will depend on individual fit (especially things like location, timing, friends on the team). Don't fall into the trap of thinking that one of these teams will somehow make your kid much faster than any other team. Any winter swimming is better than none, and the more fun and least stressful, the more they will want to stick with it.
Re: "but then some of them don't"- after around age 9, this is not true. All of the good swimmers swim winter, and it becomes hard to catch up later if there is not some background of winter swimming.
Practice amount- 1-2x week is fine for an 8&u. 2 is optimal, but 1 is much better than none.
Teams- Many teams are full for the coming seasons. ASA just cut lots of swimmers due to lack of space. Additional teams that have not been mentioned are: Machine, Best Times, BCC YMCA, Silver Spring YMCA, Sea Devils, Joe Flaherty's dolphins. Many teams are good and what is best for you will depend on individual fit (especially things like location, timing, friends on the team). Don't fall into the trap of thinking that one of these teams will somehow make your kid much faster than any other team. Any winter swimming is better than none, and the more fun and least stressful, the more they will want to stick with it.
Anonymous
07/18/2014 10:46
Subject: Winter Swimming
Winter swiming and doing meets is not for everyone, some of the best swimmers do winter but hen some of them don't
We're thinking to sign up for RMSC in this fall. Which location did you go for try-out and practice? Not sure if possible but I am looking for practice location that is less crowded. Thanks!
We went to Rockville, you have to try out, it is nto a sign up thing. for the 8 and under they had 12 spots and 100 or more kids showed up over the few days. Some were pretty young. check the birth date requirements. unlike summer swimming you age up on your birthday so if you turn 9 in December you move up to jrs. Many swimmers will be in a two day meet and can swim on saturday in 8 & under but on suday the have to swim in 8& 10.
Anonymous
07/18/2014 10:29
Subject: Winter Swimming
Anonymous wrote:We have been in winter swimming a number of years so I feel like i know it pretty well.
Toll-was a smaller program but is growing which is hurting them a bit becuase they have a samll staff and it is expensive.
RMSC is big, you will see a lot of kids at the try out and when we tried out they had 12 spots open and probably 100 kids show up. Some of them had no business being there. We went with RMSC and it is totally fine for winter, a lot of meets and your child will get better but we feel it lacks individual coaching once you get out of minis.
If you cna move up to advanced jrs you get more individual attention but it is hard work. 3-5 practices a week.
The top summer pool coaches coach at RMSC
ASA-a low key program, decent, the coaches are younger
FINS is good for your average swimmers who want to maintain where they are.
NCAP is on par with RMSC but more individual coaching and much more expensive.
The meets are big, many events at meets have 120 swimmers in each race. The meets are very long and you can't go onto thte deck at all to tlak to your child.
Winter swiming and doing meets is not for everyone, some of the best swimmers do winter but hen some of them don't
We're thinking to sign up for RMSC in this fall. Which location did you go for try-out and practice? Not sure if possible but I am looking for practice location that is less crowded. Thanks!
Anonymous
07/18/2014 10:26
Subject: Winter Swimming
Anonymous wrote:My problem is that my kids are good swimmers but don't want to swim 2-4 times a week. They have other activities that they want to do. So we have been stuck with Joe Flaherty since that is one of the only programs that allows for 1 day a week practice that is reasonable in price. It is 600 for the 10 months. Anyone know other programs that allows 1 day a week practice that is still good?
Fins
Anonymous
07/18/2014 10:21
Subject: Winter Swimming
My problem is that my kids are good swimmers but don't want to swim 2-4 times a week. They have other activities that they want to do. So we have been stuck with Joe Flaherty since that is one of the only programs that allows for 1 day a week practice that is reasonable in price. It is 600 for the 10 months. Anyone know other programs that allows 1 day a week practice that is still good?
Anonymous
07/18/2014 10:12
Subject: Winter Swimming
We have been in winter swimming a number of years so I feel like i know it pretty well.
Toll-was a smaller program but is growing which is hurting them a bit becuase they have a samll staff and it is expensive.
RMSC is big, you will see a lot of kids at the try out and when we tried out they had 12 spots open and probably 100 kids show up. Some of them had no business being there. We went with RMSC and it is totally fine for winter, a lot of meets and your child will get better but we feel it lacks individual coaching once you get out of minis.
If you cna move up to advanced jrs you get more individual attention but it is hard work. 3-5 practices a week.
The top summer pool coaches coach at RMSC
ASA-a low key program, decent, the coaches are younger
FINS is good for your average swimmers who want to maintain where they are.
NCAP is on par with RMSC but more individual coaching and much more expensive.
The meets are big, many events at meets have 120 swimmers in each race. The meets are very long and you can't go onto thte deck at all to tlak to your child.
Winter swiming and doing meets is not for everyone, some of the best swimmers do winter but hen some of them don't
Toll-was a smaller program but is growing which is hurting them a bit becuase they have a samll staff and it is expensive.
RMSC is big, you will see a lot of kids at the try out and when we tried out they had 12 spots open and probably 100 kids show up. Some of them had no business being there. We went with RMSC and it is totally fine for winter, a lot of meets and your child will get better but we feel it lacks individual coaching once you get out of minis.
If you cna move up to advanced jrs you get more individual attention but it is hard work. 3-5 practices a week.
The top summer pool coaches coach at RMSC
ASA-a low key program, decent, the coaches are younger
FINS is good for your average swimmers who want to maintain where they are.
NCAP is on par with RMSC but more individual coaching and much more expensive.
The meets are big, many events at meets have 120 swimmers in each race. The meets are very long and you can't go onto thte deck at all to tlak to your child.
Winter swiming and doing meets is not for everyone, some of the best swimmers do winter but hen some of them don't
Anonymous
07/18/2014 09:38
Subject: Winter Swimming
What do you want to know?
Anonymous
07/17/2014 12:00
Subject: Winter Swimming
I was just about to post the same question. We are also looking for information on the same programs, as well as NCAP and Tollefson.
Anonymous
07/15/2014 17:28
Subject: Winter Swimming
Could anyone break down the choices in this area for an 8 and under who wants to do competitive swimming in the fall/winter/spring? Specifically interested in Montgomery County. Looking at RMSC sites, All Star Aquatics, Tollefson, Joe Flaherty's dolphins, etc....
Anyone have any experience or opinions to share about these choices?
Thanks!
Anyone have any experience or opinions to share about these choices?
Thanks!