Totally naive question here — so you have to try out for winter swim teams here? Or just for certain groups within the swim team? I thought you could generally join any of them but had to qualify to be in one of the more senior/faster/more intense practice groups. Am I wrong about this? Are certain teams tryout only? Thanks.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Does anyone have experience w this team w their kid—Jrs (11-14) or the full team? Do they instruct proper techniques to the kids? Focused on form? Seems like a really serious team? Is there fun? Any experience welcome.

ASA is the best team for age (11-14) in the area. We went to tryout last summer for NDG group which has the best swimmers in PVS. Coaching staff were very nice and warm, the pool (stone ridge) is very nice. We opt out before the decision had been made because we realized the practice schedule did not work for us.

The best swimmers in PVS? Can any team say that?

This whole post is funny. I am glad someone feels passionately about his/her kid’s team but there are lots of great programs in the area - and then fit with your kid matters too! Don’t want to see this post devolve into a “my team is better than your team” back-and-forth. I actually think convenience is a main factor when swimming multiple times a week that shouldn’t be overlooked.

Anonymous wrote:Does anyone have experience w this team w their kid—Jrs (11-14) or the full team? Do they instruct proper techniques to the kids? Focused on form? Seems like a really serious team? Is there fun? Any experience welcome.

ASA is a great team if you are looking for a balance of intensity and fun. They have some good swimmers in each group but they seem to also have kids who just like to swim and maybe aren’t as competitive. juniors generally practices 4x week.

Juniors is the less intense 11-14 age group. The National Development Group is mostly for kids who have multiple JO cuts and above. There is switching between groups if a kid makes those standards.

ASA has kids who swim in college but no Olympic trial qualifiers recently that I know of - which is a plus for my kid, who loves to swim but won’t make the Olympics.

As for technique, I am not a swimmer so it is hard for me to speak on that but it seems like the kids are improving so must be getting some instruction. It is a relatively small program so coaches know all the kids. I do think that most juniors have been swimming for a while so they will expect a certain base level of knowledge in how to swim an interval etc.

Tollefson is another good program if you are looking for more intense instruction/this would be your kid’s first team.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Does anyone have experience w this team w their kid—Jrs (11-14) or the full team? Do they instruct proper techniques to the kids? Focused on form? Seems like a really serious team? Is there fun? Any experience welcome.

ASA is the best team for age (11-14) in the area. We went to tryout last summer for NDG group which has the best swimmers in PVS. Coaching staff were very nice and warm, the pool (stone ridge) is very nice. We opt out before the decision had been made because we realized the practice schedule did not work for us.

The best swimmers in PVS? Can any team say that?

Anonymous wrote:I do not recommend ASA. I don’t mind competition but they aren’t good at policing the lanes. If my daughter would try to pass someone, she would get scratched, her arms pulled etc. There is also a great deal of politics there and favoritism. They also aren’t good at teaching technique. It was frustrating to watch my daughter swim for weeks/months without any corrections. In the short run, it may be ok. But if your swimmer is planning to swim for years, you are better off going somewhere else.

+1
Try NCAP if your child can make it.

I do not recommend ASA. I don’t mind competition but they aren’t good at policing the lanes. If my daughter would try to pass someone, she would get scratched, her arms pulled etc. There is also a great deal of politics there and favoritism. They also aren’t good at teaching technique. It was frustrating to watch my daughter swim for weeks/months without any corrections. In the short run, it may be ok. But if your swimmer is planning to swim for years, you are better off going somewhere else.

Anonymous wrote:It’s a very intense team.

We considered their higher level group couple years ago and didn’t find it intense: coaches were eating, chatting with each other during workouts. NCAP seemed better organized

Check with SeaDevils they have different groups

OP again. What to do if 12 yo child did not even make this team but wants to swim 4 times a week? Wants to be on a team? Has the capacity and genetics (both bio parents were division one athletes) to excel but needs an opportunity to be taught and practice. He’s signed up to tryout for RMSC but that’s just as doubtful. I regret not accepting offered spots for teams when he was very little but can’t do anything about that now. TIA

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s a very intense team.

Are you referring to 11-14 or the entire team? Aren't all the team's intense?

Don’t worry, juniors that OP is asking about aren’t intense. NDG is more intense, based on Princeton college training sets, which are super effective for some and not as much for others. It is more experimental vs established big teams programs

Anonymous wrote:It’s a very intense team.

Are you referring to 11-14 or the entire team? Aren't all the team's intense?

It’s a very intense team.

What is your child's age? 11-14 is a wide age range. ASA Juniors would be an ok placement for 11-12 y.o., probably about same as RMSC juniors or SeaDevils. For 13-14 there are many options in PVS and it depends on the swimmer specialty, times, etc. ASA training schedule is fluid and shifting. NDG summer long course is 5-7am - pretty hard for working parents and young swimmers.

Anonymous wrote:Does anyone have experience w this team w their kid—Jrs (11-14) or the full team? Do they instruct proper techniques to the kids? Focused on form? Seems like a really serious team? Is there fun? Any experience welcome.

ASA is the best team for age (11-14) in the area. We went to tryout last summer for NDG group which has the best swimmers in PVS. Coaching staff were very nice and warm, the pool (stone ridge) is very nice. We opt out before the decision had been made because we realized the practice schedule did not work for us.

Does anyone have experience w this team w their kid—Jrs (11-14) or the full team? Do they instruct proper techniques to the kids? Focused on form? Seems like a really serious team? Is there fun? Any experience welcome.