Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Really appreciate the feedback! The try outs for non-KSAC sites being on the same day/time is a challenge. I got freaked out reading on here that they have 100 kids trying out for just 15-20 spots. How do they differentiate with such a large group of kids?? And does RMSC really give feedback if you don’t make the cut? We tried out for ASA and they told us nothing.

We asked for feedback when DC tried out and did not make RMSC. The feedback was general I think, they said he was not legal in breast and fly but we have a video of him doing breast at the trail-- I wasn't there so my wife took videos for me.

For 8u, coaches want kids who can focus, follow directions, and do not need constant redirection in the pool. Being legal in all strokes is a definite bonus, but imagine being a kindergarten teacher who has to select students for their class. Do you select the kid who can write his name well but also can’t sit still and distracts all the other kids? Or the kid who isn’t perfect, but listens well and follows all the directions?

Also, taking video of your child at tryouts is not going to endear you to the coaches, no matter what the reason. It kind of has “crazy swim parent” vibes, so I wouldn’t recommend.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you think you ever want to join RMSC, try out as young as possible, and keep trying in repeat years if DC does not get in. The older they get, the fewer the spaces, the less judgement placed on potential vs actual evidence, and the higher the standards. Conventional wisdom around here is to try out at more than one site if possible so that you have more than one chance. You can also ask for feedback from your tryout if DC does not get in. But I would definitely *not* wait a year to try to improve. Try for RMSC now and also try out for or visit other clubs as a backup plan so that you can get going this coming fall.

This is the best advice here.

- current RMSC family

Agree- mom of two graduates of RMSC.

Anonymous wrote:For the PP with a 6 year old - the only downside to trying out now is that if a spot is offered and you don’t take it, it may definitely count against you if you try next year to get on.

Plenty of 6s posting times in the mini meet results. Even a 5 or two. I would be more concerned about your child’s ability to function in that large a practice group - their maturity level and compliance with instructions. Obviously every kid is different but the MLK minis is close to 50 kids I think with 2 coaches. So they need to be capable of focusing and paying attention. Obviously it IS a minis group and the 6s are probably in the slower lanes but still wanted to point that out.

Good points, as a KSAC minis parent I’d note that that site typically has 3 or 4 coaches on deck for 5-6 practice lanes. About 2-4 kids per lane at a typical minis practice is what I’ve observed. (Obviously, the exact # lanes will change with the transition to practices at JCC and Silver Spring this coming year). But yes, the kids need to be able to listen to instructions and follow along for an 45-60 min group practice. However, the coaches do a really good job of recognizing that these are young kids with short attention spans and mixing it up so that the group isn’t spending too much time focused on a single skill. My kid is fairly distractable but did fine in the minis environment. Many of the coaches have worked with young swimmers for decades and have a very good sense of what to expect from this age range and how to manage/communicate with very young swimmers.

Anonymous wrote:Totally depends on location and spots available. My two kids tried out for RMSC at 6 and 8; 6 year old made it but older kid (the one who actually wanted it) did not. After years of try outs he finally made it in at 11. All that to say it felt like a bit of a crapshoot and yes, younger seemed easier to get in for us.

Kid who didn’t make it did Hydrosonic Tiburones for a while which was great for his swimming (though less convenient and more money). Both kids now are both strong swimmers in advanced RMSC groups as teens.

Did your older DC that did Tiburones join the club team or the development group?

Totally depends on location and spots available. My two kids tried out for RMSC at 6 and 8; 6 year old made it but older kid (the one who actually wanted it) did not. After years of try outs he finally made it in at 11. All that to say it felt like a bit of a crapshoot and yes, younger seemed easier to get in for us.

Kid who didn’t make it did Hydrosonic Tiburones for a while which was great for his swimming (though less convenient and more money). Both kids now are both strong swimmers in advanced RMSC groups as teens.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would also add it would be practically impossible for someone to walk on with no year round experience into the juniors level of any RMSC teams. Most of the minis flow up and there may be a small number of slots available but those are really not going to go to “newbies”

Not OP but DC is 6 so has some time to join minis. Do they have the same standards for 6 year olds as they do for 8 year olds?

No, both the standards and the level of competition for spots are easier for 6 vs 8 (refer back to previous posts).

One data point: a few years ago DC8 did not make Minis. The feedback was that free and back were good, breaststroke kick was illegal, fly was mostly legal (kick tended to split late in a lap).

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would also add it would be practically impossible for someone to walk on with no year round experience into the juniors level of any RMSC teams. Most of the minis flow up and there may be a small number of slots available but those are really not going to go to “newbies”

Not OP but DC is 6 so has some time to join minis. Do they have the same standards for 6 year olds as they do for 8 year olds?

You may not have as much "time" as you think - if DC is 6 now but will be 7 before Dec 1st, 2024, they are a 7yo for the purpose of this discussion.

As others have said, don't wait to try out if you think this is something they will want to try/do. Additionally, if you get accepted, I wouldn't decline - it just get harder next year and beyond.

The standards for all are the same but more leeway is given for a 6yo compared to an 8yo. Additionally, within the minimum standards, they are being compared within their age and gender "tryout cohort" so what got someone on in years past may or may not hold true this time around... like many things in life, just meeting the minimums may not be enough.

That being said, I would say that a 6yo that can comfortably swim freestyle up 25 meters and then back 25 meters with breathing to the sides; has a reasonable backstroke(again 25 up, 25 back), and then at least be able to mimic what breaststroke and butterfly are/look like would have a good chance at getting selected. All of these can/would be slow but steady and the child should feel and look comfortable in the water and around the pool.

An 8yo would need to be faster/stronger in free and back and also know one or preferably both breast and fly; and since there are more 8yo than 6yo trying out, they will need to stand out more(stronger/faster) within their cohort to get into the group that gets selected.

For the PP with a 6 year old - the only downside to trying out now is that if a spot is offered and you don’t take it, it may definitely count against you if you try next year to get on.

Plenty of 6s posting times in the mini meet results. Even a 5 or two. I would be more concerned about your child’s ability to function in that large a practice group - their maturity level and compliance with instructions. Obviously every kid is different but the MLK minis is close to 50 kids I think with 2 coaches. So they need to be capable of focusing and paying attention. Obviously it IS a minis group and the 6s are probably in the slower lanes but still wanted to point that out.

Not necessarily (I'd expect more leeway for a 6 than an 8), but check the birthday cutoffs. Your 6yo may be trying out as a 7yo depending on when their birthday falls.

Anonymous wrote:I would also add it would be practically impossible for someone to walk on with no year round experience into the juniors level of any RMSC teams. Most of the minis flow up and there may be a small number of slots available but those are really not going to go to “newbies”

Not OP but DC is 6 so has some time to join minis. Do they have the same standards for 6 year olds as they do for 8 year olds?

I would also add it would be practically impossible for someone to walk on with no year round experience into the juniors level of any RMSC teams. Most of the minis flow up and there may be a small number of slots available but those are really not going to go to “newbies”

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Really appreciate the feedback! The try outs for non-KSAC sites being on the same day/time is a challenge. I got freaked out reading on here that they have 100 kids trying out for just 15-20 spots. How do they differentiate with such a large group of kids?? And does RMSC really give feedback if you don’t make the cut? We tried out for ASA and they told us nothing.

We asked for feedback when DC tried out and did not make RMSC. The feedback was general I think, they said he was not legal in breast and fly but we have a video of him doing breast at the trail-- I wasn't there so my wife took videos for me.

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Really appreciate the feedback! The try outs for non-KSAC sites being on the same day/time is a challenge. I got freaked out reading on here that they have 100 kids trying out for just 15-20 spots. How do they differentiate with such a large group of kids?? And does RMSC really give feedback if you don’t make the cut? We tried out for ASA and they told us nothing.

Ideally you try out for on site one week and another site the next week, assuming you can make both dates. And if you just work the numbers, you can imagine 100 candidates spread across two days = about 50 kids per day = about 6 lanes of 8-10 kids each for about 20-30 minutes. The coaches are skilled observers by profession, and they also take notes.

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Really appreciate the feedback! The try outs for non-KSAC sites being on the same day/time is a challenge. I got freaked out reading on here that they have 100 kids trying out for just 15-20 spots. How do they differentiate with such a large group of kids?? And does RMSC really give feedback if you don’t make the cut? We tried out for ASA and they told us nothing.

Rockville and KSAC are the hardest to get into but apply for KSAC as some may drop out as they are closing for two years and they are moving the kids.