Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:When the University of Maryland pool is closed, Machine cancels. So if they are closed for a federal holiday or a football game, practice is canceled, and if Fairland is not available - there is no practice. Simarily, if the staff are busy with meets for HP, they cancel practice for non-HP teams. They may or may not offer an alternative practice. Moreover, most kids have multiple activities so "bring them on a Sunday morning" when there is church or bring them on different days when they have other expensive pre-paid activities is not always possible. Yes, the snow was a freak event, but the non HP kids were not a priority for them. They have cancelled 20 practices this year. That's a lot. They could rebate back to parents - they could offer an extra make-up week - they could arrange stroke and turn clinics - they have options. They could also do a better job ahead of time in communication with the college (lots of last minute "it's Spring Break so we are meeting earlier or later or at Fairland." They could also send reminders to parents when they have moved the practice to Fairland. Digging through my email every week to find one email per month with practice updates is frustrating.

20 practices? is this real?

DP - I have a non-HP (High Performance) kid at UMD with Machine and no, they have not cancelled 20 practices this year. Especially not during weekdays. Last year they did offer a make up week and make up practices throughout the year. The head site coach sent out an email last week laying out all the practice changes for March. It's not as hard as this person is making it out to be.

Also, all Machine sites are OFF entirely for spring break, so the claim that this person is receiving last minute "it's Spring Break so we are meeting earlier or later at Fairland" is utter BS. Like, an actual fabrication. They're not meeting anywhere because they take spring break off entirely from swimming.

I think they meant when UMD had spring break, not when K-12 kids do.

Correct - they say they do not get timely information from MD on when the school is closed for federal holidays/weather (which means pool is totally closed) or how the schedule may be adjusted when MD is itself on winter or spring break - so they tell parents late. Something in that relationship is not working if you are not able to anticipate and alter practice schedules with adequate notice. No program is perfect, but the weird boosterism on this forum is just not helpful. There are multiple parents here saying that practices are fairly regularly cancelled for whatever reason, and adequate make-ups are not offered. There was one practice where they had a make-up during the day on a Friday in Laurel because some kids were off school - but other kids had school. That is not a substitute for a normally scheduled and cancelled practice.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:When the University of Maryland pool is closed, Machine cancels. So if they are closed for a federal holiday or a football game, practice is canceled, and if Fairland is not available - there is no practice. Simarily, if the staff are busy with meets for HP, they cancel practice for non-HP teams. They may or may not offer an alternative practice. Moreover, most kids have multiple activities so "bring them on a Sunday morning" when there is church or bring them on different days when they have other expensive pre-paid activities is not always possible. Yes, the snow was a freak event, but the non HP kids were not a priority for them. They have cancelled 20 practices this year. That's a lot. They could rebate back to parents - they could offer an extra make-up week - they could arrange stroke and turn clinics - they have options. They could also do a better job ahead of time in communication with the college (lots of last minute "it's Spring Break so we are meeting earlier or later or at Fairland." They could also send reminders to parents when they have moved the practice to Fairland. Digging through my email every week to find one email per month with practice updates is frustrating.

20 practices? is this real?

DP - I have a non-HP (High Performance) kid at UMD with Machine and no, they have not cancelled 20 practices this year. Especially not during weekdays. Last year they did offer a make up week and make up practices throughout the year. The head site coach sent out an email last week laying out all the practice changes for March. It's not as hard as this person is making it out to be.

Also, all Machine sites are OFF entirely for spring break, so the claim that this person is receiving last minute "it's Spring Break so we are meeting earlier or later at Fairland" is utter BS. Like, an actual fabrication. They're not meeting anywhere because they take spring break off entirely from swimming.

I think they meant when UMD had spring break, not when K-12 kids do.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:^^ Machine is not perfect, as no swim club is. But slander is not okay.

I assume you mean libel? They have cancelled 20 UMD practices this year since the beginning of the year. And they said at the beginning of the year, not to bring your kids to other days as make-ups. There are other clubs that have a "you can come any night model," but Machine does not do that. Maybe they make exceptions for older kids, don't know. At other clubs in NoVa, they have make-up weeks, or have enough coaches that even if there is a meet for older/faster kids, the other kids can still practice. Machine is also very expensive compared to some other clubs. With the pricetag, it is reasonable to expect that they allow for drop-in or offer stroke and turn or some other way of indicating that they understand the financial sacrifice parents are making. Instead, they do not hire enough coaches or timers at any meet, and yell at parents for not wanting to time miss their kids' events and time. The Machine qualifier meets are always a mess.

If you’re timing, how exactly are you missing your kid’s event? You’re literally on deck watching the pool.

Anonymous wrote:^^ Machine is not perfect, as no swim club is. But slander is not okay.

I assume you mean libel? They have cancelled 20 UMD practices this year since the beginning of the year. And they said at the beginning of the year, not to bring your kids to other days as make-ups. There are other clubs that have a "you can come any night model," but Machine does not do that. Maybe they make exceptions for older kids, don't know. At other clubs in NoVa, they have make-up weeks, or have enough coaches that even if there is a meet for older/faster kids, the other kids can still practice. Machine is also very expensive compared to some other clubs. With the pricetag, it is reasonable to expect that they allow for drop-in or offer stroke and turn or some other way of indicating that they understand the financial sacrifice parents are making. Instead, they do not hire enough coaches or timers at any meet, and yell at parents for not wanting to time miss their kids' events and time. The Machine qualifier meets are always a mess.

^^ Machine is not perfect, as no swim club is. But slander is not okay.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:When the University of Maryland pool is closed, Machine cancels. So if they are closed for a federal holiday or a football game, practice is canceled, and if Fairland is not available - there is no practice. Simarily, if the staff are busy with meets for HP, they cancel practice for non-HP teams. They may or may not offer an alternative practice. Moreover, most kids have multiple activities so "bring them on a Sunday morning" when there is church or bring them on different days when they have other expensive pre-paid activities is not always possible. Yes, the snow was a freak event, but the non HP kids were not a priority for them. They have cancelled 20 practices this year. That's a lot. They could rebate back to parents - they could offer an extra make-up week - they could arrange stroke and turn clinics - they have options. They could also do a better job ahead of time in communication with the college (lots of last minute "it's Spring Break so we are meeting earlier or later or at Fairland." They could also send reminders to parents when they have moved the practice to Fairland. Digging through my email every week to find one email per month with practice updates is frustrating.

20 practices? is this real?

DP - I have a non-HP (High Performance) kid at UMD with Machine and no, they have not cancelled 20 practices this year. Especially not during weekdays. Last year they did offer a make up week and make up practices throughout the year. The head site coach sent out an email last week laying out all the practice changes for March. It's not as hard as this person is making it out to be.

Also, all Machine sites are OFF entirely for spring break, so the claim that this person is receiving last minute "it's Spring Break so we are meeting earlier or later at Fairland" is utter BS. Like, an actual fabrication. They're not meeting anywhere because they take spring break off entirely from swimming.

Anonymous wrote:When the University of Maryland pool is closed, Machine cancels. So if they are closed for a federal holiday or a football game, practice is canceled, and if Fairland is not available - there is no practice. Simarily, if the staff are busy with meets for HP, they cancel practice for non-HP teams. They may or may not offer an alternative practice. Moreover, most kids have multiple activities so "bring them on a Sunday morning" when there is church or bring them on different days when they have other expensive pre-paid activities is not always possible. Yes, the snow was a freak event, but the non HP kids were not a priority for them. They have cancelled 20 practices this year. That's a lot. They could rebate back to parents - they could offer an extra make-up week - they could arrange stroke and turn clinics - they have options. They could also do a better job ahead of time in communication with the college (lots of last minute "it's Spring Break so we are meeting earlier or later or at Fairland." They could also send reminders to parents when they have moved the practice to Fairland. Digging through my email every week to find one email per month with practice updates is frustrating.

20 practices? is this real?

Not a machine parent, but I'm confused by your definition of "cancelled". Wouldn't that mean that practice was scheduled, and then you were told there was an update? I'd assume, particularly for the holidays, that these were previously scheduled "no practice" days. They shouldn't factor into your math.

Anonymous wrote:Yes, my child is new to Machine this year. It is not true in my experience that there is always an option to make up canceled practices.

Not sure of your site and the director but have you contacted your coach to ask? For weather there usually isn’t, but that is true most teams and sports.

Yes, my child is new to Machine this year. It is not true in my experience that there is always an option to make up canceled practices.

Anonymous wrote:Here’s another example- it was just announced that April 10th there will be no practice for all sites due to an all staff planning meeting to plan next season. After multiple weeks in March of interrupted practices, this is an inconsiderate choice.

I am guessing you are new to Machine. This staff planning happens every year and, as others have posted, an option to make up the 10th is always provided. They announced the planning date over a month in advance.

Also a Maryland family here, all teams that practice at UMD or Fairland are impacted by all the meets being scheduled at these locations. This is not something just happening to Machine. When practices are moved to another location have you noticed that additional lanes are also added for the practice? When Fairland went down due to maintenance last year, Machine extended the season to make up for that closure, something we all appreciated them doing and no other team using Fairland did.

I appreciate the dedication Dan H., Chad and Paris and the staff put into trying to make sure the kids get to swim.

When the University of Maryland pool is closed, Machine cancels. So if they are closed for a federal holiday or a football game, practice is canceled, and if Fairland is not available - there is no practice. Simarily, if the staff are busy with meets for HP, they cancel practice for non-HP teams. They may or may not offer an alternative practice. Moreover, most kids have multiple activities so "bring them on a Sunday morning" when there is church or bring them on different days when they have other expensive pre-paid activities is not always possible. Yes, the snow was a freak event, but the non HP kids were not a priority for them. They have cancelled 20 practices this year. That's a lot. They could rebate back to parents - they could offer an extra make-up week - they could arrange stroke and turn clinics - they have options. They could also do a better job ahead of time in communication with the college (lots of last minute "it's Spring Break so we are meeting earlier or later or at Fairland." They could also send reminders to parents when they have moved the practice to Fairland. Digging through my email every week to find one email per month with practice updates is frustrating.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What are your regular practice days?
I’m still confused. Most practices are midweek. If you chose a Sat practice day then of course they’re going to get canceled for meets.

Regular practices days are during the week. But sometimes those are canceled to accommodate practices usually scheduled during the weekend. I purposefully did not sign my child up for regular weekend practices and our schedule is still impacted

I just posted, but the above is not true IME. Which weekday practices are cancelled to accommodate those usually occurring on a weekend? Practices occurring during the week are rarely impacted by meet-related cancellations, especially if a kid swims M/W. Sometimes Th is cancelled, but again, usually M/W is offered as a make up, especially for the Gears (younger) groups.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Machine at UMD is cancelled often and then rescheduled for Sunday morning at Fairland which doesn’t work for us. In general, the priority is not kids who are younger or not on elite track. They should rebate back to parents, particularly when no practice due to weather, but they do not.

But are you saying younger kids are offered makeups on Sun mornings but since you can’t do that, you should get a rebate?

I’m saying practices are regularly cancelled on Saturday, sometimes they will reschedule for Sundays - sometimes not. Weekday practices are also frequently cancelled - we lost a week for snow, there are no practices on holidays where MD is closed- they were not rescheduled at all. If you are paying for three classes a week on certain days - you should get those days, especially since they discourage you from bringing them on their non-assigned days. Machine itself gets compensated from university when they don’t get the lanes. They should pass this on to parents. Because there is a big jump in tuition from 2-3 times per week.

DP - also a Machine UMD family - which practices are cancelled because of MD holidays?

The January snowstorm was a freak event and a lot of facilities were closed for a week. IME, they absolutely try to reschedule as many practices as they can. Usually if Saturday is cancelled, it’s rescheduled to Fairland on Sunday, sometimes Saturday like this weekend. They’re also flexible about letting families choose a different day to attend if the one that was cancelled doesn’t work, e.g., no Thursday practice, a kid can go Monday or Wednesday instead.

Anonymous wrote:What are your regular practice days?
I’m still confused. Most practices are midweek. If you chose a Sat practice day then of course they’re going to get canceled for meets.

Regular practices days are during the week. But sometimes those are canceled to accommodate practices usually scheduled during the weekend. I purposefully did not sign my child up for regular weekend practices and our schedule is still impacted