My kid was in ksca mini and then Jr advance. Coaches are wonderful!!!!!!!So sad ksca is going to be closed.

Anonymous wrote:OP here... in response to a few ppl's questions to me. My kid turns 9 this summer. We are considering NCAP AU (closest) and KSAC/Rockville (bc less expensive) but trying to weigh all the factors. Do not know the coaches and have not been able to observe practices. My kid is legal in all 4 strokes. Went to divisionals today and did well and will go to all star relays, but not crazy fast. Times 20-28. We tried out already for KSAC and waiting to hear, made AU Bronze 2, and will try out this week for Rockville. Just trying to guess at our chances with RMSC, but we will know soon enough I guess. Kid plays other sports as well so not all in on swimming at this point. I am not a swimmer and this world is totally new to me but my kid is on the summer swim high and also trying to evaluate how much sense winter swim makes. 🤷‍♀️

Like another poster said, proximity is key. We're lucky to be close to NCAP North and RMSC-Rockville. Our DS got into RMSC-Rockville and hated it after a few months (no fault of the coaches as they were very supportive and nice; it just wasn't as fun as summer swim) but we stuck it out until earlier this year. It would have been more grueling if we had to deal with traffic/weather in between coaxing him to practices and meets.

RMSC is now GOLD-ranked also and did best NCAP in boys and girls at NCSA age-group 2024 meet (thru age 14).

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:RMSC is more competitive because there are less spots and more applicants. RMSC is also more than half the price of NCAP. We have year round swimmers from NCAP on our MCSL team that suck and they are paying the big bucks. NCAP just wants your $$$. It’s not better.

Except more broadly, outside your summer swim team, NCAP as a team is typically ranked higher in PVS than RMSC(based on swimmer's performance) so there's that.

Not really. They are about the same. RMSC has slightly stronger boys and NCAP has slightly better girls, at the moment. But that ebbs and flows depending on swimmers in the group. RMSC is only located in Montgomery County, where NCAP has more locations but those are franchised so ymmv on the training.

They are close and it does ebb and flow as you noted but if you follow it over time, it "ebbs and flows" in favor of NCAP more that RMSC.

Not sure what you are using to evaluate ranking but there are a lot of variables in play. It’s a stretch to say NCAP is better.
Honestly, OP, it’s best to tryout and observe the practices and talk to people from your summer club. We’ve been very happy with RMSC. I know others that are happy at NCAP. My swimmers have fast and slow swim friends in both clubs. Individual coaches make the difference. Both clubs are large enough to compete at meets locally but are competitive enough to send swimmers to national meets.

USA Swimming club excellence ratings:

https://www.usaswimming.org/coaches-leaders/team-leaders/programs-services/club-excellence

This means zero. NCap as a whole might do well but each site runs independently of one another and some sites have good coaches and others don’t. Prep is considered the “best” along with West (Manassas) in terms of producing fast swimmers but the other sites are meh. RMSC has comparable outcomes for such a large team with- from what I gather- very crowded lanes.

No, it doesn't mean "zero"...


The primary objectives of the program are to recognize and promote:

- The development of strong, well-rounded age group and senior swimming programs that produce elite 18 & under athletes;
- Resources to motivate and assist USA Swimming member clubs to achieve the highest athlete performance ideals;
- Grant funding; and The USA Swimming club development system as integral part in achieving excellence in the sport.

So that's something.

Clubs may qualify for one of three levels of recognition:
1. Gold
• The top 20 point-scoring USA Swimming member clubs in 2024; and
• A minimum of one 18 & Under athlete from the club must achieve a Gold time standard.

2. Silver
• USA Swimming member clubs who do not achieve Gold status and rank in the top 21-100 point scores
in 2024.
• At least one 18 & Under athlete registered with the club must achieve the Silver time standard.

3. Bronze
• USA Swimming member clubs who do not achieve Gold or Silver status and rank in the top 101-200
point scores in 2024.
• At least one 18 & Under athlete registered with the club must achieve the Bronze time standard.

4. Podium Club
• Any club achieving the Gold Medal level for a fourth consecutive year will earn additional recognition
by being named to the Podium Club.


NCAP is gold and RMSC is silver - still good but clearly below NCAP

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:RMSC is more competitive because there are less spots and more applicants. RMSC is also more than half the price of NCAP. We have year round swimmers from NCAP on our MCSL team that suck and they are paying the big bucks. NCAP just wants your $$$. It’s not better.

Except more broadly, outside your summer swim team, NCAP as a team is typically ranked higher in PVS than RMSC(based on swimmer's performance) so there's that.

Not really. They are about the same. RMSC has slightly stronger boys and NCAP has slightly better girls, at the moment. But that ebbs and flows depending on swimmers in the group. RMSC is only located in Montgomery County, where NCAP has more locations but those are franchised so ymmv on the training.

They are close and it does ebb and flow as you noted but if you follow it over time, it "ebbs and flows" in favor of NCAP more that RMSC.

Not sure what you are using to evaluate ranking but there are a lot of variables in play. It’s a stretch to say NCAP is better.
Honestly, OP, it’s best to tryout and observe the practices and talk to people from your summer club. We’ve been very happy with RMSC. I know others that are happy at NCAP. My swimmers have fast and slow swim friends in both clubs. Individual coaches make the difference. Both clubs are large enough to compete at meets locally but are competitive enough to send swimmers to national meets.

USA Swimming club excellence ratings:

https://www.usaswimming.org/coaches-leaders/team-leaders/programs-services/club-excellence

This means zero. NCap as a whole might do well but each site runs independently of one another and some sites have good coaches and others don’t. Prep is considered the “best” along with West (Manassas) in terms of producing fast swimmers but the other sites are meh. RMSC has comparable outcomes for such a large team with- from what I gather- very crowded lanes.

Yet one of the “meh” sites had the only coach in PVS to make the “Top 50 Age Group Coaches”…

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:RMSC is more competitive because there are less spots and more applicants. RMSC is also more than half the price of NCAP. We have year round swimmers from NCAP on our MCSL team that suck and they are paying the big bucks. NCAP just wants your $$$. It’s not better.

Except more broadly, outside your summer swim team, NCAP as a team is typically ranked higher in PVS than RMSC(based on swimmer's performance) so there's that.

Not really. They are about the same. RMSC has slightly stronger boys and NCAP has slightly better girls, at the moment. But that ebbs and flows depending on swimmers in the group. RMSC is only located in Montgomery County, where NCAP has more locations but those are franchised so ymmv on the training.

They are close and it does ebb and flow as you noted but if you follow it over time, it "ebbs and flows" in favor of NCAP more that RMSC.

Not sure what you are using to evaluate ranking but there are a lot of variables in play. It’s a stretch to say NCAP is better.
Honestly, OP, it’s best to tryout and observe the practices and talk to people from your summer club. We’ve been very happy with RMSC. I know others that are happy at NCAP. My swimmers have fast and slow swim friends in both clubs. Individual coaches make the difference. Both clubs are large enough to compete at meets locally but are competitive enough to send swimmers to national meets.

USA Swimming club excellence ratings:

https://www.usaswimming.org/coaches-leaders/team-leaders/programs-services/club-excellence

These ratings are meaningless. NCAP had a few good swimmers including one coach’s daughter and another coach’s son that scored points at high level meets. And keep in mind RMSC doesn’t generally coach kids after they start college (albeit some return over the summer to train) so some of the higher level swimmers switch to NCAP.

That aside, at the day to day level, both clubs are comparable. It comes down to the site and the coach.

RMSC does have a program for college swimmers. There are definitely some college swimmers with RMSC this summer in my kids NTG group

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:RMSC is more competitive because there are less spots and more applicants. RMSC is also more than half the price of NCAP. We have year round swimmers from NCAP on our MCSL team that suck and they are paying the big bucks. NCAP just wants your $$$. It’s not better.

Except more broadly, outside your summer swim team, NCAP as a team is typically ranked higher in PVS than RMSC(based on swimmer's performance) so there's that.

Not really. They are about the same. RMSC has slightly stronger boys and NCAP has slightly better girls, at the moment. But that ebbs and flows depending on swimmers in the group. RMSC is only located in Montgomery County, where NCAP has more locations but those are franchised so ymmv on the training.

They are close and it does ebb and flow as you noted but if you follow it over time, it "ebbs and flows" in favor of NCAP more that RMSC.

Not sure what you are using to evaluate ranking but there are a lot of variables in play. It’s a stretch to say NCAP is better.
Honestly, OP, it’s best to tryout and observe the practices and talk to people from your summer club. We’ve been very happy with RMSC. I know others that are happy at NCAP. My swimmers have fast and slow swim friends in both clubs. Individual coaches make the difference. Both clubs are large enough to compete at meets locally but are competitive enough to send swimmers to national meets.

USA Swimming club excellence ratings:

https://www.usaswimming.org/coaches-leaders/team-leaders/programs-services/club-excellence

This means zero. NCap as a whole might do well but each site runs independently of one another and some sites have good coaches and others don’t. Prep is considered the “best” along with West (Manassas) in terms of producing fast swimmers but the other sites are meh. RMSC has comparable outcomes for such a large team with- from what I gather- very crowded lanes.

NCAP AU is also excellent and has some accomplished swimmers. OP, if it's close to you, you should consider it.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:RMSC is more competitive because there are less spots and more applicants. RMSC is also more than half the price of NCAP. We have year round swimmers from NCAP on our MCSL team that suck and they are paying the big bucks. NCAP just wants your $$$. It’s not better.

Except more broadly, outside your summer swim team, NCAP as a team is typically ranked higher in PVS than RMSC(based on swimmer's performance) so there's that.

Not really. They are about the same. RMSC has slightly stronger boys and NCAP has slightly better girls, at the moment. But that ebbs and flows depending on swimmers in the group. RMSC is only located in Montgomery County, where NCAP has more locations but those are franchised so ymmv on the training.

They are close and it does ebb and flow as you noted but if you follow it over time, it "ebbs and flows" in favor of NCAP more that RMSC.

Not sure what you are using to evaluate ranking but there are a lot of variables in play. It’s a stretch to say NCAP is better.
Honestly, OP, it’s best to tryout and observe the practices and talk to people from your summer club. We’ve been very happy with RMSC. I know others that are happy at NCAP. My swimmers have fast and slow swim friends in both clubs. Individual coaches make the difference. Both clubs are large enough to compete at meets locally but are competitive enough to send swimmers to national meets.

USA Swimming club excellence ratings:

https://www.usaswimming.org/coaches-leaders/team-leaders/programs-services/club-excellence

These ratings are meaningless. NCAP had a few good swimmers including one coach’s daughter and another coach’s son that scored points at high level meets. And keep in mind RMSC doesn’t generally coach kids after they start college (albeit some return over the summer to train) so some of the higher level swimmers switch to NCAP.

That aside, at the day to day level, both clubs are comparable. It comes down to the site and the coach.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:RMSC is more competitive because there are less spots and more applicants. RMSC is also more than half the price of NCAP. We have year round swimmers from NCAP on our MCSL team that suck and they are paying the big bucks. NCAP just wants your $$$. It’s not better.

Except more broadly, outside your summer swim team, NCAP as a team is typically ranked higher in PVS than RMSC(based on swimmer's performance) so there's that.

Not really. They are about the same. RMSC has slightly stronger boys and NCAP has slightly better girls, at the moment. But that ebbs and flows depending on swimmers in the group. RMSC is only located in Montgomery County, where NCAP has more locations but those are franchised so ymmv on the training.

They are close and it does ebb and flow as you noted but if you follow it over time, it "ebbs and flows" in favor of NCAP more that RMSC.

Not sure what you are using to evaluate ranking but there are a lot of variables in play. It’s a stretch to say NCAP is better.
Honestly, OP, it’s best to tryout and observe the practices and talk to people from your summer club. We’ve been very happy with RMSC. I know others that are happy at NCAP. My swimmers have fast and slow swim friends in both clubs. Individual coaches make the difference. Both clubs are large enough to compete at meets locally but are competitive enough to send swimmers to national meets.

USA Swimming club excellence ratings:

https://www.usaswimming.org/coaches-leaders/team-leaders/programs-services/club-excellence

This means zero. NCap as a whole might do well but each site runs independently of one another and some sites have good coaches and others don’t. Prep is considered the “best” along with West (Manassas) in terms of producing fast swimmers but the other sites are meh. RMSC has comparable outcomes for such a large team with- from what I gather- very crowded lanes.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:RMSC is more competitive because there are less spots and more applicants. RMSC is also more than half the price of NCAP. We have year round swimmers from NCAP on our MCSL team that suck and they are paying the big bucks. NCAP just wants your $$$. It’s not better.

Except more broadly, outside your summer swim team, NCAP as a team is typically ranked higher in PVS than RMSC(based on swimmer's performance) so there's that.

Not really. They are about the same. RMSC has slightly stronger boys and NCAP has slightly better girls, at the moment. But that ebbs and flows depending on swimmers in the group. RMSC is only located in Montgomery County, where NCAP has more locations but those are franchised so ymmv on the training.

They are close and it does ebb and flow as you noted but if you follow it over time, it "ebbs and flows" in favor of NCAP more that RMSC.

Not sure what you are using to evaluate ranking but there are a lot of variables in play. It’s a stretch to say NCAP is better.
Honestly, OP, it’s best to tryout and observe the practices and talk to people from your summer club. We’ve been very happy with RMSC. I know others that are happy at NCAP. My swimmers have fast and slow swim friends in both clubs. Individual coaches make the difference. Both clubs are large enough to compete at meets locally but are competitive enough to send swimmers to national meets.

USA Swimming club excellence ratings:

https://www.usaswimming.org/coaches-leaders/team-leaders/programs-services/club-excellence

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here... in response to a few ppl's questions to me. My kid turns 9 this summer. We are considering NCAP AU (closest) and KSAC/Rockville (bc less expensive) but trying to weigh all the factors. Do not know the coaches and have not been able to observe practices. My kid is legal in all 4 strokes. Went to divisionals today and did well and will go to all star relays, but not crazy fast. Times 20-28. We tried out already for KSAC and waiting to hear, made AU Bronze 2, and will try out this week for Rockville. Just trying to guess at our chances with RMSC, but we will know soon enough I guess. Kid plays other sports as well so not all in on swimming at this point. I am not a swimmer and this world is totally new to me but my kid is on the summer swim high and also trying to evaluate how much sense winter swim makes. 🤷‍♀️

OP, KSAC is going to be renovated (next season maybe?) and the swimmers there will be training in Silver Spring for a while instead, so if your DD gets into KSAC keep that in mind.

The renovation of KSAC has officially been delayed until next summer at the earliest (per my kid’s coach there) So could impact 2024-2025 yr but not this year.

Anonymous wrote:OP here... in response to a few ppl's questions to me. My kid turns 9 this summer. We are considering NCAP AU (closest) and KSAC/Rockville (bc less expensive) but trying to weigh all the factors. Do not know the coaches and have not been able to observe practices. My kid is legal in all 4 strokes. Went to divisionals today and did well and will go to all star relays, but not crazy fast. Times 20-28. We tried out already for KSAC and waiting to hear, made AU Bronze 2, and will try out this week for Rockville. Just trying to guess at our chances with RMSC, but we will know soon enough I guess. Kid plays other sports as well so not all in on swimming at this point. I am not a swimmer and this world is totally new to me but my kid is on the summer swim high and also trying to evaluate how much sense winter swim makes. 🤷‍♀️

OP, KSAC is going to be renovated (next season maybe?) and the swimmers there will be training in Silver Spring for a while instead, so if your DD gets into KSAC keep that in mind.

Anonymous wrote:OP here... in response to a few ppl's questions to me. My kid turns 9 this summer. We are considering NCAP AU (closest) and KSAC/Rockville (bc less expensive) but trying to weigh all the factors. Do not know the coaches and have not been able to observe practices. My kid is legal in all 4 strokes. Went to divisionals today and did well and will go to all star relays, but not crazy fast. Times 20-28. We tried out already for KSAC and waiting to hear, made AU Bronze 2, and will try out this week for Rockville. Just trying to guess at our chances with RMSC, but we will know soon enough I guess. Kid plays other sports as well so not all in on swimming at this point. I am not a swimmer and this world is totally new to me but my kid is on the summer swim high and also trying to evaluate how much sense winter swim makes. 🤷‍♀️

The KSAC juniors coach is horrible.

The value of proximity to practice location cannot be overstated. If you are in the area of AU, I would definitely think long and hard about the time commitment of going to and from KSAC or Rockville multiple times a week.

If NCAP au is closest, RMSC will easily add 30 min commute one way in rush hour. Did’t see any point go there for a secondary sport.

Anonymous wrote:OP here... in response to a few ppl's questions to me. My kid turns 9 this summer. We are considering NCAP AU (closest) and KSAC/Rockville (bc less expensive) but trying to weigh all the factors. Do not know the coaches and have not been able to observe practices. My kid is legal in all 4 strokes. Went to divisionals today and did well and will go to all star relays, but not crazy fast. Times 20-28. We tried out already for KSAC and waiting to hear, made AU Bronze 2, and will try out this week for Rockville. Just trying to guess at our chances with RMSC, but we will know soon enough I guess. Kid plays other sports as well so not all in on swimming at this point. I am not a swimmer and this world is totally new to me but my kid is on the summer swim high and also trying to evaluate how much sense winter swim makes. 🤷‍♀️