Anonymous wrote:OP did your child do a summer swim team? If not, then definitely get him into summer swim in 2020 and have him go to all the practices and all the meets. Between now and then I would suggest doing what your family can - clinics, private, personal training on the side. Also, think about cross training opportunities, running, weight lifting, other sports on the rec level. Whatever keeps him using his body, gaining muscle mass and most importantly having FUN.

There is a lot to be gained from letting your kid do multiple sports and avoid early burn out.
My child did summer swim for years and years and only recently had the desire for a winter team when he had consistently done well in summer swim and wanted to stretch beyond that. His summer swim performance is what go him into winter swim. Don't underestimate what it can do for a kid who arrives at day one of summer already is great shape.

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Anonymous wrote:OP, when you say he 'has some form issues" are you saying is not legal in all four strokes?

Because if he is at a least legal, there are several options.

Thanks. He is legal (I believe) in all but butterfly. He struggles w butterfly. Looks horrible. The dolphin movement is a challenge. He’s not flexible in that way.

OK then, based on where you live, you should look up The Capitol Sea Devils Age Group 3 and Bronze development groups, both expect him to be legal in three strokes, and both have 12 year olds.

Are sea devils age group 3 and bronze development group separate groups? I looked at website and see must be legal in all 4 strokes, even if you can only do the last one for 25 meters. Am I missing something?

"Bronze Training Group

11-14 years old, 9 month program Sept-May; Swimmers should be proficient in free and back for distances of at least 50 yards and be legal in breast and/or fly f a distance of at least 25 yards. There are 4 practices offered per week. While swimmers are strongly encouraged to attend all practices, it is understood that swimmers in this group have other commitments and may not be able to attend all practices. Similarly, meet participation is strongly encouraged, but is not required."

Thanks. Unfortunately there is no coach listed for this group yet.

Your son is currently not in a position to pick his coaches. When he makes first AAA, he might be..

Anonymous wrote:Don't despair. I was reading about the South African swimmer Roland Schoeman who started swimming at 13 and ended up breaking the 100m free world record.

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Anonymous wrote:If you really want your son to swim and be successful you need to support him with driving at least for a year. I know families who drove for 2-3 years to more remote clubs just for their kids get better and be offered convenient times closer to home. US champions drive to specific coaches over 40 min because those coaches can make them do superior times, and week nights is not a bad idea for pre-teens. Training late pm is more easier on teens than 5am practices offered by most local teams, certainly gives more time for homework and friends after school. You seem like you don’t want to sacrifice your own convenience for your son

I’m asking for recommendations. Do you have some? It’s hard to say yes with vague, non specific recommendations.

Can you drive to McLean and Gaithersburg? If yes shoot me a message at ling_fu@outlook.com. I can’t name the coaches or programs here

You don't need to do all this. You have to wonder why they cannot share here.

OP again. I did not post this. I emailed you ling_fu

Didn’t receive any emails it’s ling_fu2019@hotmail.com

ling_fu2019@hotmail.com bounces back as an address that can’t be found.

@outlook.com

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, when you say he 'has some form issues" are you saying is not legal in all four strokes?

Because if he is at a least legal, there are several options.

Thanks. He is legal (I believe) in all but butterfly. He struggles w butterfly. Looks horrible. The dolphin movement is a challenge. He’s not flexible in that way.

OK then, based on where you live, you should look up The Capitol Sea Devils Age Group 3 and Bronze development groups, both expect him to be legal in three strokes, and both have 12 year olds.

Are sea devils age group 3 and bronze development group separate groups? I looked at website and see must be legal in all 4 strokes, even if you can only do the last one for 25 meters. Am I missing something?

"Bronze Training Group

11-14 years old, 9 month program Sept-May; Swimmers should be proficient in free and back for distances of at least 50 yards and be legal in breast and/or fly f a distance of at least 25 yards. There are 4 practices offered per week. While swimmers are strongly encouraged to attend all practices, it is understood that swimmers in this group have other commitments and may not be able to attend all practices. Similarly, meet participation is strongly encouraged, but is not required."

Thanks. Unfortunately there is no coach listed for this group yet.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you really want your son to swim and be successful you need to support him with driving at least for a year. I know families who drove for 2-3 years to more remote clubs just for their kids get better and be offered convenient times closer to home. US champions drive to specific coaches over 40 min because those coaches can make them do superior times, and week nights is not a bad idea for pre-teens. Training late pm is more easier on teens than 5am practices offered by most local teams, certainly gives more time for homework and friends after school. You seem like you don’t want to sacrifice your own convenience for your son

I’m asking for recommendations. Do you have some? It’s hard to say yes with vague, non specific recommendations.

Can you drive to McLean and Gaithersburg? If yes shoot me a message at ling_fu@outlook.com. I can’t name the coaches or programs here

You don't need to do all this. You have to wonder why they cannot share here.

OP again. I did not post this. I emailed you ling_fu

Didn’t receive any emails it’s ling_fu2019@hotmail.com

ling_fu2019@hotmail.com bounces back as an address that can’t be found.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you really want your son to swim and be successful you need to support him with driving at least for a year. I know families who drove for 2-3 years to more remote clubs just for their kids get better and be offered convenient times closer to home. US champions drive to specific coaches over 40 min because those coaches can make them do superior times, and week nights is not a bad idea for pre-teens. Training late pm is more easier on teens than 5am practices offered by most local teams, certainly gives more time for homework and friends after school. You seem like you don’t want to sacrifice your own convenience for your son

I’m asking for recommendations. Do you have some? It’s hard to say yes with vague, non specific recommendations.

Can you drive to McLean and Gaithersburg? If yes shoot me a message at ling_fu@outlook.com. I can’t name the coaches or programs here

You don't need to do all this. You have to wonder why they cannot share here.

OP again. I did not post this. I emailed you ling_fu

Didn’t receive any emails it’s ling_fu2019@hotmail.com

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, when you say he 'has some form issues" are you saying is not legal in all four strokes?

Because if he is at a least legal, there are several options.

Thanks. He is legal (I believe) in all but butterfly. He struggles w butterfly. Looks horrible. The dolphin movement is a challenge. He’s not flexible in that way.

OK then, based on where you live, you should look up The Capitol Sea Devils Age Group 3 and Bronze development groups, both expect him to be legal in three strokes, and both have 12 year olds.

Are sea devils age group 3 and bronze development group separate groups? I looked at website and see must be legal in all 4 strokes, even if you can only do the last one for 25 meters. Am I missing something?

"Bronze Training Group

11-14 years old, 9 month program Sept-May; Swimmers should be proficient in free and back for distances of at least 50 yards and be legal in breast and/or fly f a distance of at least 25 yards. There are 4 practices offered per week. While swimmers are strongly encouraged to attend all practices, it is understood that swimmers in this group have other commitments and may not be able to attend all practices. Similarly, meet participation is strongly encouraged, but is not required."

Thanks. Unfortunately there is no coach listed for this group yet.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, when you say he 'has some form issues" are you saying is not legal in all four strokes?

Because if he is at a least legal, there are several options.

Thanks. He is legal (I believe) in all but butterfly. He struggles w butterfly. Looks horrible. The dolphin movement is a challenge. He’s not flexible in that way.

OK then, based on where you live, you should look up The Capitol Sea Devils Age Group 3 and Bronze development groups, both expect him to be legal in three strokes, and both have 12 year olds.

Are sea devils age group 3 and bronze development group separate groups? I looked at website and see must be legal in all 4 strokes, even if you can only do the last one for 25 meters. Am I missing something?

"Bronze Training Group

11-14 years old, 9 month program Sept-May; Swimmers should be proficient in free and back for distances of at least 50 yards and be legal in breast and/or fly f a distance of at least 25 yards. There are 4 practices offered per week. While swimmers are strongly encouraged to attend all practices, it is understood that swimmers in this group have other commitments and may not be able to attend all practices. Similarly, meet participation is strongly encouraged, but is not required."

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, when you say he 'has some form issues" are you saying is not legal in all four strokes?

Because if he is at a least legal, there are several options.

Thanks. He is legal (I believe) in all but butterfly. He struggles w butterfly. Looks horrible. The dolphin movement is a challenge. He’s not flexible in that way.

OK then, based on where you live, you should look up The Capitol Sea Devils Age Group 3 and Bronze development groups, both expect him to be legal in three strokes, and both have 12 year olds.

Are sea devils age group 3 and bronze development group separate groups? I looked at website and see must be legal in all 4 strokes, even if you can only do the last one for 25 meters. Am I missing something?

Anonymous wrote:I can’t think of any swim team willing to have a new swimmer practice 4 or more times per week if he doesn’t have an impressive track record in at least summer swim. However, look for a team willing to move him up as soon as he gets excellent times in strokes that don’t require “technique” like freestyle and backstroke. At 12, he should aim to swim 100s fast because in one year, that’s the only option other than 50 free. The difference between AG3 and bronze in Sea Devils is the swimmer age. Since he is 12, he will be placed in Age Group. Sea Devils like other teams is hit or miss with coaches. Look for the good ones. Continue stroke instruction privately, if possible. Most stroke clinics are not useful despite the prestige name behind them. It all depends on who is teaching the swimmers. Place him in early morning schedule because the amount of swimmers is much smaller. He will get more lane space and attention from coach. There are excellent small teams in VA like Fairfax Foxes and Dragon but that may be too far. There have to be others in MD.

Signed swim parent and PVS official