Post-Summer Swimming Options for Families
As families head off to enjoy the rest of summer and reclaim your Wednesday evenings and Saturday mornings, we wanted to send a reminder about the benefits of keeping your kids in the water during the off-season – at whatever frequency works for your family and most importantly, for your swimmer.
Benefits of Post-Summer Swimming
Keeping kids who love summer swim team in the water in the Fall, Winter, and Spring helps build their confidence and skill levels once the summer season rolls around. Swimming is a life-long sport, and we hope every Dolphin currently on the team stays on the team through their senior graduation. Even 30 minutes of instruction, once per week – which is how many swimmers start their post-summer training – will allow your Dolphin to get the most out of the short summer season. It’s also a great cross-training sport for kids who are interested in pursuing other sports as their primary sport.
Stroke Instruction vs. Training vs. Competitive Team
Winter swim programs fall into three different categories: (1) stroke instruction/learn to swim, (2) weekly training programs, and (3) competitive team.
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Stroke Instruction & Learn to Swim Programs – There is a wide variety of stroke instruction classes and learn-to-swim programs to choose from in our area. They are typically offered every quarter, with preference going to families who are re-registering. This latter point is important, because if you are thinking you can wait until Spring to register for one of those programs, chances are most of the slots will be filled by families re-registering. NCAP offers a program at AU during the fall, spring, and summer seasons. The developmental program is focused on stroke technique and preparing kids for a swim team. There are 5 levels, all targeted towards different ages and skill levels. Some of the younger groups might be good for 10 & under swimmers who are still developing their backstroke, breaststroke, and butterfly. Tollefson Swimming also offers a swim instruction program. Learn to swim programs are a good option for younger swimmers (10 and under) who are still working on getting legal in all four strokes. These clinics usually take place one day a week and all of the clubs listed below have learn-to-swim programs. Historically, NCAP offers a program at AU, Sea Devils at Holton Arms and Tollefson on the weekends at Georgetown Prep.
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Training programs are for swimmers who are looking for more time in the water, along the lines of summer swim practice but who aren’t necessarily interested or ready to do competitive swimming year-round. Most of the clubs listed below have a training program that complements their learn-to-swim or stroke instruction classes.
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Competitive swim programs require tryouts, are the largest time commitment, and are best suited for kids who want to make swimming their primary (though not necessarily exclusive) sports focus during the school year. Swimmers 9 and under practice 2 to 3 times a week and older swimmers practice 3 to 6 times a week, depending on the age group and skill level. Meets take place about once a month on the weekend, usually on both Saturday and Sunday (younger kids will only have meets one day of the weekend and they are much shorter). These programs run from mid-September until Memorial Day for the 10 and under swimmers, and 10 to 11 months of the year (Sept to June/July) for older swimmers. Tryouts are typically on a rolling basis over the summer. You would need to contact each program to find out if they have space available and if they are still offering tryouts.
Club and Program Options
We have a number of families on the team who have swimmers at most of these programs who are happy to answer questions - please reach out to me if you would like to learn more. Below are the most well-known area programs.
Offers competitive & classes. Families like it because all of the training happens at Stone Ridge.
Competitive swimming program, tryouts required. Somerset families participate in programs at both the Holton-Arms and American University locations. Nation’s Capital also offers a Swim School & Developmental Program
Competitive program only, tryouts required. Practice sites are in North Bethesda, Rockville, and further.
Many Somerset families participate at the Holton Arms location. Training only with meets optional, or can try out for the competitive team.
Information about the competitive team and tryouts can be found here. Offers stroke clinics and endurance training. Many Somerset families participate in the programs at the Georgetown Prep pool.
Several Somerset families have kept their swimmers in the water with the YMCA’s aquatics program. The BCC YMCA swim team is called the Hammerheads. Practices for less experienced swimmers is on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 4pm – 5pm. Practices for more experienced swimmers is from 4:45pm – 6pm on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. The Hammerheads attend a handful of meets during the Winter.
Please contact me if you would like additional info!
Coach Calen
