<p>My DS is a high school sophomore and club swimmer with NCSA Jr. National times in several events. He will attend that meet in March 2015 and, if he continues to drop time into the summer, the USA Swimming Summer Jr. Nationals in San Antonio. In any case, we recognize the need to contact coaches directly, probably this spring, but are those meets sufficient to showcase his abilities to Ivy League or NESCAC coaches? </p>
<p>Also, importantly, are there Ivy or NESCAC swim camps/clinics that might be worth doing? Again, with the intent of showcasing his abilities. </p>
<p>Thanks so much. I've already learned a great deal from many of you.</p>
<p>Candidly, aside from your DS seeing a campus (which, of course, is a good idea), from a recruiting standpoint in swimming (and other “stop-watch” sports) there’s really no need to seek out Ivy of NESCAC swim camps. (I’m not even sure any such camps exist, at least those resembling what happens in football, basketball, baseball, etc.) The single best way to “showcase” ability is to swim fast at fast (and officially observed) meets (and, of course, perform academically). Period. Simple as that. Recruiting will take care of itself.</p>
<p>Thanks, h2ocows. That was my sense of it, but it’s great to get that reinforced from someone who’s been to the dance. I’ve done some digging for Ivy League swim camps, and, to the extent that they exist at all, they seem to be directed at novice swimmers. </p>
<p>NCSA Nationals in March is a great meet to showcase your swimmers talent. This meet is a very big and is one of the fastest short course Jr Nationals (several National Age Group records were broken at last year’s meet). Many of the top swimmers will be there as well as many of the Ivy League and NESCA coaches.</p>
<p>I don’t see any benefit from interrupting heavy summer training to attend a college swim camp. All of the Ivy League coaches attended last summer’s USA swimming Jr Nationals and I would expect to see them at this year’s Summer Jrs. </p>
<p>So good to hear, Swimkidsdad. We tried an excellent camp at Kenyon College last year, and DS felt that he got something out of it; but you’re right to suggest that this summer will be quite hectic. Again, I appreciate your input. We’re new at this, though I have really benefited from all of the Ivy and NESCAC threads here at CC. </p>
<p>Personally, I would much prefer to see my son at Amherst or Middlebury, but he increasingly seems to be pushing for D1 and probably Ivy. He’ll have to get a little faster, but that seems likely. Of course, if he blows a shoulder, we’ll be back at square one. I suppose that’s the case for most athletes. </p>
<p>Definitely no need for swim camps…it’s all about times and what the teams need from year to year. Keep an eye on the different conference champs. Your son needs to be able to tell the coach that he would be scoring points for the team.</p>
<p>Neither of my kids were interested in D1 swimming, but when you are almost living a D1 lifestyle in high school, I can see that it might even feel “normal” to swim that much in college. Nevertheless, I would look at some of the threads here that talk about what the D1 swimming experience is like. Make sure your son knows what he is giving up by going D1.</p>
<p>Great advice, LivesinHobbiton. I keep reading here that Ivy swimming can be akin to juggling a full time job while competing against kids in class who are probably smarter (got in without a hook) and have an extra 20 hours a week to study. Sounds brutal to me. </p>
<p>And we’ve been indoctrinating this kid for much of his life on the virtues of small liberal arts colleges. But as he continues to get faster, we’re losing control of the process. It turns out, rather inconveniently, that DS has a mind of his own. But I will continue to do what you suggest – make sure he understands what he would be biting off.</p>