Does anyone know how the coaching staff at Peddie feels about swimmers participating in a different sport during the spring season? Has this ever happened?
I don’t know all the members of the coach staff at Peddie, but I would assume they would be fine with it. Every BS swim coach we have met during the admissions process this year encouraged our son to be involved in other sports while at their school even though he has been involved in the sport year-round for the past 3 years. On a side note I am sure Andover would love to see your child swimming for them next year.
I’m not sure how much has changed but my wife swam at Peddie and her brother was a captain on the swim team. Neither of of them swam during the spring.
@RedSoxFan18 thank you; we will follow up on this during the revisit but wanted to see if there was any precedent out there.
And when you’re on campus, at whichever school, ask how many times a week a swimmer doing track or lacrosse or crew in the spring will get in the pool for a workout in during that spring. Sometimes those swim coaches encouraging participation in other sports will expect to see those swimmers a few times a week anyway. And sometimes they won’t, but there are probably going to be some serious swimmers on campus at many schools who are not completely out of the pool for more than a few days in a row all spring regardless of what else they’re doing for a sport.
Much depends on the school and the particular swimmers on campus. But you’ll want to get the scoop. Athletes are different, too. Your swimmer might relish the time away from the pool after working out year-round since they were six or something and look forward to playing a new or different sport. Other swimmers know that if they spend a month without practice, it seems pretty much like they’re starting over, and like it or not, they need the year-round plan to keep improving even if their goal is not Olympic trials.
@GnarWhail thanks for the advice. Although my swimmer WOULD relish the time away from the pool, personal experience has shown that my swimmer also still needs to stay in the pool at least nominally to stay in shape for the coming long course season. That being the case, for DC it’s important that there be other similarly situated swimmers on campus who would be pursuing this extra pool time so as not to be in it alone.
@AppleNotFar Spoke to my brother in law last night he says there was never external pressure to swim year round at Peddie but quite a few kids did - specifically the ones that were particularly driven. There is plenty of opportunity to train year round which is the primary purpose of the Peddie Aquatic Association - closely related but separate from the actual school. He attended when Chris Martin was the coach and Nelsen Diebel was one of the swimmers.
@RedSoxFan18 thank you for looking into it. DC loves swimming but wants a chance to continue playing a spring sport which was accomplished here at home along with swimming 3-4 times per week the past few years. Hopefully the new coach maintains the same perspective as Mr Martin.
I have heard that BS like kids to choose an additional sport/activity beyond their primary. That said, I know Peddie is a very strong year-around swim program. Still, spring is “low season”…my guess is they’d suggest keeping in shape with a couple practices a week while doing the other sport. Please update us when you find out.
We have a swimmer also, and hope to apply to Peddie next year. My swimmer is “pretty good” - year around, NJ-JO level in a few events but not phenomenal like some of the swimmers at Peddie. Anyone know if he will still make the team (are there cuts?) and do the kids in the bottom half of the roster still feel valued? Also, does the Peddie HS swim team practice together with Peddie’s USAS team or separately?
Just email the coach and ask him. He is great about replying and a really down to earth guy. He mentioned home clubs and finding ways to work together with the coach in terms of when to unattached etc. I feel he would give you an honest answer.
@momof3swimmers Thanks! When you do this do you (mom) email the coach, or have the child email?
Also, do they just have Varsity swim teams or also JV?
@sunnyschool Peddle, and most if not all BS’s, does not have a JV swim team.
I did not go to Peddie, but I will tell you that I never had either of my parents email a coach.
@sunnyschool, my son will be going to Peddie next year. He plays tennis and does not swim, but tennis court contracts for 2016-2017 were due last week for our local courts. I didn’t know if my son’s contract court time would conflict with sports practice at Peddie. I emailed the Peddie tennis coach who was extremely helpful and seemed to have no problem communicating with me rather than with my son. My son has emailed the coaches when he has had questions, but this was a logistical question that I handled. Good luck!
Thanks @carpoolingma! Is your son going to be in 9th?
Yes, he will be in 9th next year.
@sunnyschool Re my original question, DC had a chance to discuss this during the revisit. The answer was that it depends on the kid. I would encourage your DC to contact the coach to have your questions answered. From what we saw, it’s a pretty tight bond among the team. My impression was that everyone on the team was valued. Practices are very high energy. Feel free to PM me for more of our impressions.