How old does my child have to be?
Ages 6-18. Swimmer must meet minimum team requirements.
What are the minimum requirements to be eligible for swim team?
Swimmer must be able to swim the length of the pool, crawl stroke (free style) with side breathing, without stopping or using the lane lines or wall and be able to return on backstroke. Swimmer must demonstrate a working ability in backstroke, breastroke and butterfly. Swimmer must be able to jump into the deep end of the pool, tread water for 60 seconds and get back to the wall. Swimmer must be able to climb out of the pool in the deep end without using the ladder and must be willing to work on diving.
Do we have to go to swim meets?
While there is no official requirement to attend a swim meet (except the team's Intersquad meet), it is highly encouraged, is a great opportunity for your child's achievements to be rewarded and there is a lot of cameraderie and group bonding at these events.
Do I have to volunteer?
Everyone is expected to volunteer as there are a lot of job functions needed to participate in a meet and in order for us to host our own meet. Additionally, volunteering for paid events helps offset the cost of registration for our athletes as facility costs have increased. Some jobs are easy and require no experience (lane timers, concessions, runners, set-up) while some require training and experience (stroke and turn officials, AO official, computer operator). There is something for everyone to do. We also need volunteers on July 3rd and 4th to help register people for the 4th of July fun run/walk.
Do we have to buy a team suit?
While we do not require your child to purchase a team suit, they enjoy the pride of showing off their suits and it does provide some consistency during swim meets.
Is there a cutoff date for registering my child for swim team?
While there is no cut-off date, the fees are not prorated and registration will be capped for safety reasons.
Can we obtain a refund?
Once your swimmer is registered, no refunds will be given since entries are capped.
Does my child have to attend every practice?
No. We realize you make other plans over the summer. However, it is important that your swimmer show up on time for practice so they can do the warm-ups and avoid injury and that they stay for the entire practice. The more they practice, the better they will become.
What is a DQ?
DQ is an abbreviation for disqualification. There are many things the stroke and turn judges are looking for during a particular swim (too many to list but can include how your child touches the wall, the type of kick they are doing, positioning of their arms, etc). During a meet, do not panic if your child DQ's. It happens to everybody at one time or another as they are learning the strokes and as they are feeling the pressure of the competition. DQ slips will be filled out by the official and the coaches will get a copy of this slip so your child will have feedback (usually the DQ's are things the coaches have repeatedly indicated during practice)!
What is Intersquad Meet and why is it required?
Intersquad meet is a meet that our team sets up by splitting our team into an A team and a B team, with the attempt to have equal representation for each team. We run the day very similar to how a swim meet is run so that everyone has the opportunity to see how a meet is run and what the expectations are before they arrive (i.e. when do I get on the block? Can I jump in from the side? Can I start in the water? What do the buzzes and whistles mean?) The Intersquad Meet is also more relaxed so that our pre-team swimmers are able to compete with kickboards if they need it so they can still get a feel for what a meet is about even if they aren't quite ready to do it unassisted. Because this is only our team participating, this is an all hands on deck activity and it's a great way for parents to learn more about how meets are run.