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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
BY PROSPECTIVE SWIM PARENTS:
Is my child qualified to
begin swimming on your swim team? Swimmers should be
at least five years old, and can successfully swim 25 yards of
front crawl and backstroke without stopping.
Where are practices
held? Sparks Center on Williamette
University Campus or Salvation Army Kroc Center
How do
I know which group (level) my child should
join?
Coaches decide on the
appropriate placement of each swimmer. We hold tryouts in the
fall and spring to determine placement.
Can my child start swimming
in the middle of a season? Although it is
preferred that swimmers begin swimming at the beginning of a
season, swimmers may join the team in the middle of a season if
there is appropriate room.
Is my child expected to
attend every practice?
Although coaches
would love to see every swimmer attend every practice, they realize
that other family obligations may make that impossible.
However, every practice is critical in the training and progression
of successful competitive swimming. The
practices that are offered should be attended.
Can we receive a refund for
missed practices? No refunds will be
given to swimmers that miss practice due to a vacation,
participation in other sports/activities, or short-term
illnesses.
Does my child need to show
up early for practice? Swimmers
should arrive at practice 15 minutes before the scheduled practice
time. During the 15 minutes before practice, swimmers prepare
for practice removing outer clothing, putting on a swim cap and
goggles, gather any additional equipment, and meet the coach on
deck. Please make every effort to have your swimmer on deck,
ready to swim, on time.
What should my child wear
to each swim practice? It is
recommended that swimmers wear a practice swim suit (not a beach
swim suit or bikini), a swim cap, and goggles. If you need to
purchase swim related apparel or equipment, we recommend Elsmore
Aquatic. You can shop online with Elsmore. Please make
sure younger swimmers arrive at practice with their swimsuits on
underneath their clothing so time does not need to be wasted in the
locker room changing clothes.
Does my child need to bring
any special equipment to practice? All swimmers should
bring a water-bottle on deck during practice. Be sure the
bottle is labeled with your child’s name, is not made of
glass, and contains water or a sports drink. Water bottles
should not be left on deck after practice - please take home to
recycle or wash.
Depending on the group your
child is in, other equipment is needed.
For the beginner level groups, the required equipment is
minimal. All equipment is available through Elsmore
Aquatic. They have an online store, and if you tell them that
your swimmer is joining the Bearcats they will know what equipment
and team suit your swimmer will need.
- --Age group and Senior 1
swimmers: Fins
- --Senior
Prep swimmers: Fins and snorkel
- --Senior 2
& Elite swimmers: Fins, paddles, pull-buoy, snorkel,
drag suit
It will be acceptable to
your coach if you do not have the other equipment for the first
couple of weeks of your first season with our club.
Can I watch my
child’s practice? Parents may
watch practice from the bleachers inside the pool area.
However, please do not make any attempt to talk to or "coach" your
child from the bleachers. Do not make any attempt to talk to
your child’s coach during practice either, except in the case
of an emergency. The coach will tell your child everything
they need to know. Your role is to support and encourage your
swimmer, while resisting the urge to be a second coach to your
child. Please remain in the bleachers - do not go on
deck. Assure your child that you will meet him/her in the
bleachers at the end of practice.
When can I talk to my
child’s coach? If you’d like
to talk to a coach while at a practice, if possible, please wait
until AFTER practice. Before each swim practice, your
child’s coach will be busy preparing for practice, reviewing
the prepared workout, etc. This is usually not a good time
for parents to talk to a coach. After practice, however, you
may talk with your child’s coach in the bleacher area.
Please be respectful of your coach’s time, and be aware that
other parents may be waiting to talk to the coach, too. If
you need to have an extended or private conversation with a coach,
consider emailing or phoning a coach instead of approaching the
coach on his/her way out of practice.
Does my Child Have to
Compete in Swim Meets?
Swimmers are recommended to compete at meets.
It would be no different than joining the soccer team and going to
play at the match. The meets are where swimmers flourish and
coaches can provide feedback. There are meet entry fees for
each meet, usually $3-4 per event. The fees for the meet
entries will be put on your monthly invoice.
What Team Uniform is
Required? As swimmers prepare to compete in meets, they
are required to have a team suit, warm-up or parka and team
cap. Team suits are available through Elsmore Aquatic at a
discounted team price. This suit will last longer if it is
only used at meets. Swimmers can wear any suit for
practices. Swimmers are also expected to have a
team warm-up OR parka. Team warm-ups and parkas are
also available through Elsmore Aquatic at team prices with team
logo and name embroidery.
A Nike
brand suit is
required to be worn during meets.
During championship meets a Nike suit is mandatory (an alternative
suit may be worn only if after all efforts, a Nike suit cannot be
fitted to an individual). If a swim cap
is worn it must be a Bearcat cap.
Bearcat latex caps will be provided by the team. All coaches have caps they hand out at the
meets.
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