2020-2021 Year Round Swim Team Membership
Information
The Walnut Creek
Aquabears Year Round Swim Team practices daily at Clarke Memorial
Swim Center in Heather Farm Park. New members may join at any
time.
If you
interested in joining the Year Round Swim Team, a free one-week trial is available to
swimmers. To schedule you free trial (suspended due to COVID-19
pandemic), please contact the Head Coach Mike Heaney
at [email protected].
Pool
Location: Clarke Memorial Swim
Center, 1750 Heather Drive, Walnut Creek, CA
94598
Mailing
Address: P.O. Box 3462, Walnut
Creek, CA 94598
Phone: 925-939-5990
Email: [email protected]
Website: aquabears.org or walnutcreekaquabears.org
Practice Times (during COVID-19
Pandemic):
Here are the planned
practice times for each group (of no more than 14 swimmers).
These may change as the county mandates are fluid and may change at
any time.
Group
| Target Ages
| Days
| Times
|
Senior Camp #1
| 9th grade and up
| M,T,W,Th,F
| 3:30 to 5:30 p.m.
|
Senior Camp #2
| 9th grade and up
| M,T,W,Th,F
| 3:30 to 5:30 p.m.
|
Senior Camp #3
| 9th grade and up
| M,T,W,Th,F
| 3:30 to 5:30 p.m.
|
Senior Camp #4
| 9th grade and up
| M,T,W,Th,F
| 4:00 to 6:00 p.m.
|
Senior Camp #5
| 9th grade and up
| M,T,W,Th,F
| 4:00 to 6:00 p.m.
|
Gold Camp #1
| 11 through 8th grade
| M,T,W,Th,F
| 5:30 to 7:00 p.m.
|
Gold Camp #2
| 11 through 8th grade
| M,T,W,Th,F
| 5:30 to 7:00 p.m.
|
Gold Camp #3
| 11 through 8th grade
| M,T,W,Th,F
| 5:30 to 7:00 p.m.
|
Purple Camp #1
| 10&Under
| M,T,W,Th,F
| 6:00 to 7:00 p.m.
|
Purple Camp #2
| 10&Under
| M,T,W,Th,F
| 6:00 to 7:00 p.m.
|
Welcome to the Walnut Creek
Aquabears
We view swimming
as a good, clean, wholesome sport. We train our swimmers to
associate fun with their time spent in the pool. Swimming is
full of hard work…
working towards
stroke efficiency
harnessing speed for crisp and quick starts,
turn, and underwaters
building endurance with focus and
purpose
learning to be disciplined in practice and
races
… and we
want all our swimmers to strive for these kind of improvements in a
fun and positive environment.
Swimming has
something to offer everyone. Not every swimmer can be a
record holder or make the Olympics, but every swimmer can see
swimming as rewarding experience. On the Aquabears, we
measure success, in the pool, by personal improvement.
Winning is great, and everyone who improves
wins.
The WCAB
experience continues one the pool deck and beyond. The motto
of our top annual award is “Leadership, Commitment,
Motivation, and Achievement are the real rewards of
swimming.” This is central to a great swimming
experience. We also plan activities which stress togetherness
and team spirit. We stress working together towards team
success. Our program provides the fun and positive
environment in which swimmers grow, learn, and gain a feeling of
accomplishment.
The coaching
staff and I welcome you to the Walnut Creek Aquabears Swim
Team.
Best wishes and
swim fast,
Mike Heaney,
Head Coach
Walnut Creek Aquabears
Volunteer Requirements for WCAB
Events
One of the
foundations of our program is ‘swimming in a fun and positive
atmosphere.’ We organize a number of events and
activities each year to help foster this atmosphere. It is
not possible without the hard work of the WCAB parents. Each
Aquabear family is asked to assist in one of these events to make
the WCAB experience the best it can be. Sign-ups will be
held in late August.
Volunteer Requirements for Swim Meets
(suspended during COVID-19 pandemic)
WCAB Hosted Swim Meets (Home
Meets)
The Aquabears host several swim meets over the
course of the year. These meets are a substantial portion of
our budget each year. They are also part of our
responsibility to supporting the sport, and provide great venues
for our swimmers to race. Each family will be required to
work a minimum of two (2) shifts of during each meet in which
your child is swimming, or a minimum of one (1) shift if your child
is not swimming. Longer meets may require more shifts and
will be publicized ahead of time.
Signups for work
shifts are through the team website and close three (3) days before
the start of the meet. It is your responsibility to sign-up
for the appropriate number shifts. If you cannot work your
shift, it is your responsibility to hire a substitute worker.
If you do not sign-up for your shifts by the close of sign-ups, you
will be fined $150 per
shift. You will be fined $250
per shift for failing to show up or missing any portion of
their shift.
Chart of WCAB Hosted Swim Meets for
2018-2019
|
Date
|
Meet
|
9/28, 29
|
Senior Open Meet
|
12/7, 8
|
Senior 2 P&F Meet
|
2/7
|
Quad Meet
|
6/6, 7
|
Senior Open Meet
|
7/10 to 12
| Senior 2 P&F Meet
|
8/1, 2
|
Summer’s End Classic
|
‘Away’ Meets
Each ‘visiting team’ is expected to
provide volunteer timers to help run the swim meet smoothly.
The number of volunteer workers that WCAB must provide is
based on the number of swimmers it brings to the meet. Each
family participating at the meet is expected to time at least one
(1) shift over the course of the meet and is expected to work
the entire shift and not leaving until being relieved by your
replacement from our team.
Signups for work shifts are through the team
website and close two (2) days before the start of the meet.
It is your responsibility to sign-up for a shift. If you
cannot work your shift, it is your responsibility to hire a
substitute worker. If you do not sign-up for your shift by
the close of sign-ups, you will be fined $150 per
shift. You will be fined $250
per shift for failing to show up or missing any portion of
their shift.
USA-Swimming
Officials
Each team that attends meet is expected to
provide USA-Swimming Officials based on the number of swimmers it
brings to the meet and is fined if it cannot provide
officials. This is very important to the team, and parents
who are active officials are exempt from all other
shifts and earn a $50 monthly
discount on their dues. If you are
interested in officiating, please contact a coach for information
on becoming a carded USA-Swimming Official.
WCAB Membership Policies (see highlighted changes for COVID-19
pandemic)
The Walnut Creek Aquabears' membership year
begins August 24, 2020 (or when a swimmer joins the team) and ends
August 2, 2021.
Annual Registration
Fee
-
For returning swimmers, the Annual Registration
Fee is charged on August 24, 2020 (no Annual Registration Fee for this
year).
-
For swimmers registering
from August 2, 2020, to August 31, 2020, the Annual
Registration Fee is charged upon registration, and dues
payments start on Septeber 1,
2020.
-
For
swimmers registering from September 1, 2020, and October 31, 2020,
the Annual Registration Fee is charged upon registration,
and dues payments start on the 1st of the next
month.
-
For new swimmers registering from November 1, 2020, and
July 31, 2020, the Annual Registration Fee
is waived, and dues payment starts on the 1st of the next
month. As a result, no equipment is provided, and swimmers
will be billed for the first month of dues during the registration
process.
All outstanding balances must be paid before a
swimmer/family may register.
Families must set up either
an ACH Transfer (checking account
debit) or Automated Credit Card
Charge in the team website for incidental
charges, such as meet entry fees, travel fees, and
meet fines.
Families will have the option to choose
annual or monthly dues when registering for the current swim
season. Members who elect to pre-pay dues for the entire year
will receive a 5% discount per swimmer (see chart
below).
Annual dues: your
account will be charged the annual dues amount in full on September
1, 2020. Annual dues are
non-refundable. Annual dues may be paid by ACH Transfer
(checking account debit), Automated Credit Card Charge, check, or
cash.
Monthly dues are divided
into 11 equal installments and paid September through July (see
chart below). Monthly dues may be paid by
ACH Transfer (checking account debit) or Automated Credit Card
Charge. Checks or cash are not
accepted. Monthly dues are payable on the
1st of each month. Your account billing information can be
viewed by logging into your Walnut Creek Aquabears web account at
any time. Monthly dues payments not received by the 20th
of each month are automatically assessed
a $25.00 late fee. An
out-of-the-water-slip will be issued; the swimmer(s) removed from
the water and not allowed to re-enter until the membership account
is made current.
A $25.00 fee
will be charged on all returned checks.
Active USA Swimming Officials receive
a $50.00 monthly
credit.
Member families who have a swimmer leave the team
to join another USA-S team will be required to forfeit their family
membership. This is to protect the team spirit of our
existing members. This policy does NOT apply to families
joining the team (for the first time) who may have children on
another team.
Walnut Creek Aquabears occasionally highlight
your swimmer's accomplishments via website, brochures, etc.
As a result, we may videotape or photograph your child during swim
related events. The Head Coach must be notified in
writing/email if you do not want your swimmer(s) included in photos
and/or videos.
USA
Swimming Registration Fee: Each swimmer
must be a member of USA Swimming. The annual fee is
$73.00. New swimmers will be billed
the USA Swimming Registration Fee when they join the team.
For swimmers with memberships expiring on December 31, the annual
USA Swimming Registration Fee (one fee per swimmer) is billed
on December 1.
Membership dues are reviewed annually by the
Board of Directors and are based upon the forecast
budget.
A Medical Leave of Absence must be a minimum of 6
weeks in length, requested during the first 2 weeks of absence
and substantiated by a note from a Doctor or Physical
Therapist. If granted, the member may return to their
original group/coach without incurring re-registration fees.
Dues will be waived, but must be current at the time of the
leave. Volunteer commitments are not waived during the leave.
Medical leaves are re-evaluated every 3 months. Written
release from a Doctor or Physical Therapist is required before the
swimmer can return to the team.
Any other Leave of Absence of less than three
months requires 30-day notification to the Head Coach.
Volunteer commitments and dues are not waived during the 30-day
notification period or the Leave of Absence. All outstanding
balances and a $250.00 Re-Registration
Fee must be paid before the swimmer may rejoin the
team.
Written Notice to Terminate Membership requires a
30-day notification to the Head Coach. Volunteer commitments
and dues are not waived during the 30-day notification
period.
For membership or billing questions, please email
Head Coach Mike Heaney at [email protected].
Chart of
Annual Membership Fee
|
Group
|
Swimmer
#1
|
Swimmer
#2+
|
Senior
|
$425.00
|
$395.00
|
Gold
|
$385.00
|
$355.00
|
Purple
|
$330.00
|
$300.00
|
Purple Prep
| Purple Prep is now a seasonal group
only
|
Each swimmer will
receive a team suit, team shirt, team caps, and team
backpack.
|
Chart of
Membership Dues - no
increase in dues for 2020-2021
|
|
Annual
Membership Dues
(payable on
9/1 at a 5% discount)
|
Monthly
Membership Dues
(9/1 thru
7/1)
|
Group
|
Swimmer
#1
|
Swimmer
#2+
|
Swimmer
#1
|
Swimmer
#2+
|
Senior
|
$3,396.25
(save
$178.75)
|
$3,082.75
(save
$162.25)
|
$325.00
|
$295.00
|
Gold
|
$2,978.25
(save
$156.75)
|
$2,664.75
(save
$140.25)
|
$285.00
|
$255.00
|
Purple
|
$2,403.50
(save
$126.50)
|
$2,090.00
(save
$110.00)
|
$230.00
|
$200.00
|
Purple Prep
| n/a
| n/a
|
$220.00
|
$190.00
|
Membership Waiver
By registering my child(ren) with the Walnut
Creek Aquabears, I agree to participate (or allow my child(ren) and
family members to participate) in the Walnut Creek Aquabears,
and hereby release Walnut Creek Aquabears, its directors,
officers, agents, coaches, and employees from liability for any
injury that might occur to myself (or to my child(ren) and family
members) while participating in the Walnut
Creek Aquabears program, including travel to and from
training sessions, swim meets or other scheduled team
activities.
I agree to indemnify and hold harmless the above mentioned
organizations and/or individuals, their agents and/or employees,
against any and all liability for personal injury, including
injuries resulting in death to me, my child(ren) and/or other
family members, or damage to my property, the property to my
child(ren) and/or other family members, or both, while I (or my
child(ren) or family members) participating in the Walnut
Creek Aquabears program.
Also, as parents/guardians of the above
swimmer(s) we agree to payment of swim fees, parents’ club
fee, and any fines as described in this packet or as amended by the
Walnut Creek Aquabears Board of Directors.
Emergency Waiver
I certify that I
am the parent or legal guardian for my child(ren). I hereby give my
permission for any supervisor, coach or other team administrator
associated with the Walnut Creek Aquabears to seek and
give appropriate medical attention for our child(ren) in the event
of accident, injury, illness. I will be responsible for any and all
costs associated with any necessary medical attention and/or
treatment.
I hereby waive, release and forever
discharge Walnut Creek Aquabears and associated
supervisor, coach or other team administrator from all rights and
claims for damages, injury, loss to person or property which may be
sustained or occur during participation in Walnut Creek
Aquabears activities, whether or not damages or loss is due to
negligence. I hereby acknowledge that my children is (are)
physically fit and capable of participation in all Swim Team
activities.
City of
Walnut Creek Waiver - Child
(This agreement is
required of all WCAB participants by the City of Walnut
Creek)
_ x _ Walnut Creek
Aquabears
___ Walnut Creek
Aquanuts
___ Walnut Creek
Masters
___ Walnut Creek Swim
Club
___ High School Swim
Team _____________ (School Name)
___ Special Event
_______________ (School Name)
I, the
undersigned, certify that I am the parent or legal guardian of the
above-named child, that he/she is in good physical condition and
that I give my permission for him/her to participate in the program
marked above.
My child has
voluntarily applied to participate in aquatic activities in
conjunction with the above-named team.
I am aware that serious accidents occasionally occur during aquatic
activities; and that participants occasionally sustain serious
personal injury, death and/or damaged or lost property as a
result. I understand that:
• included among the dangerous elements of
aquatic activities are risks associated with: weather; water
conditions (including temperature, currents, waves and pollution);
injury as a result of being struck by another swimmer/diver or
his/her equipment; and other activities;
• there is a risk of injury while practicing
and competing;
• the pool deck, bottom, sides, diving
boards and starting blocks cannot be guaranteed to be smooth or
free of defects, and that there is the risk of injury as a result
of tripping or striking an object; and
• there are unpredictable dangers involved
in this sport.
If I observe any unusual or significant hazard, I will bring it to
the attention of the nearest official immediately and remove my
child from participation if necessary.
WAIVER AND RELEASE OF LIABILITY
I, the undersigned, as parent/guardian of a minor participant,
recognize and acknowledge that there are certain risks with
participation in recreation programs. In consideration of my
child’s participation in aquatic activities, I voluntarily
release the team indicated above and the City of Walnut Creek from
liability for injuries, death or property damage resulting from or
in any way connected with that participation. This Waiver and
Release is applicable even though the negligent activities of the
team and/or the City may have caused or contributed to the injury,
death or property damage. This Waiver and Release is binding on me,
my heirs and dependents. (In this document, references to the City
include its officers, agents, employees and volunteers.)
I freely and voluntarily expressly assume all the risks of my
child’s participation in these aquatic activities. I
additionally agree to indemnify the City of Walnut Creek against
any claims or rights of action for damages which the child has
before or after he or she reaches the age of majority.
MEDICAL RELEASE: In the event of an emergency, I authorize City
officials to secure from any licensed hospital, physician, and/or
medical personnel any treatment deemed necessary for my minor
child’s immediate care and agree that I will be responsible
for payment of medical services rendered.
I also certify that my child is physically fit, has sufficiently
trained for participation in this aquatic activity and has not been
advised otherwise by a qualified medical person.
I understand that during practice and competition or related
activities, my child may be photographed. I agree to allow photo,
video or film likeness of my child to be used for any legitimate
purpose by the City.
Lastly, I agree to accept and abide by the rules and regulations of
the City of Walnut Creek and of the team named above.
I HAVE READ, UNDERSTAND AND VOLUNTARILY SIGN THIS WAIVER AND
RELEASE, AND FURTHER AGREE THAT NO OTHER ORAL REPRESENTATIONS,
STATEMENTS, OR INDUCEMENTS HAVE BEEN MADE.
THIS WAIVER IS REQUIRED BY THE
CITY OF WALNUT CREEK TO USE CLARKE MEMORIAL SWIM
CENTER.
City of Walnut
Creek Waiver - Adult
(This agreement is
required of all WCAB participants by the City of Walnut
Creek)
_ x _ Walnut Creek
Aquabears
___ Walnut Creek
Aquanuts
___ Walnut Creek
Masters
___ Walnut Creek Swim
Club
___ High School Swim
Team _____________ (School Name)
___ Special Event
_______________ (School Name)
I, the
undersigned, certify that I am in good physical condition and wish
to participate in the program marked above. I have
voluntarily applied to participate in aquatic activities in
conjunction with the above named team.
I am aware that
serious accidents occasionally occur during aquatic activities, and
that participants occasionally sustain serious personal injury,
death and/or damaged or lost property as a result of these
activities. I understand that:
• included among the dangerous elements of
aquatic activities are risks associated with: weather; water
conditions (including temperature, currents, waves and pollution);
injury as a result of being struck by another swimmer/diver or
his/her equipment; and other activities;
• there is a risk of injury while practicing
and competing;
• the pool deck, bottom, sides, diving
boards and starting blocks cannot be guaranteed to be smooth or
free of defects, and that there is the risk of injury as a result
of tripping or striking an object; and
• there are unpredictable dangers involved
in this sport.
If I observe any unusual or significant hazard I will bring it to
the attention of the nearest official immediately and remove myself
from participation if necessary.
RELEASE OF
LIABILITY
In consideration of my participation in aquatic activities, I
voluntarily release the City of Walnut Creek from liability for
injuries, death or property damage resulting from or in any way
connected with my participation in aquatic activities. This
waiver and release is applicable even though the negligent
activities of the City may have caused or contributed to the
injury, death or property damage. This document is binding on
me, my heirs and dependents. I freely and voluntarily
expressly assume all the risks of participating in these aquatic
activities. (References to the City include its officers,
agents, employees and volunteers.)
I also certify that I am physically fit, have sufficiently trained
for participation in this aquatic activity and have not been
advised otherwise by a qualified medical person.
MEDICAL RELEASE: In the event of an emergency, I authorize City
officials to secure from any licensed hospital, physician, and/or
medical personnel any treatment deemed necessary for my immediate
care and agree that I will be responsible for payment of all
medical services rendered.
I understand that during practice and competition or related
activities, I may be photographed. I agree to allow photo, video or
film likeness of me to be used for any legitimate purpose by the
City.
Lastly, I agree to accept and abide by the rules and regulations of
the City of Walnut Creek.
I HAVE READ, UNDERSTAND AND VOLUNTARILY SIGN THIS WAIVER AND
RELEASE, AND FURTHER AGREE THAT OTHER NO ORAL REPRESENTATIONS,
STATEMENTS OR INDUCEMENTS HAVE BEEN MADE.
THIS WAIVER IS REQUIRED BY THE CITY OF
WALNUT CREEK TO USE CLARKE MEMORIAL SWIM
CENTER.