TEAM SUIT POLICY
PDSC takes great pride in carefully considering all aspects of our program from USA Swimming Safe Sport to the competitive development of our athletes. Our team culture has had an enormous impact on the success and growth of our team. The aim of the policies outlined below is to further define that culture in order to improve our unity as a team and ensure that our attire at meets and practice is consistent with our philosophy. Please read all four parts of this team attire policy outlined below.
Practice Suits
Swimmers are discouraged from wearing team suits during practice. This will keep your team suits looking new and prolong the life of the team suits, and instill the idea that team suits are part of the team uniform used exclusively for team meets. Please be mindful of our existing practice suit policy regarding our standards of practice suits:
Swimmers can wear any one (1) piece swimming suit that meets the team's standards of decency and does not interfere with a swimmer’s ability to use the proper technique at practice. All swimmers are required to wear a suit that is in good condition and fits appropriately. If a coach observes a swimmer not complying they will be asked to change into a proper suit before returning to the pool.
Team Suits
We are proud to swim for PDSC and dressing uniformly is a way for us to unite as a club. At all meets, we want to make our presence known as a club. Our team policy is that for all USA Swimming meets, PDSC swimmers are required to wear a team suit and team cap. We have selected the following options for our team suits: (other than when a swimmer wears a tech suit in compliance with our team tech suit policy)
For Girls
Arena Thin Strap or Racerback. These team suits are affordable, readily available and are generally suggested for younger girls.
For Boys
Arena Jammers or Briefs. These team suits are more affordable, readily available and are generally suggested for younger boys.
Exception: Swimmers who are 8 years old or younger and competing in their first-ever USA Swimming meet are not required to purchase a team suit. It is our aim to have your child decide that he or she loves swimming before you purchase a team suit. The team suit policy will apply for these swimmers as of their second meet.
In the event of a suit malfunction, a plain black suit may be worn.
Swim Caps
PDSC white team caps are required at meets for all swimmers regardless of hair length. Having all of our swimmers wearing the same cap encourages team unity and enables our coaches to easily spot our swimmers in the pool. Our coaches will have extra caps available at meets and practice, but please do not depend on this in order to comply with the swim cap policy.
For hygienic reasons relating to the facility, all swimmers with hair shoulder length and longer are required to wear caps at practice. Most girls and many boys with short hair wear caps in order to protect & contain their hair so that they may use proper technique. If your swimmer wears a cap at practice, they may wear a cap of their choice.
Any PDSC swimmer who is present at a meet without a team suit may be restricted from the competition.
Tech Suits
“Tech suits” are engineered to reduce a swimmer’s drag in the water, artificially enhancing performance. We believe that this is not appropriate for younger swimmers to use a swimsuit to this effect. We want our developing swimmers to value hard work, skill, and technique as the means to improvement. “Tech suits” can undermine these values. We will save the advantage from a “tech suit” for when our swimmers are older.
Our team policy is that all PDSC swimmers 10 years old & under are prohibited from wearing a “tech suit” in any competition. Swimmers who are 11 years or older may wear a FINA-approved tech suit at championship meets ONLY or with the Head Coach/Asst. Head Coach’s permission providing they have a Blue time and are attempting to qualify for JAG, WAG or Age Group Champs. Championship meets are defined as those end-of-season meets at or above the EC Championship level.
