Do swimmers need to tryout?
Yes, evaluations will be held in August or by appointment to place swimmers into their appropriate group. Email [email protected] saying that you would like to try out, and our office manager will be in touch on a specific time.
Can swimmers be involved in other sports?
Yes, swimmers can participate in other sports. However, swimming is like other sports: the more commitment you make, the more successful you will be.
Is there a lot of travel involved?
The only required travel meets are to Shreveport. Further travel info can be found under team information on the website.
Can a swimmer join at any time?
A swimmer can join at any time, but the time of year may determine which group a swimmer gets placed into. New swimmers need to email [email protected] to set up an evaluation.
How are coaches certified?
Coaches are certified through USA swimming. All coaches are required to pass a USA swimming background check, and complete certifications for CPR, Saftey Training, Athlete Protection, and USA swimming Foundations of Coaching.
What are the benefits of year-round swimming?
Swimmers who commit to swimming year-round will see more improvement in their strokes, endurance, and performance. While swimming year-round is not required, it is highly encouraged so each swimmer can meet their full swimming potential.
Are there any additional costs associated with year-round swimming?
Swim meets do have entry fees associated with them. Some additional fees could include team caps, goggles, equipment, team shirts, meet shirts, and optional team apparel.
Do swimmers have to buy a team suit?
Yes, if the swimmer is going to compete on the competition team, or if they choose to compete while practicing with BAC FIT. Details for team suits, gear, and apparel can be found under Team Information on the website.
What equipment does my swimmer need?
Each BAC practice group has its own set of required equipment. The list of required equipment can be found under the Team Information tab.
How do I know if my swimmer is ready for a swim meet?
The BAC Coaching staff is highly motivated to prepare your swimmer for competition. Please check in with your child’s coach to be sure. However, after one month of swimming, most practice groups will have learned the proper techniques for at least one stroke, so each swimmer should be ready to compete at the beginner level after the first month of practice.
How do I sign up my swimmer for a swim meet?
ALL swimmers must be committed to the event on the website in order to compete in a swim meet. If you do not commit your swimmer by the deadline, they will be unable to compete. All competition information is found on the website under EVENTS. All event information will be emailed to each active account with details before commitment deadlines.
What is the difference between a short course (SC) and long course (LC)?
Short course meets take place in a 25 yard or meter pool and long course meets take place in a 50-meter pool. Short course runs from September until March, and long course runs from late April until mid-July.
What should I bring to a swim meet?
- Highlighter to highlight heat sheets
- Sharpie to write events
- Portable chairs
- Healthy snacks, drinks, and water
- Clothes to stay warm
- Swim bag with a team suit, BAC cap, 2 pairs of goggles, towels, and flip flops
Why do swimmers write on their hands, arms, or legs?
Swimmers that are newer to swim meets write on their arms, legs, or hands to help them keep track of their events. The information that is written usually includes the event, heat, lane, and stoke that that swimmer is entered into for each race. Some more experienced swimmers can use a heat sheet. Heat sheets can be purchased before every swim meet.
What is expected of me as a parent?
Without parent support, our team cannot function properly. Therefore, we do have volunteer requirements for each active family.
Emails are sent out on a regular basis to keep parents and swimmers informed of any changes or upcoming events. We ask that parents set up their online account with at least one email address they check regularly so that all information can be learned in a timely manner.
Events and Volunteer Requirements are found on the website. Volunteer Information is found underneath the General Information tab and events are under the Events tab.
What are the four competitive strokes?
The four competitive strokes are Butterfly, Backstroke, Breaststroke, and Freestyle. Swimmers will learn the rules for each stroke at practice. The best way to understand the rules of each stroke is to ask a coach directly or review swimming websites.
