New Swimmer Information

New Swimmer Registration

For all new swimmers (for siblings of a returning swimmer or former members wanting to return to the team, please email [email protected] for more information), registration will be in person at the Arden Park Community Center, located at 1000 La Sierra Drive, on Saturday, February 4, 2023. 

 

Registration Steps and Requirements

1.  Come to February 4, 2023, New Swimmer Registration Day at the Arden Park Community Center.  Confirm with the Registrar there is a place on the team for your new swimmer.

2.  Register online with the AP Dolphins and pay fees by credit card. Computers and assistance will be provided.  An active credit card on file is required at the time of registration.  

3.  Register online with the Northern California Swim League at www.norcalswimleague.com and pay fees online. (For new 6 & Under and 7-8 age group swimmers, please wait until your swimmer has passed the readiness assessment, as the NCSL fee is non-refundable).

4.  Bring a copy of your swimmer's birth certificate to registration. We will need to keep a copy of the birth certificate.

5. Participate in the New Swimmer Readiness Assessment and demonstrate the minimum safety requirements have been met (see details below).

Once all of the above has been completed, you will be officially registered with the Arden Park Dolphins swim team and your TeamUnify account will be activated.  If registration is not complete, swimmers will not be able to participate in swim team activities, including swim practice. 

 

The registration schedule will be as follows:

8:00 a.m. - Registration Sign In Opens

8:00 a.m. - 8:15 a.m. - Returning swimmers / siblings of returning swimmers AND who are Arden Park residents,

8:15 a.m. - 8:30 a.m. - Returning swimmers / siblings of returning swimmers who are NON Arden Park residents,

8:30 a.m. - 9:15 a.m. - New swimmers who are Arden Park residents,

9:15 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. - New swimmers who are non Arden Park residents.

 

Parents may come at any time on February 4th to sign-in for their registration time period.  If you miss your "priority" registration time period, you forfeit your priority and will be asked to sign in for the time of your arrival. 

Swimmers will be added to the team on a first-come, first-served basis, as long as there is room in the age group.  Once the maximum number of swimmers has been reached, a waiting list for that age group will be maintained.  Please see the "Waiting List" information below for more information regarding the waiting list procedures and priority.

 

New swimmer registration priority is as follows: 

1)  Returning swimmers/siblings of returning swimmers who are Arden Park residents,

2) Returning swimmers/siblings of returning swimmers who are not Arden Park residents,

3)  New swimmers who are Arden Park residents,

4)  New swimmers who are not Arden Park residents

 

Swimmers will be added to the team on a first-come, first-served basis, as long as there is room in the age group.  Once the maximum number of swimmers has been reached, a waiting list for that age group will be maintained.  Please see the "Waiting List" information below for more information regarding the waiting list procedures and priority.

 

Please bring the following with you to registration:

  1. A photocopy of the new swimmer’s birth certificate for the team to keep.

  2. Credit card for Arden Park Dolphins registration fee.

  3. Credit card to pay NCSL registration fee. (New swimmers 9 and under, please wait until your swimmer has successfully completed the swimmer readiness assessment.)

  4. At least one form of proof of Arden Park residency (cell phone bill, utility bill, tax statement) if coming during Arden Park resident priority registration times.

Please note that NO payment will be requested until the Registrar is able to confirm that the new swimmer has a place on the team.  Additionally, all new swimmers will be required to demonstrate their safety in the pool by participating in a swim safety assessment. If a registered swimmer does not pass the safety assessment, a full refund will be issued.  Safety assessment details can be found below.

 

Waiting List and Order of Priority

Over the years, the Arden Park Dolphins Registrar has maintained a waiting list whenever an age group fills to capacity during registration.  Often, those on the waiting list do end up on the swim team before the season officially starts.  However, some will remain on the waiting list for the entire season.  Following is the order of priority in which new swimmers will be added to the team as well as how a waiting list will be maintained for each age and gender group:

  1. Siblings of a returning swimmer who are Arden Park residents,

  2. Siblings of a returning swimmer who are non-Arden Park residents,

  3. New swimmers who are Arden Park residents,

  4. New swimmers who are Non-Arden Park residents.

The waiting list will not carry over to the next season.

 

Readiness Assessment and Swim Team Requirements

The first priority of the Arden Park Dolphins is the safety of all swimmers, our coaches, and our volunteers. Any swimmer who is not water-safe, cannot swim 25 yards unassisted, or cannot follow on-deck instruction will not be able to participate in the program this season.

All swimmers new to the Arden Park Dolphins, ages 9 and under, will be asked to demonstrate their safety and ability in the pool.  Readiness Assessments will take place on March 22-23, 2023 at the Arden Park pool.  Sign-ups for the Readiness Assessment will be announced at a later date.  ​

Most swimmers who complete the Readiness Assessment and Probationary Period go on to fully participate as a swim team member.

Please be aware that swim team practice is designed to develop and refine swim strokes.  Each swimmer is expected to have a working knowledge of all swim strokes (freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke, and butterfly - 6&U swimmers need only know freestyle and backstroke), and swim practice should not be considered “swim lessons” for the purpose of being introduced to swimming.  Swimmers will be expected to demonstrate independence during practice and the ability to follow the instructions of the coaches.  Swimmers should come prepared to be able to swim at least 5 to 6 laps during the first half-hour of practice.