CARIB SWIM TEAM:  FINANCIAL OBLIGATIONS

Financial obligations for Carib Swim Team team membership are as follows:

1. Team Dues
2. Membership Fee
3. License
4. Non-recurring charges (meet fees, team apparel, equipment)

I:  Team Dues – Annual Payment or Monthly Installments

Participation with CST’s program is an annual commitment, beginning in September and ending in June.  Our swim season is 10 months, and all team members are expected to commit to the program on an annual basis.  Payments may be made at the beginning of the season or in monthly installments.  If you choose to pay in monthly installments, you will be billed around the 20^th of each month, with payment due before the 1^st of the subsequent month (e.g., billed on 20 September, with payment due by 1 October).

1. Group Advancement

If a swimmer is moved to a different practice group during the year, the family will be billed at the amount of the new group dues rate for their next monthly payment.

1. Pro-Rating

CST does not prorate dues.  If a swimmer participates during any part of the 1^st of the month through the 20^th of the month, the full month’s dues must be paid. 

1. Refunds

New swimmers are eligible for a refund of membership dues, after a one week trial period, if they choose not to continue with the program.  The team membership fee is not refundable. 

1. Fees Structure for Team Dues

III.  Annual License Fee
A non-refundable annual membership fee of $100 is required for each team member. This fee goes towards several things:

1. Every 18U athlete who competes or practices with a FINA member swim program, such as CST, must register with and become a member of of the local swimming federation.  Here in SXM, this means all 18U swimmers must obtain a license with SMAF (St Maarten Aquatics Federation) or FFN (French Swimming Federation).  

2. Every registered swimmer will receive a customised seasonal t-shirt, and a team swim cap.

3. Entry into our first meet of the season, the annual red/blue intrasquad meet, is paid for from this fee.

4. Families will have access to the annual swim guide via our website.

IV.   Non-Recurring Fees

1. Meet Fees

You will be billed meet fees for each meet in which your swimmer participates.  For home meets, CST assesses a team surcharge for meet participation to pay for expenses incurred by the team for staffing and administrative costs.  The CST surcharge is $10.00 per swimmer for home meets.

For travel meets, swimmers will be billed a team surcharge, in an amount dependent on the meet location and associated expenses.  Additional information relative to this will be communicated to participating swimmers in advance.

Meet fees are billed monthly and are due on the 1^st of the following month.

1. Required Equipment & Apparel
   1. All swimmers are required to purchase a team suit, team shirt and team cap for competition purposes.  Team shirts and other logo-wear is available in the office. The team suits are ordered on a periodic basis.
   2. Equipment - This is the required training gear for each group:
      1. ​Age Group 2: Kickboard, Pull buoy, Goggles, and Mesh Bag
      2. Age Group 1 and Senior Group: Kickboard, Pull buoy, Paddles, Short Fins, 2 pairs of goggles, Snorkel, and Mesh Bag
      3. • Please check with your coach about appropriate sizes for paddles
         • If a swimmer already has a piece of equipment, they are not expected to replace it. However, long
         fins will no longer be allowed in practices.
         • Equipment will be provided for Stroke Development Group
         • It is recommended that AG1 and SR swimmers have two pairs of goggles (clear for night time,
         tinted for when the sun is out).

V.  Financial Obligations Policy

1. Delinquent Accounts

If accounts are 45 days delinquent the swimmer will no longer be permitted to participate in any aspect of the program, including practices, meets or other club functions.  No swimmer will be entered in a meet if the family’s account is not current.

1. Returned Check Policy

All checks returned to CST for insufficient funds will be subject to a $25 service fee. 

1. Suspension or Cancellation of Team Membership

It is the responsibility of the parent to notify the coaching staff, in writing, of the intention to suspend or cancel a team membership.  If a swimmer opts not to swim in a month, coaching fees will still be assessed, as participation with CST is an annual commitment.  In the event that a swimmer is unable to participate due to serious injury or illness, please notify the coaching staff as soon as possible. 

1. Billing and Payments

Billing statements will be issued through our team website each month.  Payments may be made via cash or check, through the pool front office. 

1. Submitting Your Payment

Please do not give payment checks to the coaching staff before, during or after practice.  The pool deck is a whirlwind of activity, and coaches are focused on the task at hand – working with the kids.  Instead, please come by the pool office to make payment in person, or simply leave your payment (along with a copy of your billing statement) in the lockbox at the pool. 

1. Questions/Problems

If you have any questions about any billing you may have received, please contact the coaching staff.