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 $10 is required for each team member. 

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).  The 2015-2016 SMAF fee is $15.  The 2015-2016 FFN fee is €28 for 11 and under swimmers and €38 for 12 and over swimmers.

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 suit (black/red) s are available from TriSport in Simpson Bay.  Team shirts ($12) and team caps ($8-$15) are available in the swim office at the pool. 
   2. Equipment

All swimmers are required to have fins and a mesh bag.  Swimmers in the Gold group also need paddles.  An order for this equipment will be placed at the beginning of the season and the prices communicated accordingly.

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.