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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS BY PROSPECTIVE SWIM PARENTS:
Is my child qualified to begin swimming on your swim team? Swimmers should be at least five years old, and can successfully swim 25 yards of front crawl and backstroke without stopping.
Where are practices held? Sparks Center at Willamette University Campus and/or Salvation Army Kroc Center
How do I know which group (level) my child should join? Coaches decide on the appropriate placement of each swimmer. We hold tryouts in the fall and spring to determine placement.
Can my child start swimming in the middle of a season? Although it is preferred that swimmers begin swimming at the beginning of a season, swimmers may join the team in the middle of a season if there is appropriate room.
Is my child expected to attend every practice? Although coaches would love to see every swimmer attend every practice, they realize that other family obligations may make that impossible. However, every practice is critical in the training and progression of successful competitive swimming. The practices that are offered should be attended.
Can we receive a refund for missed practices? No refunds will be given to swimmers that miss practice due to a vacation, participation in other sports/activities, or short-term illnesses.
Does my child need to show up early for practice? Swimmers should arrive at practice 15 minutes before the scheduled practice time. During the 15 minutes before practice, swimmers prepare for practice removing outer clothing, putting on a swim cap and goggles, gather any additional equipment, and meet the coach on deck. Please make every effort to have your swimmer on deck, ready to swim, on time.
What should my child wear to each swim practice? It is recommended that swimmers wear a practice swim suit (not a beach swim suit or bikini), a swim cap, and goggles. If you need to purchase swim related apparel or equipment, we recommend Elsmore Swim Shop. You can shop online with Elsmore. Please make sure younger swimmers arrive at practice with their swimsuits on underneath their clothing so time does not need to be wasted in the locker room changing clothes.
Does my child need to bring any special equipment to practice? All swimmers should bring a water-bottle on deck during practice. Be sure the bottle is labeled with your child’s name, is not made of glass, and contains water or a sports drink. Water bottles should not be left on deck after practice - please take home to recycle or wash.
Depending on the group your child is in, other equipment is needed. For the beginner level groups, the required equipment is minimal. All equipment is available through Elsmore Swim Shop. They have an online store, and if you tell them that your swimmer is joining the Bearcats they will know what equipment and team suit your swimmer will need.
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Age Group 1 & 2: Fins
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Age Group 3: Fins & snorkel
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Senior Prep: Fins, snorkel, kickboard
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Seniors: Fins, paddles, pull-buoy, snorkel, kickboard
It will be acceptable to your coach if you do not have the other equipment for the first couple of weeks of your first season with our club.
Can I watch my child’s practice? Parents may watch practice from the bleachers at the Kroc Center and from the viewing window at Willamette. Please do not make any attempt to talk to or "coach" your child from the bleachers. Do not make any attempt to talk to your child’s coach during practice either, except in the case of an emergency. The coach will tell your child everything they need to know. Your role is to support and encourage your swimmer, while resisting the urge to be a second coach to your child. Please remain in the bleachers/viewing gallery - do not go on deck. Assure your child that you will meet him/her at the end of practice.
When can I talk to my child’s coach? If you’d like to talk to a coach while at a practice, if possible, please wait until AFTER practice. Before each swim practice, your child’s coach will be busy preparing for practice, reviewing the prepared workout, etc. This is usually not a good time for parents to talk to a coach. After practice, however, you may talk with your child’s coach in the bleacher/viewing area. Please be respectful of your coach’s time, and be aware that other parents may be waiting to talk to the coach, too. If you need to have an extended or private conversation with a coach, consider emailing or phoning a coach instead of approaching the coach on his/her way out of practice.
Does my Child Have to Compete in Swim Meets? Swimmers are recommended to compete at meets. It would be no different than joining the soccer or baseball team and going to play at the match or game. The meets are where swimmers flourish and coaches can provide feedback. There are meet entry fees for each meet. The fees for the meet entries will be put on your monthly invoice.
What Team Uniform is Required? As swimmers prepare to compete in meets, they are expected to have a team suit, warm-up or parka, and team cap. Team suits and apparel orders are taken once in the fall and spring. This suit will last longer if it is only used at meets. Swimmers can wear any suit for practices.
A Nike brand suit is required to be worn during meets. During championship meets a Nike suit is mandatory (an alternative suit may be worn only if after all efforts, a Nike suit cannot be fitted to an individual). If a swim cap is worn it must be a Bearcat cap. One Bearcat latex cap will be provided by the team each year, additional latex caps can be purchased for $5 and silicone caps may be purchased for $15.00. All coaches have caps they hand out at the meets.
Interested in joining, click here.
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