Swim Club is a great way for kids to stay active, have fun, be social in a team setting, and get a taste of what it’s like to be on a competitive swim team. Here are some of the questions many families have about Swim Club.
What will my child learn in swim club?
In our Swim Club, we focus on stroke refinement, beginner competitive swimming skills, and increased endurance. We add in games and social opportunities to keep it fun and light-hearted. Think of it as a step between swim lessons and being on a more competitive swim team.
Is my child ready for Swim Club?
To be in Swim Club, swimmers should be able to swim 50 yards (one full lap) in the lap pool without assistance. Seven years old is the recommended youngest age. It is highly recommended that they be able to rotary (sideways) breathe for freestyle (front crawl), and that they have prior exposure to all four competitive strokes. If your child has participated in level 4 of our group lessons program, he/she is ready for Swim Club. Our lap pools are kept at a lower temperature than our warm water pools, so please make sure your child is able to tolerate the temperature. If you are unsure if your child is ready for Swim Club, please contact your club’s aquatics director to set up a time for a swim test, or attend one of our clubs’ Swim Evaluation Days.
Are there meets? Can I see the meet schedule?
Our summer Swim Club participates in about five meets per summer against local rec department and country club teams. As many of these teams are at summer-only facilities, our meet schedule usually isn’t solidified until early to mid-June. The meet schedule as we have it so far will be available at our Meet the Coaches Day.
Our school-year Swim Club participates in one intra-club meet (River Glen, Brookfield, and Mequon) quarterly during the school year.
Explain the practice schedule to me.
Our summer Swim Club participants can practice at any of our three Splash clubs, as their schedule allows. There are twelve different practice options throughout the week. If you can’t attend on a particular week due to vacations, camps, or other reasons, just make up the time by attending more practices during weeks you are able to.
Our school-year Swim Club meets once per week after school at each Splash club (Tuesdays at Mequon and Brookfield, Wednesdays at River Glen.)
What else will my child get?
Our summer Swim Club members get a team swim cap and have the option of buying a team swim suit. Team suit sizing is done at Meet the Coaches Day, and then parents are given a link to order their own suit online and have it sent to them at home.
Our Meet the Coaches Days, which are regularly scheduled throughout the year, allow you to meet some of your child’s coaches, get the meet schedule, pick up your swim cap, and get sized and get ordering information for your team suit.
If you have any further questions regarding swim club, please contact your club’s aquatics director, or contact Swim Club Coordinator Ariana Sparapani.
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Written by Jessica Heller, Aquatics Director at Elite Sports Club-Mequon
Jessica Heller has a B.S. in Biological Sciences, minor in Spanish (UW-Milwaukee, 1999), Doctor of Chiropractic (Northwestern Health Sciences University, 2002), and post-graduate continuing education focused mostly on rehabilitative exercise, sports injuries, and nutrition. She is a certified Water Safety Instructor (since 1996), Lifeguard/CPR/First Aid Instructor (since 2010), Red Cross Babysitting Instructor (since 2015), Certified Pool Operator (since 2013), Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (since 2006), Aquatic Exercise Association Aquatic Fitness Professional (since 2008), and Arthritis Foundation Aquatics Program Instructor (since 2011).