Gator Parent Information

Frequently Asked Questions

My child isn't a very good swimmer yet. Would he still have a place on the team?

Besides, the team registration fee what other expenses can we expect?

How many practices does my child need to attend during the week?

Does my child need to participate in Fall, Winter and Spring practice?

Do we have to be at all meets?

My child is nervous diving into the water. Does she have to use the starting blocks?

Does my child have to know how to swim all four strokes?

My child just likes to swim. Does he have to compete in meets?

Do I have to do flip turns?

When do I sign up for meet events?

How long do meets usually take?

My swimmer has something else going on before our meet ends, can he sign up to swim in a meet and leave early?

My child isn't a very good swimmer yet. Would he still have a place on the team?
We certainly want to encourage kids to give swim team a try. We will work with your child to try to make him/her a swimmer capable of competing in swim meets. To compete they need to be able to swim at least one length of the pool (35yds) for kids 8 years and younger. Old kids must be able to complete at least 2 lengths (70yds).

Besides, the team registration fee what other expenses can we expect?
Typically additional expenses include: swim goggles, swim fins and a team racing swimsuit. These purchases are encouraged, but not required.

How many practices does my child need to attend during the week?
We require swimmers to attend a minimum of 4 practices per week to qualify to swim in the current week's meet*. Check with your child's coach as exceptions may be made for illness, vacation, or other committments. Coaches do their best to accommodate requests made in advance. Swimmers not meeting the minimum weekly practice requirements, but with excused absences or illnesses, may swim in the current week's meet at the coach's discretion. Practice attendance is monitored by the coaches.

* Note: Any Gator also swimming with a summer club is required to participate in a minimum of 2 practices per week with the Gators team to be considered part of the team. Participation in practices may include joining swimmers for practice and/or serving as a coach-in-training. Coaches-in-training work directly under the Head or Assistant Coaches to assisst them in their work with swimmers. Coaches-in-training agreements are completed and approved by the Head Coach.

Does my child need to participate in Fall, Winter and Spring practice?
The Gators recognize that with school and other extra-curricular activities families may not have time to add swim practice to the mix. We certainly encourage participation in the off-season practices, but it isn't required.

Do we have to be at all meets?
Summer is the time for two things: 1) Swim team, 2) Family vacations. There is no expectation that every family will be available for every meet. We would appreciate it if you would let the coaching staff know, in advance, when you will be gone.

My child is nervous diving into the water. Does she have to use the starting blocks?
Certainly for the younger age group swimmers, the starting blocks aren't required. The coaching staff will spend time over the course of the summer working with your child to make her comfortable enough to use the blocks.

Does my child have to know how to swim all four strokes?
We don't expect swimmers to join the team with the ability to do all 4 strokes (backstroke, butterfly, breaststroke and freestyle). But, like starting off the blocks, learning each of the strokes is something the coaches will emphasize over the course of the season.

My child just likes to swim. Does he have to compete in meets?
In the past we have allowed kids to be on the team, participate in practice and never participate in meets. But in the past year our team has doubled in size and thus pool time is at a premium. As of 2009 it is now expected that any member of the Gator team must participate in meets. It is possible that if your child is new to swimming he/she might not be ready for meet participation on that first weekend in June. But the expectation is that sometime during the course of the season your swimmer will be competing.

Do I have to do flip turns?
Similar to our stand on knowing the 4 strokes, we don't expect swimmers to know how to do flip turns. But the coaching staff does spend time learning this valuable race time-saver.

When do I sign up for meet events?
Normally we want swimmers to sign up for swim events the 5 days before the meet. (Tuesdays for a Saturday meet). If you are on vacation and won't be back in town until meet day and still want to participate, just let the coaches know before you leave on vacation.

How long do meets usually take?
Depending on the number of swimmers our opponent has the meets usually go 3.5 to 4.5 hours. The bigger teams are Sun Prairie, Baraboo and Cross Plains. Those meets tend to be longer because there are more exhibition heats.

My swimmer has something else going on before our meet ends, can he sign up to swim in a meet and leave early?
You can certainly sign up for the meet. However, PLEASE let the head coach know when you sign up. This is very important because the coach might otherwise put your child in the Free Relay (last event of the day). If you child leaves and we don't have a sub available, three other swimmers would not be able to compete in that event.