FAQ
How old do I have to be to join the Rapids?
How good a swimmer do I have to be to join the Rapids?
How often do I have to come to practice? How often can I come?
What if we’re going away on vacation or I’m going to sleep away camp?
What if I have to leave practice early to get to day camp?
Do I have to participate in the meets?
What should I bring to meets? What should I eat at meets? How do meets work? Eeek! I’m stressed!
Do we practice if it’s cold? What if it’s raining?
Do I have to buy a Storrs Pond membership to be on the team?
Do you provide transportation to camps after morning practice?
Do I get to pick which events I swim at meets?
I want to know everything about everything. What should I do?
How old do I have to be to be on the swim team?
You have to be between six and 18 years old as of the start of the season. Occasional exceptions can be made for talented five-year-olds who are ready to participate independently in a structured team program. If you're interested in possibly registering a five-year-old, you'll need to contact us first.
How good a swimmer do I have to be to join the Rapids?
Swim team is not a “learn-to-swim” program, but you don't have to be an expert swimmer.
Minimum Requirements:
Independent Swim Skills: Jump into the deep end of the pool and submerge without holding your nose; swim with your head underwater; swim one length of the pool (25 yards) comfortably without needing help and without hanging on to or pulling on the lane lines or the side of the pool; get out without using the ladder; have basic skills in the freestyle/front crawl stroke and have at least been taught/tried backstroke.
Personal Skills: Ability to participate independently (without parental assistance) in a structured, team program. Ability to work as part of a group, take turns, listen to coaches and peers, accept feedback and use the feedback to improve your skills, ask questions, and support your fellow teammates.
How often do I have to come to practice? How often can I come?
The summer, recreational swim season is very much what you make of it. There is no required minimum number of practices. Most swimmers come to about three practices each week plus swim meets, for a total of four or five "swim team events" each week. In order to get in three practices each week, you'll need to be able to attend some morning practices and some evening practices.
What if we’re going away on vacation or I’m going to sleepaway camp for a week or two?
That’s fine. Please have your parent email the information to the team manager.
What if I have to leave practice early to get to day camp?
Please let your coach know before the start of practice if you’ll need to leave early.
Do I have to participate in the meets?
We do expect our swimmers to participate in, at minimum, our home meets. We also strongly encourage participation in our travel meets. If you feel very strongly that you do not want to participate in any meets at all, please have your parents talk with us before the start of the season. Almost all swimmers, even ones who initially think they don’t want to compete at meets, end up deciding that meets are really fun. Swimming is very much an individual sport, even though you are part of a team. What that means is you’re really just competing against yourself. There’s no way you can “mess things up for your whole team” by anything you do during your individual event. So, swimming can often be an excellent introduction to team sports for kids who feel uncomfortable about competition.
What should I bring to meets? What should I eat at meets? How do meets work? Eeek! I’m stressed!
Please, don’t be worried! Meets are fun! Lots of general information about meets can be found in the Family Handbook located here on the team website. Also, there will be lots of information given out prior to the first couple of meets so you’ll know what you need to do. We all work together to make sure everyone has fun.
Do we practice if it’s cold? What if it’s raining?
Yes, and yes. Practice is only canceled if there is thunder/lightning in the area. If the pool is closed for some other reason (chemical imbalance, equipment problem, etc.) we will generally still have practice and focus on dryland training, meet strategies, etc.
Do I have to buy a Storrs Pond membership to be on the team?
No. Your registration fee includes all of your swim team pool time. If you would like to use the Storrs Pond facilities outside of swim team practice, you’ll need to purchase a day pass or a membership to Storrs Pond.
Other than just going for a walk or hike, they would have to purchase a day pass or membership to Storrs Pond to do so. Your swim team registration only covers you, the swimmer, using the pool during swim team practice.
Do you provide transportation to camps after morning practice?
We do not provide specific transportation, but we are happy to help connect families to coordinate transportation. Please reach out with any questions.
How do I know which events to swim at the meets?
Your coach will talk with you about which events are appropriate for you.
Do I get to pick which events I swim at meets?
You can request events. However, the final selection of events is made by your coach.
I want to know everything about everything. What should I do?
First, read the Family Handbook. After that, ask your coach before or after practice.
For swimmers joining us for the first time, if you decide, before the end of the first week of swim team, that you don't want to continue on the team, you can request a refund of your registration fee minus a $30 administrative fee, credit card processing fee, and the cost of any team items (caps, t-shirts, etc.) purchased. After the first week, we are unable to provide refunds.
