For Parents/Guardians of Swimmers 6-years-old and Younger
Thank you in advance for reading ALL of the detailed information below.
Our goal is to make sure everyone on the team has a safe, fun, and fantastic time with the Upper Valley Rapids! Sharing expectations in advance helps us do that.
We love coaching young swimmers! AND ALSO, we need to ensure that all swimmers are ready for the Upper Valley Rapids swim team experience. We all work, have fun, and stay safe together as a team. We have learned through the years how important it is that all swimmers on the team have a basic set of skills so we can all work together in a way that is safe, fun, fair, and productive for everyone.
For these reasons, we require parents/guardians considering registering swimmers who are 6 years old or younger to read and agree to the following:
Our usual minimum age for the Upper Valley Rapids swim team is 6. Anyone wishing to register a swimmer who is 5 or younger needs to reach out to us via our Contact Us page prior to registering.
Being ready for UVR has both technical swimming requirements and social/emotional requirements. Swimmers must meet both in order to participate.
Social/Emotional Requirements
Swimmers must have a minimum of one school-year in a school-run or state-approved pre-k, kindergarten, and/or 1st grade program prior to joining UVR. Exceptions in cases of home-schooling can be discussed in advance using the Contact Us page.
Swimmers must be able to do ALL of the following on ALL days of practice and swim meets:
- Participate independently (without parental involvement) in an organized, group, hour-long, outdoor program. Even when it's chilly.
- Listen to and follow directions from coaches.
- “Share” the coaches – understand that the coaches are there for everyone.
- Take turns, including going last or going first.
- Stay with their practice group and move back and forth across the pool with their practice group. This is a fundamental safety requirement.
- Accept feedback and use it to improve their swimming skills. Ask questions if they don't understand something.
- Communicate with their coach about how they’re feeling, ask for help if needed, and work with their coach and teammates to find solutions to problems.
Swimming Skill Requirements
If swimmers don’t yet have these skills, they should plan for additional swim lessons before joining the team.
Swimmers must be able to:
- Jump into the deep end of the pool without holding their nose.
- Enter and exit a deep water pool unassisted without using the ladder.
- Swim 25 yards (one length of the pool) comfortably WITHOUT:
- Getting upset or scared
- Stopping
- Holding the lane lines
- Holding the side of the pool
- Requiring assistance
- Swim with their head under water without holding their nose.
- Swim a basic freestyle/front crawl stroke with alternating arms and kicking legs.
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Be comfortable on their back in the water and be willing to work on backstroke.
If you have questions about whether your swimmer is ready for UVR, please feel free to reach out to us via the Contact Us page.
If, during the first week of the season, coaches determine that a swimmer is not yet ready for UVR, they will let you know and you will receive a refund of your registration fee minus the credit card processing fee and the cost of any personalized items already ordered (such as swim caps.) We look forward to welcoming your swimmer back the following year!
By continuing with registration for your 6-year-old or younger swimmer, you acknowledge that you have read, understand, and agree with the information above. Thank you!
