My kids can swim, but they aren't exactly fast. Will they fit in on the team?

Absolutely! We have swimmers at many different levels of ability, from dedicated year-round swimmers to kids who just like being in the water with their friends. The purpose of summer league is to have FUN and support each other in our goals, whether that means winning a medal at Champs or just learning a new stroke.

My child can't quite swim yet. Can he join the Fun Team to learn?

Fun Team is for kids who are comfortable being in the water but may have little to no experience with formal swim strokes. If your child is comfortable playing in the water, they are ready for Fun Team. Early Fun Team practices may include jumping into the water, putting face in the water, blowing bubbles and using a kickboard. Our coaches can support them in whatever speed they are ready to progress. If a child is ready to move over to Swim Team and compete in meets or just have a more challenging practice, coaches will support that transition. We also include Fun Team races at the beginning of our regular season meets (often with kickboards) to allow Fun Team members their first chance to experience the spirit of competition. 

Even when they're ready for Fun Team, some young swimmers will be nervous and need encouragement, especially at the beginning of the season. For this reason we usually start Fun Team practices a few days after the regular practices, to let the pool warm up a bit and allow Fun Teamers to observe the older kids and get excited. Once Fun Team begins, assistant coaches will be in the water working hands-on with swimmers.

*Our coaches sometimes offer private lessons during the summer. Contact them individually if you're interested. 

We have vacation plans in June/July. Can we join team even though we'll miss some weeks?

Yes! We don't expect families to plan their summers around swim team. Attend as many meets and practices as you can and don't stress about missing some. 

We only ask that you RSVP for meets using our website or app (we'll show you how to do that). And keep in mind that in order to be eligible for our league's Champs meet, swimmers must compete in at least two of the six regular-season meets.

How long do meets typically last?

We're a small team that generally competes against other small teams, which keeps things short. No guarantees, but most meets start at 6:30 and are over by 9:00. The youngest swimmers are often done with all their races by the middle of the meet.

What distances do you race? 

In meets, ages 8 and under swim one length of the pool (25 yards or meters) and ages 9 and above swim two lengths (50 yards or meters). Some meets include an optional freestyle event that is four pool lengths (100 yards or meters).

What should we bring to a swim meet?

Here's a list of suggested items.

Do parents have to stay on deck for practices? 

It isn't a team rule that parents must stay on deck for practices, but parents do remain responsible for their swimmers. You should consider your child's age and maturity level in deciding whether you need to be present. Coaches and lifeguards are focused on ensuring the safety of swimmers in the water. They cannot monitor or be responsible for your child on deck or outside the pool area. 

If you plan on being elsewhere during practice, it's a good idea to at least make sure another parent on deck is aware of your child's situation and has a way to contact you. 

If any swimmer's behavior in or out of the pool raises concerns, coaches may request that a parent stay on deck during practice. 

What are your volunteer requirements? 

We rely on our fantastic parent volunteers to make our meets run smoothly. Volunteering is also a great way to get to know your friends and neighbors!

We require that every family with a swimmer participating in a meet fill at least one volunteer slot at that meet. Each slot lasts half the meet. Volunteers can be parents, grandparents, or even older siblings. Most jobs are very easy (e.g., handing out water, timing races, or helping at the snack bar) and can be learned in a few minutes. A few jobs (like strokes & turns judge) require training.

About a week before each meet, we give you the opportunity to pick a job using the website/app. If you don't choose a job, you should expect that one will be assigned to you.

My child has a birthday during the season; will he or she move to a different age group? 

Our league uses a swimmer's age on May 31 to determine their age for the entire season. For example, if your child will turn 9 on June 5, she'll still be classified as an 8-year-old and will swim in the 7-8 division all season. 

My business would like to sponsor the Eels. 

We welcome sponsors! Sponsorships start at $250 which includes your logo on our website, a banner displayed at all our home meets, and recognition by the meet announcer. If you'd like to sponsor us, get in touch with anyone on our board or fill out our contact form.