Bethel Park Recreation Swim Team Evaluation Dates for 2023/2024 School Year
Please contact Dana Willmer (BPR Registrar) at [email protected] to set up a tryout date and time.
WHEN DO I KNOW IF MY CHILD IS READY TO TRYOUT
Everyone is welcome to try out for the team at any time, but the coaching staff recommends that athletes be at least age 6 and complete Level 3 of our Swim Lessons Program prior to trying out.
FINDING BETHEL PARK HIGH SCHOOL POOL
Park in the student parking lot (adjacent to the football stadium) and enter through the Athletics Entrance. Upon entering the building, turn left and take the stairs to the bottom floor. Make a right at the bottom of the steps and head down the hallway to the deep end entrance to the pool (the hallway will have kayaks against the wall).
WHAT DO I NEED TO BRING
All your child needs is a swimsuit (any kind of one-piece suit) and a pair of goggles (goggles can be provided if you don’t own any).
HOW TRYOUTS WORK
Upon arrival, please sign in with the coaches and have a seat on the benches underneath the Team Trophy Cases. The coaches will take athletes one by one into the pool and ask them to swim one length of the pool in both freestyle and backstroke. What the coaches are looking for during tryouts is for the athlete’s ability to swim a full length of the pool freestyle with their face in the water and breathing to the side as well as their ability to swim a full length of the pool backstroke while keeping their torso and legs relatively afloat. After the tryout, coaches will return with your athlete along with recommendations. Our recommendations will be to either have your athletes join the team (either Sharks or Bronze Training Groups) or continue with or begin our Swim Lessons Program until they are able to complete the general skills needed to begin competitive swimming.
WHAT IF MY CHILD IS ASKED TO JOIN
If your child should be asked to join the team, you have a few options. You can join the Bethel Park Sharks, which is our year-round pre-competitive swim team, or the Bronze Training Group on the Bethel Park Recreation Swim Team which is our year-round competitive swim team. Most families choose the Bethel Park Sharks to start (you are eligible to move up to Bronze as you are ready). With either choice, the coaches will give you the practice schedule and you are welcome to try out the team for two weeks free of charge. Feel free to attend as many practices as you want during that time. If you choose to continue with the team, you will need to register for the team on our website.
