Welcome to Patriot Swim Club!

Here is some helpful information to get started - and a great page to bookmark for reminders on how things work! 

USA Swimming Membership

As a reminder - EVERY swimmer on the team (competitive or pre-competitive) must have a valid USA Swimming Membership before attending any practices. See our registration page for details on how to sign up! 

Team Communication

1) You'll receive a few emails each week from our team: 

• "The Week Ahead" email includes information about events/deadlines coming up in the next week, as well as any changes to the scheduled practices. 
• Coach Sebastian will send information regarding training and competitions. 
• Coach Carlotta will send details specific to meets. 
• Other emails might be sent regarding volunteer opportunities or other updates. 

It is your responsinilty to make sure that you are receiving this information. We HIGHLY recommend adding an "alternate email address" (the 2nd parent or another guardian) on your account so that all adults receive the same info. (Login on this site and go to "my account") 

2) We also use "GROUP ME" messaging groups for time-sensitive information: 

• Our Competition Group Me is used on meet weekends to share information in real time (heat/lane assignments, schedule updates, etc). 
   
• We also have a group for each training location - used to share info specific to practices at that location: 
  • ​Beckman Group Me
  • Northpark Group Me 

3) Coach Sebastian will also host monthly parent meetings via Zoom. These dates/times/links will be shared with you via email. 

Useful Apps and websites

• The SportsEngine Go Motion app allows you to manage your meet commitments and volunteer signups via the app. 
• The Group Me app allows you to receive real-time messages for time-sensitive updates. 
• OPTIONAL: The Meet Mobile app is a paid app that tracks your swimmer's times - so you can track them in real time at the meets! 
• Want to search for your swimmers times from a recent meet? Check swimcloud.com - select "meets" and search by the event name or date!

Volunteer Requirements

Visit our Registration Page for a reminder of the team's volunteer policy. 

MEETS: 

Who has to to attend? 

Black & Silver Groups:

• AWAY meets (meets NOT hosted at Beckman) are optional - but we'd LOVE for you to attend if you'd like! If you do NOT plan to attend - there is nothing you need to do. If you DO want to join - read below for information about how to commit.
   
• HOME meets (meets hosted AT Beckman) are required. See below for what that means for you. 

White, Red, Blue and Senior Groups: 

• Athletes in these groups are required to swim in one meet/month - our REQUIRED meet. You can ALSO opt in to swim in additional "optional" meets if you wish. 
   
• You can see which events are required and which are optional on the Meets & Events page. ​

How do I find out more details about each meet? 

• Click on the name of the meet from the Meets & Events page. There, you'll see a "forms and documents" page with a link to all of the event details for that meet. The last page of this document typically shows the SCHEDULE of the meet (including times for each event). 
   
• Meets TYPICALLY span 2 days (Saturday and Sunday) and have 2 sessions each day: a morning session (athletes ages 5-10) and an afternoon session (athletes ages 11+). Review the meet details for specifics of each meet - this is not always the case. 

What do I need to do for REQUIRED meets?:(see above for your group's requirements)

• ALL athletes default to COMMITTED (we assume you are coming) - but that doesn't mean there's nothing you need to do! Read below for instructions under commit/decline to ensure your athlete is registered correctly. 
   
• If you can NOT attend for any reason - please email Coach Carlota and Coach Sebastian directly to let them know before the commitment deadline. 

How do I commit or decline to a meet?: 

• We recommend that you go into EVERY event scheduled for the next calendar month on the Meets & Events page and review your commitment. Why? Peace of mind an no need to worry about missing deadlines! 
   
  • Not able to come? Click Edit Commitment, click your athlete's name and click "No, thanks". Easy! (Remember to ALSO email Coach Sebastian and Coach Carlota if this is a required meet - see above). 
     
  • Want to join this one? Click Edit Commitment, click your athlete's name, and select "Yes, please sign.." and follow the next steps. 
     
  • You must do this for EACH of your swimmers in your family. 
     
• If you ARE commiting to the event - you still have a few more steps: 
  • If you can only attend ONE day (out of a 2-day or 3-day meet) you MUST clarify this in the "notes" on the commitment page. If you don't put this info in, it will be assumed your athlete can compete both days and they will be scheduled for (and you will be charged) for those events. 
     
  • If you need to leave right after your athlete's individual events and can not take part in a relay (these happen at the end of each session), please also clarify this in the "notes" so our coaches know not to put your swimmer on a relay team. 
     
  • You can select which events you want your swimmer to compete in if you have specific wishes. If you don't select events - these will be chosen by the coaches. Please note that the event options are not loaded into the system until about 2 weeks before the commitment deadline. To select events, just click the checkboxes next to the event name. Don't see checkboxes? Just WRITE IN your request in the notes. 

What happens after the deadline has passed? 

• Once the registration deadline has passed and swimmers have been committed, the club is not able to make any changes. As soon as we submit the registrations, the charges are processed by USA Swimming. Unfortunately, this means that even if a swimmer is sick and cannot attend, refunds are not available.
   
• If your swimmer can not attend a meet after the commitment deadline - please let Coach Carlotta know ASAP. We will scratch them from the events so their name isn't called at the event, and so we can re-work the relay team if needed. 
   
• On the week of the event, Coach Sebastian will send out an email with the details you need: 
  • The location/address for the swim meet (and parking/setup tips if there are any) 
  • Arrival times and Warm-Up schedule for each age group 
  • If this is a "check-in" meet or not (see below for what that means) 
  • The lineup of all swimmer events. REVIEW THIS with your swimmer(s) so they know what to expect. 

What's a "check in" meet?  

• Some meets are a "check-in swim meet" - which means you need to arrive by a specific time to check in so that organizers know your swimmer is there. If a swimmer does not check in before the deadline time, they will be marked absent and scratched from the events -  with no refund. Please give yourself plenty of time to arrive before the check-in cutoff for these meets. We will always make it clear which meets are "check-in" meets!
   
• Other meets do NOT require a check in. It's up to you to know your athlete's events and get them there for the warm-up and to their events on time. 

What do I need to bring?

• You will be at the pool for several hours. Bring camp chairs/blankets for seating in our team tent area. 
• Bring a black sharpie marker to write your swimmer's event #s on their arms. This helps you, your athlete and our coaches know which events they are doing for the day - which is really helpful. For your first meet - simply ask a coach how to do this and they will show you. 
• Consider bringing cards, board games, books or other things your kids will enjoy doing during the down time. Swimmers will also have fun playing with their friends. Bring suntan lotion, hats, snacks, drinks, and beach towels just like any day at the pool.
• For the swimmer: bring two pair of googles, two Patriot swim caps, sunscreen, team swimsuit, a towel, and something for cover in between/after events. This could be a parka, t-shirt, sweats, etc. You won't need the kickboard, fins or other swim accessories.
• There are often concessions at the event with food and drink available for sale during the meet, but bring plenty of water for both you and your swimmer, and maybe a few favorite snacks to keep them fueled. 

What should I do at the event? 

• Take a photo of your swimmer's arm with their event #s. Listen to the announcers as they call event numbers and be ready when our coaches come to collect athletes for their events. 
• Swimmers doing 25-yard events often get called to a "ready bench" before their event.. where they get staged and lineup by event/heat. Listen carefully for the call to the ready bench by event number and bring your swimmer to the entry area for the ready bench on deck. 
• Swimmers doing 50-yard events go straight to the blocks - our coaches often assemble them early to make sure they get in a few laps warmup before they line up in their lane. 
• The events move QUICKLY... no waiting in between. If your swimmer is not ready... they don't hold up the meet.. it moves on without you! It's your responsiblity to ensure your swimmer has the time they need to warm up, line up, and dive in! 
• If you have a volunteer job - it's up to YOU to watch the time. There is typically NOT a "call for volunteers" - you just show up at your assigned time at the correct spot and start your shift. Not sure where to go? Just ask another family - our returning families will help directo our newbies!

More "good to know" things: 

• VERY IMPORTANT: Photos can NOT be taken of swimmers at the start of the event "from behind the blocks". This means that when swimmers are on the start blocks (getting ready to dive in) - you can NOT take photos of them from behind. If they are doing 25s, they are often staged at the opposite end of the pool - opposite the blocks.. often with their backs to the crowd. When it's time for the start - PUT YOUR PHONE/CAMERA DOWN. The refs will stop the event until people comply with this. 
• Bring a parka for your swimmer. Even if it feels warm out, they are jumping in and out of the pool and it's hard for them to regulate temperature. Bring the parka and and extra towel.