FAQs
You will find that the team operates like one big family, and we’re thrilled to have you with us! Several exciting events and activities are on the horizon, including swim practices, meets, and social gatherings. Along the way, your child will have the opportunity to refine their swimming skills, experience the thrill of competition, make friends, and have a lot of fun! We expect that the rest of your family – including parents and siblings – will also enjoy the experience. Welcome!
To help you feel more at home, we’ve put together a question-and-answer packet – hopefully, it will help you learn the ins and outs of our club.
Where are practices held?
Our "home base" is the Sylvania Natatorium at Northview High School.
How many months will my child swim?
Tsunami is a yearlong program. The “short course” seasons, Fall & Winter (swimmers compete in a 25-yard/25-meter pool) generally run from September until mid-March. The “long course” seasons, Spring & Summer (swimmers compete in a 50-meter pool) run from April until mid-July.
I’m having trouble logging into the team website. What is my username and/or password?
Our system uses the email address you provided in your registration paperwork as your username. The system then generates a random password and sends it to the email address associated with your account. Your email address must match the address provided on your registration paperwork. You can link more than one email address to your account for receiving emails, but you must still use your primary email address to access the website and your personal account information.
How does billing work?
Registration, pool fees, and meet entry fees are billed monthly. These fees must be paid within 30 days of invoicing. You will be able to check your account each month, making it very easy to keep track of your account. If you have any questions, contact Tsunami Business Manager Carrie Coate at [email protected].
Where can I buy a team suit?
We encourage your child to purchase a team suit for use at meets. They are for sale, along with spirit wear and swim gear, at the beginning of the Fall/Winter and Spring/Summer seasons.
What should my child wear to practice?
Girls wear a one-piece competitive suit, and boys wear jammers or swim briefs. Your child can wear his/her team suit or another practice suit.
What are my responsibilities as a swim parent?
Tsunami is a parent-run organization that relies on the time and effort of all swim parents to sustain its success. Your primary responsibility is to ensure your child attends practices and meetings on a regular and timely basis, from drop-off to pick-up, and to volunteer for Tsunami-hosted swim events.
Tsunami sponsors one per year, and you are asked to volunteer for two sessions at this meet. Each session lasts three to five hours, and there are a variety of job options to choose from. Our meet gives our swimmers an opportunity to compete close to home and helps our club raise necessary funds. There is a $100 fee per session to be paid if you do not volunteer, but we encourage you to volunteer, as we cannot do this alone; all your help and hard work are greatly appreciated.
What is the best way to communicate with my child's coach?
Email is typically the best way to contact the coaches. We prefer that if you email a group coach, please also copy Coach Austin. All the coaches' emails are available on the website under the "Coaches" section.
Does my swimmer have to attend every practice?
Tsunami is different than other local clubs; we don’t have mandatory practice expectations. While attendance is not mandatory, we strongly encourage regular attendance for your swimmer to maximize their individual level. Our practice schedule is designed to provide each swimmer with the appropriate training and instruction they need. Additionally, if your swimmer is interested in participating in swimming relays, they must attend a minimum of 75% of the practices.
Can I watch my child practice?
Daily practices are closed to parents and spectators except for Friday practices. This is specifically designed to allow the coaches to coach without interference or distractions. You will notice that on Friday evenings, the pool is deafening, and excessive noise from parents chatting in the stands or siblings moving around interferes with coaching and distracts our swimmers. We welcome all parents to attend on Fridays to observe their swimmers' progress, ask coaches questions as needed, and meet with board members.
I've never been to a meet before.
If you're a new parent and have no experience with competitive swimming, our Swim Meet 101 page is a perfect place to get started.
I have no idea what any of the terms other parents or coaches are using.
Competitive swim has a language all its own. We have a Glossary of Swimming Terms prepared to get you up to speed.
What time does a swim meet typically start, and how long do they last?
Depending on the meet, the morning session typically begins between 8:00 and 9:00 a.m. Warm-ups generally start one hour before the start of the meet, and swimmers are expected to arrive 15-20 minutes before warm-ups begin. Afternoon sessions typically start around 1 p.m., but the start time can vary depending on when the morning session concludes. Always verify arrival times with your child’s coach. Swim meets typically end between 5 and 6 p.m.
Where are the meets held?
Most area meets are held at BGSU or Fremont, but we do travel to other venues throughout the year. The facilities are typically warm and humid, even in the winter, so dress appropriately! You may find that folding stadium seats or cushions will make you more comfortable. Additionally, depending on the size of the meet, seating and parking can be in short supply, so it’s a good idea to arrive early.
What about food?
This policy changes based on location, but you may want to pack a few snacks (granola bars, fresh fruit, etc.).
How many events will my child swim?
Your child will typically participate in three to five events per session, with one of these events often being a relay. Before a meet, you can visit the team website (click on "Events" and then "Edit Commitment") to view the events your child is scheduled to swim. Many swimmers find it helpful to write their event information on their arms with a Sharpie marker – this helps them keep track of events/heats during the meet. Make a list with the following information:
event -- event number – heat – lane
It might look something like this:
50 free /101 / 2 / 3
25 fly / 205 / 4 / 5
There will typically be an official for swimmers 10 and under to help ensure they do not miss an event, but older swimmers are expected to arrive at their own events on time. No one will track them down.
What is the difference between a psych and a heat sheet?
A psych sheet will be emailed from Coach a few days before the meet. This lists all swimmers by seed time (previous best time to date) in the order of events. A heat sheet will list the events along with the actual heat and lane a swimmer has been assigned to complete his/her events. Girls and younger swimmers swim their events first. Swimmers are organized in heats from slowest (including those with no time – NT) to fastest. Heat sheets are emailed before the meet by the Coach or can be found in the Meet Mobile app, which can be purchased for a one-time yearly fee (usually $4.99/yr). Most meets are no longer printing and selling heat sheets.
Am I allowed to be on deck with my child?
For safety reasons, only swimmers, coaches, officials, pool staff, and volunteers are allowed in the locker rooms and on the pool deck. Our team can be fined by the officials if this policy is violated. You can communicate with your child from the spectator section, keeping in mind not to bother others around you. Additionally, your child may be able to leave the pool deck to join you in the stands between their events, as long as the coach approves and they are wearing shoes.
Can my child hear me cheering in the stands?
No, your child will not be able to hear you. Your child will probably hear only his/her coach and maybe other swimmers cheering from the pool deck. This is why you will hear us whistle, use commands, or arm motions to them while they’re in the pool. Nevertheless, we can’t help it! Feel free to root for your child and show your Tsunami spirit by encouraging all the swimmers. That’s what makes it fun. We also recommend that our parents encourage their swimmers to go to the opposite end of the pool as the timers to cheer on their friends and teammates.
Am I allowed to photograph or videotape my child’s swim?
Videotaping and photography are allowed. However, be mindful of others around you and refrain from obstructing their vision. Please be cautious not to use flash photography, especially at the start of a race, as it may interfere with the start. If you are seated behind the blocks, you are not permitted to have your phone or camera out. This is a USA Swimming regulation.
How is my child’s event time recorded?
There are timers in each lane, manually timing each swimmer. Additionally, times are recorded electronically when swimmers touch the touchpad at each turn and at the finish. The electronically-recorded times are displayed on a scoreboard. The official times are printed out and displayed on a wall behind the spectators. These lists are divided by age group and gender.
We also recommend downloading the Meet Mobile app. This will allow you and your swimmer to receive result notifications in minutes after a completed event.
Official times will also be logged into your account post every meet. You can access these times by logging into the website or installing the On Deck App (Teamunify's mobile app).
What is a Prelim/Final Meet?
Some invitationals, as well as almost all regionals and championship meets, run in a prelim/final format. In this format, swimmers compete in their usual lineup of events, with as many as 60 swimmers or more competing in that particular age group. Results are tabulated, and later in the day, the top swimmers (who can range from 8 to 24, depending on the type of meet and host) return to swim again that evening for the final placing.
Swimmers who qualify for the final round of competition then compete against each other. A swimmer who originally placed 8th, for example, can finish first in the finals – and vice versa! Ohio Swimming Championship meets are run in this general format.
When is my child free to leave?
Once your child has completed all their events, you may leave, provided the coach has given permission. To be safe, though, it’s a good idea to check in with coaches to make sure your child isn’t swimming in a relay event.
We hope this information has been helpful, but we’re sure you’ll still have questions along the way. Feel free to ask! Any of our Board Members invite you to call or email with any questions you may have!
Our Vice President of Membership is always available via email listed on the contact page. Our board members also sit in the lobby on the first Friday of the month to meet with members.
