Frequently Asked Questions
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- Why swim?
- How do I sign up?
- How long do I have to decide whether my child wants to swim on the Manta Rays team?
- Are the swimmers insured?
- What are the registration and monthly fees?
- Will my monthly fee be prorated if my swimmer only swims a partial month?
- How do I let the team know that my swimmer will not be swimming next month?
- What do my fees cover?
- How will I be billed?
- How will I know about the team’s happenings?
- How do I sign up for swim meets?
- Do I need to sign up for relays for upcoming swim meets?
- Is parent involvement required?
- What should I bring to a swim meet?
- Do I need to buy team apparel?
- How long is the Manta Ray season?
- What if my child has a friend who might like to join the team?
- Where do I go if I have questions or concerns about my child and their swimming?
- What kind of fundraising do Manta Rays do?
- Do I have to compete in meets?
The United States of America Swimming (USAS) swimming program is America’s largest program of guided fitness activity for children. Swimming builds a strong foundation for a lifetime of good health by teaching healthy fitness habits. It teaches hard work, setting and achieving goals, team and individual achievements as well as proper swimming techniques for future experiences and opportunities. Lifeguards must be strong swimmers. Many of our Olympic swimmers are now professionals and make a living swimming. There are huge opportunities for scholarships to colleges throughout the country, and of course, there are coaching opportunities. Because of the structure of swim team and the daily practices, swimmers are high achievers in school and beyond to the professional life.
Before your child can get in the water, you need to fill out all of the registration and liability waiver forms. The swimmer must bring the completed registration and liability waiver forms to the pool to begin the free 2-week tryout.
How long do I have to decide if my child wants to swim on the Manta Rays team?
The Manta Rays provide a two-week tryout period for you to decide if the benefit of becoming a competitive swimmer is right for your child. Each swimmer is only afforded this two-week tryout opportunity one time.
Yes. Each swimmer is insured through USA Swimming. It is required of all Manta Ray swimmers that they have a current United States Swimming (USAS) membership. This membership not only supports swimming throughout the country, it also provides very important accident and medical insurance for every swimmer and every club.
Each swimmer is covered at any organized practice of the Manta Ray Aquatics Swim Club and every competition that is USAS sanctioned.
What are the registration and monthly fees?
The registration fee is $100 per year and includes insurance, membership to USA Swimming and a team cap. USAS registration is valid for one year from September 1 through December of the following year. For example, a card purchased September 1, 2015, is good through December 31, 2016. Monthly fees vary depending upon the group that your child will swim with, and how often he/she will swim. That can be discussed with your registration.
Will my monthly fee be prorated if my swimmer only swims a partial month?
There are no prorated fees. This is a year 'round program and monthly fees are based on a year fee paid monthly. All swimmers are expected to pay the full monthly fee if they would like to swim at any time during a given month.
How do I let the team know if my swimmer will not be swimming next month?
You need to give the team two weeks written notice if your swimmer will not be swimming the following month. Your monthly fee will not be prorated if your swimmer stops swimming in the middle of the month. You will continue to be billed until notice is given.
The fees cover coaches’ salaries, coaches travel, travel support for championship level swim meets (Sectionals and above), club administrative and material costs, Team Unify, equipment, official and coaches registration and many more expenses associated with running a USAS club such as Manta Ray Aquatics.
The treasurer will send a reminder at the first of the month. Payments are due by the 10th of each month. A $10.00 late fee will be added for payments received after the 20th of the month.
How will I know about the team’s happenings?
The team communicates through the use of email and our website.
How do I sign up for swim meets?
Meet information is provided prior to each meet on the Events portion of our website. You must log in and go to Events, click on the swim meet icon and go to Attend this Meet. Follow the directions and choose the swimmer's events. If you need assistance or have questions about entering a meet, please do not hesitate to talk to the swimmer's coach.
Do I need to sign up for relays for upcoming swim meets?
No. Relay teams are decided by the coach depending on the number of swimmers attending in each age group. If a swimmer is placed on a relay they are expected to swim on the relay. If you don't want to be on a relay, just let the coach know by indicating on the comments box when you sign up for a meet.
Is parent involvement required?
Yes! We could not run this team without you! Parents are expected to contribute an average of 25 hours of volunteer time over the course of the swim year. This includes helping at the high school swim meets and helping at our home meets. We get the use of the high school pool in exchange for running the boys and girls high school meets. Without this agreement with the school district, Manta Ray dues would be much higher.
What should I bring to a swim meet?
You should bring at least 2 towels, water bottles, healthy snacks/food. Games, cards, homework, books, coloring books are great ways to fill the time between events. For outdoor meets, blankets, canopies and chairs are great to have. Most meets will have a concession stand with snacks, drinks and limited meal items.
Do I need to buy team apparel?
Team apparel is optional, but a team cap is required at meets. A swimmer should have a competitive suit and goggles for a meet.
How long is the Manta Ray season?
We are a year round USAS swim club. Our first season is short course yards, and that is from early September thru March. Our second season is long course meters, and that begins in April and goes through August. There is usually a week break during school spring break and a 1-2 week break at the end of August through Labor day. Exact dates will be on the team calendar.
What if my child has a friend who might like to join the team?
Have the interested swimmer come to practice with his/her parent.
Where do I go if I have questions or concerns about my child and their swimming?
If you have questions or concerns about your child, please contact your child's coach or email the team at [email protected]
What kind of fundraising do Manta Rays do?
Our main fundraisers are our Swim-a-thon held in the spring and our home swim meets. All swimmers are required to participate even if you are not swimming that particular month. This is the way we keep our monthly rates lower than average. We offer other fundraising events through out the year for your participation, including a golf tournament, Christmas wreath sales and other activities the financial planning committee decides for the year.
Do swimmers have to compete in swim meets?
Manta Ray Aquatics is a competitive swim program. Meets are the most important part of the swim team experience. It nourishes the culture of the team, teaching concepts like positivity, determination, and good sportsmanship. It is integral in teaching goal setting and achievement, as well as how to handle setbacks. Competition helps athletes focus on the core principles of their training, and motivates them through hard practices. The coaching staff expects that all team members are training with the intention of swimming at swim meets. All swimmers should expect to participate in home swim meets, and participation in travel meets is expected as swimmers progress through the swim groups.
