Frequently Asked Questions about POSA
Additional questions? Click HERE to email us!
*** NEW SWIMMER TRYOUT INFORMATION ***
- Tryouts will be held on week of September 8th at Sandburg High School from 6-8PM (you can register for your choice of day as tryouts get closer)
- Must register on website ($50- add NEW SWIMMER to cart) PRIOR to tryout (to provide insurance)
- Park in the lot off of 131st Street and enter through the Aquatics Center doors located at the southwest corner of the building
- Swimmers should arrive dressed in their swimsuit and bring goggles, cap (optional), and towel
- Individual assessments take anywhere from 15-25 minutes
- New swimmers will be notified, via email, of group placement by Wednesday 9/11
- There is a REQUIRED new swimmer practice on Friday 9/12 from 6-8PM. Coaches will go over practice expectations, equipment, important details, and more
Registration Fee: $50 DEPOSIT will be taken at the time of registration for all groups, including new swimmers for tryouts. (If you do not make the team, the $50 will be partially refunded to your payment account - there is a $25 processing and try out fee). Season Fees will be based on group assignments:
Does my child need to know how to swim to join POSA?
A POSA swimmer should be able to swim freestyle one full length of the high school pool (25 yards). Our coaches immediately begin working on improving a swimmer’s skill and endurance. Since beginning swimmers practice four hours per week, swimmers will improve quickly.
I'm not sure if my child will like POSA. Can he/she try it out before committing to joining the team?
Yes. POSA offers a two-week team trial period for any swimmer NEW to the team. If you, or your swimmer, decides they are not ready for POSA at this time, a parent must contact the POSA Board at [email protected] before the end of the second week and registration fees will be refunded (minus service charge).
How are POSA fees paid throughout the season?
POSA registration fees are paid, via the credit card on file, on the first of the month, for the following months:
- WINTER SEASON- October, November, December, & January
- SPRING SEASON- May & June
SWIMMER GROUPS / PROGRESS / PRACTICE
USA Swimming: LEVELS OF SWIMMING (Swimmer Progression)
What’s the difference between the practice groups?
Swimmers are grouped by skill level not by age. Each swimmer’s skill level is initially assessed during the first few days of the season. Coaches then place the swimmer in the group and lane that best fits their swim level. As the swimmer improves, their lane and group assignment will progress.
If I have a question about my child’s progress, who do I contact?
Any parent is encouraged and welcome to email the POSA head coach, Eddie Howaniac ([email protected]) . We kindly ask that parents refrain from speaking with a coach while swimmers are practicing.
What are the group practice times?
We will be practicing most Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday between the times of 6-8pm and Wed from 6-7:30pm. Stay tuned for specific group times.
Is attendance at every practice required?
Although attendance is not mandatory, a swimmer’s progression and performance will improve with each practice.
Can I stay to watch my child practice?
Yes. Parents are encouraged to stay and watch their child’s practice from the Sandburg HS pool stands. However, due to USA Swimming (USAS) and Illinois Swimming, Inc. (ISI) insurance regulations NON-SWIMMERS (parents, siblings, etc.) ARE NOT ALLOWED ON THE POOL DECK during practice.
Coaches, officials, and board members are registered members of USA Swimming and have had background checks as well as Athlete Protection certification, and therefore allowed on deck.
How will I be notified if practice is cancelled or the time is changed?
When you register your child it is required to provide an email address. We use our website, Remind App, and email to communicate with POSA families. As our pool time can be changed due to many reasons, including events happening at the high school, it is important to check your email and the website calendar regularly.
SWIM MEETS
What are the different types of swim meets:
Intrasquad Meet - Swimmers from our own team compete against one another in a mock meet. This meet helps new swimmers and their parents become familiar with the workings of a dual meet.
Dual Meet – Swimmers from our team compete against swimmers from another team. Coaches determine which swimmers compete in the specific events. These meets can be home (Sandburg Pool) or away (opposing team’s pool).
Conference Meet - At the end of the season, each Conference division holds a championship meet. The team’s overall finish determines which division the team will compete in next season. Coaches determine which swimmers will compete based on best swim times during the season. Please expect to pay an admission fee.
ISI Meet (Illinois Swimming, Inc. Meet) – During the season, POSA will participate in weekend meets hosted by swim clubs in the Chicago area. Parents can sign up their swimmer for specific events of their choice. Additional fees are charged per event. Meet packets will be available for review in order to determine date, time, session, and event sign up.
The winter season is considered a "Short Course" season. All meets will be swum in 25 yard pools.
The summer season is considered a “Long Course” season. ISI meets will be swum in 50 meter pools (when available). The intrasquad and dual meets will be swum in 25 yard pools.
Can you tell me more about dual meets?
Throughout the swim season, POSA participates in “dual” meets against other swim clubs in the area. The meets are during the week and run from approximately 5:30 pm to 9:00 pm. Participation in a dual meet is encouraged, but not mandatory. There is a maximum of 2 individual events and 2 relay events that each child can swim in a dual meet. The coaches determine the event(s) that each child will swim based on their skill level.
Sign ups for dual meets will be posted under the "Events" section of the website.
Can you tell me more about ISI meets?
An ISI meet is a meet that is hosted by a swim club, but is open to any registered swimmer. An ISI meet takes place over a weekend. An ISI meet would be considered more competitive in nature than a dual meet. POSA does not require swimmers to participate in ISI meets.
See also: USA Swimming: SWIM MEET BASICS
Why should a swimmer participate in an ISI meet?
ISI meets give swimmers additional opportunities to swim competitively. It also allows the swimmer to gain experience and achieve times for all strokes. Due to the event limitations of a dual meets, a swimmer may not always be able to swim their favorite stroke in a competitive setting. Whereas, in an ISI, all swimmers may enter as many or as few events as they desire.
How do I sign up for an ISI meet or find out more information about the meet?
Each host club must submit a "meet packet" to Illinois Swimming. The meet packet will give all the details about the meet (start time, admission fee, order of events, deadline dates to enroll, etc.) The meet packets will be posted on the website so that families can be informed.
Is there a fee to attend a meet?
There is no charge for any POSA swimmer to participate in a dual meet.
There is a fee to participate in an ISI meet (see above).
There is usually an entrance fee for spectators to at an ISI as well as a charge for a “heat sheet” (which lists all the events and swimmers participating in those events).
What does “bullpen” mean?
In most ISI meets, swimmers are placed in a "bullpen." A bullpen is where swimmers are assembled for their particular event and then guided to their assigned starting block.
What does “positive check-in” mean? If my swimmer is not checked in, can he/she swim?
Each swimmer MUST check in with the host club's registration table. Each swimmer needs to check-in by highlighting their name on a "check-in" sheet to confirm their attendance at that meet. If a swimmer does not "positively" check in before the specified time, that swimmer will be considered a “no-show” and WILL NOT be allowed to swim - no exceptions.
As a spectator at a swim meet, what should I be aware of?
First, as we all know, swimming pools offer everyone a warm and humid environment to watch a meet. Some pools are more uncomfortable than others. We suggest all spectators wear light weight clothing and drink lots of fluid to keep cool. Some pools have large gallery areas that spectators can set up their own chair.
VOLUNTEER AND FUNDRAISING
What is the volunteer commitment for parents?
POSA cannot function without the help of family volunteers. For instance, a home dual meet needs approximately 30 volunteers to run effectively. Each family is required to volunteer for a set number of hours during the season.
There are many volunteer activities which will fulfill your commitment. We host approximately four dual meets each season, which are run by parent volunteers. Volunteers will be needed to time at the meets, help organize the swimmers, set up and sell concessions, clean-up and monitor the locker rooms. We are always looking for computer savvy helpers at the head table at our home meets. There are also other opportunities such as assisting in fundraiser activities, helping at an officials clinic and organizating our end of the season parties.
See the Volunteer tab (under parent's corner) for additional information.
What is the fundraising commitment?
FALL SEASON- POSA Swim-a-Thon
The swim-a-thon is a fun night for the swimmers and parents to see how many laps can be swum in a 2-hour period. Swimmers can receive pledges per lap or a flat donation. A minimum pledge per family is required to satisfy this fundraising commitment- amount is decided upon each season. Any amounts not collected during this event will be charged on your next statement.
SPRING SEASON- Fundraising Raffle
During the spring/summer season, families purchase a set number of raffle tickets to enter our season ending Fundraising Raffle. You can choose to keep the tickets for your family or sell the tickets to friends and family. Additional tickets are available as well. The swimmer with the most tickets sold will earn a prize.
I would like to try the lane timing or writing position but I’ve never done it - is there training?
Yes, before each meet, the meet official or Meet Director will conduct a “timer’s meeting” which will explain how to use the stopwatch and record the swimmers' times. Further training is only needed for the computer/scoring table and becoming a USA Swimming Official. Please contact a board member if interested in one of those positions.
Lane timer and writer instructions
SWIM GEAR AND APPAREL
What equipment or uniform is needed?
For practice, each swimmer will need the following: a practice swim suit (no two piece suits for girls), a swim cap, at least one pair of goggles, fins, hand paddles (silver and gold swimmers only) and a pull buoy (silver and gold swimmers only). All swimmers should bring a water bottle to practice in order to stay hydrated.
For participation in a dual or ISI meet, each swimmer will need the following: POSA team suit, two swim caps and two pairs of goggles (in case one breaks), extra towel, extra bottle of water, and healthy snacks.
Where do I buy my swimmer's swimsuit, goggles, and caps?
Team and practice suits, goggles, swim caps, pull buoys, fins, paddles, and backpacks are available for purchase at Swim Outlet.
A limited selection of practice suits, goggles, and caps are also available at local sporting good stores.
Where do I buy POSA spiritwear and other custom POSA gear?
TBD
