FAQ's

  • What are the requirements for children to swim on the swim team? 
  • Age Requirements 
  • The BCLY Orca swim team is open to anyone between the ages of 5 and 18 as of June 1, 2024.  Your swimmer must be 5 years old on June 1, 2024.  There are no exceptions! 
  • Swimming Requirements 
  • Swimmers must be able to swim 1 length of the pool on their belly (25 yards/meters) while being able to put their face in the water comfortably & 1 length of the pool (25 yards/meters) on their back without stopping in order to join.  
  • Please keep in mind that this is a swim team not lessons.  The swim team test is more difficult than the Y's green band test. 
  • The coaching staff will have the final decision as to whether or not the swimmer has completed the 25 yards/meters safely. 
  • What is the name of our Summer League? 
  • The BCLY Orca swim team is in the Brandywine Swim League (BSL) out of Chester County.   
  • We compete against other community pools and local YMCA teams. The summer swim team atmosphere is fun and relaxed and a great place for new swimmers to get their first taste of competitive swimming. 
  • What are the practice groups for the summer swim team? 
  • SUMMER SWIM TEAM: 
  • You must be EITHER full member of the Coatesville YMCA OR Lionville Community indoor facilities.  You do NOT have to be a member of both.   
  • Practice groups are broken down by age (as of 6/1/24) & then by ability within each group.   
  • Please click HERE for descriptions. 
  • What is the Swim Team fee? 
    • SUMMER SWIM TEAM:
    • NON-REFUNDABLE REGISTRATION FEE:
      • $25 -- 1 Swimmer
      • $40 -- 2 Swimmers
      • $65 -- 3 Swimmers
  • When are practices? 
    • School in Session - 5/29 to 6/7 -- Printable Practice Schedule 
    • School out of Session - 6/10 to 7/18  -- Printable Practice Schedule 
    • ​ATTENDANCE 
      • ​​We understand that the summer can be crazy with end of the school year, vacation, camps etc.  We do not have an attendance requirement for the summer team.  
      • No need to let us know if you are missing a practice here or there.  If your swimmer will be going to camp or on vacation, please let us know.   
    • ​​PARENTS 
      • ​​Indoor Practice 
        • Parents are asked to sit on the bleachers along the long side of the pool NOT behind the blocks.   At LCY, you may sit up in the mezzanine. 
      • Outdoor Practice: 
        • Parents may sit under the pavilion or in the grass next to the entrance but should not actively be on the pool deck during practices.  
  • What if my swimmer attends Y Camp at the CVY (fka BCY) branch?
    • The camp counselors or coaches will walk your swimmer over to camp after morning practices. 
  • Do you practice in the rain outdoors? 
    • Weather
      • In the chance that there is inclement weather, please check Go Motion and your email for any  practice cancelations.   
      • We cannot practice outside in the rain, thunder and/or lightning.   The lifeguards clear the pool inside also if there is thunder or lightning.  
  • What do the swimmers need for practice?
    • Please make sure that your swimmer(s) bring 2 caps, 2 pairs of goggles & their bathing suits to every practice.  
  • Do I need to buy a swim suit? 
    • Team Swim Suits
      • It is encouraged that everyone has a team suit for all of our meets.   We understand with the merge, if you do not want to buy a new one for just this summer, since we will have a new suit for the winter season. 
    • Team Suit is the Speedo in Glimmer - Speedo purple - brief, jammer & girls suit (2 choices of backs) 
      • PRICING 
        • $62 + tax – Female 
        • $44 + tax – Jammer  
        • $37 + tax -- Brief 
    • You can order your suit by: 
      • Order online at  https://djsports.com/teams/bcly or www.swimoutlet.com 
      • Call D & J Sports at 610-282-5895 ask for Scott, please mention you are a member of the BCLY Orca to receive the correct discount price.
      • Coach Bryn will have a sizing kit in early June, if you are unsure of the size.  Please contact Coach Bryn to try on a suit by June 10th.​
  • What if I can't make a swim meet? 
    • Sign in or out on Go Motion
    • If you are unable to participate in a swim meet, please sign-out under the Events page on Go Motion. 
    • If your swimmer is chronically missing dual meets or arriving late, they will not be placed in relays.   
    • If there is an emergency the day of the meet, please contact Coach Bryn via email at aammon@ymcagbw.org.
    • Weather 
      • In the chance that there is inclement weather, please check your email and Go Motion for any meet cancelations.  
      • Our league tries to hold every meet on the day/ night it is scheduled for.  In the event we are currently running a meet and a thunderstorm arrives, we ask that everyone sit in their cars to see if the storm will pass in a timely fashion.  Both teams after a ½ will check the radar to determine whether or not we will wait out the meet or reschedule. 
      • PLEASE DO NOT leave the meet until a decision has been made. 
  • What does my swimmer need to bring to swim meets?
    • Please make sure that your swimmer(s) bring several towels, 2 caps, 2 pairs of goggles, sun screen for Saturday meets, sweatshirt or sweatpants if it is cooler, some activities to keep themselves busy at their towels during the meets. 
    • Meets can run 2.5-3.5 hours. 
    • There are snack bars at most meets to purchase snacks for your swimmer(s).   
  • Do I need to do anything during the swim meets?
    • Volunteers  
      • Our meets cannot run smoothly without volunteers! 
    • Sign-ups will be on Go Motion under the Events page for each meet.  
      • How to sign up:
        • Click on Event tab.  
        • Click on Meet you would like to Volunteer at
        • Click on Job 
    • Home meets 
      • Officials (Starter, Referee, Stroke & Turn) 
      • Announcer 
      • 2  Scorers (must know how to run Meet Manager) 
      • Place Judge
      • Head Timer  
      • 7 timers 
      • 1 runners 
      • 2 Ready Bench workers
      • 4 people to set up pool 
      • 4 people to break down pool 
      • 4 Snack Bar Sales ​
    • Away Meets 
      • Officials (2 Stroke & Turn) 
      • Place Judge 
      • 2 Ready Bench Workers 
      • 1 Scorer (must know how to run Meet Manager) 
      • 6 timers
  • What does each of the jobs entail?
    • Officials:   
    • Announcer: Like to talk? Want to be close to the action? Being the meet announcer could be your thing! 
    • Scorers:  Some training is required here (we can provide it), you will need to learn how to use Team Manager! 
    • Place Judge:  Can you write down the numbers 1 through 6? If so, you can do this job. You will sit at the finish line and write down the order (by lane number) of each finisher. Only hazard to the job is getting splashed! 
    • Head Timer:  This person records the time from each lane and hands it off to the scorer's table. The meet can't continue until the head timer says it's OK! 
    • Timers:  Easy job, and best view of the swimmers! Press the button on the stopwatch at the start, press it again when the swimmer in your lane finishes, and write the time down. 
    • Back Up Timer:  Yup, this is another job with a stop-watch. You start the watch just like the other timers, but are there only if somebody goofs up - then you hand your watch over to them. Easy, right? 
    • Runner:  No, you don't actually run, you walk quickly. This person gets the event cards from the head timer and takes them to the scorer’s table. Another job where you can be close to the swimmers! 
    • Ready Bench Workers:  Have you seen how well the meet runs when all the swimmers who are supposed to swim in a heat are in their lanes and are ready to go when their event is called? Well, that's the job of the Ready Bench volunteers - it's so important we need two of you! 
    • Set-Up Workers:  Do you tend to be early for everything? If so, please sign up to help set up for the meet. Ask one of the coaches what needs to be done... 
    • Break-Down Workers:  Are you always waiting on your swimmer to get out of the locker room? If so, help us put away everything from the meet. See a coach to find out what to do.
    • Snack Bar Workers:  Report to the snack bar before the meet starts to see when you need to work. If there are enough volunteers, you don't have to work the whole meet. You will ALWAYS get to break away to see your swimmer compete! 
    • Snack Bar Set-Up:  Report to the snack bar after dropping off your swimmer. You'll help set out the food and get everything ready for the hungry hordes. 
    • Snack Bar Break-Down:  Does your swimmer take forever to get out of the locker room? Well, then, might as well be productive and help take down the snack bar while you wait!  
  • Do all swimmers participate in meets? 
    • The coaches will put everyone in the meet that they can, however league rules allow that only the first heat of each event count for scoring purposes.
    • We are also allowed a limited amount of exhibition heats.  Exhibition heats, although they are not scoring heats are very important for the coaches to decide who will swim relays and events in future meets. 
    • If a swimmer misses warm-ups and does not let Coach Bryn prior to the meet they will be removed from the lineup during warmups.   Swimmers must compete in 2 BSL meets in order to receive a team gift. 
  • How many dual meets are there? 
    • There are 5 dual meets. 
  • When are the dual meets?
    • Dual meets are on Wednesday evenings and Saturday mornings.   
  •  
  • How long are dual meets? 
    • From warm-ups to the last event, meets take approximately 3.5 hours. 
  • How many events is each swimmer allowed in Dual Meets?
    • Each swimmer is allowed a total of 4 events, 3 of which can be individual. The coaches determine the line-up for dual meets! 
    • If your swimmer is chronically arriving late or signing in and not showing up for meets they will not be placed in relays. 
    • If a swimmer misses warm-ups and does not let Coach Bryn prior to the meet they will be removed from the lineup during warmups.    
  •  
  • Are there any meets in addition to the Dual Meets? 
    • Yes, there are several listed below.  All information regarding these meets will be posted under the Events tab on the website as they become available.
      • Mini Meet  
        • Info coming soon!
        • This meet is for swimmer's 11 and under.  
        • Your swimmer will be able to choose their events, and pay an entry fee. 
        • Awards will be given out to participants.  
      • KMC Meet  
        • Info coming soon! 
        • The swimmer will be able to choose their events, and pay an entry fee. 
        • Awards will be given out to participants.  
  • Does everyone participate in Time/Trials - Championships?
    • Eligibility  
      • You must swim in two (2) BSL meets in order to swim at Championships.  
      • Swimmers may request what events they would like to swim.  You do not have to swim in trials if you do not want to.    
    • You must swim in Prelims in an attempt to qualify for finals of Championships. 
    • Swimmers are allowed to swim a maximum of 4 events (2 individuals & 2 relays OR 3 individuals & 1 relay) 
    • There will be NO practice on the Friday of prelims of Championships 
    • 12 swimmers can qualify for finals for each individual event. 
  • How can I find out the latest news about the swim team?
    • Please make sure you check your Email, Go Motion for Swim Team Information.  
  • Are there any events for the whole team? 
    • Swim Party
      • There will be games and music.  
      • Date will be posted in May.  
    • Tubing Down the Brandywine 
      • Information will be posted up on Go Motion. 
  • Team Calendar
    • A tentative schedule will been posted to Go Motion in late-April  to early-May.  
    • You can locate summer meets under the Events tab or Summer Swim Team tab. 
    • Please check back often for any changes. 
  • Is there a season end Team Banquet?
    • Yes, at the CVY (fka BCY) outdoor pool and pavilion.   Only swimmers that compete in TWO BSL meets will receive a team gift.  More information will be posted at the end of June under the Events tab of the website.  

 

UPDATED April 16, 2024.