BCLY SWIMMING - FALL/WINTER 23-24

At this time, we are no longer adding swimmers to our Winter Team.   We will be having evaluations in late February/March for our Spring Clinic and in late April/early May for our Summer Swim Team.  For additional information regarding our Spring evaluations and the sign up genius for evaluations, please click HERE.         

Welcome to the BCLY Swim Team

The Brandywine Coatesville & Lionville YMCAs Swim Team provides an opportunity for children to enjoy competitive swimming in a safe, fun, and friendly atmosphere. BCLY Swimming has two locations: one is at 295 Hurley Road, Coatesville and the other is 100 Devon Drive, Exton.  Like all YMCA sports programs, YMCA competitive swimming and diving programs are based on the Judeo-Christian values of caring, honesty, respect and responsibility. The BCLY Swim Team embraces the principles and values of the YMCA and, in conjunction with the YMCA of the USA and the YMCA of the Greater Brandywine help swimmers do the following:

  • Grow personally. Build self-esteem and self-reliance.
  • Build character. Behave according to the values of caring, honesty, respect and responsibility.
  • Appreciate diversity. Respect people of different ages, abilities, incomes, races, religions, cultures and beliefs.
  • Become better leaders and supporters. Learn the give-and-take necessary to work toward the common good.
  • Have fun…enjoy life!

The coaching staff of the BCLY Swimming work to create a program that meets these goals by:

  • Working with every swimmer; giving equal attention to the most highly skilled and least skilled swimmers on our team
  • Working on basic skills and teaching good physical fitness habits. We aim to help athletes become conscious of proper stroke techniques and racing strategies, and commit to demonstrate the importance of proper fitness habits such as warm-up and conditioning exercises, as well as talking to our swimmers about diet, rest and involvement in other sports.
  • Teaching fair play.
  • Helping swimmers set and evaluate individual goals. Competing against oneself is the best way to improve skills and enhance self-esteem. All those involved in our program are encouraged to measure their skills, set goals for the future, and work to reach those goals.
  • Keeping winning in perspective. Winning meets and events is just one of many goals for the BCLY Swim Team. More importantly we measure success by how well we develop the all around athlete and meet the goals listed above.
  • Encouraging lifetime fitness. Swimming is a sport that can be enjoyed throughout a lifetime, and if it remains fun will remain a part of good physical well-being.
  • Working with the whole person: spirit, mind and body. Physical fitness is important, but so are mental attitudes and spiritual growth: YMCA sports programs emphasize overall personal development.

The Brandywine Coatesville & Lionville YMCAs Program

The BCLY Swim Team is a year-round competitive program. The year is divided into two seasons, the short course and long course season. The short course season runs from the beginning of September through the YMCA Pennsylvania State Championships at the end of March. During this time, competitions are held in short course pools, either 25 yards or meters. The short course season begins with practices in September concentrating on stroke technique, and progressing through various training phases as the season progresses. Beginning in late October/ early November BCLY Swimming typically begins their competitive schedule of dual meets and invitational meets.

The long course season starts in April and runs through YMCA Long Course Nationals in late July/early August. The Long Course program is aimed at preparing swimmers to compete in a 50 meter pool (however, we practice in a 25 yard or 25 meter pool on site). The BCLY Swim Team participates in YMCA and USA Swimming long course meets.  This is very important:  Long Course meets are very limited and will only be for swimmers 11 & over as of 5/1 of each year.   We will NOT be practicing Long Course.  If a swimmer qualifies for LC Nationals, we will work to find time to practice at a LC facility atleast once a week once school ends.   This may require driving to a location over an hour away very early in the AM.     After YMCA Long Course Nationals, the program takes a break until the next winter season that begins in September.

Our team subscribes to the YMCA of the USA guidelines for competitive swimming and is also a registered member of USA Swimming. Our athletes, who qualify, will be able to compete in dual meets, mini meets, invitational meets, including Winterfest, and the Charlie Hartley meet, as well as, District, State and National competitions. We also participate in a YMCA Championship meet for swimmers who are not yet at a level that qualifies for the YMCA District Championships and beyond.

RELATED FILES:

2023-2024 - BRANDYWINE COATESVILLE BRANCH -  Practice Schedule 

2023-2024 - LIONVILLE BRANCH - Practice Schedule

Updated December 21, 2023.