Blackline Aquatics
USA Team Information & Policies
2023-2024 USA TEAM MEMBERSHIP 

CONTACT INFORMATION: [email protected]

BILLING INFORMATION:  [email protected]

 


TEAM REGISTRATION:

  • Please contact us before registering.


TRYOUT PERIOD:
We offer a one-week free trial.  All waivers must be signed before trying the program. First time program participants may try the program for two weeks without paying membership fees. After that point, registration and payment must be submitted to continue with the swim club.  Please contact Jason Oberg at [email protected] to get more info and let us know you are looking to try out. 


FEE INFORMATION AND POLICIES:

Group fees will remain the same even with pool fees increasing over 10%. We have added fees associated with credit card and ACH use. Please note - when registering with the Blackline Aquatics we require a credit card to remain on file to pay for monthly charges, meet fees and activities.  You may select ACH withdrawal for monthly charges, meet fees and activities, but we still require a credit card on file.  Reminder to check the fees associated with using a credit card or ACH payment, which are: ACH $5.00 per transaction and Credit Card 3.75% per transaction.

 We have added dryland training for all groups as we want to help increase flexibility for all athletes. We are also adding additional practices on weekends to work on specific skills or fun themed workouts when available.

  • Registration fees:  
  • An annual non-refundable yearly BLA registration fee of $250.00 which includes BLA registration, cap, team shirt and shorts and team suit. 
  • If you join after Jan 1st the registration will be $200 for Jan-July and will include BLA registration and a cap.  
  • All members will be responsible for the $68 USA fee through the new USA Swimming Registration site. Premium membership for 2024 can start in the fall).

These non-refundable fees are payable online through the BLA website and are required for each swimmer.  Swimmers will not be allowed to begin practice until the registration fee is received.


RECURRING MONTHLY CHARGES – TEAM DUES/GROUP FEES:
The swim season will run from September 9th through beginning of August each year to allow for consistent practice schedules for the season. We will offer some form of practices in March, however in August, we believe it is time for a break and the all-important family vacation after championship meets are over. Swimmers can be registered for one of the following options:

  • Annual-One payment for the entire year due at the time of registration; nonrefundable (medical credit when deemed appropriate).
  • Monthly - 11 monthly payments; must commit financially to the SC or LC season; payment due on the 1st of each month. High School swimmers have 8 monthly payments
  • Any billing questions, please contact [email protected].

The first team dues installment is part of your registration process that is why we want all families registered before September 1 and installments will continue to be due on the first of each month until 11 monthly installments have been reached.

Once the yearly tuition amount or 11 monthly payments have been received, recurring team charges will cease. Recurring charges for meets will be invoiced as stated above.  In the event a swimmer voluntarily opts to suspend membership at any time prior to the end of the SC or LC Season, the family is responsible for the remainder of the monthly payments. You will continue to be billed for the entire year based on your payment unless you submit notification of termination (see section on termination policy). As our team continues to grow your spot on the team is secured by this policy.  In the future, we may need to cap the competitive swim team to allow for the best coaching practices and success of your swimmers.

 

NON-RECURRING MONTHLY CHARGES, LATE FEE AND TRANSACTION FEE:

Please carefully review your courtesy billing statement that is emailed to your primary email account the 20th of each month to make sure you are aware of and prepared to pay the correct amount. Non-recurring monthly charges such as meet fees, cap fees, events, champ dinners, and banquets are due in full the first of every month.  A $35 late fee is automatically billed to any account for which the total outstanding balance has not been received by mail or if your credit card is not current, causing monthly charges to fail. Please make your payments on time and keep your credit card updated. Our Team Unify billing system gives you ample reminders to update payment information for expiring credit cards. Overdue balances will be assessed a $35.00 late fee for balances over 30 days in arrears and 30 days thereafter. Late monthly fees will be assessed per family if monthly fees are not paid by the 1st of the month.


REFUND/CREDIT POLICY:
It is important that you read the information and choose the best option for your family.  Swim fees are non-refundable. Please review all your payment and withdrawal options. If a swimmer misses’ practice for more than 3 consecutive weeks due to illness or injury, a credit will be issued which can be applied to a future registration.  A note from the physician must be emailed or dropped off within 3 weeks of injury or onset of illness and must include date of injury and length of time that swimmer cannot swim.  


GROUP MOVE INCREASES:
The BLA coaches will periodically make group moves based on a swimmer’s age and ability. If your swimmer is moving to a group with a higher fee, you must pay the prorated difference for annual fees or SC/LC fees. If you are paying monthly, the month following the group move will reflect the higher tuition rate for the swimmer. Group moves are typically conducted in December and April.


 

HIGH SCHOOL POLICY:
** All high school swimmers must register by September 1, including high school girls that are swimming with their high school team in the fall. This is needed so we can plan the proper pool rentals for the year. If you register late, you will be subject to the $35 late registration fee. It is also important to note that you only receive emails if your swimmer is registered, and it is important for you to stay in touch during the high school season.  

The fees for HS girls and boys will be adjusted during the season but we must know that your child is swimming in High School. If we do not know you will be billed for those months.

High school swimmers CAN attend BLA practices during their high school season.  We do not recommend skipping high school practices to attend BLA practices, but rather supplement with mornings, Saturdays, or any other days when high school practice is not offered by your team.  Please check the schedule for those morning practices which coaches have deemed open for HS swimmers. We believe this allows for continuity in coaching and team building for the swimmers. High school swimmers may not compete in USA Swimming meets during the high school season.  Once the swimmer has completed in their final meet of the high school season, they are eligible to swim in USA Swimming meets.


PAYMENT PROCEDURES:
The outstanding balance, which includes recurring charges of team dues and non-recurring charges, and any other financial obligations are due on the first of the month.  For improved efficiency and security in accounting, BLA billing is only able to accept payments for team dues and other team fees in the following payment options:

  1. Online draft from Visa, Mastercard or Discover or ACH bank draft.
  2. Annual fees may be mailed to: Blackline Aquatics PO BOX 125 Farmington, MN 55024.  

If the total outstanding balance is not received by the 1st of each month, a $35.00 late will be assessed. A $45.00 fee will be charged for all returned checks. If a swimmer leaves the program before the end of the fiscal year or after the 5th of any month, there is no refund of monthly dues under any payment option.

 


SICK/INJURY/FAMILY MOVE POLICY (TERMINATION POLICY):
Annual and monthly fees are non-refundable. Exceptions may be made in the form of a credit toward future sessions for a swimmer with a serious illness or an injury lasting 3 or more consecutive weeks. You must contact [email protected] with medical documentation for the illness/injury.  Please contact the billing office as soon as possible following injury.

 

Any swimmer wishing to drop out of the program must notify Blackline Aquatics in writing by the 25th of the month to avoid being billed for the next month. All notifications must be emailed to [email protected]

Notification must be emailed to [email protected].


FAMILY DISCOUNTS:
As of July 19, 2017, here is the policy for Family Discounts:

The multi-family discount will be as follows. The multi-family discount will be based on the lower-level swimmer.

· Families with 2 swimmers, 1st and 2nd child get 5% discount off the team fees.

· The 3rd child gets a 10% discount off the team fees.

· The 4th child gets a 20% discount off the team fees.

Family discounts are only available when members all participate in the same programs, and you are paying for all swimmers with the same payment option (annual or monthly). 

TRANSFERRING FROM ANOTHER USA-S TEAM:
Welcome and please fill out the Minnesota swimming transfer form. If you have already registered with the USA for the 2021-2022 swim year you will only need to pay the $5 transfer and BLA team fee. 

MEET FEES: 
Meet fees are required for each meet your swimmer is entered and must be paid as billed. You will be billed for all meet sessions that you register unless you remove your swimmer from the meet by the posted deadline. If you sign up for a meet and do not attend, you forfeit those charges as fees are paid by BLA in advance.

Coaches enter swimmers into relays based on who is scheduled to attend a meet. If your swimmer is entered in a meet, the coach expects them to be there. Each swimmer entered in a relay will be billed accordingly. A swimmer whose absence from an event which causes a relay to be scratched will be billed for the entire relay, regardless of the absence.

For each meet a swimmer signs up to attend, a $5.00 fee for metro area meets and a $20.00 fee for any travel meets when coaches must stay at a hotel or drive over 75 miles to cover BLA administrative and club costs at each meet. These fees are charged to the swimmers account in addition to the host team’s individual event charge fee, relay fees, and any surcharges per athlete. Because meet fees must be paid by BLA in advance, these fees will not be reversed if a swimmer fails to attend a meet for which he/she is signed up to attend regardless of reason.


CHAMPIONSHIP AND HIGH-LEVEL MEETS:
If your swimmer qualifies for the State or higher level meets your swimmer is asked to attend. High level meets, including Speedo meets, and national meets will incur the following charges added due to coach travel expenses and administrative expenses. Swimmers will be added to these meets automatically. Parents are to contact the swimmer’s coach if there is a conflict with these meets. 

Approximate high-level meet charges. (Subject to change)

State Meets: $25.00 fee (any time-standard qualified meet in state)

Sectional Meets: $30 fee (any time-standard qualified meet out-of-state)

USA National Meets and the ISCA Meet: $50 fee –

*Zone meets would not have fees from BLA as that is part of Team Minnesota.

PRACTICE AND MEET POLICIES

15 & Older, 13-14, 11-12-year-old TRAINING SCHEDULES:
The fees for our highest competition swimmers are not established solely on the months swam or practices offered, yet swimmers in these groups may have additional or fewer practices based on the discretion of the coaches. Swimmers in these groups may have more or fewer practices offered as determined by the coach to allow for preparation and/or recovery for our highest-level swimmers.  Attendance policies are set by individual coaches and are dependent upon the level of commitment required for each group. 

 


TEAM WEAR AND EQUIPMENT POLICY:
Swimmers are to have all required equipment for their swim group as well as goggles and a training suit that fits as determined by coaches and listed on the website.  Swimmers competing in USA-S meets must have a team suit or all black suit and a team cap unless the coach deems otherwise. All team wear orders must be paid for in advance of receipt. Equipment can be ordered or purchased directly through one of our suppliers in most cases. Please see our website for equipment suppliers.

 


IMPORTANT FINANCIAL POLICIES:
Swimmers will not be allowed to participate in the BLA program if their financial obligations to the Club are more than 30 days delinquent unless alternate arrangements have been made with the team billing coordinator.

BLA does not prorate monthly dues. If a swimmer is registered and/or participates during the first 15 days of the month, the full monthly dues installment is required.