Swimming 101
If you are new to competitive swimming or just need a refresher start here to learn all about the exciting world of competitive swimming and the Northfield Swim Club!
Swim Lessons Come Before Swim Team
If your child has never done swim lessons, that is where he/she will want to start. Northfield Swim Club is a competitive swim club, not a learn to swim program. Once a child has mastered the lessons level of swimming they can continue on with our club, with the focus on competitive swimming. Swim Lesson options in Northfield include:
- Northfield Family YMCA
- Making Waves Swim School
- Red Cross Swim Lessons - Northfield Community Education
Need to Have Equipment for Swimming Competitively
There are only a few things athletes NEED to swim competitively. Unlike many other sports, we keep it pretty simple.
- Competitive Swimsuit - Suits can be purchased many places online, at Elsmore Swim Shop, Scheels, & sometimes even Costco or Target. You do not need to spend large sums of money on competitive swimsuits. Start with the most affordable option available. There are often great suits in the clearance section. It’s best to start with 1-2 suits and get more as you train more frequently.
- Competitive Goggles - These can be purchased at the same places listed above. Costco carries a very reasonably priced multipack of Speedo goggles in the Spring/Early Summer. Goggles are also available locally at Champion Sports.
- Swim Cap - Chlorine will do a number on your hair, so swim caps are important, even for those with shorter hairstyles. Most athletes prefer silicone swim caps, although latex caps are also available. We sell Northfield Swim Club silicone caps at the pool. You can purchase caps from many of the same places already listed above.
- Swim Bag - You’ll want a dedicated bag for your swimming gear. It does NOT need to be a swimming specific bag. It can be any backpack or tote you have at home. Perhaps even a Northfield Boomerang Bag?!
Nice to Have Equipment for Swimming Competitevely
The club owns fins, paddles, buoys, & kickboards for swimmers to use at practice. As swimmers get older and train more they may choose to purchase additional equipment so they have their own personal items.
- Competitive Swim Fins - These are short fins used for training. NOT the long fins you use while snorkeling on vacation in tropical places.
- Paddles - These go on your hands and are used for working on your pulling.
- Buoy - This is a small float that goes between the swimmers legs and is used when working on pulling.
- Kickboard - This is used in practice when working on kicks.
- Competitive Swim Snorkel - This is sometimes used when training and is different then the snorkels used when looking at fish on tropical vacations. The snorkel goes back from the center of the swimmer's head, like a shark fin.
- Mesh Bag - Swimmers often have a mesh bag they take to and from practice to store their personal gear. (Pro Tip: Install a hook in your shower for hanging the mesh bag to avoid puddles in unwanted places. Drying suits can also be hung from shower hooks.)
- Swimmer Specific Shampoo & Conditioner - As mentioned above, the chlorine isn’t very kind to hair. Using a swimmer specific shampoo & conditioner is a great idea.
Northfield Swim Club Coaches
Northfield Swim Club coaches are all professional swim coaches. Unlike many other sports our athletes are not coached by parent volunteers. Our coaches are certified by USA Swimming & Minnesota Swimming. They are lifeguards, have concussion & Safe Sport Training, are background checked, and participate in continuing education. Meet our coaching staff here.
Swim Season - Swimming is Always in Season
Swimming, unlike many other sports, is offered year-round. It does not mean athletes need to swim year round, but the opportunity is available. Some athletes choose to swim with the club year round and we have others who choose to take off months for other activities like the high school swim season, other sport seasons, or summer travel. We do have two distinct seasons that end with championship meets for all levels of swimmers.
- Short Course (September - March) - This is when we focus on racing in short course or 25 yard pools. (The length of the pool at Northfield Middle School.)
- Long Course (April - July) - This is when we focus on racing in long course or 50 meter pools. (This is the length you see in the Olympics & the length of the outdoor Northfield Old Memorial Pool.)
Swim Practice - Many Options for Your Swimmer
During the school year we offer practice five days a week for all levels and during the summer we offer at least four days a week for all levels. This does not mean you need to attend all the practices available. We have many practices so that swimmers can come when it’s best for them. We know families are busy and have other commitments during the week, so we feel it’s important to offer flexible options.
During a typical practice swimmers will warm up with a number of laps and then go into their main work out. Our coaches write level specific workouts for our swimmers and then individualize them if needed. One of the many perks of being part of a small club, like Northfield Swim Club, is we can offer individualized workouts for our swimmers. Swimmers will end practice with a cool down. They may also work on starts, turns, and/or relay take offs.
Swim Meets - Swim Fast & have Fun with Friends
Athletes have the opportunity to participate in swim meets throughout the year. Most meets are Saturdays and/or Sundays. A few are on Friday evenings. Swim meets are optional but highly encouraged, after all our swimmers train as competitive swimmers, so competing is the end game. The coaches will help guide you on which meets are good options
for your swimmer. EVERY swimmer is nervous for their first meet. Heck, even the most decorated Olympic swimmers get nervous. It's normal and our coaches do a great job supporting our swimmers. All the other team members on deck cheer and encourage their teammates. Swim meets are fun!
Coaches do NOT sign-up swimmers for meets. Parents decide what meets their swimmer will attend and sign-up. They also select their swimmers events. This can be tricky for new swimmers, but coaches are HAPPY to help with suggestions. Coach Jesse sends out meet information with directions for signing up. If it’s overwhelming, reach out to the coaches or board members. They are eager to help. Once you've done it a few times it's easy.
The cost for meets are not included in your monthly fee. This is because swim meets are not required and each swim meet has a different fee. There is a "splash" fee where you will pay per event your child is entered. Oftentimes there is also a flat entry fee on top of splash fees. Our club charges a fee for away meets that helps cover travel reimbursement & coaches pay for meets. We charge $5 per swimmer for most away meets (Example: Farmington, Red Wing, Riptide, etc). We charge $25 per swimmer for travel meets that require hotels (Example: Ames, Iowa Swim Meet). Coach Jesse will list the fees on each meet page.
There are necessary and nice to have items when packing for a swim meet.
Each swimmers has different needs, but as a rule the following should be included in your swim meet bag.
- Healthy Snacks - Fruits, veggies, cheese sticks, meat sticks, granola bars… there are many options.
- Beverages - Water is good. Some athletes like sports drinks, but they are not necessary.
- Towels - At least TWO towels are needed because swimmers are in and out of the water.
- Swimsuits - It’s a good idea to have TWO just in case a suit tears, but it’s not necessary. One swimsuit will do the job.
- Goggles - Again, it’s a good idea to have TWO just in case one pair breaks. But most often one pair is enough.
- Caps - TWO caps is ideal. Just in case one breaks. Caps tend to do that at the worst times. Especially if you are wearing a latex cap.
- Warm Clothing - It may feel warm and tropical for spectators, but swimmers who are in and out of the water get cold quickly! Swimmers can wear sweatshirts, pants, team warm ups and/or parkas. Bring extra clothing for the way home as clothing worn on deck WILL be wet.
- Deck Shoes - Most Swimmers like having shoes to wear on the pool deck. Sandals, flip flops, slides, and Crocs are popular choices.
What About Time Standards?
Minnesota swimming sets new time standards annually for both short course (yards) and long course (meters). The standards are broken down by age and gender. Think of them like belts in martial arts. Bronze times are the slowest, then Silver, Gold, Champion, and Zone. Zone are the fastest times.
New swimmers generally have Bronze or Silver times and should plan to swim at the Bronze Championship and/or MRC Championship meet at the end of their season.
There are two ways to swim individual events at state swim meets. First, is getting a Champion time. Second is winning your individual event at MRC. (This is “Win It & Swim It!”)
State qualifying times are not easy to achieve. There are swimmers who work hard and swim for years and never get state qualifying times. That is totally ok! There is a championship meet for all levels of swimmers. At Northfield Swim Club we support athletes who swim at a variety of levels. We are all part of the team and all working hard to swim faster!
Check Out the Time Standards for 2025-26:
