Lebanon Valley Otters Swim Team

    WELCOME TO SUMMER SWIM SEASON 2024

    Summer registration will open on May 1st. Registration will be completely online this year.  We are hoping to have our roster completed earlier this year, so please register by May 15th or contact an officer if there is a problem registering before that date.  Registration must be completed by June 11th.  In addition, you must register before you can practice and before you are added to our summer email list. 

    *IMPORTANT* All summer swimmers must also be members of the Annville-Cleona Pool. All summer families are also required to volunteer at the All-Star Meet on Sunday, July 21st.

    LVST Team Fees:  Team Fees are due by June 11th. Team Fees include a $5 multi swimmer discount if paid by May 15th. LVST Team Fees, as well as Annville-Cleona Pool membership, must be paid before swimmers may enter the water. 

    On or before May 15th, fees are as follows:

    • 1 swimmer: $100
    • 2 swimmers: $190
    • 3 swimmers: $280
    • 4 swimmers: $370
    • 5 swimmers: $460

    After May 15th, fees are as follows:

    • 1 swimmer: $120
    • 2 swimmers: $240
    • 3 swimmers: $360
    • 4 swimmers: $480
    • 5 swimmers: $600

    *PLEASE do NOT give registration/money to the coaches*

    Annville-Cleona Pool Membership:  To participate, each swimmer must also be a member of the A/C Pool.  Membership can be completed online using the pool website (https://annvillecleona.membersplash.com/home/).  If you are new to the summer team or need more information about how to join the pool, you may contact Joanna Demchak at [email protected].  A/C pool membership, as well as the LVST Team Fees, must be paid before swimmers may enter the water.  Please allow 30 days for your check to clear. All AC Pool registrations must be mailed into the address on the membership form. LVST Swim Team can NOT accept any membership forms or payment for the AC pool membership. 

    Online Registration: We will be using online registation again this summer.  Online registration will open to all swimmers on May 1st. 

    All-Star Meet: Mark your calendars for July 21st! The Otters host one of the league's championship meets on July 21st. EVERY family is expected to donate the snack bar and is expected to volunteer for at least one shift during this meet EVEN if your swimmer is NOT participating in the meet.  All Star sign ups are currently available.  Once your registration is approved, please sign up for a volunteer time slot.  If you are unable to help the day of the meet, please speak to a board member for ways to help with the pre-planning of the meet. This meet is our major fundraiser and helps us to keep our team fees as low as possible.

    Meet Eligibility: We encourage every swimmer to participate in meets. By participating in meets, swimmers are able to see their growth in the pool throughout the season and also enjoy time socializing with their swim friends during meets. Once your swimmer is able to kick one lap independently across the pool, they are eligible to swim in meets.  Many of our older swimmers swam in their first meets when they were 4-6 years old!

    Everyone will need to do the following to register for the Otters swim team:

    Go to the Otters website, click on the "Registration" button and click on the blue "Add to Cart" button. 

    • Once you have logged on or created an account, you will need to register your swimmers for the Summer season. There will be 1 group for Summer Season- “Competitive Team.”  When completing the online registration, you will need to register all of your children at the same time to earn a multi swimmer discount. If you register one swimmer now and then try to register another swimmer later, you will NOT earn the multi swimmer discount.
    • Once you have reached the end of registration, you will receive a confirmation message telling you that your registration is compete. You must get this message or your registration will not be completely processed.
    • Email Joanna Demchak at [email protected] if you need any help using the online registration.

    Important Summer Information

    Volunteer Expectations and Sign-ups:  Volunteers are the backbone of all swimming events.  Our swimmers can’t swim without you!  An email will be sent prior to each meet with a link to our website in order for sign up home and away dual meets and for All-Stars.  Volunteers are needed for both the home and away meets.  We expect that at least one parent from each family will volunteer at each meet!

    Indoor Practice Schedule: Practice will begin on Wednesday, May 15th inside at Lebanon Valley College. Younger swimmers (ages 10 & under) will practice from 6-6:30pm and older swimmers (ages 10 & up) will practice from 6:30-7:30pm. Indoor practice will be on the following dates:

              -Wed, May 15th
              -Thurs, May 16th
              -Wed, May 22nd
              -Thurs, May 23rd
              -Tues, May 28th
              -Wed, May 29th
              -Thurs, May 30th

    Outdoor Practice Schedule:  Outdoor practice will be begin on Friday, June 7th and is held every weekday morning until Friday, July 19th. Swimmers ages 11 & over will practice from 7:25-8:40a.m. Swimmers ages 10 & under will practice from 8:40-9:25a.m. Our youngest swimmers, those needing a noodle in the shallow end of the pool, will end at 9:10a.m. We request your cooperation with ages and practice groups.  If you are unsure which practice group your swimmer should attend, please speak with Coach Jim or Coach Mary. 

    Meet Schedule: Meet Schedule is posted on the Otters website under the 2024 Summer Season tab.

    Otter Wear: Otter Wear will be available to order online from May 1 - 19 at https://gsdesigns.tuosystems.com/stores/lvost. We are featuring a vintage design for 60 years of swimming at the AC Pool as well as more options to select from this year. The Otters originally began as the AC Dolphins in 1964 and transitioned to the Otters when the winter team began in 1988.

    Meet Sign-ups:  Swimmers sign up to participate in dual meets at practice.  Swimmers must sign up on the team website by Sunday of each week.  To participate in Divisional Championships, swimmers must compete in two dual meets.  Divisionals is a qualifying meet for the All-Star Meet, and the All-Star Meet is a qualifying meet for the Mid-Cap Meet.  Swimmers who are not available to swim in All-Stars and/or Mid-Caps may swim in Divisionals but must note their unavailability for later meets on their Divisional events sign-up form.

    The 2024 MPSL All-Star Meet: We host the MPSL All-Star meet that takes place on July 21st.  LVST’s role as the host of the MPSL All-Star Swimming Meet allows us to keep team fees low and avoid other fundraisers.  Half of the proceeds of this meet help substantially fund our annual swim team budget.  The other half of the proceeds helps us fund long-term equipment needs and allows us to make an annual contribution to the A/C Pool.  Hosting this meet is a huge undertaking, and it requires the help of every Otter family.  So, please fill out the enclosed All-Star Volunteer Form as part of your registration process.  Note: Every family is asked to help set up and tear down for the All-Star Meet.  Additionally, every family is asked to staff one of the many volunteer positions on meet day.  For those vacationing on meet day and therefore unable to serve, we have some “leg work” positions that can be completed prior to All-Star weekend.  If you are unable to serve on meet day, we ask that you volunteer for one of these positions.

    Team Communication:  Otter news is communicated in two ways: our website, www.swimotters.org and a weekly email.  If you utilize a spam filter on your email program, be sure it allows email from this address.

    Team suits and caps: We will be placing an order for team suits and caps through T&T swimming's website- https://tandtswim.tuosystems.com/stores/otters24.  If you have questions about sizing, ask a board member or experienced parent.  Team suits are NOT required.  Navy suits are recommended, but swimmers may wear whatever they wish to compete.