The Kingsgate Monarchs swim team offers opportunities for swimmers of all ages and ability levels who live in the Kingsgate 3 & 4 neighborhood
--or--
are the grandchildren of a resident who lives in the Kingsgate 3 & 4 neighborhood.
(sorry...no exceptions)
View the Parent Guide here
Swimming Groups
It is the goal of the Kingsgate Monarchs to offer age-specific training geared towards challenging each individual and developing each individual to the best of THEIR abilities.
| Mini-Monarchs | This program is for swimmers who can't swim the length of the pool but are working toward accomplishing that goal. We have Mini-Monarch coaches who work with the swimmers at practice, with the season goal of swimming the full length. The swimmer must be safe in the water. |
| 8 & Under | All swimmers 8 years old and younger who can swim the length of the pool in freestyle and beginning backstroke. |
| 10 & Under | All swimmers 9 and 10 years old. |
| 12 & Under | All swimmers 11 and 12 years old. |
| 14 & Under | All swimmers 13 and 14 years old. |
| 15 & Up | All swimmers 15 years old and up. You can swim on the team until the summer after your senior year of high school. |
For Parents
As a swim team parent / guardian, you are asked to help with the following:
- Encourage your swimmer to attend swim practices.
- Volunteer to help 20 hours per family with concessions, timing, etc. - If you have a swimmer in a meet, sign up for a volunteer job.
- Fulfill all volunteer obligations and find your own replacement if you have a scheduling conflict. Consider hiring a non-swimming teenager to take your place.
- Transport your swimmer to away meets.
- Notify the coach at least two days before the scheduled swim meet, if your swimmer is not able to make it to that meet. The coach needs this advance notice in order to prepare events cards, relays, etc. If a swimmer gets sick or for some other surprise reason they can't get to the meet, text coach and parent reps.
- Assist team parents and coaches to supervise and locate your swimmer in time for their swim events.
- Check your swim team folder in the pool office (every family has one) for updates, news, and ribbons.
- CHECK YOUR EMAIL DAILY DURING SWIM SEASON. OUR PRIMARY FORM OF COMMUNICATION WILL BE VIA E-MAIL.
- Follow the Ten Commandments for Swim Team Parents!
Swimmers are expected to be able to safely swim the length of the pool unaided. Swimmers under the age of 8 are given some leeway, but need to be able to safely swim the length unaided for safety reasons.
Swim team is not the same as swim lessons, although instruction will be given during swim team to improve strokes, increase speed and endurance and improve technique in areas such as diving and flip turns. The coaches will be responsible for determining if your child meets this criteria and their decision will be upheld by the swim team directors. Our Mini-Monarchs swim program allows children who cannot make the length, but are water safe, to participate on swim team.
For Swimmers
As a swimmer, you are expected to:
- Make as many practices as possible.
- Be ready for dry land excercises when practice begins.
- Notify the coaches (email is best) if you cannot make a practice. We recognize that there will be conflicts with sports (baseball, soccer, etc.).
- Attend all swim meets unless prior arrangements have been made with the swim coaches. Unexcused absences will be taken into consideration when completing swim meet line-ups, especially in the age groups where numbers are an issue.
Sportsmanship is very important to the Monarchs. We have a no-tolerance policy when it comes to poor sportsmanship and bullying. Please keep the following rules in mind and you shouldn't have a problem.
- I will treat myself with respect.
- I will treat my teammates with respect.
- I will treat all volunteers, officials, coaches, host clubs and the opposing team with respect.
- When in doubt, in any given situation, refer to #1 (because in reality that covers everything).
