Mira Costa Swimming - FAQ
Is swimming a “cut” sport?
Depending on the number of athletes who try out and their swim times, yes. However, in the past 3 years all swimmers who have tried out have made the team.
What are the teams and how many swimmers make each team?
There are technically 4 teams: Girls/Boys Varsity and Girls/Boys Junior Varsity (JV). Practices and meets are all coed, and Varsity & JV swim meets are run together with alternating heats. The number of swimmers on Varsity/JV depends on the number of swimmers who try out and their swim times.
When is the tryout?
The 2025-26 tryout will be held Tuesday October 14th. Warm up is at 2:30pm and Start time is 3:15pm. All swimmers must register for the tryout and have a current athletic participation physical on file with the school. Register for the tryout on the home page of this website. For information about creating a SNAP account and uploading your current Sports Physical, click: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1f_ZLjzIlyLRAk_TU2xoPew6Pe-iqINpd72bzJFXfKxs/edit?usp=sharing. For more information you may contact us via [email protected] .
All swimmers MUST try out to make the team. If a make-up is absolutely unavoidable, which is by coaches’ discretion and prior approval only, it will be swum with the pool “as is”, meaning there will be no electronic timing system (stopwatch only) and possibly no lanelines or blocks if they have been removed for Boys Waterpolo (our tryout falls during Boys Waterpolo season).
What is the tryout?
The tryout consists of a 100 free, 50 fly, 50 back & 50 breast as 4 separate events. The start will be off the blocks, unless a swimmer chooses to dive from the side of the pool or start in the water.
Are there time requirements to make the team?
Technically no, but generally speaking, in order to make the teams, Varsity girls usually swim under 1:02 per 100 free and boys under :54s. For JV, girls usually swim under 1:13 per 100 free, while boys are under 1:03. These times vary from year to year.
Should my child be on a swim team now if interested in trying out next fall?
It will definitely benefit any swimmer to do so. There are several options for swim teams around the south bay, including Beach Cities Alpha, Bay Club, Swim Torrance, Surfside, South Bay Aquatics (SOBA) and Dolphins.
How are teams selected?
Teams are selected based on tryout times, event-needs for meets, relay considerations, as well as team culture. All roster decisions are made at the discretion of the coaching staff.
Is it possible for swimmers to be moved from one team to another during the season? i.e. Varsity to JV or vice versa?
Based on team need, training/meet attendance, attitude, and effort, swimmers may be moved from one team to another at the coaches’ discretion.
Is swimming graded?
Yes, Costa Swimming is a graded class. Grades are based on practice and meet attendance. If you don't come to practice, your grade will go down.
My child is in Band/MUN/Orchestra/Choir; is it OK to miss swimming for these events? What about Doctor's appointments or tutors?
Rehearsals or study sessions for any other classes are not a reason to miss practices/meets. Band/Choir/Orchestra concerts or Theater performances may be excused with prior approval by the coaches and when they do not conflict with a scheduled swim meet. All Doctor's appointments and tutoring should be scheduled outside of swimming practice hours. If a swimmer is sick and stays home from school, that swimmer should not attend practice; swimmers well enough to be in classes during the day should also attend practice.
When does swim season start?
Once a swimmer has been selected to the team, Pre-Season training may start after Winter Break. The actual competition Swim Season training begins after the Girls Waterpolo CIF Season ends, usually after the winter break in February. Swim meets can run from the last week of February through the beginning of May.
What is the swim meet schedule?
The 2026 meet schedule will be posted under the Season Schedule tab and updated as needed. We have both home and away meets - on days with away meets, all those swimming will be excused from their classes early. Swimmers are expected to wear their Costa Swimming t-shirt or varsity polo to school on all meet days.
Do swimmers have to stay for the entire swim meet?
100% yes. Promoting a positive, fun and inclusive team culture is at the heart of Costa Swimming. It is expected that all swimmers socialize with, cheer for and support one another during meets. For this reason, there are to be ABSOLUTELY NO ELECTRONICS (phones/iPads/laptops etc) out or in use during swim meets, from the time swimmers arrive on deck for warm up until after the meet has finished. Any electronics in use may be confiscated by the coaching staff and returned after the end of the meet.
How are swimmers transported to “away” meets?
For the "away" meets that take place in the south bay there is generally 1 bus (seats about 50 swimmers) and all others will need to carpool. A bus sign-up will be posted on Team Unify prior to each away meet, and swimmers must reserve a spot on the bus in order to ride on it because we run out of space! Parents are asked to help carpool and bring swimmers to/from the away meets. Under no circumstances are swimmers allowed to drive other swimmers to meets.
What is Team Unify?
Team Unify is the online site where swimmers will “attend” or “decline” the tryout, sign ups for buses, and where parents will sign up for the volunteering jobs during the season. You will get more information about this in January at the Parent Zoom Information Meeting.
How can I buy team uniforms and apparel?
Shortly after swimmers are notified of their placement on a team roster, parents will receive an email directing them to the Team Store to purchase apparel for the season.
Is there a Parent Volunteer requirement?
Yes. Each family is required to volunteer 10 hours during the season. This year the Swim Team will work 1 shift of the Manhattan Hometown Fair Beer Garden and we will need plenty of volunteers for that. Volunteers will also be needed for our home meets (timing, snack shack etc).
Does Costa have any divers?
Any Costa students who are current club divers and wish to compete for Mira Costa must contact Coach Ariana Silva: [email protected]. In order to compete for Mira Costa in the CIF championship meet, a diver must qualify during the season by competing in a local invitational diving competition first (once registered with Costa Swimming and accompanied by a Costa coach). Please reach out to Coach Silva for specific information regarding diving.
