- When are tryouts for WSA?
- How old do you have to be to try out for WSA?
- How long is the WSA season?
- When and where does the team practice and hold their meets?
- How many swimmers will you be accepting?
- How many swimmers do you expect to try out for the team?
- What will the swimmers be asked to do for the tryout?
- If my child has no prior swim team experience can they still try out for the team?
- Will I be able to accompany my child into the pool area during the tryout?
- How is the decision made to accept or not accept a swimmer?
- When will you notify everyone of the results of the tryouts?
- Can I be put on the WSA mailing list or obtain paperwork prior to the tryout?
- What are your fees?
- Are parents required to work at meets?
- Do you accept swimmers who are not Wellesley residents?
- If my child makes the team how many meets can they miss?
- What if my child wants to try out for the team but cannot attend on the tryout date?
- How do I register for Tryouts?
- What are the directions to the Webster Center at Babson College?
- I need the login/password to sign up for WSA. How do I get that?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tryouts will be held on Sunday, September 29, 2024 at the Boston Sports Institute.
*** The tentative times for tryouts are as follows:
- 8 & Under Swimmers: 3- 4pm
- 9 & 10 Swimmers: 4 -5pm
- 11 & Older Swimmers: 5-6pm
A child's age group is determined by their chronological age as of November 1, 2023, pursuant to League rules. For instance, if a child turns 9 in the month of October they will try out in the 9-10 age group as that is the group they will be required to swim in during the season.
Swimmers must be accompanied by one of their parents through the tryout registration process. All swimmers should arrive at the tryout in their bathing suits. We strongly encourage bathing caps for girls and goggles if so desired by the swimmer.
Click here to Register for Tryouts
Directions to the Boston Sports Institute
Swimmers on the team range in age from 6 - 18.
The season runs from October until March. There are typically 8 dual meets during the regular season in addition to championships which are held in early March.
Practices are held at the Boston Sports Institute on Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays.
The exact time and duration of the practice session depends on the child's age group. Practices start on Wednesday, October 11th.
2023-2024 Practice Schedule
Wednesdays:
10 & Under: 7 - 8 pm
11 & Older: 8 - 9 pm
Saturdays:
10 & Under: 4 - 5 pm
11 & Older: 5 - 6 pm
Sundays:
10 & Under: 3 - 4:15 pm
11 & Older: 4:15 - 6 pm
Meets are held on weekends (either Saturday or Sunday) commencing in December. Over the course of the season, there are typically 8 dual meets in addition to the championship meet in early March. Meets run approximately 3 hours. Home meets are held at the Boston Sports Institute. Away meets are held in locations that are no more than a 30 - 45 minute drive from Wellesley. The full meet schedule will be posted here when available.
Our team is typically comprised of approximately 180-190 swimmers broken down into 5 different age groups. We do not have a set number of total swimmers in any particular age group that we cannot exceed, but our numbers must ensure that we can adequately coach all team members and maintain a balance between all of the age groups. Our overall team size is limited by the amount of pool time for practices and meets. As in prior years, all of the team members from last year are given the option to join the team this year without having to try out again. The number of returning swimmers will directly impact the number of new swimmers that we can accept and we will not have final numbers on returning swimmers until just prior to tryouts.
We have no way of knowing prior to the tryouts how many swimmers will be trying out for the team. We've had a very successful team over the past few years. As such, we expect there will continue to be quite a bit of interest in our team.
-
What will the swimmers be asked to do for the tryout?
Tryouts are run like a "mini" swim meet. Swimmers will be given a chance to warm up in lanes and then will be timed swimming 25 yards (1 lap) (ages 6 - 10) or 50 yards (2 laps) (ages 11 - 18) in all 4 competitive strokes (freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke, and butterfly). During the actual timed portion of the tryout they will be swimming against other swimmers in the same age bracket.
We suggest that you discuss with your child, especially the younger children, what they will be asked to do during the tryout prior to bringing them to the tryout.
Most certainly. Although we do not require our swimmers to have prior swim team experience, the majority of the swimmers trying out will most probably have had some type of swim team experience.
Parents are prohibited from going onto the pool deck. Parents have to wait outside of the pool area (in main hall). Kids may be picked up at the pool exit door after their tryout session.
All decisions to accept or not accept a swimmer who tries out for the team are made solely by the coaches. Decisions are based upon a number of factors including swimming times, form, number of total swimmers in the particular age and gender group and prior swimming experience. The decision of the coaches to accept or reject a swimmer is final but any swimmer who does not make the team may certainly try out again in a future year. We remind parents that we expect there to be multiple heats of each age group at the tryouts. Your child's performance is being compared against all children trying out in their age group, not just those in their tryout heat.
Unfortunately, we are not able to accept all the swimmers who try out. All swimmers who try out will receive an email from us notifying them whether or not they have been accepted onto the team. As in prior years, we expect to email notifications one week after the tryouts.
Families of accepted swimmers will be able to complete the online registration process once they've received that notification. Once registered, parents/guardians can access the sign-up for mandatory locker room duty and meet jobs. All WSA parents are required to submit a CORI form before serving any volunteer shifts.
If accepted, a parent or guardian will also be required to attend a mandatory Parents-Only meeting in October.
For financial reasons, we do not send out any mailings to prospective swimmers. If you are interested in trying out for WSA, you must register online prior to the tryout date. Swimmers will not be allowed to enter the pool area if they are not registered in advance.
The tryout fee is $35 per swimmer and must be paid during the online tryout registration process. Dues for the season are as follows:
Annual Fees for 2023-2024
10 & under $720
USA $400 (also swims for a USA Swimming team and mainly practices with that team)
HS $290 (also swims for the high school team during the winter season <not FALL> and mainly practices with that team)
In addition, each WSA swimmer must have:
- WSA swimsuit (the team uniform, must be worn at all meets)
- WSA T-shirt
- Practice fins
- Practice suit
- Black shorts (any black shorts)
- WSA cap, if you use a cap at meets
- Paddles for 11 and up age group
- Kickboard for 11 and up age group
- Goggles
- Mesh equipment carry bag
Other optional equipment that is available for purchase includes: team backpack, team swim bag, team sweatshirt, team warm-up, team shorts and practice suits. Please see the online Team Store.
Other payment policies are as follows:
- Registration closes for returning swimmers on September 30th, 2023.
- A 75% refund will be issued based upon receipt, by the WSA president, of written notice of withdrawal from the program on or before October 10, 2023.
- A 50% refund will be issued based on receipt of written notice by October 31, 2023.
- There will be no refunds, under any circumstance, after October 31, 2023.
A representative from K&B Sportswear, a full-service swimwear, apparel and training equipment distributor, will be on-site during the Oct 18 practice. All equipment can be ordered through them and they will have sample suits to try on for sizing.
Parents of all swimmers may be required to monitor the locker rooms during practices and meets and are required to work on the pool deck during meets. The actual number of times that a parent has to work during the season is contingent upon the number of team members and the number of meets, especially home meets. Assignments are based upon a per swimmer basis and parents with more than one child on the team may be required to fulfill volunteer assignments for each child on the team. Over the course of the season parents typically have to work at 2 meets. All families are required to work at Champs.
Most definitely. The largest percentage of our swimmers are Wellesley residents but we also have swimmers from many other Boston area towns, such as Cambridge, Dedham, Dover, Medfield, Millis, Natick, Needham, Newton, Norwood, Sherborn, Weston and Westwood.
We are looking for swimmers who are committed team members. We would like all of our swimmers to attend all meets and require swimmers to attend championships in early March. While occasional conflicts are inevitable, we would like them kept to a minimum. The meet schedule and locker room assignment schedule will be distributed as soon as it is finalized in November, allowing ample time to resolve conflicts. Swimmers must compete in a minimum of 5 dual meets in order to attend Championships. In addition, any WSA swimmer who does not swim in 5 dual meets and/or does not attend Champs will be required to attend tryouts the following year.
Although we would prefer to have everyone attend the tryout on that date, we understand that illness or conflicts can sometimes prevent a swimmer from attending on that particular day. If you need to schedule a tryout on a different day you must e-mail WSA ([email protected]) and the coaches will schedule a tryout for your child at the beginning of the first practice. We cannot, however, guarantee that there will be any remaining spots on the team after the tryout date. If your child is added to the team after the first practice, you will be responsible for contacting the Equipment Coordinator to purchase the necessary equipment. The tryout fee will remain at $35 per swimmer for swimmers who try out after the tryout date.
900 Worcester St.
Wellesley, MA 02482
You do not need the Login/Password, which allows you to view the "protected" areas of this site until you have been accepted onto the team. Registration is only for newly accepted swimmers and returning WSA members. If you belong to either of these two groups and you have forgotten the login/password, please contact [email protected] to get them e-mailed to you. Please put WSA Password in the subject line of your e-mail.
If you have any other questions, please e-mail WSA at [email protected]. Please note "WSA Tryout" in the Subject space on e-mails. We will not respond to specific questions about a child's swimming ability or the decision of the coaches to accept or reject a child on the team.
Important ILLNESS information
Per Charles River Acquatics, the operator of the pool at BSI, and WSA policy:
- IF your child doesn’t feel well, STAY HOME.
