Most Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the mission of the Rose Bowl Aquatics Swim Team?
Rose Bowl Swim Team is led by a philosophy that hard work is needed, good sportsmanship is essential & in order for great things to happen swimmers, coaches & families must work & bond together as a TEAM.
The mission of the Rose Bowl Swim TEAM is to become a nationally renowned program. By fostering a genuine TEAM environment, we encourage each student-athlete to realize their full potential both in & out of the pool.
The Rose Bowl experience will instill positive qualities benefiting athletes far beyond their years on the TEAM.
Q. What is the best way to talk to my child's coach?
A. Since the coaches only have a limited time with their swimmers daily, we ask that you do not approach coaches on the pool deck during practice time. Instead, they prefer to be contacted by email. For coach email addresses, click on the "Coaches" link on the top left corner of this site. This is the best way to reach your child's coach and will result in the quickest response possible. All of the coaches are available to meet with parents and should be aet up via email.
Q: Why can't parents be on deck during workouts?
A: Due to USA Swimming and RBAC liability regulations only USAS registered athletes and coaches are allowed on deck at any time. This also allows for the coaches and swimmers to focus on what needs to get done in the water. All parents and guests are invited to watch workouts from the upstairs viewing deck or the on-deck viewing area. We are sorry for any inconvenience or discomfort this causes.
Q: Can I swim at the Rose Bowl while my child is in practice?
A: At RBAC, there is a Lap Swimming program available at all times during swim team workouts. Please call 626-564-0330 or see the front desk for more information.
Q: What do I need to bring to try-out / registration?
A: Please bring a swimsuit, towel, goggles and your checkbook (or credit card information). We will provide registration materials and answers to your questions. Swim team try-outs are offered Monday through Friday from 3:30-4:00 p.m.
Q: What equipment does my swimmer need?
A: Swimmers need a water bottle, fins, goggles, cap, and suit, plus a bag to carry all of it. Additional equipment needs for each group are listed under "TEAM Info".
Q: How does my swimmer change groups or move in the program?
A: Each child will be considered on an individual basis for placement within a group. As your child progresses in swimming, he or she will be offered the opportunity to move within our group structure. This is a decision that will be made by the coach, based on numerous different criteria. Please read through the "Group Details" doc on the "TEAM Info" page.
Q: How do I get information on special events at the Rose Bowl that may affect the practice schedule?
A: There are a number of special events next door at the Rose Bowl Stadium each year that may cause a workout to be canceled or adjusted. Swimmers will be notified of any schedule change via email as soon as possible. This is often only a few days before the cancelation or time change, because we do not always get information about an event very far in advance.
Q: What is an A Time?
A: USA Swimming has established National Age Group Time standards to allow for a stepping stone approach that swimmers can grasp. This is a great way to see progress even if a swimmer doesn't win their event. They start at B times and finish at NRT times. First time swimmers, or swimmers with times slower than the B time, are classified as having C times for those events. You can see this list of time standards on the "Group Details" document on the "TEAM Info" page.
Q: What is Short Course? What is Long Course?
Short Course is training or competing in 25 yard or meter pools, while Long Course is training or competing in 50 Meter Pools. Most indoor pools in the USA are set-up as 25yard pools and so most of the times younger athletes become familiar with early on are the short course yard (scy) times. Since these meets are held in the winter months, our Short Course competition season starts in September and culminates with championship meets in March. The Long Course competition season begins in March and continues through July and August depending on the highest-level championship meet a swimmer can qualify.
Q: What is the Junior Olympics?
A: The Junior Olympics Championship (JO's) meet is the Southern California championship meet for swimmers 14 & under in the Short Course season and all ages in the Long Course season. The Short Course meet is held in mid December while the Long Course meet is held in late July or early August. It is one of the premier age group meets in the USA and therefore the top age-group meet in Southern California. Swimmers who successfully qualify and compete in this meet are generally those that go on to greater success in High School and even collegiate swimming later in their career. For this reason, we ask all Rose Bowl families to wait until the summer break (usually the last two weeks in August) to schedule their vacations. Qualifying times are established by Southern California Swimming every fall based on participants in previous years. You must have the qualifying times to enter the meet.
Q: What is the Speedo Champions Series Meet (or Sectionals)?
A: These are the meets that our developing senior swimmers should strive to qualify and successfully compete in. The meet is held in mid/late December and mid July and for many athletes this meet is a primary chance to qualify for other regional and National caliber championship meets. These meets are primarily made up of Southern California athletes, but swimmers and teams from around the country compete in them as well.
Q: How do I get involved with the Booster's Club?
A: The Booster's Club is a volunteer parent organization that supports the coaches and team in many ways. We provide volunteers and financial support to the team every year. We have an annual meeting every September and at that time the annual budget and Executive board are voted on and approved. The Executive Board meets once a month and any parents are welcome to attend. There are also approximately 10 committee chair positions that need to be filled. Volunteers are recruited at the Annual meeting. Throughout the year the Booster's Club is always looking for volunteers, so please contact any member on the Executive Board if you would like to get involved.
Q: What is Swim-a-Thon?
A: Swim-A-Thon is a major national fundraising project available to all United States Swimming clubs. It promotes and finances amateur competitive swimming. The purpose of Swim-A-Thon is to raise money for our Rose Bowl Aquatics Team. Swimmers earn pledges for each lap swam at the Swim-A-Thon. Swim-A-Thon is an excellent method to raise funds for our team and is usually held each year in April.
