FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQ's)

Swim Team

1. When does the season start?  USA Swimming is a year-round program which begins in late August and concludes in late July each year. USA Swimming has two seasons, a short course season which takes place from August-March and then a long-course season which takes place from April - July.   

2. What are the steps to join STEEL CITY AQUATICS? It easy, start here for information about our evaluations and two-week trial period. 

3. How do I sign up for the team?  Swim Team registration is available online and offers Annual Registration which begins in August and remains open throughout the following year until July. Memberships are also offered seasonally (short course only or long course only memberships) and are pro-rated if you join mid-season. This will take you step by step through all the information needed to complete the registration for our team.  You must be USA and Steel City Aquatics registered before attending your first swim meet and to practice after the two-week trial. 

4. What do I do if I am transferring from another team? Even if your swimmers have experience on other USA or YMCA teams, everyone must complete a tryout to determine the appropriate Steel City Aquatics swim practice groups that best match your swimmer’s ability.  After registration is complete you will also need to fill out this AMS on line transfer form to ensure your child can compete and practice under Steel City Aquatics and to ensure that all of their times and information transfers as appropriate. 

5. How do we sign up for meets or team events? We provide easy online sign up via our website. You must be registered with the team and logged in to complete your swimmer's sign-ups. You will also receive email notifications regarding specific meet entries and deadlines that align with your swimmer's practice group and times. You should also speak with your swimmer's primary coach on upcoming meets that are best for your swimmer along with the events they should swim. 

6. What does the practice schedule look like?  We offer practices 4-6 days a week at most locations.  Depending on your swimmer(s) practice group and location, your practice schedule may change depending on the season/time of the year.

7.  When will we know the official practice schedule?  The schedule for each week is e-mailed every Sunday night and posted on the website under the NEWS tab. Be sure to check the schedule often for any changes or updates made as they are posted.

8. How will practice schedule changes be communicated? In the event of a schedule change due to facility changes or other conflicts, an email will be sent to (primary email on your registered account) the affected swim groups and locations. We will also be posting communication on our STEEL CITY AQUATICS MEMBERS ONLY facebook page (please make sure you request access to this page so you can receive pertinent communication).  We are also looking at other ways to help our busy families stay up to date like sending messages through team feed or through the GoMotion App and SMS Text Notifications. (make sure you enter your cell phone into the SMS section of your account registration profile).

9.  How much does STEEL CITY AQUATICS  membership cost?  Our swim team cost takes into consideration the amount of training and coaching, so depending on what group your swimmer(s) is associated, determines the annual and monthly fees. 

10.  What does that cost include? Click here for swim team membership costs associated with the team registration. 

11.  Are there additional expenses?  Additional optional costs may accumulate throughout the season if you sign up for swim meets, team events, or if you purchase team apparel, training equipment, or personalized items.  The links included will take you to the on line store for purchase.

12.  Where can I find all the other info about STEEL CITY AQUATICS?  Continue to browse our website!   Additional Aquatics Programs are available through our organization.  For specific details about each of our other Aquatics Programs (Masters Program, Learn 2 Swim Program, Lifeguard Certification Program, Diving Program), please visit our Team Registration Home tab by clicking HERE. 

13. Where can I go if I have other questions? We have many outlets to help our Steel City Aquatics Team! 

  • Your Coaches - Your swimmer's primary coach is a wealth of knowledge. You can contact our coaches regarding workouts, meets, events, goal setting, and other swimming related needs.  You can also contact our Aquatics Director, Coach Jeff Berghoff with any questions about our Steel City Aquatics program. 
  • Our Staff - Our administrative staff is here to assist you!
  • Our Resources – Please request to join our private STEEL CITY AQUATICS members only face book page.  You can post any questions or shared information you have for the team (even questions such as donating or requesting equipment, or if anyone found a lost item, ect)