Communication, Membership and Financial Contract:

Coast Guard Blue Dolphins Swim Team is a self-sustaining, 501(c) 3 non-profit organization. The CGBD Board of Directors is responsible for the financial soundness of the team and operates on a defined annual budget that is approved by the general membership. Expenditures and income are budgeted once a year based upon an estimated number of swimmers and the expenses necessary to support that number of swimmers. It is only through prudent management of our resources, and a clear understanding of the following financial obligations and procedures by each family, that the team will continue to provide a quality program for current and future swimmers.

Team Communication:

Team communications are conducted through email and the CGBD website. All team members and families are responsible for checking the website daily, maintaining one working email and for ensuring that the email is entered correctly into their online account throughout the season. If a member is not receiving team information via email, please contact the team administrator to rectify the problem.  Photographs of swimmers may be used on our website, for recruiting fliers, and for other promotional information.  If you do not want your swimmer's photos used, let us know.

USA Swimming:

All CGBD swimmers are required to join United States Swimming, Inc. (USA Swimming) and Virginia Swimming, Inc. (VSI) as an athlete-member at a cost of $86 per year (unlimited meets), or the Flex Membership for $20 (2 meets per year, 12 and Under Only) More Information on USA Swimming registration coming soon.

Meet Entry/Fees: 

Families should anticipate meet entry fees to range between $50.00 and $75.00 per meet per swimmer. This meet entry fee is made up of individual event fees as well as Virginia Swimming ($2.50) and CGBD surcharges ($10).  CGBD covers the cost of relays for our swimmers.

All swimmers will enter in meets on the CGBD meet schedule that they are eligible to swim.  Coaches will be responsible for picking events for the swimmers.  Families not wishing to participate in a meet should not enter the meet.  Once the team meet entries have been closed out and sent to the host team, member families will be charged for those entry fees whether their swimmers participate or not in the meet.  Coaches will enter swimmers into championship meets based on availability (unless a swimmer is listed as “not participating” in the meet) and eligibility of the meet.

Swimmer's Accounts/Training Fees/Payments:

Each family will have access to their swimmer's account through the team website system 24/7.  It is the member family’s responsibility to check their account on a regular basis and ensure that it remains current.  We do not prorate training fees. Training fees are required of all swimmers and swim training fees cannot be prorated based upon attendance. If your swimmer swims one day in any given month you are responsible for fees for that month. If a new swimmer registers on or after the 15^th of the month, the monthly training fees for that month only will be ½ of standard fees. Training fees, meet fees, apparel items, caps, special events, etc. are all charged to your CGBD account.  Invoices reminders are emailed no later than the 25^th of the month.

Annual training fees are paid in either nine installments from September through May or eleven installments from September through July but cover training expenses for the full swim season (September through August).  Training fees may also be paid in one lump sum at a discounted rate.  Lump sum payments are non-refundable.  There is a training fee discount for each additional swimmer within the same family. 

Account invoice payments are due on the first of the month and late after the 10^th of the month. Families with accounts 45 days overdue will not be allowed to participate in meets .  Accounts that are 60 days overdue will not be allowed to practice with the team until the balance is paid in full.

***Registration fee increases to $165 on August 15^th***

*****Families with more than four swimmers should contact our Team Adminstrator, Sharon Baldwin for additional pricing information*****

**Registered swimmers will be receiving three CGBD T-shirts and a CGBD cap.

**College Swimmer Fee is $100**

In order to keep our operation costs affordable, signing up for auto-pay (either ACH withdrawal or a Credit Card) through Team Unify for monthly billing is required for the 2023-2024 seasons.  Auto pay ensures that all team member fees are paid in a timely manner, therefore the team bills and staff compensation can be paid in a timely manner. 

Members that do not sign up for auto pay within 21 days of registration will be billed a $500 escrow fee to the next month's invoice.  The escrow will be credited to the July 2024 invoice.

**CGBD participates in Virginia Swimming's Outreach program and CGBD’s Scholarship Program.  This provides assistance with meet fees, registration fees and other costs to families who might need this.  Please reach out to us at our Team Administrator, Sharon Baldwin to learn about qualifications.**