Welcome to the Seals Swim Family!

Jammer Shorts

One-Piece Suit

Goggles:

Tinted for outdoor/summer

Clear for indoor/winter

Swim Cap - supplied by team

Beach-Sized Towel

Is the annual fee always billed in January or is it one year from the time we sign up?

The annual fee is always one year from the date of registration.

Do we pay multiple annual fees if we have multiple swimmers?

There is one annual fee per family. The annual fee will apply to the child in the highest level group and will cover the full family.

How do I pause or cancel our club membership?

Once the annual fee is paid, it's good for the year, but to pause or to cancel indefinitely, reach out to [email protected] no later than the 20th of the month prior to cancellation. Pause or cancellation after the 20th will incur payment for the following month.

If I cancel and restart within the same year do I need to pay the annual fee again?

No, the annual fee applies to the full year, regardless of how many months your swimmer swims.

Do I need to pay attention to "sessions" any more?

The sessions will still exist, and swimmers are encouraged to keep the full session in mind when registering. However, pauses may happen during a session at no cost when the pause is requested no later than the 20th of the prior month.

Is the monthly fee the same during holiday months?

Yes, the fee will be the same every month, regardless of school vacations. 

I have more questions, who can I reach out to?

Please feel free to reach out to Rachel Waldron, our communications director with any questions!

In an effort to provide the best possible atmosphere for learning, camaraderie and personal growth, we expect the following from all of our swimmers and swim families:

GUARDIAN EXPECTATIONS:

Read our SafeSport Page! Even if it's just skimming so that you know how to find these important resources.

• Enter through the side gate during practice. This ensures the safety of the kids.

• Leave the coaching to the coaches. This includes pre-race psyching, motivation, after race critiquing, setting goals, enforcing additional cross-training, interrupting practice, changing a swimmer’s events, etc.

• Support the coaches & team. Get involved! Spread the word and volunteer (required!).

• Be your child’s best fan and do not bribe or offer incentives– support your child unconditionally. 
• Take your concerns directly to the coaches. If you have a problem, do not go to other parents to discuss it. Our coaches are approachable, supportive and understanding. Their goal is to do what is best for your child and the team.
• Understand and display appropriate meet behavior. Remember your child’s self-esteem and race performance are at stake. Be supportive and cheer but always be appropriate.
• Be an appropriate liaison to the coach – keep the coach informed as to how your child is responding to the experience (when appropriate). If your child is having trouble with something that happened at practice or with something the coach said, help the child deal with it and if necessary, speak directly with the coaches.

SWIMMER EXPECTATIONS:

• Locker Room Behavior
  • During swim the locker rooms are for the kids only, to protect their privacy and safety.
  • No phones in the locker room
  • No food in the locker room
  • Locker room is not for loitering or horseplay
• Arrival 
  • Seals should arrive to the pool in a timely manner with the proper equipment.
  • Anyone arriving more than 15-minutes prior to practice must have pre-arranged supervision.

  • Come to practice ready to listen, focus, and apply what you are being taught.

• Team Player
  • Encourage and cheer for your teammates
  • Pay attention to your coach (head above the water while they are speaking please!)
  • Friendly competition only, please. Our goal is to make our teammates feel good!

  • Be polite and respectful at all times when interacting with teammates, coaches, pool staff, swimmers from other teams, officials and Seals families.

  • Do not be disruptive before, during or after practices and swim meets. No roughhousing or inappropriate behavior.

  • Listen to coaches and pool staff at all times and follow their instructions.

• If you have questions or concerns, speak to your parents and coaches – we are here to help you.

Parent and guardian volunteers play a crucial role in the success of Vashon Seals Swim Club. From timing and hospitality at swim meets to washing cars and staffing our Strawberry Festival booth, we need you! Not only do these opportunities provide critical fundraising to keep our team sustainable, they offer us the ability to build camaraderie and community within Vashon Seals. 

Each family is asked to contribute 15 hours of volunteer time per year, from September to August. This year, you have the option to meet this requirement by volunteering or by paying $20 per hour or a flat fee of $300, charged at the end of August.

Typical Volunteer Opportunities per season:

Fall

• Bubble up

• Bake sale

Winter

• Bake sale

Spring

• Bubble down

• Swim meet

• Bake sale

Summer

• Swim meet

• Strawberry Festival booth

• Car wash

Keeping you in the loop and informed is such a high priority for us that we have a board member with this role specifically!

• We reach out at the start of each new session with a Newsletter in your inbox and on the website home page (News)

• We will send a monthly email with important dates and notes for that month (no-swim days, session start and end, swim meets, etc).

• We will keep the News page on the website updated with any important updates. We recommend checking this page weekly to keep an eye for updates to prevent email "white noise".

• We post on Instagram and Facebook.

• Do you prefer text for important updates? Let us know!

Volunteer Roles and What They Are:

• Safety Marshal: Despite it's formal-sounding name, this is really just on the deck parenting of all the kids. Patrol the deck and locker rooms to make sure everything is safe, kids aren't roughhousing, no phones/photos in the locker room, etc.

• Timer: This job is just what it sounds like, but there's no real pressure. As a timer, you are a backup to the already built in system. The pool has pads the kids touch when they reach each end which times them. Your watch is a confirmation. Watches are provided.

• Hospitality: This role assists with getting food for the coaches and volunteers to the pool and distributed.

• Announcer: This role is great for folks with understanding of a swim meet and a clear speaking voice!

What to Bring to a Swim Meet:

• Healthy snacks: Fruit, nuts, Ritz bits w/ peanut butter or cheese, goldfish, fruit, jerky, power bars, cheese sticks, yogurt, bagels, dry cereal in Ziploc bags, etc

• A big water bottle

• An extra suit, if possible - accidents (tears) do happen, albeit rarely.

• Swim cap

• Goggles- a spare is more often needed with goggles than anything else. 

• Deck sandals - the kids seem to like crocs

• Towels - again, a backup never hurts!

• Something to do between events - cards, a book, magazines, music.

Cheer on the team!

We are known for being the smallest and the LOUDEST team and are very proud of that! Go ahead and yell for your kids as they finish to congratulate them, and encourage them to cheer for each other!

How Long Is a Meet?

The meets are typically about half a day and it goes fast, but there are certainly down times. Snacks and entertainment passes the waiting time.

Competition:

Meets are more focused on beating your personal best than they are about competition. The kids are grouped with kids who have similar times to them (or NT = No Time if they haven't achieved a time yet). The goal is for the kids to be swimming next to others who are at or near the same level. No pressure or discomfort.

What is written on the kids' arms?

Well, sometimes they draw on each other. But, the weird number grids they and the coaches write on them tells them what they are swimming and when. The arm in the photo here is showing that this kid will do a 50 fly (butterfly) in Event 11 (the Events are all the kids doing a 50 Fly) and Heat 7 (the group they will swim with). Events and heats are announced through the meet, and the coach is paying attention. So, if you don't understand it quite yet, keep an eye on the coach. They will let you know when you're up!

Where are parents and siblings allowed to be?

Typically in the bleachers. Please do not walk on the deck unless you've been invited. The coach is watching and helping the team and will be sure your child is safe, knows where you are, and has what they need. Your child will have breaks when they can come to you and visit/rest. The deck can get very crowded and confusing, so stay in a spot where your child knows to find you (or signal to the coach) and you'll be fine.

If you regularly volunteer or visit the occasional swim practice, you'll have an idea of who the other parents are and more experienced parents are happy to guide you!

The Vashon SEALS Swim Team is established to promote the sport of swimming, and in the process, help to develop the character of the individual swimmers. For the orderly operation of the Vashon SEALS Swim Team, certain rules, regulations, and procedures for enforcing the same must be established. It is the expressed intention of the Vashon SEALS Swim Team to set forth procedures that will aid in identifying behavior the club finds undesirable and define a process for addressing an alleged occurrence.

This Disciplinary Code shall apply to all behavior occurring during, or at an activity or function, that is associated with the Vashon SEALS Swim Team, including but not limited to: swim practices, swim meets, team trips, team events, team outings, or individual group outings. The Disciplinary Code also addresses objectionable behavior by members of the Vashon SEALS Swim Team occurring outside of team activities. The types of objectionable behavior shall be divided into three (3) classifications:

• Class I: Shall deal with behavior that is considered very severe and disruptive, possibly life-threatening and/or indirect violation of governmental laws. These are actions that are so detrimental that it is not desirable to have such a person associated with the team.

• Class II: Shall deal with behavior that is considered disruptive; that has a detrimental effect on one’s self, other members of the team, or the general public; that causes significant damage to the reputation of the club and/or its coaches, or that leads to the possible injury of self or other persons.

• Class III: Shall deal with behavior that is somewhat disruptive; does not portray the Vashon SEALS Swim Team in a good light, and other actions that do not comply with the SEALS Code of Conduct.

The Disciplinary Procedures for each class of objectionable behavior shall be as follows:

• Class I: This behavior would include, but not be limited to: Sale or distribution of illegal drugs, sexual misconduct, conviction of a felony or fighting that results in the severe bodily injury of any person (regardless whether at a team activity or not). Class I Objectionable Behavior will result in membership termination or other action as determined appropriate by the Board of Directors.

• Class II: This behavior would include, but not be limited to: Possession or use of illegal drugs, alcohol, or tobacco, theft, assault or significant vandalism. It also includes the escalation of Class III behavior. Class II Objectionable Behavior will result in membership suspension, or other actions as determined appropriate by the coaching staff and board. Terms of suspension shall be spelled by the coaching staff and board and must be adhered to by the swimmer/parents in order to be reinstated by the coaching staff and board at the end of the suspension period. Suspension from the team would include a period of one-week minimum, up to the rest of the season.

• Class III: This behavior would include, but not be limited to: minor vandalism, being disruptive in practices or meets, abusive or sexually inappropriate language or behavior, violation of PNS/USA Swimming standards and regulations, insubordination to members of the coaching staff, officials, chaperones, or others, littering and other acts of misconduct as determined by the coaching staff. Discipline will be determined by the coaching staff (including but not limited to, suspension from practice, and/or suspension from meet(s)). Repeated Class III offenses may result in the offense being considered a Class II Objectionable Behavior.

During all investigations into allegations of Class I & II offenses, involving questioning or interviewing of the subject swimmer, a parent, or guardian of such a swimmer shall be present.

Thank you again for your continued support of our program and for being part of the Seals family. Please let us know what we can do to help your child have the best possible experience.