Seven Locks Swim Team FAQs

Who can join the Seven Locks Swim Team? 

  • Any child age 6-18 is welcome to join the team provided he/she can do the following:
    • The swimmer can swim a length of the pool in freestyle and backstroke
    • The swimmer must be able to swim both strokes without stopping, grabbing ropes/wall, or stopping to push off the bottom of the pool. 
  • Those children who can't yet swim a length of the pool properly/consistently are encourage to:
    • consider joining our PreTeam!!!
    • or schedule private lessons for additional instruction. ​​
  • ​​If you're not sure, bring your swimmer to a practice for assessment by the coaches!!!

​ *​**  Families must be members of Seven Locks Pool & Tennis Club in order to join the Swim Team. ***

 

When does the Swim Team practice?  (see the "practice times" tab for specific times)

- Before public schools lets out for summer:

  • Practices are held in the afternoon beginning Tuesday, May 28. 

- After public school lets out for summer:

  • Morning Practices: Mon - Fri
  • Afternoon Practices: Mon, Tue, Thur, Fri

 

What if we can't make it to a practice or miss a practice?

- If your child can't come to a practice because of a conflict with another activity, no problem!  Just come again as soon as possible!!! 

- Swim Team is supposed to serve as a fun way to encourage children to make friends at the pool, while also learning how to improve upon their swimming ability!  The more they practice, the more they learn!  The more they learn, the more they improve!  We encourage attendance as much as possible, but it has no minimum requirement!

 

What do we do if we sign up for BOTH Swim and Dive Team?

If your child is on both the swim team and the dive team and the practices conflict, speak with the coaches about arranging times to practice.

 

What's the difference between A Meets and B Meets? 
 

A Meets!!

​Who:

  • Our fastest swimmers compete in A meets: (times based on all swimmers best times)
    • 3 swimmers per age group and gender will be entered to swim the following individual events:
      • backstroke  
      • breaststroke
      • butterfly
      • IM (Individual Medley- older age groups)
    • 6 swimmers per age group and gender will be entered to swim the freestyle individual event 
    • Each swimmer can swim a maximum of 5 events (comprised of the following):
      • 3 individual events (freestyle, backstroke, breastroke, OR butterfly)
      • an IM (individual medley) 
      • a relay (Relay events are only held during A meets)
    • This means, our swimmers seeded 4th-6th/8th on our team REGULARLY qualify to swim in A meets!!!  

Why:

  • A meets are scored!  Results of A meets determine our ranking within our division!
  • There are 6 teams per division (A-O in order from most competitive to least competitive)
  • In A meets we swim 2 heats (of 6 lanes) for all freestyle events (12 swimmers/6 per team) and 1 heat (of 6 lanes) of all other individual events (6 swimmers per events/3 from each team) plus relays. 
  • Points are scored for 1st-6th place, so SHOWING UP IS IMPERATIVE!!! 
  • An empty lane means lost points!  

​​​When:

  • A meets are held on Saturday mornings.
  • There are 5 Dual A Meets each summer season.

​Where:

  • We swim A Meets both at Home and Away
  • We compete against the other 5 teams in our division, and the outcome of these meets count towards our scoring and placement within MCSL (Montgomery County Swim League)​​​

​​What (do I need to do):

  • All Families MUST check the A Meet lineup WEEKLY!!!!
    • ​A Meet Line-ups will be made available on the THURSDAY prior to each A Meet
    • It will be emailed to the team!  **** CHECK YOUR EMAIL!! ****​​
  • All Swimmers MUST declare if they CAN or CANNOT Swim in the A Meet!
    • Please make sure the coaches know ASAP if you are NOT available to swim in an A Meet so other swimmers can be given their spot and given the opportunity to swim at these fun and exciting meets.
    • No shows and Empty lanes negatively impact our ENTIRE team!  It will negatively impact our score and rank within the division!  
    • If your child is in an A-meet Line up, it is very important that he/she swim, unless an emergency prevents it!!  
    • We ask all A Meet Swimmer to STAY at the meet until the end, as your swimmer MAY be swimming in a relay!  
      • ​YOU DON'T WANT TO MISS SWIMMING IN A RELAY, they are the MOST fun events of the season!!!

B Meets!!

  • B Meets are held on Wednesday evenings either at HOME or AWAY at local nearby pools
  • ALL SWIMMERS can compete in B Meets regardless of time 
  • B Meets are run just like A Meets, except the meets are not scored
  • There are more heats in each event to accommodate all of the swimmers who want to participate
  • B Meet times can be used to move swimmers into an A-Meet line up.
  • B Meets do not impact our Division Rankings
  • Missing a B Meet is not recommended, but does not negatively impact the team. 

 

What are Time Trials?

  • Time Trials is our first swim meet of the season (at home, with only our own swimmers) and is held the Saturday before the first A and B Meet.
  • We run Time Trials just like a regular meet (same order of events, with starters, referees, timers, etc.) so that swimmers and parents can see how things work before the first 'real' swim meet.
  • All swimmers are asked to participate and swim all of the events!  This will give our coaches a good idea of what our swimmers can do AND will help appropriately SEED our next swim meet so our swimmers are swimming against other swimmers of the same ability level!
  • Parents are asked to come help - its a great way to learn a new volunteer job.
  • The coaches will use the information and times gathered at Time Trials to select the swimmers for the first A Meet.

 

What if I can't make Time Trials?

  • If your child cannot participate in Time Trials, they can be timed individually during the next week of practice, or they can swim in the first B Meet the following Wednesday

​
 

What/When are Pep Rallies?

Only the MOST Fun Fridays all Summer!

  • Pep Rallies happen every Friday evening before A Meets under the pavillion at the pool.  ​
  • After practice, the Swim and Dive Team get together to do some cheers, eat dinner, and hang out together to bond and get ready for the weekend's meet. ​
  • Each Pep Rally is sponsored by an age group (e.g., 8 & under, 9-10s, or 13-14s). The team's (registration fees) sponsors the main dishes (provided by LEDO's: pasta/pizza, etc.).  BUT we ask the families of the sponsoring age group to provide other neccessities such as utensils, plates, drinks, desserts, and usually a few side dishes.
  • Each week, the Pep Rally and following A and B meets have a theme.  All swimmers, divers, and their families are invited to attend and join in the team spirit and dinner!!  Please remember to always allow swimmers and divers to eat first!!!!
  • On the Friday after public schools end, rather than a Pep Rally, all swimmers and divers are invited to join the pool-wide "School's Out Party."  The theme is 80's and it will carry over to our first A Meet and 2nd B Meet!

*** On Friday, July 5th, we'll have a Morning Pep Rally (as opposed to an evening pep rally) called the Red, White & Blue Pancake Breakfast.  This will happen right after our Stars vs Stripes (just for fun) intersquad Meet.***

*** On Friday, July 19th we'll do another morning pep rally with donuts before our Divisional Meet.  The coaches will host the beloved "paper plate awards ceremony" after a "Fun Final Friday" morning practice!

 

What is the Relay Carnival, and what is Divisionals?

The Relay Carnival is a SUPER exciting meet that consists of ONLY RELAYS!!  

  • Events are the same every year, and they mix genders, strokes, and age groups to make the relays really, really FUN!
  • The FASTEST swimmers qualify to swim in this meet because IT IS SCORED! 
  • The winner of this meet will claim the title: Relacy Carnival Champion!
  • The winning relay from each event will move on to swim at the ALL STAR RELAY MEET at the end of the season
  • Coaches will notify swimmers if they have been selected to swim in a relay at the Relay Carnival
  • ALL families on the Swim Team are encouraged to attend this meet and cheer on their teammates as it is one of the MOST EXCITING meets of the entire season!

Divisionals is the last meet of the season (within our division)

  • The top 2 male and female swimmers in each event qualify to swim at divisionals (often the 3rd or 4th fastest gets to swim)
  • The meet consists of only 2 heats per event (the 2 fastest swimmers from each team) and 1 heat of each relay (1 from each team)
  • Each swimmer participating in divisionals can swim a maximum of 5 events:
    • ​3 individual events
    • the Individual Medley
    • 1 relay
  • ​Swimmers who qualify for Divisionals will be notified by the coaches
  • ​This Meet is also scored
  • The winning team will claim the title of Division Champion!

 

Our family is going to be away for part of the swim & dive season.  Can we get a pro-rated fee for Swim & Dive Team or Pre-Team?


       Unfortunately we are unable to offer prorated fees for Swim & Dive Team. It is a flat fee for the season.  If after the first week, you decide that Swim or Dive Team is not going to work for your child or your family, you can withdraw for full refund (less at $10 admin fee). After that, the fees are non-refundable. 
 

Are parents expected to participate in Swim Team? 


         YES!  Our Swim and Dive Teams rely entirely on volunteer participation, both to run the meets and to coordinate the social activities. We expect EVERYONE to volunteer. Please see the Volunteer Descriptions/Requirements Tab for more information!