Swim Team 101
ELIGIBILITY
To be eligible to participate in swim meets, swimmers must be able to swim the length of the pool (25 meters) unassisted and without signs of distress. This means no help from coaches, parents, or officials. **Please note that swim team is NOT a substitute or replacement for swim lessons.** If your swimmer cannot swim a lap of the pool, we recommend you place them in swim lessons as soon as possible.
Our Shrimper swimmers will receive assistance in the pool at practices from our junior coaches. The first swim meet assessment will take place at the Lap Test. Shrimpers who cannot complete a lap of the pool unassisted will be placed in our Pup Program.
Regardless of a child’s ability to compete in swim meets, s/he is still a member of the team and encouraged to attend team practices. Our coaches will continue to assist the swimmer towards their goal of participating in meets.
AGE REQUIREMENT
According to the South Park Swim League rules, swimmers must be 18-years-old or younger on May 31, 2027. An exception is permitted for swimmers who are 19 years old on May 31, 2027, if the swimmer is in high school.
The age group of each swimmer is determined by the swimmer's age on May 31, 2027.
AGE GROUPS
Shrimpers (5/6) swim one length of the pool (25 meters) of freestyle. Their results are not scored.
8U swimmers should be able to swim one length of the pool (25 meters) of freestyle unassisted, and should be able to demonstrate at least one other stroke.
9/10 swimmers should be familiar with the four competitive strokes: freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke, and butterfly. They should be willing to learn from and practice with our coaches. It is not necessary to be proficient in all strokes or to be an expert swimmer. Their events will require them to swim one length of the pool (25 meters). They may also compete in the 100-Meter Individual Medley (IM).
11/12 swimmers have the same requirements as the 9/10 age group except that their events will require them to swim two lengths of the pool (50 meters). They may also compete in the 100-Meter IM.
13/14 and 15/18 swimmers have the same requirements as the 11/12 age group.