Membership and Fees

Do I have to be a member of the YMCA to be on the team?
No.

I'm already a member of the YMCA, are my fees different?
No.

How much does it cost?
Dues vary according to practice groups.  Monthly dues for 2009-2010 vary from $45 to $130 per month depending on the practice group.  You can pay on a monthly basis or pay in your dues in full and receive a 10% discount.

What are the registration fees?
The registration fee is required by USA Swimming for liability insurance reasons and is $50 for the 2009 year.  TEAM has a seasonal club registration fee of $50 per swimmer.

Do you pro-rate your fees?
USA Swimming registration cannot be prorated.  TEAM seasonal club registration fee can be pro-rated depending upon the time of year your start swimming.  Monthly dues can be pro-rated if you start in the middle of the month.  Contact Lorie Leighter, the business manager, for your specific situation.

Who do I contact about my bill, general questions or if I don’t know who to contact?
Lorie Leighter the office manager

I have lost my password how can I retrieve it?

How do I look at my invoice?
On the menu, in the General list, your account login link is just below "online registration". There is also an image icon just under the "online registration" icon on the right hand side of every page.

How do I contact my team?

How do I update my account information?
Log in with your password to update your account information.

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Starting the Program

Where do we practice? 
We practice at Sheldon, ECHO Hollow, YMCA and Amazon pools. For directions to each pool, click here.

When do we practice?
The current practice schedule on this page. Please be sure you are looking at the correct group for your child. You can also check out our TEAM calendar.

How can I join the team?

STEP ONE: Attend a two-week free trial period (see practice times on the web site)

Here are the basics your child will need;

At practice:

• Goggles
• Cap for anyone with shoulder length hair
• Suit
• A water bottle

At meets:

• Goggles, possibly two pairs
• Team Cap, one will be given to each swimmer for each season.  Additional caps are $3.00/laytex or $10/silicone
• Team t-shirt
• Sweats and two towels, even at indoor pools it is important to stay warm and dry.
• Healthy snacks
• A water bottle

How can I find these items?  
Carol Osterberg is our logowear coordinator. 
JD Pence or online swim stores for goggles.

STEP TWO:  Contact the Lorie Leighter, our business manager regarding online registration.
STEP THREE:  Attend a new parent orientation meeting to receive the team handbook, cap, t-shirt.

Is my child ready to join the team?

Please review these guidelines, according to the age of your child:
ages 6-11
ages 8-14
ages 13-18

How often should we come to practice?
As often as possible if you want to see improvement. However, medical issues and taper play a big part in recovery and racing psychology. Basically- talk to your coach.

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Volunteering

Do I have to volunteer?
Yes, we require that each family volunteer 4- two hour session at each of our home meets held in December and July.  Sometimes we also host championship meets that will also require volunteers.

What if I'm not available to work at the swim meets?
Swim meets take months of preparation. If you know you wont be available the day of, please contact the Meet Director or Lorie Leighter. There are many other ways a parent could contribute to each swim meet.

Swim Meets

How often do the swimmers compete?
At least once a month.

What does the swimmer need at swim meets?
--Goggles, possibly two pairs
--Team Cap, one will be given to each swimmer for each season.  Additional caps are $3.00/laytex or $10/silicone
--Team t-shirt
--Sweats and two towels, even at indoor pools it is important to stay warm and dry.
--Healthy snacks and plenty of drinking water

How do I sign up for a meet?
As of now, there is a Meet Log In book at the Sheldon Pool. Soon, we will have Meet Online Registration.

How do I know what events my child is swimming in the meet?

How do I know what time I need to be at the meet?

What do I do when I first arrive at the meet?
Find your coach!

Can my child sit with me in the stands?
Your swimmer can be with you in the stands if that is where they feel most comfortable at first.  However, you will want to encourage your swimmer to sit with the team, cheer for their teammates, learn more about the sport and the meet process, and spend time with their coach.  Sometimes it is helpful to encourage your swimmer to “check in” with you in the stands and then return to sitting with the team.

Can I be on deck with my swimmer at a meet?
Unless you have a specific job on the pool deck, it is not possible for you to be there.  The deck gets very crowded, and it is hard for meet officials, swimmers and coaches to do their jobs if too many people are there.  Also, for the safety of all swimmers, you must be cleared to be on deck, either with a current USA swimming nametag, or a specific meet job.

What jobs could I do to be on deck?
Timing is the perfect job to be on deck, see the action and fulfill our team’s obligations to time.  Each team is assigned a lane of two at the start of a meet where it must provide 2 times/lane. Timing involves using a stopwatch and writing the numbers on a piece of paper.  It is not difficult, and whoever is on deck with you will be happy to show you how it is done. 

What is a DQ?
It is a disqualification from an official, indicating that there was some element of the swim that did not meet the USA swimming rules for that given stoke.  It means that the time your swimmer got in that event will not count, as the swim is invalidated.  DQ’s are a learning tool, and designed to help all swimmers become proficient in their sport.  There is not a swimmer anywhere that has not had many DQ’s!

It helps swimmers know what they need to work on, and should be viewed in an entirely positive light.  You can still focus on the good things your swimmer did even it they got DQ’ed.  Help your swimmer to be proud of their new accomplishments! Starts off the blocks, turns, mastering new strokes, maintaining consistent kicking and breathing, cheering for a team member, getting to the blocks on time…there are many things to be proud of and to support your child in.

How do I become an official?
To qualify as a meet official, you’ll need to become a member of USA Swimming. Depending upon the requirements of your LSC, a new official may have to attend a clinic, take an official’s test, which is available on line, work as an apprentice to get your on the job training, and then … have fun! Every few years we offer clinics for the parents who are interested. Contact office@teameugene.org for more information.

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Everything Else

I have a question about my child’s swimming ability/coaching. Whom do I talk to?
Please contact the child’s coach.  While parents are not supposed to be on deck during practice due insurance reasons, you may catch the coach before or after practice, or contact them by phone or email.  Contact information is always available online or in the newsletter.

Is there practice on no school days?  YES

What if there is snow or the schools have snow days?  Watch the website for updated information.  Safety is first and foremost.

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