Frequently Asked Questions
- What if my child doesn't know how to perform all of the strokes well? Training intensity and duration varies by skill level, age, maturity, etc. The head coach and staff will help make this assessment. Everyone was a beginner once. Our people remember that and will help your child improve his/her technique.
- If I have children in different age groups, will I have to go to different locations for practice? No, each group has a dedicated leader during each practice at the same practice pool. However, they may practice at different times.
- Can my 9-year old swim with my 12-year old at practices? As a rule, no; but it could change with the coach's opinion of swimmer's ability. A swimmer may be swimming below age group level, or above age group level. Swimmers normally receive the most effective age-group-specific training when they practice within their age groups.
- Will my child be required to attend swim meets? Participation in meets is not mandatory but highly encouraged. Participation in meets is the reward for all those practice hours! Swimmers must participate in two of the five regular-season meets to swim in the post-season Champ Series meets and receive a Sharks’ year-end trophy.
- Will my child swim with others his/her own age? What will they do during the season? The Sharks are a team of 150+ swimmers, ages 5-18. Your child will swim against his/her own aged swimmers. At practice sessions, swimmers will be coached to improve their swimming skills and endurance. Your child will practice with other swimmers of similar ability. At meets, there is the opportunity to compete against swimmers from other Clear Lake-area swim teams. The emphasis is on each swimmers improvement, not on scoring points. In meets, girls swim against girls and boys swim against boys.
- My child knows how to swim, but is not experienced as a competitive swimmer. Are the Sharks right for him/her? We believe so. The Sharks are committed to teaching/developing talent and good technique in every swimmer, no matter what the starting point.
- My child cannot swim currently. What can the Sharks do to help? The Sharks require swimmers to be water-safe and to be able to swim the length of the pool prior to practicing with the team. If this is not the case then swimming lessons would be a more appropriate first step.
- How long does the Sharks’ season last? Practice begins in late April/early May. Practice sessions are held after school until school is out for the summer. During the summer practices are held in the morning until the end of the season in late June or Mid July depending on the League votes
- Where do the Sharks practice? We practice at the Ashley Point Aquatic Center pool on Blackhawk.
- How often does my child have to practice? No one ever has to come to EVERY practice; however, very few swimmers improve their techniques and times if they don't come to practice. Practices are held every weekday and swimmers are encouraged to attend as many as possible. We know there will be instances to cause a missed practice occasionally. But we encourage swimmers to make most practices as much as possible.
- How do I find out if practice is cancelled? With 140+ swimmers, making that many phone calls is impractical. We utilize https://www.facebook.com/SBAST.ORG/ and the Remind 101 app as the main means of communicating with parents quickly throughout the season.You do not have to download the application, We do not practice if there is thunder/lightning, but DO hold practice if there is only a mist or drizzle and it is not too cold.Simply "Like" the Facebook page and/or Text @sharkssba to 81010 to join remind.
- Can my child swim for the Sharks and still play soccer, basketball, do dance or gymnastics and play piano? Yes! Many Sharks swimmers are active in other sports and activities. How much you decide to practice is your decision.
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