Join OP Swimming

We swim at the Cal Lutheran - SAC pool. 

This link shows the drop off/entrance for the pool. We enter at the main entrance which is at the turn around.

Swimmers are NOT to enter through the community pool entrance. That pool requires different liability waivers, so we don't have coverage if anything were to happen to a swimmer on that pool deck. 

Our team does not have access to the locker rooms at CLU. There are 2 individual bathroom stalls. 

 
Please come dressed in your bathing suit and don't plan to shower/change after practice at the pool- parkas are great for getting home in the cold!

Be Sure Preliminary Clearance is complete before arriving! instructions here

First off, we look to make sure that you are water safe and have a base of freestyle for an hour of swimming. Next, you will be timed for at least 3 events, a 50, 100, 200 freestyle. It's important that even if you're not in the best swim shape at time of try outs, you have a base to start from.

Day of Tryout:
Come wearing your bathing suit and warm clothes over it. We will have a briefing about expectations for the season and a little Q&A.
Then, you will stretch as a group and have about 20 minutes to get ready and warm up in the pool (I will give some ideas if you are more novice or need suggestions)
Then, we will have all swimmers participate in their events. Heats and lanes will be posted, we will review this before you get in.
Between events, I recommend staying in the warm up lanes and moving around to keep your muscles loose. 
All swimmers stay until the end, and we can have one more debrief before sending you on your way. 

Before winter break, the team roster will be sent and all participants notified of their team standing.

2025 Season Try Outs will be this December 2025 at CLU Subject to change

Tues December 2, 6pm Boys Team

Wed December 3, 6pm Girls Team

If you cannot attend your day, please let Coach Calley know and we can add you to the other day.

That's why we hold try outs. More potential teammates are in this boat than you realize. It's okay, come as you are. I am going to try to get as many swimmers as possible invited to join. Just bring your best self and positive attitude to try outs. 

For the 2025 team, we used these Qualifying Times for Automatic Team Placement:

Boys team: 50 freestyle < :35, 100 freestyle < 1:30, 200 freestyle < 4:30

Girls team: 50 freestyle < :40, 100 freestyle < 1:40, 200 freestyle < 5:00

^^ DON'T HAVE THOSE EXACT TIMES? Please don't be discouraged, COME TRY OUT! 

For the 2025 season, we were able to take every swimmer that tried out! Just show up! :) 

Fledglings- Consideration for Team Placement:

If you do not make the time standards above, we will likely still have a spot for you on our team! I'm also going to be sure to include a list of "fledglings" to the team after try outs. This will depend on your skill level. If in this program, as we keep practicing together, you will likely gain more techniques, power and speed! We are a competitive team, but we know that everyone improves with more practice. 

to do

• BE SURE PRELIMINARY CLEARANCE IS COMPLETE with Athletic Department instructions here

to bring

• Bathing Suit (tight, racing suit is ideal. no tech suits). Bathing suit must cover curves- full butt coverage and chest coverage (if wearing a girls' suit).

• Swim Cap (any kind, but latex or silicon is preferred for racing) - I will have a few of these, too. 

• Goggles (your preference. I recommend without tint for nighttime swimming)

• 1-2 towels

• Warm Clothes (we will be outside!)

• Flip flops or uggs or sports sandals for in between events

• Water bottle full of water

• Energy, excitement and can-do-attitude

No problem. For tryouts, you can start your swims from in the water. During the season, we can teach you how to dive off the blocks, and seasoned divers will get practice going off of blocks, too.

Welcome back, returning swimmers!
You MUST attend try outs to be on the spring team. You MUST have preliminary clearance complete by try out dates.

If you have been on the team before but have not yet made that automatic qualifying time in a race, you will need to try out again. I will let you know in advance if this applies to you. 

Even if you're not swimming, you'll instead be supporting our participants, meeting new swimmers and answering questions, and timing their races.

You will need to attend tryouts and bring your proof of preliminary clearance.

This is the most important commitment I will ask of each swimmer; you have to attend 75% of practices to maintain team standing. We only have 3-4 practices per week, so it is really important to attend each one to keep you in shape for racing, mostly so you don't get hurt!

I highly encourage CARPOOLING to get you all to and from the pool. It should be fun, save gas and ensure that anyone on the team can get to the pool.

If you cannot meet this commitment, this year's team might not be for you. Let's talk.

Our team roster of JV and Varsity is dependent on the speed of all of our swimmers, event specialties. How we determine who swims on Varsity is how we might best win points for our team while supporting each swimmer in how they might best far in a particular level. Swimmers might swim on both JV and Varsity throughout the season, but you may only compete in one level at any particular meet.

As of right now, all seniors on the team will compete on Varsity.

YES!

 
Club Swimmers: I ask you to attend 4 practices with Oak Park Swim. I want you to be your best swimming self, but request these 4 practices so that you can get to know our teammates and we can get to know you! **returning club swimmers have less mandatory practices**

In order to be approved for this independent study practice, I will need an email from your current coach confirming that you're an active swimmer for at least 4 days/week of practices. Even if you're a club swimmer who's approved to swim with your club team, you sure can join us any time you'd like!

Dual Sport Water Polo players: I ask you to attend practices twice a week. In order to be approved for this independent study practice, I will need an email from your current coach confirming that you're an active player for at least 2 days/week of practices.

Here's a list of what to bring to swim meets!