Registration

Welcome to the 2024 Forest Hills Swim Team season! We welcome all returning swimmers and all new members to the team.  As in the past, our emphasis this season will be on FUN, EXERCISE, and COMMUNITY.  Whether you are new to the team or a seasoned veteran, please take a few moments to review this information so that you are well informed.

The Forest Hills Swim Team (FHST) is a volunteer-supported activity sponsored by the Borough of Forest Hills.  A Booster organization, coordinated by a Parent Board, handles day-to-day swim team activities and responsibilities.  The FHST is a member of the Eastern Swim Association (ESA) in which there are a total of 11 teams divided into two divisions: Division I and II. This year Forest Hills will be competing in Division I which comprises 5 teams. The ESA website (www.easternswimassociation.org) provides information about the organization as a whole, including coaches, pool locations, and standings.

ELIGIBILITY: 

The FHST is open to all girls and boys who are Forest Hills residents. The kids do not have to be good swimmers to become members of the swim team; however, all beginning swimmers are expected to be able to swim at least one length of the pool by June 14, 2024 in order to continue to be on the team.  The ability of individual swimmers to complete this requirement will be assessed by the coaches.  All members of the swim team are asked to commit to the team by making a serious effort to attend all practices and meets.

BOROUGH AND TEAM FEES: 

The Borough of Forest Hills collects a $50 per swimmer fee payable upon registration.  Register via the FH Borough website. The FHST collects a $50 activity fee per family.  This fee can be paid via cash or check (made payable to Forest Hills Swim Team) within the first few weeks of practice. (The family fee helps to cover the costs of running the swim team, such as refreshments and parties, end of the season gifts, equipment purchases, meet fees, pool/lodge rentals, etc.).

REGISTRATION: 

All swimmers must complete a FHST registration form by June 14, 2024. (Swimmers who fail to register and pay fees by this date risk not being included in the 2024 Team Directory and other benefits of swim team membership, including the end-of-season gift.)

The FHST registration must be completed using the Forest Hills Borough online portal: https://www.cogran.com/index.html?foresthillspa#/ . Swimmer registration and family activity fees must be paid in full by June 14, 2024 for a swimmer to be able to continue to attend practices or compete in any swim meets.

ADDITIONAL FEES: 

Other events for which payment may be necessary include costs for activities that will be offered to swim team members, such as Movie Day. Other optional expenses that may be incurred by families (although not necessarily required) include swim supplies, such as suits, goggles, and swim caps; individual and/or team pictures; and contributions towards fundraising events held throughout the season.

PARENT MEETING: 

A meeting for ALL parents will be held on Tuesday, June 18 after our first HOME meet.  Members of the board will introduce the coaches and answer questions.    

VOLUNTEER FORM: 

All of the tasks and responsibilities of the swim team, including set-up, operation, and clean-up for all swim meets and parties, communication with teams, parents, swimmers, pool staff and the Borough, all social events and fundraisers cannot be successful without the participation of all of the swim team parents and families. Within the body of this letter is an Explanation of Volunteer jobs. Since it requires much work to make the swim team a successful and enjoyable experience for the kids, ALL families are encouraged to sign-up for at least one task. If you have any questions, feel free to ask any of the board members listed below.

COMMUNICATION:

Starting this season, the coaches and parent board will primarily use TeamSnap (http://www.teamsnap.com) to communicate important messages to all parents and swimmers. Please be sure to download this app!

The FHST website is also an important communication tool. The site includes the meet schedule, information on the coaches, driving directions, photos, information on other ESA teams, and FHST pool records and team awards.

Each family will receive a FHST 2024 Directory.  The directory includes the calendar of events, directory of swim team families, and a complete list of directions for all away meets.

PRACTICES:

See Practice Schedule for details.

The coaches will try to offer optional dry-land practice for teenagers once the season is underway.

The coaches would like to see ALL swimmers attend practices on the day of a meet. If a swimmer is not present at practice the day of a meet, the coaches will assume the swimmer is not available to swim that night unless otherwise advised.

MEETS: 

The season includes both home and away meets.  This year there will be seven (7) dual meets (Forest Hills v. one other team) held throughout June and July. At all meets the home team warms up at 5:30 PM and the visiting team warms up at 6:00 PM. Meets begin promptly at 6:30 PM. The coaches will tell swimmers when they should arrive for each meet. 

The coaches shall determine the line-up (a list of which swimmers will swim which event) for each of the meets, as well as designate who shall swim for team points. Teams may also enter “alternate swimmers.”  Although the “alternates” are not swimming for points, this is an excellent opportunity for swimmers to gain experience. Forest Hills (and most other teams) have many ages 8 & Under and 9-10 individual freestyle alternate heats as is necessary to allow every swimmer aged 10 & Under to swim in each meet.

Each meet consists of 30 events. In most instances swimmers are grouped by gender and/or age.  The age group in which a swimmer participates is determined by his/her age as of June 1, 2024. Ten events are individual freestyle events representing each separate age and gender group (8 & Under, 9-10, 11-12, 13-14, 15-18). Two swimmers from each team will compete to earn either 5 points for first place, 3 points for second, or 1 point for third.

Twenty events are relay events (a relay consists of four swimmers each swimming a complete length of the pool). There is a freestyle relay for each gender in each of the age groups (8 & Under, 9-10, 11-12, 13-14 and 15-18). A first place relay team earns 5 points, and a second place team earns 2 points. There are also mixed aged/gender specific specialty stroke relays for freestyle, breaststroke, backstroke, and butterfly and there are gender/age specific medley relays for those 12 & Under and those 13-18.

ESA allows an individual to swim at any dual meet for points up to three times as long as all other swimmers in that specific age range have already swum for points at least twice. This rule assures that as many swimmers as possible from each age group will be able to compete for points. Alternates are not considered as competing for the purposes of this rule (ESA Rules and Regulations).

It is the swimmer’s responsibility to let coaches know whether he/she will or will not be available to swim at any of the meets. Line-ups are submitted to meet officials prior to the meet start.  No changes are permitted to the line-up once it has been submitted.  A missing swimmer will result in a scratched event (ESA Rules and Regulations).

PLEASE NOTE: No parents are to be on the pool deck during meets, except those parents who are working as meet officials. Parents are also not to be on the pool deck during daily practices. If you need to speak to the coaches, please do so after the practice or direct your questions to one of the board members.

TRANSPORTATION TO AWAY EVENTS: 

Parents/swimmers are encouraged to carpool with each other since it can be difficult to park at the other teams’ pools. Directions for all the meets are in the swim team directory and on the website.  Please do not drop your child off at the Forest Hills pool and assume that he/she will have a ride.  Make arrangements beforehand. 

SPECIAL OR INVITATIONAL MEETS:

These meets are competitions between Forest Hills and several other teams.  There are several special meets this season. Coaches will advise on all.

Ed Eyles Relays @ Meadowink: Saturday, June 22

This is a team meet hosted by the Meadowink Swim Club. All the events are relays.  Coaches will advise.

Walt Brown Odd Age Meet @ Haymaker: Saturday, June 29

Any swimmer who is 9, 11, 13, or 15 as of June 1, 2024 may compete at this event hosted by Haymaker. Swimmers will get a chance to compete individually in all four strokes, as well as in relays.  Swimmers must let coaches know their interest in this meet at the start of the swim season in order to confirm your entry.

Mini-Meet @ Park: Saturday, July 20

The Mini-Meet is hosted by the Park Swim Club for swimmers age 8 and under.  In this meet swimmers compete against only those swimmers who are their same age and gender.  Swimmers will have a chance to compete in all four strokes, as well as in relays.  Eligibility is based on the child’s age as of the date of the meet.

Championship Meet: Saturday, July 27

This is the final and largest meet of the season.  Forest Hills is hosting the Championship Meet for Division I on Saturday, July 27, 2024.  This meet includes all five ESA clubs from Division I.  The coaches choose the participants for this meet based upon performance during the regular swim season. Whether your child is swimming or not that day, we encourage everyone to come and cheer for the team and your friends. 

MEET OFFICIALS: 

All of the officials at the meets are parent volunteers.  Each home and away meet requires from each team: one Stroke Judge, one Turn Judge, three Timers, and one Scorekeeper. The host team provides a Starter, Referee, and an Announcer. 

Parents who have not previously served as meet officials are urged to come to the “Officials Clinic” at Gateway Heights Pool on Saturday, June 1, 2024 at 10:00 AM to receive training.  This free clinic will be conducted by a representative of the ESA and is open to all interested parents.  The clinic will explain the duties of the various meet officials.  Forest Hills parents are needed to serve in this capacity for away meets. 

MEET WORKERS: 

In addition to the meet officials mentioned above, traditionally volunteers are also needed for lots of other help but since all of our meets are at other pools very few volunteers are needed for the dual meets. We will need to provide timers at the Championship meet.

SWIM SUITS: 

We ask that each swimmer purchase a team suit which can be ordered online here:

http://www.swimoutlet.com/fhst

We have tried to make this affordable and are trying this company for the first time. Each swimmer will be given a FHST swim cap.

EXTRA SWIMMING INSTRUCTION:

Additional swimming instruction can be received through our own Forest Hills lifeguards, many of whom are veterans of the swim team themselves.  Arrangements can be made by contacting Walt Reamer, Forest Hills Pool Manager.

FUNDRAISING ACTIVITIES: 

Our major fundraising activity is hosting Champs, but there are a few others, including the Dixie Dunker at Forest Hills Community Day on the Fourth of July and the 50/50 at home meets. Any others to be determined.

OTHER INFORMATION: 

These are other activities/events which the Swim Team participates in, or sponsors:

Pizza Party:  The annual pizza party for the FHST swimmers and their families will be held at the Forest Hills Pool at the conclusion of our first HOME meet on Tuesday, June 18 from 8:00-10:00 PM. There is no charge for the party. We will have our parent meeting at this event too.

Picture Day: The FHST will take its annual group picture at the pool on Friday, June 21. Please wear your team suit for the team picture. There is no practice on this day. Swimmers will also have the opportunity to have an individual picture taken starting at 10:00 AM.  The team picture will be taken promptly at 11:00 AM.  This will be the only “TEAM” picture taken!  Make it a point to be part of our swim team history!   

Movie Day:  The FHST will have Movie Day on Friday, June 21 and will see the TBD movie. Parents provide transportation and supervision as needed. 

Community Day:  The FHST contribution to Forest Hills’ Community Day is an important and increasingly popular part of our community’s Fourth of July Celebration.  Team members and parents are asked to participate in one of the following events planned for the Fourth of July Community Day held this year on Thursday, July 4.

Annual Biathlon:  The WHHS swimming pool is the start of the biathlon.  Ten (10) volunteers are needed to act as timers and lane counters the morning of Community Day.  

Dixie Dunker:  Although the Borough sets up the dunk tank and swimmers line up for the opportunity to be the target of a water dunk, adult volunteers are needed to collect the money, to retrieve the thrown balls, and to reset the dunker seat after a splash-in.  The Dixie Dunker operates from Noon-3:00 PM on Community Day and usually requires three (3) volunteers per hour.  The money collected during this event goes to the swim team.  Only members of the FHST are allowed to participate!

Senior Recognition: The team plans to recognize any FHST high school seniors who graduated in 2024 (July 16).

Swim Team Banquet and Championship Party:  As the final event of the FHST season, the team banquet and party will be held at the pool lodge on Saturday, July 27 (the evening of the Championship meet).  At the banquet each team member will receive his/her team gift.  In addition, recipients of the four annual awards (Gabella, Clougherty, Foley and Manns) will be recognized.  We will also enjoy the team’s annual slide show.  Details will be announced later but we do need volunteers to help organize this special event for our swimmers.