Tryouts

Why join OLAN?

Easy! We offer affordable, intense swim training with passionate, experienced coaches in a fun & competitive team setting. We are not just a bunch of people swimming laps - we learn and compete, cheer each other on, break records, overcome challenges, defend titles, go on trips, throw parties, try new experiences, and celebrate our achievements together. Many of our coaches used to swim for OLAN themselves, and simply never wanted to leave!

Requirements

Swimmers who join the team should have prior swimming experience and be comfortable in the water. Ideally, prospective team members should be able to swim at least 25 yards non-stop, although we also take age and technique into account. Older prospective members should preferably know multiple strokes, as well as diving and ideally flip-turns. If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to contact swim4olan@gmail.com. However, in general, as long as your child is comfortable enough in the water to not be a drowning risk, we encourage you to at least give it a shot.

Additionally, team members must be eligible for OLAN per the zoning rules (whether via address, parish, school, etc) - see the explanation below.

Swimmers who join the team will be expected to attend practices and compete in meets. If you are already part of a swim club or school swim team, we will do our best to accommodate your practice schedule. Check the Practices and About pages for more info on what it means to be part of our team.

Zoning

Our league has a zoning system which allocates swimmers to teams based on either home address, parish, or school. Siblings of current team members are generally eligible for the same team. Swimmers with special circumstances can apply for a waiver to swim outside of their zone. If you are unsure about zoning, we recommend reaching out via email with any relevant details.

FAQ

Is there paperwork I need to fill out?

There is a short form you will need to fill out in order to sign up for a tryout. You should fill out a separate hard copy for each child trying out.

Do I need to send an email in advance before trying out?

We strongly prefer when people let us know beforehand. However, if you come on a pre-scheduled tryout date and for some reason cannot let us know in advance, we sometimes have a few walk-in spots available. If you cannot make the pre-scheduled tryouts and would like to try out during one of our practices, you should definitely get in touch with us first or we will most likely not be able to accommodate you.

How competitive are tryouts?

It changes from year to year, but you should take tryouts seriously - they are not just a formality. Our main criteria are a) new swimmers must be comfortable in the water (e.g. not a drowning risk), b) they must be reasonably close to current members in terms of skill level, and c) we must have enough space to accommodate the swimmers we take. In general, joining the team at 11 years or older (Junior/Senior divisions) is more demanding than at 10 years or younger (Novice/Bantam divisions) since we expect older swimmers to be relatively fast - but it is still certainly doable!

What should I bring?

Swimming gear: a swimsuit, goggles, towel, and preferably a swim cap. Also, do not forget to bring a copy of the tryout form.

How long will the tryout take?

Probably an hour - maybe an hour and a half if there are a lot of candidates. That doesn't mean everyone will be swimming for the whole time: the swimmers will take turns swimming either by themselves or in pairs, and everyone will swim at least once, usually 25 yards freestyle. If time allows, swimmers will be given the opportunity to demonstrate additional strokes. If you need to leave early, please let us know in advance; otherwise, we will keep them on deck until the session is over.

Where do parents go?

Parents can watch and cheer from the stands. We usually do not allow parents on deck unless there are special circumstances.

How soon will I find out the results?

We generally let families know if their child made the team within 2 weeks of their tryout date.  We do NOT inform families immediately after the tryout, since we need some time to review notes, times, zoning, available spots, etc. No need to panic if you do not hear from us right away.

How long does the season last?

The season lasts from September - May (though boys and girls have slightly different schedules). New swimmers generally start in October.

Is there an age cutoff?

We cannot accept anyone who turns 15 before January of the current season. There is no lower age limit (but young children should still be capable swimmers).

If I'm accepted, can I attend practices but not meets?

No. Meets (competitions) are a key part of our team activities, and we rely on each other to be present.

How much does it cost?

Trying out is free. The registration fee for the 2025-2026 season will be $300. Discounts are available for siblings, USA Swimming athletes, and graduating seniors (9th grade).