UPDATED SWIM MEET SCHEDULE with NEW TEAM FORMAT!

Thanks to our amazing coaching staff and our devoted families, the YWCA Barracudas swim program has grown immensely over the past 5 years. 

Our team is HUGE!  

While we LOVE our large team, we recognize that there are many challenges to such a large team. Specifically the dual meets. Our meets are long, the deck is very crowded, parking is difficult and other teams are dwarfed by our presence.

Due to this we have decided, with the support of Wilmington Swim League, to split our Barracudas team into two teams this summer for dual meet competition. We will have a Black Team and an Orange Team. These teams will be half the size, therefore meets will be faster and less congested.  All swimmers will have an increased chance of placing (earning points and ribbons) and of participating in relays. 

For the purposes of practice, the relay meet and Champs, Barracudas will compete as one. 

At the end of this summer season we will evaluate this new format. Our goal is and always will be about providing the best possible experience for the kids. We will continue to focus on providing excellent swim coaching, a positive environment and promoting fun through swimming. 

How will teams be decided? 

The Barracuda Black team will be the top/fastest swimmers in each age division. Depending on the size of the group it will be the top 6 to 8 Boys and top 6 to 8 girls in each age division. 

We are going to do time trials at regular practice time the week of Memorial Day: Tuesday, May 27 - Friday, May 30. We can also pull times from Swimmingly or families can submit USA Swimming times. Families will be notified of their team by Monday, June 2. We hope this will give families ample time to plan around the swim meet schedule. 

Siblings will get a bye - in other words if one sibling in a family unit makes the Black team then all swimmers in that household are automatically on that team. 

Who is coaching which team? 

All coaches will be coaching practices as one unit. Our coaching team works together to create the focus/goal for each day, the week and the season. 

For the purposes of organizing and leading the dual meets, Coach Alan and Coach Kyndall will be with the Barracuda Black team and Coach Deborah and Coach Tabitha will be with the Barracuda Orange team. All other coaches will split their time between groups.

Can I switch from one team to another for a meet because of my schedule?

We have tried to schedule swim meets for both teams on the same night.

However, the few times that was not possible, we will not be be able to flip flop between teams. This season will already be tricky enough!

How does this impact Swimmingly (swim meet software)

Swimmers will need to register in Swimmingly as usual. (See detailed instructions below)

However, swimmers will be able to see all swim meets in the system.

When it comes time to "opt in/declare" if you're attending the meet, pay careful attention to which meet you are signing your child up for. We do not, at this time have the ability to prevent families from signing up for the wrong meet.

Due to this, we will be very strict about Swimmingly deadlines. Please put those deadlines on your calendar!

GENERAL SWIM TEAM INFO

How we communicate all season long:

This, and weekly emails throughout the summer, will be filled with all the information you and your swimmer need in preparation for practice and swim meets! 

We will also post updates and reminders to our Barracuda Facebook page if you want to give it a like/follow.

We also have a new INSTAGRAM page! Thanks Coach Kyndall for putting this together. 

We have a team website. This website houses past season stats and is also a great resource for meet heat sheets, season updates and meet results. 

As always, after reading, give the YWCA pool a call or send an email if you have any questions or concerns.

Parking

• Parking Summer Swim Season is tricky! 3:30 practice time in particular will be most impacted until school gets out. 

• Please do not park in the 4 spaces designated for childcare parking.

• Please try to carpool! 

• It is okay to drop your swimmer off and circle around until you find parking.

• We ask that you do not park along College Rd. While police have not ticketed, they have threatened to do so in the past. Plus parking along College Rd does impact visibility for individuals leaving the facility.

YWCA policy on swimming before/after practice

• Membership alone does not include use of the pool outside of practice times.

• All swimmers swimming before or after practice must have a wristband.

• Do not get in the pool "even for 5 minutes" without one! 

• Wristbands maybe purchased at the pool front desk for $ (members), $6/$8 (guests of members) or be picked up from the front desk with a valid monthly pool pass. 

• Monthly unlimited pool passes are $55 for a family or $38 for an individual. Scheduled monthly payments are required. 

From May 19th - June 5th, Family Swim from 3:30-5:30 maybe cancelled or highly restricted due to the high number of swim team participants and the need for all the pool space we can get!