Team practices are held Monday through Friday.  Evening practices will be offered on Mondays and Wednesdays.  We hold a ribbon ceremony the evening of the day following a meet, in addition to regular swim practice that night. See below for more information. Wednesday evening schedule (June 21, June 28,Thursday July 6, July 12, Tuesday July 18) is as follows:  5:30-6:00pm  10 and under, 6:00-6:15 brief ribbon ceremony, 6:15-7:00 11 and up.

Practice Schedule

Practices are Monday – Friday, except the day after a meet.

The day after the meet, there will be no morning practice. Instead, all mini-mites, mites, and midgets will practice from 5:30-6:00pm. Juniors, intermediates, and seniors will practice from 6:15-7:00pm. Between practices, swimmers will receive their ribbons from the previous night.

May 30 – June 14

• 5:00 – 5:30 PM – Midgets & Junior Sharks
• 5:30 – 6:00 PM –  Mites & Mini Mites
• 6:00 – 6:45 PM –  Intermediates & Seniors

Beginning June 19 (M, T, Th, Fr)

• 8:30 – 9:15 AM – Mites & Mini Mites
• 9:15 – 10:00 AM –  Midgets & Juniors
• 10:00 – 11:00 AM – Intermediates & Seniors

Junior Sharks: Junior Sharks will run this year from May 31-June 15 for swimmers who may not quite be ready for Mini-mites. After the three weeks, the coaching staff and family will discuss if it is appropriate for the swimmer to move up to the mini-mites and participate more independently in the pool.

EVENING PRACTICES:

Please make every effort to make the morning practices, but if you cannot due to VBS events, job requirements, day-care, etc… we will have regular evening practices on Monday and Wednesday. – you must sign up on the board by the snack shack at the pool to attend Monday- Wednesday is for the entire team. 

 

MINIMUM SWIMMING REQUIREMENTS:

Every swimmer must be able to swim 3/4 of the 25-meter pool unassisted (with the exception of 6 and younger).  If you are unsure of your child’s ability/interest, your child is welcome to try out the team for the first week of practice on a trial basis for free.  Please come to the pool during practice hours (May 26 – June 5).  We will also need a signed waiver from the parent (download the Settlers Landing Registration Form from this website).   The coaches will be glad to assist you.

WHAT YOUR CHILD NEEDS FOR SWIM PRACTICE AND MEETS:

A swimsuit, goggles and a towel are needed for practice.  Swimmers are welcome to wear a swim cap at practice if they prefer.  In addition, it is necessary for your child to bring a positive attitude and good listening skills to practice.  The pool can be a dangerous place, and swimmers must listen to their coaches to avoid accidents.  Practice is a fun time- encourage your swimmer to meet his/her fellow teammates and to enjoy the time he/she spends practicing!

For meets, it is recommended that each swimmer wears an official team swimsuit. Team suits are available at Disco Sports, 1400 Starling Drive, Richmond, VA 23229  (In the West End, across from Regency Mall)  Phone: 285-4242.  Swimmers should also wear a swim cap during meets, and bring goggles and a towel.  New swimmers will receive a Settlers Landing swim cap when you register for swim team.

PARENT INVOLVEMENT:

Swim team isn’t only for your child- it’s for you too! Practices and meets are perfect times to watch your child progress and improve, and to socialize with other swim team parents. The best way to enjoy your swim team experience is to volunteer at the meets. Parent volunteering is required for every swimmer on our team because each meet requires 60+ volunteers to ensure that it runs smoothly and to allow everyone to enjoy the meet. Its also an easy way to truly learn about what your child is involved in, and there are plenty of ways to get involved. Check on the Volunteers page of this website for information on opportunities and a link to sign up online. Or, just ask Betsy Phillips (volunteer coordinator) for more information. Also, feel free to come watch your child practice, and attend the ribbon ceremony the evening after every swim meet at 7pm!