What is the swim season timeframe?
Monday through Friday afternoon practices generally start the week before or after Memorial Day. We will have afternoon practices for each age group until FCPS schools close, then practices will switch to mornings Monday through Friday.
Each swimmer attends his/her assigned practice based on their age as of June 1st, per our League Bylaws
We typically have 5 swim meets a season, each on Saturday morning. The season will end with our celebration banquet in mid-late July.
What should I bring to practice?
Swim bag to pack all your Gator gear, swimsuit, goggles, fins, kickboard, swim cap or hair tie, applied sunscreen. Swimmers are not required to wear their team suit to practice though it should be worn to all swim meets.
Are practices required?
We hope swimmers can attend as many practices as possible each week, but there is no requirement.
What should I bring to swim meets?
2 of the following: ICC team suit, ICC team cap, googles, towels. You should also bring a full water bottle and nutritious snacks. Don’t forget to apply sunscreen and wear your ICC team t-shirt!
How do I let you know I’m coming to a meet?
You must declare your attendance for each swim meet through this Swimtopia site and there will be an important deadline to declare by so please be sure you have done so!
Please declare for each meet whether you will attend or not.
How do you decide which events I’m swimming at a meet?
Swimmer events are decided by the Head and Assistant Coaches. First and foremost, the events are selected based on a swimmer’s fastest time. Coaches look to see how our times match up with those of our opponents, taking into account how many events each swimmer is allotted per meet, and what will benefit the team most based on who is available for the meet.
Coaches will then consider what we have seen in practice for those we would like to try new events, try an event again if previously DQ’d to master the skill and get an official/legal time.
In choosing events, there are times when the Coaches may age a swimmer up. This is the case for many reasons, such as – their time is competitive with those in the age group (either from our team or the opponent we are competing against), we feel they have a chance to score points for the team, we do not want a swimmer to compete by themselves and age group availability for that meet is not at full capacity, or we want to allow that swimmer to have the chance to race, get a legal time or have the chance to improve their time and this is the only opportunity to do so.
Last, but not least, we choose swimmers for breaststroke, fly and IM based on how many heats of swimmers we are allotted (determined by host team). We will again use what we see at practice to determine who is legal and able to swim those events to get a time, as well as those who have shown progress and we feel truly have a shot at completing the race legally.
Due to limitations in breaststroke butterfly and IM, there are times where the Coaches will once again age up a swimmer, so they have the opportunity to get a legal time. When it comes to the end of the season, swimmers need a legal time to participate in All-Star qualifications and opportunities are more limited.
What should I expect at a meet?
Arrive at the pool 15 minutes before our scheduled warm up time. The team will sit together in one area and should stay in this area when not swimming. Listen for your events to be called and report to the Clerk of Course with your event card. After each swim, be sure and shake your opponent’s hand and ask the timers for your time. Once you have completed all events, you can leave after you have checked in with the Coach to ensure you are not on a relay team. Please do not leave until you have confirmed you are not on a relay!
Results are usually posted somewhere in the facility. Ribbons will be gathered for the team and given to the coach at the end of the meet. Ribbons from each meet will be available at practices, filed by name in our ribbon box.
There will be meet sheets available at each meet. It will list all swimmers in each event with their “seed time”. If a swimmer is swimming an event for the first time, she/he will be entered as a “no time” or NT. The meet sheet will also list the heat and lane each swimmer for each swimmer but note there are often last minute changes.
What if I DQ (disqualify)?
Our League follows the USA Swimming rules for each stroke. There will be “stroke and turn” officials at each meet who are required to disqualify (DQ) any swimmer who swims a stroke illegally. These mistakes frequently happen and should be viewed as an opportunity to learn and improve. If you find out you have been DQ’D, you must remain respectful and polite. Any question can be discussed with your Coaches during an appropriate time at the following practice…NOT during the swim meet.
What happens at Pep Rallies?
Our team will have a pep rally at the pool every Thursday evening before a Saturday swim meet. This is an opportunity for the whole team to work on cheers, team spirit and build camaraderie. They are often themed with special games or activities. Attend as many as you can!
What is Gators Got Talent?
Our Gator version of the popular TV series “America's Got Talent" is a big hit every summer! Swimmers can compete as a group or individually and most people learn a song/dance routine and wear costumes…all talents and skills are encouraged! We often have “celebrity” guest judges join us as well!
How about Gator Golf?
This parent only event is another fun filled evening, but this time we are out on the golf course. Teams are formed and each hole has different competitive challenges. Absolutely no golf experience is needed, and we end the evening with dinner and drinks in the clubhouse. An awesome way to spend time with other swim parents!
How does Little Chompers differ from the rest of the team?
Little Chompers starts during morning practice and is a subset of our team for those young swimmers who are not quite ready to compete in meets but are ready to learn the techniques of competitive swimming. To qualify for Little Chompers, swimmers must be able to float on their stomach and/or back, kick, and be comfortable submerging their face and body underwater. Thirty-minute practices will be held once morning practices begin, and Little Chompers are invited to all team social activities and meets. The season will culminate in their very own lollipop meet in late July!
Swimmers who cannot swim the length of the pool without stopping at time trials will be referred to our Little Chompers program until they are ready to move to the full team.
What is the Relay Carnival?
The League hosts a relay carnival each summer where our Gator swimmers are on established relay teams and will compete against other League relay teams. Our Coaches will form relay teams for each stroke, both by age group and mixed age. Generally, the fastest swimmers in each age group will swim on the relay team.
How does All-Stars work?
The League also hosts All-Star events at the end of every season. Swimmers with the fastest time in each stroke may be entered by our coaches. You will be notified if your swimmer is eligible to compete in the qualifying round, generally on a Saturday in late July. The top swimmers from qualifiers will then compete in the final League All-Star meet the next day. More information will be shared as the season wraps up.
Can I get private lessons for my swimmer?
Some of our coaches can be hired to work individually with your swimmer at a pre-scheduled time, typically after team practices. This varies by season so discuss with our Coaches if you have interest.
How do I get more involved?
We need parent volunteers as timers and runners at each meet. We also have parents who become trained and certified as officials. It is easy to learn and fun to be a part of! We also need help with all social events. Our program is solely run by parent volunteers who give of their time so please ask how you can help because we can't do it without you!
