Frequently Asked Questions
Thinking of Joining the Beavers?
New swimmers and parents often have questions about the club.
What is the time commitment?
The
summer swim season runs for eight weeks and starts at the beginning of July and
ends with Provincials in late August. The team practices every weekday,
typically broken up into age groups. On
the weekends, there are one or two meets at locations from
Weekday
evening practices typically look something like:
4-5
pm 8 & under
5-6
pm 9 & 10
6-7
pm 11 & 12
7-8
pm 13 & up
Other
than in the 8 & U, 15 & 16/17 & 18 age groupings, it cannot be
guaranteed that all swimmers from a particular age group will practice at the
same time. This is necessary to
balance/equalize the number of swimmers in each of our four practice
times.
Swimmers
age 9 & up can attend optional morning swim and dry land training Monday –
Thursday from 7:30-8:30am.
Time
Trials will be held on a few (probably 3-4) Wednesday evenings throughout the
season beginning at 4pm.
We usually have a waiting list to join
the Beavers, so a serious commitment is expected of those who join the team.
The team is a competitive swim team and members are expected to attend meets on
the weekends.
What is the expectation of
parent involvement in the team?
The
Beavers have social activities for the swimmers, run time trials, host a swim
meet, look after administrative functions, and do some fundraising. The
philosophy of the team is that swimmers benefit when parents/guardians become
involved, so anytime a parent can help out, it is welcomed and encouraged. In order for the team to function
effectively and for the swimmers to enjoy the meets, parental involvement is
necessary.
Will my swimmer have to
try-out to join?
Try-outs
are not required. If the swimmer can
swim a length of the pool they can apply to join the club. Applications from swimmers whose families had
one or more swimmers in the club have first priority. The second priority is to
address gender equality in the age groups.
Our next stage of consideration is for new swimmers who would be
considered for an age grouping that has one or more vacancies. A lottery system would be used amongst new
applicants for any age grouping that is determined to have one or more
openings, again with consideration first to move towards gender equity in the
particular age grouping. Applications
must be tendered to the Beavers Registrar by the registration deadline for
consideration. Information on
registration protocol and the registration form itself is posted on the website.
What if we are away on
vacation or can't come every single day?
Coaches
realize summer is short, and families take vacation so it is understandable that
swimmers will be away from time to time. Daily swimming is encouraged, of
course. Vacations do count as absences
under the attendance policy.
How many meets should each
swimmer attend?
Meets
are open to all members, regardless of ability. (Only provincial championships
require time standard qualification). Swimmers can attend as many meets as they
like, however, in order to attend Provincials it is expected that the swimmer
attend at least one half of the meets and regular practices.
In
order to qualify for a guaranteed spot on the team the following year, a
swimmer must attend a minimum of 1/3 of the practices and 2 meets. Meet attendance is definitely encouraged by
coaches so the swimmer can gain confidence and experience and will be
considered when selecting the provincial team.
Regular practices at
Do the Beavers host a swim
meet?
Yes.
The swim meet is usually the last weekend of July at the Bedford Lions Pool. However,
for 2010,
Who chaperones the swimmers
at the meets?
The
Coaches are very busy at the meets and are not able to chaperone children. Parents are responsible for monitoring their
swimmers.
How much does it cost to
join the team?
Registration
fees for 2010 are $220 for the first swimmer, $210 for the second swimmer, $200
for the third and free after that.
How much fundraising is
involved?
The
Beavers hold a raffle and run a canteen at the Bedford Meet. In some years other fundraising may also be
required. For Provincials significant
fundraising will be required.
What is the money used for?
The
money raised is used primarily to pay for the pool rental, coaches’ salaries,
and registration with Swim Nova Scotia.
In some years we have been fortunate to have corporate sponsors come
forward with significant cash donations.
This has helped our financial situation immensely.
How do I apply for my child
to join the team?
Registration
forms and information is posted on the website.
To be considered for any potential openings, a registration form and
appropriate payment by cheque must be submitted to the Beavers Registrar by the
registration deadline. Acceptance of any received applications for new member
registration depends on availability per age group and gender. Check the
website for information.
What if my child joins but
does not enjoy the team?
The
club has an intro spring training session to introduce the swimmer to the
coaches, and take them through some typical activities. These sessions are held
in April and May and should give your child an idea of what the team is
like. The team has a no-refund policy
after the end of May.
Is it mandatory to purchase
Beaver Bathing Suits or clothing?
No.
Beaver clothing is optional. Swimmers need
a bathing suit, goggles and swim cap.
The Beaver bathing suits are Speedo brand, and will be of high quality,
therefore will stand-up better to the chlorine. Girls’ suits are usually around $60 and
boys’ jammers are around $50. Beaver
Hoodies are also very popular.
Is there someone I can call
if I have other questions?
You
can always email the website admin@bedfordbeavers.com or contact a
member of the executive. As well, we
have parent liaisons for each age group.
If you wish to speak to someone, let us know and we will get in touch
with you.
How do parents keep
informed?
The
Beavers use email as the primary means of communication, and each Monday our
newsletter, the Beaver Buzz is distributed.
We also have a website www.bedfordbeavers.com that has up-to-date
information on activities.
Also see our Beavers Handbook
which is posted on the website.