Thinking of Joining the Beavers

Thinking of Joining the Beavers?

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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 Halifa= x to Digby.

= Weekday evening practices for 2008 are yet to be finalized but might look something like:

= 4-5 pm 8 & under plus a few 9 & 10

= 5-6 pm most 9 & 10 plus some 11 & 12

= 6-7 pm some 11 & 12 plus some 13 & 14

= 7-8 pm some 13 & 14, plus 15 & 16 and 17 & 18

= 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 t= he 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 t= he season beginning at 4pm.

We usually have a waiting l= ist 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 sw= im meet, look after administrative functions, and do some fundraising. The philosophy of the team is that swimmers benefit when parents/guardians beco= me involved, so anytime a parent can help out, it is welcomed and encouraged.<= span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'> In order for the team to fun= ction effectively and for the swimmers to enjoy the meets, parental involvement is necessary.

Will my swimmer have to try= -out to join?<= o:p>

= Try-outs are not required. If the swim= mer can swim a length of the pool they can apply to join the club. If there are vacancies in a partic= ular age grouping, the club will first attempt to balance the genders in the age= group in question. Applications from swimmers whose families had one or more swimmers in the club in 2007 would = have first priority in a lottery type selection format to fill any vacancies in a particular age grouping, with first priority to address gender equality. Our next stage of consideration is= for new swimmers who would be considered for an age grouping that has one or mo= re vacancies. A lottery system w= ould be used amongst new swimmers applicants for any age grouping that is determ= ined 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 t= he Beavers Registrar on or before April 7, 2008, for consideration. Information on registration protoc= ol and the registration form itself is posted on the website.

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What if we are away on vaca= tion 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.

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How many meets should each swimmer attend?

= Meets are open to all members, regardless of ability. (Only provincial championsh= ips require time standard qualification). Swimmers can attend as many meets as = they like, however, in order to attend provincials it is expected that the swimm= er attend at least one half of the meets and regular practices. Meet attendanc= e is definitely encouraged by coaches so the swimmer can gain confidence and experience and will be considered when selecting the provincial team. In 2008, the Beavers will again pr= ovide our swimmers with an option to commence training at a pool other than Lions Park Pool from mid June until the end of June. Regular practices at Lions Park pool usually commence on or about July 1.&= nbsp; This is the date when practice attendance commences to be officially recorded. <= /p>
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Do the Beavers host a swim = meet?

= Yes. The swim meet is usually the last weekend of July at the Bedford Lions Pool. The Beavers have indicated to Swim Nova Scotia that we would like to host our m= eet in 2008 on Saturday, July 26. Parent volunteers are requested to help with set-up of grounds, canteen, timing, a= nd on deck assistance if available. Many hands make light work, and our meet is one of the most successful of the season, due to the dedicated parents who = help out.

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Who chaperones the swimmers= at the meets?

= The Coaches are very busy at the meets and are not able to chaperone children.<= span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'> Parents are responsible for monito= ring their swimmers.

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How much does it cost to jo= in the team?=

= Registration fees for 2008 are $190 for the first swimmer, $180 for the second swimmer, = $140 for the third and free after that. &n= bsp; A fee of $10 per family is also collected with registration to cover donations for the Bedford Meet.

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How much fundraising is inv= olved?

= The Beavers hold a raffle and run a canteen at the Bedford Meet. In some years other fundraising ma= y also be required.

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What is the fundraising mon= ey used for?<= o:p>

= The money raised is used primarily to pay for the pool rental, coaches’ salaries, and registration with Swim Nova Scotia. For the last number of years we ha= ve been fortunate to have a number of corporate sponsors come forward with significant cash donations. T= his 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 not later than April 7, 2008. Acceptance= of any received applications for new member registration depends on availability p= er age group and gender. Check the website for information.<= /p>
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= What is the protocol for accepting an invitation by the team to join the club for 2008? Within one week of the closing date for registrations which is April 7, 2008, the club will know w= hich Beaver swimmers from 2007 will be returning. At this time decisions will be mad= e on what new swimmers, if any, will be accepted into the club based on the prot= ocol outlined above. Not later than April 14, the club will determine and publish a list of all swimmers select= ed for membership with the Beavers for 2008 and the corresponding placement of= swimmers into one of four practice times. With this information, all swimmers will then have 7 additional days= to confirm their acceptance of the offer to swim with the Beavers in 2008 consistent with the assigned practice groupings.

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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 coache= s, and take them through some typical activities. These sessions are held in M= ay and June and should give your child an idea of what the team is like. The team has a no-refund policy for returning swimmers and no refund once the team members are registered with = Swim Nova Scotia (early July).

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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 $70 and boys’ jammers are around $50. Beaver Hoodies are also very popul= ar.

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Is there someone I can call= if I have other questions?

= You can always email the website admin@= bedfordbeavers.com. If you wish to speak to someone, l= et us know and we will get in touch with you.

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How do parents keep informe= d?

= The Beavers use email as the primar= y means of communication. We also hav= e a website www.bedfordbeavers.com that has up-to-date information on activities. Also, each Monday our newsletter, = the Beaver Buzz is distributed at the pool.

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See the Beaver Handbook and = Winter Swimming Rules on the website for more info.