Frequently Asked Questions

General Meet Information

1. What equipment does my child need to swim?

At minimum, your child should have a swimming suit that fits them, i.e. for girls, it does not easily slide off their shoulders. Goggles are a must for your swimmer to see where they are in the water in relationship to the wall, line markers and other swimmers, as well as providing eye protection from the pool’s chlorine. Both girls and boys can wear swim caps, again to provide protection to their hair from chlorine damage. The parents’ board will consign practice suits, goggles, fins and swim bags in the fall to allow for ease of purchase. Speedo goggles, practice swim caps, and team swim caps are available for purchase at the YMCA desk, and come in different styles. Flippers are optional – the YMCA does have a supply available for use during practice. Some families elect to purchase their own flippers. Swimmers participating in swim meets are asked to purchase a team suit. Team suits will be ordered twice during the year.

2. Do I have to purchase a family YMCA membership?

No, you do not need a family membership. A student membership for your swimmer is sufficient.

3. Why is the Advanced fee more?

The Advanced swimmers’ dues are higher because they get more coaching and pool time.

4. What are the team dues and what do they pay for?

Beginners are $30 per month, Intermediates are $35 per month and Advanced are $45 per month. The monthly team dues pay for our coaches, our pool time, swimmer awards, annual team USS fees, and our YMCA administrative costs.

5. What if my child doesn’t swim for a while due to illness or other sports, etc?

The parents’ board has determined that if a swimmer elects to take time off due to another sport or activity, or has an extended illness keeping them from practice, that swimmer is not responsible for the monthly team dues for the month missed. However, if the swimmer swims any part of that calendar month, even once, they are responsible for that month’s team dues. Team dues will not be prorated during a month. Note that the team does not swim in August – there are no dues for that month.

6. Does my child need to compete in meets? If not, do we still need a USA-S membership?

No, your child does not have to compete. We encourage competition participation so our swimmers are able to measure and be rewarded for their swimming advancement and achievements. Plus it’s fun to cheer on our kids! The more kids we have attending meets, the better the team will score overall in point accumulation. Periodically, the team holds an intersquad meet to give our new swimmers a taste of what it’s like to compete at a meet.

Yes, you still need a USA-S membership. The YMCA Bluefins are a USA Swimming chartered swim team. The charter stipulates that all swimmers attending coached practices must have a current USA-S membership. USA-S membership also provides some accident insurance for our swimmers while participating at practices and at meets. Having non-USA-S members on the deck jeopardizes the team’s USA-S charter.

7. What if my child cannot attend all the scheduled practice times for the assigned group?

Not everyone’s schedule aligns with scheduled practice times and other activities and events do come up. The YMCA Bluefins recognize that many of our children have other interests and lives outside of swimming. Plus there’s that whole homework thing! From a training perspective, it’s best to be on time and to attend all the scheduled practice sessions in full, but if your swimmer cannot, then do attend when schedules permit. Advanced swimmers are allowed to practice at Beg/Intermediate times, but the coaches will give them a self-managed workout for that particular session. Team dues will not be prorated during a month based on practice attendance.

8. How do I find out what’s going on with the team?

Read your Tuna Times. Read the Bluefin bulletin board next to the pool doors in the lobby area. Check your child’s mail folder in the file box on the table in the lobby next to the pool doors. Talk to other parents at practice. Ask the coach after practice. Call a board member. Attend a Parents’ Board meeting. Check http://www.bluefinsymca.org/

9. What does the Parents’ Board do?

The Parents’ Board is a group of volunteer parents that meet monthly with our coach (second Thursday @ 6:00 p.m.) to review team activities, schedules, and to make things happen for the team. Decisions are made concerning meet schedules, fundraising, expenditures, team equipment orders, communications, and activity scheduling. All parents are welcome to attend meetings and provide assistance and support in coordinating activities and meeting the needs of our children and our team. Current board assignments are posted on the Bluefin bulletin board.

10. What type of activities are there?

The team has potlucks held in the YMCA lobby periodically throughout the swim season to welcome back swimmers, celebrate holidays, and to celebrate the swim season’s achievements in the spring when we recognize and give out awards to our swimmers. Intersquad meets are held during the year. We’ve even done team photos!

11. What kind of fundraising does the team do and what is the money used for?

The team hosts a Flick and Float once or twice a year. A movie is shown in the pool area. Money raised by the team has helped pay for starting blocks, meet management software, starting systems, timers, team storage equipment on the pool deck, money given towards team suits, and training equipment for our swimmers. All needs and approvals for purchase are reviewed and decided by the Parent’s Board. We are grateful for those individuals and local corporate gifts we have received as well.

12. How can I help?

Attend a Parent’s Board meeting and/or talk to a board member. We’re always looking for extra hands or new folks to take on a responsibility in coordinating an activity or managing a fundraiser. We want all the swimmers’ parents to be part of our YMCA Bluefins Team!

When we host a meet we need everyone's help. There are many jobs that need to be done. There is everything from Setup to Concessions to Timing to Takedown.

If you would like to become an Official, speak with one of us. We'll let you know what is involved and help you get started.