Updated May 2024
GENERAL SWIM TEAM INFORMATION
Interested in joining the Springfield Community Pool Swim Team? We are excited to begin a great summer season in 2024! A special welcome to all our new team members and we look forward to seeing our returning swimmers!
The Springfield Community Pool Swim Team season consists of 8 dual meets, plus a Championship Meet. The mission of the Coaching Staff is to help each swimmer maximize their ability through swimmer-specific training and competition. The coaches seek to work with children and parents to create a positive environment where personal excellence, honesty, and commitment are fostered and expected. Together we seek to instill a lifelong love of swimming and achieve our highest potential in swimming and life. Many of the swimmers who start out on the go on to compete at the YMCA, high school, and college levels.
Every new swimmer is welcome on our team, regardless of ability or prior experience. Our coaches will make the final decision regarding specific team placement based on your child’s swimming ability and with your child’s best interest in mind. Those who do not make the team will be asked to join our swim lessons and clinics program, designed to develop swimming skills in a non-competitive environment.
• The team is open to youth ages 5-17. Swimmers MUST be at least 5 years of age by June 1, 2024 in order to participate.
• All swimmers under 8 are required to try out for the Swim Team.
• Children ages 9-17 do not need to try out but must demonstrate proficiency in both front crawls and backstroke through consistent forward motion and rotary breathing, swim 25 yards of freestyle and backstroke consecutively, touch the bottom of the pool, jump into deep water and safely resurface, be able to tread water for 1 minute while demonstrating stamina and efficient body motion throughout the duration of the evaluation.
Many of our meets over the past several years have come down to
the final races, which means that we need EVERYONE to attend the meets! Also, in an effort to increase team spirit, we need all of our teammates cheering us on in order to do our very best! Therefore, previous years’ attendance policy will again be enforced this season.
Children who participate in another sport whose GAMES/MEETS conflict with our swim meet schedule must speak to me before the season begins. I would never discourage a child from being involved in another activity, but it is important that they remember that they are a part of this team, as well, and must contribute their fair share.
*Children who are on another team WITH CONFLICTS must attend four out of eight of the regular season meets.
All other children, including those on the Developmental Team, must attend 6 out of the 8 regular season meets.
Note: If there happens to be three meets in one week, we will make an exception, in order to account for vacations, etc.. If those are the 3 you miss, you would need to attend five out of the eight meets.
Children who do not compete in the appropriate number of meets will not be invited to attend the Awards Ceremony and will not receive a participation trophy.
Also keep in mind… according to the North Jersey Summer Swimming League rules, swimmers must participate in at least four meets in order to compete in the Divisional Championship Meet.
Swimmers are expected to attend all practices. There will not be a mandatory practice schedule, but please talk to me if your child will be missing a significant number of practices (for summer school, camp, etc.). I will try to be accommodating & perhaps can work around your schedule!
The developmental swim team is open to youth ages 5-8. Swimmers MUST be at least 5 years of age by June 1, 2024 in order to participate.
Discover the Springfield Swim Team’s Developmental Program, an exceptional opportunity for children aged 5-8 to excel in swimming this summer!
Children will be evaluated on the following days from 4:15 – 5:00 PM:
- Tuesday, June 4
- Wednesday, June 5
- Thursday, June 6
It is necessary that the children attend practice all that week.
Parents: Please stay after practice on Thursday, June 6. You will be informed that afternoon as to whether the coaches feel as though your child is ready for the Regular Swim Team or the Developmental Team or if he/she will be placed in swim lessons.
*Please note: There have not been enough swimmers to have a Developmental Team the last two years, so depending on the numbers and needs of the swimmers trying out this year, we will decide if a Developmental Team is needed this year.
Tentatively, the Developmental Team will consist of about 15 – 20 kids.
(This will vary based on the coaches’ discretion.)
They will practice from 11:15 AM– 12 PM on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from June 17 through the end of July.
Children on the Developmental Team will be expected to attend the same number of meets as children on the Regular Team. However, they will likely be placed in unofficial individual events and relays, races swam solely against other Springfield Swim Team members. Developmental Team members are more than welcome to participate in all team activities and are very much considered a part of the team!
This is a program designed to let children have fun and learn more about swimming! We are looking forward to a great summer!
This has been a success in the past, and we are continuing it again this season!
“Funky Fridays” allow everyone the opportunity to get a little extra practice in, and still have time for some fun!
(It is also a “Bonus Day” for the Developmental Team and allows their three days to be solely devoted to practicing.)
Instead of having Free Choice during practice after every one of our wins like we had done in the past,
we will instead have one every Friday.
We will also be offering you the chance to come in on these Fridays to practice whatever it is you need help with- your starts, flipturns, a certain stroke, even just swimming laps- it’s up to you! This “clinic” will last for onehour every Friday.
The coaches will be there to circulate amongst the team, but it’s completely up to you how you choose to participate each week.
Funky Friday Schedule
The schedule will be as follows: (Regular AND Developmental Teams!)
Fridays: June 21 | June 28 | July 5 | July 12 | July 19
9:15 – 10:15 “Clinic”
(This is your chance to improve on things that are important to YOU!)
10:15 – 11:15 “Free Choice!”
(Diving Board, Slide, and Free Swim in the 5 Feet w/ toys)
Hope to see you there!
AFTERNOON PRACTICE WILL BEGIN ON TUESDAY, JUNE 4 at the Springfield Community Pool.
Tuesday June 4 | Wednesday June 5 | Thursday June 6
4:15 – 5:00 PM – Tryouts for 8 & Unders ONLY (Please attend all 3 days!)
(Tryouts are for all NEW 8 & unders. 8 & Unders who were on the Regular Team last year do not need to try out. Any children ages 9 to 17 do not need to try out but must be able to swim a length of the pool without stopping and be comfortable in deep water in order to be on the team.)
Attention Parents of 8 & Unders: Please stay after practice on Thursday, June 6. We will let you know which team your child will be placed on (Regular, Developmental, or Swim Lessons).
5:00 – 5:45 PM – 10 & Under Practice
5:45 – 6:30 PM – 11 & Over Practice
Tuesday June 11 | Wednesday June 12 | Thursday June 13
4:15 – 5:00 PM – Developmental Team Practice
5:00 – 5:45 PM – 10 & Under Time Trials
5:45 – 6:30 PM – 11 & Over Time Trials
*Bathing Suit Try-On Day (for anyone wishing to purchase team bathing suits) will take place on Tuesday, June 11 from 4:00 – 6:30 PM. This is the ONLY DAY Metro Swim Shop will be there for you to try on and purchase bathing suits. There will also be Spirit Wear this year, as well as practice suits, caps, goggles, etc. CREDIT CARDS ONLY!
Monday June 17 | Tuesday June 18 | Wednesday June 19
4:15 – 5:00 PM – Developmental Team Practice
5:00 – 5:45 PM – 10 & Under Time Trials/Practice
5:45 – 6:30 PM – 11 & Over Time Trials/Practice
Morning practice will begin on Thursday, June 20 and will run through the entire month of July.
NO PRACTICE on July 4
TENTATIVELY, morning practice will be as follows:
11 & Overs: 9:15 – 10:15AM, Monday-Friday
10 & Unders: 10:15 – 11:15AM, Monday-Friday
*See the “Funky Friday” flier for information about practices on Fridays!
Developmental Team: 11:15AM – 12:00 PM, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, (and ”Funky Fridays!”)
Regular Season Swim Meets
(As of4/15. Subject to change!)
Monday, June 24: Morning Meet HOME vs. Mountainside
*For this meet, swimmers must sign up by Friday, June 21, at 12:00 PM.
Thursday, June 27: Evening Meet AWAY @ Madison
Monday, July 1: Morning Meet HOME vs. West Essex
*For this meet, swimmers must sign up by Friday, June 28 at 12:00 PM.
Tuesday, July 2: Evening Meet AWAY @ East Hanover
Monday, July 8: Morning Meet HOME vs. Madison
*For this meet, swimmers must sign up by Friday, July 5 at 12:00 PM.
Wednesday, July 10: Morning Meet vs. Mountainside @ HOME
Monday, July 15: Morning Meet HOME vs. Madison
*For this meet, swimmers must sign up by Friday, July 12, at 12:00 PM.
Wednesday, July 17: Evening Meet vs. West Essex @ AWAY
Championship Swim Meets
(We will update this page with exact meeti times when they become available. Likely, meets will start at approximately 9:00 AM for morning meets and 6:00 PM for evening meets.)
Monday, July 22: Divisonal Championships: Morning Meet
(Raindate: Tuesday, July 23rd)
Thursday, July 25: Meet of Champions: Morning Meet @ New Providence
Please Note:
-Swimmers are expected to be at the pool 45 minutes before the start of the meet to check in with the coaches and warm up.
-Swimmers must sign up for EVERY meet they plan on attending. The sign up will be taken down at 12:00 PM ONE BUSINESS DAY BEFORE THE MEET is scheduled to take place. (For Monday meets, swimmers must sign up by the Friday before at 12:00 PM.)
-Swimmers who do not sign up will not be entered in the meet with no exceptions!
Other Dates to Keep in Mind…
(More information will be shared before each event.)
Thursday, June 20: Team Spirit Night 5:00 PM
(Raindate: Friday, June 21)
Wednesday, July 10: Ice Cream Party 6:00 PM
(Raindate: Thursday, July 11th):
Saturday, July 20: Family Fun Morning 9:00 PM
(Raindate: Sunday, July 21st)
Friday, July 26: End of the Season Awards Dinner 5:00 PM
REGISTRATION
Swim Team registration is based on member, and non-pool member pricing and includes signup fees, SCP Team T-shirt + Swim Team Cap. Swim Team branded bathing suits are optional purchases.
SPRINGFIELD POOL SWIM TEAM REGISTRATION
While a Springfield Community Pool Membership is not required to register for the Springfield Community Pool Swim Team and related activities, outside of SCP Swim Team events, all Swim Team members 12 & under must be accompanied by an adult when visiting the pool, regardless of their swimming abilities.
QUESTIONS?
If you have any questions, please contact Associate Executive Director Brian Bartone at brian.bartone@thesay.org.
