How to Choose a Club Swim Team

Your children may have wrapped up their summer league swim season fit, tanned, and bubbling over with excitement about swimming. If they are interested in year-round swimming with a USA Swimming-sanctioned club team, there are some things to consider.

Google may provide a simple list of swim teams or you can go to the USA Swimming website. On the home page, parents can select “For You,” then “Parents,” “Getting Started,” “Find a team.” Plug in your location details and USA Swimming will provide you with a list of clubs in your area. Recommendations and input from friends is also valuable.

Now that you have a short list of teams, here are some criteria to consider:

1. What type of training (i.e., frequency and intensity of practices) does your child need?
2. How many practices are required per week?
3. How are the practices divided by age and skill level, and who coaches each level?
4. Does the club participate in local and/or travel swim meets? How many meets will your swimmer be required to attend?
5. What are the coaches’ perspectives on training? For example, is there space and time for coaches to work on technique, or do they focus on swimming a certain distance per practice?
6. What are the costs and volunteer commitments for parents?

You will also want to consider practice locations and times. Practices are usually held in the afternoons or evenings and practice commitment will vary between two and five practices per week.

Once you have narrowed down your search, we recommend that you attend a practice to meet and talk with the coaches and other swimmers. 

Visit the team's website to determine if the team is holding tryouts for new swimmers. Tryouts are generally held in late August or early September, which is the beginning of the short-course (or yards) season that goes until March. Not all teams require tryouts.

Follow your instincts and choose a team where your child will feel challenged and inspired, but also where you feel comfortable. If your swimmer needs assistance in preparing for tryouts or practices with a new team, SwimLabs is a great resource for technique refinement and preparation. Good luck and happy swimming!