It is important to remember that the Colonies Swim Team is a summer swim club focused on promoting a safe, positive and fun swim environment. To ensure success, it is vital for swimmers to understand these goals and parents to reinforce them at home.

Swimmers are expected to:

• Respect teammates, competitors, parents and coaches.
• Conduct yourself as a leader on the team and serve as a model for other swimmers. 
• Support and encourage teammates at practices and at meets.
• Arrive to practice with a positive attitude.
• When being given instruction, swimmers are expected to give their undivided attention to the speaker.
• Respect the Colonies Swim and Tennis Club grounds and facilities, and those of hosting teams during away meets.
• Disrespectful or unsafe behavior will not be tolerated. Swimmers who disrupt practice will be asked to leave. Disruptive behavior includes, but it not limited to:
  • Failure to follow a coach’s request (to warm-up, to start a set, to listen, etc.)
  • Splashing, dunking, pushing, pulling, or hitting of other swimmers.
  • Disrespect to fellow teammates or coaches.
• Any time a swimmer is removed from a practice or a meet, the coach will inform the parent of the circumstances. Continued disruption may result in the loss of swim team privileges for a designated period of time or the remainder of the season, with no refund.

Parents are expected to:

• Support their swimmers to abide by the expectations outlined above.
• Uphold their volunteer obligations.
• Understand their swimmers may not be allowed to compete or participate should their behavior present an ongoing problem.
• Understand that any concerns or grievances should be communicated to the parent rep, not the coaches.
• Understand that they (or a designated adult) must accompany every child under the age of 8 to swim team activities.
• Declare meet attendance for their swimmers via this site prior to the deadline.
• Abide by GRAL rules, including: NO SMOKING, VAPING, ALCOHOLIC BEVERGES, or ILLEGAL DRUGS are permitted on the pool deck or in common-use swim meet areas during a GRAL swim meet.

• Hold breath and blow bubbles with full head underwater for 5 seconds (coach will do it with your child and count)
• Successfully jump off of a block and kick back to the wall
• Complete one full lap (25 meters) on stomach with little to no assistance or stopping on the lane line; swimmer will start lap from pushing off the wall
• Show comfort to float on back without assistance and kick with a coach who will follow for half a lap
• Willingness and excitement to learn and be part of the team

*Coaches will conduct evaluations on Sunday, April 26th at 4:00 pm at the NOVA Regency pool location

The Colonies Swim Team is part of the Great Richmond Athletic League (GRAL) and we are required to follow the league Code of Conduct.  More detail can be found in the GRAL Handbook.