Q & A - Age Groups
Q - What are the age groups for summer swim?
A - Please see the following for the different age groups:
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Girls and Boys
- 8 & Under
- 9/10
- 11/12
- 13/14
- 15/18
Q- What age group will my child swim in?
A - Easy - Whatever age they are on June 30th will be the age they swim for the season!
Q&A - Requirements and Helpful Tips
Q - You mentioned I have to volunteer?
A- Yes! A surprising amount of parent volunteers are needed to make this all happen - especially for home meets. Timers, officials, snack stand, etc. For away meets, it is mostly timers and officials. Select your volunteer work throughout the season. Jobs are listed and explained on the team Parent Information.
Jobs will be released a week before a scheduled meet. Keep your eyes open because the jobs can go quickly. Do your best to plan ahead, so you are not scrambling for jobs at the end of the season.
Q- Are you nervous about timing?
A - Don’t be. You’ve pressed buttons and written down numbers before. And there is probably a veteran who has done this as well next to you. You can always ask a board member or experienced parent for guidance.
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Tips for Snack Table Jobs:
- If you sign up to bring watermelon, please make sure it is sliced and ready to be sold before you come. Ice pops need to be fully frozen upon arrival.
- If you bring ice, please bring 20 lbs (2 large bags or 4 small).
- If you are helping at the snack table, please assist in providing water bottles to all timers, officials, and coaches.
Q - Are there any other additional costs for the team?
A- There are some small additional fees. They may include:
- Team Swimsuit (usually in the $50-60 range)
- Non-swimmers attending swim party
- Small fee for the optional Roycefield Sprints event
- Suggested practice equipment (see above)
Practice Information
Q - Do I stay at practice as a parent?
A - Parents of swimmers ages 12 and under are expected to stay at practice in the practice lane area. If you are dropping off an older child, please be respectful of the coaches’ time and be mindful of pickup time.
Q - How is practice organized?
A - Swimmers will check in with coaches and then spread out throughout the lanes.
Younger/less experienced swimmers will be in the lane with a wall, and older, more experienced swimmers will tend to be in the lane near the slides.
Q - Do I need to sign up for a practice session?
A - No. Just organize your practice schedule yourself.
If your child is away/sick and may not make two practice sessions in a week, it is wise to give the coaches a heads up.
Meets
Q - When are the meets?
A- There are 8 meets in the regular season - four home and four away. Four will be held on a Wednesday and the other four will be on a Saturday. The meet schedule is posted on the team's website. The Roycefield Sprint Meet is an optional meet.
In the “postseason” there are two additional meets - Championships and Conferences. In Championships, all the teams in the league come together and compete. All swimmers will race. In Conferences, you need a qualifying time in an event to make it. Don’t feel bad if you mix up the names, it can be confusing.
Q - Confused about swimmer events...
A - When heat sheets are ready, coaches hang up the pages and all 100 swimmers and adults rush to see. It is a good idea to take a picture with your phone and move away while you look. Your swimmer will swim in at least two events.
- Event Number
- Heat
- Lane
- Race
It can be confusing at first! An event may have between one and three heats. Races may be different distances. It is common to take a Sharpie and write all this on the swimmer’s arm. It is easier to remember, and coaches and event coordinators can look at a swimmer’s arm to make sure they are in the correct lane. For example, it could look like this…
#3 H1 L4 100 IM
#24 H2 L6 50 Back
Ask an experienced parent or board member if you need help with this.
Q - When can I leave?
A - It is usually nice and polite to stay until the end of the meet for the end of meet cheer or celebration. If you have to go though, it should be fine to leave after your swimmer is done swimming. Remember, if your child is an alternative for a relay you may not leave until the coach approves!
Q -What are the events?
A - Boys and Girls events will rotate between the weekday and weekend meets.
Following Chart gives a better and clear picture of who swims on which days.
Q - When should my swimmer line up for their event?
A - Line up around 5 events beforehand. All races begin from the blocks EXCEPT 8 & Under Relay Legs 2 & 4. Those legs take place on the other side since 8 & Under only do one lap at a time.
Q - How do I know if my swimmer qualified for Conferences?
A - The list of times is on the NJSDC Swimtopia website and our team website (the bottom of the Meet Schedule section). You will also get a notification email towards the end of the season.
Misc. Information
Q - Can I visit any websites that will provide additional information about our team and league?
A - Tiger Sharks website is https://spts.swimtopia.com/. The league website is https://njsdc.swimtopia.com, which is helpful The league also has an app called “Swimtopia” which is good for tracking events, times, scores, etc. You will get set up on Swimtopia at the beginning of the season. Keep an eye out for directions for this. You can pay to upgrade your subscription, if you want.
Q- Is there a team party?
A - Yes. The team party is often towards the end of the season at the pool. It is Picnic style. Dinner is provided. Parents volunteer to bring desserts.