Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to live in Lake Olympia for my child to swim on the team?
What is the difference between Swim Team and Swim Lessons?
What equipment is needed for my child to be on the team?
Do I really need to volunteer for my swimmer to participate?
What is the team Pick Up and Drop Off policy?
What is the Lake Olympia Swim Team attendance policy?
What is the Lake Olympia Swim Team discipline policy?
How does the team encourage and motivate every swimmer to do their best?
What is the Tiger Shark of the Week?
What if my child has a medical condition that may affect his swim team experience?
What is Swimmer’s Ear and how do I prevent it?
Why can’t we play in the baby pool?
What is the team refund policy?
Do I have to live in Lake Olympia for my child to swim on the team?
We invite anyone who loves to swim to join our team. Membership is open to all children of Lake Olympia residents who are current in payment of any and all fees due Lake Olympia Civic Association (L.O.C.A.). Membership is also open to current non-resident swimmers for a small additional fee.
Prospective members must be able to swim according to the following requirements:
6 and under – able to swim one half length of pool
7 and over – able to swim the full length of the pool
11 and over – able to swim two full lengths of the pool
Any prospective member unable to meet these requirements by the end of the new swimmer orientation period may be ineligible for the team. Refunds, if any, are at the discretion of the board.
What is the difference between Swim Team and Swim Lessons?
The swim team is not a “Learn to Swim” program, but is intended to enhance the skills already learned in swim lessons. We do, however, teach strokes to those swimmers who have a strong desire to compete on the swim team, and have demonstrated the ability required as described above. We have a grace period of two weeks where the swimmers are allowed to practice and work up to the skills necessary to compete. If during that two week period, either the swimmer or the Coach/Board of Directors of the team believes that the swimmer would benefit more from swim lessons the swimmer will be unable to participate on the team. Any swimmer who is unable to cross the pool by time trials will not be permitted to continue with the team and a refund will be issued, less a $50 fee as described. (See refund policy)
For swimmers who are not ready to join the team, an option for a learn-to-swim program in our area is First Colony Swim Team
What equipment is needed for my child to be on the team?
L.O.S.T. has a “Team Suit” which may be purchased at Kiefer Swim Shop/Swim Shops of the Southwest located at 9430 W. Broadway Suite 144, Pearland, TX 77584 Phone: 281-485-3100. We have a swimsuit purchase day at the pool in May for swimmers who have not yet purchased their suits. Swim caps and goggles are not mandatory. However, swim caps are encouraged for the purpose of protecting the swimmer’s ear by minimizing the amount of water that enters. Goggles can help prevent burning, red eyes during practice and meets. Swimmers should clearly mark all of their belongings with their name.
Do I really need to volunteer for my swimmer to participate?
YES! With the exception of our awesome coaching staff, the Lake Olympia Swim Team is run on a completely volunteer basis. There are more than 100 jobs necessary to run a meet, with jobs ranging from timing swimmers to emptying the trash.
There are also volunteer needs that are outside of meets. Every Friday we provide sno cones for our swimmers as a reward for their hard work during the week, and our team of Stars volunteers use that same practice to apply new silver and gold stars to tshirts. Help is needed to plan and execute our team party at the end of the season, too!
The best thing you can do is find a job you don’t mind doing and sign up for it. All jobs are filled on a first-come, first-served basis so if you don’t pick a job one will be assigned to you. We all have to work together to make the season a success. Thank you for being an important part of the team!
What is the team Pick Up and Drop Off policy?
Please have your swimmer at the pool on time for their scheduled practice. Swim coaches will supervise your children during practice, only. Parents are responsible for the supervision of their children both before and after practice – this includes siblings and guests. L.O.S.T. will not be responsible for supervising swimmers, siblings or guests at any time while children are at the playground, dock, pavilion, clubhouse, or area surrounding the pool. This is for the safety of all our children.
At least one parent must be in attendance at the swim meet with your swimmer(s). If a parents is unable to attend the meet they must get another adult to be responsible for their swimmer(s). Please send a note or notify a Board Member or Coach ahead of time.
What is the Lake Olympia Swim Team attendance policy?
As an athlete on the Lake Olympia Swim Team all swimmers are expected to attend all practices and swim meets. Attendance will be recorded for every practice and swim meet throughout the season.
If your child is ill or an emergency occurs and your child will miss a meet, please notify the swim team Coach or the Tent Parent Coordinator promptly so that arrangements may be made for the upcoming swim meet.
Swimmers may be pulled out of a swim meet for missing a swim meet without proper notification or excessive absences from practice without notification.
If a parent already knows of a possible absence, i.e., vacation, baseball or soccer games, etc., please notify the coaching staff as soon as plans are made.
Also, please note, “ At least one parent must be in attendance at the swim meet with your child/children.” If a parents is unable to be there then the parent must arrange for another adult to be responsible for the swimmer(s). Please send a note or notify a Board Member or Coach ahead of time. The reason for this rule is for the safety of the children. There can be more than three hundred people at a swim meet and it is impossible for our coaches to keep track of every child and unfair to expect the tent parent to do so when they are busy running kids to the ready benches.
What is the Lake Olympia Swim Team discipline policy?
As an athlete on the L.O.S.T., all swimmers will be expected to conduct themselves in an orderly manner. Swim Team members will suffer consequences for improper and foul behavior. Swim Team members will NOT be allowed to participate in the following, but not limited to:
- Horse-play, Hitting, Fighting, Running on the Pool Deck
- Use of foul or improper language
- Horse-play in the pool during workout
- Theft or Destruction of L.O.S.T. equipment or any other person’s belongings
- Climbing on the Lifeguard Stands or surrounding trees
- Handling of or sitting on the lane ropes
- Disobeying and/or showing disrespect of any Coach, Parent Volunteer or Team Member
- Continuous absences without note from Parent/Guardian
- Body Graffiti
- Any other actions that Coaches deem unacceptable
All of the improper actions listed above may result in loss of practice time with notification to parents as well as loss of Swim Meet Attendance. If problems persist, removal from the Swim Team may occur with the approval of the L.O.S.T. Executive Board.
The three determinants of where a swimmer will be placed at a swim meet are:
- Behavior
- Attendance
- Swim Times
Please speak with your children about the L.O.S.T. “Discipline Policies”. Thank you for helping the Coaches and all Parent Volunteers in this important aspect of Swim Team Management.
How does the team encourage and motivate every swimmer to do their best?
Each swimmer that improves his/her previous best time in any stroke gets a gold star placed on the sleeve of their team t-shirt and a silver star for every meet attended. These stars are placed on t-shirts on Friday mornings by a team of volunteers. A swimmer must bring their team t-shirt to practice on Friday to receive these stars. If they forget one week, the stars can be placed the following week. We love to celebrate our swimmers’ improvements!
At the end of season party, we also have various special trophies given out in each age group for Most Valuable and Most Improved Swimmer. The Spark Plug award is given to the swimmer who demonstrates the most “Team Spirit.” Outstanding swimmers in older age groups are recognized for outstanding effort and attitude .
What is the Tiger Shark of the Week?
The Tiger Shark of the Week recognition is given on Fridays by the coaches to a boy and a girl in each age group that has displayed exceptional behavior and effort for the week. This award is an incentive for the swimmers to try hard and maintain good behavior.
What if my child has a medical condition that may affect his swim team experience?
If your swimmer has any medical conditions that the Coaches, Tent Parent or Board of Directors should know about that could possibly affect them during swim practice or at a meet, please put it in writing and turn it in to coach or a board member. This information will be kept confidential and only shared with those who will be directly responsible with keeping your child safe.
What is Swimmer’s Ear and how do I prevent it?
Swimmer’s ear is one of a number of names for infection of the outer ear canal. When water gets into your ear, it may bring with it bacteria. Usually the water runs back out, the ear dries out, and bacterium does not cause problems. Sometimes the water remains trapped in the ear canal. The bacteria grow, flourish and can infect the ear. Swimmer’s ear can be easily prevented if you use antiseptic ear drops after swimming. Such ear drops are inexpensive and sold without prescription under various trade names, such as Aqua Ear, Ear Magic, Ear Otic, and Swim Ear. If your doctor says your swimmer has normal eardrums and says it is safe, you could make up your own ear drops to use after swimming. You can mix equal parts of white vinegar and rubbing alcohol for this purpose. Your druggist can supply you with a dropper bottle for your ear drops so you can keep them in your bag. (From the American Academy of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Inc.)
CAUTION: If you already have an ear infection, or if you have ever had a perforated, punctured, ruptured, or otherwise injured eardrum or if you have had ear surgery, you should consult an ear doctor before you go swimming and before you use any type of ear drops. If you do not know if you have or ever had a perforated, punctured, ruptured or otherwise injured eardrum, you should consult your doctor.
Why can’t we play in the baby pool?
This question comes up more than any other during the swim season. The normal response that “it’s a pool rule, not a swim team rule,” is often misunderstood. The Homeowner’s liability insurance requires that a trained and certified lifeguard be on duty any time the pool is open to the public. During practice and swim meets, the pool is not open to the public. Liability insurance for swim team members is provided by a separate policy purchased by the swim team through the SHRSL. This policy does not cover siblings or friends of swim team members. Should there be an accident involving an unauthorized person in the baby pool, the potential for negative ramifications could be felt not only by the swim team, but also by the Lake Olympia Residents as well. While the issue of liability is important, the primary concern has always been the safety of our children. We hope this clarifies why the baby pool is closed to everyone (including swimmers). We need parental support to enforce this policy.
Many items are found after the swim meets (both home and away). These items include towels, t-shirts, shoes, sunglasses, etc. Please check the Lost and Found box often to see if any of the items belong to you. We will donate all of these items to Goodwill at the end of the season if they are not claimed. Parents, it would be a helpful if all items were labeled with your child’s name.
What is the team refund policy?
If you choose to withdraw your swimmer before our first practice, your fees will be refunded minus a $15 administrative fee per swimmer and the cost of any merchandise purchased at registration. If you notify us after the first practice but before Time Trials, your fees will be refunded minus a $50 administrative fee per swimmer and the cost of merchandise purchased at registration. Any swimmer who can't or won't cross the pool unaided on the day of Time Trials will be removed from the team and a refund minus a $50 administrative fee per swimmer and the cost of merchandise purchased at registration. We are unable to offer any refunds after Time Trials or for any merchandise purchased at registration, regardless of the swimmer's attendance or lack thereof at practices. If Time Trials are held over two days, the second day of Time Trials will be the deadline for refund requests.
