Getting Started With Shaker Swimming

Thank you for your interest in Shaker Swimming. There will be an informational meeting on Tuesday, August 31st from 7:30 to 8:15 p.m. at the Woodbury Elementary School Pool. This meeting is for parents only; swimmers should not attend. We hope to see you there!

Is My Child Ready for Shaker Sharks?

This is a question parents ask us frequently. Our best answer: it depends on your child. Swimmers as young as 4 years old have joined the team. Most swimmers trying out for the team are between the ages of 7 and 12. Here are some questions to consider:

• Does your child enjoy swimming?
• Does your child want to join the team?
• Can your child swim one length of the pool freestyle (front crawl) without help?
• Is your child ready to learn in a group setting?
• Is your child ready to navigate social situations without your help?
• Is your child ready to take care of their belongings?
• How will your family manage transportation to and from practice? Do you know other Shaker Shark families that you might be able to arrange a carpool with?

Sometimes, children are unsure about joining a swim team because they think they will be forced to compete - either in meets or in practices. While Shaker coaches will occasionally present or suggest opportunities to try out competitive swimming experiences, swimmers are not forced to compete: coaches understand that many children do not enjoy competition.

The focus of Shaker Shark Youth practices is stroke and technical development. Think of going to practice just like going to school (except the classroom is the pool)! Just like at school, we will have fun, play games, and make new friends. Just like at school, listening to your coach, following the directions, and doing your best are critical.

If you are still unsure whether or not your child is ready, here are some suggestions: bring your child to watch a practice, talk with a coach, attend a tryout, email us. After learning more about your child, the coaches will better be able to help you determine if he or she is ready.

Joining During the School Year (September - June)

To join the team, the Sharks require youth swimmers (13 and under) to tryout. Look for more information about tryouts in the right column.

At the tryout, swimmers must complete one length of the pool independently. The Sharks also determine admission by evaluating swimmers' deepwater safety, underwater comfort, and overall readiness. Swimmers who have joined the Sharks over the summer must also tryout so that they can learn about practicing at the Middle School: where to store their belongings, which practice they should attend, and what the coach's expectations are.

Youth swimmers transferring from another USA Swimming team, Senior swimmers (14 and older), and Masters swimmers should contact the Sharks first for more information.

Joining During the Summer (June - July)

Swimming in the summer is different than swimming during the School Year for many reasons. During the summer, many Youth Sharks practice in the morning outside at Thornton Pool. At Thornton, swimmers will swim in a 4 ft. depth across the pool, making deep end readiness less of an immediate concern. Also, because many new swimmers join in the summer, the Sharks typically arrange for a coach to be in the water with new swimmers, which helps swimmers transitioning from swimming lessons to our practices feel more comfortable getting started.

Because the pool and coaching situation is unique to morning practices at Thornton, youth swimmers who want to practice in the evenings at Woodbury need to complete a tryout similar to the one described above in "Joining During the School Year".

Youth swimmers transferring from another USA Swimming team, Senior swimmers (14 and older), and Masters swimmers should contact the Sharks first for more information.