Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the practice schedule?
The practice schedule is available via the website and in Commit. The regular schedule and any practice exceptions known in advance will be posted on the website. In addition, the Commit Calendar is updated with late schedule changes. We encourage everyone to subscribe to the calendars for their groups and refresh those before they leave for practice especially in cases of inclement weather for outdoor summer practices. Last minute cancellations and changes will be announced on the Slack app. Please make sure you have notifications on for Slack, or check the app regularly. See our Practice Calendar under Schedule
Are meets required?
At the beginning of the season, the schedule is set by the head coach in an effort to provide meet opportunities for different levels of swimmers. There is an attempt to also include meets that will give swimmers experience with different meet formats as well. At Buckeye, we believe that meets are an integral part of a swimmer’s development. At meets, coaches are able to observe swimmers under pressure and give more personalized feedback for improvement. They are also a great way to bond with teammates and a method of providing a focus for all those practices! The meet schedule reflects those meets that are best suited for our swimmers. A Buckeye coach will be present at each of the meets listed. Swimmers can choose which meets they want to attend. If you have questions About which meets to attend, you can always consult your child’s coach for recommendations.
How do I sign up for meets?
Meet sign-up must be done online through the meet signup page on our Commit Swimming portal. In order to better prepare you, the “Meet Schedule” section of the website has further information and more detail about each meet. We send in our entries to meet hosts 10-30 days prior to the meet (entry date determined by the host). Most meets close within seconds of the time that they open. Thus, once we send entries, we cannot make changes.
How are swimmers placed in groups?
Groups are designed to maximize coaching and meet each swimmer’s needs. Swimmers are placed in a group based on many factors – ability, skills, age, goals, etc. Swimmers may move between groups at the discretion of the coaches in order to ensure the swimmer is receiving the appropriate level of training.
What do I take to meets?
Plan to arrive 15 minutes prior to warm-ups and bring: swim suit, 2 pairs of goggles, 2 team meet swim caps (required), towels, BKYS t-shirt or sweatshirt and shorts or sweatpants (to wear in between events so muscles don’t tighten up if it’s cold), deck shoes or sandals, healthful snacks, drinks, and other items to pass the time like cards, games, etc.
Do I have to be a good swimmer to join your program?
First and foremost, new swimmers must be able to safely and comfortably swim on the surface of the pool in water that is well over their head. We expect new swimmers to have completed their swim lesson levels and have a working ability in each of the four competition strokes (Freestyle, Backstroke, Breaststroke and Butterfly).
Do I have to Tryout?
YES! We ask each swimmer to come in for either a tryout during our open tryout periods or an evaluation during closed periods. This gives us the opportunity to assess your swimmer and give the best recommendation for success within our program.
What is your Cancellation Policy?
In order to be removed from billing we require a 30-day notice.
What is my commitment?
When you sign up for any of our Age Group program groups, we ask that you commit to the end of the current competitive season. That is early March for the winter season and late July for the summer season. Your commitment to us has likely taken a sport from another willing season, so please be considerate when choosing our program. Senior program swimmers are asked to commit for a year (two consecutive competitive seasons).
Do you Offer Scholarships?
Yes! We offer reduced fees for anyone that qualifies for Ohio Swimming’s Outreach program.
Can I join anytime?
Our program has been running at or near capacity over the past few seasons. We have open tryouts prior to each competitive season (July/Augst and March) in order to fill any openings we may have. Additionally, we generally will freeze our registration in January, February, and July in order to focus on our swimmer’s preparations for the end of the current season.
How is Cost & Group Size Determined?
In our Age Group Program, our fees and group sizes are determined based on average attendance in that group, pool space, and fair wages to staff the practices. We generally see 60-75% attendance in these programs. So, your fees reflect participation at that average attendance.
What Extra Fees and Expenses Should I Expect?
Besides registration and monthly training fees you can expect the following expenses: -Meet Fees ($5-6 per event plus a $5-20 splash fee to enter the meet) -Training Equipment: Suits, caps, goggles, and training gear -Spirit Wear: optional fun gear to purchase -Competitive Suits: We have a team suit that runs $40-80. Swimmers may also purchase technical suits for championship meets. Tech suits are optional and range from $75 -500.
Who Selects my Swimmer's Events?
During the initial sign-up phase, the parent and swimmer select events. Prior to submitting entries coaches will review and make adjustments based on readiness and/or what they are swimming at other meets.
Will my child compete in a relay/how are relays formed?
If the meet is holding relays and we have enough swimmers to field relays, we will enter. Relays are formed by placing together the fastest 4 swimmers available from our team. We continue to place the fastest available 4 until we have formed as many relays as we can in each age group. Relays are designated by letters -the fastest is the ‘A’ Relay, next fastest the B, etc.
If I can't attend a meet that I already committed to, will I still be billed?
If we have already submitted our entries to the host, we can no longer offer refunds for missed swims.