Garrett Park Ladybugs Swim Team

The Pre-Team is a great place for younger swimmers (4 to 8 years old) to start if they're not quite ready for the Team.

To be on the Team, swimmers should be:

• 6 years or older
• Able to swim multiple lengths of freestyle and backstroke without assistance
• Able to try to swim breaststroke and butterfly

To be on the Pre-Team, swimmers should be:

• 4-8 years old
• Able to make it from one end of the lap pool to the other end of the lap pool without stopping or help,
• NOTE: the pre-team qualifications were relaxed just after the pandemic to accommodate for the pandemic loss of swim instruction. Last year the pre-team returned to pre-pandemic qualifications for team management and liability purposes.
• Private lessons are always available for swimmers of any ability by contacting the coaches.

***All swimmers, 8 and under, who did not swim in a Wednesday night B-meet or Saturday A-meet last season should sign up to attend the Pre-Team Tryouts - June 3 & 4.

If you have questions, please reach out to [email protected]

What’s the deal with practice?

• The practice schedule can be found on the Practice Page of the website.
• Swimmers can attend either morning or evening practice each day.
• It’s ok if a swimmer has to miss practice.
• If there are any changes to practice, the Coach or Reps will send an email.

Do pre-teamers swim in meets?

• Pre-teamers do not swim in A & B dual meets, A-relays or Divisionals.
• There is a Lollipop Mini-meet at the end of the season for pre-team swimmers to show off their skills.

Friday Breakfast/Activities?

• Pre-team swimmers are welcome & encouraged to join the team for Friday breakfast (see calendar) - though the practice before is just for team swimmers.
• Pre-team swimmers are also welcome & encouraged to participate in Friday Afternoon Activities (see calendar).

Volunteering?

• Pre-team families, that don’t have any team swimmers, do not have any volunteer requirements, though there will be some volunteer opportunities at the Lollipop Mini-Meet.
• Friday Breakfasts & Friday Activities are hosted by age groups. Preteam is part of 8&unders for this purpose. So, when it’s the weeks for 8&under/pre-team to host, please help out if you can.

Team Suits?

• Team suits are not required for any swimmer.
• If you would like to get a team suit for your swimmer, there’s a Swimoutlet store on the website.

Team Pictures?

• Pre-team is included in team pictures. Check the website & look out for emails with more info.

Moving Up to Team?

• When/if the coaches determine a swimmer has the skills to be moved up to team, they will reach out to you to discuss.
• If a swimmer moves up to team, there is no obligation to swim in any remaining dual meets.

Communication?

• Weekly emails are sent with general info for the upcoming week. Not all of it is relevant to pre-team, but some is.
• There are a lot of emails during the season because it is a lot of stuff squeezed into a small amount of time.

Where do I get information?

• The website has tons of information and is always being updated, so it’s a great place to start.
• Emails are chock full of information and we work to keep them short, direct and to a minimum.
• You can always reach out to the coaches or team reps:
  • [email protected](Monica, Kate & Tom)
  • [email protected](Megan & Elizabeth)
  • [email protected](Tommy)