Southern WV Stingrays FAQ

1. My child is interested in joining the swim team, but I’m concerned about cost.  How much money is involved in becoming a member of the swim team?

It costs nothing to join the team, but to swim competitively with the team as a member of HYCAT-Charleston (the team the SWV Stingrays is affiliated with), there is a yearly fee of $69.00 per swimmer.  This fee covers your swimmer’s membership in USA Swimming, which is a national competitive swim club.  Through this club, your swimmer’s meet results are tracked and compared on a local, regional, state, national and international level.  The last fee involved in being a member of the Stingrays Swim Team are meet fees.  Each meet will have an overall meet fee for the team (which is divided among competing team members) and a per-event fee (which is the individual swimmer’s responsibility).  For example, if the team has five swimmers attending the meet and the meet fee is $50, the per-swimmer meet fee is $10 per swimmer.  If an individual swimmer competes in three events that cost $3 per event, the total amount that swimmer would have to pay in order to compete in the meet is $19.

2. Is there any special equipment needed for participation in the swim team?

Suits that meet USA Swimming competition guidelines:  for girls this is a one-piece, non-tying and non-embellished bathing suit; for boys the suits are called “jammers” - longline spandex trunks.  These can usually be bought online for $15 - $25 at sites such as www.swim2000.com or www.swimoutlet.com.  A pair of “eye-only” goggles are needed ($8 - $10), as well as a rubber or silicone swim cap ($6 - $8, but HYCAT will supply one cap per swimmer for competition).  

3. Where does the swim team practice, how often, and for how long?

The team practices at the Chief Logan Recreational Center, usually three days a week.  Coach Kristi usually schedules practices a week at a time, and any changes or cancellations are related to the team as soon as possible.  Practices usually last one hour, starting at 4:45 PM and ending at 5:45 PM.

4. What is the swim team’s “season”, and how long does it run?

Competitive swim has two seasons - the fall, “Short Course” season, and the summer “Long Course” season.  The fall season usually runs from late September through March or April; the summer season runs from April until the end of August.  The fall Short Course season takes place in a 25 yard pool, while the summer Long Course season takes place in a 50 yard pool.  

5. Who are the teams the swim team competes against, and where are the meets that the swim team competes in?

As a part of the HYCAT-Charleston organization, the Stingrays have the opportunity to swim in USA Swimming sanctioned meets throughout the state during the Short Course season.  During the 2013-2014 season, the Stingrays competed in meets in the following locations:

• Logan, WV;
• Charleston, WV;
• Huntington, WV; and
• Parkersburg, WV.

With the upcoming 2014-2015 season, the Stingrays hope to compete in these same locations again, and perhaps add meets, as well.  

6. How old does my child have to be to participate with the swim team, and for how long can my child be a swim team member?

Swimmers ages 8 to 18 may join the swim team and participate in age group swimming competition.

7. What are the requirements to join the swim team?

Coach Kristi offered the following answer:

“There are three requirements that potential swimmers must have before joining the team. Swimmers must be able to swim one lap of the pool without assistance. It is preferred that potential swimmers have taken swim lessons or the stroke school that is offered through the Recreation center. This will make the transition easier for swimmers joining the team and ensure their safety while practicing and competing. Another requirement is that the swimmers join USA swimming and compete in competitions throughout the year. The amount of competitions is up to each individual family, but your swimmer must compete in at least two per year to remain a member of the team. This helps build a team atmosphere within the swimmers and shows support to HYCAT as well as WV Swimming. The final requirement is that swimmers attend at least two practices each week. Swimming requires great stamina in order to be successful, therefore swimmers must be present for practice in order to build their skills in the water.”

8. Is there an opportunity to swim at the high school level for my child?

At this time, no high school in Logan County offers scholastic swim to its students.  The parents and supporters of the SWV Stingrays Swim Team are working hard, however, to draft a proposal for the Logan County Board of Education to request that swimming be added as a scholastic sport for Logan County Schools.