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JOINING ISSAQUAH SWIM TEAM
IST is a competitive swim team
committed to athletic and personal excellence.
Issaquah Swim Team is a year-round program with the training and competitive year starting in September.
Joining in August/September: We offer general enrollment in early September including placement sessions and orientation meetings. To join at this time, watch our website beginning in July and August for details and try-out dates.
Mid year: We also accept new swimmers on a space available basis throughout the year. Please contact us for availability, placement appointments and registration materials.
Regardless of when you join: Please read through the material on our website thoroughly as this helps us serve you more efficiently. The information provided answers the majority of questions asked by prospective and new members.
Staying Connected
We communicate primarily through electronic means so...
- Check your email DAILY for timely announcements. Invoices are also distributed via email.
- Check the website regularly (DAILY during peak season, WEEKLY during off season).
- File Folders: Swimmers’ folders are in file cabinets in the balcony area of the Boehm Pool. The file cabinets are updated regularly. Check folders every time you come to the pool to remain abreast of team activities and to pick up meet ribbons.
Be sure to watch for announcements regularly when there are circumstances that may affect practice or meets. The most common are
- Community events (Salmon Days)
- Holidays
- Severe weather
- Coaches will be absent because they are attending meets
- Meets are being held that may affect pool availability
- Training Schedules change due to changes in pool availability (Sept, Feb/Mar, May/June)
The IST board meets monthly and two general membership meetings are typically held each year. The first is held just prior to the start of the swim season to review and approve the annual budget. The second is held in late September and is an orientation meeting for both new and returning families. These meetings are intended for parents/adults only.
Commitment and Fees Overview
Personal Commitment:
Joining Issaquah Swim team is an investment in your child's future. With that comes a commitment not only on the swimmer's part, but also from the family, coaches and swimming community.
Details on the age appropriate expectations for the swimmers are listed with each training group.
Details about the family commitment, code of ethics, the role of the coaches and other valuable information is described in detail for our members in the member handbook.
Swim Meets:
Swimmers may or may not be expected to participate in swim meets based on their training team. Please talk to your swimmer's coach if you have any questions regarding his or her participation in meets.
Hosting a high quality swim meet depends on the help of many adult volunteers. When our team hosts a meet, all IST families are expected to help regardless if any swimmers in your family are racing (see volunteer commitment below).
When other, smaller teams host a meet, they often request help from the visiting teams. Help by families participating at those meets is usually optional. The exceptions are:
a) when our team has been asked to help as part of the entry commitment (Examples: Seattle Open and Wenatchee Apple Capital Invitational) and
b) your swimmer is participating in a distance race of 400 yards or more.
Financial Commitment:
The Issaquah Swim Team operates on a defined annual budget, which is approved by the general membership at the Fall Membership meeting. Expenditures and income are budgeted once a year based upon an estimated number of swimmers and the expenses necessary to support that number of swimmers.
- Annual IST administration fee
- Annual USA Swimming registration fee
- Training Fees - Depends on training group. See the details of each Training Group for rates. The fees are collected either at the beginning of the season (5% discount), or over the first 9 months of the season (your choice).
- Fundraising - Families are required to raise a minimum of $100 per family
at the Swimathon.
- Meet Entry Fees. These vary, but "Challenge Meets" are generally $5 per person plus $2 per race (relays are $8 or $2 per swimmer) and entry fees for meets held at the Olympic sized pool at the King County Aquatic Center are typically higher.
Volunteer Commitment:
Work 1 shift at each IST Hosted US Sanctioned Meet (usually 3 meets)
plus
15 hours of volunteer service to team. (10 for families new to IST).
Leaving the team:
If an athlete decides to leave the Issaquah Swim Team, written notification is required two weeks prior to resignation. Notification may be made by emailing the Team Administrator at the team email address. Training fees are not refundable if a swimmer leaves the program mid season.
Complete details about our program are available in our team handbook in the Members only section of the website. If you are not currently a member, we invite you to call our office with any questions not answered on our website.
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