Have a child who loves swimming and is mastering strokes? Explore your local swim team options below.
Darien YMCA Piranha Swim Team:
Many Darien kids swim for the Piranha Swim Team. Swimmers as young as age 7 can try out. Practices are held right at the Darien YMCA, which can be helpful because you should expect your swimmer to be there practicing three to five times per week. Meets are held around Fairfield County. You should expect at least one per month.
Kids 6 years old and older can also try out for the Piranha House Program. This option is good for kids who have advanced swimming skills (in-water somersault and 3 legal strokes), but aren’t ready to compete yet. They will practice together to learn drills and proper techniques for all four competitive strokes with a focus on fun and learning.
How to join: Sign up for the summer stroke clinic, a two day tryout/info session scheduled for August 7 and 8 from 4-4:45pm for ages 7 to 16. Register here. to be evaluated. Missed it? Contact Mary McCarthy for a private evaluation.
Chelsea Piers Aquatics Club Swim Team:
Nearby in Stamford, Chelsea Piers offers an impressive swimming facility and a robust competitive swim program. New this fall, Jamie Barone is back as head coach. If you’re already taking swim lessons at Chelsea Piers, you may be invited to start swimming on the pre-team, a non-competitive developmental team for ages 6-11, which meets three days per week. At a minimum kids must be able to swim 25 yards freestyle and 25 yards backstroke. You can also try out for the pre-team.
Those interested in joining Chelsea Pier’s Aquatic Club swim team must also attend a tryout or evaluation. The nine competitive teams are for kids ages 7 and up. Practices vary based upon age, but you can expect younger age groups to offer four 45-minute practices (attending at least two is recommended), older elementary kids will have five 75-minute workouts (attending at least three or four is recommended), and middle schoolers will have five or six practices up to two hours long. The competitive swim season lasts from September through July and includes at least one competition (and sometimes more) per month. Younger groups are more likely to compete at home with a few local tournaments, while older and more advanced groups also compete regionally and even nationally.
How to join: Tryouts are held several times per year including Wednesday, August 7 from from 4-5pm and Wednesday, September 4 from 5:30-6:30pm . Register for tryouts here.
New Canaan YMCA Caimans Swim Team:
Another great local option is the New Canaan YMCA’s team the Caimans. Swimmers may start with the non-competitive Pre-Caimans team for ages 6-10. They must be able to swim 25 yards of both the front crawl and backstroke as well as know the butterfly and breaststroke. While they don’t participate in meets, they do have an optional inter-squad event at the end of the 12-week program.
The competitive Caimans Swim Team is broken down into three age groups or levels. The “Pride” is typically for ages 8 and under and offers an intro to competitive swimming. Swimmers will need to be able to swim 50 yards of freestyle and backstroke. Practices are offered four times per week, with the expectation of three being attended. “Stars” are usually 9 and 10 year olds and include five practices a week, with a recommendation of attending at least four. “Juniors” are usually age 11 and older and have six practices a week, with at least five recommended.
How to join: An evaluation is required for both the Caimans and Pre-Caimans. Contact Liz Blau or look for an upcoming tryout to attend. They are usually offered once a season including on Tuesday, July 30; Wednesday, July 31; Wednesday, August 28; and Thursday, August 29 from 5-6:30pm and Wednesday, September 11 from 5:45-7pm.