GENERAL FAQ
1. Why does ATAC have a closed deck policy?
ATAC and all other swim clubs are required by United States Swimming to close the deck due to insurance reasons. Every swimmers and coach is registered with USA swimming and is covered under a liability policy. Parents, Grandparents, siblings, babysitters, etc are not covered. We also find that kids are more distracted with parents present. They spend time waving to mom and dad instead of listening to their coaches. Parents may enter the deck 5 minutes before the child's class begins. They must clear the deck as practice starts. They may reenter 5 minutes before class ends. At Loos parents may sit up in the stands. At Greenhill parents may sit outside or in the hall.
2. What is ATAC's late pick up policy?
You have ten minutes to clear the deck. IF there is a class after yours you will need to clear the deck as the class begins. You may go into the locker room with your child or you will need to wait in the hall. IF your class is the last of the night you will need to clear out in 10 minutes as the Janitorial staff needs to come through. After 10 minutes your account will be charged $1 a minute for every minute after 10.
3. What kind of equipment does my child need?
When you tryout you should have been given a list of equipment needs of each group. All swimmers need fins, kickboards, caps, goggles, and a proper fitting suit. Aqua and above needs pull buoys. Blue and above need water bottles, paddles and drag suits. Greenhill has equipment you can borrow. Loos has a limited supply of fins and kickboards, so it's best to have your own.
4. Is my child required to wear a swim cap?
All girls as required to wear swim caps and any boys will long hair. All swimmers are required to wear the team cap at swim meets. Swim caps are worn at the highest level of competition by both male and female swimmers. Caps make you faster and allow coaches and officials to easily identify swimmers.
5. What is ATAC's inclement weather policy?
ATAC is required to follow DISD's and Greenhill school weather policies as well as our own. Should practice need to be canceled due to ice, snow, or severe weather it will be posted on the website and an email sent out by Noon on the day in question. We never require practice attendance. If you are not comfortable getting out, please don't risk it. Please note Greenhill closes its athletic facilities including the pool when lightning is in the area. Always check to make sure a coach is on deck before leaving your child.
6. How do we know if there are changes in practice times or cancellations?
Throughout the swim season there are various high school and middle school meets held at the pools where we practice. We do our best to move a group to a different pool, but sometimes practice has to be canceled. You will be able to find this out on the home page of our website. Changes will be posted there. Should we have to cancel practice due to a last minute emergency (i.e. the pool is broken) you will receive and email from swim_atac@yahoo.com.
7. How early can we drop off our child?
We ask that you drop them off no more than 10 minutes early. Swimmers will not be allowed on deck until a coach arrives. Please note at Greenhill there are many different swimming activities going on in the pool before our practice time. We are allowed on deck 5 minutes before our practice starts.
FAQ FOR MEETS
1. What is the meet schedule?
The schedule can be found on our website Please note sign up times and deadlines.
2. How do I know if my child is ready for a meet?
Your child's coach can tell you if they are ready. If they are, they can let you know what events they should be swimming as well.
3. Do we have to participate meets?
Meet attendance is not required but it is highly encouraged. Meets are swimming's "games" All the training and practice are geared toward meet participation. Meets allow your child to track their progress in swimming. No matter the age or ability meets allow your child a chance to better their times.
4. How do I know which meet to sign up for?
Most new swimmers and any swimmers in Future Champs, White, Aqua will attend "B/C Meets" Any new swimmer 13 and over will attend "BB Meet". If you are still unsure your coach can tell you.
5. Which events should my child swim?
The best thing to do is to ask your coach. They will know which events best fit your child. In the upper levels, the swimmers should be talking to their coaches about what to enter.
6. What should we bring to a meet?
Team racing suit, team cap (EVERY swimmer wears a cap to a meet), and a pair of goggles. You may want to bring several towels, a pair of backup goggles in case your pair breaks. You will need to bring water and a some snack foods. For longer meets it's good to bring something to do. A book, Nintendo DS, coloring books, etc.
7. What do we do once we are at the meet?
You will want to arrive a few minutes before warm up begins. You will need to check your child in for EVERY race they have been entered in. Each event will have a list of all pre-entered swimmers. Find your child's name and place a check mark next to their name. You will then need to find the coach on deck. They will show you were your child needs to sit and where you can sit. From there your child's coach will make sure they get where they need to be. Once your child is finished with their races, they are free to leave.
8. Do we need to attend meet warm ups?
Warm up is very important to awesome races. It gets the muscles warmed up and allows the swimmers a chance to get a feel for the pool. It's just enough swimming to get the body prepared to race but not too much to make them tired. During warm up coaches put together relays and double check that the swimmers in attendance have checked in for their events.
9. What are these B, BB, A times I keep hearing about?
A/BB/B times are all Time Standards. Each event has its own set time standard. They are broken up by age (ie 10 and under 11-12, 13-14, etc) and by gender. All swimmers start as "C" level swimmers. Their goals are to get "B" times in each event. If you are a 9 year old girl and swim your 50 Freestyle in 38.17 seconds you have swum fast enough to earn you a B times. If you earn 3 B times you become a B swimmer. From there you work on BB times, Then A, Then TAGS times. All times standards can be found on the North Texas website www.ntswim.org
10. What is TAGS?
TAGS is the Texas Age Groups Championship meet. It is a state wide meet and you must swim faster than the qualifying times to attend.
