About The Tarpons
We are a self-funded team open to swimmers physically living in a house in the neighborhood. The Homestead Farm Homeowners Association does not subsidize the neighborhood team other than providing the pool facility. All of the costs of supporting the team come from the fees team members pay and fund raising the team does during the season and at various times throughout the year. Some of the fund raising activities are: the concessions sales at the home swim meets and our December holiday extravaganza including luminaries and the sleigh ride event. Included in your registration fee is money for insurance the league must carry on each swimmer, end of the year trophies, meet ribbons, fees for swimming in prelims, coaches salaries and funds to cover activities and materials.
The Tarpons Swim Team is comprised of kids 5-18 years of age. Children participating on the swim team must be able to independently swim a length of the pool (25 yards) and be emotionally ready to participate in meets.
The Swim season starts in Mid May and runs through Mid July. We have 5 swim meets during the season.
There are many activities during the season including fun events and fundraisers. Although we provide updates via email, there is a file box at the pool with a folder for each family. We place ribbons in the folders and you can place things in this for team members or coaches.
Mini-Tarps: Our Junior Team in Training
This is for kids who are 4-6 years old that are comfortable in the water and are ready to learn to swim. In this program they can expect to learn basic swimming skills in a fun group setting. Prior swim lessons are encouraged but not required.
Mini-tarps have one special meet each season which happens in the evening during the week. This meet is also an ice cream social for the entire team. At this meet, the mini-tarps use noodles & kick boards and team members may help them race across the pool. Some mini-tarps do move up to the main team during the season. This is this reason we have everyone fill out the insurance forms for RMSL and pay for the insurance so if they do move up we can easily accommodate.
Tarpons practice usually starts in mid May. Mini-tarps will have a later start closer to June when the outdoor temperature is warmer for the younger children.
Swim Meets
A parent from each family on the team must fill 3 jobs per child sometime over 5 meets. For example, if you have 3 children you need to complete 9 shifts at swim meets. These are a must. Unlike any other sport, without the parents there would be no meet. To run a home meet it takes 55+ volunteers, away meets take 35, so if you do the math for 3 home meets and two away it takes minimum of 235 volunteers just to run the meets.
There are many jobs that are easy and fun to do. Others, such as Starter/ Referee, Stroke Judges and Meet Manager require certification by the league. These aren't hard jobs but they do require a bit of instruction. Most of the others can be learned quickly and on the spot. Many people find after awhile there are jobs they like. If you feel you can't commit to a job during the meet, there are several jobs that happen before or after it, for example, ribbons or bagel pickup. Set up and take down are also not done during the meets but are important. Try on different jobs and eventually you will find a couple that fit your personality.
All meets start at 8:00 am on Saturday morning and there are 90 events at each meet. We are usually finished around 12 pm.
After five meets, we participate in Prelims. Starting on a Monday, all kids in one age group swim against all the other kids in their age group in the RMSL. All 19 teams are there. We highly recommend everyone participate in prelims. This is a long but often rewarding day as the top 16 swimmers in each age group in each event get to swim at Finals. Finals are on Saturday of that week and marks the end of our season. The night after Finals, we have an award ceremony for all swim team members, cake, and slide show that features all age groups.
Swim Team is a fun, neighborhood centered summer activity for kids of all ages and athletic ability.
