FAQs

Swimmers will be asked to demonstrate their ability to swim 25 yards freestyle and backstroke, unassisted, in the competition pool.  The coach may ask swimmers to perform specific drills, which they will explain,  or use equipment in the water as well. 

Watch the info video from Head Coach Jrod and then schedule an evaluation with our coaches! The coach will determine the appropriate training group for your swimmer, and then you will register for the team and training group.

No. Speed is relative!  However, swimmers must be able to swim the length of a 25 yard pool unassisted, and demonstrate freestyle and backstroke. 

Coaches may suggest our Learn-to-Swim programs if you need additional instruction to gain confidence and skill in the water.

There is no minimum age to join; however, swimmers must be able to swim the length of a 25 yard pool unassisted, and demonstrate freestyle and backstroke.

Athletes aged 18 and under are welcome to attend an evaluation.

Our training teams are based on a mix of age and skill level. During the initial evaluation, the coach will assess their skills and endurance to help determine the best placement. 

We will always err on the side of placing the swimmer in a lower group and giving them the option to advance them quickly, rather than putting a swimmer into a group that may be too advanced. Our ultimate goal is to match each athlete to a training team that will be both challenging and enjoyable.

Practice schedules depend on the assigned training team. Our programs range from 3x/week to 9x/week. Follow the links on the training teams page to see practice schedules by group and location.

Swimming is a year-round sport, and we accept new registrations throughout the year. 

There are two training/competition seasons throughout the year: Short Course (25-yard) season runs late August through March. Long Course (50-meter) season runs April through July. Our team takes short, 1-2 week breaks between each season, typically during Spring Break and the start of the school year.

Life happens. However, the more you train, and the more consistently you train, the more proficient you will become. Committment is key; however,  the coaches understand when family or life events take precedent. Communication is key. Share upcoming conflicts (if known) and let them know what is going on.

There is no requirement to swim year-round. 

Swimmers can deactivate and re-register throughout the year, but there is an associated  re-activation fee each time you pause and re-start. 

There is a $200 team annual registration fee for each member which includes USA Swimming membership. This fee is non-refundable.

Each training team has monthly tuition, charged on the 1st of the month. Tuition is listed by group and location on the Tuition and Fees page.

Swim meets also have associated costs for participation, and these vary by meet.

Swim training is hard work, and swim meets demonstrate the payoff for the effort. Meets are where swimmers see the most improvement, achieve goals, and have fun being with their teammates.

DCS attends an average of 1 -2 meets per month, depending on training team, and are assigned by the coaches.  However, swim meet participation is expected for most training groups, and different meets are offered to different groups. We encourage swimmers to participate as often as possible, but we also understand that sometimes schedules or budgets might not permit full participation.

Recommended meets are listed for each training team. If your swimmer's team is listed, then it is an appropriate meet for your swimmer. 

Swimmers in some training teams are encouraged to talk to their coach before signing up. If this is the case, stick around after practice and talk to your coach about participation in an upcoming meet!

It is highly recommended to attend every meet in order for the coaches to assess a swimmer's improvements and mistakes in a race environment. So the short answer is yes, make every effort, because it's important!

For new swimmers, we host small "home" and "mentor" meets  to introduce them to the meets and racing with the help and encouragement from their older teammates.

DCS' biggest "whole team" meet is Divisionals, held in the spring. We train for this meet and strongly encourage all swimmers to attend. This is a championship meet, and a fun experience that you won't want to miss!

Our advanced training team have meet participation requirements, but not before the swimmer is fully invested in the sport.

Short Course = 25 yards.  

Short Course season is typically late August through March.  During the summer months, we also offer short course developmental meets during our Summer League program.

High School and College meets are short course.

Long Course = 50 meters.  

Long Course season is typically April through July.  During the long course season, our swimmers train in both our short course facilities and rent lane space in area long course pools. 

The Olympics and International competitions are long course.

Sign up through your parent account. If there is a multiple-day meet and you can only attend one day, or if you only want your swimmer to swim a certain number of events, be sure to add a note when signing up.

Your swimmer may choose their own events, but be sure they understand these events are not guaranteed. The coaches review all entries and make any changes they think are in the best interest of the swimmer. (This is why your notes to the coach are important!)

Typically, up to two weeks prior to a large meet, an email will be sent showing the roster of swimmers and events in which they are entered. You will have an opportunity to request changes or remove your swimmer from the roster at this time via email. Once the deadline has passed, you are responsible for meet fees.  Then, usually 1-3 days before the meet starts, the host team will provide a heat sheet. We will  forward the heat sheet, along with the final details on warm-up times and any other pertinent info.  The heat sheet will tell you which events your swimmer is swimming and when.

At the meet, ensure that your swimmer arrives about 30 minutes early for warm ups, with their suit, cap, goggles, and a towel or two. The coaches will lead the group through dynamic warm-ups and share important information about the meet. 

Team uniform and team caps are required at meets. We do not have a designated team suit so swimmers can wear the competition suit that fits them best. Spirit wear is encouraged for parents!

Snacks and drinks are a must for most swim meets. Healthy and simple is best! Water, sports drinks, fruits and simple carbs are recommended. Save the candy for after the meet.

A great tool for swim parents is an app called Meet Mobile. 

Most swim meets are published to Meet Mobile, and results are posted in almost real-time. 

After a swim meet, the host will email us a results file, which we will upload to the website. These results will then be reflected in your swimmer's time reports.

Your swimmer will probably not earn a best time every time they swim. That is ok! Be their cheerleader. Improvement is not always measured in times, sometimes it is measured in technique or race strategy improvement. Sometimes improvement is measured in being willing to show up and give their all when they're tired from a period of hard training. Times should improve year-over-year, but not necessarily meet-over-meet. Let the coaches coach, and just let your swimmer know how proud you are!

A DQ is a disqualification. There are specific rules that apply to each stroke. If the meet officials observe a swimmer break any of the rules, a DQ is given, and the swimmer does not earn a time for that event.

If your swimmer gets a DQ, it's ok! DQs are a part of the learning process. The coaches will use the DQ as a teaching moment, and over time, they will become less frequent.

Some meets, like State Championships, have minimum qualifying standards. These standards are published along with the associated meet information. Participation in these meets requires earning at least one qualifying standard. 

You can find qualifying standards on Qualifying Times page on this website or visit the GA Swimming LSC time standards page. You'll also find the current USAS Motivational Time Standards, which help provide progressive goals for developing swimmers.

A spirit of volunteerism can't be mandated, and our parents have shown incredible teamwork.

But it's also important that everyone understands why it is so important to volunteer: Every meet we host is a meet that doesn't require travel ( which means saving money on travel, sleeping in your own bed, eating meals at your own home).

Team-hosted meets are a LOT of work, but are totally worth it for the value it offers our team families. However, swim meets require a robust volunteer effort in order to be sustainable. Help us keep meets local.

Several volunteer opportunities are available: Officials, Timers, Meet Marshalls, Hospitality, Set-Up and Clean-Up. Our coaching staff will be working hard alongside you the whole time!

Communication is key! Talk to your coach at the pool, before or after practice.  Coaches are happy to answer questions or talk about a swimmer's progress, but not while trying to train other athletes. It's best to let them focus on training and grab their attention when practice ends.

If you prefer to send an email, whether in-depth or simple communication about an absence, please send an email to your swimmer's coach.

Coach Johnny

johnny.thonn@swimdcs.com

Coach Igor

igor.molina@swimdcs.com

Coach Dan

dan.jackson@swimdcs.com

Coach Ryan

ryan.bried@swimdcs.com

Coach Jrod

jrod.hunte@swimdcs.com

No. DCS Swim Team is a year-round competitive swimming program.

Swimmers should only attend the designated practice days/times for their registered  training team. This allows the coaches to teach progressive skills so the swimmers can continue to improve.

DCS has scheduled time off throughout the year according to your training group.

Our coaches perform run various test sets throughout the season with each training group, and have other benchmarks, such as practice and meet attendance, sportsmanship, etc. to gauge achievement.  Once your swimmer has met all of the objectives, they will be considered for advancement. 

Advancement typically happens at the beginning of the season. If your swimmer is ready to advance, the coach will reach out with the pertinent information.

Request to cancel your team membership through your parent account. We require 30 DAYS advance notice for processing. We do not  prorate tuition if you cancel in the middle of the month. 

There are no restrictions against leaving and rejoining at a later time.  However, if leaving and returning in the same season, be aware that waiting lists are in place for some groups and a re-enrollment fee applies when returning.