Hi new Encore families!

We are so excited to have you join us for the upcoming season! If Swim Tryouts are not already on your calendar, please plan to attend Tryouts for new swimmers on Saturday, May 4 at Pioneer High School from 10am-12pm.

In addition, we ask that one person per household fill in this form to RSVP for Tryouts so that we have an estimate of how many swimmers to expect. 

Reminder: There is also an informational zoom meeting later this evening (Thurs, 4/18, 7pm). We’ll be going through some general updates and information about the team and will plan to open for QA for as long as time permits. We hope that you join us if you can!

Zoom Link: Meeting ID: 771 5393 4293, Passcode: k09ng2

Finally, as a new parent to Encore last year, I had lots of questions. Most of your questions should be addressed on our website at encoreswimteam.com, but I’ve included a few common questions below. Have a great day!

Best,

Kelly

VP, Encore Swim Team

[email protected]

Where exactly is the pool for tryouts?

Event Address: Pioneer High School

Time: 10am-12pm, Saturday, May 4.

Pool Location: The Pool is behind the school near the right side of the parking lot before the tennis courts. This is also where we will practice.

What should I expect at Tryouts?

They may sound intimidating, but we simply need to confirm that each swimmer can swim across the pool unassisted. They will be given a lane to swim in and the coach will watch their progress. To the best of their ability they will be asked to swim across the pool. They do not need to know how to do all the strokes at this point - a crawl type swim is totally fine. Swimmers are not allowed to grab on the lane lines, the side of the pool, or take long pauses requiring lots of encouragement to continue. 

Tryouts will not take the full two hours. We may have more swimmers right at 10, but we’d expect them to not take more than about 30 minutes for you and your swimmer to sign in, get ready and do the test.

Yey! We Passed Tryouts! What do I need for our first practice?

Swimmers can come in their regular bathing suits for practice. They will need sandals, a towel, goggles, and a kickboard - we have quite a few, so if you don’t have one you can use one of ours. Some kids like to have their own. Depending on the swimmer’s age, their coaches may request they purchase swim paddles or buoys, but they won’t need these in the first week or two of practice. Swim caps are also optional for practice (but they help keep your kid’s hair in better shape in the long run!)

What Swim Gear will they need for meets?

Swimmers will be required to wear a red Encore Swim cap and bathing suit during meets. We will have caps on sale during the first few weeks of practices on-site, as well as swimsuits to try on so that you can order the right size for your swimmers. We have a team site that you can find by typing in Encore Swim Team on the swimoutlet.com website → Teams tab.

Can I stay and watch practice once the season starts, and do I have to stay for the full practice?

You can absolutely stay and watch practice. There are bleachers on each side of the pool for parents to stay and watch. One side is in the sun, the other is in the shade. Wifi is spotty (hotspot is better) if you need to also extend your workday.

You are also welcome to leave and come back at the end of the hour if needed, but if this is your plan, please note that we cannot watch your child once practice is over. All of our coaches shift focus to swimmers in the pool for the next hour of practice. If something unexpected happens where you will be late, please make other arrangements to ensure your child has supervision.

Will there be a place for my child to change if they need to?

Yes. While we would encourage that your child comes to practice dressed and ready for practice, there are also locker rooms that will be opened during practice hours that you and/or your child can use. The boys locker room is close to the front of the pool entrance. The girls locker room is the building directly behind the pool (it has two doors, sometimes only one is open). We are checking with facilities that they will be open for tryouts (if not there are less convenient bathrooms on site, but we’d recommend coming in swimming attire).

Will my child be safe in the pool?

Water safety is the top priority for Encore and our coaches. We will have several coaches on the pool deck assisting and coaching swimmers at all times. All of our coaches will be CPR certified, and there will be several on the pool deck with additional certifications, such as a Lifeguard Certification and First Aid.

For the younger ages we will also have at least one coach in the pool. If your swimmer ever feels they need a break, please let them know that they are always welcome to exit the pool and join back if and when ready.

I have more questions! Where should I go?

We will be keeping our website updated, but you are also welcome to email questions to [email protected], or reach out to any Board member and we will happily help make this first swim season an enjoyable one for you!