Welcome to the Silverside Swim Team 2024!

Our head coach is Clark Bickling and this will be Clark’s 35th year as head coach of Silverside. We look forward to a fun season!

SWIM TEAM MEMBERS

• All members are in good standing of Silverside Swim Club, ages 5-18, are invited to join the swim team (no houseguests or babysitters).
• Each child will be required to swim at least a ½ of a lap of the pool prior to the season and a full lap by time trials.
• All team members must swim in at least two dual meets.
• Any swimmer who wishes to participate in NBSL may not participate in any other summer recreational league for the current season.

REGISTRATION & FEES

• The deadline for swim team registration is June 1st.  Fee for swim team is $100 per swimmer.  Link to register: https://silversideswimclub.sportngin.com/register/form/813879260
• There will be NO refunds given after June 9th. If for any reason your swimmers change their minds, you need to speak with the coaches to let them know AND email swimteam@silversideswimclub.com.  Both steps need to be taken.  All refunds will be given back by July 12th.  Thank you.

• We ask each swimmer to donate (1) twelve pack of soda (12 oz cans) and (1) case of water (16.9 oz bottles) to be sold at the snack bar at home meets. If you are listed to donate a case of Gatorade (20 oz. bottles) you will NOT need to donate a case of water.  Please drop off your donations by June 15th.  There will be a sign in sheet in the storage room on the swim team file cabinet. Please sign your name once you turned in your donation. Thanks!

SODA/GATORADE DONATION  (according to 1st letter of your last name)

• A-B      Sprite/7-Up
• C-D      Pepsi
• E-G      Diet Pepsi
• H-K     Coke
• L-N      Gatorade (case of 20 oz. bottles)*
• O-Q    Diet Coke
• R-Z      Gatorade (case of 20 oz. bottles)*

*Families that donate a case of Gatorade DO NOT have to donate a case of water.

Thank you for your generosity and support!! 

Practice times meant to be in the water at that time. If you need extra time for caps, goggles, etc, please come a few minutes early. Please attend as many practices as possible. This is a great way to not only improve your skills, but to meet new friends and get to know your coaches and team! Some of social activities also take place after practices. Please note: practice times and activities subject to change.

After School Practice will begin on Tuesday, May 28th

• 4:30–5:30pm      Ages 10 & Under
• 5:30-6:45pm       Ages 11 & Over

Morning Practice will begin on Monday, June 10th

• 8:00-9:15am           11-12 Year Old
• 8:45-10:00am        Ages 13 & Over
• 10:00-11:00am     Ages 10 & Under

• Silverside Swim Team participates in the North Brandywine Swim League (NBSL). Swim meets begin promptly at 6pm.  Swimmers should arrive at the pool by 4:45pm for warm-ups.

• All 2023 Meets are posted on the pool calendar. 

• All swimmers must be registered on the Swimmingly app to participate in the swim meets. Separate instructions were sent through email. https://clubhouse.swimmingly.app/app/landingPage​​​​​

• If your child is not able to swim in a meet, it is important that you notify the coach in writing at least 2 days in advance.  Check the Swim Team bulletin board for sign out sheets. If you have an emergency and need to cancel the day of a meet, call the pool at 302.478.9965 and tell Coach Clark.

• According to the NBSL rules, children may swim in 2 individual events and 2 relays. We have a very large team so each child will be scheduled to swim at least one event. The coaches determine the placement in an event(s).

• Age groups are divided according to the child’s age as of June 1st. Groupings are as follows: 6 & under, 8 & under, 10 & under, 12 & under, 14 & under and 18& under. Ages 11 and over swim at least 50 meters (2 laps) and ages 10 and under swim 25 meters (1 lap) in meet events.

• Meets can run as late as 9:30-10:30. If you are entered in a later event (such as a relay), please do not leave the meet.

• In the event of rain, please arrive at the meet as scheduled unless notified otherwise. Meets rarely get canceled due to inclement weather. In the event of cancellation, the meet will be rescheduled the following night.

• VOLUNTEERS ARE NEEDED AT EVERY SWIM MEET. Due to the nature of our large team and the many areas needed volunteers (ribbons, timers, place judges, line up, bullpen, snack bar and more) we ask at least one family member to volunteer at ALL meets. Thanks in advance.

• PARENTS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR OWN CHILDREN AT SWIM MEETS. Line- up volunteers are only there to place children in the correct lane. They are not there to babysit or find the children who have strayed. If you are unable to accompany your child to a meet, please make arrangements with another adult to be responsible for your child.

SWIM MEET SNACK BAR

• All home meets are BIG snack bar nights. The snack bar raises money to help fund swim team activities throughout the year.

• Please sign up to bring a snack bar item to at least one of our 3 home meets (June 20, June 25 and July 2). A sign-up genius will be sent out prior to each meet. Thank you for baking, buying & creating fun goodies to eat!

• The majority of our communication is done through email. When you register your swimmer(s), please make sure you include an up-to-date email (not a work email as those are usually blocked).  If you are not receiving emails, please check your spam folder and update your privacy center. You should also email swimteam@silversideswimclub.com to let your representatives know. If you have any questions for the coaches, please wait until after practice ends to address them. You may email Clark at dbscoach@aol.com, but in person is typically faster as he is not by a computer when at the pool.
• We have a file cabinet that also serves as a means of communication for ribbons and other items. Each family will have their own folder. Please check at least weekly to pick up ribbons. Thank you.
• Please always check the website too for updated information.