North Augusta High School

North Augusta Varsity Swim Team Requirements

Varsity sports require a significant commitment to the sport, practices, and team. If you become a member of our swim team, we expect you to prioritize our team.

Swim Team Requirements

• Have no more than 2 unexcused absences. Examples of excused absences include: family emergency, illness/doctor appointment, transportation emergency. Absences should be communicated to the coaches. Exceptions are only made at the coaches’ discretion.

• Unexcused absences may result in not being able to swim relays, limited or no participation in a meet, and/or dismissal from the team.
• If a swimmer chooses to attend USS swimming practices, they must meet the same practice requirements as those attending the scheduled high school workouts. All USS swimmers must attend all scheduled meets if they are entered.If practicing for an alternate USS swim team, you are required to submit a record of practice attended signed by your USS team coach.Please see a coach to get the USS Swimming alternate practice form.
• Attendance will be taken daily.
• Late arrivals will be noted. Chronic late arrivals will be counted as unexcused absences and may result in dismissal from the team.
• Leaving early from practice MUST be approved in advance by the coaches.Chronic early dismissals will be counted as unexcused absences and may result in dismissal from the team.
• Other practices outside of USS swimming will not be considered excused absences.

• Attend all scheduled meets unless approved by the coaches. Swimmers are not required to attend meets that they are not entered in although they are welcome to attend and provide their own transportation.

• A swimmer can have NO unexcused meet absences.

• Swimmers must decare for the meet in SwimTopia by the deadline. Students that do not declare will not be entered into the meet.

• A swimmer must swim all entered events, with the exception of emergencies.Missing events for any other reason will be addressed by the coaches and may result in further action.

• To earn a Varsity Letter, a swimmer must adhere to the above requirements. In addition, a swimmer can qualify in at least one of the following ways:

• Be a senior who has been an active team member for four years of your school swimming career.

• Be of good character and a good team player. Build up teammates at all times.
• Qualify for the state meet. Times from dual/tri meets will fulfill this requirement.
• NOTE: Varsity letter awards are given on a year-to-year basis. Lettering in a previous year does not ensure you will receive a Varsity letter award in subsequent years.

Swim Team Tryouts

As our program grows, it is necessary that we have a way to measure commitment and athletic skills to determine our team roster each year. Our team and interest in the sport is growing. Due to logistics and bus capacity, this year we are implementing tryouts to this process. It is important to note that tryouts are mandatory for all swimmers and returning swimmers are not guaranteed a spot on the team. Our decisions will be based on the criteria below.

• Skills and Talent –Tryouts are fluid for the first three days of practice. We will look at all areas of the swimmer, including strokes, turns, starts, behavior, and effort. Younger or less experienced swimmers may be at a disadvantage;however our intent is to make the best decisions for our team.

• Commitment to the Team and Ability to Practice – We are implementing a strict attendance policy that aligns to other varsity sports at NAHS. Swimmers must agree to and adhere to the attendance policy, with very few exceptions. Swimmers must have the ability and commitment to attend practices in their entirety. Remember a varsity sport requires a commitment above that of an average high school student.

• Positive Behavior, Respect, and Citizenship – Swimmers are expected to follow the Code of Conduct and demonstrate good sportsmanship. Disrespect of any kind will not be tolerated. Please remember that being selected to this team is a privilege, not a right.

Tryouts will occur from August 4th to August 6th. All swimmers must participate.

As a reminder, no swimmer will be allowed in the water without proper paperwork submitted.

Swim Team Captain Expectations

Swim Team captains are an important part of the team. Captains serve as a spokesperson for the team and help the coaches with additional responsibilities. Captains will be voted on by the team.

Captain Expectations

• Be committed and attend at least 2 practices and the meet each week.
• Be a role model in the pool, on deck, and at school and encourage teammates to do the same.
• Be a resource and answer questions for new teammates as they learn the ropes.
• Be a spokesperson for the team and communicate information to the team from the coaches.
• Help to set up and tear down the pool before and after practices and meets. Teach and lead the rest of the team to do the same.
• Lead team stretching and warm-ups prior to practice and meets.
• Teach and lead the team cheer at the start of each meet.
• Be engaged during swim meets and cheer on teammates.

Captain Requirements

• Be eligible to swim and maintain eligibility throughout the season.
• Have completed at least one year as a Varsity swimmer on the NAHS Swim Team.
• Be a junior or senior.

Please see your coaches prior to the start of the season to fill out the interest form for captain.