Welcome to the Wallingford Swim Team
(Home of the Wally Gators and the Little Gators)
We hope this manual provides you with all of the information you need to navigate summer swim at WSARC. Our goal is to have FUN and enjoy the summer swim season! If your questions are not answered in this manual, or the Swim Team webpage on the WSARC website (http://wsarc.org/swim-club/swimteam/) please do not hesitate ask a coach, a swim team coordinator, or send your questions to the Swim Team email: WSARCswimming@gmail.com.
Placement on Wally Gators Swim Team vs. Little Gators Developmental Swim Team
Each season all new swimmers and all returning 8 & under swimmers must be evaluated by one of the swim team’s coaches (unless explicitly told otherwise). The results of your child’s evaluation determines placement on the Swim Team (the Wally Gators) or the Developmental Swim Team (the Little Gators). To allow for proper social distancing, we are holding these evaluations early this year. The 2021 evaluations will be Sunday, May 23rd from 4-6 p.m. at the Wallingford Swim Club. A sign up genius will be sent out to all new registrants.
The evaluation consists of swimming two full laps of the pool and then treading water for 1 minute.
- Swimmers who complete one of their two laps in 30 seconds or less and exhibit competence in at least two strokes will be placed on the Wally Gators Swim Team.
- Swimmers who can complete the evaluation, but cannot complete a lap in 30 seconds or do not exhibit competence in two strokes will be assigned to the Little Gators Developmental Swim Team.
- Swimmers who are unable complete the evaluation will not be placed on either team, but are strongly encouraged to take advantage of the free swim lessons offered at the WSARC.
Information for Little Gators
Pre-season practice
Pre-season practice for the Little Gators begins on Tuesday, June 1st and runs until Thursday, June 17th. This year, pre-season will be held at WSARC with a mix of dryland and pool workouts.
Pre-season practice for the Little Gators is 5:30-6:15 pm on Mon, Tues, Wed & Thur
(Note there is no pre-season practice on Fridays)
Regular season practice
Regular season practice for the Little Gators begins on Monday, June 21st and runs until Friday, July 16th (tentative).
Regular season Little Gator practices are at 8:00 – 8:30 am on Mon, Wed ,Thur & Fri.
(Note there is no regular season practice on Tuesday mornings due to JV swim meets)
Please see the calendar on the Swim Team webpage (http://wsarc.org/swim-club/swimteam/) for more information.
Swimmers are encouraged to attend practice every day they are available .
Practice takes place rain or shine and is only cancelled due to thunder or lightning. In the event of a cancellation, you will be notified as soon as possible via text message/teamsnap.
Little Gators do not participate in time trials or swim meets.
If, however, your child’s swimming improves during the season there is the possibility for your child to participate in JV swim meets later in the summer. Whether your child is ready to swim in a meet will be determined on a case-by-case basis by the coaches.
Little Gators are very much encouraged to be in the team picture, come to pasta parties and to watch and cheer at swim meets. (*Due to Covid, no pasta parties, cheering this summer.)