About Milan Swim Club
Swim club is a competitive swim team for kids age 4-18 that can swim one length of the pool. The focus is teaching swimmers the 4 basic competitive swim strokes (back, breast, butterfly and freestyle). Swimmers work hard during practice to improve their technique and endurance. However, the focus is on each swimmer improving and not necessarily on winning.
Practices
During a season there are usually daily practices. Swimmers can choose the number of practices they attend but are encouraged to attend at least 3 practices a week for the Elementary group and 4 for the Middle School and High School group. Swimmers are grouped during practices with others of similar age and experience.
Fees
Current fees are $100 per swimmer per season for the first family member and a 10% discount for families with more than one child. Fees go to, among other things, pay the coaches a small salary, awards (ribbons), league dues, and basic equipment needs.Swim Gear
Milan Swim Club team suits are available for meets from Diffeent Strokes in Livonia. (800) 828-2623. www.different-strokes.com
Swim goggles are an essential piece of equipment for both practice and meets and can be purchased at most sporting good stores like Dunhams or MC Sports. Kiefer Online is also a good place to find reasonably priced gear. Check out the Kiefer name brand stuff for lower prices.
MSC Swim Caps are available from the coaches. Latex$6.00 and Silicone $11.00 types are both available.
Training Equipment: We provide kick boards and pull bouys. It suggested that kids in the Middle School and High School groups purchase their own kick boards and pull bouys as well as training paddles and fins. This allows for proper fit for the equipment. Different Strokes Swim Shop(www.different-strokes.com ) and Keifer Online (www.keifer.com) are both great sources and very affordable.
Competition
The year is divided into four swim seasons (Fall, Winter, Spring and Summer) each lasting about 2-3 months. Over the course of each season (except Spring) 5 dual meets are held with clubs of comparable size, culminating in a large championship event with all clubs in the league. Each season is self contained and swimmers can choose to swim in as many seasons as they wish. However, in order to swim in the championships for that season they must swim in at least two dual meets(you only have to compete in one dual meet in Fall and Winter Sessions to be eligible for championships--two in the Summer Session).
Swimmers are grouped by age and sex for competition depending on their age at the start of a swim season. Age groups include:
- 8 & under
- 9 & 10
- 11 & 12
- 13 & 14
- 15 & up
During the Fall and Winter seasons the Milan club competes in the Southern Michigan Swim League with clubs from:
- Brighton
- Chelsea
- Dexter
- Hartland
- Howell
- Huron Valley
- Pinckney
- Saline
- Tecumseh
- Ypsilanti
Meets
During the Fall and Winter seasons dual meets are usually held on week nights and last about 2 hours. During the summer, with larger teams, meets are generally held on Saturdays and last about 3 hours. Championship meets are much larger (with all teams present) and divided into age group meets.
Meet Sign-up - Swimmers are expected to sign up for the meets they will attend on the meet sign-up sheets posted on the coaches office window.
Volunteers - when Milan is hosting a dual meet at our pool we are expected to provide volunteers such as:
- Timers
- Runners
- Marshalling
- Ribbons Writers
- Concession Stand Workers
Food - Most clubs hosting a meet will provide food concessions. But folks can also bring their own food. Proceeds from the food concessions support the host club.
Outdoor meets - Most summer meets are at outdoor pools and spectators need to bring their own seating.