Natick Neptunes Swim Team

Frequently Asked Questions

How many practices should I attend during the week?

• Swimmers are expected at all practices and meets.
• Practices are held Sundays, Mondays and Wednesdays.  We realize that this is not always possible and there may be extenuating circumstances. However, please be aware that the progress and the success as a competitive swimmer depend on regular and consistent participation at practice.
• No swimmer should leave the pool area unless permission has been given by a coach (i.e. no trips to the lockers, bathrooms or snack bar).
• For safety, there will be no running on the pool deck at any time and no horseplay. There are to be no unsupervised children in the halls at Keefe Tech or Wayland Town Pool at any time.
• If these rules are not adhered to, you may be asked to leave a practice or a meet.

How many meets are there during the season?

• There will be about 10 meets, starting in December and culminating in March with 2 Championship meets (A and B Regionals).
• Regular meets will usually last 3 hours. 
• All swimmers must stay for the entire meet (through the LAST 15-18 year old relay) unless a head coach has been notified.  You are part of a team and teammates support each other!!! 
• All swimmers must arrive 15 minutes before the scheduled warm-up time.
• You can find the meet schedule on this website. Swimmers must attend 5 dual meets to be eligible to swim in the championship meets. Since the coaches make up the line-up for a meet based on who is going to be there, it is imperative that you email the head coach if you cannot attend a meet. Please email as soon as you know you cannot attend a meet.  

How do I contact the Head Coaches?

• Email is preferred and is a very effective way to contact the coaches.  Please cc both head coaches on any concerns or questions (jnhenderson21@gmail.com, mercha@comcast.net).
• It will often receive a faster response to your question, comment, or concern. 
• Please note parents are not allowed on deck during practice or a meet unless you are working the meet.
• Parents on the pool deck will cause a distraction to the swimmers and the coaches.
• If you feel there is a need to communicate with a coach or a swimmer during practice or a meet please see one of the Directors on the pool deck.

How can parents support the team at meets?

• Parent participation at the meets is mandatory. 
• Parents MUST volunteer for at least 3 meets!  
• Parents must sign up for spots using the Volunteer Spot website. 
• If you cannot attend a meet you have signed up to work at, it is your responsibility to find a replacement. 
• No job is hard. In fact, working a meet is a lot of fun and makes your child feel special to see his/her family supporting the team.

What should I expect at a meet?

• Team suits must be worn at every meet.
• We recommend you bring extra towels and sweatshirts to be worn after your event to keep you warm.
• Please make special note that no swimmer is allowed to bring in or wear any non-Suburban Swim League team items other than the Natick Swim Team items (i.e. no US Swimming, other team name, emblems or logos. This includes swim bags, hats, T-shirts, sweatshirts, bathing suits etc.). This is a league rule. 
• Swimmers must be at the meet 15 minutes before the scheduled warm-up time. During a meet you must sit with the team. If a swimmer wishes to have their parents sit with the team this is acceptable and is not usually a problem. (However, at away meets the team area may not be able to accommodate additional people.)
• You may bring snacks and drinks but they MUST be consumed outside of the pool area. Snacks should be light and healthy. NO glass of any kind should ever be brought into a meet or practice. Snacks and drinks (excluding water) are not allowed in the pool area or stands. They must be consumed in the outer lobby.
• If you are going to leave the area, give your name to the coach that is posted on the line-up sheets for your age group.  Coaches will not go out to the lobby or into the locker rooms to search for individual swimmers to line up for their events.  If you are not in the team area before your event is called, you may miss your event! 
• At the beginning of each race the pool area must be quiet for the start. This will allow all swimmers to have equal advantage and will help the meet move along more quickly.
• The Natick Swim Team has always been well respected in the League for our behavior and cooperation, so let's continue to be a good example for others. If a swimmer shows any inappropriate behavior or poor sportsmanship, they will be asked to leave the meet. 
• Swimmers will be required to sign a Code of Conduct Form given out by the League at the beginning of the season. 
• All swimmers must swim in those events that the Coach has scheduled them for. The Head Coaches are the only people who can make any changes or exceptions. Exceptions are very rare, as much time and effort is put into preparing the meet line-up. Please trust the coaches in their decisions of what each swimmer will swim. 
• No swimmer will be allowed to leave a meet until the meet has ended, so please plan on each meet taking up to 3 hours. If you must leave a meet early, the Head Coach is the only person that can grant you permission.
• No swimmer should change out of a bathing suit until they have checked with the Head Coach to be sure they are not needed in another event. Failure to adhere to these procedures may result in exclusion from future events (like relays) and/or meets.

What are A and B Regionals all about?

• At the end of the swim season the League has designed two championship meets for all swimmers that have met the league requirement of swimming in a minimum of 5 meets during the regular season.
• The meets are divided into, A and B Regionals. Swimmers must make a certain cut-off time in their age group to go to the A Regionals.
• Any swimmer making an A cut-off time in any stroke during the regular season must swim in the A Regionals.
• All 15-18 year old swimmers will swim at A Regionals.
• All those swimmers not making the cut-off time will go to the B Regionals.
• The Head Coach will inform each swimmer which meet they will participate in as the season progresses.
• No matter which meet you attend each swimmer has a wonderful time and it is a great experience. Many more details will be available as these meets get closer.

Does the team have a uniform?

• Each swimmer will need a team suit. Due to the rising cost of suits we have instituted a 2-year swimsuit policy.
• The Natick Swim Team has ordered one suit for each new swimmer at a cost of $30.00** for females and $20.00** (**subject to change) for males with the Team paying the balance.
• Every even numbered year a new team suit must be purchased.
• Should a swimmer require a new suit in an odd year, they will be available for you to purchase at full price. (Exception: New swimmers.)
• The team suits are for meets only so please wear an old suit for practice. The suits are made of Lycra, hand washing and hanging to dry is strongly recommended.

.  Individual notices are also given out so, please check the Director's table on deck at each practice.

Still have questions? 

Please contact us: