Swim Team Policies
General FAQ
Is a special SwimAtlanta bathing suit required to join SwimAtlanta?
Swimmers can use any bathing suit during practices. For meets, with the exception of Developmental and Time Trial meets, a SwimAtlanta team suit and swim cap are required. Many of our buildings feature Total Team Wares stores, at which you can purchase any gear you need. You can also visit their website.
How many practices must my swimmer attend each week?
It’s different for each team, but no practice groups will ever penalize a swimmer for missing a practice. We recommend that younger swimmers attend two of the three practices offered in a week, although they are more than welcome to attend all three. Intermediate teams are usually more committed and attend all practices for most weeks. Serious swimmers often times attend every practice, every week. No certain number of practices is mandatory, and a child will not be punished for having schoolwork or participating in other activities. There is however, a direct correlation between good attendance and good performance. For more personalized information about a specific group or your individual swimmer, you can discuss it with your child’s coach.
If my child only wants to swim half the number of offered practices, can I get a special rate?
No. If you swim a specific month, whether two times a week or four times a week, you will owe the full monthly tuition by the 10th of that month. We cannot prorate tuition for a number of reasons, including the inability to successfully monitor every single practice. However, if your child does not attend practice for an entire month, please contact Emille at 678-442-7946, so that you don’t get charged for that month.
How will we be notified of meet schedules, practice schedules, etc.?
Each location has a designated area where swim team information is available. Please check with a representative at your location for the exact location. At your location you will find meet schedules, practice schedules, policy changes, and so forth. Also, most of the information distributed to parents and swimmers can be found on our website.
Are there breaks in the season when practices are not held?
Yes. SwimAtlanta takes two weeks off in the middle of August before our fall season officially begins. We also take a week off for Spring Break in April. Practices will not be held on holidays such as Memorial Day, July 4th, Labor Day, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Day. Meet schedules, announcements at the pool, and spoken reminders by coaches will inform swimmers and parents of our scheduled breaks.
If my swimmer earns awards as a result of participation in a meet, where do I pick them up?
After the meet, the coaches will pick up awards from the host team and bring them back to the each training facility. The staff will be sure to make awards available as soon as we get them, and it is the parents’ and swimmers’ responsibility to pick the awards up.
USAS ID Number
Every swimmer has a USAS ID Number. This is a unique swimmer identification that can be figured out using the following formula: § Birth Date o Put a “0” in front of any single digits § First Three Letters of the Swimmer’s Legal First Name § Middle Initial of the Swimmer’s Middle Name o If the swimmer does not have a Middle Name, put an (*) in that spot. § First Four Letters of the Swimmer’s Legal Last Name For example, if Suzanne Taylor Smith was born 10/01/95, her USAS ID Number would be 100195SUZTSMIT.
Meet Policies
Each pool annually distributes both short-course and long-course meet schedules. Click for our latest meet schedules. If you have any questions about meet schedules, contact your coach.
Late Entry Policies
In accordance with Georgia and USA Swimming, any swimmer late entering a swim meet must present a copy of his or her USAS ID card. If a copy is not available at the time, the swimmer must pay the $62 cost of registering at the time of late entering. If the swimmer is a current member of USA Swimming, the check (without being deposited) will promptly be returned by the LSC registration chairperson. If the swimmer is not currently registered, the registration and payment will be automatically processed. If you know your swimmer will be late entering a swim meet, you can avoid registering and the $62 fee by requesting a copy of your swimmer’s USAS ID card at least five days before the start of the meet. Any requests made with less than five days notice cannot be guaranteed and may not be available to you before the meet begins. SwimAtlanta is not responsible for knowing your child plans to late enter a meet and cannot overrule GA Swimming’s guidelines. In addition, all meet directors know that SwimAtlanta swimmers and families are responsible for covering all charges accrued, including registration and late entry fees, at the time of entering. SwimAtlanta is not to be charged or billed for these entries. Since we pay for all meet entries weeks prior to the meet (whether your child attends or not), this new policy is to assure that entries are paid for in a timely manner and to avoid Amateur Swimming Foundation incurring the cost of entries without knowing what accounts to charge. If you have any questions, please contact your child’s coach or Emille at 678-442-7946.
Meet Relay Policies
Relays will primarily be done at Championship meets. Relays will be prepared prior to the first day of the meet. Before the meet begins, an effort will be made to let each child know which relay or relays he or she will be swimming. Swimmers will be notified verbally and a list will be posted at the meet site. Please keep in mind that it is difficult for every coach at SwimAtlanta to know every child’s best time. Relays will be drawn from the best times that are entered into the meet. Occasionally, there will be swimmers who do not enter their best times or are not swimming a particular event in the upcoming meet. In this case, the swimmer’s coach will be responsible for adjusting the relay. Swimmers, and their parents, should know which relays they will be swimming at a specific meet. Do this before the first event of the day in order to avoid confusion. Parents and swimmers are expected to stay for relays. Many times, swim meets are won or lost by performances in relays. Relays will only be changed during the meet at the coaches’ discretion. If you have any questions, please contact your child’s coach for clarification.
Tuition Account FAQs
What is the registration fee for?
The annual registration fee of $135 payable to SwimAtlanta is non-refundable and covers registration and insurance with GA and USA Swimming, and it must be paid at the time you register. The registration fee is a annual charge that covers you from August through July.
When will my registration check be deposited?
All registration checks are held until the first week of practice in case swimmers change their minds about swimming. Please note that your registration check will be deposited at the end of the first week of practice. The registration fee is non-refundable.
When is my first tuition payment due?
Your first tuition payment is due in September although practices begin in August. If you start swimming at the beginning of the season (August/September), you pay nine months of swimming to cover twelve months. In other words, you pay September thru May (nine months/school year months), and you can attend practices in the summer even though no tuition payment is due. If you elect to not take advantage of practices in the summer, the tuition cost for September thru May remains the same.
Who do I contact about my tuition account?
If you have questions about tuition, please contact Emille at 678-442-7946. If you reach SwimAtlanta voice mail or she is unavailable, please leave a message. You may also contact her via email at swat1977@aol.com.
When is tuition due?
Tuition is due by the 10th of each month and is considered late by the 15th. If your account becomes 30 days past due and you haven’t contacted communication Emille, you will be contacted to inform you that your child will be unable to practice until payment is made.
Will I receive a bill each month?
On the 1st of each month, a reminder that payment is due will be emailed to the email address you provided during registration. Furthermore, additional email invoices are emailed on the 15th of each month if we haven’t received payment. Please call Emille immediately if you receive an invoice in error or a payment you made is not reflected on your invoice. Please note that Emille works at SwimAtlanta Sugarloaf, and therefore only gets checks from other pools when the coaches submit them to her. This is important to remember as there is a slight delay between you submitting payment and Emille actually receiving your payment if delivered to the pool. As a result, please plan to deliver your payments the first week of the month to avoid being billed.
Where should I send my payments?
Tuition checks may be placed in the tuition box located at each training location or may be mailed to: SwimAtlanta 4850 Sugarloaf Parkway, Suite #702 Lawrenceville, GA 30044. Checks should be made payable to SwimAtlanta. Note your child’s first and last name and training team on your check, especially if your child’s last name is different that what is printed on the check. Please note that your child’s tuition and Amateur Swimming Foundation account are two separate accounts. Checks for tuition are made payable to SwimAtlanta and checks for swim meets are made payable to Amateur Swimming Foundation.
Do you offer discounts for families with multiple children?
Yes. Families that have more than one swimmer get a 10% discount for the second child, 20% discount for the third child, and a 30% discount for all other swimmers. The discount is taken from the child’s tuition with equal or lesser value. The family discount cannot be honored for the registration fee, as that goes directly to GA/USA Swimming. We also offer a 10% discount for families who pay their tuition for the year in full. Please note, swimmers participating with the Home School teams do not receive any sibling discounts or paying the year in advance discount as the cost is already greatly discounted.
What do I do if my child is going to miss a month of practice or decides not to swim?
You should discuss any changes in your child’s status with their coach, and then contact Emille as soon as possible so that your account may be adjusted accordingly. If you do not notify Emille, your account will be charged as though your child was training for that period. To clear up any billing problems, please contact Emille directly so that the problem does not persist on future bills.
I want to pay the whole year in advance. How much should I pay?
If you want to pay your monthly tuition a year in advance, you will receive a 10% discount. In order to figure the amount due and pay your tuition for the year in full, please use the following formula…
FOR ONE CHILD
Tuition Due x 9 Months = Total Due for Year
Total Due for Year x .9 (10% disc. for Paying Year in Advance)=
Total Due for Year After Disc. + $135 Reg. Fee per Swimmer = TOTAL DUE
(For Example: $99 x 9 mos. = $891, $891 x .9 = $801.90, $801.90 + $135 = $926.90, $926.90 for year
FOR TWO (or more) CHILDREN
Monthly Tuition Due for Most Expensive Child + Monthly Tuition Due for Most Least Expensive Child x .9 (taking 10% disc. for 2nd child swimming)
Monthly Dues for both swimmers per month x 9 months = Total Due for Year
Total Due for Year x .9 (10% disc. for paying year in advance) = Total Due for Year After Disc. + $270 Reg. Fee ($135 per swimmer) = TOTAL DUE
What if my child decides not to swim halfway through the year, and I have paid for a full year up front?
You will be refunded the amount owed to you minus the 10% discount you received for paying a full year’s tuition in advance.
Amateur Swimming Foundation Account Policies
What is an Amateur Swimming Foundation account?
Each swimmer/family who competes in meets has an Amateur Swimming Foundation account. This account is automatically created for you, and you do not need to do anything in order to set it up. The account contains funds deposited by the swimmer/family to pay for entry fees and/or travel fees to meets. Entry fees for a swimmer to an average meet can range between $25 and $30.
How should I pay for meet entries?
You can pay your account balance in two different ways; (1) you can pay for meet entries at the time you enter a swim meet by making your check payable to Amateur Swimming Foundation and following the cost structure on the entry form before submitting it, (2) or you can wait to receive an invoice in the mail every other month. It is also helpful to note your account number in the area. You may put this check in the tuition box at your training pool or mail it to: Amateur Swimming Foundation, Inc. 4850 Sugarloaf Parkway, Suite #702 Lawrenceville, GA 30044
What if I enter a swim meet and then cannot attend?
Unfortunately, meet entry fees are non-refundable regardless of reason. SwimAtlanta pays for meet entries in advance, and once your entry form is submitted, payment is due no matter if your swimmer attends the meet or not. No exceptions can be made!
When will I receive a statement?
Families will receive a statement every other month when a balance is due. Any swimmer who has an outstanding balance due on their account of $75 or more will not be allowed to compete until the account is made current.
How are the entry fees posted to my account?
The entry fees for each swimmer are taken directly from the entry forms that we send the host teams. Any late entries made at the meet are posted from the information taken from the Clerk of Course at the meet. Once the entry forms have been sent to a host team, the swimmer is responsible for their entry fees whether they swim or not. A surcharge of $5.00 per meet is added to cover the cost of maintaining the accounts.
How do I make deposits to my Amateur Swimming Foundation, Inc. account?
To make a deposit to your account, please make your check payable to Amateur Swimming Foundation, Inc., and write in the notation area of your check that this is an Amateur Swimming Foundation Deposit. It is also helpful to note your account number in the area. You may put this check in the tuition box at your training pool or mail it to: Amateur Swimming Foundation, Inc. 4850 Sugarloaf Parkway, Suite #702 Lawrenceville, GA 30044 Deposits may be made at any time.
What happens to any money I raise from fundraisers?
Any funds that you raise through Aqua-thon or another team-sponsored fundraiser go to your Amateur Swimming Foundation account, after the deduction of the purchase of any merchandise. If your swimmer stops swimming, you are entitled to the refund of any funds left in your account.
Who do I contact if I have questions about my Amateur Swimming Foundation, Inc. account?
If you have any questions or concerns about your account, please contact Emille at 678-442-7946. If you reach voice mail, please leave a message, and she will return your call promptly. You may also contact her via email at swat1977@aol.com.
