High achievement always takes place in the framework of high expectation.
	Charles Kettering, American inventor
Swim where the fast swimmers swim

New Member Skill Evaluation and Group Placement
Young swimmers new to the team are expected to perform four skills:

• Do a somersault in the water in tuck postiion
• Float comfortably on back with buoyancy
• Swim one length (25 yds) freestyle with true rotary side breathing
• Dive in head first from side of pool, enter hands-head-hips-feet sequence

What to bring
Fill out  a New Swimmer Information form and bring it with you.
Swim suit and goggles are the only equipment needed for the first day.  If long hair, we recommend your swimmer wear a swim cap.

New members, year round
Our coaches will be available to evaluate your swimmer for squad placement on the following days: Monday, Wednesday, 5:00pm

Skill evaluation takes just a few minutes.

If you can't make these days or times, please make an appointment to have your swimmer do a skill test to determine what practice group he/she will best fit into.

Practices are underway now.  Your swimmer can begin as soon as he or she has been evaluated and placed in a practice squad.

Click on links below for more team details!

Forms, schedules and info
>> print a New Swimmer Registration form
>> see practice times, June-July, academic September-May
>> read practice squad descriptions and fees
>> check out the swim meet schedule for the 2008 season, starting in Sept. 2007
>> learn more about how to join the WAVES
>> read about team philosophy
>> coaching staff
>> email your questions to the head coach

Scroll down for details on fees and fundraising.

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Fun, Friends, Fitness, and Self-Confidence
The first step for every future champion is developing a love for the sport.

Join the WAVES, where your young child will have fun, make friends, develop confidence by learning skills, get attention from coaches, practice in small groups of similar ability, and start lifelong habits of fitness.

With our family-friendly meet schedule, young WAVES attend local meets, about one per month, some just 90 minutes in length.  Daily practice focuses on acquiring skills and good training habits. Young swimmers can combine other sports with WAVES participation, developing overall athletic abilities.

Get your young swimmer off to the right start, join the WAVES!

Try the team FREE for one week, anytime, year-round.

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Here's How to Get Started...

• >> print a New Swimmer Information form
  
  Give your completed form to the coach who conducts your swimmer's skill assessment at the YMCA.
  
  
• Call (309) 827-6233 to speak to a WAVES coach and get answers to your questions about the WAVES team.
  
  
• If you'd rather ask questions by email, we like email too!
  
  >> send an email to Head Coach Charles Yourd
  
  
• Your swimmer will be placed in a practice squad with others of similar age and developmental level.  In the appropriate squad your swimmer will get individual attention, make friends, learn skills and training habits that will lead to success in the sport of competitive swimming.
  
  >> read practice squad descriptions and fees
  
  >> see practice times
  
• You can try WAVES practices for FREE before you join to find out if our team is a good fit for your swimmer and your family.

• Team members join both the WAVES and the YMCA. These require separate signup and are billed separately.  New team member signup is conducted by WAVES coaches when you turn in your New Swimmer Tryout registration form.  The YMCA front desk staff will help you sign up for Y membership.

• Details on fees, fundraising, and equipment are described below.
  
  >> see current practice group fees

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Start any time, year-round

New team members are welcome and can start any time, year round.

Try our practices for FREE to help you decide

You can try the WAVES for FREE to help you decide if our team is right for your swimmer and family.  Year-round one week free trial. 

New swimmer skill evaluations are offered weekly

>> print a copy of the New Swimmer Info form

Come to the YMCA pool on Monday or Wednesday 5:00 p.m. for a new swimmer tryout. 
Call the Y to schedule your appointment (309) 827-6233. Any of our coaches can evaluate your swimmer and help him or her get started.  Your swimmer will be assigned to the appropriate practice squad where he or she will be with other swimmers at a similar stage of skill development. 

Bring a completed New Swimmer Info form with you when you arrive for your skill evaluation. Give it to the WAVES coach conducting the evaluation.   Be sure to include your email address on the form.

Who can join the WAVES?

Young swimmers new to the team are expected to perform four skills:

• Do a somersault in the water in tuck postiion
• Float comfortably on back with buoyancy
• Swim one length (25 yds) freestyle with true rotary side breathing
• Dive in head first from side of pool, enter hands-head-hips-feet sequence

If your child is not quite ready, our Basic 4 class could be just what you're looking for.  With a focus on just these four skills, and taught by one of our WAVES coaches, we can help young, novice swimmers acquire any or all of these skills. 

Team info

>> Team Info and philosophy

Learn about our philosophy of development for young swimmers, our practice squad structure, and swim meet participation.

Complete a New Swimmer Information Form

>> Print a copy of the New Swimmer Info form

Complete the form and give it to a WAVES coach when your swimmer arrives for his or her skill evaluation for squad placement. 

Be sure to include an email address. We conduct most of our team communication by email and web site.

You will need Acrobat Reader to view this document. 

>> If you need to download a free copy of Acrobat Reader, click here 

Leaving another team to join the WAVES?

Smart move!...And here's another form you need to deal with.

>> print a Club Transfer form

If your swimmer is a member of a USA Swimming club (if you're getting Splash magazine in the mail, he/she is a member), then we need to complete a Club Transfer form, and send it to Illinois Swimming.

If your child is joining the WAVES from another Illinois club, then you'll need to have the form signed by the old club before you give it to us.  If the old club is outside Illniois, then you can just give us the form after you fill in the name of the old club and the date of the last meet he/she swam for them.

Fees and billing

WAVES Annual Fundraising Requirement

Fundraising activities comprise an important part of funding for the YMCA WAVES swim program.  These funds, along with team fees, pay for our team expenses such as: coaches’ salaries, pool rental expenses, coaches swim meet travel expenses. In addition, it helps fund our team’s reserves for timing equipment, pace clocks and other swim team equipment. Without fundraising, our team could not be as successful as it is today.

Every WAVES Family is required to contribute $200 annually by participating in fundraising activities or by adding installment payments to their monthly bill.

WAVES Team Registration Fee

Every swimmer pays a $30 team fee at the start of each season.  This fee pays for expenses related to: joining the WAVES team, setting up an email billing account, and season ending swim meet expenses. In return, the swimmer receives a WAVES swim team directory and a WAVES team t-shirt.

This fee is reduced to $15.00, if the swimmer joins the team April-July.

USAS Membership Fee

Every swimmer must have a current USA Swimming membership, through Illinois Swimming, Inc., which costs $60 annually.  This fee is required for insurance purposes.  Your annual USAS membership registration is handled by the WAVES team.

YMCA Membership Fee

Every swimmer is required to be a member of the Bloomington-Normal YMCA. Please refer to the following website for individual and family membership fees: View current YMCA fees.

See the front desk staff to set up a membership account. Billing for YMCA membership is handled by the YMCA and is separate from your WAVES team bill.

Meet Entry Fees

Rising Stars meets and dual meets do not have entry fees.  All other meets charge entry fees per event entered.  These fees will be included in your team bill.

Equipment

>> view WAVES equipment list

Swimmers will need to purchase equipment such as mesh bag, fins, pull-buoy, water bottle, two pairs of goggles, and other items.  The team sells swim caps and pull tubes, other items are obtained by the family from outside suppliers.  Be sure to check with the coach before purchasing paddles, these must be sized by the coach.  If you have questions on any equipment item, please discuss with the coach prior to purchase. 

WAVES Practice Fees

>> see current practice fees

All practice groups are billed on a monthly basis.  Bills are sent by email and are due by the 10th of the next month.

Email Billing

Team bills are sent by email and may contain the following items, practice fee, team registration fee, USA Swimming membership, swim meet entry fees, fundraising installment (if applicable), and charges for additional team caps or pulling tube.  YMCA membership fee is billed separately from your swim team account.

More questions?  Contact the Head Coach

If you have more questions about the WAVES, please email or phone Head Coach Charles Yourd. 

>> contact the head coach