Frequently Asked Questions

The majority of questions about Wells Branch Armada usually concern two main areas – practice and meets. Although this will not cover every question that arises, hopefully it will answer some of the more common questions. If you have a question that you can not find an answer to here or in the handbook, please email Mindy.

Practices

Q: How does practice work?
A: For the first week or so, practice will seem a little chaotic and that is the norm, so don't be worried. What the coaches are trying to do is place over 200 swimmers in the correct lane so they can be with others of the same ability. This takes a while, and your swimmer might be moved around to several lanes within the course of the first couple of weeks. This process will occur again on a lesser scale when we switch to morning practices.

Q: Why is my swimmer in "that" lane and how do they move up a lane?
A: The lanes assignments are created according to ability. The emphasis is on learning how to kick and the basics of the four strokes - free, back, breast and fly. As the swimmers master these skills, the workouts shift towards conditioning as well.It is the decision of the coach as to when a child should be moved up. The coaches will balance the lanes to offer each swimmer the best instruction possible.

Q: What if I need a different practice time?
A:While we try to accomodate swimmers and parents when possible, we are limited by having six lanes and cannot make very many exceptions to the posted schedule. Swimmers practicing at times not approved in advance by the coaching staff results in overcrowded lanes. All practice time changes MUST be approved by Coach Elisa. Send an email to coach@wbarmada.org .

Meets

Q: How do I sign up for meets for the season?
A: Each week, swimmers will find a "Meet Attendance Form" in their fileboxes. These forms must be filled out completely and returned by the deadline printed on the form - please return even if your swimmer does not plan to swim.. The swimmer can pick 3 events each week and the parent must fill out the volunteer portion of the form.

Q: How do I sign my child up for relays?
A: The coaching staff puts the relays together. If your swimmer is unable to participate in a relay because they have to leave the meet early, please indicate on the MAF for that week.

Q: How are relays chosen?
A: The majority of the time, relays are created according to speed. However, the four fastest swimmers usually change from week to week and swimmers improve, so don't be concerned if one week your child is on the "A" relay and the next week is one the "B" relay. The other exception to this rule occurs with the Medley Relay (back, breast, fly, free).

Example: Placing Bryan, Andy, Randy and Danny together would create the fastest relay team. However, they are the only four in their age group that can swim fly legally. Therefore, instead of just having one fast Medley relay, the four swimmers could be broken up so that there can be four relays - each with a legal fly swimmer. This way more swimmers get to participate

Q: What happens when a swimmer is late to a meet?
A: Swimmers who have not checked in to their pit by the scheduled time will be dropped from the relays. If this happens more than one time, they will be dropped from both relays and individual events. Please realize that signing up for a meet and then not showing up effects your entire age group. When a swimmer does not show up for a meet, relays have to be adjusted and in many cases relays are scratched from the meet. So, it is not just your child that doesn't swim, but three other children that were looking forward to being a part of a relay.

Q: What if we are sick on meet day?
A: Phone numbers will be provided each week so parents can call if there is a last minute emergency. Please call either the night before or as early as possible on meet days so we can make the proper changes.