FAQ - Swim Team
Who is eligible to participate on the swim team?
You must be an MFC member to participate on our swim team.
Any child 4-18 years of age as of April 30, 2026, and that has not participated with a USA Swimming or YMCA affiliated program after March 8, 2026, is eligible. Swimmers must be able to swim the length of the pool (25 yards) without assistance and without grabbing the side or rope or touching the bottom in order to swim at swim meets.
When does the season
start and how long does it last?
We begin practice the last week in April and our swim meets are in June. Our season is seven to eight weeks long. The Meet of Champs takes place on the last full weekend in June and is the end of our season.
How and when do I register?
Registration will open on March 3rd and remain open through April 17th. Late registration is possible through May 31 based on availability and for an additional fee of $20 per swimmer.
What are the fees?
Registration fees for 2026 will be:
- $200 for the first swimmer
- $175 for the second swimmer
- $150 for the third swimmer
- $125 for each additional swimmer
- Swim caps are included as part of the registration fee. Extra swim caps can be purchased for $10 each
- Late registration costs an additional $20 per swimmer
All registration fees must be paid at the time of registration.
Volunteer Requirement
Every swim team family is required to fulfill two volunteer points over the course of the season. More information on the volunteer requirement and volunteer roles can be found on the Volunteer page.
Refund policy
If a swimmer decides not to be a member of the team after registering:
- 100% of registration fees can be refunded if requested by May 1, 2026 (two weeks after the season begins)
- If registering late, 100% of registration fees (excluding the $20 late fee per swimmer) can be refunded if requested within five swim practices after registering
- No refunds will be awarded after these deadlines
- The cost of swim caps, t-shirts and swim suits are not refundable
Refunds should be requested from the Swim Director.
What if I register my child and he/she does not meet minimum requirements to make the team (cannot swim length of pool unassisted)?
Please register your child per the regular process (online). Attend the New Swimmer Parent's Meeting and Team Tryout day. If your child does not make the Swim Team, consider transferring your child to our Swim School program where he/she will receive group lessons. If you are not interested in either program, the Swim Director will refund registration fees and t-shirt. The team will not refund money paid for the team suit or any other personal equipment. Please purchase these items after making the team.
Refunds should be requested from the Swim Director.
How many meets will there be?**
- Time Trials at MFC
- Four regular season swim meets during June
- Two home meets
- Two away meets at nearby neighborhood pools
- Regular season swim meets are held on Monday and Thursday evenings
- Meet of Champs on last full weekend in June (for those that qualify)
What is the team uniform?
We will be wearing new swimsuits and swim caps for the 2026 season. Representatives from our suit supplier, Texas Swim Shop, will be onsite during Swim Team Kick-off event (April, 19th) to assist in fitting swimmers for the proper suit size. Goggles will be available for sale. If you are unable to attend the in-person registration you can visit the Texas Swim Shop store to obtain your suit.
Note: League rules require that goggles, team suit and cap be worn for all meets; these items must also be worn during MFC Time Trials. It is recommended that swimmers not wear their team suits to practice to prolong the life of the suit.
What are Time Trials?
Time trials are practice heats in which coaches use stopwatches to time swimmers as they perform various strokes and distances. Time Trials will be held at MFC on a designated day and time prior to our first meet to determine in which heat swimmers will be placed. Time trials are important because they enable the coach to put the fastest swimmers in the first heat. The first heat is the only heat that scores in a meet. During the season, coaches also conduct ad-hoc "time trials" at practice and use meet times to adjust swimmers' seeding.
What should I do if my child cannot attend a
swim meet?
If you know if advance that your child will miss a meet, it is extremely important that the head coach is made aware well in advance. Swimmers that declare they are attending a meet and then "no show" will cost our team points for individual events and possibly relays. This decreases the chance of our team winning the meet. We understand that sudden injury/illness may occur. Let the head coach know as soon as possible so he can make adjustments.
How can I view or change my volunteer roles?
- Log into Swimtopia
- Click on "Events and Meets" tab
- Next to Time Trials and Swim Meets, click the green tab that says "Signup"
- View or modify your volunteer roles
What other clubs/pools do we swim against?
We are a member of the Red Division of the Memorial Spring Branch Swimming Conference. The other teams in our division are Plaza Oaks, Wilchester, Nottingham Forest and Sherwood Oaks. For more information about the conference please visit MSBSC - League Members
What should I bring to a meet?
Swimmers should wear team suits, shirts and caps. Bring goggles, towels and lawn chairs. Whatever you bring - WRITE YOUR NAME ON IT!!! There will be considerable down time between heats you may also want to bring drinks, snacks money for concession stand, card, games, etc. to help pass the time.
What time should I arrive for a meet?
Swimmers need to be on their towels by 5:00 pm for all meets. This allows you time to see your coach to find out what events you will be swimming. At home meets, warm up starts promptly at 5:15 pm; at away meets, warm up starts at 5:30 pm. All swimmers must participate in the warm-up. Doing so increases confidence by giving you a feel for the pool, the water temperature, flag location and starting position on deck.
What are the events in a swim meet?
Freestyle - All ages
Backstroke - All ages
Butterfly - Ages 7 and up
Breast stroke - Ages 7 and up
Individual Medley - Ages 11 and up. Consists of a single swimmer swimming equal distances of the four strokes within one race. Order of strokes: backstroke, breast stroke, butterfly, freestyle.
Medley Relay - All ages. Consists of four different swimmers in one relay competition swimming one stroke each in this order: backstroke, breast stroke, butterfly, freestyle.
Freestyle Relay - All ages. Consists of four different swimmers in one relay competition swimming freestyle.
What are heats?
The goal of each meet is to get a personal best time. To help swimmers accomplish this they are arranged in heats (races) with others who have similar times. If you do not have a previously recorded time, you will usually swim with other swimmers who do not yet have a time for that event.
How many events will I swim in at the meet?
Swimmers can be entered in a maximum of 5 scoring events (3 individual events and 2 relays). This does not mean that you will swim in 5 events. The coaches will decide on how many and in which events you swim based on the number of swimmers in your age group, your ability to swim the strokes without getting DQ'd, your times, practice attendance and other factors.
When can I talk to the coaches?
Our coaching staff is very accessible but NOT during practice times. During these times the coaches need to focus their attention on the swimmers. The best time to talk to the coaches is before the first or after the last practice of the day. You may also speak to one of the team coordinators and ask them to relay a message to the coaches. Along these same lines, please do not talk to your swimmer(s) while they are at practice as this can be distracting to other swimmers and the coaches.
Do you accept
sponsorships?
YES! The Memorial Forest Club, Inc. is registered under section 501(c)7 of the Internal Revenue Code. (We are not designated as a charity and therefore are not exempt from sales tax.) Your swim team fees cover a portion of our total expenses. We rely on donations from our generous sponsors to help purchase team equipment, help offset the cost of the team party and swimmers awards, etc. If you own a business or know of someone would like to sponsor our team in exchange for promoting their business, please contact our Sponsorship Coordinator.
Where can I practice in preparation for the season?
The swim conference rules allow swimmers to participate in the following pre-season programs:
- Memorial Athletic Club "Aqua Fit" program
- Dad's Club "Streamline" program
- Lifetime Fitness "Head Start" program
Your swimmer cannot participate in a USA swim-affiliated program beyond March 8, 2026 to remain eligible for this summer swim league
