About the Friendswood Area Swim Team (FAST)

Objective

The primary objective of the Friendswood Area Swim Team is to provide a competitive summer swim program for youth ages 6 - 18. The team strives to provide a quality program where swimmers can improve their aquatic skills, and promote teamwork and good sportsmanship, and of course to have lots of FUN! We hope that your children will come away from this experience with improved swimming skills, increased self-esteem and fond memories.

Season Overview

The FAST season begins with a week of practice for new swimmers the second week of April and a parent meeting (Date to be determined) and ends Sunday July 11 with the Clear Creek Swimming League Champ series meet. Practices will be held in the afternoons until school is out. Beginning June 1st, some swimmers will switch to morning practices. Meets will be on Saturdays. Meet dates and practice schedules can be found in the handbook and practice schedules can be found here, and information on Meets can be found here.

Related Organizations

The Friendswood Area Swim Team is part of the Clear Creek Swimming League, Inc. (CCSL) More information about CCSL can be found here.

Eligibility

Swimmers are eligible to join FAST if they are between 6 and 18 years of age by September 1 of the current year. To join the team for the first time, a swimmer must be able to swim one length of a 25-yard pool, without holding on to the lane ropes or touching the bottom of the pool. New swimmers must be able to demonstrate this ability by the end of the first week of practice.

First Year Member Try-Outs

New swimmers must attend the New Swimmer practices the second week of April. The registration fee must be paid and the registration/medical release form must be completed and signed, prior to the tryouts. Should a swimmer not be able to meet the eligibility requirements, the registration fee will be refunded minus $5.00 pool usage fee.

Registration Fees for 2010

Registration will be done on-line and all fees must be paid on-line for a registration to be completed.     Notes
  1. Fees reflect a City of Friendswood pool usage fee., the city charges FAST an additional $30 for non resident participants.
  2. Parents of swimmers must also agree to volunteer for a minimum of 4 volunteer shifts per family during the swim season. If you are unable to volunteer for any reason, you must pay a volunteer waiver fee of $150.
  3. When you sign up to volunteer and do not show up and work your assignment, you will be assessed a $50.00 fee per shift not worked. If you are assessed the waiver fee and refuse to pay, your child or children will not be allowed to register or participate in FAST the next year.
    Refunds
Full refund, less the $10.00 (or $30 for non-residents) City of Friendswood pool usage fee and $5.00 for the t-shirt will be given ONLY if the swimmer does not meet the eligibility requirements by April 20. Partial refunds will be given ONLY on the basis outlined below:
  1. Withdrawals requested before practice begins will be for full fee less pool usage fees.
  2. Withdrawals requested within five scheduled practice days from the day swimmer joins the team will be for the full fee less a $15.00 administrative charge for each swimmer.
  3. No refunds will be given for withdrawal after five scheduled practice days from the day a swimmer joins the team.

Swim Meet Duration (How long does it last?)

Regular CCSL swim meets held on Saturdays, are from 7:00 a.m. until around 1:00 p.m. When swimmers are tardy, or when we swim against a very large team, meets may last until as late as 2:00 p.m. Assume the mindset that these events are routine Saturday picnics. Make them fun outings for the whole family.

Thank You Sponsors!

FAST is extremely grateful to the 2009 sponsors for their support. Their contributions permit the team to keep the registration fees modest. Please patronize our sponsors and let them know how much you appreciate their donations! The Friendswood Journal and the Friendswood Reporter-News have been wonderful supporters of FAST. Please show your gratitude by subscribing to these newspapers and looking for the great articles and photos they publish of our swimmers!

Parent Participation

Because there are so many jobs to be done, parent participation is essential at a swim meet. It takes around 130 volunteer parents to run a home swim meet, and we must furnish 90 or so volunteers at away swim meets. The more volunteers we have, the less time each parent must work at a particular meet. Don't worry if you have no experience, we will train you! A parent from each family is expected to work four volunteer shifts during the regular season meets. Go here for more specifics on parent participation at meets.

Team and Individual Pictures

Team and individual pictures will be taken in lieu of a practice in May. The date will be communicated. Individual photographs will be taken starting at 4:30 p.m. and the group picture will take place at 6:00 p.m. Pictures are taken at the pool. A different day will be selected if it rains. All swimmers should wear their team swimsuit and/or t-shirts for this photo session. The purchase of photos is optional. Cash and checks only, credit cards not accepted. Pictures will be distributed at home meets and at the year-end party. Contact Kathryn Soraiz at 281.482.7267 to make other arrangements. If arrangements are not made to pick up items by August 31st, pictures and merchandise may be discarded.

Social Event (Year End Party)

The FAST primary social event of the year is the year-end party. This event also serves as our annual general membership meeting to elect new board members. You will want to be sure to attend this event to be held at the pool, exclusively for FAST members and family. Kids of all ages love this event and it has been a great success in past years. Trophies and awards for the swimmers are also presented at this function. Swimmers must have participated in at least 2 regular season meets in order to receive an award.

Head Coaches

Sophie Wostal will be the head coach for FAST in 2010. Sophie is currently the assistant swim coach and the diving coach for Friendswood High School. Sophie is also a former FAST swimmer and swam for many years for the team.

Instructors / JuniorAssistants

We have one assistant head coach and two assistant coaches and five associate coaches. In an attempt to maximize the benefits of the practice sessions, each instructor is assigned responsibility for a particular group. This will enable the instructors to better get to know the swimmers in their groups, to identify their strengths and to work on their weaknesses. The instructors will also assist in placing swimmers in the appropriate events at the swim meets. Due to potential legal liabilities, and restrictions in our insurance policy, please do not ask or expect the coaching staff to transport your children to or from the swim practice and swim meets.

Practice Schedule and Rules

Swimmers will benefit greatly by regular attendance at practice sessions. At practice, they will receive instruction on proper swim stroke techniques and will build physical endurance. To join the team for the first time, a swimmer age 6 - 10 must be able to swim 1 length of a 25 yard pool. Children age 11 and up must be able to swim 2 lengths of a 25 year pool. All age groups must be able to swim the designated pool length without holding onto the lane ropes or touching the bottom of the pool. Please go here for specific practice information by age group.

Team Managers

At most regular practices one of the team managers will be present. The team managers are parent volunteers. All parents with questions about the team including questions for the coaches should first contact the team manager at the practice. Depending on the issue the team manager will either handle it or will connect the parent with the coaches. Due to safety concerns it is very important that parents do not approach coaches who are actively working on the pool deck during practice. With lots of swimmers in the water it is critical that coaches be able to focus on the swimmers.

Any concerns about the coaches or instructors may also be addressed by contacting the FAST President, Steve Rockey at 713-854-3449. For contact information for the Board, please go here.

Personal Equipment

    Swimsuit Requirements     Team Swimsuits
Team swim suits are not mandatory. FAST always selects two-year suits for the team suit. A two year swimsuit is one the manufacturer has indicate will be produced and available at swim shops for two consecutive years. This is the second year for our two year suits. Swimsuits are available for purchase at registration and at the parent's meeting. Please contact the swim suit coordinator.We recommend that the team suit be worn only during swim meets to preserve the life of the suit. Practice suits tend to take a beating.     Caps and Goggles
While neither caps nor goggles are mandatory, you will find that both are essential to a productive swim season and are desired by the coach.     T- Shirts
Team T-shirts for swimmers are included in the registration fee and will be given out at the photo shoot. To promote team spirit, T-shirts are availbe for purchase for $10.00 each. The T-shirts are usually available at practices and meets. Please contact swim suit coordinator for more information.

Swim Meet Instructions