Frequently Asked Questions

GENERAL QUESTIONS

Q. Is my child ready for the swim team?

We welcome all Tallyho members aged up to age 18 who can swim a length of the pool freestyle. If your child cannot make a length of the pool, then he or she should join pre-team. To participate in pre-team, your child should be able to swim halfway across the shallow end of the pool and be comfortable in the water without flotation devices.

Q. Does the team have social media?

Yes! This is our Instagram Link. And this is our Facebook Group Link! We also do photos for the team and put them on a private google drive that we will send out every season.

Q. What are all of our team cheers?

To learn all our team cheers, use this link. Study up! BE LOUD!

Q. What is MCSL?

Tallyho is part of the Montgomery County Swim League. Please click here for information about MCSL, county-wide policies, meet rules, and more! 

PRACTICES

Q. How often are practices?

Check the practices tab!!! We generally expect every swimmer to attend at least one practice a day. We would love it if you come to two practices a day when we begin offering that.

Q. What happens if my daughter has baseball, soccer, piano practice on Tuesday night and can't make swim practice on that night?

Until school gets out we understand that you might have conflicts. It is ok to miss a swim practice for your soccer practice etc. Please understand that the more you come, the better you will become and the more connected you will become to the team. Once school lets out, we offer two practices and expect you to be able to make at least one practice.

Q. What if it is raining or cold?

We will hold practice unless the pool staff has closed the pool. Some children (especially young and thin children) can be miserable on cold rainy days. It is ok to keep them home as we want all children to love swim team. Because attendance tends to be lighter on those days, the swimmers gets lots of individual attention. In addition, swimmers who attend those days are inducted into our highly prestigious Duck Club.

Q. How will I know if the pool staff has closed the pool?

The pool staff closes the pool for 30 minutes at a time so check email, call the pool, or check Instagram!

Q. I swim for a year round club whose practices conflict with Tallyho practices, what should I do?

We are glad that you swim with a year round club and appreciate it is important to you and your club coach that you attend those practices. You may count those practices to your daily practice requirement. HOWEVER, we expect you to attend a least one Tallyho practice a week.

MEETS (General)

Q. When are the swim meets?

We have a dual meet every Wednesday night (B-meets) and Saturday morning (A-meets). There are additional special meets and relay-only meets in the year. Check the calendar!

Q. What is Time Trials?

Time Trials is a practice meet for all swimmers on the team. All swimmers should attend Time Trials whether it is their first year on the team or they have qualified for the Olympics. Each swimmer should swim each stroke he or she can swim legally (even the strokes he or she doesn't like). Time Trials are a good chance for parents to practice as well. Please volunteer to help at Time Trials.

Q. What do I do if my son has a make up soccer game on the Saturday of Time Trials?

Either attend the first B-meet (typically less than a week after time trials) or email with the Coach about when and where to makeup time trials. (Often if you cannot attend either meet then we do a brief practice makeup where you need to provide your own timer).

Q. Which meets will my child be in?

Almost everyone swims on Wednesday night. On Saturday mornings, approximately we have the 6 fastest swimmers in each age group will swim. This can change from week to week so you might swim on Saturday and not the next.

MEETS (B-Meets)

Q. How do I sign up for Wednesday night B-meets?

For Wednesday night meets, you can sign up for events by the Sunday night prior!!! If you don't sign up, you will not be allowed to swim in the meet. You may be prohibited from swimming certain strokes. You may select events, but the coach may change them. LEAVE A NOTE!

Q. Why won't the coaches let my child swim breaststroke or butterfly in a Wednesday night B-meet?

The coaches will allow swimmers to swim breaststroke or butterfly only if the coaches believe the swimmer can swim the stroke legally. While learning to swim these strokes legally, swimmers need to swim slowly and shouldn't race. In addition, disqualifications slow down the meet.

Q. Which swimmers are precluded from swimming on Wednesday nights for B-meets?

If a swimmer finished first or second among the Tallyho swimmers in the Saturday morning meet, he or she cannot swim that event at the next Wednesday meet. In addition, if a swimmer has one of the two fastest times for the season in an event, he or she cannot swim that event in the meet. Generally limited to 3 total events per Wednesday night. The coach always has final say on all decisions!

MEETS (A-Meets)

Q. How do I sign up for Saturday A-meets?

For Saturday morning meets, the coaches create the line up which the intent to create the strongest team. Generally, about six swimmers per age group swim on Saturday morning. The coaches will post the line up on Thursdays. 

You MUST have marked yourself available for the meet on our signup calendar. You should do this for all the Saturday meets now. You should do this even it is your first year on the team and you don't expect to swim in Saturday meets. The coaches cannot make changes to the lineup after Thursday, so if you don't show up, you are costing the team points and keeping out some other child who would love to have the opportunity to swim on Saturday morning. Please remember to check the line up each week as it changes each week.

Q. How are Saturday A-Meet lineups decided?

The coach uses the top times from the season to create the lineup. Generally speaking, the top 6 in Free, and top 3 in Back, Breast, Fly & IM are entered. This varies because sometimes athletes are out of town. You may be called upon to swim even if you're outside of those top few!

In addition, there is some strategy as 1 swimmer can swim only 3 strokes, IM & 1 Relay. Relays are created at the meet based on top times. An example is when we have the same 3 kids who hold the top 3 times in every event for their age group. All 3 cannot swim all the events! So sometimes we go to the next best top time available! We have gone as far as the 10th best time in an event because of absences and other things in the past!

Q. How will I find out if my swimmer is swimming on Saturday morning for the A-meet?

The line up will be sent out via email. It is typically sent on Thursdays. Friday morning at the latest.

Q. What if we are going to miss a Saturday A-meet?

Don't!!! We need all our swimmers at all our meets. The season is short! Please take your vacation after the season. However, if you don't follow this sage advice, please make sure you have marked your availability on this website ASAP. Remember the coaches cannot make changes to the lineup after Thursday, so if you don't show up, you are costing the team points and keeping out some other child who would love to have the opportunity to swim on Saturday morning.

MEETS (Special Ones)

Q. What is Relay Carnival?

This is a meet within our MCSL division on a Sunday morning. All relays! No individual events. Generally the top 4-5 in each age group qualify!

Q. What is PIRC?

The Potomac Invitational Relay Carnival! This is a meet within our B-league on a Sunday morning. All relays! No individual events. Everyone is able to participate unless you swam many multiple events at the Relay Carnival for the MCSL Division we are in from earlier in the season.

Q. What is Divisionals?

This is a meet within our MCSL division on a Saturday morning the week after the 5th A-meet. Only 2 entries per individual event and 1 entry per relay event are permitted. But no one can swim all the events...Thus, generally the top 3 or so in each age group qualify!

Q. What are "Coaches Long-Course" and "All-Stars"?

These are meets held by MCSL that individuals qualify for based on their A-meet, Relay Carnival, and Divisional swims! There are many rules for these but generally being top in the division and/or in the entire league qualify you. The coach will notify those who qualify directly.