Frequently Asked Questions about POSA:

If you have any additional questions, please don’t hesitate to email the POSA Board at askposa@posaeagles.org.  

Does my child need to know how to swim to join POSA?

A POSA swimmer should be able to swim freestyle one full length of the high school pool (25 yards).  Our coaches immediately begin working on improving a swimmer’s skill and endurance.  Since beginning swimmers practice six hours per week, there will be great improvement very quickly

I am not sure if my child will like POSA, can he/she try it out before committing to joining the team? 

Yes.  POSA offers a two week trial period for any child that joins the team.  Each swimmer is required to have paid the $60.00 Illinois Swimming insurance fee before swimming in the pool.  This fee is non-refundable.  If a swimmer wants to leave after the first two weeks of the season, a parent must contact the POSA Board or Coach in writing.  

Does POSA offer a payment plan?

Yes.  In the winter season there is an option to make installment payments.  In the summer season, all fees must be paid at time of registration. Effective Fall 2010, POSA will require each family to register a credit card with the club to ensure that any unpaid fees will be paid at the end of each season.  If other arrangements need to be made, please contact the POSA President or Treasurer.  

What’s the difference between Group 1 and Group 2 swimmers?

Swimmers are grouped by skill level.  Each swimmer’s skill level is initially assessed during the first few days of the season.  Coaches then place the swimmer in the group/lane that best fits their swim level.  Based on their individual progression and improvement, a swimmer can move between lanes and eventually up into Group 2.

If I have a question about my child’s progress, who do I contact?

Any parent is encouraged and welcome to email their child’s lane coach and/or the POSA head coach.  The coaches emails are listed on the POSA website.  We kindly ask that parents refrain from speaking with a coach while swimmers are practicing.    

What are the practice times for swimmers?

The “typical” Winter season practice time for each group is:

Group 1 practices on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 6:00pm to 7:30pm.

Group 2 practices on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 7:30-9:00pm and on Wednesdays from 6:00-7:30pm.

Swim practice times are posted on the posaeagles.com website under “event calendar.”  Practice times are often adjusted to accommodate for high school events. Beginning, June 7, 2010, the practice times are:

Group 1 practices on Monday through Friday from 5:45-7:00pm.

Group 2 practices on Monday through Friday from 7:00am-9:00am 

Is attendance at every practice required?

A swimmer’s progression and performance will improve with each practice. Although, attendance at practice is not mandatory, our coaches would like each swimmer present as much as possible.  

Can I stay to watch my child practice?

Yes.  Parents are encouraged to stay and watch their child’s practice from the Sandburg HS pool stands.  However, due to Illinois Swimming insurance regulations all non-swimmer/coaches must remain off the pool deck. 

How will I be notified if practice is canceled or the time is changed?

When you register your child it is required to provide an email address.  We use both our website and email to communicate with POSA families.  On the home page of the POSA website there is a traffic light in the bottom left corner.  That traffic light shows the status of practice for a given day.  As our pool time can be changed due to many reasons, including events happening at the high school, it is important to check your email and “event calendar” regularly.  

Does my child participate in swim meets?

Throughout the swim season, POSA will participate in “dual” meets against other community swim clubs.  The meets are during the week and run from approximately 5:30pm to 9:00pm.  Participation in a dual meet is encouraged, but not mandatory.  Voluntarily sign ups are conducted by the coaches the week prior to the meet.

If my child signs up to attend a dual meet, how many events will he/she swim?

As meets are voluntary and each child’s skill level is different, it is difficult to say how many events any swimmer will participate in during a meet.  Rest assured, if your child signs up for the meet, they will swim at least one event.

What is an ISI meet?

An ISI meet is a meet that is hosted by a swim club, but is open to any registered swimmer.  An ISI meet takes place over a weekend.  An ISI meet would be considered more competitive in nature than a dual meet.  POSA does not require swimmers to participate in ISI meets.  

Why should a swimmer participate in an ISI meet?

ISI meets give our swimmers additional opportunities to competitively swim against other swimmers their age who are not necessary in our conference.  It also allows the swimmer to get experience and times for all strokes.  At a dual meet, we are only able to swim a certain number of swimmers per event, so in turn, a swimmer may not always be able to swim their favorite stroke in a competitive setting.  Whereas, in an ISI, all swimmers can be entered in as many or as few events as they desire.  

How do I sign up for an ISI meet or find out more information about the meet?

The POSA calendar will provide a deadline date for all entries to be submitted to a Coach for a swimmer entry to an ISI meet. There is a form that can be downloaded from the POSA website which should be submitted along with the ISI fee.  Please note that coaches will enter the swimmer in all events listed on the day(s) that the swimmer is participating.  If a swimmer does not want to participate in an event or he/she wants to only swim one day of the weekend meet, this must be noted on the ISI entry slip.  The entry fee of $14.00 will not change regardless of how many or how few events a swimmer participates in.  Once a swimmer’s entry and payment are submitted to a coach, the fee will be non-refundable.

Each host club must submit a "meet packet" to Illinois Swimming.  The meet packet will give all the details about the meet (start time, admission fee, order of events, deadline dates to enroll, etc.)  We try to post the web link to the meet packet for all ISI on our website so that families can be informed.

What does “bullpen” mean?  

In most ISI meets, swimmers are placed in a "bullpen." A bullpen is where swimmers are assembled for their particular event and then guided to their assigned starting block. 

What does “positive check-in” mean?  If my swimmer is not checked in, can he/she swim?

Each swimmer MUST check in with the host club's registration table in order to check off or highlight their name.  This confirms the swimmer's attendance at the meet.  If a swimmer does not "positively" check in before the noted time, that swimmer will be considered a “no-show” and WILL NOT be allowed to swim - no exceptions.

Is there a fee to attend a meet?

There is no charge for any POSA swimmer to participate in a dual meet.  There is a $14.00 per swimmer per day fee to participate in an ISI meet.  Also, there is usually an entrance fee for spectators to watch an ISI and if you would like a “heat sheet” (which lists all the events and swimmers participating in those events), there is typically an extra charge for those as well.

What is the volunteer commitment for parents?

POSA cannot function without the help of family volunteers.  For instance, a home dual meet needs approximately 30 volunteers to run effectively.  For every swimmer, a family member must volunteer their time on two occasions with a maximum of four occasions per family.  

There are many volunteer activities which will fulfill your commitment.  We host approximately four dual meets each season, which are run by parent volunteers.  Volunteers will be needed to time at the meets, help organize the swimmers, set up and sell concessions, clean-up and monitor the locker rooms.  We are always looking for computer savvy helpers at the head table at our home meets.  There are also other opportunities such as assisting in fundraiser activities, helping at an  officials clinic and organization of our end of the season parties. 

I would like to try lane timing or another volunteer position but I’ve never done it - is there training?  

Yes, before each meet, the meet official or Meet Director will conduct a “timer’s meeting” which will explain how to use the stopwatch and records the swimmer’s times.

What is the fundraiser commitment?

 Each season we conduct at least one fundraiser to help raise funds for our swim club in an effort to keep our fees low.  All families have a responsibility to participate and are encouraged to exceed the minimum sales volume. For the Summer 2010 season we will be participating in two different fundraising campaigns.  The minimum sales volume required per family will remain at $100.00.  You may choose to participate in either one or both campaigns.  As of right now, there is no opportunity for a family to “buy-out” of a fundraiser.

What equipment or uniform is needed?

For practice, each swimmer will need the following:  a practice swim suit (no two piece suits for girls), a swim cap, at least one pair of goggles, fins, hand paddles (Group 2 swimmers only) and a pull buoy (Group 2 swimmers only).  Coach Josh wants all swimmers to bring a water bottle to practice in order to stay hydrated.

For participation in a dual or ISI meet, each swimmer will need the following:  POSA team suit, swim cap, two pairs of goggles (in case one pair breaks), extra towel, extra bottle of water, healthy snacks and magic marker (to write their events on the palm of his/her hand)

As a spectator at a swim meet, what should I be aware of?

First, as we all know, swimming pools offer everyone a warm and humid environment to watch a meet.  Some pools are more uncomfortable than others.  We suggest all spectators wear light weight clothing and drink lots of fluid to keep cool.  Some pools have large gallery areas that spectators can set up their own chair.  

What are the patches that the kids receive at the end of the year?

Swimmers will earn a chevron patch every season they participate in POSA and can earn a special conference patch if they are invited to conference.  “Patch” jackets can be purchased twice per year.  Orders are typically placed mid season.  Chevrons are added to the arm of the jacket, conference patches are added to the chest area of the jackets.  There are similar to “letter” jackets that other sports teams use.

When can I order the cool POSA spirit wear?  

Spirit wear orders can be accepted year round - just contact any board member for more details.

Custom Website Design by Earth Skater