Join the Gator Swim Team's Year Round Program Today!
The Gator Swim Team is now enrolling kids of all ages and abilities to be part of its year-round swimming program. Our program is designed to accommodate swimmers of all ability levels, from very basic "learn to swim" lessons to advanced swimming workouts, all with the constant supervision of certified coaches with decades of accumulated experience in training and competition.
Our team's knowledgeable coaches work with the swimmers in practice sessions and swim meets, providing the young athletes all the support and confidence they need to start and maintain healthy habits that will last a lifetime and define winning in their own personal way. The Gators'
year-round program provides not only a perfect and fun way to keep kids fit,
but also a safe and supportive family environment that stresses lifelong
qualities such as self-confidence, honesty, responsibility, sportsmanship,
trust, pride and self-discipline, among others.
Why Swimming?
- Swimming is one of the best whole-body workouts and can be an integral part of achieving and maintaining fitness and decrease the risk of developing future health problems such as diabetes and heart disease. Competitive swimming is argued as one of the best sports to keep you physically fit.
- Swimmers and their parents can participate in events together as a family. Swim meets are great for quality family time. Many Parents find it fun to go to swim meets and participate in what their children are doing. Swim meets are great for meeting other parents of competitive swimmers. Making light conversation is easy because each parent has the common link of a child that swims. There are many friends made every year on swim teams.
- Perhaps the best reason for getting your children involved in competitive swimming is the friendships that they will develop. "Swimming Buddies" often become lifelong friends.
- Swimming is a skill that can save lives.
- Recent research shows that participation in an organized sport such as swimming improves academic and occupational outcomes, lowers school dropout and deters delinquency.
- Swimming is accessible for some people for whom other forms of physical activity are difficult, like those who need low impact exercise.
- Swimming engages kids in a sport that they will be able to continue with throughout their lifetime without concern for damaging joints, breaking bones, or placing undue stress on our bodies.
- Nothing beats splashing around a pool with friends, and swimming offers the benefits of a full-body workout for kids of any age.
- Swimming provides growth in self confidence and discipline which is unmatched by participation in any other kind of sport or activity.
- The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends swimming lessons for children ages 4 and up.
- If you and your kids have participated in other organized sports in the past, you will be pleased to know that
THERE IS NO BENCH IN SWIMMING: EVERYONE PLAYS.
Why Gators?
The Gator Swim Team is the longest-running swimming program in this corner of the state. We have the most experienced and knowledgeable coaches and a tradition of excellence that goes back over four decades. Our team welcomes not only experienced swimmers who want to improve their technique and speed, but also inexperienced young athletes who would like to learn the sport from the very beginning.
By joining the Gator Swim Team team, kids will:
- Learn and apply the basic swimming skills needed to practice the sport and maximize its health benefits
- Participate in stroke drills and games that make learning fun, while developing good stroke technique
- Make new friends
- Build self-confidence and self-esteem through swimming
- Compete and represent the team in regional swim meets against other teams in the area.
In a meet, up to eight swimmers enter the pool at a time, grouped by age and ability. The goal for each individual swimmer is to decrease their own individual personal best time. As a result there are no losers, everyone is a winner.
When and Where?
Fall practice starts on August 16, 2009. All
practices are at the Central Municipal Pool (aka "The Bubble") in Cape
Girardeau. The tentative practice schedule is available in the
Registration Packet, along with fees and other information.
How do I Sign Up?
Click on the link below to download the Registration Packet containing fee information, practice times and registration forms. Return the signed forms to one of the coaches or to Michelle Hobbs, the team's treasurer (you can place the signed forms and other documents in the Hobbs family folder at the pool or mail them to the address printed in the packet).
Registration Information and Application Forms
Questions?
Please read the Frequently Asked Questions in the
Registration Packet. For more information please call Coach Steve
at 573-986-8155 or email
coach@gatorswimteam.org.