Frequently Asked Questions

Questions about the PineBrookWood ORCAs

 

1.  Who are the ORCAs?

2.  What is CCSL?

3.  What does the team do with the ORCA registration fee money?

4.  Do the ORCAs require fundraising?

5.  When and where is ORCA registration?

6.  Can I mail my registration in?

7.  How old does my child have to be to join the ORCAs?

8.  Can I get a refund if my child doesn’t want to swim?

9.  My child cannot currently swim. What can the ORCAs do to help?

10. What if my child doesn't know how to perform all of the strokes well?

11. My child knows how to swim, but is not experienced as a competitive swimmer. Are the ORCAs right for him/her?

12. Where do the ORCAs practice?

13. Will my child swim with others his/her own age?

14. Can my 9-year old swim with my 13-year old at practices?

15. How often does my child have to practice?

16. How do I find out if practice is cancelled?

17. How long does the ORCAs’ season last?

18. Will my child be required to attend swim meets?

19. Can my child swim for the ORCAs and still play soccer, baseball, softball, volleyball, etc.?

20. Does my child have to purchase and wear the team swimsuit?

21. Who manages the ORCAs?

22. How can I get involved with the ORCAs as a volunteer?

 

 

 

 

Questions about MEETS

23.  Where are meets held?

24.  When are meets held and how long do they last?

25.  What if my child has to miss a meet?

26.  What if my child has to leave a meet early?

27.  What is a DQ?

28.  Who determines which swimmers swim on the relay teams?

29.  What are "novice,” “reserve" and "champ" times?

30.  What are the Novice, Reserve, and Champ Meets?  Who attends?

31.  My 12-year old child made 2 reserve times and 2 champ times; can they swim the 2  reserve times and then swim whatever they make champ time in at the Champ meet?

32.  My child is 6-years old and made a reserve time; can they swim in the Reserve meet?

33.  My 10-year old has more than three qualifying times; can I pick what they swim in the Champ Meet?

34.  My child is 14-years old, but does not have a reserve time; can they swim in the Novice Meet?

35.  My child swam in one regular season meet and made 3 champ times; can he swim in the Champ Meet?

 

1.       Who are the ORCAs?                                                                                                        Return to top

The ORCAs are a summer league swim team. We are NOT a competitive year-round USA Swimming team. We are a voluntary, non-profit organization that exists to field and support a competitive team for the promotion, enjoyment and participation of young people who wish to compete in the Clear Creek Swim League (CCSL) summer league season. Our purpose is to encourage the development of good sportsmanship, teamwork and local aquatic skill.

The team consists of approximately 200 swimmers ages 5-18 covering all skill levels. The ORCAs compete in the large team division of CCSL. Current large division members include: Deer Park, Friendswood, League City, PineBrookwood, and Harbour Tide.

2.       What is CCSL?                                                                                                                    Return to top

The Clear Creek Swim League, Inc. (CCSL) is a non-profit organization formed in 1964 for the purpose of sponsoring competitive and developmental swimming events and activities in and between the community swimming pools in the Clear Creek [suburban southeast Houston] and surrounding areas of Texas' Galveston Bay. It will also develop a love for the sport and advance aquatic skills, teamwork and the principles of good sportsmanship.

Member teams of the league are currently Baytown, Brooks, Clear Lake City, Clear Lake Forest, Deer Park, Dickinson, El Lago, Friendswood, Harbour Tide,  Heritage Park, La Porte, League City, Nassau Bay, North Shore, PineBrookwood, Pineloch, Seabrook, Pearland, South Belt and Timber Cove.

3.      What does the team do with the ORCA registration fee money?                        Return to top

The registration fee is used to pay coaches' salaries, rent facilities, pay operating expenses and purchase trophies, equipment, etc., for the team.

 

4.       Do the ORCAs require fundraising?                                                                             Return to top

The ORCAs do not require fund-raising.  

5.       When and where is ORCA registration?                                                                      Return to top

The exact dates and locations will be listed on the website. ORCA registration is generally held in late March or early April at the Brookwood or Pinebrook pool. Registration Forms may be mailed to previous swim team members in early March. Registration Forms can be returned via mail or hand delivered (see address on the Registration Form).  Late-registration is also taken the first day of practice at the pool.

6.       Can I mail my registration in?                                                                                       Return to top

Yes. The Registration Form and Emergency Information Form and Parent Volunteer Contract may be downloaded from the website, completed and brought to registration.

7.       How old does my child have to be to join the ORCAs?                                             Return to top

Your child must be 5 years old by May 1^st in order to register. For new swimmers proof of age may be required for insurance purposes. There will be no exception to the age limitation rule.

8.       Can I get a refund if my child doesn’t want to swim?                                               Return to top

Partial refunds may be made. Full refunds will be made if your child does not qualify (see Eligibility rules).

9.       My child cannot currently swim. What can the ORCAs do to help?                       Return to top

The ORCAs do not teach swimming lessons. Practices are devoted to developing good stroke technique. Your child must be able to swim unassisted 25 meters across the pool without stopping in a manner determined by the coaching staff and team board members to be water safe. New swimmers will be tested prior to acceptance on the team. You should determine if swimming lessons would be a more appropriate first step. Many young swimmers who qualify still take additional swim lessons.

10.   What if my child doesn't know how to perform all of the strokes well?                Return to top

Training focus, intensity and duration varies by skill level, age, maturity, etc. While our swimmers are water safe and can swim freestyle before joining the team, some may not perform all of the strokes legally or efficiently. The coaches will help assess your swimmers’ skill level and place them in an appropriate group. Everyone was a beginner once. Our coaches remember that and will help your child improve his/her technique.

11.   My child knows how to swim, but is not experienced as a competitive swimmer. Are the ORCAs right for him/her?                                                                                                  Return to top

We believe so. The ORCAs are committed to teaching and developing talent and good technique in every swimmer, no matter what the starting point.

12.   Where do the ORCAs practice?                                                                                        Return to top

We practice at the Brookwood & Pinebrook neighborhood pools.

13.   Will my child swim with others his/her own age?                                                        Return to top

The ORCASs are a team of approximately 200 swimmers, ages 6-18. At practice sessions, your child will be instructed by coaches who will strive to improve swimming skills and endurance. Your child will practice with other swimmers of similar ability and age. Practice is broken into age groups: e.g. 6, 7-8, 9-10 and 11 & up.

At competitive meets, your child will swim against his/her own aged swimmers in accordance with these groups: 6, 8 & under, 9-10, 11-12, 13-14 and 15-18. Girls swim against girls, and boys swim against boys. Each event (IM, freestyle, etc.) will have multiple heats. To the best of our ability, swimmers are placed in heats where they swim against competition of similar skill level. As they drop time, swimmers are moved up to compete in faster heats. Our emphasis is on each swimmer's improvement, not on scoring points.

During regular season competition, ribbons will be awarded to each competitor within a heat in accordance with the order of finish (1^st through 6^th) for that specific heat. All swimmers get a ribbon. During the Champ Meet series, ribbons are not awarded for heat finish, they are awarded to the fastest eight finishers in the event. Therefore, only eight swimmers get a ribbon per event.

14.   Can my 9-year old swim with my 13-year old at practices?                                Return to top

As a rule – no, but it could change with the coach's opinion of the swimmer's ability. A swimmer may be swimming below age group level, or above age group level. Your child will receive the most effective training when they are practicing within their own skill level.

15.   How often does my child have to practice?                                                              Return to top

No one ever has to come to practice; however, very few swimmers improve their techniques and times if they don't come to practice. Practices are held every weekday where they will receive instruction in the competitive swim strokes and will swim to build physical endurance. Technique and endurance are both needed to drop time. Swimmers can also keep up with the latest news as information is distributed at practice.

It is up to you to determine how often your child comes to practice. We know there will be instances that cause a missed practice, but please keep in mind that coaches observe swimmers during practice to determine whether a swimmer is “legal” in a particular stroke and to determine which events and heats they will swim at meets.

16.   How do I find out if practice is cancelled?                                                                Return to top

With 200 swimmers, making that many phone calls is impractical. We do not practice if there is thunder/lightning, but DO hold practice if there is only a mist or drizzle. The coaching staff/life-guards will decide whether a practice session is cancelled. You should use your own judgment when determining whether your child should practice.

17.   How long does the ORCAs’ season last?                                                                   Return to top

Practice begins in early May. The pool water will still be cool. Practice sessions are held after school until school is dismissed for the summer, and mornings thereafter in June and the first week of July. A pre-season "time trials" meet (intra-squad) will be held before the regular competition season begins for all swimmers to acclimate themselves to a meet atmosphere and for coaches to get an idea where to seed swimmers in regular season meets and relays. Regular-season meets are conducted every Saturday beginning late May and last through June. The CCSL Novice and Reserve meets then follow the regular season, with the CCSL Champ Meet held thereafter. The Champ Meet marks the end of our competitive season and is generally held near July 1^st.

18.   Will my child be required to attend swim meets?                                                 Return to top

No, but we are a competitive swim team and participation in meets is the reward for all those practice hours. In addition, parents are required to volunteer for at least 4 shifts per child. It is not sensible to have parents volunteering who have no child swimming. The ORCAS do not exist just to provide workout times for swimmers. In order to swim in the post-season champ Series meets, swimmers must participate in at least two of the five regular-season meets. Due to limitations placed on us by other teams, swimmers may not have the opportunity to be on a relay team in every season meet. However, they will be able to participate in the maximum allowable number of individual events (3 for 14 and under, 4 for 15-18).

19.   Can my child swim for the ORCAs and still play soccer, baseball, softball, volleyball, etc.?                                                                                                                                             Return to top

Yes! Many ORCA swimmers are active in other sports and activities. How much you decide to practice is your decision. And, because the swim meets have events on only Saturday, you can even swim one day of the weekend and do another activity the other day.

20.   Does my child have to purchase and wear the team swimsuit?                       Return to top

The team has chosen competition swimsuits, which may be worn to practices and meets. These particular suits are NOT required; but they do conform to swimming rules, look great and provide less drag than commercial suits. While the team suit is optional, the team requires girls to wear one-piece swimsuits suitable for competition to all practices and meets.

21.   Who manages the ORCAs?                                                                                          Return to top

The ORCAs are a Texas Corporation with a Board of Directors consisting of an Executive Director, a Finance Director and a Secretary. The Board of Directors provides oversight. An Executive Committee provides day-to-day operations of the ORCAs. Officers of the ORCAs (President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer) are members of the Executive Committee.

22.   How can I get involved with the ORCAs as a volunteer?                                     Return to top

Don’t worry, we’ll ask!! One of the ORCAs’ greatest strengths is its large group of talented parent volunteers. All parents are required to volunteer in some respect, and we welcome new additions with open arms! Just ask a Board Member at registration or on deck about volunteer positions and opportunities.