Frequently Asked Questions
HOW IS ORCAS DIFFERENT THE DIVISIONAL (ES, MS, HS) SWIM TEAMS?
The ASIJ Orcas Swim Club was started to provide swimmers in all three divisional teams a place to swim year round whereas the divisional teams only train and compete for one athletic season. We hire and pay coaches to come and train our swimmers for a fee. The Orcas daily pool time is scheduled after the divisional teams. Orcas swimmers also have the opportunity to participate in meets at other international schools, US military bases, and JASF meets throughout the year.
How do I join?
We ask all new swimmers to email the club and schedule a tryout prior to registering for a season. Our coaches will be assessing your endurance level as well as your technique.
Who manages Orcas?
Orcas is run solely by a team of dedicated parents who volunteer their time to manage the operation and finances of the club. The ASIJ Orcas Swim Club is not for profit.
When do the orcas practice?
Monday through Friday, after the divisional swim team practices. Pool times vary.
Do you need to join Orcas at the beginning of the year or can I join at a later date?
We welcome new members throughout the year and hold tryouts at the beginning of each athletic season (fall, winter, spring, and pre-summer) and post the dates on this website and on the school blogs.
What are the requirement?
Orcas training focuses on developing competitive swimmers and is not a learn-to-swim club.
Requirements:
Requirements:
- For safety concerns, swimmers need to be in Grades 5 and up. (Swimmers are unsupervised for 1.5 – 2 hours before start of practices and our practices sometimes end at 7:30pm when there is no late bus available to take home).
- Swimmers can swim 50 meters freestyle in under 40 seconds.
- Swimmers have the stamina to endure 1-2 hour practices.
- Ability to swim all four strokes - freestyle, butterfly, backstroke, and breaststroke - is preferred .
What should I bring to tryouts?
Swim wear, cap, goggles, towel, a water bottle, and paddles and fins if you have them. Also not to be forgotten is a healthy snack for after practice!
Since Orcas is a year round club, Does that mean I have to commit to the entire year?
No. Our year is divided into four seasons (fall, winter, spring, pre-summer) and swimmers register for the season(s) of their choice.
Are there certain days that are better for my age group?
Coaches divide groups according to age and swim level. Once the coaches assess your swim level, they can give suggestions on days.
why do I still have to sign up for practices on Team Snap after I've registered for the season?
Coaches develop lesson plans for the day according to each swimmer's needs, and need to know in advance who will participate. They also need to know who is expected to swim in case of emergencies.
How do we find out if practices have been postponed or canceled?
It is the swimmer’s responsibility to check TeamSnap for any changes to our schedule. In the event a practice is canceled, an email will be sent out through TeamSnap.
What do I do if I have to miss practice?
Change your availability status on TeamSnap and email the club ([email protected]) or email Coach Masa ([email protected]) or Coach Hiroto ([email protected]).
Do I need to register with the Japan Amateur Swimming Federation (JASF)?
No. While our members are generally qualified for international school and US Military base swim meets, meets sponsored by JASF are designed for swimmers looking for a more competitive environment and have specific qualifying times. Our coaches will be able to advise you on your readiness to compete at JASF meets.
Transportation: How do swimmers get home?
Practice times vary and unfortunately, almost all of our practices end past the late bus times, as the divisional swim teams have first priority of the pool and our practice starts after theirs end.
Swimmers will only be able to take the late bus home on those days when practices end at 5:15pm. Most practices end at 6:30pm or 7:30pm during the winter season, so alternate transportation will need to be arranged.
Some swimmers take the train home and there are also some parents who have organized carpools to the downtown area. Swimmers interested in joining the carpool should email us at [email protected].
Swimmers will only be able to take the late bus home on those days when practices end at 5:15pm. Most practices end at 6:30pm or 7:30pm during the winter season, so alternate transportation will need to be arranged.
Some swimmers take the train home and there are also some parents who have organized carpools to the downtown area. Swimmers interested in joining the carpool should email us at [email protected].
What do the kids do after school while they are waiting for Orcas practice to begin?
ES swimmers are not allowed to stay on campus without supervision after school. MS swimmers are required to go to Academic Lab after school where they can complete their homework. HS swimmers stay in the HS building or go to the HS Library.
If I miss practices due to illness or injury, can I get a refund or transfer my lessons to family members? What is the MAKEUP POLICY?
No. We do not give refunds, make-up sessions, nor can we transfer lessons to family members. However, coaches can modify training to accommodate each swimmer’s situation. For example, if a swimmer has an ear infection and cannot swim, that swimmer will be instructed to do dryland training. If a swimmer has a leg injury, he/she can do upper body training. Please consult with the coaches to determine the best method of training.
Do parents need to volunteer?
Yes. Every family plays an important role in the success of the club and is expected to fill volunteer assignments regardless of the number of days of practice or meets attended. Invitations to volunteer sign up sheets will be circulated. There are many jobs that do not require any swimming knowledge, and even jobs that can be done from home with an internet connection. If you have any special talents, we would love to put them to good use!
How do I sign up for meets and who picks my events?
The choice of events to participate in is yours but coaches can help you select events for which you have been working on and to get a good mix of events throughout the year. Coaches choose the relay teams.
The Meet Coordinator will send you and your parent a link to an online sign up form where you will need to input your choices.
The Meet Coordinator will send you and your parent a link to an online sign up form where you will need to input your choices.
Do we pay for meets?
Yes, you will have to pay for all of your individual events. However, coaches decide all relay teams, which the club will pay. Fees must be paid at the time of registration.
Why are the meet deadlines set so early in comparison to the meet date?
The process for registering the team for a meet is quite time extensive. Typically, the host team accepts entries from other teams within a three week window: one month prior to the meet to one week before the meet. Some meets fill-up, so teams want to get their entries in to the host team as soon as possible. The first step of meet registration is for you to register for the swim meet through the signup form link sent by our Meet Coordinator or through the Orcas website. After the deadline has passed, the list of swimmers is then given to the swim coaches who make relay decisions. The Meet Coordinator uses special swimming software called Hy-Tek to enter swimmers into events. The Meet Coordinator then emails this information to the host team. Once entries are accepted by the host team, the swimmer is responsible to pay the meet fees.
I forgot to register for a swim meet and it’s after the deadline. Can my child still participate?
No, once the Meet Coordinator has sent in our entries on the host team’s deadline, registration is closed.
I registered for a swim meet and now I cannot attend the meet. What should I do?
If it is still before the meet registration deadline, you can contact the Meet Coordinator and cancel your entry. If it’s after the meet deadline and entries have been submitted to the host team, you will have to forfeit any money paid for the swim meet. Remember to notify the coach that you cannot attend the meet, so the coach will not be expecting you to attend.
Is a team uniform and swim cap required?
While team swimsuits are optional, an Orcas or ASIJ cap is required at meets, and we encourage swimmers to wear ASIJ clothing. It is important for us to look like a team when we arrive at an event and when we are in the water. It promotes team spirit in addition to helping us easily identify each other at a busy venue.
It's my first meet, what's should I do?
Pre-Meet:
- Arrive about 15-20 minutes before the time we are given for warmup, or the time instructed by coaches. This allows the swimmers time to find their place to sit, locate their team, and get ready to stretch before warmup starts. Swimmers will warmup for approximately 20-30 minutes. This usually ends with some practicing of starts.
- Coaches will then give the swimmers any announcements and pep talks for the meet.
- Bring plenty of drinks, healthy snacks, things to do during the down time (read a book, listen to music, playing cards), a mat or blanket to rest on, and a jacket or robe to keep warm.
- Younger swimmers write their Events/Heats/Lanes on their arm with permanent marker. This helps them remember when and where they are supposed to be. Older swimmers begin to phase that practice out as they get better at remembering their events.
- Before and after every race, swimmers should speak to their coaches to go over race strategies, technique cues, and offer analysis after the race.
- Swimmers should go directly behind the blocks after speaking with their coach before their race.
- When it is their heat, there is a series of whistles and commands. The long whistle is to get on the block (or in the water for backstroke). For a backstroke race there is an additional long whistle and that is for the swimmers to put their feet on the wall. The command for the start is "Take your mark." On the sound of the beep the race begins.
- Before you leave the meet, check in with the coach to make sure you aren't on a relay. Sometimes our relay swimmers change, due to illness or other factors. Make sure the coach knows that you are leaving.
For any additional questions, please contact us at [email protected]