Tryout Information

When are tryouts and how do I register?

Tryouts for the Westport Weston Family YMCA Water Rat Swim Team will be held August 24th and 25th. These sessions will be blocked off for 45 minutes each. The first session will begin at 3:15 p.m. and last starting at 5:15 pm on both days. Each session will be capped at 15 swimmers each. We will hold in person tryouts for all swimmers under the age of 10. If your child is over the age of 10 please see below as you will need to reach out to one of our coaches for an evaluation.

Tuesday August 24th will be for all swimmers under the age of 8, as of December 31st 2021.

Wednesday August 25th will be for swimmers ages 9-10, as of December 31st 2021.

The Water Rat Swim Team was established in 1949, and from the beginning, members of the team have been perennial state champions.  The Water Rat Swim Team competes in YMCA competitions at the local, state, and national level. The club is also a registered USA Swimming Team sanctioned by Connecticut Swimming, Inc. and competes in USA Swimming competitions at the local, regional, state, zone, and national level. Practices take place before or after school and on Saturday mornings, with the frequency and timing of sessions depending on age and ability level.

On tryout dates the coaching staff will evaluate swimmers during each session. Our team administrator via email will notify parents about tryout results within 3-4 days with the coaching staffs’ decision. The registration fee for tryouts is $25 for members and $30 for nonmembers.

If you would like to try out, you must register online with Y by contacting the Y membership desk.

Please direct all questions regarding tryouts to the following coaches…

If your child is offered a place on the team, then you should use the Water Rat Online Registration system.

Do current swim team members have to try out?

No, if they were registered and swam on the swim team during the previous school year, they do not have to try out. Coaches will put them in a group based on their age and ability.

What do prospective Water Rats do during tryouts?

We will have the children swim at least one length of each of the four competitive strokes (butterfly, backstroke, breaststroke and freestyle). If they do not know how to properly swim all four strokes, don’t worry. Many of our swimmers start on the team with a vague knowledge of the strokes, then learn as they go. The coaches will also treat some of the tryouts as a practice session (asking them to perform certain tasks). This is to see how they will work in a practice-like setting.

How are the children evaluated?

The coaches evaluate the children in a variety of ways. They time some of the swims. The also will instruct the kids to perform tasks, so they can observe how they execute instructions.

How many openings do you have?

We will not know the exact number until we hear from our current swim team participants on whether they plan to join us for another year. However, we already know that we have a lot room on our of 8/under group.

What if my child tries out and does not make the team?

If a child does not make the Water Rats Swim Team, we will offer the possibility of joining at a later time. Based on how your child performs, the coaches may recommend him for the pre-competitive White group, or they may suggest further swim lessons.

What is the White group?

The White group is for swimmers who are not ready to compete at swim meets, but have the skills to begin to learn about competitive swimming. See the online schedule for practice times. The schedule is updated in late August every year.

How do I register for the White group?

You can register at the Membership Desk. Registration is by invitation only. Please bring the letter that we send (or give) you, suggesting that your child enroll in a pre-team group.

If my child makes the team, what group will she be in?

The groups are based on age and ability. We assign new swimmers to groups after we have evaluated them at tryouts, and after we have determined how many returning swimmers we have on the team.

When are the Swim Team practices?

Please see the practice schedule on Team Unify, the team’s online management system. (It is updated every August and March.)

What if my child can’t commit to all the practices?

The Water Rat Swim Team is a serious competitive program and we like to keep open and constant lines of communication between the swimmers and coaches. We also like our swimmers to be very well rounded. (Many of our younger swimmers participate in other sports, such as Little League baseball or travel soccer, and a lot of our Water Rats are accomplished musicians.) If you have to miss a practice, we just ask that you let your coach know by phone call, email or simply by telling them. If you have to miss a series of practices, please discuss this with your coach in advance so they can provide you and your child with training options or suggestions.

If you have other questions, please contact Ellen Johnston.