Welcome
On behalf of the FAST Board of Directors, we would like to welcome you to the FAST family! We are so happy to have you join our team! We realize that as new members you may have questions concerning the way everything works and we would like to make that transition easier for you. We have many people here to help answer any questions or concerns you may have. We realize that it can be a bit confusing (and maybe even overwhelming) at the beginning of your membership so please do not hesitate to contact any of us.
How can I get information about practices, meets, team events, and meet support?
One great resource available to you that will help answer a lot of your questions is the FAST team website at http://fortcollinsareaswimteam.org. You will also have an account on the website where you can manage your swimmer’s meet entries, view billing information, and signup for meet support.
You will receive an email from our website coordinator or coaches announcing when you are able to register for upcoming meets, when you can sign up for volunteer positions, and when the deadline for registration is. It is very important to pay attention to those deadline dates because it becomes very difficult and sometimes impossible to late enter your swimmer. Please also note that the volunteer positions for the meets we host often fill up very quickly, so try to register for any spots you would like as soon as sign-ups are available.
You will also receive e-mails from our website coordinator, coaches, and the president of the Board about many different things concerning the team, including information pertaining to our banquets (one in the spring and one in the fall), social activities, fundraisers, and various other items that concern FAST. Please be sure to read all of these e-mails as they will contain very important information that you will want to be aware of.
How do I contact my swimmer’s coach?
You are always welcome to ask your child's coach if you or your swimmer have any questions. Coaches can be contacted either by e-mail, telephone or before or after practice in person. The coaches’ contact information is listed on the team website, http://fortcollinsareaswimteam.org. We do ask that your refrain from asking your coach questions while he/she is on deck coaching unless it is necessary or pertaining to that practice.
Why does FAST require meet support?
FAST hosts quite a few meets throughout the year. The reasons we host meets is because it allows our swimmers to compete without having to travel, it raises significant funds for the team, and we have one of the best pools in the state. In order to host meets, we need your help, which is why we have the meet support requirements.
You are probably aware that part of your membership with FAST includes working meet support sessions. The Terms and Conditions that you signed when you registered indicates the number of sessions you will be required to work based on the practice group your child is in. If you have more than one swimmer with FAST, you are required to fulfill the requirement of the higher swim practice group.
A meet support session usually averages about 4 hours if you choose to work one at a particular session of the swim meet. There are many opportunities to fulfill your meet support sessions. Programs, hospitality runner, lane timer, backup timer, and runner are all good jobs for a first time swim parent.
Please note that if you leave the team and have not fulfilled your meet support requirements, you will be charged $80 for each session owed, so it is very important that you sign up for those sessions when they become available. If you are unable to get your meet support requirements completed in the winter, please don’t worry because we always have plenty of spots available in the spring and summer.
Please feel free to direct questions related to meet support requirements including questions regarding specific jobs to Karen Markel who is our meet support coordinator. Karen can be reached at markelfamily@comcast.net or at 970-217-2546.
What is Colorado Swimming and USA Swimming?
You are required to register with Colorado Swimming and USA Swimming every year. These organizations support the sport of swimming in the state of Colorado and in the United States for swimmers, coaches, officials, and families.
Questions related to registering for the team or with Colorado Swimming and/or USA Swimming and any questions related to your account and/or invoices due, can be directed to our Team Manager, Linda Wimer who can be reached at bookkeeper@fortcollinsareaswimteam.org.
We still have questions, is there a team representative we can talk with?
Every practice group on the team has one or two parent liaisons. These are parents who have volunteered to help with any questions or concerns that parents and/or swimmers may have. They are also in charge of organizing social activities for their groups. We have social activities for the entire team as well but we have found that the swimmers enjoy getting together with their friends from their practice groups too. These parent liaisons are great resources for general questions you may have. The parent liaisons are also listed in the About section of the team website.
And you are always welcome to contact any of the members of the Board of Directors with any questions or concerns. The Board Member contact information is also listed on the team website.
How do we receive paperwork, ribbons, and other items?
FAST has "family folders" that are located in the cabinets in the lobby of EPIC on the western wall next to the glass windows between the pool and the lobby. These family folders are used to transfer any paperwork from the team to you. We also use those folders to put ribbons and/or medals in following any home or away meets. Please try to check your family folders following any swim meets and ideally once a week.
Where do we buy swim equipment and team suits?
The FAST sponsor and preferred vendor of swimming supplies is MI Sports which is located at 3400 N. Garfield, Loveland, CO 80538, 667-3539. MI Sports has all the equipment to meet your swimming needs. They carry our team swim suits and if you let them know you are with FAST, they will give you our team discount.
Where can my swimmer change? Is a shower required?
Our swimmers are welcome to use the locker rooms at EPIC. If your child chooses to leave any of their belongings in the locker room, they will want to lock those items up. EPIC is a public facility so there are many people that use those locker rooms that are not part of the FAST swim team. Please note that those locks cannot be left on overnight. Most of our swimmers bring their belongings out onto the deck where the coaches and other swimmers can see them. Please also inform your swimmer that they will need to take a shower before entering the water.
Which meets should my swimmer enter?
You may have questions regarding which swim meets your child should participate in. Our coaches are very good about letting everyone know if a certain meet should be swam only by swimmers in specific practice groups. If there is no mention of a swim meet being for a certain level swimmer than the coaches would like the entire team to participate.
The championship meets at the end of the season often require that the swimmers have obtained certain times before they are able to enter those meets. If you have any questions as to whether your child should swim in a meet, please ask your coach. When you are entering your swimmer on our team website, you will need to select that “Yes” your swimmer would like to participate in that meet before you are able to choose which events you would like your swimmer to swim.
What are the entry fees for meets?
When swimmers compete in any swim meet including our own home meets or a meet hosted by another team, there will be an entry fee charged for each event swam and/or a flat fee charge for the swimmer to compete. At most meets, each swimmer pays a swimmer surcharge as well as an entry fee for each event. For example, if you child swims in a FAST home meet an average per swimmer charge is $7 with a per event charge of around $4.25. Those entry fees will be added to your monthly withdraw by FAST.
How do I know the amount of my monthly withdrawal for FAST?
Notice of the withdrawal amount for your FAST dues and meet fees is posted to your FAST account approximately one week prior to the withdrawal for your to review. The monthly withdrawal occurs on the 1st of the following month. Again, Linda Wimer, our team manager should be able to answer any questions you may have regarding your withdrawal amount. Her e-mail is bookkeeper@fortcollinsareaswimteam.org.
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