If your swimmer is registered with the Taber Viper Swim Club, all of the information you will need for the season can be found in the Team Handbook. Please reach out to a board member or email taberviperswimclub@gmail.com if you have not received the Team Handbook.
Q. We’ve never been involved in swim club… where do we start?
A. New swimmers need to be comfortable in the water, be able to jump in the deep end of the pool unassisted, be able to swim on their front 1 length and on their back 3/4 of a length. Swimmers must love to swim, be able to follow directions, and have the desire to swim laps and learn new strokes! There are four training groups in swim club: Rookie (age 5-10), Junior, Intermediate, and Senior.
Click here for Masters Program (age 18+). Masters swimmers train on their own time (not with the swim club kids).
Q. If my child is older than Rookie age can they still join Swim Club for the first time?
A. Yes! They can join one of the other training groups based on their speed and skill level. Our coaches will help direct them to the training group that will be best for them.
Q. Are parents/guardians of swimmers required to volunteer?
A. Yes. Swim Club cannot operate without parent/guardian volunteers. At least one parent/guardian is required to certify as a timer or other official to be able to volunteer at swim meets. Parents are also needed on the Viper Swim Club Board to plan and carryout fundraisers, plan and carryout the Taber swim meet, hire coaches, manage funds, apply for grants, and several other behind-the-scenes duties.
Q. When is the swim season?
A. Taber Viper Swim Club is a summer swim club that operates from May 1st to mid-August each year.
Q. What does the practice schedule look like?
A. The Rookie Program consists of 45 minute practices, Tuesday to Friday, May 1st to June 30th.
The Junior/ Intermediate/ Senior Program runs Monday to Friday, from May 1st to mid-August. Practice times vary. Optional morning practices are also offered in July and August for Intermediate and Senior swimmers.
Q. Are there year-round swim clubs in Alberta?
A. Yes there are year-round swim clubs (sometimes called Winter clubs) in Alberta in the bigger centers. In Southern Alberta, Medicine Hat and Lethbridge each have a summer club and a winter club.
Q. Do summer clubs and year-round clubs compete against each other?
A. No. Summer clubs and year-round clubs do not compete against each other. The organization that governs summer swim clubs is called the Alberta Summer Swimming Association, or ASSA. Swim Alberta governs year-round swim clubs and also oversees ASSA.
There are six ASSA regions in Alberta. Taber is in Region F along with clubs from Brooks, Medicine Hat, Claresholm, Taber, Pincher Creek, Lethbridge, Nanton, Crowsnest Pass, Coaldale, and Fort Macleod. During the summer swim season the clubs within each ASSA region compete against each other. At the end of the season there is a regional championship swim meet (usually just called "regionals"). Region F regionals is almost always held at the Maxbell Aquatic Centre at the University of Lethbridge. The top two swimmers in each event at regionals are invited to compete at the ASSA provincial championship meet the following weekend in Edmonton at the Kinsmen Sports Centre.
Q. Is the Taber Viper Swim Club a registered non-profit?
A. Yes. The ASSA requires that all of its swim clubs are registered non-profit societies. The Taber Viper Swim Club board of directors is a group of parent volunteers who oversee the club operations and its finances. All positions in swim club are volunteer, except for our coaches. All referees and officials at swim meets are volunteers. Occasionally swim clubs in Alberta have some part-time volunteer coaches but most coaches are paid due to the tremendous time comittment and skill level that is required of them.
Q. Are swim meets mandatory?
A. Swimmers are invited to participate in swim meets around Southern Alberta most weekends starting the beginning of June until Regionals. There are no extra fees for attending swim meets but swim families are responsible for the costs of their own travel, meals, and lodging. Meets are held in Brooks, Medicine Hat, Claresholm, Taber, Pincher Creek, Lethbridge, Nanton, Crowsnest Pass, and Fort Macleod. Swimmers can attend as many or as few meets as they wish, but once they attend, don’t be surprised if they want to go again. They’re a lot of fun!
Q. How much does swim club cost?
A. Rookie Program:
$200 Registration/ Membership Fee
$200 Fundraising Fee*
Junior/ Intermediate/ Senior Program:
$400 Registration/ Membership Fee
$400 Fundraising Fee*
*Fundraising fees can be paid outright by swim families who do not wish to fundraise or swimmers can find corporate sponsors to cover this cost. (Corporate Sponsors’ logos are displayed on Vipers Clothing and the Viper Board at the Aquafun Centre.) We offer a variety of fundraising opportunities at the beginning of each season to help offset the cost.
Extra costs not covered by fees: swimsuits (team suits can be purchased but are optional), team clothing (optional), goggles, extra swim caps (new swimmers receive one team swim cap), travel/lodging/food for swim meets.
Master’s Program (age 18+) $125: Masters swimmers must train on their own time (not with the swim club kids) and are welcome to compete under the Taber Viper Club at as many swim meets as they wish.
Q. What do swimmer fees pay for?
A. Swimmer fees pay for basic operations of the club. The biggest expenses for swim club are coaches' wages and pool rental. Other expenses include software fees, Swim Alberta fees, swim meet expenses (medals, ribbons, meals for coaches and volunteers, etc.), year-end awards, coaches travel and lodging for swim meets, PO box rental, occasional equipment purchases, etc.
If you have more questions, please email taberviperswimclub@gmail.com.