What Equipment Does My Swimmer Need?
Swimmers will need to have the following equipment to be ready to train effectively. Please refer to the chart below to see what your swimmer will need for the season. Links are included for examples / reference.
Swimsuits for PRACTICE can be any color or style - Polyester / Polyblend suits are recommended, as they are more durable! Suits should fit snugly. Please avoid board shorts, as these are very heavy and impact proper body position and mechanics in the water. One-piece suits are preferable, and boys can opt for a brief or jammer style suit. Swimmers in C3-5 should have at least 2 training suits on hand.
Training equipment can be purchased locally through Team Aquatic Supplies online or in-store. Other reputable online suppliers include All Tides (QC) and LY Sports (ON). Please note - supply chain issues may still be impacting availability of equipment from all suppliers.
Team Gear will be ordered indivdually online - members will be emailed ordering instructions later this fall.
* All registered swimmers receive ONE silicone team cap with their registration fees. Additional caps may be purchased as needed (a minimum of 2 caps are recommended for all competitive swimmers)
** All COMPETITIVE swimmers receive ONE team shirt with their registration fees. Additional team shirts may be purchased as desired.
A NOTE ABOUT GOGGLES...
Goggles are to swimmers what skates are to hockey players... essential, and they have to fit properly!
Goggles should fit closely to the eyes and have an adjustable strap. To check fit:
Press the goggles onto the eyes WITHOUT the strap - if they stick to the face (don't pop off) they are a good fit!
NOT ALL GOGGLES ARE CREATED EQUALLY! Multi-packs from Costco are meant for recreational swimming and will almost certainly leak and fall off when diving. While they are a good price, ultimately your swimmer will be frustrated and will not be able to practice (or race) effectively while having to constantly stop to fix their goggles.
Goggles come in different sizes - Youth, Adult, and even Women's fit
Here are Coach Cara's TOP GOGGLE PICKS:
Children / Youth: Speedo Jr Vanquisher OR Arena Tracks Jr OR Vorgee Missile
Youth / Adult: Speed Vanquisher (this is what I wear!) OR Vorgee Missile OR Arena Tracks
AVOID these, as they are not designed for competitive training and will fall off when diving:
Swimmers do not need fancy, expensive "racing" goggles. Any of my top goggle picks will work just fine for competition and training. Once you find goggles that work well for your swimmer, ALWAYS pick up a second pair for back up! Many swimmers will use one pair for training (they do get scratched up) and reserve a second pair (less scratched) for competition.
Swim Academy 1,2,3 Fit Swim / Xtrain |
Current 1 & 2 | Current 3 | Current 4 & 5 |
---|---|---|---|
Required Equipment | Required Equipment | Required Equipment | Required Equipment |
Goggles Swim Cap
|
Goggles x 2 Swim Cap x 1
Swim Snorkel (front mount, NO purge valve) |
Goggles x 2 Swim Cap x 2
Training fins
Swim Snorkel (front mount, NO purge valve) Hand paddles (XS or S, should just fit to tips of fingers)
|
Goggles x 2 Swim Cap x 2
Short Training fins Swim Snorkel (front mount, NO purge valve) Hand paddles (XS or S, should just fit to tips of fingers) |
Optional Equipment | Optional Equipment | Optional Equipment | Optional Equipment |
|
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Required Team Gear | Required Team Gear | Required Team Gear | Required Team Gear |
N/A | Team shirt & cap (included with registration) Black swim suit
|
Team shirt & cap (included with registration) Black swim suit
|
Team shirt & cap (included with registration) Black swim suit
|
Optional Team Gear | Optional Team Gear | Optional Team Gear | Optional Team Gear |
Team cap Team t-shirt |
Team parka Team hoodie
|
Team parka Team hoodie Textile racing suit (stitched) – ages 11&U Girls Example 1 Girls Example 2 Girls Example 3 Girls Example 4
Boys Example 1 Boys Example 2 |
Team parka Team hoodie Textile racing suit (stitched) – ages 12&U
Racing (welded tech) suit – for ages 13&O
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