Practices - KW Swim Team
When Are Practices?
During the Fall / Winter and Spring Seasons, practices are held during the late afternoon and evening hours.
During the Summer Season, practices are held in the morning.
Practice times can vary and may be canceled due to various factors, including swim meets, Fox Chapel High School events (i.e. home football games), school holidays, etc.
We advise parents to check the Practice Schedule at least weekly to confirm practice times.
Review:
Where Are Practices?
Most practices take place at the Fox Chapel High School Swimming Pool. Per the high school's policy, we must enter the school through the doors located by the "Fox statue." We are guests of the high school are obligated to respect the facility and any rules set forth by the facility.
Some groups may also swim at Shady Side Academy Senior School. Additionally, we use various nearby outdoor pools during the Summer Season. Learn more about pool locations.
How Long and Often Are Practices?
Practice session length depends on the Skill Group Level of the swimmer. Our Pre-Competitive swimmers practice two times per week for about 45-60 minutes. Our most experienced Senior National swimmers practice six days per week for two hours plus dryland activity time. Learn more about the practice requirements for each Skill Group Level.
Practice Delays & Inclement Weather
The KW practice schedule follows the Fox Chapel Area School District's schedule. In the event of inclement weather or other school cancellations, please check the Practice Calendars on this website. Also, we will make every effort to contact you via email for practice changes or cancellations. Please ensure your email address(es) and phone number(s) associated with your KW website account are correct.
Practice Protocols for Swimmers
To ensure that practices run smoothly, we ask swimmers to please:
- Use the restroom before the workout.
- Arrive on time. We make every effort to start each workout at its scheduled time. For safety, if your swimmer arrives early, he or she should sit on the bleachers until the workout begins.
- WALK when on deck, in locker rooms, and hallways.
- Tie shoulder-length hair back into a ponytail.
- Throw out any gum or candy before entering the pool area.
- Remove band-aids and/or jewelry before entering the pool.
- Never hold onto other swimmers while in the water.
- DO NOT DECK CHANGE: Change into and out of swimsuits in the locker room, not on deck. This is a USA Swimming Safe Sport regulation that is strictly enforced
Practice Protocols for Parents
The coach's job is to motivate and provide constructive feedback about the swimmer's performance. It is the parent's job to supply the love, recognition, and encouragement necessary to make the child work harder in practice, which in turn gives him or her confidence to perform well in competition.
- Parents and siblings are welcome to observe Killer Whales practices during parent obversation days.
- On parent-observation days, we ask parents and siblings to remain in the stands during practice. Please do not allow siblings who are observing practice to stand, jump, or crawl on the bleachers. Additionally, please do not allow children to run through the hallways or in the gymnasiums.
- Please remember to check the website and your email regularly. Through these communication methods, you will receive team information, practice schedules, contact lists, and weekly updates. Find all swim meet and practice information on this website.
- The Lost and Found is located in the pool office. Please have your child(ren) ask a coach to help them look for lost items in the basket. Additionally, parents may ask coaches or board members to help locate lost items in the office.
Locker Room Availability and Policies
Male and female locker rooms are available for showering and changing. Please encourage your swimmer to keep the locker rooms clean and tidy. We recommend you do not leave items in the locker room during practice. Fox Chapel Area School District is not responsible for items lost in the locker room.
- Showers: When the workout is complete, we recommended that all swimmers rinse off with soap and water to get the chlorine off their skin and to prevent dryness.
- Locker Room and Shower Monitoring: Killer Whales has staggered practices with different groups arriving and departing throughout the day. It is therefore not practical to constantly monitor locker rooms and changing areas over this extended course of time. While we do not post staff or coaches inside or at the doors of the locker rooms and changing areas, we do make occasional sweeps of these areas. Coaches will conduct these sweeps, with women checking in female locker rooms, and men checking in male locker rooms. Review all of our USA Swimming Safe Sport policies.
