Raleigh Seahawks 
Swim Team & Lessons
September 11, 2011 - May 17, 2011


Seahawks 2010 Family Fun Meet



Congratulations, Seahawks, for a great championship run!
2008, 2009, 2010 Division Champions!
Now in our 15th season, the Homeschool Swim Team allows homeschool children to experience the benefits of swimming year ‘round with other like-minded families in a Christian environment. The Seahawks head coach is Matt Finneran, a homeschool father of 6 children. Matt has 21 years age-group swim coaching experience and was the men’s water polo coach at NC State from 1994 to 2001.  As a summer club, we are official members of the Tarheel Swimming Association (TSA).

swimmers
Seahawks at the Greater Raleigh Summer League Championship 2008


Mission:
The Christian Community Swim Club is designed to provide a wholesome foundation for families who desire a swim club guided by Christian values. We believe children are our most important investment. And, as parents, if we’re not careful with our children’s choices and influences we may reap negative results regarding their character and spiritual growth. Today’s youth are being led down a path that fosters immorality, immodest dress, and a lack of respect for parents and authority. Our answer to this ever-growing crisis is to encourage honor, modesty and purity among the children in all our activities at the swim team. You may want to consider swimming as a venue of physical fitness for your homeschoolers this fall. From the beginning I told all my children that swimming would be their "base" sport.  Because of its strength, endurance and cardiovascular benefits, swimmers are some of the most physically fit people you will ever meet.  Because swimming is a lot of hard work and discipline, it trains children to have the needed intensity, coordination and patience to excel at other sports.

This may be a stretch to some, but I also believe swimming benefits a child's spiritual walk with the Lord as well as his studies.  The necessary concentration to finish assignments, tasks, play an instrument, and even to study the bible and pray is strengthened through the rigors and mental discipline of swimming.

All and all. though, even if you don't take swimming as seriously as some, it is a great sport to do together as a family.  And with water polo and masters swimming, we've designed our program to make it easy for everyone to get involved.  See the link at the bottom for information on all our swim team programs and swimming lessons. Let me know if you have any questions.

We’re looking for families who desire to raise their children under a Christian influence and believe that membership in The Christian Community Swim Club TAC would be beneficial for their children’s spiritual protection, growth and maturity. If you’d enjoy fellowship with like-minded families who share these same hopes for their children, then we invite you to consider our swim team for your family this fall.

Membership 
We welcome all boys and girls ages 5 and up who are homeschooled* and can meet the skill requirements below (exceptions must be approved by the coach). We’re looking for families who desire to raise their children under a Christian influence and believe that membership in The Christian Community at TAC would be beneficial for their children’s spiritual protection, growth and maturity. If you’d enjoy fellowship with like-minded families who share these same hopes for their children, then we invite you to consider our swim team for your family this school year.

*We also welcome non-homeschooling families who can respect and abide by the Christian principles of this club.

Swim Club Tryouts, Monday, September 12, 2011
Tryouts are mandatory for any new swimmers and anyone on the swim team trying out for a higher level. You may register at the tryout or you may preregister by sending payment with the  included registration form. Your prepayment will be refunded if your child does not qualify for the team. Tryouts are at the Triangle Aquatic Center on Mon. Sept 12, tryout date, 12:30 for White & Blue Teams, 1:00 P.M. for Silver & Platinum. If you are unable to make the tryout date, you may tryout at the first practice you attend. (see team descriptions below). If you are unable ot make the tryout date, you may tryout at the first practice you attend. Contact Matt Finneran (finneranmc@aol.com) if you have any questions.

White Team Requirements: Ages 5 & up as of Sept. 1, 2011. This team is designed to prepare a younger or inexperienced swimmer for the demands and skills of swimming with the Blue Team. The instruction will concentrate on the proper mechanics of all four competitive strokes: freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke and butterfly. Child will also learn the proper starts and turns.
Requirements: Child must be able to complete 25 yards of rudimentary crawl, back and breaststroke and meet the minimum skills to pass the competitive stroke class (see page 5).

Blue Team Requirements: Ages 6-18 as of Sept. 1, 2011. Participant must be able to swim 8 x 50 yards freestyle on the :60 second interval and the 100 Individual medley without disqualification. Swimmer must also make 25 yards freestyle without breathing. Swimmer must also be able to successfully complete a freestyle and backstroke flip turn as well as the racing dive.

Silver Team Requirements: Ages 7-18 as of Sept. 1, 2011. Participant should be able to: 1) swim the 200 yard individual medley without disqualification, including the breaststroke pull down and free and back flip turns, and, 2) do a swim set of 10 consecutive 50 yards of freestyle on the :50 second interval, and 3) make 25 yards dolphin kick underwater without breathing.

Platinum Team Requirements: Ages 7-18 as of Sept. 1, 2011. Participant should be able to 1) swim the 400 meter individual medley without disqualification, including the breaststroke pull down and free and back flip turns and, 2) do a swim set of 10 consecutive 50 yards shortcourse of freestyle on the :40 second interval, and 3) make 25 yards underwater dolphin kick on their back without breathing.

Parents/Masters Club:
This will be our fourth season to host a masters swim team. We will run the master practice format to develop proper stroke technique and build up speed and endurance. Participants should have a rudimentary understanding of swimming strokes and be able to make 50 meters without stopping.

Water Polo League
This school year, once again, we are going to have a coed water polo games on Wednesdays from 1:30 to 3:00. Ages 10 & up. Participants will learn the fast-paced game of water polo including drills and designed to prepare the player specific's individual skills and proper knowledge of proper offensive and defensive team play.  

Requirements: Swimmer must be able to complete the 200 yard individual medley without disqualification, swim 10 x 50 freestyle on the :60, and be able to tread water with hands up for 3 minutes. Water Polo will run on Wednesdays beginning Wednesday, Sept 14, at 1:30.  See our Water Polo page for more info.

Location and Practices: Tryouts and practices are held at the  Triangle Aquatic Center (TAC) 275 Convention Drive in Cary, adjacent to the Sears’ parking lot at the Cary Towne Center mall.

Practice Schedule
Our season begins Monday, Sept. 12, and runs through Thursday, May 17, 2011. We swim a total of 31 weeks during the 2011-12 school year.  

White Team Hours
Monday 1:30 to 2:30
Wednesday 12:30 to 1:30
Thursday 1:30 to 2:30

Blue Team Hours
Monday 1:30 to 2:30
Wednesday 12:30 to 1:30
Thursday 1:30 to 2:30

Silver/Platinum/Masters Team Hours
Monday 1:30 to 3:00
Wednesday 12:30 to 1:30
Thursday 1:30 to 3:00

Water Polo Hours (Begins Sept, 14)
Wednesday 1:30 - 3:00

Non-practice dates
The swim season runs 32 weeks throughout the school year. The weeks we don’t meet are:
Nov. 22, 24, 25
Dec. 20, 22, 23
Dec .27, 29, 30
Jan. 3, 5, 6
April 18, 20, 21

Visit our calendar page for a graphic view of our schedule.
   
Lap-a-thon Fundraiser
Each year we raise extra funds for the swim team and support for Grace Children’s Orphanage in southeast India through our lap-a-thon. Participants raise per-lap donations by an endurance swim of 1 hour. Lap-a-thon dates are May 14. 16 & 17.

Swim meets
Though it is difficult during the school year to find small clubs to swim against, we are hoping to schedule enough meets to maintain the meet experience we enjoyed last summer and give our swimmers enough opportunities to improve on their best times. We also have swim meets scheduled for 7th grade and up. There is usually a minimum meet fee required.

Dress code
No bikinis or two piece suits for girls. No speedo briefs for boys. We will offer team suits in September.

Equipment
Swimmers will be required to bring their own flippers and kickboards (may be purchased through team sale).

Click here for costs, registration form, and other info.

Click here to contact Matt Finneran.

*We also welcome non-homeschooling families who can respect and abide by the Christian principles of this club.