The following sections describe various aspects of competitive swimming with BLA/DAT. Other resources are available on the USA Swimming and Minnesota Swimming web sites. Click the links on the left to see more.

Swimming uniquely develops the cardiovascular system to the maximum, which makes it an ideal sport for children since an efficient cardiovascular system is the key to life-long health. Also, children run little risk of injury in swimming.

Swimming is a sport in the true sense of the word. It is a pursuit for excellence. Its very nature demands self-discipline and great strength of purpose. It is not merely an athletic "contest" which requires a minimum of training and maximum luck. Swimmers, more than most, learn early the relationship between hard work and results.

Most successful Elite and High School swimmers participate in year-round club swimming.

BLA/DAT is a year-round swimming club serving the South Metro area, and has more than approximately 200 members in the Eagan/Apple Valley/Rosemount communities. Most of our members are students in Independent School District #196. The team has served the area for the past 25 years.

BLA/DAT offers a high-quality program for Novice, Advanced and Elite level swimmers. We have seven different practice groups depending on the swimmers’ age and abilities. We have three tryouts per year, and we accept swimmers at all levels depending on openings available in our program.

Coaching Credentials:
BLA/DAT is very fortunate to have an excellent coaching staff. All our coaches are members of USA Swimming and are certified in First Aid, CPR, and Swimming Coaches Safety Training.

Some things all swimmers and parents should know about the program:

1. Parents and other visitors must use the assigned areas for viewing of practices, and not the pool deck.
2. Use designated locker rooms. Keep all property on the pool deck. The locker rooms are not monitored. Remove all items from the locker room before and after each practice.
3. No running or horseplay on deck or in the hallways. No playing on, or diving from, the diving board(s).
4. Swimmers should arrive no earlier than 15 minutes prior to start of practice. Pick-up should be no later than 15 minutes after practice.
5. Park in designated parking lots. Cars parked illegally will be ticketed and towed.
6. Parents: Do not talk to coaches or swimmers during practice. If you have any questions, e-mail the coaches or ask for an appointment. The coaches are usually available 15 minutes before and after practice.

Parents Practice Attendance Policy

It is not the intention of BLA/DAT to restrict parents’ beliefs on how to raise their children but allow guidelines to help alleviate potential problems and lower BLA/DAT’s liability. BLA/DAT encourage parents to watch practice from time to time. However, it is not in the athletes’ best interest to watch every day. Young swimmers want their parents’ approval and it is natural for them to give some of their attention to their parents during practice. For the swimmer to learn as much as possible, it is imperative that the coaches have your child’s undivided attention during practice. Also, by watching every day you will not be able to see the swimmer’s improvement as easily.

Members and non-members are allowed to watch all practices but are asked to follow the following guidelines:

1. All attendees are asked to stay in the designated watching areas.
2. All members and non-members are asked to follow all facility and BLA/DAT rules. These rules have been set for the safety of all patrons. If the coach or patron feels that another patron is acting in an inappropriate manner they are asked to please contact the Head Coach or the Head Age Group Coach. Additional team rules:
   • All patrons not directly involved with a swimming practice are asked to refrain from going on the pool deck or talking to any coach on the pool deck during designated practice times.
   • If any patron needs to speak to the coach please do so before or after designated team practices.
   • Please understand that the topic you wish to address may take more time or be deemed as an inappropriate topic to be discussed by the coach at that time. The coach shall have the right to set an appropriate time and place to discuss the topic or refer the person to an appropriate contact.
   • Coaches may restrict viewing of practice only if it is deemed necessary in order to gain access to a facility.
3. BLA/DAT feels that patrons of the team should be allowed to attend regular practices for the following reasons:
   • If a swimmer becomes ill or injured there are people around to assist in the care of the swimmer.
   • Watching is a good means for patrons to gain some knowledge about the sport of swimming.
   • Patrons in the stands are encouraged to create a network of communication and support for each other and their athletes.
   • Some athletes may gain confidence and maintain better relations with their parents if the athlete feels the parent is interested in the activities with which they are involved.
   • So that parents can assess the quality of supervision their swimmer is receiving.

Parents Advice

Sessions and Seasons

Novice Sessions:
BLA/DAT has three Novice sessions per year. Each session runs for 10 weeks. The Novice sessions do not run in conjunction with the other BLA/DAT squads, which follow the two competitive seasons. Quad meets are held approximately once a month with all age groups competing together. Once a swimmer have achieved mostly C times (standards set for each age group), the swimmers will move on to ABC-open type meets. The coach will let the swimmer know.

Competitive Seasons:
There are two seasons of competition each year. The fall/winter season usually begins in mid-September and runs through mid-March. This season is usually referred to as the short course season, meaning that all major meets are held in a short course (25 yards) pool. The spring/summer season begins in early April and usually runs through early August. This season is referred to as the long course season, meaning that all major meets are held in a long course (50 meter) pool.

Swim Meet Guidelines & Overview

Swim meets are classified according to the time standards that they offer, A meets (swimmers with A and faster times), BB open meets (swimmers with B or no times) etc. The time standards sheet tells you what class your swimmer’s events fall into. (See Time Standards below) If their times are not yet on this sheet, they are considered Pre-B swimmers and should swim in our Tri meets. Competitions in Minnesota are usually divided into the following classifications: Zone, CH, A, B and Tri meets. There are time standards established for each classification, each event and each age group. The following age groups apply: 8 & Under, 9-10, 11-12, 13-14, 15-16, 17-18, 15-18, 15 & Older and Senior. Swimmers must compete in the appropriate classification and age for each event.

Swim meets are also divided into short course (SC), 25 yards, and long course (LC), 50 meter. The 50 meter competitions are usually in the summer. The coaching staff enters swimmers in all swim meets. Coaches will put swimmers in the events they would like them to swim, not always in their best events. Requests may be placed in the comment section on the registration, however coaches will always have the final say. The classifications for swim meets are usually as follows:

• Tri Meets: The BLA Tri meets are meets including the Bloomington BLA site, and usually a local swim school or anyone else wanting to participate. They are intended for Age Groupers and Novice with no meet experience, B times, or Pre-B times. A/B swimmers wanting to experience new events are also welcome. These meets are not sanctioned, so the times can’t be used for A and above meets or Final meets of the season. Please ask coach before signing up for the first time. A deposit is required to enter this meet.

• BB-Open: Swim meets for swimmers with BB or below.  Some swimmers with no times can also participate. Swimmers without B times must have their coach’s permission to enter these meets. The cost depends on the meet and the number of events swum. A deposit is required to enter this meet.

• AB-Open: Swim meets for swimmers with all A and B times. Some swimmers with no times can also participate. Swimmers without B times must have their coach’s permission to enter these meets. The cost depends on the meet and the number of events swum. A deposit is required to enter this meet.

• A: Swim meets for swimmers with A times or faster times. The cost depends on the meet and the number of events swum. A deposit is required to enter this meet.

• Final Meets: Swimmers must have the time standard the Final meet is intended for.  B Final for B swimmers etc.

• Olympic Trials, Grand Prix, Senior Nationals, Junior Nationals, Section, Zones and State meet: These are all meets that have their own standard for swimmers to achieve before they can participate.

• Invites: Teams sometimes host meets in which the time standards are not set by Minnesota Swimming.  The host team can then invite any team and any level of swimmer they want.

The classifications above are the most common classifications, but there are other variations. The swim meet schedule will give you the information regarding who, what, when, and where of a particular meet. If you have any questions regarding swim meets please see your coach for directions.

RELAYS:
The coaching staff will invite swimmers to represent BLA on relays. The coaches will inform the swimmers of the selection criteria, which is usually the four fastest swimmers. The coaching staff will not take any recommendations on relays. All decisions are on the coaches’ discretion.

It is an honor to be selected for a team relay. If your swimmer is selected for a Championship relay we expect the swimmer to participate. A swimmer does not have to swim an individual event at a Championship to swim in a relay.

TIME TRIALS:
Time trials are offered at some swim meets as a last chance swim. Time trials are not encouraged by the BLA/DAT coaching staff, but there might be specific reasons why it would or should be done. It will be the coaches’ decision whether or not a swimmer will be allowed to time trial an event. The coaches’ decision will be final. The coaching staff will always do what they believe is best for the swimmer.

CHAMPIONSHIP SWIM MEETS:
Champion swim meets must be qualified for during the regular season and usually 1 week prior to the meet. Each championship meet has specific qualifying times associated with it, B Finals - B times and so forth.

Meet Registration

1. Look at the meet schedule.
2. Look under Swim Meet Guidelines & Overview above to figure out what classification (A, B, C etc.) that your swimmer falls into according to their best times and age.
3. If your swimmer is a novice/new AG swimmer who has not swam in an USA meet, they should start with Quad meets.
4. Register online on our web site or call Eva at 952-953-8992 #1. Please register before the due date and make sure you receive a confirmation or your swimmer is not entered in the meet. The meet deposit is also due on the registration due date. Please send the deposit to our team address.
5. Entries are due to the hosting team at a specific date, usually one week to 10 days before the meet. Late entries will not be accepted.
6. The entries are then processed and your entry information will be e-mailed to you approximately one week to four days before the meet.