Swimmer Competency and Eligibility

Swimmer Competency

• Swimmer must be safe in the water & comfortable in deep water
• Swimmer must be able to swim 25m continuously
• Interest in competitive swimming is desirable
• Able to follow the coaches instructions during practice and at swim meets

 All swimmers ability will be assessed through a formal evaluation during the first week(s) of the start of the season. If ability to swim or safety is questionable, the Coaching Staff/Swordfish Board will make the final decision as to whether a swimmer will remain in the club.  Meeting outlined eligibility standards and following the pool rules are essential for the safety of the swimmer as well as Swordfish teammates.

Swimmer Eligibility

ASSA Eligibility - as a member of Alberta Summer Swimming Association (ASSA), Swordfish Swim club conforms to all ASSA swimmer eligibility rules.  In general swimmers cannot participate in any non-competitive or competitive swim instruction (excluding Red Cross, Canadian Lifesaving programs) between the months of Sept 1 - April 30.  Please refer to the following link with the full swimmer eligibility rules on the ASSA website Rule & Regulations Section 2 (ASSA Swimmer Eligibility).  Please forward any eligibility questions to our registrar for clarification.

Allowable Programs 2.5 ASSA Off-season Training and Competing Allowances

• Participation in training sessions and/or competitions with Alberta High School Swim Team,
• Participation in the following nationally recognized learn-to-swim programs:
  • I Can Swim - All programs except “Stage 4 - I can SWIM FAST”
  • Red Cross Swim and AquaSquirts
  • Royal Life Saving Society and Junior Lifeguard Club
  • YMCA learn to swim programs.
• Participation in the following aquatic sports, provided the individual was.is a registered member of the respective Provincial Sport organization (Alberta examples listed):
  • Water Polo - Registered with: Alberta Water Polo Association
  • Synchronized Swimming - Registered with: Synchro Alberta
  • Triathlon - Registered with: Alberta Triathlon Association
  • Diving - Registered with: Alberta Diving
  • Competitive Lifesaving - Registered with: Royal Life Saving Society

Not-Allowable The following programs are NOT allowed. If your swimmer participates in these types of programs between September 1st - April 30 of the current summer season they are ineligible to compete.

• Winter Club - defined as year-round swimming (ie. Dinos, Cascades, Nose Creek, Patriots, Calgary Winter Club, Killarney)
• Non-Competitive Swim Clubs (ie Nose Creek, YMCA, Barracuda's) - any year-round swim program including non-competitive are not allowed.

Swimmer Status

Swimmers who have confirmed payment in full will be active on the Swordfish roster.  All swimmers must be paid PRIOR to the beginning of the season before being allowed into the pool.