Frequently Asked QuestionsQuote for thought: "If I don't practice the way I should, then I won't play the way that I know I can."-- Ivan Lendl Q: What is LONGHORN AQUATICS (TXLA)? A: Longhorn Aquatics is a competitive oriented membership program for swimmers and divers ages eight and older. Approximately 300 participants train regularly on their path to competitive goals, including USA Swimming and Diving Nationals, USA Masters Nationals, Texas Age Group Swimming Championships (TAGS), Olympic Trials, and the Olympic Games. For More information about the different Longhorn Aquatics Groups, please call 471-7433 or go to the TXLA Home Page. Q: What are the UNITED STATES SWIMMING ORGANIZATION and UNITED STATES DIVING ORGANIZATION and UNITED STATES MASTERS SWIMMING? A: USA Swimming, Diving and Master's Swimming are the national governing bodies for aquatic sports in our country. They provide insurance and resources, and oversee the growth and development of the sport. For more information contact: USA SWIMMING USMS National Office Quote for thought: "I am building a fire and every day I train, I add more fuel. And at just the right moment, I light the match." - unknown Q: Where does the team train? A: TXLA groups practice at the Lee and Joe Jamail Texas Swimming Center and Circle C Ranch Swimming Pool. Sometimes in the summer the swim team also uses an outdoor city pool. See the Texas Swim Center page for more information on the pool. Q: Why can't parents be on deck during workouts? A: Due to USA Swimming and Texas Swim Center liability regulations only USS or USD registered athletes and coaches are allowed on deck at any time. We are sorry for any inconvenience or discomfort this causes. Q: Can I swim at UT while my child is in practice? A: At UT, The Recreational Sports Division conducts an Open Lap Swimming program for students, faculty, staff and a limited number of Austin community members. The standard hours are from 12:00PM to 2:00PM and also from 5:00PM until 8:00PM on weekdays, unless there is a special event scheduled. These are the only times available for pool use if you are not a member of a university program. Please call 471-3116 or see the Texas Swim Center page for more information. Q: What do I need
to bring to try-out / registration?
A: Please bring a swimsuit, towel, goggles and your checkbook or credit card information (divers do not need goggles). We will provide registration materials and answers to your questions. You can also click, print and fill out one of the try-out forms for adults or minors) to bring to the try-out. Q: What equipment does my diver/swimmer need? A: All divers need a relatively tight fitting suit, a chamois, and a bag or backpack for their equipment. Swimmers need a water bottle, fins, paddles, goggles, cap, and suit, plus a bag to carry all of it. Suits, caps, goggles, chamois, paddles, fins, bags and more are available on the second floor at the Longhorn Aquatics (TXLA) store (there are discounts for members). Quote for thought: ñTo give yourself the best possible chance of playing to your potential, you must prepare for every eventuality. That means practice.î -- Steve Ballesteros Q: What is the Voucher Program? A: We could not run swimming and diving competitions, operate our TXLA Store, or raise funds without help from our members. In an effort to reward those members who do help the program, we have developed a voucher system where parents, and participants, can earn credit against their voucher bill. Voucher fees are assessed once a year in September for the prior fiscal year and the amount depends on your child's level of participation. Please refer to the voucher information sheet in your registration packet for exact amounts. Members receive credit against their voucher bill by volunteering their time for TXLA. You may contact Kelvin Koch (471-7433), Kelly Keefe (471-2710), or Christie Binkley at the TSC main office (471-7703) for specific voucher opportunities. Q: How does my diver/swimmer change groups or move up in the program? A: Each child will be considered on an individual basis for placement within a group. As your child progresses in the sport, he or she will be offered the opportunity to move up within our group structure. This is a decision that will be made by the participant, parent, and coach. Members can request a group change at any time, but the final decision will always rest with the head coach. Q: Where can I park at the TSC? A: All parking on campus is permit restricted with the exception of the pay parking garages. You will find metered spots on the south side of MLK on Trinity. Parking on Campus without a permit will not be allowed until after 5:45 PM each day. There is an E (Evening) parking permit on campus that members can purchase at the University's parking and traffic office that will allow parking after 4:00PM on weekdays (permit prices vary depending on the time of year). Parking contracts are available for click to see more details about parking contracts. Email Christie Binkley regarding interest in parking contracts. Parking maps can be found on the forms page, click here. Q: How do I get information on special events at the TSC that may affect the practice schedule? A: The only disadvantage of training at one of the best facilities in the country is that there are a number of special events each year that may cause a workout to be cancelled. We will make up these workouts when practical, but it isn't always possible. Members will be notified of any schedule change via e-mail and website as soon as possible. This is often only a few days before the cancellation or time change, because we do not always get information about an event very far in advance. Q: What is an ñAî Time? A: USA Swimming has established National Age Group Time standards to allow for a stepping stone approach that swimmers can grasp. This is a great way to see progress even if a swimmer doesnÍt win their event. They start at ñBî times and finish at ñAAAAî times. First time swimmers, or swimmers with times slower than the ñBî time, are classified as having ñCî times for those events. Most swim meets that use time standards to determine eligibility for swim meets use these time standards. Q: What is Short Course? What is Long Course? Short Course is training or competing in 25 yard or meter pools, while Long Course is training or competing in 50 Meter Pools. Most indoor pools in the USA are set-up as 25yard pools and so most of the times younger athletes become familiar with early on are the short course yard (scy) times. Since these meets are held in the winter months, our Short Course competition season starts in September and culminates with championship meets in February & March. The Long Course competition season begins in April and continues through July and August depending on the highest-level championship meet a swimmer can qualify. Quote for thought: "If there exists no possibility of failure, then victory is meaningless." -- Robert H. SchullerQ: What is TAGS A: The Texas Age Group Swimming Championship (TAGS) meet is the state championship meet for swimmers 14 & under. The Short Course meet is held in early March while the Long Course meet is held in late July. It is one of the premier age group meets in the USA and therefore the top age-group meet in Texas. Swimmers who successfully qualify and compete in this meet are generally those that go on to greater success in High School and even collegiate swimming later in their career. Qualifying times are established by the Texas Swimming Association every fall based on participants in previous years. You must have the qualifying times to enter the meet. Q: What is STAGS A: This is the South Texas Swimming Championship meet. They are held in mid February for short course season, and mid July for the long course season. Many South Texas teams have this as one of their biggest meets of the season and for many age group swimmers it will be. For the Texas Aquatics staff though, it is a stepping stone to TAGS and viewed more as a last chance to qualify for that particular meet. Swimmers who already have numerous TAGS qualifying times will generally not compete, in this meet in order to better prepare for TAGS. The qualifying time standards are established by South Texas Swimming and you must have them in order to compete. They are based on the number of participants in the meet each year and can change prior to the start of following year. Swimmers who do not achieve the STAGS time standards will have other meets to compete in for their end of season championship meet. Quote for thought: ñThe object of teaching a child is to enable him to get along without a teacher.î-- Elbert HubbardQ: What is Speedo Champions Series Meet (or sectionals) A: These are the meets that our developing senior swimmers should strive to qualify and successfully compete in. The meet is held in mid February and mid July and for many athletes this meet is a primary chance to qualify for other regional and National caliber championship meets. These meets are primarily made up of Texas athletes, but swimmers and teams from around the country compete in them as well. Q: What is Texas Senior Circuit A: These are Long Course meets held in Houston, Dallas, Texas A&M University and here at UT. These meets were established by Texas club and college coaches to provide the best possible in season competition for top level athletes. Longhorn Aquatics swimmers who qualify for these meets should be prepared to participate. Swimmers who are not training properly will not be allowed to enter these meets. Quote for thought: "I know a lot of people think it's monotonous, down the black lines over and over, but it's not if you're enjoying what you're doing. I love to swim and I love to train." -- Tracy Caulkins Q: What are National Top 16 Reportable Times A: Every year USA Swimming takes results from meets all over the country and publishes a list of the Top 16 performances from each age group the year before. There is a list for Long Course and Short Course meets. Swimmers who achieve the reportable times are not guaranteed to be on the final Top 16 list. Quote for thought: "If you can't win, make the fellow ahead of you break the record" - unknown
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