FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions
Who are the Coaches/Staff on deck?
Owner /Head Elite Coach: Josh Willer
Early Elite Coach: Anthony Lineras
Aquatic Center Manager: Mark Stohrer
How do I get in touch with a staff member or Coach for questions?
Texas Elite email: info@texaseliteswimming.com Email our team and we will reach out to you as soon as we can.
How do I get my swimmer(s) evaluated for the team?
You can contact us, either using the interest form on the team page, or emailing our staff at info@texaseliteswimming.com, and we will reach out to you and schedule a tryout to meet the Coaches and evaluate your swimmer(s).
What to expect at an evaluation?
At the evaluation, we will assess your swimmer’s skills to place them in the right group.
Swimmers will need to be ready to get in the pool. They will need a suit, goggles and a cap if they have one. Cap is not required if they don’t have one.
Swimmers should be prepared to swim from 15-20 mins while our coaches determine their skill level.
When the evaluation is complete, the coaches will provide you and your swimmer with a recommendation for their registration group.
Is this a learn to swim school or a year round club?
Texas Elite Swimming is a year round competitive swim club. Which means we train 5 days a week all year round. There are two competitive seasons we train for, which include short season in the fall to spring months and long course season in the summer months. We will take swimmers as young as 5 years of age, as long as they can tread water for 30 secs and can cross a 50 meter distance on their back.
How do I sign up for Texas Elite Swimming?
Register with Texas Elite Swimming through our home page, Texas Elite Swimming - Team Registration
Every new member, there is a $200 registration fee, plus monthly payment.
Every registration after that is $100. We do honor sibling discounts. Every new member will receive a team cap, and 3 team shirts.
Next, Register with USA Swimming USA Swimming, to become an official USA member. You will need to set up a new account if you are new to club swimming. If you are transferring from another club, you will need to submit a transfer from your old team to Texas Elite. You can follow this link if you need help, How to Transfer Yourself to a Different Club. You will notice that your swimmer is considered “Unattached”. This is very normal for the first 60-120 days of joining a new club. You can still compete at meets with the team though.
USA Swimming membership is $110
https://www.stswim.org/page/registration1-Helpful guide from USA Swim membership info
What does the team registration break down look like?
New Team Registration - (initial fee is a one time cost for new families)
$200.00 - Registration fee
$(groupFee) - Group Fee - whichever group you are assigned; example Early Elite $190.00
$110.00 - Premium USA Membership fee + LSC Membership Fee (this is a required fee to be on deck for both practices and meets)
Returning Team Registration
$100.00 - You will see a discount of $100 when selecting as a returning member
$(groupFee) - Group Fee - which ever group you are assigned; example Early Elite $190.00
$110.00 - Premium USA Membership fee + LSC Membership Fee (this is a required fee to be on deck for both practices and meets)
Does my swimmer(s) have to attend every practice?
While we do not have a strict practice attendance requirement, we encourage athletes to attend as many practices as possible. However, we completely understand that families have other commitments and activities.
When should I arrive for practice?
Swimmers should arrive 10-15 minutes early per their designated group time in order to have time to change, ready equipment, and speak to coaches. Remember, scheduled starting times are when swimmers will jump in to begin the work out. If swimmers arrive late, have them ready as soon as possible and send them to their coach.
What if my swimmer(s) needs to leave practice early, or arrive late?
Please inform your lead coach before practice begins.
When can I speak with my swimmer's coach?
Our coaches are very busy making sure all their swimmers are getting the appropriate amount of attention that they need. For quick questions or concerns, these can be addressed before practice begins or after practice. However, if you need more time for in-depth conversations, please reach out to the coaching team via email at info.texaseliteswimming.com and someone will get back to you as soon as possible.
Are parents allowed on deck during practice?
Parents and siblings are not allowed directly on the pool deck where swimmers and coaches are during practice. Parents are welcome to observe their swimmers from designated viewing areas. Parent interaction during practice can be distracting to the coaching staff, your swimmer, and other swimmers.
To help minimize these distractions, we ask that your swimmer(s) has all their equipment and needs with them before practice begins, that includes equipment, water bottle, and anything else that will be needed for practice.
What does my swimmer(s) need to have on deck for practice?
Appropriate swim attire ( 1 piece competitive suit for girls, and jammers or swim briefs for boys), Swim cap, Googles
Swim Equipment: Kick board, fins, pull buoy, snorkel, paddles, parachute, water socks ( this maybe be slightly different per group, check with your lead group coach for more details)
Towel, parka, wet gear bag, dry gear bag, water bottle, snacks
Positive Attitude!
Are there any team requirements?
Yes, parent volunteering. Parent volunteers are required to run meets. Parent volunteer responsibilities can be anything from, timing, hospitality, runners, Officiating, etc. A new parent volunteer expectation requirement will be posted in a new tab under About tab.
What are some things that my swimmer(s) have to have at a meet?
(depending on the location of the meet, be prepared for both indoor and outdoor competition) You do NOT need ALL your equipment for a meet, leave those at home.
-If needed a portable chair (ex. Camping chair)
-Change of dry clothes
-Crocs/sandals for walking safely around the pool deck
-Parka or something similar to stay warm in between events
-Extra towels
-Extra water, extra healthy snacks to stay hydrated and properly fueled
-Cap and Googles - extra if you have them, googles and caps can easily break or get lost
-USAS approved competitive suit - No tie back suits, no long sleeve or full length suits.
-If applicable, Tech suits. 12 and under can wear approved 12 and under non tech skin suits. 13 and older can wear 13 and older USAS approved suits. Refer to this link for more questions: USA Swimming Restricted Tech Suit List for 12 Under Swimmers
-A fun activity, especially if you have a younger swimmer. Please refrain from sending your swimmer with electronics.
-Permanent markers to mark your swimmer for their heats and events
-Positive Attitude!
Does my swimmer(s) have to attend meets?
No, however we strongly encourage your swimmer(s) to attend all available meets.
Does inclement weather impact practice?
Generally speaking No. Our facilities pool is grounded and the ISD has determined that it is safe to swim in during thunderstorms. However, that requires our athletes and families to remain indoors with all the doors properly shut to keep everyone safe.
During cold weather seasons, there are heaters on the ceilings, but it can still get very chilly on deck as we are not in control of the temperature, the district is. Please plan accordingly to have your swimmer kept warm, via parka, etc.
Our Team Culture for Practices and Meets
To help build a strong and positive team culture, we encourage all swimmers to stay with their teammates throughout meets whenever possible. A strong team begins with a strong sense of unity, and one of the best ways to develop that is by spending time together, cheering each other on, and sharing the meet experience as a group.
Regardless of age or skill level, every swimmer has something to contribute and something to learn from their teammates. Being present with the team helps athletes build friendships, develop confidence, learn from one another, and create a supportive environment where everyone feels valued. Team cohesion doesn't happen by accident; it grows through shared experiences, encouragement, and a commitment to one another.
We appreciate your support in helping us foster an environment where every swimmer feels connected, supported, and proud to be part of the team.
*Coach will assign which group your swimmer will be apart of*
What are the practice times for the Elite group (During School / Fall Season)?
Mon / Wed / Fri - 5-7 pm Pool Session 7-8 pm Dry land Session
Tues / Thurs - 5-8 pm Pool Session No Dry land unless specified by the Coach
What are the practice times for the Elite group (During Summer Season)?
Mon / Wed / Fri - 12-2 pm Pool Session 2-3 pm Dry land Session
Tues / Thurs - 12-3 pm Pool Session No Dry land unless specified by the Coach
What are the practice times for the Early Elite group (During School Season)?
Early Elite 1: Mon - Fri - 5 pm-6 pm Pool Session / 6 pm-6:30 pm Dry land Session
Early Elite 2: Mon - Fri - 6 pm-6:30 pm Dry land Session / 6:30 pm-7:30 pm Pool Session
What are the practice times for the Early Elite group (During Summer Season)?
Mon - Fri - 1-3 pm (Includes Dry land) - Possible change of hours for next season, TBD
**At the end of every season (Long Course and Short Course) there is a 2 week break from practice. Coach STRONGLY encourages swimmers to take an appropriate break off from swimming. I know this may feel like a long time out of the water, but athletes of all levels need proper rest and recovery periods as part of their training. Coach however is open for your swimmer to continue to be active as long as it doesn’t involve swimming. This is a great opportunity to get out, go for a hike, bike ride, try pickle ball, go bowling with friends. Anything BUT swimming!
Helpful Swim Apps
- Meet Mobile - Mobile app used to track swimmers progress at Meets. There are free and paid versions
- USA Swimming - The official USAS Hub for all your USA Swimming needs USA Swimming
- Swimmetry - Mobile analytics and tracking platform designed for competitive swimmers
- MySwimIo - Data driven web app and dashboard for competitive USA swimmers, MySwimIO
How do I know when meets are available?
Meets are posted in the team calendar, under Events and Competition Tab in Sports Engine. Check often as they change are updated.
Want to become a Texas Elite Swimming Official??
We are always looking for more officials to join the team, and represent on deck. Becoming an official is a great way to be more involved with your swimmer and be part of an amazing USA Officials community.
Here is a little blurb from the USA Swimming officials site:
“Swimmers need meets and meets need officials. The goal of officiating is to ensure fair competition in USA Swimming sanctioned, approved and observed meets. Without officials at these meets, the times swimmers achieve would not be valid. While there are minimum requirements for the number of officials needed to run a meet, meets with more than the minimum present run far more efficiently. Ultimately, it’s the swimmers who benefit.”
Please let us know if you are interested, and we can send you all the appropriate links to get started. However, if you are curious here is a link to read about officiating.
