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our Philosophy:

Our Competitive Swim team offers competitive swim instruction for swimmers ages 5-14, at different skills levels. We provide a supportive team environment, for all swimmers of every age and ability. By striving to achieve their own personal goals and coming together as a team to achieve team goals, we believe that every athlete can become a champion. We seek to offer athletes a space to cultivate fun, learning, practice and achievement. 

enrollment steps for the 2022-2023 fall/winter competitive swim season

Swimmers who participated in the 2021-2022 Fall/Winter or 2022 Spring/Summer Seasons:

1. Click here to see your swimmer’s assigned training group, if you have a question regarding your assigned training group or are not listed and believe you should, please email cst-team@westcookymca.org
2. Complete the enrollment form for the next season at www.westcookymca.org/cst-enrollment

New Swimmer or did not participate in the 2021-2022 Fall/Winter or 2022 Spring/Summer Seasons:

1. Schedule your swimmer's tryout below
2. Once tryout is completed, the coach will assign your swimmer's training group
3. Enroll your swimmer for the 2022/2023 Fall/Winter season at www.westcookymca.org/cst-enrollment
4. If interested, consider enrolling in clinics at www.westcookymca.org/clinics
5. If you have any questions email us at cst-team@westcookymca.org

2022-2023 FALL/WINTER SEASON tryouts: August 26-27, 2022

Thank you for your interest in the WCY Swim Team. If your swimmer is new to our Competitive Swim Team or did not participate in the 2021-2022 Fall/Winter or 2022 Spring/Summer Seasons, please complete the tryout form and select a time slot for your swimmer's tryout to help us in the assessment process for your swimmer.

Please note current swim team members of the 2021-2022 Fall/Winter or 2022 Spring/Summer Seasons do not need an additional tryout. Click here to see your swimmer’s assigned training group, if you have a question regarding your assigned training group or are not listed and believe you should, please email us at cst-team@westcookymca.org. 

Tryout Form

2022-2023 FALL/WINTER SEASON clinics: September 6-16, 2022

The clinics will combine aquatic and dryland trainings focused on swim stroke development, strength, injury prevention, and team building activities. Supplemented by health and wellness digital content. This clinic is curated to encourage and build quality character driven athletes. Please note, clinic fees are non-refundable but they are transferable to other swimmers and payment arrangements between families.

Availability: 24 spots (Twelve open spots for ages 8 to 10, and twelve open spots for ages 11 and up) 

Location: West Cook YMCA Aquatic Facility, 255 S. Marion St., Oak Park, IL 

Clinic Enrollment

2022-2023 fall/winter Season enrollment

Current families and families who participated in the try-outs will enroll using the form below. New families who have not completed a try-out should email our team at cst-team@westcookymca.org. 

team enrollment

2022-2023 fall/winter short course Season fees & practice SCHEDULE

COMPETITIVE SWIM TEAM GROUPS

TINY TEAM- This team is designed to teach the YMCA’s core values: Caring, Honesty, Respect, and Responsibility. Program participants will be provided opportunities to experience competitive situations designed to develop and sharpen their competitive swimming skills. The goals of our program include: Front start from the pool side then starting blocks, how to push-off and streamline to flags with dolphin kick, all while continuing to learn all 4 competitive strokes and how to practice with a team. Swimmers must be able to swim 25 yards without assistance to join the team.

RED GROUP: The focus is stroke specific, honing each swimmer’s ability to compete with all four strokes. There is also an increase in interval swimming, getting swimmers ready for higher levels. The goals for Red swimmers are to swim a 100 IM legally, have consistent practice attendance, flip turns and racing! Participants must be able to swim 25 yards freestyle, swim 25 yards backstroke, have a legal breaststroke kick, and be able to dive in the water.

YELLOW GROUP: Yellow swimmers focus on swimming all four strokes. This will prepare them to compete and succeed in swim meets throughout the season. Goals for Yellow swimmers are legally swim all four strokes and strive towards the requirements for Bronze. Participants must be able to swim 50 yards freestyle, backstroke and breaststroke with an efficient kick.

BRONZE GROUP: The Bronze group is where swimmers learn body awareness in the water. The focus is on getting the swimmers to understand how they need to move the water during their pull in each stroke in order to be as efficient as possible while swimming. Practices involve a warm-up, drills & skills portion, and an endurance based “main set,” and often a cool down.

SILVER GROUP: Silver is where swimmers begin to focus more on long term success by creating good practice habits and setting goals for the season and beyond. Practices involve a warm-up, drills & skills portion, an endurance based “main set,” and often a cool down. 

GOLD GROUP: Gold continues to focus on long term success by practicing good habits and setting goals for the season and the future of swimming for the athlete, such as preparing for high school swimming. Practices involve a warm-up, drills and skills portion, an endurance based “main set”, and often a cool down.