Hunt Valley Swim & Dive Team

• Purpose: Part of the Hunt Valley Swim Team, designed for young swimmers who can't yet swim a full length of the pool.
• Goal: To have fun while improving swimming skills. Older Lil’ Rays aim to become proficient in at least one stroke to participate in Monday evening swim meets by season's end.
• Team Involvement: Lil’ Rays are part of the swim team and are encouraged to join all team events and activities.
• Advancement:
  • Swimmers may move to regular team practices when ready, at the coaches' discretion.
  • Experienced Lil’ Rays should attend a skill assessment during the second week of afternoon practice if they might be swimming team-ready this summer.
• Assessment Details: Coaches will evaluate Lil’ Rays in the water. Dates for the assessment will be published with the team calendar. 

June 29 - July 24

• Each swimmer is assigned a consistent daily time slot (30 minutes, Monday–Friday). Your exact session time will be confirmed by email prior to the start of the program.
• Note to Parents:
  We will do our best to accommodate your preferred session time. While we can’t guarantee all requests, your preference will be carefully considered during scheduling.

As many of you know, we always strive to keep our Lil’ Rays season running mid-June through mid-July to provide consistency for families and align with our traditional team calendar.

However, due to staffing coordination and the later FCPS school ending this year, we needed to adjust the Lil’ Rays program dates to ensure we can provide the quality instruction, energy, and supervision your swimmers deserve.

While the timing may look slightly different than in past seasons, please know this decision was made thoughtfully and with the goal of:

• ✅ Securing the strongest possible coaching coverage
• ✅ Allowing our staff proper training and preparation time
• ✅ Maintaining a safe and structured learning environment
• ✅ Preserving the fun, confidence-building experience Lil’ Rays is known for

We appreciate your flexibility and understanding as we balance school calendars, staffing logistics, and our commitment to delivering a high-quality program.

Class Structure:

• Coach-to-swimmer ratio: typically 1:4, never more than 1:5.
• Approximately a 4week program. Typically starts the 1st Monday after FCPS close. 
• Held in the morning; 30 minute sessions beginning 7:30-9:30am
• Practice times are emailed before the start date, and after registration finalization.
• Don't hesitate to contact the team reps at [email protected] if you have other children on the swim team. They'll try to align schedules, though it's not guaranteed, as placement is based on ability.

Program Requirements:

• Family membership at Hunt Valley Pool is required (no August memberships).
• Lil’ Ray must be 3 years old by June 1, 2026 (no exceptions).
• This is a “beginner swim” program, not a “learn to swim” program.
• Children must be comfortable in the water, willing to get their faces wet, and able to follow simple coaching instructions.
• If a child is crying or fearful by the 2nd or 3rd day, they may be asked to wait until next season. Other options will be suggested.
• Parents must stay on deck during practice and are not allowed in the water.

Attire:

• Swimmers should wear a swimsuit and goggles to practice.
• Long hair should be tied up with a swim cap. Stingray caps are required at meets for easy identification.
• Goggles and caps are available for purchase during practices.

Important Notes:  

• Please ensure your child is potty-trained (no swim diapers)
• Parents must stay on deck for safety and to handle potty breaks.
• If the water temperature is below 70F children may only be kept in the water for 10-15 minutes maximum, supplementing the lesson with dryland exercises. 

Communication:

• Main communication is through email and the website.
• Check emails frequently for updates on practice, meets, and events.
• A file box in the pavilion will have folders for each family with meet ribbons and hard copy info.
• Check bulletin boards in the pavilion for current team information and volunteer opportunities.
• Families with only Lil’ Ray swimmers do not have a financial volunteer requirement but are encouraged to support team activities.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Is Lil’ Rays once a week or multiple days?
A: Lil’ Rays meets Monday–Friday every week for a 30-minute session each day.
Q: Do we choose our schedule?
A: You can request a preferred time during registration. We do our best to accommodate, but placement is based on ability and group balance.
Q: Is this swim lessons?
A: No—this is a beginner program, not formal swim lessons. Swimmers should be comfortable in the water and able to follow instructions.


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