Brookville YMCA

SWIMMING STROKES

The four competitive swimming strokes are freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke and butterfly. The combination of all four strokes is called individual medley. In freestyle, the stroke is characterized by the alternate stroking of the arms over the surface of the water and an alternating (up-and-down) flutter kick. Swimmers do a flip turn between laps. Backstroke consists of an alternating motion of the arms with a flutter kick while on the back. On turns, swimmers may rotate to the stomach and perform a flip turn and some part of the swimmer must touch the wall. The swimmer must finish on the back. The breaststroke requires simultaneous movements of the arms on the same horizontal plane. The hands are pressed out from in front of the breast in a heart shaped pattern and recovered under or on the surface of the water. The kick is a simultaneous somewhat circular motion similar to the action of a frog. On turns and at the finish, the swimmer must touch the wall with both hands simultaneously. A flip turn is not performed. Butterfly features a simultaneous recovery of the arms over the water combined with an undulating dolphin kick. In the kick, the swimmer must keep both legs together and may not flutter or use the breaststroke kick. Both hands must touch the wall simultaneously on the turns and the finish. A flip turn is not performed. The individual medley, commonly referred to as the I.M., features all four strokes. In the IM, the swimmer begins with the butterfly, then changes after one-fourth of the race to backstroke, then breaststroke and finally freestyle.

MEMBERSHIP

As a YMCA Swim Team, we are required to have all swimmers be members of the Brookville YMCA. We belong to the CENKEY swim league, which includes teams from Brookville, DuBois, Ridgway, Clarion, Clearfield, State College, Juniata Valley, Jersey Shore, Bellefonte and East Lycoming. Specific information about swim meets for the 2023-2024 swim season will be forthcoming. Participation in league swim meets is an expectation for members of our swim team. 

EVENTS

YMCA Swimming is divided by age group and gender. The age groups are: 8 and Unders, 9-10, 11-12, 13-14, 15-18. Our competition pool is 25 yards long and 6 lanes wide. 8 and Unders can swim 25 yards of each stroke, 50 freestyle or 100 IM. 9-10 year olds can swim 50 or 100 yards of each stroke, 200 freestyle or 100 IM. 11-12 year olds can swim 50 or 100 yards of each stroke, 200 freestyle or 200 IM. 13-14 year olds can swim 50 free, 100 or 200 of each stroke, 200 IM, 400 IM or 500 free. 15-18 year olds can swim 50 free, 100 or 200 of each stroke, 200 IM, 400 IM or 500 free. In addition, each age group has both freestyle and medley relays.

Our coaches will place each swimmer in the events and parents will receive information when your swimmer is registered for their events. This takes the guess work out of the parent's hands, and ensures your swimmer is ready to take on challenging events at their pace.

FEES

The registration fee is $80.00 per swimmer to join the Barracudas! There is a discount for families with more than one child swimming.

Families that have CURRENT Brookville YMCA membership do not need to pay for an additional 6 month membership for their swimmer (Total of $80 for the season)

For those who are not currently members of the Brookville YMCA, the YMCA offers us a special 6 month membership which covers the length of the swim season for $75.00.

Total Registration fee is $155 for the season for 6 month YMCA membership and Barracuda registration.

All payments, both the registration fee and the YMCA membership, are to be paid by November 1. Fees can be turned in to a Board member at practice. Dates to bring payment will be provided. Checks must be payable to: Brookville YMCA, please note “Swim Team registration” and your swimmer's name in the memo section of your check. 

Scholarships for the YMCA membership are available through the YMCA, please ask at the front desk.

VOLUNTEERISM

Every family is responsible to help ensure the success of the team. Families are asked to volunteer at meets. Positions include timers, runners, seeders, timing system operators and officials. Sign ups for volunteer positions will be a required part of the online registration. Sign ups will be completed this year on signup.com. More information and links to follow!