Overview

Swim Team at Tara is a great way for swimmers to participate in a competitive swim program that will develop and improve their skills and sportsmanship-while having fun and making friendships in a team environment! Tara swim team is a summer league program and is a member of the Greater Baton Rouge Swim League. Practices are held throughout the months of May and June. Swimmers may compete in meets against other clubs and also in the City Championship meet at the end of June. All members and non-member children are encouraged to participate!

New for the 2026 Season: Tara Club will offer a Competing (Agree to participate in the swim meets) and Non-Competing (Will not take part in swim meets) membership for the team.  This will allow families and newer swimmers the opportunity to ease into a competitive swim environment once practices are held twice a day, and we expect less congestion on the pool deck. Non-competing swimmers will receive a discounted rate with the idea of practices beginning after Memorial Day.  This will also allow for less congestion on the pool deck for the first two weeks of practice. 

Who Can Participate?
Any child who is 5 years or older, and can swim with little or no assistance for the entire length of the pool. Children 4 years or younger may participate as long as they can swim the entire length of the pool.

When Does It Start?

For Competing Swimmers – Practices will begin Tuesday, May 12th, and continue every week until June 26th. We will offer afternoon practices throughout the month of May and then will also offer morning practices starting after Memorial Day.

Non-Competing Swimmers will begin practices (option for morning or afternoon), Tuesday, May 26^th.

All practice times will be based on age group.

Sign Up and More Information
Registration opens April 1, 2026 via a link on the website that will take you to SwimTopia.  You will need to create an account on SwimTopia, if you do not already have one.

Notes:
*6-10 kids per lane with 2 coaches for each group

Cost:

Competing Swimmers: Practices begin May 12th
$110 for Tara Club members, per child
$175 for non-members, per child

Non-Competing Swimmers: Practices begin May 26th

$85 for Tara Club members, per child

$130 for non-members, per child

Swim Team practice will take place at the Tara pool facility and will utilize the entire main pool for practice!

Questions or concerns, please email swimteam@taraclub.org.

Schedule of Events

Swim Team Evaluations – If you are a new member AND 7 or younger, swim evaluations will be conducted Monday May 11th.  This is only to ensure that the child can swim the length of our pool (25 meters).  A coach will be in the lane to assist any hesitant swimmers.

We will hold evaluations to help any parents deciding whether swim team is a good option for their child, or to see where a swimmer’s ability level is.  THIS IS NOT IN ANY WAY A TRYOUT.  Our coaches enjoy teaching.

Practice Schedule

Competing Swimmers only – Starting Tuesday May 12th until Memorial Day practices will be:

Monday-Thursday
8 & under 4:45-5:20pm
9 & 10 5:20-6:00pm
11 & older 6:00-6:45pm

All Swimmers – Morning Practices: Begins Tuesday, May 26th
Monday-Friday
9 & older 8:00-9:00am
8 & under 9:00-9:45am

All Swimmers – Evening Practices: Begins Tuesday, May 26th
Monday-Thursday
8 & under 5:00-5:45pm
9 & older 5:45-6:45pm

Note: We do not practice on Memorial Day. Afternoon practice only in May, and then morning and afternoon practice is offered on May 26th and throughout June. Swimmers can choose either morning or afternoon or come to both!

Meet Schedule- not yet released!!!!!
Dual Meets

• Typically scheduled for the first three Saturdays in June – Official schedule will be released once available

City Meet

• Tentatively the fourth weekend of June: Official date, time and location TBD

1. Are there try-outs?  No, we encourage all levels of swimmers to join our team.  If you are not sure if your child can swim the length of the pool, please come to the swim evaluation on Monday, May 11th.  If you are not able to make it that day and you are not sure if your child can swim the length of the pool, please reach out to the coaches to schedule another day.
2. My child is a hesitant swimmer, is swim team for them? As long as your child can swim the length of the pool, sign them up!  If you feel confident that they would not want to compete in the meets, please sign up as a non-competitive swimmer.  Non-competitive swimmers will join the team at practices starting after Memorial Day.  This will allow them to receive coaching and gain confidence in the pool with fewer swimmers per practice session.  If after a bit they decide they want to swim in the meets, please just let the coaches know.
3. How can I help my child succeed at practice? The swimmers will be separated into lanes, mostly depending on ages.  The coaches ask that the faster swimmers head to the front of the line.  AS A RULE, once your child swims to the other side of the pool they should get out and go to the BACK of the line.  This allows a natural progression of swimmers based on speed and prevents faster swimmers from having to swim past (or swim over) a slower swimmer in front of them.  THERE ARE NO SAVED SPOTS IN THE LINE.  When you get out of the pool, go to the back of the line.  If your child is very competitive, encourage them to keep doing their best.  As they improve over the summer, they might realize that they are “moving up the line.”  In swimming, above any other sport, you are competing against yourself.  Encourage them to keep swimming and see if they can drop time.  You can even keep a stopwatch and time your children while observing during practice to help them see their improvement.
4. Should I stay for practice? We encourage parents (especially of younger swimmers) to help monitor your child during practice.  If you notice concerns with their behavior, please intervene.  Our coaches are in the pool (especially with the younger swimmers) and are focused on the swimmers in the pool.  It is very difficult (and dangerous) for them to take their eyes off the pool to correct swimmers on the deck.  Pushing and shoving on the pool deck is NOT tolerated.  Swimmers will be asked to leave practice immediately if they are seen pushing and shoving.
5. Practice times are during dinner time….HELP!!!! Before Memorial Day, the pool is NOT open to members during practice times.  Additionally, the snack shop is NOT open.  Please feel free to bring your own food and drink if needed.  You can even make it a family picnic dinner at the pool if that best serves your family.  After Memorial Day, the pool is open to members from 10 am-close.  During afternoon practice, members are welcome to swim in the 3ft end, the diving well, or utilize the baby pool.  The snack shop is open as well.  At Tara, you are also always welcome to bring your own food/snacks/drinks.  ABSOLUTELY NO GLASS!!!!!!
6. What should I expect at the swim meets? Swim meets are controlled chaos!  Warm ups begin around 7am for home meets.  The swim meet starts at 8am.  Freestyle relays are first.  There is a progression of events with each set of stroke events divided into age groups and all age groups are completed before the next set of stroke events starts.  The Medley Relays are the last events of the meet.  PLEASE BE AWARE (check the heat sheet) if your child is placed in relay to make sure they are present for those relays.  If you need to leave the meet early, please mark on the meet sign up that they are “not eligible” for relays.   Please bring plenty of water, sunscreen, a towel, a swim cap (if they want to wear one), a sharpie marker to write their events, a tent, and a fan (if you desire).  Swim meets are usually completed by noon, except for city meet.
7. What about the City Swim Meet? To be eligible to swim at the City Meet, you must have swum a particular event in one of the three prior meets.  City Meet (TBD dates/location) is typically broken up by age groups and often occurs Fri-Sun on the last weekend in June.
8. Are volunteers needed for swim meets? YES!!!!  Parents are needed (and expected) to volunteer for swim meets (at least one).  You can volunteer as a Mommy/Daddy duck or a timer.  If you volunteer as a duck, you will be part of a group of parents responsible for lining up swimmers prior to their races.  If you volunteer as a timer, you can sign up for a ‘first half’ or ‘second half’ timer.  The “firs