FINS Swim Team
Welcome to the FINS! The Swim Team website is designed to introduce new families to our team and reacquaint returning families. Once you register for the team you will receive the most up-to-date information throughout the summer.
Your Team Representatives are Katrina Kimpel, Dayle Cristinzio, Allison Kirsch, and Laura Braden. You can contact them at SwimReps@RockCreekPool.com.
About the Team
Who are the Fins?
The Rock Creek Fins are a summer-league swim team open to all Rock Creek Pool Equity Members and those on the wait list with full Summer Swim privileges, ages 4-18.
The Fins are part of the Montgomery County Swim League (MCSL) and are competing in Division J this year.
Why should we join?
The Fins are the most fun you’ll have all summer! A few other benefits:
- The team experience of hanging out with, cheering for, and being cheered on by kids of all ages.
- Learning that if you work hard at something, you really can get better.
- Lots of opportunities to have fun at meets, practice, and through a ton of great social events.
- Hanging out with the coolest kids and parents at the pool.
- And oh yeah… Swimming!
Does my child have to be a fast swimmer?
No, all swimmers are welcome! Our coaches will conduct a swim test for younger swimmers on the first day of practice to determine whether they are ready to compete in meets, or if they need more focused instruction and development. Those swimmers who are not quite ready for meets will participate as a member of either the pre-team or Future Fins, depending on his or her comfort level in the water, strength and skill level. All swimmers, from our Future Fins to All-Star qualifiers, are part of the same team, and are encouraged – along with their families – to take part in all the fun activities throughout the summer.
Will my child have fun?
Of course! That is the whole point of summer swimming. A few social events of note…Friday night pasta parties, treats after Friday morning practice, swim banquet to celebrate the end of the season, team lunches together after all A Meets, a pancake breakfast, the intrasquad meet, A and B Relay Carnivals, the trip to Beaver Dam… and more!
How much does it cost?
Swim team fees, payable by June 10, are $175 per swimmer.
Fees are the same whether your child is competing in meets, swimming on the pre-team, or learning his or her way around the pool as a Future Fin. Swimmers who are not certain about joining the team may attend practice for a few days and then decide.
What to expect if you join
How long is the season?
Practices will begin June 1, following a swim test on May 31 to determine placement of new and 8-under swimmers. Time Trials will take place on Saturday, June 11, followed quickly by our first B Meet on Wednesday, June 15 and our first A Meet on Saturday, June 18. The season concludes with the Division J Championship meet on July 23.
Where can I find the team schedule?
When does the team practice?
Through June 15 the Fins practice in the evenings from 5:00pm-7:30pm and beginning June 16 we will also practice from 7:30am-10:00am each weekday morning.
May 31
Swim tests for new swimmers.
EVENING PRACTICES – JUNE 1 – JULY 19
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday
5:00pm – 6:00pm: 12 & under
Lane 1: 8 & under
Lane 2: 9 & 10 year-olds
Lanes 3-4: 11 & 12 year-olds
6:00pm – 6:30pm: Pre-Team & Future Fins
Lane 1: Future Fins
Lanes 2-4: Pre-Team
6:30pm – 7:30pm: 13 & up
Lanes 1-4: 13 & up
MORNING PRACTICES – JUNE 16 – JULY 20
Monday thru Friday
8:00am – 9:00am: 13 & up
Lanes 3-8: 13 & up
9:00am – 10:00am: 12 & under
Lanes 1-2: 8 & under
Lanes 3-5: 9 & 10 year-olds
Lanes 6-8: 11 & 12 year-olds
Monday thru Thursday
7:30am – 8:00am: Pre-Team & Future Fins
Lanes 1-2: Future Fins
Lanes 3-8: Pre-Team
8:00am – 8:30am: Pre-Team & Future Fins
Shallow Well: Future Fins
Lanes 1-2: Pre-Team
What are my volunteer commitments as a parent?
We ask every family to volunteer for at least part of each meet in which you have a child swimming. There are a lot of choices for volunteering: lining swimmers up in their lanes (“kid wrangling”), timing, officiating, entering times, filling out ribbons, selling spirit wear, selling concessions — the list goes on. All jobs are fun and easy, and we need everyone’s help!
See the Volunteer Job Description page for more information.
How do I volunteer?
You can volunteer for specific assignments on the Event Details & Volunteer Sign-up page. If you have questions or would like additional information about specific jobs, please contact the team reps and we’ll put you in touch with the appropriate volunteer coordinator.
Does my child need a team swimsuit?
No, but in the interest of team spirit we encourage it! Team suit information will be provided at the Memorial Day welcome meeting. And as always, you can contact the team rep with questions about swimsuits.
Who are the coaches and how can I get in touch with them?
The Fins will be coached this year by co-head coaches Audrey Plague and Tatum Zupnik. Longtime CITs Beckett Christman and Charlie Jacobs are joining our talented group of returning assistant coaches – Ailey Gold, Noah Klugman, and Zoe Crane. The coaches can be reached at swimcoach@rockcreekpool.com and bios for each of the coaches can be found here.
Who are the team representatives and how can I get in touch with them?
The Team Reps are Katrina Kimpel, Dayle Cristinzio, Allison Kirsch, and Laura Braden who can be reached at SwimReps@RockCreekPool.com.
Swim Team Lingo
What is the Pre-Team?
The pre-team provides swimmers who are not quite ready to compete in meets the opportunity for specialized skill development and stroke instruction from the coaching staff. The goals of pre-team instruction are to improve all swimmers’ skills and confidence in the water, and in some cases even begin working on stroke technique instruction.
What is Future Fins?
Future Fins is a swim lesson program for swimmers not yet ready for pre-team. The focus is on building confidence in the water, developing basic swim competencies, beginning to teach proper swim techniques, and having fun! Future Fins are as much a part of the team as those swimming in A and B Meets. They are, after all, the future of the RC FINS!
What are A and B Meets?
A Meets are the official MCSL-scheduled summer swim meets, and they are conducted in strict accordance with MCSL rules. The five summer A Meets take place on Saturday mornings, and the results are used to determine division assignments for the following summer. Generally, there is a single heat for each event and the three fastest swimmers in each stroke compete in A meets. A swimmer may participate in up to three individual stroke events in an A Meet, as well as the Individual Medley and a relay event. A Meet times are used to determine eligibility for Divisionals, as well as the end-of-year Individual All-Stars meet.
B Meets are less formal Wednesday meets which are organized and scheduled by the team reps. All swimmers participate in B Meets, though a Fins swimmer will not compete in an event he or she swam during the preceding A meet. There are generally multiple heats for each event.
Note that we do not have an “A Team” and a “B Team”: We are ALL the FINS!
How will I know if my child is swimming in an A Meet?
The lineup for each week is posted on the team site, usually the Friday morning before the meet, and also distributed by the team reps to all parents with a swimmer entered in the lineup. If your child is not able to participate in the meet, it is essential to let the team reps know immediately.
What are Divisionals?
The Divisional Championship meet is held at the end of the season against the five other teams in our Division.
What Division of MCSL are we in this year?
The Fins are swimming in Division J with Garrett Park, Olney Mill, Potomac Glen, Potomac Woods and Twin Farms.
What is a Relay Carnival?
Relay carnival is a special multiple-team meet comprised only of relay races of all sorts — some within age groups, some across age groups, and even some where boys and girls compete together. The A & B Relay Carnival meets in which we participate are always among the highlights of the summer. Loads of team spirit and a ton of fun!
What is Beaver Dam?
Each year the team goes to this quarry outside of Baltimore for even more swimming … with a rope swing, rafts, cliffs to jump off, and various other fun things to do.
