frequently asked questions:
Q. Do I have to be a US ID card holder to join the team?
A. No, we have a limited number of spaces available for non-ID card holders.
A. No, we have a limited number of spaces available for non-ID card holders.
Q. Where do you practice?
A. We train at Mainz-Gonsenheim during the week and at Kleinfeldchen in Wiesbaden on Saturdays.
Q. How long is the swim season?
A. Roughly six months. We have a swim camp in August. The season begins around the same time as the start of DODEA and finishes with a Championship meet at the end of February. We also run a non-competitive Spring Swim from March through May for off-season training and for new swimmers.
Q. Where can I buy swim gear and team suit?
A. There are two local stores: Decathlon or SMIT sports. Or use online retailers such as amazon or Swim Outlet. Our team is suit is a SOLID black suit from any retailer.
Q. How many practices are there per week?
A. This depends on your swimmer's ability. The A and B groups practice five days per week, while the C and D groups meet three days per week. The E group only swims two days a week (Tues/Wed). On Saturdays, groups A, B, C, and D practice the same day. Groups A and B practices from 8-10 am, group C 9-10 am, and group D from 8-9 am.
Q. Are there carpools or a bus to get swimmers to / from practice?
A. Yes. We have an entire Facebook page setup to help with carpooling. The carpools are arranged between families. If there is enough interest, we also try to get a bus or van that leaves from the Hainerberg Lodge to the pool in Mainz-Gonsenheim and drops off at Clay, Aukamm, Hainerberg after practice! The bus/van is at the parent expense, the more riders we have, the cheaper it becomes.
Q. How much does the team travel?
A. Traveling to meets is optional, but a great excuse to see Europe. Most of our meets are at Ramstein Air Base or Stuttgart. Our team travels over the long weekends to places like Italy: Vicenza/Aviano (near Venice), Naples, or Sigonella; Rota, Spain; Lisbon, Portugal; Brussels, Belgium, and RAF Lakenheath, UK.
Q. I am in high school and want to play JV / Varsity sport in the Fall. Can I do that and still swim with the Wahoos?
A. Yes. However, if you choose to race in a meet while you are participating in another Fall JV / Varsity sport, you cannot earn points for the Wahoos. When your fall sport ends, you have one week to begin your swim training. All swimmers must complete ten practice sessions before their first competition.
Q. What age do you have to be to be on the team?
A. We take swimmers as young as 6 and up to 19 years old.
Q. I am new to a swim team. What are the basic skill requirements to join the team?
A. Each ability group has different standards. The most basic requirements are to swim a 50 meter freestyle and 25 meter backstroke.
Typically the requirements for each group:
Requirements for A (Advanced) - Swimmers are proficient in all 4 strokes, turns, and dives. Typically, this group is composed of high school aged swimmers and can complete sets of 1000 to 1500 meters, on intervals. Practices can be up to 3000 to 4000 meters in 1.5 hours.
Requirements for B (Intermediate) - Swimmers are proficient in all 4 strokes, turns, and dives. Typically, this group is composed of middle school aged swimmers. Can complete sets of 600 to 1000 meters, on intervals. Practices can be up to 2000 to 3000 meters in 1.5 hours.
Requirements for C (Intermediate/Beginner Plus) - Swimmers are proficient in 3 strokes. Learning the 4th stroke, plus learning and refining starts and turns. Can swim 100 to 200 meters without stopping and complete sets of 200-500 meters with rest.
Requirements for D (Beginner Plus) - Swimmers are able to swim 1-2 strokes. Learning the other 2 strokes, dives, and turns. Beginning to increase endurance in order to swim up to 100 meters without stopping.
Requirements for E (Beginner) - Swimmers are able to swim 1 stroke. Learning the other 3 strokes, dives, and turns. Beginning to increase endurance in order to swim up to 50 meters without stopping.
Q. How many meets am I required to attend?
A. None, however we are a competitive team and swimmers are encouraged four meets. These meets include two home meets and Divisonals.
Q. I am in High School, can I get a Varsity letter?
A. Yes, you are eligible to earn a Varsity letter. We have an agreement with Wiesbaden High School. Our Head Coach established the guidelines at the beginning of the season.
Q. How much does it cost to join the team?
A. We have a non-refundable registration cost that covers the team’s admin costs, insurance and includes a T-shirt and two team swim caps for each swimmer. Cost varies depending on your swimmer's ability group. The registration cost for the 2022-23 season is 125€.
Q. What are the volunteer requirements for parents?
A. Each family is required to volunteer 40 hours to support the team. Volunteer hours must be recorded in VMIS. Volunteer hours can be earned in many ways supporting the team from fundraising to helping out at home and away meets to coordinating the end of year banquet.
Q. How big is the team and how competitive is it?
A. This past season due to COVID we had over 40 swimmers, however pre-COVID the team was around 65 swimmers. Swimmers range from beginners to AAA times. All ability levels are welcome to try-out.
Q. Do you offer swim lessons?
A. We offer swim lessons for children as young as 3. Please contact our Vice President at wahoosvp@gmail.com to receive more information.
Q. I just moved to the area. Do you offer any summer swim programs?
A. We typically offer drop-in swim on Sundays for experienced swimmers. This is a great way to meet some of the team before the season starts. Please contact our Head Coach at wahoosheadcoach@gmail.com for more information.
Q. How do I try-out for a slot on the team?
A. For the 2022-23 season, we have four try-outs dates: 17 July, 31 July, 20 Aug, and 27 Aug. Try-outs are about 45 minutes long for our coaching staff can assess your swimmers ability and determine which group is the right for your swimmer. The cost is 5€.
You can sign up using the link here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20f0d4aa4ac29abfa7-tryouts
Q. I want to be more involved. What can I do to help?
A. At our annual parents meeting at the start of the season, our Volunteer Coordinator will have a list of jobs that we still need help with.
We always need volunteers to help run meets. At the beginning of the season, our team Head Official will offer Official’s training. Officials run the meet to ensure a fair meet and that all the strokes are swum in a legal manner. No experience is necessary and it is a great way to get the best view on the pool deck.
A. Roughly six months. We have a swim camp in August. The season begins around the same time as the start of DODEA and finishes with a Championship meet at the end of February. We also run a non-competitive Spring Swim from March through May for off-season training and for new swimmers.
Q. Where can I buy swim gear and team suit?
A. There are two local stores: Decathlon or SMIT sports. Or use online retailers such as amazon or Swim Outlet. Our team is suit is a SOLID black suit from any retailer.
Q. How many practices are there per week?
A. This depends on your swimmer's ability. The A and B groups practice five days per week, while the C and D groups meet three days per week. The E group only swims two days a week (Tues/Wed). On Saturdays, groups A, B, C, and D practice the same day. Groups A and B practices from 8-10 am, group C 9-10 am, and group D from 8-9 am.
Q. Are there carpools or a bus to get swimmers to / from practice?
A. Yes. We have an entire Facebook page setup to help with carpooling. The carpools are arranged between families. If there is enough interest, we also try to get a bus or van that leaves from the Hainerberg Lodge to the pool in Mainz-Gonsenheim and drops off at Clay, Aukamm, Hainerberg after practice! The bus/van is at the parent expense, the more riders we have, the cheaper it becomes.
Q. How much does the team travel?
A. Traveling to meets is optional, but a great excuse to see Europe. Most of our meets are at Ramstein Air Base or Stuttgart. Our team travels over the long weekends to places like Italy: Vicenza/Aviano (near Venice), Naples, or Sigonella; Rota, Spain; Lisbon, Portugal; Brussels, Belgium, and RAF Lakenheath, UK.
Q. I am in high school and want to play JV / Varsity sport in the Fall. Can I do that and still swim with the Wahoos?
A. Yes. However, if you choose to race in a meet while you are participating in another Fall JV / Varsity sport, you cannot earn points for the Wahoos. When your fall sport ends, you have one week to begin your swim training. All swimmers must complete ten practice sessions before their first competition.
Q. What age do you have to be to be on the team?
A. We take swimmers as young as 6 and up to 19 years old.
Q. I am new to a swim team. What are the basic skill requirements to join the team?
A. Each ability group has different standards. The most basic requirements are to swim a 50 meter freestyle and 25 meter backstroke.
Typically the requirements for each group:
Requirements for A (Advanced) - Swimmers are proficient in all 4 strokes, turns, and dives. Typically, this group is composed of high school aged swimmers and can complete sets of 1000 to 1500 meters, on intervals. Practices can be up to 3000 to 4000 meters in 1.5 hours.
Requirements for B (Intermediate) - Swimmers are proficient in all 4 strokes, turns, and dives. Typically, this group is composed of middle school aged swimmers. Can complete sets of 600 to 1000 meters, on intervals. Practices can be up to 2000 to 3000 meters in 1.5 hours.
Requirements for C (Intermediate/Beginner Plus) - Swimmers are proficient in 3 strokes. Learning the 4th stroke, plus learning and refining starts and turns. Can swim 100 to 200 meters without stopping and complete sets of 200-500 meters with rest.
Requirements for D (Beginner Plus) - Swimmers are able to swim 1-2 strokes. Learning the other 2 strokes, dives, and turns. Beginning to increase endurance in order to swim up to 100 meters without stopping.
Requirements for E (Beginner) - Swimmers are able to swim 1 stroke. Learning the other 3 strokes, dives, and turns. Beginning to increase endurance in order to swim up to 50 meters without stopping.
Q. How many meets am I required to attend?
A. None, however we are a competitive team and swimmers are encouraged four meets. These meets include two home meets and Divisonals.
Q. I am in High School, can I get a Varsity letter?
A. Yes, you are eligible to earn a Varsity letter. We have an agreement with Wiesbaden High School. Our Head Coach established the guidelines at the beginning of the season.
Q. How much does it cost to join the team?
A. We have a non-refundable registration cost that covers the team’s admin costs, insurance and includes a T-shirt and two team swim caps for each swimmer. Cost varies depending on your swimmer's ability group. The registration cost for the 2022-23 season is 125€.
Q. What are the volunteer requirements for parents?
A. Each family is required to volunteer 40 hours to support the team. Volunteer hours must be recorded in VMIS. Volunteer hours can be earned in many ways supporting the team from fundraising to helping out at home and away meets to coordinating the end of year banquet.
Q. How big is the team and how competitive is it?
A. This past season due to COVID we had over 40 swimmers, however pre-COVID the team was around 65 swimmers. Swimmers range from beginners to AAA times. All ability levels are welcome to try-out.
Q. Do you offer swim lessons?
A. We offer swim lessons for children as young as 3. Please contact our Vice President at wahoosvp@gmail.com to receive more information.
Q. I just moved to the area. Do you offer any summer swim programs?
A. We typically offer drop-in swim on Sundays for experienced swimmers. This is a great way to meet some of the team before the season starts. Please contact our Head Coach at wahoosheadcoach@gmail.com for more information.
Q. How do I try-out for a slot on the team?
A. For the 2022-23 season, we have four try-outs dates: 17 July, 31 July, 20 Aug, and 27 Aug. Try-outs are about 45 minutes long for our coaching staff can assess your swimmers ability and determine which group is the right for your swimmer. The cost is 5€.
You can sign up using the link here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20f0d4aa4ac29abfa7-tryouts
Q. I want to be more involved. What can I do to help?
A. At our annual parents meeting at the start of the season, our Volunteer Coordinator will have a list of jobs that we still need help with.
We always need volunteers to help run meets. At the beginning of the season, our team Head Official will offer Official’s training. Officials run the meet to ensure a fair meet and that all the strokes are swum in a legal manner. No experience is necessary and it is a great way to get the best view on the pool deck.
The Wahoos strive to develop competitive swimmers and to promote good sportsmanship, physical fitness, teamwork, self-discipline, and respect for athletic rules and regulations in a positive environment.
We believe in swimming fast and having fun. Come check us out!