Team Policies
Initial Skills Requirement
For safety, swimmers are expected to be able to swim the length of the pool (25 yards) without assistance — occasional brief support from the lane line or wall is fine — in approximately 1 minute 15 seconds. Swimmers should reach this standard by the first meet or shortly thereafter. This is a safety requirement: we are not staffed to provide one-on-one instruction or in-water rescue support.
Swimmers are not expected to arrive with formal stroke technique. Beginners, including young swimmers who may initially doggy-paddle, are welcome as long as they are willing to learn and improve during the season.
This standard applies to all ages. A new 12-year-old is not expected to have competitive strokes any more than a 5-year-old is. Placement is based on the safe ability to complete the distance and willingness to participate in group instruction.
Evaluation: Because our pool is not heated, we are unable to offer early tryouts. Coaches may be available for informal skills checks at the Get Your Gear event, weather permitting, but the official safety evaluation happens during practices leading up to the intrasquad meet. Swimmers must attend practice to be evaluated.
Refund: If the coaching staff determines by the intrasquad meet that a swimmer cannot safely participate, the registration fee will be refunded in full — regardless of the April 15 refund deadline — less a $35 administrative fee per swimmer. The included team t-shirt is yours to keep; optional merchandise purchases are not refunded. Swimmers who do not attend practice cannot be evaluated and are not eligible for this refund.
Swimmer Expectations
5 Steps to Becoming a Successful Barracuda
1. Be Responsible
- Take care of your swimming gear (cap, goggles, suit, towel, fins, etc.)
- Arrive on time for practices and meets
- Communicate with coaches when you have questions or needs
2. Be Safe
- Listen to coaches and follow instructions at all times
- No horseplay in or around the pool area
3. Be a Good Teammate
- Encourage others at practices and meets
- Set a positive example for younger swimmers
- Support and help teammates when needed
4. Be Respectful
- Respect coaches, teammates, and volunteers
- Respect yourself by staying positive and putting in effort to improve
5. Have Fun and Keep Improving
- Swimming is a team sport and an individual journey — enjoy the process and celebrate your progress throughout the season
These expectations help keep the Barracudas a positive and supportive environment for all swimmers. The Disciplinary Policy below outlines how behavior issues are handled when expectations are not met.
Disciplinary Policy & Steps
The Barracudas swim team is intended to be a fun and safe environment for all swimmers. When expectations are not followed, coaches will address behavior using the steps below.
1st Offense
The coach will explain the issue to the swimmer and issue a warning, giving them a chance to correct the behavior.
2nd Offense
The swimmer will be asked to inform a parent about the incident and have the parent speak with the coach after practice. The swimmer may also be asked to sit out for part or all of practice at the coach's discretion. If a parent is not present, the coach or Board will follow up after practice.
Repeated or Severe Offenses
Depending on the nature and frequency of the behavior, the coach and/or Board may take additional action, including:
- Removal from practice for a period of time, including Fun Friday or meet participation
- Restriction from relay or team events
- Suspension or removal from the team for the current season and, if necessary, future seasons
In all cases, the coach and/or Board may request a meeting with parents and swimmers to discuss behavior and determine appropriate next steps.
Discipline Discussions
For the safety and focus of the team, disciplinary matters are not discussed during practice. Coaches remain focused on swimmers in the water; conversations regarding behavior take place after practice or by appointment.
Practice & Meet Expectations
Swimmers are expected to follow all team expectations and help maintain a safe, positive environment where everyone can improve their swimming and enjoy time with teammates.
Practices
Attendance varies by family, and swimmers may attend anywhere from a few days a week to nearly all practices. We ask that swimmers make every effort to attend at least one practice per week when possible.
Swim Meets
Swim meets are a fun and important part of the Barracudas experience, designed to be friendly, community-focused events. Families should plan for swimmers to attend meets regularly. To qualify for the Championship Meet, swimmers must participate in at least two regular season meets and have valid times in their individual events.
Volunteer Expectations
Volunteer support is essential to running successful meets, and most volunteer jobs take place at swim meets. Because shifts are scheduled primarily at meets, parents may be asked to volunteer at a meet even if their swimmer is not in the water that day. Each family's full requirement is described in the Volunteer Policy below.
Volunteer Policies
The BCW Barracudas are a member of the Austin Hills Swim League, a parent-run and parent-supported league. It takes many volunteers to run swim meets successfully, and participation from all families is required.
In addition to registration fees, each family is required to earn a minimum of four (4) volunteer points during the season. Each job has a point value, shown when you sign up — most jobs are worth 1 point, some 0.5. Families sign up for two points at registration; sign-up for additional jobs opens the week of the intrasquad meet, and all four points must be completed by the end of the season. Point totals are viewable at any time under My Account. We make every effort to honor preferences, but the Board reserves the right to make final assignments to ensure all meets are properly staffed.
A limited number of non-meet volunteer options may be available for special circumstances. Please reach out through our contact form.
If a family is unable to work an assigned shift, it is their responsibility to find a replacement and notify the Board as soon as possible at [email protected].
Volunteer conditional fee ($150). At registration, families pre-approve a $150 conditional fee tied to this commitment; at checkout it appears as "Pre-approved Conditional Fees/Penalties." This is not a charge and not a hold, and it does not affect available credit. Card details are stored securely with Stripe, our payment processor, for one possible future transaction; the authorization is automatically released after eight months. The $150 is charged only if the family has not completed its four volunteer points by the end of the season.
If the volunteer requirement is not met: the $150 conditional fee is charged, and the family may be denied registration for the following season. At the Board's discretion, the family may instead be permitted to register after all other families, pending available space. In addition, a swimmer may be removed from meets or other team events during the season if the family's volunteer requirement is not being met.
If your family faces an unexpected hardship or circumstance that affects your ability to volunteer, please contact the Board before the end of the season — we would much rather work with you than charge you.
Financial Policies
Overview: The BCW Barracudas is a volunteer-run, non-profit organization. Registration fees cover coaching staff, pool and meet expenses, equipment, insurance, league dues, and team supplies. We also seek sponsorship and donor support to help offset costs and keep fees as low as possible.
Payment & Participation: Payment is required at the time of registration — all fees are due with registration. For insurance and liability reasons, swimmers will not be permitted in the water until payment is complete. Registration may remain open on a space-available basis through May 10 (the league's final cutoff), though we typically fill earlier. Once the team fills, later registrations are not guaranteed a team t-shirt or preferred size.
Financial Standing: Families must be in good financial standing with the team in order to register. This includes resolving any outstanding balances or unresolved payment disputes from prior seasons.
Billing Questions & Chargebacks: If you have a question about a charge, or believe a charge is incorrect, please email [email protected] before disputing it with your card company — we will work to resolve it quickly. All charges are governed by the refund policy below; a chargeback is not a substitute for a refund request. Chargebacks cost the team the disputed amount plus bank fees, which raises costs for every family. An unresolved chargeback is treated as an outstanding balance under the Financial Standing policy above, and a swimmer's participation may be paused while a dispute is pending.
Volunteer Conditional Fee: At registration you pre-approve a $150 conditional fee tied to the four-point volunteer commitment. This is not a charge and not a hold on your card. See the Volunteer Policy for full details.
Merchandise: Your registration includes one team t-shirt per swimmer. Optional items — extra shirts, swim caps, event tickets, and other gear — may be purchased during registration or anytime before the deadline in the Team Store. All merchandise orders close on [DATE], 2027. T-shirts are ordered in time for the intrasquad meet, and we do not order extras — registrations or orders placed after the cutoff may not receive a shirt or preferred size.
Refund Policy: Most of our expenses are committed in advance — league fees, insurance, staffing, and team apparel — and coaching staff size is set based on registration numbers. Refunds are issued as follows:
- 50% refund on or before April 15
- No refunds after April 15, except the skills evaluation refund described below
- Optional merchandise purchases and credit card processing fees are non-refundable
Skills Evaluation & Refund: We do not hold a formal tryout before the season — our pool is not heated, so early evaluation isn't possible. Coaches may be available for informal skills checks at the Get Your Gear event, weather permitting, but the official safety evaluation happens during practices leading up to the intrasquad meet. Swimmers must attend practice to be evaluated — swimmers who do not attend cannot be evaluated and are not eligible for this refund. If the coaching staff determines by the intrasquad meet that a swimmer cannot safely participate, the registration fee will be refunded in full regardless of the April 15 date, less a $35 administrative fee per swimmer. The included team t-shirt is yours to keep; optional merchandise purchases are not refunded. See the Initial Skills Requirement for the safety standard.
Additional Costs: Families are responsible for personal equipment such as swimsuits and goggles. Certain optional team events (such as waterpark outings) are non-chaperoned and self-funded.
Overview: The BCW Barracudas is a volunteer-run, non-profit organization. Registration fees cover coaching staff, pool and meet expenses, equipment, insurance, league dues, and team supplies. We also seek sponsorship and donor support to help offset costs and keep fees as low as possible.
Payment & Participation: Payment is required at the time of registration — all fees are due with registration. For insurance and liability reasons, swimmers will not be permitted in the water until payment is complete. Registration may remain open on a space-available basis through May 10 (the league's final cutoff), though we typically fill earlier. Once the team fills, later registrations are not guaranteed a team t-shirt or preferred size.
Financial Standing: Families must be in good financial standing with the team in order to register. This includes resolving any outstanding balances or payment disputes from prior seasons — an unresolved payment dispute is treated as an outstanding balance. If you ever have a question about a charge, please email [email protected] first; we will work to resolve it quickly.
Volunteer Conditional Fee: At registration you pre-approve a $150 conditional fee tied to the four-point volunteer commitment. This is not a charge and not a hold on your card. See the Volunteer Policy for full details.
Merchandise: Your registration includes one team t-shirt per swimmer. Optional items — extra shirts, swim caps, event tickets, and other gear — may be purchased during registration or anytime before the deadline in the Team Store. All merchandise orders close on [DATE], 2027. T-shirts are ordered in time for the intrasquad meet, and we do not order extras — registrations or orders placed after the cutoff may not receive a shirt or preferred size.
Refund Policy: Most of our expenses are committed in advance — league fees, insurance, staffing, and team apparel — and coaching staff size is set based on registration numbers. Refunds are issued as follows:
- 50% refund on or before April 15
- No refunds after April 15, except the skills evaluation refund described below
- Optional merchandise purchases and credit card processing fees are non-refundable
Skills Evaluation & Refund: We do not hold a formal tryout before the season — our pool is not heated, so early evaluation isn't possible. Coaches may be available for informal skills checks at the Get Your Gear event, weather permitting, but the official safety evaluation happens during practices leading up to the intrasquad meet. Swimmers must attend practice to be evaluated — swimmers who do not attend cannot be evaluated and are not eligible for this refund. If the coaching staff determines by the intrasquad meet that a swimmer cannot safely participate, the registration fee will be refunded in full regardless of the April 15 date, less a $35 administrative fee per swimmer. The included team t-shirt is yours to keep; optional merchandise purchases are not refunded. See the Initial Skills Requirement for the safety standard.
Additional Costs: Families are responsible for personal equipment such as swimsuits and goggles. Certain optional team events (such as waterpark outings) are non-chaperoned and self-funded.
Championship / Invitational Meet Fees: Entry fees for the end-of-season championship (invitational) meet are included in your registration — there is no separate per-event fee.
Prorated Fees: Registration fees cover the full season. No prorated refunds are issued for a late start, missed practices, or early withdrawal for any reason.
Championship / Invitational Meet Fees: Entry fees for the end-of-season championship (invitational) meet are included in your registration — there is no separate per-event fee.
Prorated Fees: Registration fees cover the full season. No prorated refunds are issued for a late start, missed practices, or early withdrawal for any reason.
Weather Policy
The safety of our swimmers and families is the top priority. Practices and meets may continue in light rain, but will be delayed or cancelled in the event of lightning or other unsafe weather conditions. Weather-related updates are posted on the team homepage and emailed to the affected practice group lists.
Lightning: Lightning activity is monitored using the WeatherBug lightning detection system. Activities are delayed or cancelled when lightning is detected within 6 miles. The 30-minute safety clock resets with each new strike detected within that radius and must pass without additional strikes before activities may resume.
During delays: There is no lightning-safe shelter on the pool deck, so swimmers must return to vehicles during weather delays. If conditions look uncertain, please remain nearby or ensure arrangements are in place for prompt pickup. Parents may pick up their swimmer at any time if they feel conditions are unsafe or prefer not to remain at the pool.
Meet cancellations: If a swim meet is cancelled due to weather, it may be rescheduled if time allows. Meets that cannot be rescheduled within two weeks are cancelled in accordance with league rules.
Can My Kid Sign Up?
Most families can determine eligibility using two simple questions:
1) Is your family part of the BCW Barracuda community?
The BCW Barracudas are primarily intended for Barton Creek West HOA residents. We also welcome returning Barracuda families and children who attend or attended Barton Creek Elementary, West Ridge Middle School, or Westlake High School. We accept a limited number of additional swimmers when space allows, with priority given to these groups.
2) Can your child safely participate in a competitive swim environment?
Swimmers should be able to complete 25 yards (one length of the pool) unassisted within the first part of the season. Swimmers do not need to know formal competitive strokes at the start — coaching focuses on skill development during practices. This requirement applies to all ages. If a swimmer is not yet ready, we recommend a learn-to-swim program and returning in a future season — we're happy to suggest local options.
If both criteria are met, your family is welcome to register. For details on refunds and participation, see the Financial Policies and Initial Skills Requirement above.
Neighborhood Swim Team
The BCW Barracudas Swim Team was created by neighbors in the Barton Creek West community to provide a fun, family-oriented summer swim program for local children and friends.
Registration priority is given first to BCW HOA residents, followed by returning Barracuda families and swimmers within the local school community (Barton Creek Elementary, West Ridge Middle School, and Westlake High School). Additional registrations may be accepted when space allows.
The team is designed to be a positive, family-friendly environment focused on participation, learning, and good sportsmanship.
We reserve the right to decline or cancel registrations that do not align with team eligibility requirements or participation policies.
Abuse Policy
Child safety is a top priority for the BCW Barracudas Swim Team. The sport of swimming requires special awareness and responsibility from all coaches, volunteers, and parents to recognize and report suspected child abuse or neglect.
Child abuse includes non-accidental physical injury, neglect, sexual misconduct, and emotional abuse. Any concern involving a child's safety or well-being should be taken seriously and reported appropriately.
Additional information on recognizing, reporting, and preventing abuse is available through USA Swimming Safe Sport.
Our team's official policies and reporting procedures are available here: Team Abuse Reporting Policy.