FAQ
You’ve Got Questions - We’ve Got Answers
HOW OFTEN DO YOU PRACTICE?
Our experienced program typically practices 3 times a week for a total of about 8 hours. 2 hours are spent on land during studio time, and 6 in the water throughout the week.
​
Our novice program typically practices 2 times a week for a total of 6 hours. 1 hour is spent on land during studio time, and 4 in the water throughout the week.
​
Whether novice or experienced, should you choose to swim an additional extra routine, you could practice an additional 1-2 hours per week.
​
In addition to our regular practices, we have full club "boot camp" practices which add 3 hrs every 1-2 months.
​
Recreational members are able to choose how many practices they attend.
HOW MUCH DOES IT COST TO PARTICIPATE?
The cost to participate will vary based on what you choose to take part in.
​
Dal Synchro Club Fee = $40
​
All club members must first pay the club fee. This entitles you to practice with our club and take part in any club activities such as boot camps and socials. For recreational program swimmers, this is the only mandatory fee.
​
League Registration Fee = $100-$150
​
For either of our competitive programs, you must also register with CUASL, Canada Artistic Swimming and Nova Scotia Artistic Swimming. This ensures you are able to compete in provincial, national, and university level meets.
​
Additional Costs
​
Uniform and equipment ~ $200: Competitive athletes must purchase a club shirt, a spacing suit, and club cap. Additionally, you will need to purchase the routine suit chosen by your team. This typically costs around $200 altogether, but will vary by season and by suit chosen by your team.
Travel expenses: The cost of hotel stays for each meet are divided among the athletes that attend. This typically amounts to ~$150 for the season. In addition to this, each athlete is responsible for their own travel to meets, whether that be flights or driving costs.
​
Fundraising
​
Given the cost to attend competitions, our club puts a lot of effort into fundraising each year. At the end of the season, any money earned from fundraising is then paid back out to our competitive stream athletes who attended competitions. This typically amounts to $100-$150 per person in past years, but we are always looking for new fundraising opportunities to further help our athletes.
​
​
I AM NEW TO SYNCHRO/HAVE NOT SWAM SYNCHRO FOR MANY YEARS. CAN I STILL PARTICIPATE?
If you have never tried synchro before, the Novice program is for you. It focuses on developing the core synchro skills like sculling, eggbeater, breath control and flexibility.
If you did swim competitive synchro as a child, but have not swam competitive synchro after the age of 12, you are also eligible for participation in the novice program. It will help you re-develop your skills after a long hiatus. The same applies if you swam synchro prior, but did not do so competitively.
​
If you have swam competitively after the age of 12, you are welcome in the experienced program, even if you have not swam for a long time. Our experienced program has athetes of all backgrounds and skill levels, and we would love to have you join and help you re-learn the ropes!
DO I HAVE TO BE A STRONG SWIMMER TO JOIN NOVICE?
At Dal Synchro, we focus on teaching synchro skills, and not basic swimming skills.
​
To join the Novice Program at Dalhousie University, interested swimmers must:
- Have Swim Level 6, or similar swimming experience
- Know and feel comfortable performing the basic swim strokes
- Be able to comfortably swim in the deep end of the pool
- Be able to comfortably submerge one’s head underwater
- Be able and comfortable treading water
- Feel confident exercising in a pool environment
By joining the Dalhousie Novice Synchronized Swimming Program, expect to practice:
- Swimming upside down
- Following routine choreography to music in counts of 8 in and out of the water
- Swimming entire lengths of the pool underwater
- Swimming without goggles
HOW MANY MEETS DO YOU ATTEND?
Our competitive teams typically attend 3 meets a year. We typically opt to attend the Nova Scotia Invitational meet which occurs in early January. We also attend 2 CUASL meets: Eastern Divisionals at the end of January, and Nationals at the end of February. We also have an end of year watershow in March to cap off the season.
I GO TO A DIFFERENT UNIVERSITY IN HALIFAX. CAN I PARTICIPATE?
To participate in the CUASL, you must be registered in a university-level degree from an accredited degree-granting institution.
​
As a Tier-2 sports club, our club is open to both Dalhousie students and Dalplex members. Therefore, if you are a student at another Halifax university, but are a Dalplex member, you are able to participate in our club activities. More information on Dalplex membership can be found HERE.
Should you wish to compete, you must do so as a representative of your own University, which we can help facilitate during the registration process. If you have any questions about this, please send us an email at dalhousiesynchro@gmail.com.
Still have questions? Contact us now and we’ll get back to you ASAP.