Barracudas Swim Team

About the Barracudas:

Ask any swimmer and they’ll tell you that summer swim team is the best time ever! We practice, we play and we compete!

Here’s a quick overview of the YWCA Barracudas 2026 summer season:

• Season runs Monday, May 18th - Monday, July 20th No practice Memorial Day

• Competitions include an intersquad meet, 4 dual meets, an invite-only relay meet (6/22) & champs (7/19 & 7/20)

• Barracudas offer practices 5 days a week

• The extra fun stuff includes a season kick off party (5/16), an end of season awards party (7/26), Friday Fun Days, Meet Themes and Much More!

• We welcome back our coaches: Coach Alan, Deborah, Kyndall, Emily P and Aileen

• Cost is $195/swimmer. Included in that fee are: participant t-shirt, swim cap, Swimmingly registration (this is the app we use for meet management), and champs registration.

WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A BARRACUDA:
We Cheer for Everyone: All heats. All swimmers. All the time
We are on one Team: Orange or Black – same coaches, same goals, same pride
We Stay Humble: Fast swimmers lead by example, no by bragging
We Trust the Process: Hard Work + Time = Progress
Your Lane Does Not Define You: Effort, attitude and teamwork do

Bottom Line: Barracudas lift each other up. Always.

Go BARRACUDAS!

Letter from the Coaches:

Last season (another winning season), our team initiated a few changes with how we compete and practice. At the close of the season we surveyed parents and reflected on what went well and what we can do to evolve and improve in future seasons.

We have the best problem – our team is BIG! Our coaches are AMAZING! And tons of swimmers want to be BARRACUDAS!

With that comes some challenges – parking, pool space, ensuring a quality program and meeting the needs of our swim families.

Last year we (the coaches) as well as a majority of parents LOVED the two team format. Splitting into two teams allowed us a ton of benefits: Smaller, faster meets; more opportunities for swimmers to earn ribbons and points. We also acknowledge that splitting into two teams had some challenges.

Last year we (the coaches) LOVED having strict swim up requirements for each swim time, however many parents did not love that system. We get it – being at the pool for 3 hours in the middle of the summer is not everyone’s idea of a good time.

Our goal for 2026 is to keep the momentum and address as many challenges as we can. It probably won’t be perfect but your YWCA coaches and staff are committed to showing up at 110% each and every day for every single Barracuda.

Click the links below to learn about the team format, practice schedule and meet schedule.

IS MY KIDDO READY FOR SWIM TEAM?
There are many factors determining a swimmer’s readiness for swim team. Summer swim team is a great place to develop swim skills, make friends and have fun. However, in order for all swimmers to have an awesome experience we do have minimum swim requirements as well as age-appropriate requirements for non-swimming skills such as listening and following directions. Click HERE for a detailed guide by age group.

PRACTICE SCHEDULE
May 18th – July 17th
Practice Monday – Friday (except swim meet days & Memorial Day (5/25))

New for 2026 we are offering practice times with larger age ranges in order to better meet the needs of families with multiple swimmers. At registration, families will select their preferred swim time. YWCA will assign swimmers to final practice groups by Monday, May 11th. In addition to age, there are some swim skill requirements for each group. Please click HERE for detailed information regarding these practice groups!
3:30-4:15pm Ages 8 & Under
4:30-5:15pm Ages 10 & Under
5:30-6:20pm Ages 8-12
6:30-7:30pm Middle School & Rising Middle School
7:30-8:30pm High School & Rising High School

SWIM UP REQUIREMENTS
Swimmers may swim up into other groups, although we anticipate less of a need to do so with this new practice format. Swimmers swimming up will need to schedule an assessment (email Aileen) & meet the swim up requirements.

ORANGE & BLACK - 2 TEAM FORMAT
For the purposes of the dual meets, YWCA Barracudas will swim as two separate teams. YWCA Black and YWCA Orange.
This split is not a reflection of effort, commitment or overall ability. It is simply a meet-management solution due to limited deck space and size of our team. This format helps us have faster and smaller meets. We practice together and complete at Champs as one.
Remember! We are the same team - same coaches - same practices - same fun & friends!
For detailed information on this format, view THIS document.
Teams are decided based on time with siblings getting a bye. Time trails will take place May 27th - 29th with teams announced the week of June 1st.

FRIDAY FUN DAYS
Fridays during summer swim team is all about the fun! Each week we will have a theme and fun activities. Don’t worry - we’ll get a good swim workout in too! Keep an eye on social media to know what is coming up each Friday!
Barracudas Instagram
Barracudas Facebook

TEAM APPAREL & TEAM SWIM SUITS
A team swim suit is NOT required for participation in summer swim team. All swimmers receive a YWCA orange team tshirt and as silicon team swim cap as part of their registration.

We have several options for purchasing YWCA gear. Go Barracudas!

Check out the options HERE.

SWIM MEET SCHEDULE
Click HERE to view a detailed printable meet schedule. Please note the Swimmingly Sign Up Deadline for each swim meet!

Note on the schedule: We know it is not the most balanced schedule - with meets very close together and not spread out during the season. There are many factors that keep us from the perfect schedule including:

• The league assigns who we swim against each week.

• A good number of teams in the league are unable to host meets (YWCA is hosting 6 meets this summer.)

• We have a make up week integrated into the schedule

• New this year, the schedule included a bi-week to eliminate the need for tri-meets

Orange Team
Friday, June 5th Intersquad Meet @ YWCA 4:15pm Warmup / 5:00pm Meet Start Deadline: 6/3 @ 6pm
Saturday, June 13th Vs Southport @ Southport (Ft Caswell) 8:30am Warmup / 9:00am Meet Start Deadline: 6/11 @ 6pm
Monday, June 22nd EITHER the Relay Meet (by invite) OR Porters Neck Country Club @ PNCC Deadline: 6/19 @ 6pm
Monday, July 6th vs Covil Estates @ YWCA 4:00pm Warmup / 5:00pm Meet Start Deadline: 7/3 @ 6pm
Monday, July 13th vs Pine Valley @ YWCA 4:00pm Warmup/5:00pm Meet Start Deadline: 7/10 @ 6pm
Champs: July 19th & 20th

Black Team
Friday, June 5th Intersquad Meet @ YWCA 4:00pm Warmup / 5:00pm Meet Start Deadline: 6/3 @ 6pm
Wednesday, June 10th vs Landfall @ YWCA 4:00pm Warmup / 5:00pm Meet Start Deadline: 6/7 @ 6pm
Saturday, June 13th vs Southport @ Southport (Ft Caswell) 8:30am Warmup / 9:00am Meet Start Deadline: 6/11 @ 6pm
Wednesday, June 17th vs Aqua Hawks @ YWCA 4:00pm Warmup / 5:00pm Meet Start Deadline: 6/14 @ 6pm
Monday, June 22nd EITHER the Relay Meet (by invite) OR Porters Neck Country Club @ PNCC Deadline: 6/19 @ 6pm
Wednesday, July 1st vs Marsh Oaks @ YWCA 4:00pm Warmup / 5:00pm Meet Start Deadline: 6/28 @ 6pm
Champs: July 19th & 20th

VOLUNTEER INFORMATION
For a detailed printout about volunteering (including training dates & job descriptions), click HERE.

All families must volunteer at least 3 times each season. 

Like all other youth sports – volunteers are the engine that makes our competition days possible. If a family is unable to volunteer due to extenuating circumstances, please reach out to Aileen so we can work together to find a way to meet this requirement.  

Older siblings who are not swimming are able to volunteer! Ages 16 & up. This is a great way to keep your teen engaged while also earning some much-needed service hours.  

Volunteer Jobs -

Timing
Stroke & Turn Official
Head Timer
Starter
Heat Ribbon
Concession Sales
Age Group Parent - NEW FOR 2026!
Parent Viewing Room Host - NEW FOR 2026!
with additional opportunities at kick of party, end of season awards and during swim practice

REGISTRATION INFORMATION

Registration opens at 9am on Monday, March 16th. Please do not call or email the YWCA pool prior to that time. While the team will fill up, it will not fill up the first day so no need to panic-rush the registration page.

To register by phone please call 910-799-6820 x1. Leave a message with your child’s name. We will call back registrants in the order we receive the voicemail. Please do not continue to call the YWCA as this holds up available phone lines - making it difficult to return calls.

To register online, please do to this link. If you are a nonmember, you will need to create a membership account. You can select any Aquatics membership type noting that membership alone does not include use of the pool outside of swim team practices. If you have any questions about YWCA membership please call the YWCA pool front desk.

If you are a current or past YWCA member please login. Do not create a new member account. If you are experiencing difficulties logging in, you can email pool@ywca-lowercapefear.org anytime and we will submit a password reset on your behalf.