Equipment and Team Merchandise

In order to maximize practice time, our coaching staff is asking that all swimmers purchase the necessary equipment needed for each of their practices. The lack or unavailability of extra equipment at each of the pools has caused a waste of valuable practice time as well as swimmers being unable to complete appropriate workout sets. The following are lists of workout equipment needed at practice for each swim group.

Swim suits, caps, goggles, and water bottles may be purchased at local sports-stores, ordered through Elsmore Aquatics (www.elsmoreaquatics.com ), Pure Blue, or purchased at swim meets. Sometimes they may be purchased at local sports stores.

For any equipment ordered from Elsmore Aquatics or Pure Blue, please mention the Hopkins Hurricane Swim Club cash back program offered by each swim shop.

Thank you for allowing us to provide the best instruction environment for our swimmers.

Please label all equipment with the swimmer's name.

BREEZES/BLASTS

Training fins – Please purchase your own. Must me short fins for the type of kicking done in practice.

Goggles (swimmers should try to have a back-up pair)

WATER Bottle - filled with water only & brought down to the pool deck for drinking during practice. Please do not bring Gatorade, cool-aid, or other flavored drinks to practice.

Kick Board

Swim Suit – Not your meet (team) suit

Swim Cap

GALES / CYCLONES / TYPHOONES

Training fins – must me short fins for the type of kicking done in practice.

Pull buoy

Kick Board

Goggles (2 pairs- swimmers should try to have a back-up pair)

WATER Bottle - filled with water only & brought down to the pool deck for drinking during practice. Please do not bring Gatorade, cool-aid, or other flavored drinks to practice.

Swim Suit – Not your meet (team) suit

Swim Cap

PLEASE LABEL ALL EQUIPMENT WITH YOUR NAME! It makes it much easier to return lost or forgotten items to the swimmers.

SWIM MEET EQUIPMENT NEEDED – ALL GROUPS:

Team Swim Suit – Should fit extremely snug to cause as little drag in the water as possible.

Hopkins Hurricanes Swim Cap

Goggles (2 pairs- swimmers should try to always have a back-up pair)

Water Bottle and HEALTHY Snacks – Please no candy

2 towels-one to use while on deck and one to use at the end of the meet

Clothing to wear over your wet swim suit to stay warm between events

Where to get equipment:

Swim suits, caps, goggles, and water bottles can be purchased at local sports stores, order through Elsmore Aquatics or purchase at swim meets or sometimes can be purchased at local sports stores.

Swim suits should fit SNUG. Swim suits do stretch when wet. Do not buy the next size up to give the swimmer room to grow. Bigger suits often make it more difficult to swim properly as well as wear out much faster than a properly fitting suit. The team swim meet suit may be ordered through the club.

Goggles come in many styles, shapes, and sizes. Each swimmer should choose a pair that fits comfortably to their face. The swimmer should try the goggles on before purchasing to assure that the goggles shape and size fit their eye socket comfortably. The gasket around each lens should have a sponge or rubber-like cushion to protect the eye socket. Please do not purchase hard gasket goggles.

Kick Board – A limited number are available for use at some of the pools that we use for practice. Unfortunately not all, and frequently, there are not enough for our swimmers. If you are able to purchase a kick board, please label it with the swimmers name.

Training Fins and Pull Buoys- These are best purchased through Elsmore Aquatic or Pure Blue.

Training Fins – Please purchase these as soon as possible.

Sizes are usually determined by the swimmer’s shoe size. If your shoe size is between one of the size ranges, purchase the larger size. If the larger size seems loose, bring a pair of socks to wear inside of the fin to allow you time to grow. For help ask your coach, or another parent on the team. Please do not purchase long (scuba like) fins. These types of fins are not appropriate for the type of kicking the team does in practice.

Swimmers are expected to bring all equipment to all practices and swim meets. If other equipment is needed that is not listed here, your group coach will inform you of the item and how to purchase it.

TEAM MERCHANDISE

Team Meet Suits – A new team meet suit is usually chosen at the beginning of the Fall/Winter season. We will have a “fitting” session at the beginning of each season. (Suits may be purchased year round.) It is recommended that swimmers purchase a team suits and wear them at the swim meets to indicate representation of our club and to promote team spirit.

Team Swim Caps – Team caps are usually available for purchase directly from the coaches. Team caps help identify swimmers at meets as HSC members. We strongly encourage swimmers to wear a team cap at all meets.

Team Shirts – Team shirts are available for purchase at the beginning of each season. Shirts are available for swimmers, parents and siblings. Remember that wear a team shirt enhances team spirit and promotes our club.

Team Warm-ups – Team warm-ups are available for purchase at the beginning of each season. They are great for wear on the pool deck between races at a swim meet.

It is often best if you are able to purchase these items with the club at the beginning of each season. By purchasing these items together as a team, we frequently can get lower prices per item.