The Rolling Hills Seagulls is a neighborhood summer swim team in Renton, Washington for kids ages 4 – 18, or until after the summer of High School graduation. The team has been competing in the dual meet format with other neighborhood teams of similar size in the Midlakes Swim League for more than 40 years. We are currently in Division 3 of the Midlakes Swim League.
Our goal at Rolling Hills is to ensure that every swimmer feels a sense of accomplishment and achievement, win or lose. We encourage a team atmosphere by developing stroke techniques, emphasizing a spirit of good sportsmanship, and fostering a competitive attitude that comes from within. We want each swimmer to have a good time, to learn to swim the strokes well, to win and lose graciously, and to be a good team member.
The season begins with daily afternoon practice in mid May, changing to mornings after school is out (following the Renton School District calendar). Meets start in mid/late June and continue through the middle of July. Over a 5 week period, the Seagulls will compete against 5 different teams in 10 dual meets alternating home and away on Tuesday and Thursday evenings. Each week one of the meets is focused on “A” swimmers and the other on “B” swimmers. “B” swimmers can swim in “A” meets, and “A” swimmers can swim in “B” meets, in events which they have not yet achieved the “A” time standard. The season ends with two league meets – one for “A” swimmers and one for “B” swimmers. These final meets are typically the last two weekends in July.
There are 5 boys and 5 girls age brackets 8, 10, 12, 14 and under, and 15 and over. The team has a goal of a maximum of 12 swimmers per age group. Limiting the size of the team is done to avoid having to split the whole team into two distinct “A” and “B” teams. Experience has shown that splitting the team has a negative influence on the team dynamic.
To join the team your child needs to attend a tryout with the coach to ensure that he or she has basic swimming skills and can safely handle the deep end of the pool.
The team welcomes back all of last years resident and non-resident children. Depending on returning swimmers and new neighborhood enrollment, there may be room for new non-resident swimmers. The neighborhood bylaws provide that neighborhood resident children will have priority over non-resident applicants. Registration cost per child for the current season is $105 for the first child, and $80 for each additional child in the same family. Non-residents also have a pool maintenance fee per family. The non-resident pool maintenance fee for this swim season is $450 per family. Non-resident team members and their families are welcome to use the pool for the season. Swim team parents are required to participate in various volunteer team support activities.
If you have any questions contact the Parent Reps at [email protected].