Swim Suit Policy

Over the past decade swim training philosophy has evolved quite a bit.  Likewise, so have the swim suits these athletes wear to benefit from this training.  Without going into great detail, there are now restrictions on the types of swim suits that can be worn.  For example, all suits must be made of textiles, and water must run through them as opposed to the poly-urethane style suits.  Our swim suit policy is as follows:

For all YMCA meets, swimmers are to wear the team suit with the SYS logo as well as any version of the team swim cap.  This includes the YMCA state championship meets.

For all USA Swimming meets, excluding the championship meets, swimmers should wear the team suit with the SYS logo as well as any version of the team swim cap.  For championship meets (Age Groups, Zones, Sectionals, etc) the coaching staff recommends the following:

• 10 & Under: Swimmers should wear the team style suit, but may be asked by a coach to wear a Speedo Aquablade.
• 11-12: Swimmers have the option of wearing the team style suit or a Speedo Aquablade.  The Speedo Aquablade is a quality tech suit and is considerably cheaper than the LZR Elite and FS Pro.  The LZR Elite and FS Pro are not meant for the body types of 11-12 year-old swimmers.
• 13 & Over: Swimmers have the option of wearing the team style suit or a Speedo Aquablade.  Swimmers who complete at meets above Age Group Championships and Zones may be encouraged to wear a LZR Elite or FS Pro.
• The Speedo Aquablade swim suit is not recommended until a swimmer has at least qualified for multiple events at Age Group Championships. 

The swim suit policy is two-fold.  First, it helps in eliminating monetary roadblocks to athletes competing in this sport.  As stated above, a Speedo Aquablade is comparably cheaper than the LZR Elite and FS Pro.  Second, it is important that the swimmers understand that a tech suit is a supplement to the training and hard work put in and not a substitute.

When purchasing a Speedo Aquablade or other tech suit please speak with your swimmer’s coach to ensure your swimmer is fitted with the correct size.