Little Seagulls

THERE IS NO LITTLE SEAGULLS PROGRAM IN 2021.

iNFO ABOUT Little Seagulls FROM 2019

Welcome to Little Seagulls!

Begun in summer 2015, Little Seagulls is a learn-to-swim program that was an immediate success and enormously popular! We hope your child will join in the fun for Summer 2019!

About Little Seagulls

Socially, the goal of LITTLE Seagulls is to introduce children to their first yacht club friends, who they will grow up swimming and sailing with! It's a great opportunity for parents to get to know one another as well.

Athletically, the goal of LITTLE Seagulls is to teach children water safety, how to swim, and prepare them to be members of Team Seagulls. (By contrast, TEAM Seagulls are expected to be able to swim COMFORTABLY across the SYC pool (25 yards), and be interested in participating in swim meets.)

Little Seagulls will practice floating, gliding, front/side breathing, kicking, arm strokes, jumping, and diving. They will learn the basics of freestyle and backstroke and build up stamina swimming across the pool.

Qualifications for Little Seagulls:

1. Must be a child or grandchild of SYC member.
2. Must be age 2-6* as of June 1, 2018.
3. Must comfortable in the pool and demonstrate breath control at the first Little Seagulls session on Saturday morning, June 2. See below for safety statement about breath control.
4. May transition from Little Seagulls to Team Seagulls during the season, but cannot be both at once.

*Please note there is overlap in the ages for Little Seagulls (ages 2-6) and Team Seagulls (ages 3-18). It is possible but rare for a 2 year old to be ready for Little Seagulls and possible but rare for a 3 or 4 year old to be ready for Team Seagulls. Parents of young swimmers are encouraged to review the qualifications for both and if you have questions, please contact Brady Cunningham at [email protected] or 504-400-7004.

An essential skill in learning how to swim is breath control. If your child is able to hold his or her breath underwater for at least 5 seconds, they will be ready to get the most out of Little Seagulls. Everyone is encouraged to register for Little Seagulls now, and between now and the first Saturday in June when Little Seagulls sessions begin, please work with your children toward this goal. We suggest practicing in the bathtub, swim lessons, and even check out youtube for videos that show kids doing this – it can be motivational for them.

For safety reasons, only children who are able to demonstrate (at the first Little Seagulls session on Saturday morning, June 2) that they can hold their breath underwater for at least 5 seconds will be allowed in the “big” pool for Little Seagulls lessons. Please don’t be discouraged if your child can’t do this yet. You are MORE than welcome and HEARTILY encouraged to come to the club on Saturday mornings in June and July during Little Seagull practices (8:30-10:30am) and play in the baby pool, practice bubble blowing, head submersion, and other pre-swimming skills. Children and parents can spend time and get to know other Seagull families, without actually being a “Little Seagull” just yet.

THERE IS NO LITTLE SEAGULLS PROGRAM IN 2021.

INFO ABOUT LITTLE SEAGULLS SCHEDULE FROM 2019

Little Seagull sessions will be held on all Saturday mornings in June and July, except for Saturday, June 15, which is the date of our Swim-a-Thon, which would be a wonderful opportunity for your child to swim their first lap across the big pool! More details to come.

Practices will be held at two times: 8:30-9:30am and 9:30-10:30am. Online registration form allows you to indicate a preferred time. Once assigned to the 8:30 practice or 9:30 practice, children must attend only their time.

Lessons will include activities and instruction both in and out of the pool.

We also plan to schedule Little Seagull swim/play dates at other times, and Little Seagull families are encouraged to get together for family-oriented events at the club.

Sunday, August 4 will be our Seagull Awards Banquet. All are welcome!

THERE IS NO LITTLE SEAGULLS PROGRAM IN 2022
INFORMATION FROM 2019
Sunday, April 14, 2019, 3-5pm -- Seagulls Open House and Orientation in the East Dining Room. Come see SYC friends and families! It's a reunion for Seagull families who might not have seen much of one another during the academic year, and so much fun to welcome and help orient new families to our club and swim programs! Learn more about lessons, practices, and meets... Get advice about online registration... Visit with coaches... Pick up awards from last year's banquet if you couldn't attend... Stay for dinner at the club after! But make reservations please NLT Tuesday, April 9.

Registration for Summer 2019 is now CLOSED.

Registration for 2019 will begin April 1. Returning Little Seagulls from Summer 2018 and siblings of Team Seagulls will be given priority registration (priority choice of 8:30 or 9:30 practice time) through Sunday April 14. 

We can enroll a maximum of 15 swimmers per session. We will have a waitlist, if necessary.

Little Seagulls are not required to have SYC bathing suits, but a handful have in the past. If it helps put your child in the spirit of swimming, go for it! Orders will be open from Monday, April 1 through Wednesday, April 24.

Please note, Seagulls apparel is NOT available in the SYC office/gift shop.  The SYC gift shop sells lots of great SYC gear, but we handle Seagull-specific items within the team. Please contact the Seagulls Apparel Committee (volunteer parents of Seagulls) for information. We have Seagulls bathing suits, swim caps, goggles, as well as other cool Seagulls apparel and gear for sale.

Little Seagulls fee per child is $185 (includes $50 non-refundable deposit). Fees include, but are not limited to, lessons/coaching, team t-shirt, medal/certificate, and child's dinner at the Seagulls Awards Banquet. Fees are taxed at 9% and appear on the SYC Member's billing statement covering the month of June.

Please keep in mind that our once-a-week Little Seagull sessions are NOT intended to be the ONLY instruction children receive in learning how to swim. All families are encouraged to pursue individual lessons as well. For information about private lessons at SYC, click HERE.

For detailed information about Little Seagulls, please download the 2017 Little Seagulls Handbook HERE. (No major revisions are anticipated for 2019.)