Frequently Asked Questions

Registration Sessions and Sign-Up Information
The CV Breakers hold three swimming sessions per year:

1. Summer session: May through August

2. Fall session (called Winter Maintenance): October through December

3. Winter session (also called Winter Maintenance): January through April

If you have added your email to our Registration Newsletters Form, you will receive an email for registration 2-3 weeks prior to each sessions start date. When you receive a registration email, we recommend signing up as soon as possible, as spots fill up quickly and we run a first-come, first-serve system.

*Pre-Breakers is not offered during the summer session, May through August.

Priority Registration
Our club’s primary focus is on summer competitive swimming. Swimmers who participate with us during the summer months will receive priority registration for our winter maintenance sessions. After these swimmers have registered, registration will be offered to previous winter maintenance swimmers. All remaining openings will then be available to new swimmers.

Children must be at least 5 years old to join the Pre-Breakers group.

During registration, it is important to register your child/children in the appropriate swim group. Groups fill up quickly and it’s difficult to move swimmers around after registration. If you are unsure which group is right for your swimmer, please refer to our Swim Group Descriptions or talk to a board member for advice.

After registration and at the start of each session, coaches will assess each swimmer’s abilities and may adjust their swim group placement accordingly, based on their skill level and available space in other groups. This is a normal part of the process to ensure that swimmers receive coaching tailored to their current level and can maximize their progress.

All swimmers will receive a swimmer’s report card at the end of the fall and winter sessions, which will include an evaluation of their progress, areas to focus on for improvement, and a recommendation regarding whether they should remain in their current group or advance to the next level for the following session.

Our registration fees vary from session to session depending on several factors, including your child’s swim group, the number of days they are swimming, and overall operational costs such as pool rentals and coaching fees. For Winter Maintenance, fees typically range from $160 to $315 per session, while Summer Registration fees can range upwards of $700.

These fees fluctuate from year to year, influenced by changes in our costs and the success of our fundraising efforts. We work hard to keep fees as affordable as possible while continuing to provide high-quality programming for our swimmers.

Additional Fees

• BCSSA Insurance Fee: This mandatory $45 fee per swimmer provides a full year of insurance coverage for your child. It must be paid with first-time registrations and is required annually thereafter. The fee is non-refundable and remains the same, regardless of when you register during the year.

• Swim Meet Participation Fees: Families are responsible for meet fees, and any travel or accommodation expenses related to attending meets.

• Summer Swim Raffle Fee: At the time of summer registration, each family is required to pay a $100 raffle fee (per family, not per swimmer). In return, you’ll receive 20 raffle tickets, which you can either keep for yourself or sell to recoup the cost.

• Volunteer Fee: A $100 cheque payable to the Breakers is required from each family at the start of the summer season. If the minimum 4-hour volunteer requirement is not met during the summer season, the cheque will be cashed. However, for families who fulfill their volunteer hours, the cheque will be returned. This policy is designed to encourage active participation from all parents, ensuring that the club has the support it needs to operate smoothly.

• Optional Team Building Activities: Additional costs may apply for participation in team-building events.

Refunds are available if you provide written notice of withdrawal within the first two weeks of a session. After this period, refunds will only be considered for medical reasons, and a credit will be applied toward registration fees for the following session.

Pre-Breakers swim only on Sunday mornings. For the full Sunday morning schedule, please click here. Please note that Pre-Breaker practices do not run from May through August.

Development, Junior, Intermediate, and Senior Groups:

• Winter Maintenance (October–April): Practices are held on Sunday mornings, as well as Tuesday and Thursday evenings. To maintain Summer Swimmer status, you may attend up to two practices per week, as coached swimming is limited to a maximum of 2 hours per week during this period.
  

• Summer Session (May–August): Practices take place five days a week.

  • May–June: Monday to Friday evenings.

  • July–August: Monday to Thursday evenings, with additional morning practices on Wednesday and Friday.

Swimmers are required to arrive at least 15 minutes before their scheduled practice time to participate in the activation (warm-up) period. This is important to ensure swimmers are properly prepared for the session and can make the most of their practice.

Attendance at every practice is not mandatory, but we encourage swimmers to come to as many of their scheduled practices as possible. Regular attendance helps swimmers improve their skills and make the most of their training. The more practices they attend, the better their progress and performance will be.

If a swimmer misses their scheduled practice, they cannot attend on a different day to make up for it. Swimmers must stick to their assigned practice schedule for our club to ensure fair access to pool time and maintain balanced group sizes.

Yes, parents are welcome to watch their swimmers. However, please refrain from sitting on the bleachers along the side of the pool (near James Street), the bleachers behind the competition pool, or on the benches by the change rooms. We ask that you use the designated viewing area, which consists of the chairs lining the wave pool. Please note that we share the pool with the Duncan Swim Team and the public, so cooperation with these guidelines is appreciated.

When registering your child for the CV Breakers, we ask that you select the "S" category (Summer Swimmer); this includes Pre-Breaker’s registration. This category is the standard starting point for most swimmers and ensures compliance with BCSSA regulations. Below, we explain what the "S" category means, as well as details about the "O Cat" (Open Category) option for those who wish to swim more intensively during the offseason.

Summer (‘S’) Swimmer:
A Summer Swimmer can train and compete with BCSSA without any time restrictions from May 1st to September 30th. However, from October 1st to April 30th, they are limited to a maximum of 2 hours of coached swimming per week. Any swim practice that the swimmer does on their own, as well as participation in programs like Red Cross swim lessons or Life Saving courses (e.g., Bronze Medallion, Bronze Cross), doesn’t count toward this 2-hour limit.

Open Category (‘O Cat’) Swimmer:
An Open Category Swimmer is someone who participates in more than 2 hours of coached swim practices per week between October 1st and April 30th. They can also train and compete with BCSSA from May 1st to September 30th without time restrictions. However, during summer swim meets, O Cat swimmers are grouped with other O Cat swimmers in their division and are ranked separately from Summer Swimmers.

Important Note:
A swimmer is classified as either a Summer (‘S’) Swimmer or an Open Category (‘O Cat’) Swimmer—not both. To keep your Summer Swimmer status, you must follow the 2-hour rule.

Our club thrives on the support of parent and guardian volunteers, especially during the summer swim meet season and throughout the year for fundraising efforts. Volunteering is essential to keeping the club running smoothly and ensuring a positive experience for all swimmers. There are many ways to get involved; from joining the board, to helping at swim meets, and assisting with club events and fundraisers. Not only does volunteering support the team, but it’s also a great way to meet other families, build friendships, and become part of our close-knit swim community.

Keep an eye on your inbox for CV Breakers fundraising initiatives, where parents can contribute in meaningful ways, as well as sign-up forms for volunteering at our Icebreaker Meet in the spring. Additionally, there are plenty of opportunities to serve as a timer at summer swim meets - a role that all CV Breakers parents are required to take on. Your participation ensures our meets run efficiently and fairly for all swimmers.

Who is the CV Breakers point of contact?
You are welcome to speak with any board member during practice at the pool; one of us is always there and available to assist you. See our Calendar for the CV Breakers practice schedule.

Can I speak with my child’s coach?
For the best opportunity to speak with coaches, please do so before or after practice, rather than during coaching time on deck.

Can I make helpful suggestions or observations to the CV Breakers board?
Absolutely! We encourage you to share your suggestions and observations. The best way to do this is by attending one of our board meetings, which are typically held on the first Tuesday of every month at the Cowichan Aquatic Centre. Please confirm with a board member if there have been any changes to the meeting date. During the "New Business" portion of the meeting, you will have the opportunity to present your thoughts. Please remember that our board members are all parent volunteers, and we ask that you approach discussions with politeness and respect.