YMCA of Coastal Carolina Hurricanes Swim Team adds new practice location and state-of-the-art scoreboard

The Hurricanes Swim Team has an exciting new season ahead of us with the addition of an additional practice location at the new Tidelands Health Pawleys Family YMCA and a brand-new, state-of-the-art scoreboard at the Tidelands Health Georgetown Family YMCA.

Hurricanes Swim Team adds new practice location in Pawleys

The YMCA of Coastal Carolina Hurricanes Swim Team is thrilled to announce the addition of a NEW practice site, located at the Tidelands Health Pawleys Family YMCA. This addition will allow our team to continue meeting the growing needs of our area and its youth, along with providing a safe, fun, and healthy outlet for young athletes to learn and hone their competitive swimming skills. 

Our New Scoreboard at Tidelands Health Georgetown Family YMCA, provided by HTC

As an added incentive, our team has been the grateful recipient of a grant from HTC to purchase the soon-to-come NEW scoreboard and timing system. These upgrades will allow our team to train at a higher level and truly sets the precedent for the vision of the growth of this team. Swimming as a sport very often comes down to a hundredth of a second and prior to this upgrade, we were reliant on timers and stopwatches. We are sincerely thankful for the generous gifts of all our donors and look forward to officially announcing the scoreboard and timing system’s installation. 

Join the Hurricanes Swim Team!

If you are new to the team or looking to join, please view our Q&A below to learn more about our Hurricanes.  

What are the age ranges? 

4 to 18 years 

How many groups are there? 

6. We break our groups into 6 categories: Tropical Storms, Category 1, Category 2, Category 3, Category 4, and Category 5 

How do I know what category to register for? 
You can come to a walk-in evaluation at any of our branches. Registration cannot be completed without an evaluation. 

• Myrtle Beach: M-R @ 4:30-6:30 
• Georgetown: M-W @ 5:00-6:30 
• Pawleys: T/R @ 5:00-6:30 

What days/times are practices? 
Varied, based upon branch. All days/times by branch can be viewed here

What branches are available? 

All three of our association’s branches will be hosting our team, effective October 4^th. Locations can be viewed here

 
What if my child cannot attend a certain day? Can I attend at another branch, within the same age group? 
You can attend any same-category practices at another branch, with the confirmation from your site coach and team head coach, Jillian Westerfield 

 
What does my child need to wear/bring? 
Swimsuit, towel, goggles, caps (for longer hair) – full supply list for each category will be sent upon registration 

 
What are program fees? 
Fees vary by category and can be viewed here

Why is there a registration fee along with the program fee? 

This is a one-time per season fee that covers the cost of team shirt, cap, and awards throughout the season. 

Do I have to be a Y member to join swim team? 

Yes. This is a requirement by Y-USA for all Y swim team members to be members of their Y. With that, for the Pawleys branch only until January 1, 2023, no swimmer will be required to join as a Y member for the remainder of the year (exceptions being if a swimmer wishes to compete in 2022, they must join the Y prior to the meet). 

What are YMCA membership fees? 

A: All membership rates can be viewed here

What if I cannot afford to join the Y? 
We offer financial assistance for this reason – we believe the Y is for ALL and we want to help limit financial barriers. Please visit one of our locations and request a financial assistance application form for more information. 

What if my child wants to take a month off for another sport? 
We charge monthly, so if you need a month off, just communicate with the head coach and we can out your swim team account on hold. 

Does my child have to go to swim meets? 

No, but it is encouraged. We participate in two swim leagues the Grand Strand Swim League (GSSL) and the Carolina YMCA Swim League (CYSL). We host  one-meet for each league during the season. By competing in a minimum of 2 CYSL Swim Meets your child qualifies for the Y Championship meet where we plan to defend our title as State Champs.

What does my child wear to swim meets? 
Black swimsuit preferred, and our team cap. Swimsuit can be purchased anywhere, but you can also purchase from our team store here: 

How much do swim meets cost? 
Typically, $30.  

We hope this Q&A proves to be helpful and that you will come give our quickly growing team a try. If you have any further questions, concerns, or would like to schedule an evaluation, please contact head coach, Jillian Westerfield at: [email protected]