Pine Mill Ranch Rays Swim Team Announces 2024 Swim Season Registration
Summer is fast approaching, and that means swim season is just around the corner! The Pine Mill Ranch Swim Team has released registration information for the 2024 swim season, so get the scoop and get plugged in for another fantastic summer of swim!
2024 Team Tryout Information
ALL NEW swimmers, including siblings of the 2023 team, MUST try out for the team. Swimmers must be age 4-18 by May 1, 2024, no exceptions.
Members of Katy Aquatics competitive (not Swim America), Texas Elite, FCST, FRST, Power Aquatics, a high school swim team or any other competitive swim team, may contact the team at pmrswimteam@gmail.com as your child may not have to go through tryouts.
Tryout dates are at Texas Swim Academy's indoor pool, located at 3514 Greenbusch Road on:
- Saturday, February 10 from 12:00pm - 1:30pm
- Saturday, February 24 from 12:00pm - 1:30pm
Click on the link to sign up for a specific time spot here: Signup Genius for Tryouts
Parents will complete some basic paperwork at tryouts and will not be allowed in the pool area during the tryout. Children trying out will need goggles, swim cap (optional) and need to be wearing a swimsuit (one piece for girls). Don't forget a towel! There are changing areas available.
Tryout requirements are as follows:
- Age 4-6: Freestyle swim any which way but must get across the length of the pool without any assistance, panic or turning over to float on the back.
- Age 7-8: Freestyle swim but must get across the length of the pool without any assistance, panic or turning over to float on the back. Must also know Backstroke.
- Age 9-10: Confident Freestyle and Backstroke swim across the length of the pool. Should also know at least Butterfly or Breaststroke.
- Age 11-18: Confident Freestyle and Backstroke swim across the length of the pool. Must also know Butterfly or Breaststroke.
The age used is your child's age as of May 1 of 2024 as that is their swim group for practice and meets. Once they are on the team, they will learn more stroke development and get to enjoy the competition of swim meets.
Swim Team is not a Learn to Swim Program. A swimmer must be comfortable remaining in the water independently. While coaches will teach strokes, dives and turns, each age group should have a certain amount of swim knowledge before trying out for the swim team. If in doubt, it is highly recommended that swim lessons be taken before tryouts. We highly recommend swim lessons at Texas Swim Academy. They do a fantastic job and they know the swim team requirements for all four strokes. You may contact Texas Swim Academy at 832-437-6186.
Registration information after tryouts is listed below. Please email pmrswimteam@gmail.com if you have any questions.
2024 Registration Information
- Registration is $165 per swimmer age 4-14
- Swimmers age 15-18 are $60
Registration includes approximately 8 weeks swim instruction/coaching, team t-shirt, team swim cap and insurance.
Before you decide if swim team is right for your family, please read the Team Handbook under the Policies and Other Documents tab. There are mandatory volunteer shift requirements, 3 shifts for 1st child, 2 for each additional child (each shift is approximately 2.5 - 3 hours long). There are also mandatory swim meet participation requirements (must swim in a minimum of 2 dual meets). Swim team is a commitment for the entire family.
February 18-29: 2024 Team priority registration for 2023 team families in good standing. If you were on the 2023 PMR Swim Team, you will receive an email with registration instructions.
You will not need to tryout again, however if there is a sibling new to the team, they will need to go to tryouts. Please see tryout information above.
March 1-10: Pine Mill Ranch Resident registration for those who have successfully completed tryouts to fill any remaining spots. You will be notified on how to register and pay for the swim team.
March 10-31: Open registration for non-residents who have successfully completed tryouts to fill any remaining spots.
Priority will be given to residents in neighborhoods that do not have a swim team for children age 4-10 (ie. Pine Mill Avalon, Cardiff Ranch, Hawks Landing, etc). If you live in Silver Ranch, Cinco Ranch Southwest, Cinco Ranch, Cross Creek Ranch or Firethorne, you will not be given priority as these neighborhoods have a swim team.
PLEASE NOTE: We are ALWAYS in need of kids ages 13-18 and typically age 11-12. Once you receive the registration information, please register right away as spots are first come, first serve and fill up quickly.
April 29 - June 29: Swim Team Practice and Meets
About Pine Mill Ranch Swim Team
The Pine Mill Ranch Rays Swim Team is a non-profit that was founded in 2012 to bring local competitive swimming to the Pine Mill Ranch subdivision in Katy, TX. The mission of the team is for the kids of Pine Mill Ranch to love the competitive spirit of swimming, enjoy a sense of community and to have fun swimming for life.
The swim team is made up of kids who are age 4 - 18 by May 1. The team practices daily (Monday - Friday) after school in May and before 10am once school is out and during the month of June. There is a practice meet/time trials and usually 4-5 regular season dual meets in June along with a division level Meet of Champions for the top swimmers on the team. The best of the best swimmers from Meet of Champions will go on to the All Stars Meet competing against swimmers from every team in the league.
The team has 6-10 paid coaches who have completed a full background check, are Lifeguard, CPR and First Aid certified and have a wealth of experience and knowledge about swimming. The team also utilizes junior high and high school seasoned swimmers that volunteer to help with ages 4-8. The team is overseen by a board of parent volunteers and receives HOA guidance but does not utilize any HOA dollars as they are entirely self-funded through registration, sponsorship and fundraising dollars.
The team is a member of the West Houston Aquatic League (WHALe League). The WHALe league consists of 35 teams in the Katy area with over 5000 kids competing in 7 divisions, therefore making it the largest sporting league in Katy. Pine Mill Ranch Swim Team competes in Division 2 of the WHALe League.
To learn more about the Pine Mill Ranch Rays Swim Team, please visit our website at pmrswimteam.swimtopia.com.
