Team Tryouts
Competitive Swimming Starts Here
Whether your swimmer is new to competitive swimming or looking for a team to reach the next level, we'd love to meet them.
✔ Ages 6–18
✔ USA Swimming Certified Coaches
✔ Positive Team Environment
✔ Year-Round Programs
Swim Team Tryouts Fall / Winter 2026 - 2027
Tryout Dates & Times - All Tryouts will be at Turtle Creek Waterpark
- 8 & Under (Bronze): - Aug 3 & 4th - @ 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm - Bronze Link
- 9–12 Years (Silver): Aug 3 & 4th - @ 7:15 pm - 8:15 pm - Silver Link
- 13–15 Years (Gold): Aug 3 & 4th - @ 8:15 pm - 8:45 pm - Gold Link
VHST Fall / Winter 2026 Tryouts
Swim Team Tryouts Fall / Winter 2026 - 2027
How to Register
We are not currently accepting new swimmers, as our season has already begun.
If you are a current USA Swimming athlete with a valid USA Swimming membership and verified competition times and are interested in joining our team during the season, please email enricom@vhparkdistrict.org for additional information.
Please complete the registration form before your scheduled tryout to help ensure a smooth check-in process.
Tryout Location
Turtle Creek Waterpark
The Turtle Creek Water Park provides an excellent environment for evaluating competitive swimmers.
What to Expect
During the tryout, swimmers will be evaluated by our coaching staff within their appropriate training group. Coaches will assess each swimmer's comfort and confidence in the water, overall swimming ability, and readiness for our competitive program.
Tryout Activities
Swimmers will be asked to demonstrate all four competitive strokes:
- Freestyle
- Backstroke
- Breaststroke
- Butterfly
The evaluation will include drills, kicking, and full-stroke swimming over distances ranging from 25 to 100 yards. Swimmers will complete multiple repeats with short rest intervals while coaches evaluate:
- Stroke technique
- Body position
- Streamline
- Flip turns
- Open turns
- Endurance
- Ability to follow the coach's instructions
Team Selection Criteria
Our goal is to place swimmers in the training group that best matches their current ability.
To be considered for the team, swimmers should:
- Be comfortable and confident swimming in deep water.
- Swim with their face in the water while demonstrating proper breathing technique.
- Be able to swim the full length of a 25-yard pool without stopping or requiring assistance.
- Repeat multiple lengths with only short rest periods.
- Demonstrate safe swimming habits, good listening skills, and a willingness to learn.
Team placement is based on each swimmer's current skill level, endurance, technique, and overall readiness for competitive training.
Tryout Results posted here
If your swimmer successfully qualifies to join VHST, their results and group placement will be posted on our website. At that time, you can visit the Sullivan Center in Vernon Hill to register your swimmer(s) in person. Please register early, as there is limited space in the groups; it is on a first-come, first-served basis. The short course season runs from September to March, followed by the long course season, which takes place from early April to the end of July.
VHST is a competitive swim club affiliated Park district and with USA Swimming, which supports a vast network of over 400,000 member swimmers throughout the nation. Our dedicated coaching staff fosters a competitive yet supportive environment, where young athletes can cultivate friendships, boost their self-esteem, and learn how to set and achieve personal goals in swimming.
Team practices will typically occur in the evenings, 5:00 PM or later, with the exact timing depending on the assigned group. While 100% attendance is not mandatory, regular practice is strongly encouraged to maximize improvement and team cohesion.
VHST will evaluate if your swimmer should begin with recreational meets— an excellent introduction to competitive swimming—or if they are ready to participate in USA Swimming sanctioned competitions, which occur 1-2 times per month and are characterized by a higher level of competition. If your swimmer is part of VHST, they are undoubtedly ready for their first swim meet! Our coaching staff is committed to guiding new swimmers through these initial competitive experiences, ensuring they feel confident and prepared.
As a Park District, VHST depends on the active participation of its member families to facilitate seamless operations. Our funding comes from seasonal dues and various fundraising initiatives, such as our Relay-A-Thon, held every October or November. Additionally, we warmly accept sponsorships from corporate entities for the team. Each season, we host 2-4 Park District swim meets at Vernon Hills High School. These events offer valuable opportunities for you to fulfill your volunteer hours. Active participation from all parents during these meets is essential and greatly appreciated, making it an easy way to meet your mandatory volunteer requirements.
If you have any questions or require further information about tryouts, please reach out to Coach Enrico McConney at enricom@vhparkdistrict.org We are here to assist you and ensure a positive experience for all swimmers and their families.