Required Equipment:
Simply Swimming, a partner of OCSC swimming, is a full-service swim shop in Middleton. They have most equipment your swimmer would need at competitive and affordable prices. They also provide the club with personalized apparel, which you can find here.
Required for All Groups:
- Fitted one-piece practice suit or jammer (no trunks or bikinis)
- Correctly fitting goggles (an extra pair in case they leak or break is preferred)
- Swim Cap (an extra in case it breaks is preferred)
- Water bottle with name on it
Required for Specific Groups:
- Leopard Sharks: Long fins, nose plug & mesh equipment bag
- Hammerhead Sharks: Long fins, kickboard, forward-facing snorkel, nose plug & mesh equipment bag
- Reef Sharks: Long fins, Finnis alignment kickboard, paddles, forward-facing snorkel, nose plug, & mesh equipment bag
- Silky Sharks: Short fins, Finnis alignment kickboard, agility paddles (small or medium), swim parachute, forward-facing snorkel, nose plug, and mesh equipment bag
- Great White & Megalodons: Short fins, agility paddles, swim parachute, forward-facing snorkel, nose plug, and mesh equipment bag
- Optional: Tempo Trainer & Smart Goggles (pro or non pro)
Note: Long fins, kickboards, and pull buoys are available in limited supply at the Oregon Community Pool.
More Equipment Information:
- Long Fins: Fins are used nearly every day in every group for drills, kick sets, work sets, and technique work. Long fins are useful in developing ankle flexibility in athletes.
- Short Fins: Short fins promote a faster, more natural kick tempo that translates directly to racing. They are great for building leg strength, improving speed, and reinforcing proper kick technique without over-reliance on propulsion.
- Alignment Kickboard: Designed to promote proper body alignment, this board encourages swimmers to maintain a streamlined position and engage their core while kicking—helping reinforce good habits in the water.
- Swim Parachute: A resistance training tool worn while swimming that adds drag in the water. It helps build strength, power, and endurance while reinforcing proper technique under load.
- Kickboards & pull buoys: These help isolate kicking or pulling motions for improvement.
- Mesh bag: Helpful for containing equipment for transportation, while also allowing wet equipment to dry between practices.
- Snorkels: Removes the need to lift or turn head to breathe, a common source of technique errors. Must be forward-facing as side-facing snorkels are ineffective at competitive speeds.
- Paddles: For strength training and technique enhancement during pull sets.
- Nose plug: Useful for keeping water out of the nose while using snorkels or while underwater on backstroke.