The Nechako Valley Swim Club is a member of the British Columbia Summer Swimming Association, Zone 8.

We aim to attract new and experienced swimmers from the Nechako Valley area interested in:

• stroke development in freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke and butterfly
• time improvement
• physical fitness
• competing at swim meets around the region
• developing self-confidence
• sportsmanship and having fun!

Our competitive season runs from May 1st into August.  During the competitive season, swimmers will train up 5 days per week and sometimes twice per day depending on their swim ability.  During the Fall/Winter Maintenance Season (October – April) swimmers are not allowed to train more than 2 coached hours per week.  

With the start of the 2026-2027 BCSSA swimming year ALL swimmers are required to pay the following fees, please add them as additional purchases to your swimmer(s) registration.

• the annual BCSSA fee of $35.00
• a Regional fee of $20.00

For the declaration of 'S' or 'O' Athlete:

• 'S' Athletes:
• trained and competed for an unrestricted number of hours from May 1 to August 31 of any year [2025] may have immediately precedding registration: an 'S' athlete may have:
  
  
• for only 2 coached hours, in a calendar week Sunday through Saturday from Spetember 1 of the previous year [2025] to April 30th (inclusive) [2026]

• Engaged in accredited and certified water safety and learn to swim programs delivered by a recreation program or school.
  
  
• From September 1 [2025] to November 30, [2025] participated as a K-12 student-athlete engaged in swimming activities for the specific purpose of competing in any swim meet organized by either a BC or WA Public School or a BC/WA-based Independent school with a valid certificate of group classification. These activities must have been under the direction of the 'S' athlete's school.
  
  
• Total training swim training from December 1 [2025] to April 30 (inclusive)[2026] MUST NOT EXCEED 2 hours per week. This includes club maintenance, school training or any other swim training.
  
  

• should a club, region, or indiviual wish to request the exemption of any additional activities from the provisions of this Section, such a request shall be submitted no later than October 1st for the consideration of the BCSSA Board of Directors at its Fall Board Meeting.
  
  
•  As a club, we recieved an exemption/variance to participate in the Vanderhoof Aquathon [2026]

An 'O' Athlete is an indivdual who:

• participated in excess of what is provided for in 'S' swimmers from September 1 [2025] to April 30th (inclusive) [2026] period immediately preceeding registration; or/or
  
  
• competed in any non-BCSSA sanctioned swim meet between September 1 [2025] to April 30 (inclusive) [2026].
  

• any athlete who has achieved an SC Senior National Qualifying Time during the preceeding three years [2025,2024,2023] shall compete in Division O8, regardless of the athlete's age.

The majority of Otter swimmers are considered to be 'S' athletes expect for Master swimmers who are classified as 'O' athletes as they are over 20 years old.

The following practice groups require an assessment before registaring them:

• Advanced
• Intermediate
• Development 
• Pre-Development

The following practice groups do not require an assessment before registrating in them:

• Pups
  The youngest athletes we are accepting are athletes who were born in the year 2021 who have turned 4 years old by December 31, 2025.
  
  These swimmers should be able to move freely in shallow water without a parent and comfortable being in the lap pool.
  
  Pups is our entry level practice group for the Summer Season.
  
  
• Masters
  
  

In order for Athletes to compete in Provinicals they must be registered by July 9th, 2026 and a Division I swimmer.

Please note that the practice schedule changes monthly throughout the summer season:

Please also note that for the Summer Season the Pre-Development group will practice twice a week, practices are still 45 minutes in length.

May Practice Schedule

Tuesday Practices:

• 4:00pm-5:00pm Intermediate/Advanced
• 5:00pm-6:00pm Development
• 6:00pm-6:45pm Pre-Development
• 6:00pm-6:45pm Pups #1
• 6:45pm-7:45pm Masters

Wednesday Practices:

• 4:00pm-5:00pm Intermediate/Advanced
• 5:00pm-5:45pm Pups #2
• 5:45pm-6:30pm Pups #3

Thursday Practices:

• 4:00pm-5:00pm Intermediate/Advanced
• 5:00pm-6:00pm Development
• 6:00-6:45pm Pre-Development
• 6:00pm-6:45pm Pups #4
• 6:45pm-7:45pm Masters

Friday Practices:

• 3:30pm -4:30pm Intermediate/Advanced
• 4:30pm-5:30pm Development
• There is not practice on May 8, May 22

June Practice Schedule

• Practice times are a half an hour earlier than in May

Tuesday Practices

• 3:30pm-4:30pm Intermediate/Advanced
• 4:30-5:30pm Development
• 5:30pm -6:15pm Pre-Development
• 5:30pm- 6:15pm Pups #1
• 6:15pm-7:15pm Masters

Wednesday Practices

• 7:15am - 8:15am Development Dryland
• 3:30pm - 4:30pm Intermediate/Advanced
• 4:30pm - 5:15pm Pups #2
• 5:15pm - 6:00pm Pups #3

Thursday Practices

• 7:15am - 8:15am Intermediate/Advanced Dryland
• 3:30pm - 4:30pm Intermediate/Advanced
• 4:30pm -5:30pm Development
• 5:30pm - 6:15pm Pre-Development
• 6:15pm-7:15pm Masters

Friday Practices

• 3:30-4:30pm Intermediate/Advanced
• 4:30pm-5:30pm Development
• There will not be practice on June 5

July Practice Schedule

• All Pup Groups, Pre-Development and Masters last day of practice is:
• Thursday July 30, 2026

Monday Practices

• 3:30pm-4:30pm Intermediate/Advanced
• 4:30pm-5:30pm Development

Tuesday Practices

• 10:00am-11:00am Advanced only Swim
• 3:30pm-4:30pm Intermediate/Advanced
• 4:30pm-5:30pm Development
• 5:30pm-6:15pm Pre-Development
• 5:30pm-6:15pm Pups #1
• 6:15pm-7:15pm Masters

Wednesday Practices

• 8:15am-9:15am Development/Intermediate Dryland
• 9:30am-10:30am Development/Intermediate Swim
• 3:30pm-4:30pm Advanced only
• 4:30pm-5:15pm Pups #2
• 5:15pm-6:00pm Pups #3
• There are no practices on July 1

Thursday Practices

• 8:15am-9:15am Advanced only Dryland
• 9:30am-10:30am Advanced only Swim
• 3:30pm-4:30pm Intermediate/Advanced
• 4:30pm-5:30pm Development
• 5:30pm-6:15pm Pre-Development
• 5:30pm-6:15pm Pups #4
• 6:15pm-7:15pm Masters

Friday Practices

• 3:30pm-4:30pm Intermediate/Advanced
• 4:30pm-5:30pm Development
• There will not be practices on July 3, 17 and 31
  

August Practice Schedule

• The same as July's for only Development, Intermediate and Advanced
  
• The last practices for Development, Intermediate and Advanced swimmers is Friday August 7, 2026
• The last practices for Provinical Qualifiers is
• Wednesday August 12, 2026