Who are the Fins?
The Rock Creek Fins are a summer-league swim team open to all Rock Creek Pool Equity Members and those on the equity wait list with full Summer Swim privileges, ages 4-18.
The Fins are part of the Montgomery County Swim League (MCSL) and are competing in Division H this year.
Why should we join?
The Fins are the most fun you’ll have all summer! A few other benefits:
The team experience of hanging out with, cheering for, and being cheered on by kids of all ages.
Learning that if you work hard at something, you really can get better.
Lots of opportunities to have fun at meets, practice, and through a ton of great social events.
Hanging out with the coolest kids and parents at the pool.
And oh yeah…Swimming!
Does my child have to be a fast swimmer?
No, swimmers of all abilities are welcome! Our coaches will conduct a swim test for younger swimmers to determine whether they are ready to compete in meets, or if they need more focused instruction and development. Those swimmers who are not quite ready for meets will participate as a member of either the pre-team or Future Fins, depending on his or her comfort level in the water, strength and skill level. All swimmers, from our Future Fins to All-Star qualifiers, are part of the same team, and are encouraged – along with their families – to take part in all the fun activities throughout the summer.
Will my child have fun?
Of course! That is the whole point of summer swimming. A few social events of note…Friday night pasta parties, treats after Friday morning practice, swim banquet to celebrate the end of the season, team lunches together after all A Meets, a pancake breakfast, the intrasquad meet, Relay Carnival, the trip to Beaver Dam... and more!
How much does it cost?
Swim team fees, payable by June 2, are $215 per swimmer.
Fees are the same whether your child is competing in meets, swimming on the pre-team, or learning his or her way around the pool as a Future Fin. Swimmers who are not certain about joining the team may attend practice for a few days and then decide.
How long is the season?
The swim meets occur over a six week period from June through July. Practices will begin just after Memorial Day, following a swim test that determines placement of new and 8-under swimmers. Time Trials will take place on June 6th, followed quickly by our first B Meet on Wednesday, June 10th and our first A Meet on Saturday June 13. The season concludes with the Division H Championship meet in July. All dates are on the calendar.
When does the team practice?
From early June through the end of the swim season, the Fins practice Monday thru Thursday evenings, and beginning mid-June (concurrent with the end of MCPS's school year) the Fins will practice every weekday morning. The 2026 practice schedule is here.
What are my volunteer commitments as a parent?
We ask every family to volunteer for at least part of each meet in which you have a child swimming. There are a lot of choices for volunteering: lining swimmers up in their lanes ("kid wrangling"), timing, officiating, entering times, filling out ribbons, selling spirit wear, selling concessions -- the list goes on. All jobs are fun and easy, and we need everyone’s help!
See the Volunteer Job Description page for more information.
How do I volunteer?
You can volunteer for specific assignments on the Event Details & Volunteer Sign-up page. If you have questions or would like additional information about specific jobs, please contact the team reps and we’ll put you in touch with the appropriate volunteer coordinator.
Does my child need a team swimsuit?
No, but in the interest of team spirit we encourage it! Team suit information will be provided at the Memorial Day welcome meeting. And as always, you can contact the team rep with questions about swimsuits.
Who are the coaches and how can I get in touch with them?
The Fins will be coached this year by Head Coach Noah Klugman and a number of assistant coaches. Coaches can be reached at [email protected] and more information about the head coach and assistant coaches can be found here.
Who are the team representatives and how can I get in touch with them?
The Team Reps are Dayle Cristinzio, and Katrina Kimpel who can be reached at [email protected].
Swim Team Lingo
What is the Pre-Team?
The pre-team provides swimmers who are not quite ready to compete in meets the opportunity for specialized skill development and stroke instruction from the coaching staff. The goals of pre-team instruction are to improve all swimmers' skills and confidence in the water, and in some cases even begin working on stroke technique instruction.
What is Future Fins?
Future Fins is a swim lesson program for swimmers not yet ready for pre-team. The focus is on building confidence in the water, developing basic swim competencies, beginning to teach proper swim techniques, and having fun! Future Fins are as much a part of the team as those swimming in A and B Meets. They are, after all, the future of the RC FINS!
What are A and B Meets?
A Meets are the official MCSL-scheduled summer swim meets, and they are conducted in strict accordance with MCSL rules. The five summer A Meets take place on Saturday mornings, and the results are used to determine division assignments for the following summer. Generally, there is a single heat for each event and the three fastest swimmers in each stroke compete in A meets. A swimmer may participate in up to three individual stroke events in an A Meet, as well as the Individual Medley and a relay event. A Meet times are used to determine eligibility for Divisionals, as well as the end-of-year Individual All-Stars meet.
B Meets are less formal Wednesday meets which are organized and scheduled by the team reps. All swimmers participate in B Meets, though a Fins swimmer will not compete in an event he or she swam during the preceding A meet. There are generally multiple heats for each event.
Note that we do not have an "A Team" and a "B Team": We are ALL the FINS!
How will I know if my child is swimming in an A Meet?
The lineup for each week is posted on the team site, usually the Friday morning before the meet, and also distributed by the team reps to all parents with a swimmer entered in the lineup. If your child is not able to participate in the meet, it is essential to let the team reps know immediately.
What are Divisionals?
The Divisional Championship meet is held at the end of the season against the five other teams in our Division.
What Division of MCSL are we in this year?
The Fins are swimming in Division H with Garrett Park, Calverton, North Chevy Chase, Cedarbrook, and Potomac Woods.
What is a Relay Carnival?
Relay carnival is a special multiple-team meet comprised only of relay races of all sorts -- some within age groups, some across age groups, and even some where boys and girls compete together. The A & B Relay Carnival meets in which we participate are always among the highlights of the summer. Loads of team spirit and a ton of fun!
What is Beaver Dam?
Each year the team goes to this quarry outside of Baltimore for even more swimming … with a rope swing, rafts, cliffs to jump off, and various other fun things to do. Rides and supervision for younger swimmers are organized informally by interested swim team families. This year the trip will take place on Tuesday, July 14, right after morning practice.
Do I have to dye my hair red to show my Fins spirit?
No … but team spirit is definitely required!
