Newport Penguins Swim and Dive Team

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Newport Penguins Swim and Dive Team?

Established in 2012, the Newport Penguins Swim and Dive Team is a summer youth swim and dive team in Newport, Kentucky and is a division of the Newport Foundation, Inc. The Team’s home is the Veteran’s Memorial Park Pool, located at 26 Caroline Drive in Newport.

The Newport Penguins is part of the Newport Foundation, Inc., a nonprofit whose goals include recreational improvements and activities for the children in Newport, Kentucky. The address for the Newport Foundation, Inc. is: PO Box 72373, Newport, Kentucky 41071.

The Team is open to Newport and non-Newport residents alike.

Who does the Team compete against?

The Newport Penguins are a member team of the Northern Kentucky Swim League. The NKSL consists of 10 teams in Campbell, Kenton, and Boone Counties in Northern Kentucky. NKSL competition is broken into the following age-group categories: 8 & under, 9-10, 11-12, 13-14, and 15 & over, based on the member’s age as of May 31st.

Where does the Team practice?

The home pool for the Team is Newport’s Veterans Memorial Pool located at 26 Caroline Drive, Newport Kentucky, which is owned by the City of Newport. Parents/guardians must provide transportation to and from meets and practices for Team members and for swim lesson participants.

What kind of time commitment does the Team involve?

We understand that summer is a busy time with vacations and other activities. While Team members are not required to attend all practices and meets, they are encouraged to attend as many as possible to get the most out of the experience.

Throughout the season, the Swim and Dive Team offer practices 5 days a week at times dependent upon individual skill level. Team practices start the Tuesday after Memorial Day and continue through the end of the season in July. Swim meets are held every Thursday evening during the season with warm-ups starting at approximately 4:00 p.m. and dive meets are held every Tuesday evening during the season with warm-ups starting at approximately 4:30 p.m. Championship meet selections are made by the Team's coaches in their sole discretion. 

All Team Families Must Meet Minimum Volunteer Requirements

The Team and the NKSL are volunteer-run organizations. Volunteer participation by all Team families is mandatory throughout the season. Each Team family has a minimum number of volunteer engagements required for each sport children in which the family participates, and a requirement to volunteer at any Team-run NKSL championship meet. Families with children who participate in any championship meet also have championship meet volunteer requirements based on NKSL needs for the specific championship meets. Athletes may not be permitted to participate in competitions absent families meeting these minimum and mandatory volunteer requirements.

If I am not a great swimmer/diver, can I join the Team?

Team readiness decisions are made by the coaching staff at the beginning of each season. At a minimum, to join the Swim Team, each child must be able to swim the length of the pool unassisted with their face in the water AND float on their back and kick.  To join the Dive Team, at a minimum, each child must be able to safely swim in the diving well from the diving boards to the ladders.  In addition, Team readiness decisions include an assessment of available coaching staff resources to meet the safety and skills training needs of all children. Team readiness decisions made by the coaching staff are final.

The Team's readiness guidelines ensure the safety of all Swim and Dive Team members and that Team members reach their full potential. A Team Readiness Assessment is made by the coaching staff the Tuesday after Memorial Day or as otherwise scheduled. The coaches determine when swimmers and divers are prepared for competition. The Team’s focus is to encourage everyone to do their best and to have fun in the process!

What is the cost of joining the Team?

There are two components of the cost to join the Swim and/or Dive Team:

(1) the Pool Membership Fee, and

(2) the Team Member Fee.

• Pool Membership Fee: All Swim and Dive Team members must have a family membership to the City of Newport’s Veterans Memorial Pool. A family pool membership at the team pool is required for all NKSL athletes.

A Veterans Memorial Pool family membership for up to five (5) family members is $175. There is an additional $25 per person fee for each additional family member beyond five (5) for both Newport and non-Newport residents. Veterans Memorial Pool membership cards will be distributed by the Team as soon as they are available. Pool membership cards must be present for members to access the Veterans Memorial Pool throughout the summer.

• Team Member Fee: In addition to the Pool Membership Fee, there is a $60 Newport resident Team fee for each Team member if he/she is a Newport resident. For non-Newport residents, there is a $85 non-resident Team fee for each Team member.

For example, if there is a child that resides in Newport who wishes to join the Team, and the child's family has 5 or fewer persons, the cost will include:

• $175 Pool Membership Fee, and,
• $60 Team Member Fee,
• for a TOTAL COST of $235.

NOTE: Pool Membership Fees and Team Member Fees are due no later than the first week of practices each summer.

Financial Assistance Available: When the Penguins were established in 2012, key components of its mission and vision were to be inclusive of all children. This remains an integral part of the Penguins mission and vision today. Through grants and fundraising, the Penguins will provide any Team-ready child with an opportunity to participate on the Swim and/or Dive Team without cost as a barrier.

Scholarships are available for families in need of financial assistance for the required Team fees. If you wish to request financial assistance, please send your scholarship request to the Boosters Chairperson by clicking "Contact Us". Responses to scholarship requests will be sent by email as soon as possible.

How do I register for the Team?

Registration for the Team is on-line through this site. For Team registration, go to the website Home page, click on the panel labeled "Registration" to create a user account and fill out the Team registration form.

What are the Team's policies and expectations?

The Penguins' experience for the Team is focused on safety, sportsmanship, community, and fun. All Team athletes and parents are subject to a code of conduct set forth in the Team's Policies and that is agreed upon by each family as a required part of the registration process for any program. Additionally, because the Team is a volunteer run organization, all Swim and/or Dive Team families have a minimum regular season and championship meet volunteer requirement for athletes to be permitted to participate in competition as set forth in the Team's policies. The Team's Policies are updated prior to the beginning of each summer and are available under the "About" tab on the website Home page.

What do I need to have or purchase to participate on the Team?

The NKSL requires swimmers and divers to wear competition swim suits at all regular season and championship meets. Swimmers are strongly encouraged to wear swim caps and goggles at all practices and meets. Competition swim suits, caps and goggles can be purchased anywhere.

While the Team offers Penguins swim suits and spirit wear for purchase, this is completely optional. THERE IS NO REQUIREMENT FOR SWIMMERS OR DIVERS TO PURCHASE TEAM SWIM SUITS OR SPIRIT WEAR. All athletes are provided with a latex Penguins swim cap each season thanks to generous donors.

In addition, at practices and meets, all athletes should have one to two towels, a full water bottle, and dry clothes to put on in between events and after practices and meets. In addition, at meets, athletes are encouraged to bring healthy snacks with them because meets can take several hours. Concessions are often available for purchase at meets.

What is the Penguins Swim Lesson Program?

Each summer, the Penguins Swim Lesson Program is offered for children to develop basic water safety skills and, for older children, to begin developing stroke techniques to help them become ready for Team participation. Children must be potty trained to participate in the Penguins swim lesson program.  

Swim lessons sessions are held on Saturday mornings and on Tuesday/Thursday mornings. The Swim Lesson Program is led by the Team's coaching staff and includes senior swimmers and divers as assistant instructors.  The specific swim lessons sessions are set forth on the Team Calendar under the "About" tab on the website Home page.  

How do I register for the Penguins Swim Lesson Program?

Registration for the Penguins Swim Lesson Program opens in May each year. Registration is completed on this site, by going to the home page and clicking on the "Registration" icon and then the "Group Session" selected from the Team Calendar. Space in swim lessons sessions is limited and swim lesson sessions are filled on a first come basis. It is anticipated that swim lesson sessions will fill quickly after registration opens, so all interested families are encouraged to register as soon as registration opens.

What is the cost of the Penguins Swim Lesson Program?

The Team is committed to bettering our Newport and Campbell County communities. It is an important life skill that children develop water safety skills and basic swimming techniques. Due to generous local support, the Team offers the Penguins Swim Lesson Program at no cost to children who reside in Newport. The cost per session for non-residents is $30 per session.