Mt. Lebanon Aqua Club (MLAC)
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
(intended for families who are considering membership with MLAC and
particularly those who have participated on the Piranhas Summer Swim Team)
MEMBERSHIP
Q: What is the difference between MLAC, Blue Groups, and Piranhas?
A: The Mt. Lebanon Aqua Club (MLAC) is a year-round swimming program for competitive swimmers. The club is a competitive team, participating in meets from September through June and consists of 5 practice groups (Novice, Age Group 1, Age Group 2, Junior and Senior) that serves children from ages 5-18. Swimmers are placed in groups based on their age and ability.
The Blue Group is a pre-competitive program that is run and coached by MLAC. Blue Group is intended for children who want to swim once or twice per week but who are not yet ready to commit to the year-round program. Blue Group swimmers are not MLAC members and the program is held for 10 weeks, 2-3 times during the school year.
The Piranhas is the MLAC summer swim team, which is also run and coached by MLAC. The Piranhas Summer Swim Team swims with the South Hills Summer Swim Conference (SHSSC) against other similar programs in the area. Many MLAC members got their start based on the great experience they had swimming for the Piranhas. Piranhas swimmers are not MLAC members.
Q: Is there a separate swim team at the middle school and high school levels?
A: In addition to the various club programs available in our community, the Mt. Lebanon School District sponsors both a middle school swim team and a high school swim team. MLAC members typically participate in the school programs, as well, but one does not need to be a club member in order to swim for the middle and high school swim teams. Our club welcomes swimmers from any school district regardless of their participation on middle or high school teams.
Q: Will my child know other swimmers?
A: Many Aqua Club members are Mt. Lebanon residents who attend school with your children. Most of the members of our club joined the club as a result of their positive experience with our Learn to Swim and Piranhas programs. However, the teams practice together for 3 or more days each week and the team provides the swimmers to make excellent and long-lasting friendships outside of the school that they attend. Swimmers often get to know each other at swim practices, meets, and MLAC functions all year long!
Q: How do I find out more about the MLAC programs?
A: The best way to learn more about our club is to contact one of our coaches and arrange to meet with them during practice time. Our head coach for the Senior group (high school aged swimmers) is Dave Schraven ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ). You can also contact our Head Age Group coach (and Piranhas Head Coach), Kevin Hartbauer ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ). General questions can also be sent to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , or left on our message line at (412) 344-7070.
SWIM PRACTICE
Q: Do all MLAC swimmers practice together? How many times per week will my child swim?
A: The club is divided into 5 groups based on age and ability.
- Novice Group – This is for beginning swimmers typically aged 5-8. Novice Group practices 3 times per week for approximately one hour.
- Age Group 1 – AG1 swimmers typically have 1-3 years of swimming experience and are generally 8-10 years of age. This group practices 4 times per week for 1-1.5 hours.
- Age Group 2 – AG2 swimmers are intermediate level swimmers and are typically 9-12 years old. They practice 5 times per week for 1-1.5 hours.
- Junior Group – These are “advanced age group swimmers,” typically of middle school age. Junior group practices 6 times per week.
- Senior Group – Senior Group consists of high school swimmers who practice every day but Sunday, and 2-3 mornings per week before school.
Q: How will you determine the group in which my child should participate?
A: The primary determining factor is swimming ability. It is not good for the swimmers to participate in groups for which they are not yet ready. That being said, we also try to avoid having, for example, 12 year olds in the Novice group, so age is also a factor when determining the appropriate practice group. At the beginning of the year, MLAC will hold a 3-day tryout to allow the coaches to best place swimmers. At other times, a potential MLAC swimmer may be asked to join a practice so that the coach can make a placement.
Q: My child is involved in other activities - does he/she need to attend every practice?
A: Practice attendance is not required. We encourage our swimmers to have multiple interests and understand that there will occasionally be conflicts. That being said, it is important to remember that your child will get out of swimming what they put into it, so it is important to keep expectations in line with the reality of your child’s practice habits.
Q: What is going to happen with the practices when the high school is under construction?
A: The current phased plan for high school construction will allow for continuous use of the athletic facilities. We will use the current pool while the new facility is under construction, then once the new athletic facilities are completed, we will use the new pool while the old facility is renovated for an alternative use.
COMPETITION AND RECOGNITION
Q: Does my child have to compete in meets?
A: We do not require meet participation. However, meet attendance is strongly encouraged as a means to measure your child’s progress.
Q: How often are the meets and what if my child is not very competitive relative to other swimmers of the same age?
A: Most of our swimmers compete in swim meets, on average, about once per month. Swim meets are structured by ability so that faster swimmers tend to swim against faster swimmers, and slower swimmers compete against swimmers of the same ability. At different times during the year, there may be more than one meet per month that is available to swim.
Our coaching staff are great motivators who emphasize that swimmers are ultimately competing against themselves. One of the best things about swimming is that it allows for precise measurements of performance (swimming races are timed to the one hundredth of a second) and every time a swimmer races, they have an opportunity to perform a personal best time. This is how we measure progress—by comparing your child to what they have done previously, not by whether he or she achieved a certain overall standing or whether they beat a particular swimmer from another team.
Q: Will my child receive a participation award (trophy)?
A: Every April the Aqua Club has its annual banquet, which is dedicated to recognizing the efforts and achievements of our swimmers. This is fun-filled night where the swimmers of all ages are awarded for their accomplishments. All of our age group swimmers receive participation awards. In addition to that, for each swim group the coaches also honor select individuals who have great attitudes, or practice habits, or who have excelled in competition.
NEED MORE HELP?
We hope that we have addressed any questions you may have about our program. If you have any additional questions please contact one of our coaches:
Dave Schraven – Head Senior Group Coach / Head High School Coach – This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Kevin Hartbauer – Head Age Group Coach / Head Piranhas Coach – This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
You may also direct any questions to us at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or call our message line at (412) 344-7070.
Last Updated on Saturday, 30 July 2011 20:45