All children who are members of Swan Lake Swim Club and have the prerequisite skills described in the following paragraphs are eligible to join the swim team. Evaluations for new swimmers are held at the beginning of the season to determine the appropriate practice group. Children are eligible for swim team until and including the summer immediately following their graduation from high school.

The Stingrays program is for emerging swimmers as well as swimmers with intermediate/advanced swim skills. The Stingrays practice in the lap lanes (deep end), and can choose morning or evening practices. In order to join the Stingrays, swimmers should be able to swim one lap of freestyle and one lap of backstroke without stopping.

The Junior Stingrays program is for swimmers who are still developing basic swim skills. The Junior Stingrays have a smaller swimmer-to-coach ratio, and they practice in the shallow end of the pool during morning practices only. In order to join the Junior Stingrays, swimmers must be able to safely swim the width of the shallow end without touching the bottom of the pool, and they must be able to take direction from a coach. Junior Stingrays do not need to be able to swim any competitive strokes.

Junior Stingrays Plus is a subgroup for Junior Stingrays who are unable to attend morning practices, but are not quite ready for the Stingrays.  These swimmers will practice in the lane next to the wall during the 5:30 pm practice, with a dedicated coach and supporting junior coach if needed.  These swimmers need to be able to swim one full lap (any stroke) and tread water for 30 seconds to ensure their safety in the deep end.