Frequently Asked Questions

Swim411 is a community focused on helping families navigate the competitive swimming landscape. We provide resources, tips, and answers to common questions to ensure a smooth experience.

We offer a variety of resources including articles, guides, and FAQs tailored to new families in competitive swimming. Our goal is to empower you with knowledge. We now also have a community forum to bring swim families together. Join now.

Swim clubs typically cater to a range of age groups, from children as young as 5 up to teenagers. Each club may have specific programs designed for different skill levels and ages.

To find a swim club, visit the US Swimming directory where you can search by location and club type.

In swimming, an LSC stands for Local Swimming Committee. It’s a regional governing body under USA Swimming that oversees competitive swimming in a specific geographic area. Each LSC manages club registration, athlete membership, local meets, and development programs within its zone. There are around 59 LSCs in the U.S., and they help support swimmers, coaches, and officials at the local level. Visit our “Essential Swim Terms” post to see more common swim terms defined.

Many LSCs are pretty straightforward because they match up closely with state lines — for example:

• Georgia Swimming covers the state of Georgia
• Illinois Swimming is for most of Illinois

But it’s not always that simple. Some states are split into multiple LSCs, while others combine parts of several states into one. For example:

• California is divided into multiple LSCs like Southern California Swimming, Pacific Swimming, and San Diego-Imperial Swimming
• New England Swimming includes parts of several northeastern states, not just one

So while your state can give you a good clue, it’s not always a one-to-one match — especially in larger or more densely populated areas. That’s why it’s helpful to check with your team or use the USA Swimming LSC map to be sure. Check out this post to find out more about LSCs.