Team Equipment Gear and Suits

Friends Select Aquatics has partnered with TYR, a leading manufacturer of swim and athletic products. Through FSA’s partnership we order custom suits and caps through TYR at least once a year and they provide compensation in the form of a voucher program that the club will be utilizing for swim gear, our soon to exist swim store, banners, and many others things. Purchases made through our team store directly benefit the FSA swim program and those benefits will be passed along to our coaching staff and our athletes, and families. Please consider the TYR Team Store before you you purchase gear and as always if you have any questions please reach out to aquatics@friends-select.org

TYR provides benefits for Families:

1. 25% off all Orders made through our Team Store

2. 10% off custom team products ordered through or Team Store

To access our team store you will need to create an account with TYR’s TEAM website. 

1. Go to teams.tyr.com
2. Select Create an Account
3. Use Access Code 06758 when you sign up

In the interest of transparency, there are many providers that provide swim equipment. Scouring the “Sale” and “Clearance” areas on websites such as swimoutlet.com can be quite useful for suits, goggles, gear, and equipment. FSA understands that swimming as a whole is an expensive sport and though we are sponsored by Tyr and encourage the use of their products we also understand the economics of swimming. Other providers include: (in no particular order) Mizuno, Tyr, Speedo, Jolyn, Arena, Dolphin, Finis, Nike, Spori, Finis among others. Some of the best prices and personalized styles can be found via Dolphin, Sporti, and Jolyn in addition to Arena traditionally being one of the most reasonably priced premium providers.

FALL Session Team Gear

Mini/Falcons/Falcons+/Bronze

• Kick Board (Mini/Falcons/Falcons+/Bronze) - An age and size appropriate kickboard. Young athletes often use a “youth” size kickboard; at some point kids benefit from a “normal” or larger kickboard style. I have preferred the Speedo “Team” kickboard as it is less bulky than many options and can be used for younger athletes. The TYR Hydrofoil is a fine option as well and can be found on the TYR team store. As a matter of preference FSA recommends avoiding such options at the “Tyr Classic” kickboard
• Fins (Mini/Falcons/Falcons+/Bronze) - Any non-snorkeling fin will do. Most kids this age use larger more traditional style fin
• Cap (Mini/Falcons/Falcons+/Bronze) - FSA has Latex Caps for everyone and SOME silicone caps that will be available/ for sale.
• Pull Buoy (Bronze) - Speedo, Sporti, Tyr, and Arena make great options for pull buoys none are really all that special. There are “Junior” sizes and “Adult” sizes geared more toward different athletes. These are common items that can be posted to the FSA Flea Market as well
• Competition Style Goggles (Mini/Falcons/Falcons+/Bronze) - TYR Arena and Speedo make very popular varieties of these. There are varying sizes
• In- Line Snorkel (Falcons/Falcons+/Bronze) - An essential tool the value of this can not be understated. Snorkel - An essential piece of swim equipment. The value of this can not be understated. Speed, Spori, Arena, Tyr, and Finis all make great snorkel options. As long as it it supported on the forehead it will work great.
• Hand Paddles (Bronze) - Generally better to err on the side of smaller than larger.

Useful Optional Equipment

Mesh Bag, Water Bottle, Chamois, Swim Backpack, Crocs or a shoe that can get wet frequently such as Tyr’s “Zenglide” Shoe

**Additional equipment may be recommended and/or required at a later date with appropriate lead times**

Silver/Silver +/Gold

• Kickboard - An age and size appropriate kickboard. Young athletes often use a “youth” size kickboard; at some point kids benefit from a “normal” or larger kickboard style. I have preferred the Speedo “Team” kickboard as it is less bulky than many options. The TYR Hydrofoil is a fine option and as well and can be found on the TYR team store. As a matter of preference FSA recommends avoiding such options at the “Tyr Classic” kickboard
• “Zoomer” Style fins similar to the TYR Stryker, TYR Burner, or TYR Crossblade or Hydro Blade fins. Traditional “long” style fins are not appropriate for competitive swimming at these levels
• Competitive Cap/Goggles - FSA has Latex Caps for everyone and SOME silicone caps that will be available/ for sale.
• Hand Paddles such as the TYR Catalyst Paddles, Finis Agility paddles, Sporti power swim, or Arena Vortex Paddles are all great options
• In-Line Snorkel - An essential piece of swim equipment. The value of this can not be understated. Speed, Spori, Arena, Tyr, and Finis all make great snorkel options. As long as it it supported on the forehead it will work great.
• Parachute - Finis and Sporti make common version of these. Generally speaking it’s better to err on the side of Smaller rather than larger, though our strongest athletes can benefit from larger versions. These can also be not uncommon in the FSA Flea Market
• Pull Buoy - Speed/Sporti Tyr, and arena make great options for pull buoys. There are “Junior” sizes and “Adult” sizes geared more toward different athletes. These are common items that can be posted to the FSA Flea Market as well
• Ankle Strap (optional) - These are useful items and FSA will have a few of these on hand for specific use cases. This is likely to be an item that will be added to the equipment list in the future. Finis and Tyr make common versions of this
• Hand Paddles - Generally better to err on the side of smaller than larger. Most popular options come inn a default size these days

Useful Optional Equipment

• Mesh Bag, Water Bottle, Chamois , Swim Backpack, Crocs or a shoe that can get wet frequently such as Tyr’s “Zenglide” Shoe

**Additional equipment may be recommended and/or required at a later date with appropriate lead times**

Suits and Custom Gear

For a variety of reasons FSA will not be placing and/or encouraging logoed/custom gear UNTIL the Spring session. FSA Staff is in discussion about possibly changing up our logo. Ultimately that is To Be Determined. Part of our agreement with TYR is that we place an order through them with custom suits. Information will come out on this closer to the October/November months about that order. Do NOT feel pressured to order custom gear at this time, especially new Families! 

Competition Style Suits

It is important that athletes practice and compete in competition style suits. For individuals of the Female Sex that most frequently means a 1 piece suit. Frequently athletes will race in a Knee Skin style suit but it isn’t common to practice in them (though during championship seasons we will encourage their use at times)

Individuals of the Male sex frequently wear a “jammer” or compression short or a “brief” or what was commonly referred to as a “speedo.” Briefs have made a come back in the swim community as a whole in recent years in large part because of the reduced costs (and less wet fabric) associated with them. 

FSA encourages the use of TYR products however does not find itself particularly concerned with the manufacturer of suits worn by athletes so long as they are appropriate and legal. 

Note About Rash Guards:

Rash guards are swim shirts worn to reduce UV exposure outside, there are some schools of thought that they can also help keep an athlete warmer in the water like a wet suit or open water suit, however the loose fitting nature of swim shirts do not significantly help with thermal regulation. 

At this time I am unaware of any Fina approved Knee skins for males though I am sure they are out there. For those athletes who wear them it is important that we start to have discussions about discouraging their use. The loose fitting nature of the suits have a significant negative impact in terms of drag,body shape, and line in the water. We want to have practiced without one before we race without one. 

Rash guards/swim shirts can be considered for religious reasons or other select circumstances but is something that will be treated on a case by case basis. 

Competition vs Practice Suits

In most cases athletes have a practice suit and a competition suit. Competition suits will wear over time and most frequently when they do they become practice suits. “Tech” Suits are “fancier” suits that provide a series of benefits to the athlete. They are however, VERY, expensive. Tyr’s discount is significant for these. Athletes are NOT REQUIRED to wear a tech suit. Though it does provide benefits in terms of feel buoyancy and mindset it is not necessary. Do not hesitate to reach out to the coaching staff with questions.

Note to those of the Female Sex

Each Manufacturer has a tech suit that is cut and shaped slightly differently. This most impacts suits designed for the Female sex which frequently are to the knees. Do not buy a tech suit for the first time without consultation with the FSA coaching staff and peers on the FSA swim team. Through crowdsourcing we have a significant amount of information available to us in terms of cut, quality, and other details.

12 and Under Athletes

Athletes under the age of 12 are governed by a different rule set in terms of Tech suits. USA Swimming passed rules in 2020 to help manage costs and accessibility at the youth level. All 12 and under suits need to be approved for use for that age group. Most frequently that means a “green” checkmark on the suit. First time tech suit purchasers should reach out to the coaching staff for guidance.

2020 Tech Suit Rule Change Overview

Technical Suit Rules for 12 and Under

USA Swimming Tech Suit Guidance for Officials