Welcome to year three of ACAST, the Staunton-area’s year-round competitive swim program. We’re a small, parent-run non-profit that believes competitive swimming needs to be among the youth sports choices in Staunton and Augusta County. We operate the year-round ACAST team as well as the Amberjax summer developmental team.

THE YEAR-ROUND ACAST TEAM is affiliated with USA Swimming and open to children ages 5 through 18. Swimmers take part in practice sessions appropriate to their skills. They also have the opportunity to take part in meets where they will race for personal-best times, race against USA Swimming motivational time standards and against other young people from across the region. This year we will practice exclusively at the Staunton-Augusta Family YMCA.

THE AMBERJAX SUMMER TEAM is affiliated with the Blue Ridge Summer League, and has provided a first team-swimming experience for thousands of youngsters during the past 20 or more years. Youngsters learn and perfect strokes, improve their fitness and learn about competition in a fun recreational environment. The summer team practices at the Staunton-Augusta Family YMCA and at Gypsy Hill Park Pool in Staunton. Meets are held in Staunton, Waynesboro, Stuarts Draft and Lexington.

LESSONS aren’t offered through ACAST, but we recommend the program at the Staunton-Augusta Family YMCA.

A STROKE CLINIC will be offered this fall through the Staunton-Augusta Family YMCA taught by ACAST staff. It is a capstone program for the YMCA’s multi-level learn-to-swim program and also serves as a great segue into our bronze level year-round program or our summer recreational program. Contact the YMCA for more information about registration.

HEAD COACH BOB COUCH directs all of our programs. He has experience in summer leagues, year-round programs and at the college level. He works with assistant coaches and coaching assistants to create a great swimming experience for all who participate.

ACAST Amberjax is a Virginia non-profit educational corporation. In January 2008 we applied to the IRS for recognition as a non-profit under federal tax section 501(c)(3). We have not yet received a final determination on that request.