MSC

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McMinnville Swim Club

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Parent Handbook

PARENT

HANDBOOK

FOR

MCMINNVILLE

SWIM CLUB

McMinnville Swim Club

PO Box 314

McMinnville, OR 97128

(503) 472-1349

Welcome to the McMinnville Swim Club! The members of the McMinnville Swim Club (MSC) are very pleased that you have taken interest in our program. We are giving you this guide to help you understand our team a little better and answer a few of your questions. Please don’t hesitate to contact our board members or coaches after practice if you have further questions.

Our organization is a local, private club composed of young swimmers and their parents who enjoy swimming. MSC is a member of Oregon Swimming Inc. (OSI), which is a Local Swim Committee within the United States Swimming organization. Our club is a non-profit, tax-exempt organization. We are sanctioned by the City of McMinnville and are incorporated in the state of Oregon.

MSC’s mission is to help swimmers improve their swimming abilities as well as develop confidence, strength, and discipline while having fun through competitive swimming. Our team is open to all youth in our community who are interested and willing to learn how to become a competitive swimmer. We will provide professional coaches who are educated and experienced in competitive swimming. These coaches will create an atmosphere that is safe, fun, and educational for all levels of swimming. Our coaches will also create a structure that will provide swimmers the opportunity to achieve the very highest levels of competitive swimming.

TRAINING LOCATION

The McMinnville Aquatic Center is the primary training location for the club. MSC rents pool time from the City of McMinnville. Other locations may be used in case of repairs to the Aquatic Center.

TRYOUT PROCEDURES AND GROUP ASSIGNMENT

1. Tryouts can be done any day that MSC has a practice scheduled. The coaching staff is always willing to have new swimmers come and check out our team. We will also try to conduct larger tryouts a few times throughout the year.

2. Minimum requirements for our team include being at least 6 years of age and able to swim one length of the pool. Knowledge of competitive swimming strokes is recommended, but not required.

3. Following the initial tryout, the coaching staff will assign each swimmer to a specific group based on age, ability, and experience. All swimmers will eventually be asked to participate in swim meets, but will not be asked to do so until the coaches feel the swimmer is ready.

4. Practice time will vary depending on which group the swimmer is placed. Practice time will be posted on the bulletin board and website. The coaches will inform the swimmer and parent what time their specific practice time will be.

5. Each group has different attendance policies, so please check with the coach on number of times per week your swimmer should be attending practice.

GROUP DESCRIPTIONS AND PHILOSOPHY

Our philosophy here at MSC is to have FUN while working hard to become the best swimmers we can be. Our coaching staff promises to do their very best to be great educators and role models. Every group will work each day to become better at some aspect of competitive swimming. Our coaching staff will assign each swimmer to a group and will always have the swimmer’s long-term success as a competitive swimmer in mind when making any changes.

MAKO 1 GROUP:

This group is MSC’s first group for our new swimmers. This group will work on teaching our newer swimmers the rules and mechanics of each of the four competitive strokes. Our new swimmers will have tons of FUN while learning to swim, start, and turn correctly before moving on to our next group. (ANY AGE)

MAKO 2 GROUP:

This group will continue to work on perfecting stroke mechanics in all four competitive strokes. This group will be learning to do small sets and swim a bit more than the MAKO 1 group. Rules of swimming, kicking, and stroke perfection will be a big focus in this group. This group will usually consist mostly of swimmers that are ages 8-10.

SILVER GROUP:

Our SILVER group will continue stroke mechanic work as well as race preparation. Dryland training will also be introduced in this group. This group will mostly consist of swimmers ages 10-13.

GOLD GROUP:

This group will introduce more interval training, and race preparation. As with every other group there will be continued work on stroke technique. Dryland training will also be emphasized in this group. Age range for this group will mostly be between 10 and 14.

SENIOR GROUP:

This group will include all swimmers who are of high school aged. Training in all the energy systems will be the focus of this group along with education in stroke mechanics, dryland training, and race preparation. This group will be structured to allow each athlete to reach their highest potential. 6-9 workouts per week will be offered for this group. Each athlete will meet with the coach at the beginning of each season to determine goals and training schedule to meet those goals. After coming up with a plan, the coach will work with each swimmer to best help them achieve their goals.

FINANCIAL RESPONSIBLITIES

1. A yearly individual or family pool pass is required by the City of McMinnville, and may be purchased at the pool.

2. Annual dues provide the financial base for MSC, but are not the only monetary responsibilities for parents. Our budget begins on September 1 of each year. The dues are then prorated on a 12-month basis and must be paid in advance every month. Accounts must be current by the 15th of each month or the child will not be allowed to participate.

a. Even though swimmers are out of the water due to vacation or illnesses, they are still members of the team and are responsible for their dues.

b. Dues cover some of the costs of equipment, coach salary, coach travel expenses, pool rent, as well as other operating expenses.

3. Entry fees for meets are an additional expense. Most invitational meets cost approximately $2.00 per event plus a $1.50 surcharge by the host team. MSC will also charge a $10 fee for meets to help cover coaching expenses. There will also be a $5.00 hospitality fee during home meets to cover food and drink services for coaches and officials. Sign ups for meets are on the bulletin board, and entry fees will be billed on the statement following the meet in which the expenses were incurred. Often times, we will send in entries over a month before the meet to guarantee our spot in the swim meet. Therefore, once a swimmer is signed up you are responsible to pay for it even if the swimmer ends up not attending.

4. Around November, there is an additional fee charged to cover the yearly Oregon Swimming and United States Swimming dues and insurance.

5. There are also fundraising projects sponsored by the club during the year, which involve the entire family. Any of our swim meets that are hosted at the Aquatic Center are considered fundraising projects where every family is REQUIRED to help. We also have one big Fall and one big Spring fundraiser each year. MSC has a requirement of $100 per swimmer (up to two swimmers per family) for the Fall fundraiser, and a $80 requirement for the Spring fundraiser (up to two swimmers per family). Additional fundraisers are announced during the year.

6. Parents are responsible for notifying the club Treasurer in writing, when their child stops swimming. Until such notice is received, parents are obligated to pay dues. (MSC, PO Box 314, McMinnville, OR 97128)

PARENTAL RESPONSIBLITIES

Swimmers goals can best be achieved with a smooth relationship between parents, coaches, and club officers. Every member of our team will have much more fun if we are all positive, helpful, and willing to make this team something special.

Parents are needed in many ways to help our club function properly. We know that everyone has a job and a life, but our club won’t work if we don’t all chip in and help. Please do not let 10% of the parents to 90% of the work! Specific responsibilities include:

1. Each family is responsible for 10 hours of volunteer time per fiscal year (September1-August 31). These hours must be logged in to the Volunteer log book kept at the swimming pool next to the club bulletin board. Ways to volunteer include working at home meets in the concession stand, setting up or breaking down the meet, helping to organize the meet, working in the bull pen, etc. Volunteer hours can also be earned by timing at away meets, attending board meetings, helping with fundraising, etc. Another way to earn volunteer hours is to become an official. Officials are needed to ensure swimmers follow correct procedures and rules at swimming competitions. There is some training involved in becoming an official, but we desperately need to have more officials on our team. All families that can't fulfill the volunteer requirement will be billed for any missed hours.

2. Everyone needs to stay informed by reading all website, bulletin board, email, and newsletter communications.

3. Please keep up with your monthly dues and any other financial obligations to the club.

4. Support your coach and the team with a positive attitude. If any problems exist, please discuss it privately with the coach or appropriate committee member. Complaining behind the scenes only undermines overall team spirit and can hinder your own child’s experience on the team. Open communication is key!

5. Always express positive support to your swimmer. Let the coach do the coaching!

6. Notify the club Treasurer if your child decides to quit the program.

SWIMMER RESPONSIBILITES

All members of a successful organization must share in the responsibility of maintaining the stature and prestige of the organization. In order to help build our program, you must share in the following responsibilities.

1. Attend practice on a regular basis and PLEASE be on time.

2. Attend all meets that your coach feels will help you.

3. Communicate with your coach if you cannot fulfill your obligations.

4. Take an active role in advertising the positive aspects of MSC swimming.

5. Participate and support all fundraising activities that we do.

6. Always wear the team cap in swim meets (if you wear a cap).

7. Help out setting up and putting away all equipment for meets and practices.

8. Be aware of your teammates accomplishments and congratulate them.

9. Approach each practice and each meet with a positive attitude. Encourage others who are down.

10. Support your coach and his/her training program.

11. Establish high goals and actively train to achieve those goals.

12. Appreciate and respect those that you compete against and those who make it possible for you to compete.

13. HAVE FUN and SWIM FAST!

SWIM SEASON

MSC is a club member of United States Swimming. We also belong to our Local Swim Committee (LSC), which is called Oregon Swimming. There are two swimming seasons in a year cycle. During the fall and winter, we will compete in the Short Course season held in 25 yard pools. During the spring and summer, we will compete in the Long Course season held in 50 meter pools.

Throughout each season we will compete in invitational swim meets where teams from around the state and region will gather together to compete. During this part of the season our swimmers will focus on improving their strokes, and improving their times. At the end of each season there will be league, state, sectional, and national championships that the swimmers will try to qualify for during the season.

A typical swimming calendar for the year will look something like the following:

October- Mid February: Short course season with approximately 2 meets each month.

Mid February- Mid April: This is the Championship part of the season. The club will usually take a one week break after all the championship meets have been completed.

May-August: The Long Course season is in progress with approximately 2 meets per month. The championships will be held in late July and early August.

Mid August- Mid September: MSC will usually take a 3-4 week break to let parents, swimmers, and coaches recharge physically and mentally for the next season.

MEET SCHEDULE

The MSC meet schedule is published and sent to members in our newsletter and is also posted on the bulletin board and our MSC website.

SIGNING UP FOR A SWIM MEET

1. Swim meet sign-up sheets will be posted on the bulletin board at the Aquatic Center. Please sign your swimmer’s name and days they can attend.

2. Please ask coaching staff if you have a question on which meet to sign up for. The coaches will inform each swimmer about upcoming meets that they should sign up for.

3. The coach will sign up the swimmers for events that they will be successful in. As the swimmer becomes more experienced, the coaches will also sign each swimmer up for events that will help them become better and more well rounded athletes.

4. Families will be billed for the events that the coaches sign them up for.

MEET PROCEDURES FOR SWIMMERS

1. EQUIPMENT NEEDED: suit, extra towels, goggles, caps, sweats, water bottle, food, blanket or sleeping bag.

2. DIET BEFORE MEET: The coach recommends that parents do not abruptly change the swimmer’s diet. At all times keep a balanced diet. High carbohydrate foods the day before the meet is good. Keep the junk food to a minimum. At the meet a swimmer should eat enough food to stay fueled. Always drink lots of water or sports drinks to stay hydrated.

3. Check in with coach upon arrival to the meet.

4. Swimmers are expected to arrive at the meet on time. The starting time will be listed on the MSC bulletin board during the week of the meet.

5. Swimmers are expected to be ready to stretch together as a team at the designated time.

6. Swimmers MUST check in with the coach before and after each event that they swim.

7. Swimmers should sit in team area and be accessible to the coach at all times.

8. Swimmers are responsible for getting themselves to the starting area when their event is called. For swimmers eight years old and younger there is usually a “bull pen”. This is a specific area designated for the younger swimmers to go when their event is announced in order to help them get to the proper lane.

Swimmers must check with the coaching staff before leaving a meet!

TEAM ATTIRE

Please ask the coach for information on purchasing our team suits and caps. This will usually be done as a group in the fall, and then on your own at other times throughout the year. Team caps are required at all competitions if the swimmer wears a cap. Team suits are recommended, but not required. There will also be an order form for any t-shirts, hats, sweatshirts, sweat pants, towels, etc. that our team has for purchase.

UNDERSTANDING TIME STANDARDS

For many meets, a certain time must be achieved in order to qualify for that particular meet. In competition, a swimmer is a “C” level swimmer in each event until an “A” or “B” time is attained in a given event at a meet. “A” and “B” time standards are posted on our bulletin board throughout the season as well as in the Oregon Swim Guide and on the Oregon Swimming website. As your swimmers improve they can also find Sectional, Zone, Junior National, US Open, and National time standards on the Oregon website and the USA swimming website. Please ask one of our coaches if you have further questions about time standards.

DISCIPLINE

· Discipline problems will be dealt with individually.

· Swimmers MUST understand their responsibilities to their coaches, others personal property, and the McMinnville Aquatic Center.

· Deviant behavior will be dealt with immediately in form of discussion with athlete, discussion with parent, and possible temporary or permanent suspension.

COMMUNICATIONS

MSC’s communication is an essential part of our well organized team and is vital to total team function. Team communication includes the following areas:

· Bulletin Board- Meet signups, announcements, and meet schedule are posted on the MSC bulletin board located at the Aquatic Center.

· Website- Our website address is www.mcminnvilleswimclub.com

· Newsletter- This is emailed throughout the swim season and covers team announcements, meet schedule, coaches column, President report, and any activity schedules.

· Monthly Board Meetings- All parents are invited to each board meeting usually held the first Monday of each month.

· Membership Meetings- General membership meetings are held during the year for discussion of objectives, financial and fund raising reports, and swimmer/parent activities.

· Email- Periodically an email announcement will be sent out for communication purposes.

· Individual meetings- Can be arranged with the coach.

With these areas of communication offered, it is your responsibility to keep informed.

DEFINITION OF GENERAL TERMS

A meet- Swim meet which requires swimmers to have previously achieved an “A” time standard in the event they wish to enter.

A/B meet- Swim meet which requires that the swimmer have an “A” or “B” time in the event they wish to enter.

A/BC meet- Meet open to any level of swimmer.

Championship Seeding- Putting the fastest three swimmers in different heats and put the next fastest three in those same heats and so on. This is done to even out the competition when a Prelim and Final will be swum in that event.

Events- A particular swimming event by age, distance, stroke, and time.

False start- An illegal start by one or more swimmers when moving or starting prior to the start signal.

False Start Rope- The rope that is suspended across the lanes that will be dropped to prevent swimmers from continuing a race if the start signal malfunctions.

Finals- The top swimmers from the prelim round will swim again in the finals in order to determine the final order of finish.

Consolation finals- The next fastest group of swimmers will swim again to determine the final order of finish.

Heats- The different races will have heats of swimmers that will swim in their respective lanes. The next group swimming in those lanes is considered the next “heat” of swimmers.

Lane- The pool is divided into pathways for the swimmers to swim in separated by floating lines. Each separate path is called a lane and is numbered. Usually a pool will have 6, 8, or 10 lanes.

Long Course Season- Begins in April and ends in August. Competitions are held in a 50 meter pool.

MSC- McMinnville Swim Club, Incorporated

OSI- Oregon Swimming Incorporated

USA Swimming- United States of America Swimming organization

Scratch- To withdraw from a race, always check with the coach if this needs to happen. There are penalties enforced for not showing up for your races.

Short Course Season- Begins in October and ends officially with the league, state, sectional, and national meets in March and April.

Starting Blocks- The starting platforms at the end of each lane.

Timed Finals- When the races are only swam once. There is no finals session.

Timed Finals Seeding- All swimmers will be distributed in heats with the fastest group of swimmers swimming in the last heat, then next fastest group will swim in the next to last heat, and so on.

Times- Stop watches are used as back up times in meets that use electronic timing. The timers are very important in the process of recording legal times for the swimmers. Parents from each team are responsible to time in a specific lane during the meet.