Miami Country Day Aquatics: Competitive Swim Program Frequently Asked Questions

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1 . Miami Country Day Aquatics: Competitive Swim Program Frequently Asked Questions How do I join the swim team? Step 1: Contact us to schedule an evaluation for your child. The purpose of evaluations is to determine in which group the child is best suited, based on his/her skills and abilities. Evaluations are by appointment only and typically held Monday-Thursday from 6pm-7pm. Please call our office at to make an appointment. During an evaluation, the child will get into the water and demonstrate his/her skill and abilities at the direction of an MCDA coach. Following the evaluation, the coach will make a group placement determination and address any questions the parent may have. Evaluations take about 20 minutes, and the child should come with a swim suit, ready to get in the pool. As a general rule of thumb, a child should be able to swim the length of the pool, either freestyle or backstroke, to be placed in our novice groups. Pathways or age appropriate swim lessons will be recommended for children who are not yet at this level. Step 2: Register online at Payment (first month coaching fees and annual USA Swimming registration) is due at the time of registration. Registration and payment must be submitted before your child begins participating. If during the first week, you decide not to join Miami Country Day Aquatics, please call for a full refund. What are the fees for members of Miami Country Day Aquatics? Monthly coaching fees: These fees are due at the beginning of each month. Pathways $120 Red/Blue $130 Advanced Blue/Gold $150 Senior Development $160 Senior I $170 USA Swimming registration fee: This $60 fee is assessed when you join the program and then on an annual basis thereafter. The registration fee covers a swimmer s Florida Gold Coast and USA Swimming membership and insurance. Does my child need any special equipment or team gear? Your child will receive a team swim cap and t-shirt when registering for the team. All swimmers must purchase a team suit, team shirt and fins. These items are available at the MCDS Aquatics Center. Your child will receive these items after he/she has been properly sized by the coaching staff, and your team account will be billed for the cost. Additionally, all swimmers need a practice suit and goggles for each practice. You may bring these items from home or purchase them at the MCDS Aquatics Center office. When are practices? Check our website for the most up-to-date practice schedules MIAMI COUNTRY DAY SCHOOL, 601 NE 107 STREET, MIAMI FL OFFICE

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3 MCDA Office NE 107 Street, Miami, FL

4 Miami Country Day Aquatics: Building Champions for Life Miami Country Day Aquatics (MCDA), founded in 2012, is a year-round competitive swim program. As a USA Swimming club program, MCDA provides a comprehensive aquatics experience for Miami Country Day School and the surrounding community. MCDA provides every member an opportunity to improve swimming skills and achieve success, from the novice swimmer to those chasing the Olympic dream. Yet, we value more than athletic success, and strive to promote excellence in aquatics, instilling in today s youth the physical, mental and social characteristics that will help them become tomorrow s leaders. Miami Country Day Aquatics offers training and practice groups for swimmers of all ages and ability levels. From the youngest beginning swimmer to the national level competitor, we focus on age-specific training and multifaceted personal growth within all of our athletes. The progressions within our team are specifically designed to challenge and develop each individual to his/her fullest potential. Being a part of MCDA is much more than just swimming laps. Quite simply, our unique approach creates a daily environment where excellence is valued and the development of the whole child is inevitable. In practice, technical instruction and skills expansion are routine. We also engage in dryland activities, fostering kinesthetic awareness and enhancement of overall athleticism, at every level of the program. Our biomechanical and physiological objectives are enhanced by our mindset curriculum, where we balance physical progress with life skills concepts and overall character development. Together, these aspects of our program provide each athlete with the necessary foundation for ongoing success in swimming, other sports, and life. MISSION STATEMENT The Miami Country Day Aquatics program is dedicated to providing opportunity and encouragement for all of its swimmers to make an uncompromised commitment to the pursuit of excellence. In doing so, Miami Country Day Aquatics operates within an environment where athletes practice and sustain the level of excellence necessary to bring out the champion within both in the competitive swimming arena and beyond. CORE VALUES With swimming as the primary mode of education, Miami Country Day Aquatics endeavors to help your child grow not only as an athlete, but as a person. Through the process of striving to be the best that they can be, athletes acquire life enhancing attributes by embracing our three core values: personal integrity, social responsibility, and competitive excellence. PERSONAL INTEGRITY mandates swimmers exhibit principled and empathetic behavior. Simply, this is about making good decisions. Each day in life brings new challenges, new lessons, and new opportunities, and we must seize upon these moments to act towards true strength of character. SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY encompasses the ability to work cooperatively, to give and earn respect, to demonstrate leadership, and to set the standard in all that we do in and out of the pool. COMPETITIVE EXCELLENCE is the adherence to determination, drive and passion giving 110% in anything worth doing and striving to compete at the highest levels within our sport. PURPOSE The individual and collective talents within Miami Country Day Aquatics create our competitive advantage. Our core values of personal integrity, social responsibility and competitive excellence guide the conduct of our program and fulfill our responsibility to develop highly-principled athletes who ultimately become champions for life.

5 TEAM STRUCTURE & SWIM GROUPS At each level, the goals and objectives are specific and directed toward meeting the needs of the swimmer. The long term goal of total excellence is always in mind. As each child is different, he/she will progress at his/her own rate. The coaching staff recognizes this fact by making group assignments to provide the most effective training and swimmer development and to maximize the potential of each athlete. Miami Country Day Aquatics operates a progressive agebased program designed to challenge and develop each child physically, mentally and emotionally. A well-defined, longterm approach of gradually increasing degrees of commitment is essential to reach peak performance levels during a swimmer's physiological prime. The emphasis in the early stages of participation must be placed on developing technical skills and a love for the sport. In the later years, a more demanding physical and psychological challenge must be introduced to the training program. In this respect, "too much too soon" is more often the cause of failure to achieve maximum potential in senior swimming than in the reverse situation. In addition to emphasizing long-term rather than short-term results, it is also important that we establish training groups of swimmers who are compatible in respect to abilities, commitment levels and goals. Group transitions generally occur two times per year: in the spring, at the conclusion of short course season, or in the fall, at the conclusion of long course season. Each swimmer placement and group transition are carefully considered and discussed amongst the coaching staff. Each training group involves progressive expectations for technical skills and competitive performance. In addition to these objective measurements, the coaching staff considers a number of intangibles relative to each individual athlete the capacity to be successful in each group, swimmer maturity, training presence within current group, learning style, meet attendance, practice attendance and general coaching discretion. All swimmers will be placed into groups that will facilitate both individual development and group success. Developmental Division Pathways Red Group Blue Group Age Group Division Advanced Blue Gold Senior Division Senior Development Senior I 4-6 year olds 5-9 year olds 8-12 year olds 9-13 year olds year olds 13 and up 13 and up

6 DEVELOPMENTAL DIVISION Pathways (ages 4-6) The Pathways group provides the final transition between swim school and swim team. Pathways is ideal for children ages 4-6 years old who have a love of the water and are ready to learn basic competitive swimming skills. Emphasis is on new skills development, basic competitive technique, fun and enjoyment. Pathways offers a small group environment, with hands-on coaching and instruction. Pathways swimmers attend practices 2 days per week, Monday-Thursday. Pathways swimmers are also invited to attend Friday practices when mini-meets are scheduled. Coaching Fees: $ per month plus an annual $60.00 USA Swimming registration fee. Red Group (ages 5-9) Red Group (ages 5-9) This introductory training group is designed to expose young swimmers to the sport of swimming. A low coach to swimmer ratio ensures children are engaged and are progressively learning new skills. The emphasis of this group is on having fun while learning what competitive swimming is all about. Red swimmers are also introduced to basic dryland routines such as dynamic stretching, core strength development and functional movement skills. Red group swimmers will be ready to transition to the next level when they can complete a legal 25 of each of the four competitive strokes (fly, back, breast, free). Swimmers in the Red group will compete in some meets, particularly intrasquad and local 8 and under competitions. Swimmers in the Red group typically to attend 3-4 practices per week and are generally ages 10 and under. Coaching Fees: $ per month plus an annual $60.00 USA Swimming registration fee. Blue Group (ages 7-12) The Blue group consists of young swimmers who are ready to learn more advanced technical skills and begin more structured training. The emphasis of the Blue group, as with the Red group, is on excellent stroke technique, teaching children to love the sport of swimming and having FUN. Blue group practices incorporate a significant amount stroke work combined with basic hydrodynamics (e.g. body position, balance, alignment). Swimmers will learn or advance their knowledge in all aspects of competitive swimming including diving, turns and racing techniques. Blue swimmers will also participate in daily dryland, to include dynamic stretching, functional movement, core development and overall coordination/agility work. Swimmers in this group compete in meets, particularly intrasquad events and local developmental competitions. Blue group swimmers typically attend 3-4 practices per week and are generally between 7 and 12 years old. Coaching Fees: $ per month plus an annual $60.00 USA Swimming registration fee.

7 AGE GROUP DIVISION Advanced Blue Advanced Blue (typically ages 9-13) The Advanced Blue group is the first of the progressive age groups with dual emphasis on excellent stroke technique and aerobic development. Swimmers in this group increase technical abilities, learn tactical racing strategies and begin building the endurance needed for competitive age-group swimming. Advanced Blue practices will include daily dryland activities to increase overall strength and fitness. These swimmers compete in local weekend invitationals, some travel meets and championship competitions. Advanced Blue swimmers attend practice 3-6 times per week and are generally 9-13 years of age. Coaching Fees: $ per month plus an annual $60.00 USA Swimming registration fee. Gold Gold (typically ages 11-13) The Gold training group is for committed and motivated young swimmers and emphasizes serious training in preparation for higher levels of swimming. This group will focus on advanced stroke technique and competitive skills, while training at an appropriate level for advanced age group swimmers. The workload and expectations increase significantly from the Advanced Blue group. Swimmers are exposed to an increase in training time, practice intensity and volume, and a heightened level of competition. Swimmers may show a preference toward specific events but will be expected to compete in all events, especially individual medley races. Dryland consists of dynamic stretching, functional movement and plyometric exercises, speed and agility development and general abdominal and core strength training. This group prepares swimmers for competition at the Junior Olympic, All-Star and Zone levels. Gold swimmers attend practice regularly, participate in meets as directed by the group coach, and compete at all championship meets for which they qualify. Swimmers in this level are generally years of age. Coaching Fees: $ per month plus an annual $60.00 USA Swimming registration fee

8 SENIOR DIVISION Senior Development This group is for swimmers who are transitioning from the age group program into the Senior program who need continued stroke development and endurance. The Senior Development group allows swimmers the flexibility to balance swimming with other areas of academic or extracurricular interest. Swimmers in this group may choose to train for the Senior I group and will be provided with the tools needed to advance into the higher groups. Alternately swimmers may remain in this group as long as they want and swim at their own pace while having the flexibility to make decisions about their swimming career. Emphasis is on basic competitive techniques and individual skill advancement. Practices will be dynamic and engaging, and designed to increase fitness levels necessary to train and compete. Senior Development is a great place to continue one s progress within the competitive swimming arena. The opportunity to progress to higher groups exists for those swimmers willing to put in the necessary time and effort. Coaching Fees: $ per month plus an annual $60.00 USA Swimming registration fee Senior I This group is designed for athletes striving to reach their peak potential in the sport of swimming. Participation in the Senior I group is by invitation only, and athletes must be willing to commit to regular practice attendance, coach-directed meet participation and increased ownership and accountability for one s swimming success. Consideration is extended to athletes who have Sectional qualifying time standards or are expected to obtain such time standards in the upcoming season. Competitive swimming is a top priority for these athletes, as is the desire to continue swimming at the collegiate levels. Swimmers will continue to meet the highest standards of effort, attendance, attitude and long-range goal focus to remain in the Senior I group. Senior I emphasis is on advanced competitive techniques, enhanced tactical racing strategies, strength and power development in dryland, and in-water power, speed and tempo. Swimmers in this group engage in physical training and mental preparation to achieve results beyond the Sectional and Zone levels in preparation for National-level competition. Swimmers are required to attend all training and competitions as directed by the head coach. Coaching Fees: $ per month plus an annual $60.00 USA Swimming registration fee

9 PRACTICE SCHEDULES This is our typical school year schedule; however, be sure to check our website for the most up-to-date practice schedules: Pathways Monday-Thursday Friday August 19 November 3:00PM-4:15PM 2:30PM-4:00PM (mini-meet days only) November January 3:00PM-4:15PM or 4:30PM-5:45PM 2:30PM-4:00PM (mini-meet days only) February May 3:00PM-4:15PM 2:30PM-4:00PM (mini-meet days only) Red & Blue Monday-Thursday Friday Saturday August 19 November 3:00PM-4:30PM 2:30PM-4:00PM 9:30AM-11:00AM November January 3:00PM-4:30PM or 4:30PM-6:00PM 2:30PM-4:00PM 9:30AM-11:00AM February May 3:00PM-4:30PM 2:30PM-4:00PM 9:30AM-11:00AM Advanced Blue & Gold Monday-Thursday Friday Saturday 4:30pm-6:30pm 4:00pm-6:30pm 9:00am-11:30am Senior Development Monday through Friday afternoons Wednesday mornings Saturday mornings 4:00pm-6:30pm 6:00am-8:15am 9:00am-11:30am Senior I Monday and Friday mornings Wednesday mornings Monday through Friday afternoons Saturday 6:00am-7:30am 6:00am-8:15am 4:00pm-6:30pm 9:00am-12:00pm

10 EQUIPMENT AND APPAREL Included with Registration MCDA gray dryland shirt Swim Cap each swimmer receives an MCDA swim cap upon joining the team. Additional caps may be purchased in the MCDA office (Latex $4 or Silicone $20) Required Team Equipment & Apparel The following items are required for all team members. Each new swimmer will receive these items upon joining the team. Charges for these items will be billed to your team account. Team Suit ($60 for boys; $70 for girls) MCDA team tech t-shirt ($20) Fins ($30) Additional Equipment & Apparel Needed for Each Practice All swimmers need the following items for every practice. These items can be purchased through MCDA or elsewhere. Practice suit Goggles Water bottle Dryland Equipment (every practice) o Shorts, t-shirt o Athletic shoes and socks Advanced Blue, Gold & Senior - Additional Equipment & Apparel MCDA gray dryland shirt Dryland shorts (red, white or navy) Mesh bag Paddles Snorkel Advanced Blue, Gold & Senior - Team Travel Apparel Navy blue polo shirt Khaki shorts Team warmups Team bag

11 FINANCIAL OBLIGATIONS Financial obligations for Miami Country Day Aquatics team membership are as follows: I. Recurring charges (coaching fees as detailed below) II. Non-recurring charges (annual registration fee, meet fees, special equipment, team apparel) I. Recurring Charges: Coaching Fees Coaching fees are assessed monthly and auto-billed to your team account on the 1 st of each month. a. Group Advancement If a swimmer is moved to a different practice group during the year, the family will be billed at the amount of the new group dues rate for their next monthly payment. b. Pro-Rating MCDA does not prorate dues. If a swimmer participates during any part of the 1 st of the month through the 22 th of the month, the full month s dues must be paid. c. Refunds New swimmers are eligible for a refund of coaching fees and registration, after a one week trial period, if they choose not to continue with the program. d. Schedule of Coaching Fees Practice Group Monthly Coaching Fees Pathways $ Red $ Blue $ Advanced Blue $ Gold $ Senior Development $ Senior I $170.00

12 II. Non-Recurring Charges A. Annual Registration Fees A non-refundable annual registration fee of $60 is required for each team member upon registration. The registration fee covers a swimmer s Florida Gold Coast and USA Swimming registration, membership and insurance. Registration is on a space available basis. In order to secure a team spot, returning swimmers are encouraged to register as soon as possible for the upcoming year, preferably by August 1. New swimmers may register at any time during the season if spaces are available. B. Meet Fees You will be billed meet fees for each meet in which your swimmer participates. For typical regular season meets, you can expect to be charged $3.50-$5.00 per swim depending on the meet entered. In most meets, swimmers can swim three to five events per day. Many meets also have an athlete facility use fee of $5.00-$8.00 per meet. MCDA assesses a team surcharge for meet participation to pay for expenses incurred by the team for coach staffing, travel and related administrative costs. The MCDA surcharge is $10.00 per swimmer for local meets and $15.00 per swimmer for championships and travel meets. a. The information below details the costs for participation in a typical meet, such as a Florida Gold Coast regular season invitational: Athlete facility use fee $5.00 MCDA Team surcharge $10.00 Saturday 4 events x $3.00 per event $12.00 Sunday 4 events x $3.00 per event $12.00 Total Meet Fees $39.00 b. MCDA Intrasquads Intrasquad meets, hosted by MCDA for MCDA athletes only, involve a flat fee of $10.00 for participation. C. Other Non-Recurring Charges 1. Required Equipment and Apparel All swimmers are required to purchase a team suit, team shirt and fins for daily training purposes. Team suits are $70 for girls and $60 for boys. The team shirt is made of high quality, dri-fit material, and is $20. Training fins are $30. The team suit, team shirt and fins are all high quality, durable items that should last for quite a while. Within the first year of participation, swimmers must purchase team warmups. 2. Swim Shop MCDA operates a swim shop, with team suits, practice suits, caps, t-shirts, goggles and other equipment. If a swimmer needs a new or replacement item for practice or meets, the swimmer can simply visit the swim shop to receive the needed items and charge the purchase to the family account. 3. Special Equipment From time to time, some training groups require special equipment, educational material or other items, as determined by the group coach. The need for such items will be communicated to the swimmer s family, distributed by the coach, and billed to the family account. 4. Championship Meet or Special Event T-Shirts The team will supply championship meet t-shirts for qualifying swimmers, or special event t-shirts for the team or certain groups. This information will be communicated to families beforehand, and any associated cost will be billed to the family account. Such non-recurring charges are billed monthly and are due on the 1 st of the following month.

13 FINANCIAL OBLIGATIONS POLICY 1. Billing All billing is done online through your team account. On the 21 st of each month, the team management system will automatically generate your invoice for the current month. Payments on this invoice are due by the 1 st of the following month. The invoice will detail recurring fees e.g., coaching fees Pathways ($120 per month), Red & Blue ($130 per month), AB & Gold ($150 per month), Senior ($170 per month) or swim lessons monthly tuition ($240 per month). The invoice will also detail non-recurring fees (e.g., team apparel/equipment, meet entry fees, etc.) 2. Payments. All accounts are required to sign up with our auto-pay system. Accounts are billed on the 21 st of each month and an automatic draft is made on the 1 st of the month. All team accounts are required to have a debit card/credit card/ach on file. 3. Delinquent Accounts If accounts are 45 days delinquent the swimmer will no longer be permitted to participate in any aspect of the program, including practices, meets or other club functions. No swimmer will be entered in a meet if the family s account is not current. 4. Suspension or Cancellation of Team Membership It is the responsibility of the parent to notify the coaching staff, in writing, of the intention to suspend or cancel a team membership. If a swimmer opts not to swim in a month or a quarter, the coaching staff must be notified 10 days prior to the start of the upcoming month. 5. Schedule an appointment or come by the aquatics office If you have questions about bills and specific charges assessed to your account, it may be easier for us to discuss in person, rather than via or over the phone. However, the 30 minutes prior to practice pickup (around 2:30pm), the brief time period when practice groups are transitioning (around 4:30pm), or the 30 minutes after practice are not appropriate times to meet with any member of the MCDA coaching staff. Please help us do what we do best coach kids by refraining from discussion with our coaches immediately before, during or after practice.

14 TEAM COMMUNICATION MCDA Team Website The MCDA website is distinct and separate from the Miami Country Day School website. The MCDA website is This website is one of our primary modes of communication, and parents should check it regularly for account and billing information, team news, all up-to-date practice calendars, meet sign ups and more. MCDA Facebook Page Please find Miami Country Day Aquatics on Facebook and LIKE our page! The page will feature updates about practice, meet highlights, swimmer of the week, and much more. We know many parents utilize social media and we encourage parents and swimmers who are part of the MCDA community show their support through social media. MCDA Flickr Page Check out a variety of great team photos via our flickr page: A NOTE ABOUT CONTACTING THE COACHING STAFF: Typically, we are on the pool deck between 1pm-8pm during the weekdays. When our coaching staff is on the pool deck, we give the children 100% of our attention and do not answer phones or s during this time. If your matter is urgent, please come by the pool to speak to us. If the matter is not urgent, please leave us a voice message or send an (or both). We will do our best to get back to you as soon as possible. Coaches also hold regular office hours and are available to meet with parents during the school day. Please contact us to schedule an appointment. MCDA Staff Directory Head Coach/Aquatics Director Megan Pittman pittmanm@miamicountryday.org Head Age Group Coach: Kate Sullivan ksulli823@hotmail.com Pathways Coach: Stephanie Fung fung196@gmail.com Red Group Coach: Stephanie Ragheb snragheb@gmail.com Red Group Coach: Samantha Caballero samanthacaballero@yahoo.com Swim School Director: Deborah Matalon deborah@biaz.com Swim Lesson Instructor: Letisa Roque letisaroque@gmail.com MCDA New Swimmer Packet updated 07/30/13 :mbp