Table of Contents. Welcome to the Truro Centurions. Training Groups NovaTech and Age Group. Swim Meet Dress Code and Requirements.

Transcription

1 Membership Guide

2 Table of Contents Welcome to the Truro Centurions Training Groups NovaTech and Age Group Swim Meet Dress Code and Requirements Coaching Parent Perspective Fundraising Volunteering and Officiating General Meetings and Club Positions Swimming Terminology

3 Welcome to the Truro Centurions The Truro Centurions Swim Club (TCSC) was formed in 1977 as a competitive swim club. The club functions as a non-profit organization. The object of the club is to promote all aspects of competitive swimming and to help each member reach their goals. We encourage all swimmers from those who want to swim recreationally to those who want to reach the highest levels. The success of the club depends upon parents playing roles in fundraising, volunteering at meets, and servicing on committees. The clubs main sources of revenue are registration and fundraising. The club s web site address is The club also has a Facebook page and Twitter account. The web site is the key communication tool for the team. It is very important that parents use their login for the site. This is where team news and events are posted. Swim Nova Scotia (SNS) is the governing body of amateur swimming in Nova Scotia. As a member of Swimming Natation Canada, the national governing body, Swim Nova Scotia is affiliated with Aquatic Federation of Canada (AFC) and the Federation Internationale de Natation Amateur (FINA). Swim Nova Scotia administers and regulates all matters pertaining to the sport of amateur swimming in Nova Scotia. All TCSC swimmers pay an annual fee to Swim Nova Scotia and are registered and insured through our Provincial Sport Organization. Website address, With registration each swimmer receives a team shirt, a swim cap, and a student membership to the RECC. The student membership allows the swimmer to take advantage of the RECC s fitness options to allow them to do dryland training.

4 Training Groups The club strives to create an environment where each member may realize their potential in the sport. The swimmer must take steps along the way as they progress in their skills. Our club is designed to provide these steps. As the swimmer develops both mentally and physically he or she is presented with an increasing series of challenges while moving up through the groups. Individuals neither grow nor learn at the same rate. As a result swimmers do not progress through groups at the same rate. Besides times achieved in the pool the coaching staff will look at ability, attitude, maturity, and a willingness to take on a heavier workload before moving a swimmer up. The staff acts in the best interest of the individual. Should you have any questions regarding your child s placement please discuss with your child s coach or the head coach. NovaTech Nova Tech is the beginner level of competitive swimming. Aims Focus on technique Short duration speed Support a learning curve for sport rules Keep kids moving, just play the game Progressive events Novatech has three levels. Participation level (bronze), Level one (silver), and level two (gold). To move up in levels a swimmer must meet qualification times in a swim meet. Bronze Level 25M all strokes 49M kick 100M IM No DQ, learning Graduation 100M IM under 2:15 Silver Level 50M all strokes

5 49M kick 200M IM No DQ, learning Graduation 200M IM under 4:15 Gold Level 50M all strokes 49M kick 200M IM and 200M Free Graduation 200M IM under 3:55 and 200M Free under 3:40 NovaTech Meets Single day, aim to be no more than 4 hours in duration. Exception will be the final Explosion meet held in May which will be 2 days in duration. Divide province into regions to reduce travel time. Start time is between mid-morning and mid-day. Mix order of events, not same order for each meet. For insurance purposes parents are not permitted on the deck during swim meets. After a swimmer completes his or her race they first go to their coach to review the race. Then time permitting they may go to see their parents in the viewing section. Each swim club is required to provide officials for meets. Clubs responsible for distribution of awards in house. Age Group Age Group swimming is designed for swimmers that meet the graduation standards from NovaTech. At the Age Group level swimmers may register for programs that allow them to practice as little as three times a week up to as many as 8 times a week. It is up to the swimmer if they decide to compete in meets. If the swimmer does decide to compete in meets the swimmer s and parent s expectations should be lined up with the program option they have registered for. More practice time in the pool will result in better competition results. At the age group level there are two sets of qualifying times and meets. Short course is times are recorded for swims in 25 meter pools such as the Wilson Aquatic Center. Long course times are recorded for swims in a 50 meter pools such as the Dalplex.

6 Short course season typically runs from September to December. Long course runs from January to July. Long course qualifying times are usually about 2% slower than short course times because there are fewer opportunities to push off the edge of the pool. Age Group Meets Unlike at the NovaTech level meets at the Age Group level are typically two days in duration with some such as Senior Provincials being 4 days long. Some of the Age group meets also include preliminary heats in the morning and final heats in the evening. Even if your swimmer does not qualify for an individual final the coach may ask your swimmer to be part of a relay team that will swim in the evening session. There are two Junior and Senior Provincial meets held per swim season. Junior provincials are typical held in February and June. Junior provincials are a three day meet running from Friday to Sunday evening. Senior provincials are typically held in late February/early March and again in early July. Senior provincials are a four day meet running from Thursday to Sunday evening. Swimmers must achieve time standards in order to compete in these meets. The qualifying times for Senior Provincials are faster than Junior Provincials. If a swimmer qualifies for Senior Provincials they are not allowed to compete at Junior Provincials. If a swimmer achieves their Senior times at the Junior Provincials they may then compete at the Senior Provincials. Once qualified a Junior and Senior provincials a swimmer may enter 6 individual events and there may also be team relay events. Please refer to the team web site for the qualifying time standards. There are also National meets with time standards that your swimmer may qualify for. At the Age Group level the team usually enters two or three out of province meets. Some of these meets may require the swimmer to have their Junior or Senior provincial qualifying times. For insurance purposes parents are not permitted on the deck during swim meets. After a swimmer completes his or her race they first go to their coach to review the race. Then time permitting they may go to see their parents in the viewing section. Each swim club is required to provide officials for swim meets.

7 Swim Meet Dress Code and Equipment Requirements TCSC is a competitive swim club. While it recognizes that each member may have differing levels of competition and performance, it nonetheless depends on its members from all of the competitive levels in the club for representation at all relevant competition opportunities. Swimmers attending swim meets are required to have the following equipment: Team T-Shirt with logo Team swim cap (all swimmers must use team cap at meets) Goggles Racing suit Water Bottle Extra goggles, suit, cap and t-shirt Swimmers are expected to arrive on deck and be ready for warm up 15 minutes prior to the start of the actual warm up, unless otherwise directed by the head coach or team manager. Swimmers who do not have proper team uniform/equipment may be subject to scratch from the session/meet.

8 Coaching Unlike some other sports the coaches in swimming are paid professionals. This is due to lack of trained and certified swim coaches among the parent population. The level of certification and years of experience determine the hourly rate for the coach. Performance reviews are held with the coaches twice a year by the club. At the NovaTech level there needs to be a higher ratio of coaches to swimmers than the Age Group level because swimmers are learning their stroke technique at the NovaTech level. The club has a head coach who oversees all the assistant coaches. The head coach typically takes the lead with the Age Group program. One of the assistant coaches takes a lead role with the NovaTech program. Role of Head Coach The Head Coach, in conjunction with the TCSC Executives, is responsible for the daily, technical operations of the Truro Centurions Swim Club. The Head Coach is also solely responsible for the supervision of the Assistant Coaching staff. The Head Coach reports to the Truro Centurions Swim Club Executive - who will formally review the Head Coach twice a year. Duties Daily Practices Plans and organizes practice sessions for all groups with help from the assistant coaches. Responsible for daily technical operations for at least one swim group or training level. Operations include daily/monthly/annual workout plans, swimmer motivation, development and discipline. Teaches proper swimming technique, race strategy and mental skills as outlined and agreed upon by Coaching Staff. Ensures safety of swimmers by following all facility rules and guidelines. Acts as the final authority on pool deck during practices. Maintains a positive, supportive, and disciplined environment.

9 Arrives to practice 15 minutes early. Remains after practice until all team members have cleared the pool area and all participant and parent inquiries have been addressed. Supervision of Assistant Coaches Assists TCSC Executives in hiring the Assistant Coaching staff. Holds monthly Coaches meetings to review training plans. Acts as the point of contact for all Assistant Coaches in regards to parent and club communications. Schedules coaching coverage and responsibilities for practices. Supervises all Assistant Coaches in all aspects of daily poolside operations (parent communication, conflict resolution, attendance keeping, etc.). Mentors and develops the coaching skills of the Assistant Coaches. Reviews the performance of each Assistant Coach on an ongoing basis and addresses issues as they arise. Along with the President, the Head Coach will formally review each Assistant Coach twice a year. Collects criminal record checks from the Assistant Coaching staff in compliance with TCSC and Swim Nova Scotia guidelines. Ensures Assistant Coaches are NCCP Swimming Certified. Meets Attends all meets for the program they are responsible for. (Usually the Head Coach is responsible for the top Age Group swimmers in the club) Attends meets with other swim groups (NovaTech) as required. Schedules adequate coverage from Assistant Coaches if not attending a meet. Determines swimmers entries for each swim meet Works with the Team Manager to ensure entries are submitted to host clubs in a timely manner. Receives the meet entry fee summary from the Team Manager and receives a cheque from the Club Treasurer to deliver at the start of the meet. Supervises and motivates swimmers. Assists in determining race strategies, directs warm-up exercises, and evaluates swimmer performance. Interacts with other Coaches, Meet Officials, Volunteers, Parents and Swimmers with an even demeanor and a positive attitude. Informally reviews swimmer performance after meets with athletes. Maintains accurate records on personal best times and meet statistics. Sends swimmer results to team PR person so they can send to the newspaper and radio.

10 General Responsibilities Holds parent meetings twice a year to review the goals for the swimmer and cover any issues. Maintains accurate attendance records. Notifies Register and/or Executive of any changes to attendance. Attends all general meetings and presents coaches report. Attends executive meetings as requested. Attends Big Swim and other special functions planned by the Truro Centurions Swim Club. Attends the yearly Awards Banquet. Works in tandem with Assistant Coaches to prepare and present seasonal and yearly awards. Works in the community to promote the team. This may include school visits. Works with the Club Executive to develop programs and swimmer rates for the swim season. Works with Website Administrator to keep website and social media sites up to date. Works with the Club Treasurer to keep track of athlete movement, coaching expenses and Assistant Coaching Staff payroll. Advises the Club President of any absences. Is this not covered in the second bullet? Qualifications NCCP Swimming Level 2 (or equivalent) trained and / or working on this certification. Previous competitive swimming and/or coaching experience. Current CPR, and First Aid certification. National Lifeguard Certification an asset. Knowledge of hytek Team Manager an asset Assistant Coaches The Assistant Coaching Staff reports directly to the Head Coach and will be reviewed formally twice a year by the Head Coach and the President. Duties Daily Practices

11 Responsible for daily poolside operations and supervision of one group or swim level. Operations include daily workout plans, swimmer motivation, development and discipline. Teaches proper swimming technique, race strategy and mental skills as outlined and agreed upon by Coaching Staff. Maintains a positive, supportive, and disciplined environment for their group or swim level. Arrives to practice 15 minutes early. Remains after practice until all group members have cleared the pool area. Ensures safety of swimmers by following all facility rules and guidelines. Communicates key information (meet dates, upcoming practice changes) to swimmers as required. Directs parent inquires to Head Coach or Club Executive. Meets Assists in goal setting, meet preparation (selection of events) and swimmer motivation prior to meets. Attends swim meets for their swim level and as requested by the Head Coach. Supervises and motivates swimmers. Assists in determining race strategies, directs warm-up exercises, and evaluates swimmer performance. Interacts with other Coaches, Meet Officials, Volunteers, Parents and Swimmers with an even demeanor and a positive attitude. Informally reviews swimmer performance after meets with athletes. Follows up with Head Coach (if not in attendance) concerning any issues arising at competition. General Responsibilities Assists Coaching Staff (Head Coach and Assistant Coaches) in season planning activities. Participates in all Club functions as needed (awards banquet, fundraisers, social activities, club promotions) Attends all monthly Coach s Meetings as scheduled by the Head Coach Attends all training seminars, coaching conferences and Nova Scotia Swim Coaches Association Meetings as required. Informs Head Coach of any absences from practices or meets. Submits all travel expenses to Head Coach. Reports any group issues or parent inquiries to Head Coach. Qualifications

12 Previous competitive swimming or coaching experience. CPR, and First Aid certification. National Lifeguard Certification an asset. NovaTech Assistant Coaches must be NCCP Swimming 101 trained; Community Coach trained, or is working toward / holds their Swimming Teacher Certification. Age Group Assistant Coaches must be NCCP Swimming 101 Certified or be working toward this qualification. Parent Coach Meetings There will be two parent-coach meetings per swim year, one in December and one in April. The purpose of the meeting is for the coach to share with the parent how the swimmer is doing, what the swimmers needs to work on, and what goals the swimmer has set with their coach. It is important for the expectations of the swimmer, the coach, and the parent to be in sync.

13 Parent Perspective As a parent your major responsibility is to provide a stable, loving and supportive environment. Show your interest by ensuring your child s attendance, by coming to meets, and by being aware of what is going on. Parents are not participants on their child s team, but contribute to the success experienced by the child and the team - providing transportation, officiating, and fundraising are a few ways to contribute positively. If children see swimming as a sport, with an opportunity to learn skills, compete, increase confidence, and have fun they are able to go with the flow, relax and enjoy themselves while in the pool. Be aware that your attitude will often set the tone for your children. More than likely your child will make mistakes; remember that they are still learning. Encourage all efforts, and point out the things done well. Some mistakes often made by parents are that their questions center too much on the outcome instead of the process ( Did you win? or How did you place? ). This emphasis sends the message that mistakes are occasions of failure rather than opportunities to learn - this is wrong. The most important part of a child s swimming experience is that they learn about themselves while enjoying the sport. A healthy environment encourages learning and fun, which will develop a positive self-image within each child. Be enthusiastic and supportive. Strive to be positive role models and most importantly, show good sportsmanship at all times towards coaches, officials, opponents and teammates. The coach is the only one qualified to judge a swimmer s performance and technique, so let the coach do the coaching. Coaches are not always right, but you cannot help the situation by making negative statements. Remember that your child is the swimmer, and that he/she needs to establish individual goals and make progress towards them. Be careful not to impose your own standards or goals.

14 Fundraising The team holds several fundraisers throughout the year to help offset the costs. Chocolate Bars Each family with NovaTech swimmer(s) pays for and is given 2 boxes of chocolate bars to sell. Each family with Age Group swimmer(s) pays for and is given 3 boxes of chocolate bars to sell. A family may request additional chocolate bars to help fundraise for their individual swimmer family account. Big Swim The Big Swim fundraiser is typically held in November. Each swim family is required to raise $150 for the club. The money is raised by collecting pledges for the amount of laps the swimmer does during the 2 hour swim. A family member will sit on deck and act as a lap counter for the swimmer. The swimmer may use any stroke or combination of strokes. Younger swimmers may use a flutter board as required. Corporate Advertising The club sells ad space inside the Wilson Aquatic Pool at the RECC and in the swim meet programs the club hosts. The amount of add space inside the pool is limited. Ad space in the programs is unlimited. The funds raised from corporate advertising sales are added to the funds raised for the big swim. Total funds rose between the big swim and corporate advertising in excess $150 and less than $700 will be split 50/50 between the club and the individual swimmer family account. Funds raised in excess of $700 will be split 25/75 between the club and the individual swimmer family account. More information is given out closer to the event. Dance and Auction Every spring the team holds a Dance and Silent Auction. Each family is required to sell tickets to the event. Each family is asked to approach businesses for donations for the auction. Every family must donate to the silent auction. More information is given out closer to the event. Other fundraisers include grocery bagging and raffle draws.

15 Volunteering Each family is expected to volunteer during the year. Without volunteers the club would not exist. Volunteer opportunities include being an official at swim meets (timer, head timer, stroke and turn, starter...etc.) working at swim meets the clubs hosts (selling programs, 50/50 tickets, distributing food to officials and coaches), joining the board of the club, helping at team social events, helping to organize fundraisers etc. Officiating Unlike most other sports officials at swim meets are volunteers. All parents are encouraged to get involved in officiating, as it is one of the best ways to understand and enjoy the sport. Clinics and information sessions will be available to teach you the different roles and guidelines. Swimming is a sport that requires parent involvement, and officiating gives you a chance to contribute to your swimmer s development. Each swim club is required to provide officials for swim meets. The number of officials each club has to supply is directly related to the number of swimmers attending a swim meet. In Nova Scotia, clubs sending three (3) or more swimmers to any Swim Nova Scotia sanctioned competition are required to provide at least one official/volunteer per session. Clubs sending twenty (20) or more swimmers to any Swim Nova Scotia sanctioned competition are required to provide at least two officials per session. The names of the officials/volunteers are to accompany meet entries. Officials Code of Conduct 1. Be at the pool ready to work at least 45 minutes before the session is to begin. 2. Report promptly to the officials area and sign in. By doing so, you let the referee know that you have arrived. 3. Accept an assignment to officiate at a meet only if you intend to honor the commitment. 4. Accept the assignment you are given at a meet. 5. Do not leave your assigned position.

16 6. If you want to leave your post to watch your son or daughter swim, make sure that you have a replacement. 7. Know the rules as they apply to your assigned position. 8. Be impartial (do not cheer for individual swimmers). 9. Dress in white shirt and black bottoms. Senior officials (stroke and turn, starter, referee) wear a royal blue golf shirt for the finals sessions at meets with prelims and finals. 10. Remember that the referee s decision is final. 11. Remain cool and professional at all times. Refer any problems that may come your way to the referee.

17 General Meetings Parents are expected to attend the general meetings held by the club. They are typically every second month during the swim season. They are held on Wednesday nights at the RECC with a 5:15 pm start time. The meetings will run no longer than an hour in duration. The club will provide an update to the parents including a financial update. Executive and Club Positions President The president is the chair of the club and sits on the executive with 3 other board members: the vice-president, treasurer and secretary. The president sets general meetings and has the secretary call them. The president s role is to maintain the order and flow of all meetings but is not a voting member on issues unless there is a tie. Other duties include: Call and chair board meetings. Be point person for the club in negotiations with the RECC. Along with the Vice President will be involved in the hiring of coaches. Along with the Vice President will hold two formal evaluations of the head coach per year. Along with head coach will take part in two formal evaluations of the assistant coaches per year. Supply annual documentation to Swim NS (SNS) as required. This will include an annual team report. Attend annual SNS meeting. Master of ceremony at the TCSC annual banquet. Organize and motivate board and committee members. Work with head coach and board to develop club programs in the spring for the following fall. Be a mediator between parents, coaches, and athletes, which may call for conflict resolution.

18 Vice President The vice president sits with the president, treasurer and secretary as an executive member of the club board. The VP attends all general meetings and is a voting member of the board. He or she will take the place of the president should the president be absent or cannot make certain meetings or engagements. Other duties include: Involved with the president in the hiring of coaches. Along with the president hold two formal evaluations per year with the head coach. Organizing the BIG Swim, one of the club s biggest fundraisers. Attend annual Swim Nova Scotia meeting with the President. Treasurer The treasurer sits with the president, vice president, and secretary as an executive member of the club board. The treasurer s main responsibility is the management of the club s finances. The treasurer manages accounts receivable and payable and must present a financial summary to the membership at each general meeting as well as at the annual general meeting (AGM). The treasurer will be asked by the board to board financial reports throughout the year to be used in making decisions. The treasurer may also be required to be involved in special meetings regarding financial decisions. The treasurer is a voting member of the board. Other duties include: Take lead on budgeting process when planning for the upcoming swim year. Tracking and creating financial reports showing revenues and expenses for swim meets hosted by the club host. Credit and debit member accounts throughout the year based on swim meets the swimmer participates in. Secretary The secretary sits with the president, vice president, and treasurer as an executive member of the club board. The secretary calls the general meetings and the AGM for the president and is the minute taker at all such meetings. The two most important roles of the secretary are to prepare the agenda and send out minutes for all general

19 meetings. The secretary is also required to take minutes at board meetings. The secretary is a voting member of the board. Registrar The Registrar is responsible for registering all swimmers on the team site and with Swim Nova Scotia/Canada. Duties include: Organize and advertise for registration. Prepare registration packages for members to be handed out at registration. Notify Treasurer regarding number of swimmers and amounts to be sent to SNS. Work with head coach when new swimmers join. Notify team manager when new swimmer joins the club. Team manager to talk to parents and parent club orientation talk. Manager the tcscregistrar@gmail.com account. Equipment Manager The equipment manager facilitates and consolidates the purchasing of swim equipment and team clothing by the members. The equipment manager distributes order forms to the members, collects order forms and payments from the members, places orders with the supplier, and distributes the goods to the members. The equipment manager must be organized and available to the members for exchange of order forms, payments, and goods. The exchange of forms, payments, and goods should be done directly by the equipment manager. It is very important that the equipment manager organize a group order to be done to start the swim and year and for an order be done prior to Christmas for members wanting to purchase goods for Christmas gifts. Officials Manager The Officials Manager coordinates the training of members to become certified officials for swim meets. The Officials Manager arranges for and schedules officials for both hosted and away meets. Other duties include: Source qualified officials to run clinics.

20 Schedule clinics for various official positions. Maintain the on-line database for officials. Ensure as members are certified the site is updated. Ensure adequate equipment for home meets is available. Watches, time cards etc. Keep up to date rule book. Ensure people are trained to use electronics. Team Manager The team manager acts as a liaison between the parents and the coaching staff. There may be two team managers for the Novatech and Age Group divisions. The team manager will have the following duties: Contact parents of eligible swimmers for meets to determine who will be attending the meet. Works with head coach to register swimmer entries for meets. parents a list of events their child is entered in at the meet, including relays. parents warm-up times, session times, and other information on upcoming swim meet. Work with parents to organize accommodations for meets. Organize group so team is booked at same hotel. Prepare itemized list of swimmers attending meets to the treasurer. Distribute information to parents on the division their child in swimming in. Information will include swim standard qualifying times and a listing of meets for the season. Be available to answer parent inquiries regarding how meets work, qualifying times, swim team events etc. Social Committee Chair The social committee chair recruits committee members to organize and plan social events during the year to help foster a sense of fun and team spirt. Team functions include dances, Christmas party, summer social BBQ, yearend banquet etc.

21 Meet Manager The Meet Manager acts as the overall manager for meets hosted by the club. The Meet Manager is required to take a meet manager course or have meet managing experience. The meet manager is responsible for the following duties: The organization of the details of the meet. The mechanics of running the meet. Having the necessary equipment and personnel available during the meet. A checklist is available for this purpose. Obtaining and assigning duties to meet officials. Individuals responsible for timing, recording and marshalling will ensure that all positions are filled in their areas. The Meet Referee will confirm all appointments. Disseminating all meet forms and information, including the official results. Seeding all pre-seeded meets. Preparing entry lists and heat sheets prior to the start of each session. Chairing the Jury of Appeal. There are other volunteer positions available in the club.

22 Swimming Terminology Warm-ups / Start time- All swim meets all have specific warm up and start times. Warm ups are typically 1 hour long and swimmers should be at the pool 15 minutes before the specified warm up time. The start time is the time that the actual swim races will begin. Heats & Finals- At some swim meets, there are 2 sessions per day: preliminary heats and finals. Preliminary heats are usually in the morning, where every swimmer entered in the race will swim. Finals are swum at night, where only the top 6 or 8 swimmers (depends on the number of lanes in pool) from the morning preliminary heats will race again. Timed Finals- Timed finals are events where there are no prelims/finals. The swimmer only swims the race once. All future league meets are timed finals. Some longer races at heats/finals meets may be timed finals (ex. 800 free, 400 IM, or 200 fly). Stroke Count- the number of strokes taken in a given distance. Ex. Count strokes for once length. LTAD Long Term Athlete Development PSO Provincial Sport Organization NSO National Sport Organization Short Course 25m Long Pool Long Course 50m Long Pool (Olympic Sized) SNC Swimming/Natation Canada SNS Swim Nova Scotia IM Individual Medley (all 4 strokes swum in the following order: Butterfly * Backstroke * Breaststroke * Freestyle Flip Turn Turn done by executing a somersault used in freestyle and backstroke Touch Turn Turn done by touching the wall with both hands simultaneously before turning around used in butterfly and breaststroke DQ Disqualification BT Best time