SEWICKLEY VALLEY YMCA PHILOSOPHY FOR THE YOUTH SWIM TEAM

Transcription

1 SEWICKLEY VALLEY YMCA PHILOSOPHY FOR THE YOUTH SWIM TEAM The YMCA Youth Swim Team is designed to develop our youth as we strive to challenge our advanced swimmers and help grow and nurture our new and developing swimmers, in a competitive and fun atmosphere. We hope to enable all swimmers to reach their highest potential as a person, teammate and athlete and cultivate a lifelong love for swimming. To teach and instill in every child the 4 core values that the YMCA bases programs upon: Caring, Honesty, Respect, and Responsibility. Develop each swimmer to respect themselves, their teammates, their coaches and the sport of Swimming. We encourage all swimmers to set personal goals and the coaching staff will help them attain those goals. All swimmers are expected to have a positive attitude and be caring towards everyone they come in contact with. All swimmers are expected to use good sportsmanship. All swimmers are expected to go out there and have fun! GOALS Teach all swimmers how to work as a team. We will improve each swimmers technique and endurance and speed. All swimmers will be instructed in all strokes for both relays and individual events. Develop respect for themselves and others. Swimmers will develop self-discipline and leadership skills. Become familiar and understand the workings of a swim meet. Learn the basic rules and regulations of YMCA swimming.

2 WHAT IS THE YMCA SEA DRAGONS YOUTH SWIM TEAM The Sea Dragons Youth Swim Team Swimmers are members of the Sewickley YMCA. The team is made up of boys and girls ages Experience with competitive swimming is not needed, but swimmers should be capable of swimming at least 50 yards (depending on age group), and have good form in freestyle and backstroke some knowledge of the breaststroke and butterfly. Coaches will evaluate the participants prior to registration to ensure proper placement within the program. YMCA MISSON To put Christian principles into practice through programs that build healthy spirit, mind and body for all. RESPONSIBILITY OF SWIMMERS Each swimmer has the responsibility to: Respect themselves, the YMCA, coaches, teammates, and the officials Work on improving their whole self; concentrating on the body, mind, and spirit. Determine the practice schedule they will follow, and abide by that schedule. Attend all dual meets. Do your best. Have Fun! AGE GROUP DIVISIONS Each child competes against swimmers in their own age group. Age as of December 1 determines the proper age group for competition for this season. The groups are: 1. Novice 6-8 years 2. Cadet 9 & 10 year old 3. Prep 11 & 12 year old 4. Junior 13 & 14 year old 5. Senior 15 to 18 year old PRACTICE Practices are held according to the swim program your child needs. While attendance at all practices is not mandatory, it should be pointed out that improvement is only possible through practice. Swimmers are asked to determine what their practice schedule will be, discuss this with their coach, and then adhere to it. The recommended practice schedule for each group is as follows: Novice: 2-3 times per week, 45 minutes Cadet: 3-4 times per week Prep, Junior & Senior: 4-5 times per week Because the coaches are responsible for the swimmers during practice, we ask that parents hold questions and comments until after practice.

3 LEAGUE AND MEETS Our team competes in the Western Pennsylvania YMCA Swim League. We are in the North East Conference, Section A of this league, competing against other local YMCA teams. The league website is (see the Western PA Swimming League rules governing dual meet competition) DIFFERENT TYPES OF MEETS Dual Meets: There are typically 4 dual meets. Meets will be at Home and Away These meets are between two teams, home meets usually have a warm-up time of 12 noon, meet starting at 1:00 pm and end at 5:00 pm. Away meets times will vary. Swimmers are allowed to swim in up to 4 events with at least one events being a relay. It is expected that swimmers attend all dual meets and the Section Championship meet and 8 and unders are to attend the Novice Championship meet. If a swimmer is unable to attend, please notify the coach at least 1 week in advance and respond not attending to the meet signup sheet. The sign- up sheet will be ed to each family. In the event of a last minute cancellation due to illness or emergency, the swimmer needs to contact the Head Coach by cell phone. Invitational Meets: Other teams in the league schedule large meets (called Invitationals), which include all league teams, and may also have non-league teams competing. Invitationals are optional; swimmers can choose whether or not they would like to attend. There is a fee for those meets, which must be paid by the swimmer. Invitationals normally last all day. Most are within a two-hour drive of Sewickley. Information sheets for the YMCA Swim League Invitationals will be on the swim team bulletin board and will be ed by the Coaching staff and can be found on the league web site Sign up forms can also be obtained from the swim team bulletin board on the pool deck. Swimmers who are interested should circle the event numbers which they would like to swim. The sign-up form must be returned to the Head Coach, payment for the invitationals will be taken by the YMCA by your credit card on file and a receipt will be sent to you via . Championship meets: Section Championship meet- swimmers must attend two dual meets to participate in the section championship meet. Novice Championship meet- for 8 and under age group only. YMCA Districts: Certain time requirements are sets as cutoffs for this one time meet. Those swimmers whom meet the qualifying times are eligible to attend. YMCA States: All boys and girls in the state of Pennsylvania who have completed at their local District (West District) meet and have finished in the 6th places are invited to swim STATES. (in addition: the next 6 fastest swimmers from across all three districts shall also be eligible for events in the state meet.)

4 TRANSPORATION TO AWAY SWIM MEETS Dual Meets/ Invitational/State/Districts: Swimmers provide their own their own transportation to meets. The YMCA mini bus may available, but space is limited. SEWICKLEY VALLEY YMCA COMPETITIVE SWIM TEAM Swimmer and Parent Information Sheet 1. Swimmers should plan on arriving minutes prior to the start of their scheduled time, so they may get dressed, showered before getting in the pool and ready to start practice on time. 2. Workouts are considered open, and parents may observe their swimmer from the bleachers, however, please be advised of the following during practice: Refrain from teaching or coaching your swimmer. Refrain from disciplining your swimmer. If you have a question, please speak to coaching staff before or after practice. *If the event that these items are not followed, all workouts will be closed which means that the deck will be off limits to parents. 3. Swimmers must show responsibility by putting away equipment. Swimmers must be out of the locker rooms and picked up by parents no later than 15 minutes past their scheduled practice completion time. 4. Swimmers who are being disrespectful by misbehaving, not using their time wisely, not following instructions, in the pool, or misbehaving in the locker room will be asked to stop the incorrect behavior at once. If a second instance is observed, the swimmer will be dismissed from the workout in accordance with the athletic code of conduct. 5. Workout with Sewickley Valley YMCA per Western PA League rules. 6. Workout time is limited. With everyone cooperating together, a great experience will be had by all! Swimmer Signature Parent Signature

5 Below are the contacts for the Sewickley Valley YMCA Swim Team Staff Kelly Wagner Senior Director for Aquatics , Ext 110 Logan Cole Head Coach Cell phone: Brittany Coulter Assistant Coach M-F Liz Keller Assistant Coach M/T/W Paula Kwalick 8 & Under Coach/ , Ext 134 Aquatic Coordinator M/W/F pkwalick@sewickleyymca.org Amber Miller Assistant Coach ambermiller2694@gmail.com W/R/F SWIM TEAM PARENTS ORGANIZATION The purpose of the parents organization is to provide support and assistance to the swim team, as needed. Much of this support is in the form of the many volunteers needed to work at our home swim meets. There are many jobs available - timers, scorekeepers and concession workers- there is something for everyone. Each family will be asked to provide a volunteer to work in some capacity for a portion of each home meet. President Vice President Treasurer Secretary

6 Sewickley Valley Y Swim Meet Schedule OCTOBER 14 New Castle Fall Classic SPIRE Institute NOVEMBER 4 Mon Valley Odd Age 11 Dual Meet home vs. Greater Johnstown Y (A events) 18 Dual Meet home vs. Bairel YMCA (B events) DECEMBER 2 Dual Meet #3 Away vs. Spencer YMCA (B events) 9 Dual Meet -BYE Week JANUARY 6 Dual Meet #4 Away vs. Butler County YMCA (A events) 13 Pump McLaughlin Butler HS 20 GYST Greensburg YMCA 27 SECTION CHAMPIONSHIP MEET (Must attend 2 dual meets to participate in section champs meet) 28 GJY Distance Invite IUP FEBRUARY 10 SFY President s Canon-Mac 17 GJY Novice IUP Saturday MARCH 3 YMCA West Silver Championships (formerly B Champs) 9-11 Y WEST District Championships Spire Institute * Go to SPIRE institute website to book hotel rooms YMCA State Penn State (Fri-Sun) APRIL 3-7 Y Greensboro, NC All Dual Meets (and meets in Bold) are mandatory Revised 9/27/2017