Five Seasons Swim Team Handbook Informational Meeting & Walk-In Registration Wednesday April 20, 2011 7:00pm 8:00pm 2011 Swim Team Handbook 1 of 12 2/28/2010 3:55 PM
Table of Contents Parent Information...3 Parent Board...6 Coaching Staff...7 Volunteer Descriptions...8 2011 Practice Schedule...9 2011 Summer Swim Season Schedule...10 2011 Registration Form...11 2011 Swim Team Handbook 2 of 12 2/28/2010 3:55 PM
Parent Information Welcome to Five Season's Sharks Swim Team! The goal of Five Season's Sharks Swim Team is to teach and motivate our swimmers in a nurturing and fun environment. We strive for improvement, NOT to win the race! Our objectives are to: Develop and improve strokes Develop and improve starts and turns Experience competition in dual-meets Encourage team spirit Have FUN! Registration A registration form must be completed before swimmers can start practicing with the team. All new swimmers will be required to complete a swim test. Swimmers must be able to swim the length of the pool on both their front and backs. Swimmers ages 8 and under can stop no more than two times. Are there limits on the number of swimmers? We have limits on the number of openings in each age group. If we have too many kids in an age group, kids will only be able to swim one event at meets. We try to limit the age groups so that all kids will have the opportunity to swim more than one event at a swim meet. This is typically not an issue but occasionally may be. How do I register? Simply fill out the registration form at the back of this packet. For new swimmers, you will be contacted to sign up to complete the swim test. What is the Refund Policy? 100% to first-time swimmers prior to first swim meet. What are the fees? $110 for the 1st swimmer, $75 for the 2nd swimmer with a family maximum of $225. Registration requires that the family have an active membership to Five Seasons Sports Club. The swim team fees cover coaches' salaries, practice five days a week (Monday thru Friday) for 2+ months, a swim cap, a tshirt, and Invitational fees. 2011 Swim Team Handbook 3 of 12 2/28/2010 3:55 PM
Expectations Five Seasons Sharks Parent Information (continued) Our meets are run by parents and the more help we have, the smoother they run. There are a variety of volunteer opportunities available. Swim meets can be long and the time passes much faster when you are working! In addition, it s a great way to meet other parents and get to know the swimmers! Following are expectations: All swimmers will swim in a minimum of two meets. All parents are REQUIRED TO WORK AT 3 MEETS. ***A fee of $50 will be charged for each meet not worked.*** Parents will NOT talk to the coaches during swim team practices. Please contact the coaches via phone or email or after all practices are finished. Due to having a large team size, many age groups will be limited in the number of swims in each meet available to each swimmer. Coaches will give priority to those swimmers signed up for championships at that time. Participation in the Rolling Hills and/or the Beckett Ridge Invitational are strongly encouraged. These meets allow swimmers to swim in more events and events of their choice. Regular attendance and punctuality at practices. All parents and swimmers will treat the coaches with respect. The coaches have the right to remove a swimmer from practice for disruptive behavior. Parents will be enthusiastic and offer encouragement to swimmers at meets. Parents will bring any comments or concerns regarding coaching, directly to the president or vice-president of the swim team board. Their telephone numbers and e-mails are listed in the front of this handbook. In compliance with the Tri-County Swim League Sportsmanship Policy, any ridicule, derogatory remarks, taunting, bullying, and/or physical violence by a swimmer or parent toward another swimmer or parent will result in banishment from pool deck and/or swim meets and practices for a period of time to be determined by the Board. There will be no exceptions to this policy as we must ensure a safe environment for our all swimmers and families. Swim Team Bathing Suits Kast-A-Way Swimwear is the official supplier of our Swim Team Bathing Suits. Please see the calendar for fitting dates at Five Seasons. You can also logon to their website at www.kastawayswimwear.com Kast-A-Way Swimwear is located at 9356 Cincinnati-Columbus Rd. Route 42 Cincinnati, Ohio 45241 2011 Swim Team Handbook 4 of 12 2/28/2010 3:55 PM
Communication Five Seasons Sharks (513) 777-7967 Parent Information (continued) In order that parents, swimmers and coaches have the latest information, the following communication vehicles are used: Online Volunteer Signup Forms Once you are on the Five Seasons Swim team, you will be put on our email distribution list. You will receive emails with links to: Signup swimmers for each swim meet Volunteer for all swim meets Signup for Invitationals Signup for Championships YOU MUST SIGNUP YOUR CHILD TO SWIM BY THE FRIDAY BEFORE EACH SWIM MEET. The online signup forms for a meet will be deleted the Friday before each meet. No changes will be made to the lineup after this time. Websites: The league website is www.tricountyswim.org. This website includes directions to all league pools, information concerning the Invitationals and Championships. The team has a website for pictures: www.fiveseasonssharks.shutterfly.com. You can download pictures to your computer from our swim meets. Contacting the Coaches Do not interrupt the coaches during practice times. Contact information for the head coach is available in this handbook. Do not leave verbal messages with the coaches. Please use email and hand written notes only. The Parent Board is available for any questions that are not directly swimming related. Contacting the Parent Board Please feel free to contact any Board member either by phone or e-mail with any concerns, comments or suggestions. The board will use email to communicate social events and reminders concerning swim meets, Invitationals and Championships. 2011 Swim Team Handbook 5 of 12 2/28/2010 3:55 PM
2011 Parent Board Co-President: Co- President: Volunteer Coordinator: Social Chair: Suzanne Breckenridge (513) 469-0007 home (513) 289-3645 cell suzannetufts@msn.com Michelle Pitstick (513) 459-0066 home (513) 607-4518 cell mpitstick@cinci.rr.com Janet Visco (513) 774-8302 home (513) 374-3035 cell janet.visco@gmail.com Mandy Reverman (513) home (513) cell Officials Coordinator: Records Management: available available Committee Positions available: End of Season Award Banquet coordinator Psych Week coordinator Team Photographer If you are interested in being on the Five Seasons Swim Team Parent board or one of the committee positions, please contact one of the Co-Presidents. 2011 Swim Team Handbook 6 of 12 2/28/2010 3:55 PM
2011 Coaching Staff Coaching staff is still being confirmed. It will be announced at the Parent information meeting. 2011 Swim Team Handbook 7 of 12 2/28/2010 3:55 PM
Volunteer Descriptions Five Seasons Sharks Volunteer Descriptions In order to maintain our low registration fees, parent involvement is a must! The success of our team depends upon the support of our coaching staff and the active involvement of all parents. Our swim meets are parent run. Therefore, all parents must work at least three meets. The positions are not difficult or challenging. However, they are difficult to do with a toddler by your side. We recommend that parents switch off with each other to ensure the safety of their children or use the childcare provided by Five Seasons. The positions and brief descriptions are as follows: A TIMER is present at the end of each lane. Each timer uses a stopwatch to time each swimmer in his or her lane for each race. The team supplies stopwatches. There are 3 timers per lane for a swim meet. The home team provides two timers per lane and the away team provides one timer per lane. The HEAD TIMER starts their stopwatch and if a timer in a lane should not start their stopwatch on time (they will raise their hand), the head timer will go to that lane and time the swimmer for that particular race. AGE GROUP PARENTS are responsible for getting swimmers to their appropriate starting block! For all meets, we will have specific age group parents for 6 & unders, 8 & unders, 9-10 and 11-12 year olds. RIBBON WRITERS assist in putting the pre-printed label on the ribbon. Each ribbon has the swimmer's name and time on it. SCOREKEEPERS work with the Head Computer Operator helping with computer work, scoring and recording the reasons for disqualifications. RUNNERS pick up each slip from the timers after they have recorded their times, and the runner takes the slips to the scorekeeper. There is a separate runner for officials to deliver DQ sheets to the scoring table. OFFICIALS (**Additional training is necessary to perform these jobs. Please see a board member if you are interested in learning more about becoming an official.) The Starter ensures that the meet is run smoothly and begins each race. The Referee works with the starter to run the meet. The Stroke Judges (2 per meet) ensure that the rules relating to the style of swimming designated for the event are being observed and shall report any violations to the referee. The Turn Judges (2 per meet) ensure that when turning or finishing, the swimmer complies with the turning and finishing rules applicable to the stroke used. 2011 Swim Team Handbook 8 of 12 2/28/2010 3:55 PM
Practice Schedule Monday, May 16 Friday, June 3, 2011 (excluding Memorial Day): Most swimmers attend schools that are in session until early June. In order to accommodate these swimmers, practices are held in the evening from May 16 June 3. Practices will be outdoors unless weather prohibiting. 5-10 yr olds - 6:00 pm 7:00 pm 11-18 yr olds - 7:00 pm 8:00 pm Monday, June 6 Thursday, July 21: 13-18 yr olds - 7:30 am - 8:45 am 9-12 yr olds - 8:45 am - 9:45 am 7-8 yr olds - 9:45 am - 10:45 am 6 and under - 10:15 am - 10:45 am ****these are 2010 practice times. Practice times may be adjusted after number of swimmers in each age group is confirmed. ALL SWIMMERS MUST ATTEND THE AGE-APPROPRIATE PRACTICE TIME. Any exceptions must be approved in writing by the head coach and president of the swim team board in order to keep practices effective and efficient for all swimmers. These times may need to be adjusted based on group size and swimmer availability and ability. If you have any concerns related to these practice times, please contact your child s coach. 2011 Swim Team Handbook 9 of 12 2/28/2010 3:55 PM
Wednesday, April 20 Informational Meeting & 7:00-8:00 pm Walk-In Registration Monday, May 16 Optional Evening Practices Begin 6:00 pm Monday, May 16 New Family Parent Meeting 6:00 pm Kast-a-way Suit Fitting 6:30 8:30 pm Monday, June 6 Morning Practices Begin 7:30 am Tuesday, June 7 HOME vs. Fairfield City 5:00 pm arrival time* Tuesday, June 14 HOME vs. Montgomery 5:00 pm arrival time* Fri/Sat, June 17/18 Rolling Hills Invitational TBA Tuesday, June 21 Swim Team Dive-In Movie 8:00 pm Thursday, June 23 HOME vs. Four Bridges 5:00 pm arrival time* Tuesday, June 28 HOME vs. Dutchland Woods 5:00 pm arrival time* Thursday, June 30 HOME vs. Landen 5:00 pm arrival time* Tuesday, July 5 AWAY at Wetherington 5:30 pm arrival time* Tuesday, July 12 HOME vs. Mason 5:00 pm arrival time* Thursday, July 14 AWAY at Blue Ash 5:30 pm arrival time* Saturday, July 16 Beckett Ridge Invitational TBA Wednesday, July 20 Championships Psych Practice Regular AM practice Fri/Sat, July 22/23 Championships at Miami Univ. TBA Monday, August 1 Awards Evening 6:00 pm * All meets begin at 6:00 pm. Warm up at home meets is 5:00-5:30 pm. Warm up for away meets is 5:30-6:00 pm. 2011 Swim Team Handbook 10 of 12 2/28/2010 3:55 PM
2011 Registration Form Family Name: Member #: Parents' First Names: Mailing Address: Phone Numbers: (H) (W) (Cell) Email Address(es)*: *Required to sign up and volunteer for meets this year. Emergency Contact Name & Phone: Child's Name Sex Date of Birth M F / / Age on 6/1/11 # years swimming Other swim teams M F / / M F / / M F / / SPIRITWEAR T-shirt : One t-shirt per swimmer is included in registration. If you would like to order others, it will be charged to your account. Please indicate sizes for swimmers and any extras being ordered Youth S Youth -M Youth-L Adult-S Adult-M Adult-L Adult-XL Please list any child has any known allergies, special needs or any conditions that need to be known by coaches or pool staff: Parents must read and sign the commitments listed on the following page. 2011 Swim Team Handbook 11 of 12 2/28/2010 3:55 PM
I certify that my child/children are in good health and have my permission to participate in practice, competition, and special events for the Five Seasons Sports Club Swim Team. It is expressly agreed that all use of Five Seasons Sports Club s facilities/programs shall be undertaken at the participant s sole risk, and the Club shall not be liable for injuries or damages to participants or users, including, without limitation, those injuries or damages resulting from acts of active or passive negligence on the part of the Club, its owners, officers, employees or agents. Each participant, for himself/herself and family members, and on behalf of his/her executors, administrators and assigns, expressly releases, forever discharges and waives any claims against the Club, its successors and assigns, as well as its owners, officers, employees and agents, from all such claims, injuries, damages, actions or causes of action. Signed: Date: Fee for this program is $110.00 for the first child in each family. Additional children from the same family are $75.00 per child, with a cap of $225.00 for one family. Registration requires that the family have an active membership to Five Seasons Sports Club. Please initial that you agree and understand each of the following: I have read and understand the Swim Team Information Packet. Volunteer Commitment: All parents are REQUIRED TO WORK AT 3 MEETS. A fee of $50 will be charged for EACH meet not worked. Swim Meet Signup: To swim at a meet, swimmers must be signed up via the online signup form the Friday prior to the meet. No changes to the lineup will be made after the Friday prior to the meet. ALL SWIMMERS MUST SWIM AT 2 MEETS. Swimmers must have practiced at least once with Five Seasons in the week before a meet to swim at the meet. Refund Policy: 100% to first-time swimmers prior to first swim meet. Parent Signature: Date: Please check this box if you do NOT wish your contact information to be published in the Swim Team Family Roster. Please check this box if you do NOT wish to have your child(ren) s photos included on team bulletin boards, website, awards banquet slide show, etc. 2011 Swim Team Handbook 12 of 12 2/28/2010 3:55 PM