New Parent Member Orientation and Frequently-Asked Questions (FAQs) www.boiseyswimteam.org

Welcome to the Boise Y Swim Team! Your children are in for a life-changing experience that will help them grow not only as athletes, but as good citizens and wellrounded adults. But, they cannot do it alone. As a parent, your role is to understand the program, its policies, and the coach - swimmer - parent relationship. FAQ: How can I best support my swimmer and the team? FIRST: Be on time and communicate. Get your swimmer to practice and events - on time! Communicate absences, tardies and changes in practice schedule directly with coaches. SЕСОND: Stay informed. Read Team emails and Coach's Update AND visit the team website regularly www.boiseyswimteam.org. Make sure your swimmers listen at practice. If you have questions/comments, email coaches and request follow ups. We have a special "Parent Resource" page (under the "Team Information" tab). Check it out! THIRD: Volunteer! It takes many people and many volunteer hours to make the swim team and swim meets run smoothly and successfully. It is also a great way to meet other parents and keep an eye on your kid. FOURTH: Be your swimmer's biggest fan. In other words, always encourage and be positive. Let the coaches tell your swimmer what they could have done better.

Practice Groups FAQ: When are practices? Practice schedules for each location can be found under "Practice Schedule" link located on the "Team Information" tab on the team website. A practice grid is also located on the front page of the website and is updated on a two week cycle with changes and modifications to practice schedules. FAQ: Can my swimmer show up at any practice? Your swimmer has been assigned to a specific practice group. Swimmers can show up at any practice for his/her designated practice group at their designated location. Swimming at different locations is permitted, but must be approved by coaches. Swimmers can also attend lower practice groups occasionally (please consult with your coach), but CANNOT attend higher group practices. Please try to respect the system. FAQ: How is practice group placement determined? How do the practice groups differ? The Boise Y Swim Team is divided into several training groups, done with the consideration of the swimmers development of technical skills, training abilities, commitment level, maturity, competitive levels, meet participation and group availability. The progressive structure of these groups provides a setting in which swimmers are continually challenged yet are able to experience individual and team successes. All group placement decisions are made by the coaching staff and done so in the best interest of the swimmers and their long term development. Each practice group has a different practice schedule and level of commitment. The higher age group placements also require certain time qualifications. Qualifying times must be achieved at officiated USA swimming competitions. For more information about placement, see the "Group Expectations" link on "Practice Group" page found on the "Team Information" tab on the team website. If you have additional questions about your swimmers' progress, consult with your swimmer's deck coach, Coach Mike or Coach Todd.

Equipment FAQ: Is my swimmer required to have a team swim suit or cap? Yes, for swim meets. The team suit is a navy blue with our team logo, but a plain navy suit is fine. The Swim & Run Shop is giving our swimmers a substantial discount on team suits. But suit orders are due no later than September 27, 2014. Coach Todd prefers swimmers wear polyester suits for practices and most meets. More expensive technical suits should be saved for special meets only. FAQ: What other equipment does my swimmer need? The coaches are asking swimmers to train with the following required equipment: Sockeye I & II Everyone else Swim Fins, Water Bottle Swim Fins, Water Bottle, Paddles, Snorkel, Mesh Bag This equipment can be purchased from the Swim & Run Shop. Be sure to tell them you are a member of the Boise Y Swim Team. FAQ: What if my swimmer cannot afford the equipment? Please consult with the coaches as certain arrangements can be made. For example, in the past, the Swim & Run Shop has offered a lay-away program for families who cannot afford to pay everything at once

Swim Meets FAQ: How do swimmers sign up for a swim meet? Each swimmer needs to sign up for swim meets on-line through the Boise У Swim Team website (www.boiseyswimteam.org). Sign-ups will be posted several weeks prior to a meet. The deadline to sign-up can also be weeks before a meet. Late sign-ups are rarely accepted. If you go to My Tutorials, located in the drop down list after clicking on My Account, you can find a short tutorial on signing up for a meet. FAQ: Are all swim meets mandatory? No. But the coaches strongly encourage swimmers to at least attend the meets sponsored by our team and the ones recommended. The higher the practice level, the more committed the coaches will expect your swimmer to be. Recommendations for meets can be found meet schedule located on the website. The Boise Y Swim Team hosts at least 2-3 major meets throughout the year: **Time Achievement meets are recommended for all of our new swimmers and are usually offered once a season. *Thanksgiving meet - Weekend before Thanksgiving *Spring Fling - Mid-May *Summer Long Course Meet Mid-July FAQ: What should swimmers bring to a swim meet? *Boise Y Swim Team cap, T-shirt/team sweats and team suit *Plenty of towels *Healthy snacks *Money for a Heat Sheet- $5-$10 *Sharpie/Highlighter *Chairs (not all facilities have bleachers or seating) *Warm clothes

Team Website: Paying Your Bill & Staying Informed FAQ: How do we stay informed about Swim Team news? The Boise Y Swim Team website is our most valuable tool for communication and for overall team management. We use the website for not only managing our membership database but also for billing, emails, and meet entries. This system is hosted by Team Unify. Each week, we use the TeamUnify Email System to send out Team Announcements and our Coach Update. We try to keep emails to a minimum one per week. However, sometimes it may be necessary to send out a time sensitive email so families will get two emails from the team during the week. Also, certain practice groups may receive a group specific email from the coaching staff. Toward the end of each month, all families will receive a Bill Preview Email. This email will tell you what your impending balance is expected to be on the 1 st of the month, minus any deposits made on the last day of the month. By receiving this preview, it gives families time to contact the Team Admin if they feel they have been billed in error for some item. FAQ: Do I need a password? Is the website private? Some parts of the website are public and other parts are "Members Only" billing, event sign-up, etc. When you join the team, you are provided a password to use to enter the website. Whenever you visit the website, you should sign-in so you can view every aspect of the site and not just the links available to the general public. FAQ: What kind of information can be found on the website? The Home Page is divided into 6 important areas. The Banner includes live links to USA Swimming and Snake River Swimming. Located just below the team logo are links to several important team related items. These areas are as follows:

Our Team: This drop-down includes information on Team Management, our Program, our Strategic Plan, our Advisory Board Members, and Maps to our practice facilities. Team Information: Included in this drop-down menu are links to General Team Information, New Member Packet, Practice Groups, Practice Schedules, Membership Fees, Fundraising Information, Team Apparel, Team Forms, and a Parent Resource Area. Definitely check this area out there are a number of great resources for New Swim Parents. Caldwell Y Info: This link includes information specific to our program which is run at the Caldwell Y pool, including their practice groups and practice schedule. News: This link takes you to a list of the current News items posted on the Home Page. Events/Meets: This link takes you to a list of the Current and Upcoming Swim Meets and Team Events posted on the Home Page. There is also a tab for Past & Archived Events. Calendar: The calendar contains all the upcoming swim meets, Team Fridays, and other swim team related events throughout the calendar year, and even into 2015. Records: This drop-down includes Short Course Yard and Long Course Meter Team, Pool, Snake River, and Treasure Valley High School Swimming records. Time Standards: This area lists all of the qualifying time standards for meets held in our area and in nearby states as well as standards for YMCA Meets and USA Swimming Meets. Members Only: This area includes team updates and newsletters, Council Meeting Minutes, Meet Results, Aquathon News, and other items we only want to share with only members of our team.

Links: This page has several links to swimming related websites, including High School Swimming, Swimming World Magazine, YMCA Swimming & Diving, etc.) On the left side of the Home Page are links to your personal account, FaceBook, Twitter, USA Swimming, and live links to our Team Partners. On the right side of the Home Page are 4 large command buttons. These buttons change occasionally depending upon what is happening with the team, such as when we are hosting a meet or advertising the team retreat. Underneath the picture, there are two columns. News contains the most current and ongoing News of the team. The Events column includes two tabs--swim Meets and Team Functions. This is the area you use to sign up for swim meets (Attend or Decline) or to volunteer to help at a meet or team function (Job Signup). FAQs: How Do I Set Up Autopay? How Much Do I Owe and What Am I Being Billed For? What Was I Billed For Last Month? How Do I Sign Up for A Swim Meet? How Do I Sign Up for A Job? The best way to get all of these questions answered is to watch My Tutorials, located in the drop down list after clicking on My Account. TeamUnify has provided short tutorials on several subjects, including all of the above most often asked questions.

Swim Team Fundraisers FAQ: We already pay dues, do we have to participate in fundraisers too? We strongly encourage and incentivize our swimmers to participate in fundraisers as a means to subsidize our other revenue sources. Specifically, fundraising money is used to: *Keep monthly membership fees low *Help pay for the coaches salaries and travel *Help pay for financial assistance for those in need *Help pay for team events such as our retreat, award night, and group socials We have two main fundraisers: Aquathon + Scrip Program. Aquathon: Swimmers solicit sponsors and swim laps, much like a readathon or walkathon. Aquathon is held once a year over several weeks, from mid-october to early December. Scrip: You can purchase gift cards from participating consumer programs (i.e. Albertson's, Starbuck's, etc.). For each dollar spent, a certain % is given back to the Boise Y program. Scrip is offered monthly throughout the year. For more information, please read about "Fundraising" on the website under the "Team Information" tab.

Volunteer Opportunities FAQ: Are we required to volunteer? The short answer is yes. The costs of the team are greatly reduced by the wonderful assistance of many families. But, the team could always use more help. There are so many ways that even the smallest contribution of time can make a great impact on the team. It has been shown that children tend to be more committed to things in which their parents are also involved. Here are some opportunities: Volunteer to help at the swim meet Most involve NO swim expertise! *lane timers / head timer *sell heat sheets *lane marshal *runners *official- will need to attend a class Volunteer to be part of the swim council!

Quick Reference To Speak with a Coach: For quickest response, send an email and ask for a call back. Coach Marsh: Toad.Marsh@ymcatvidaho.org Coach Mike (Lewellyn): coachmike@boiseyswimteam.org Coach Linda: Linda.Conger@ymcatvidaho.org Coach contact information can also be found on the website. Team Billing Questions: Call the Team Administrator, Patty Stratton, at 376-1135 (this is her home phone) or email admin@boiseyswimteam.org. If paying by monthly dues by check, please mail to: Boise Y Swim Team; Attn: Patty Stratton; 1050 W. State Street; Boise, ID 83702. Please do not give your checks to the front desk or to the coaching staff. Meet Schedule: Can be found on the Website Calendar. Look for coaches recommendations based on practice group level. You need to signup online for most meets! Team Caps: Caps are available at practice or at meets from the coaches. Swim caps may be charged to your account. Lycra caps are $4.00 and silicone caps are $10.00 each. (We also have some practice only caps available for $2.00 each.) Swimmers who wear caps during meets are required to wear a team cap. Team Sweats: Sweats, t-shirts, board shorts, and other team apparel can be ordered from Shadows, our on-line Team Store. A link to the Team Store can be found on our Home Page. Aquatic Supplies: Suits and other equipment may be purchased locally from the Swim and Run Shop. Be sure to purchase the correct suit--explain you swim for the year round Boise Y Swim Team.