NEPTUNE PARENT GUIDE Welcome to the YMCA of Youngstown Neptune Competitive Swim Team! Our Mission To put Christian principles into practice through programs that build a healthy spirit, mind and body for all. The Neptune coaching philosophy is to ensure each swimmer becomes the best they desire to be. The coaching staff makes a dedicated effort to develop swimmers both in and out of the water by building life skills in a safe environment. The YMCA supports and encourages the coaches to develop swimmers through spirit, mind and body while giving them a sense of community. Our coaches and team help swimmers achieve their dreams and goals by instilling the core values of the YMCA: Honesty, Respect, Responsibility and Caring 1
Introduction The purpose of this handbook is two-fold: to explain to members just what the YMCA of Youngstown Neptune Swim Team is and to outline various policies that affect all swimmers, year after year. It should be read by all families so that they may become familiar with important facts and rules of the club. Why swim? Physical Development Swimming is considered the ideal activity for developing muscular and skeletal growth by many physicians and pediatricians. Why do doctors like it so much? Swimming develops high quality aerobic endurance, the most important key to physical fitness. In other sports an hour of practice may yield as little as 10 minutes of meaningful exercise. Age group swimming teams use every precious minute of practice time developing fitness and teaching skills. Swimming does a better job in proportional muscular development by using all the body's major muscle groups. No other sport does this as well. Swimming enhances children's natural flexibility (at a time when they ordinarily begin to lose it) by exercising all of their major joints through a full range of motion. Swimming helps develop superior coordination because it requires combinations of complex movements of all parts of the body, enhancing harmonious muscle function, grace, and fluidity of movement. Swimming is the most injury-free of all children's sports. Swimming is a sport that will bring kids fitness and enjoyment for life. Participants in Master's Swimming programs are still training and racing well into their 80's. Intellectual Competence In addition to physical development, children can develop greater intellectual competence by participating in a guided program of physical activity. Learning and using swimming skills engages the thinking processes. As they learn new techniques, children must develop and plan movement sequences. They improve by exploring new ideas. They learn that greater progress results from using their creative talents. Self-expression can be just as much physical as intellectual. Finally their accomplishments in learning and using new skills contribute to a stronger self-image. What are the YOUNGSTOWN NEPTUNES? The Youngstown Neptune Swim Team (YYN) is a team organized and run by the YMCA of Youngstown Ohio and is governed by the national YMCA. YNN has been serving the Mahoning Valley for more than 60 years.
NEPTUNE PARENT GUIDE 3 Winter Season Overview 1. Trial period practices begin September 11, 2017. The regular season is October 9, 2017 - February 18, 2018. All swimmers must be registered and paid for by November 10, 2017. A. Six Dual Meets- 3 home/3 away B. Division I Championship Meet- February 3, 2018. Location TBD. a. Swimmers must participate in at least 2 dual meets and 1 additional meet dual or invitational. C. Presidential Invitational February 18, 2018 at Youngstown State University D. Meets, practices, parent meetings, fundraisers and team events will occur during these dates. a. Not to conflict with YMCA Annual Campaign. E. General planning sessions and parent meetings may be scheduled outside of these dates. 2. The post season runs from February 19, 2018 to March 18, 2018. A. League Championship Meet-March 2-3, 2018. Location TBD. a. Swimmers qualify for the League Meet at the Divisional Meet. B. Great Lake Zone Championship Meet- March 16-18, 2018 at Spire Institute. a. Must have a qualifying Zone Time. Zone qualifying times can be found in the appendix section of this handbook. Meets 1. Registration/Sign-offs for dual meets close 9 days before (the Thursday of the week before) the meet. Families must complete the registration/signoff form for each dual meet on Team Unify. 2. Coaches make all decisions regarding swimmer s competitive events for dual meets. Please take into consideration that there will be times when a swimmer may need to swim exhibition due to the number of swimmers on the team. Individual goal sheets will be taken into consideration. 3. To ensure swimmers have the ability to participate in any given relay, coaches will call upon the following criteria: a. Times: Best times will be considered for placement. b. Attendance: Those who attend practice regularly will be given priority for relays. c. Work ethic: Following the core values of the YMCA- caring, honesty, respect and responsibility. 4. Warm-ups for home meets begin at 11:30 AM. Please arrive by 11:15 AM. Home meet competition begins at 12:30 PM. Away meet times will be posted on Team Unify. 5. Heat sheets may or may not be available prior to the meet. Heat sheets will be posted at the meet in multiple locations. The number of signoffs directly impacts the ability of the coaching staff to make accurate heat sheets. Please do not contact the coaches asking for heat sheets, as they will be sent to you via email when/if available. 6. Information for optional Invitational meets to compete in throughout the season. 7. Last chance meets will be available, both at the YMCA in Youngstown, and at other YMCAs in our League. Information for the Youngstown meet will be available on our website, and additional meets will be posted as they are scheduled. 8. League approved volunteers will be the only parents allowed on deck for post-season events. 9. For proper receipting and record keeping purposes, all money for team registration fees and YMCA memberships must be given to the front desk only.
Meets (continued) 10. A concession fee of $30 for the season will be assessed to all Neptune Families. Proceeds from this fee support concessions at the three home meets and the Presidential Meet. This fee must be paid prior to the first home meet. 11. Neptune families will be required to have a credit card on file through Team Unify in order to pay for swim meet and concession fees. Please make sure credit card information is up to date in order to avoid potential fees for rejected charges. 12. All families are required to work at least 3 sessions through the dual meet season. A session is defined as half of the meet or set up and tear down. Families who fail to meet these requirements will be assessed a $50 fee. 13. All families are required to volunteer for the Presidential Meet. League Participation and Team Commitment Once a team participant has joined the Neptune Swim Team roster and has paid the team fees, the swimmer and family will be considered a part of that branch team for the duration of the season. A YMCA membership for the swimmer will be maintained throughout the swim season. Participants may not become involved with another team in the same sport. The only exception to this is high school swimming. A swimmer may represent their high school and then return to compete in the YMCA Zones or National meets if said swimmer has achieved a Zone Time or National Time sometime during the 2017-2018 season. USA Swimming/Lake Erie Swimming Membership Swimmers are encouraged to register with USA Swimming/Lake Erie Swimming (LESI), our local USA Swimming organization. The annual LESI membership fee of $63 per swimmer is in addition to YMCA Membership Fees and YMCA Neptunes Team Dues. USA Swimming membership registration occurs in September. The LESI membership is an annual membership from September 2017 through December 2018. In addition, there is a $50 fee for all swimmers swimming USA Swimming to pay for a coach to be present at USA invitational and championship meets (For high school Neptune swimmers who do not practice with the Neptunes during the winter season this additional fee will be $20). Equipment Equipment: Check with your coach not all items are required for all practices: Practice Suit (must be specifically designed for competition and training) Team Suit (optional suits will be available for purchase at beginning of the season) Goggles Cap Fins (recommended) Stingray kickboard (recommended) Our Coaches Will Attend, in a coaching capacity, all assigned practice sessions and meets. Set an example of good behavior and sportsmanship for all athletes at all times. Give athletes an opportunity to develop skills and to promote their involvement as part of a team rather than as individual participants. Monitor attendance and conduct at practices and meets. Assign a minimum of two individual events and/or relays per athlete for a scheduled meet, whether for points or exhibition, with exception of injury or illness. Instruct, supervise and conduct all workouts for the team s athletes so that their full potential may be reached.
NEPTUNE PARENT GUIDE 5 Our Coaches Will (continued) Organize events and participants for all scheduled YMCA of Youngstown League meets. Invitationals attended by participants by their own choice are not to be considered a team function. YMCA coaches will take responsibility for entries for such meets. Report to the Aquatic Director any conflicts in performing coaching duties as outlined above. Abide by and enforce all rules set up by the YMCA of Youngstown. Address any concerns regarding discipline, scheduling, organization, participant qualification or related matter to the Aquatics Director. Neptune Swim Team Policies Every parent and swimmer is essential to the success and efficiency of the Neptune Swim Team. We have developed the following policies and procedures to ensure the safety of each swimmer and to make sure the swimmers get the most out of their team experience. 1. All YMCA of Youngstown Neptunes must swim proficiently at the minnow level. Swimmers are encouraged to supplement their stroke development by participating in YMCA Swim Lessons. 2. All YMCA members will present their membership card at the service desk and scan in before practice. Using your card prevents long lines at the desk and helps swimmers get to practice on time. 3. Swimmers are to use the boys and girls locker rooms. Family locker rooms may be used if a parent is in the locker room at the same time as the swimmer. No swim team members are permitted to use women s or men s locker rooms. 4. Please bring a lock to secure items in the locker room before practice. The YMCA cannot be held responsible for lost or stolen items. Street shoes are not permitted on the pool deck. Please wear shoes outside of the pool area at all times. 5. All swimmers will shower before entering the pool. To ensure everyone s safety: no horseplay in the pool, pool area or in locker rooms. 6. All team members and parents are encouraged to keep the YMCA core values in mind at each YMCA and YMCA function, including practices. Please treat others as you would like to be treated. Misconduct and behavior problems will receive a verbal warning. Any further actions will result in either a suspension or expulsion from the team. 7. Parents are not permitted on the pool deck during practice, and will only be permitted on the pool deck at swim meets if their volunteer position requires it. If you need to speak to a coach about your child, please speak to them before or after practices and swim meets. 8. Coaches will dismiss swimmers from practices after all equipment is put away and the pool is set up appropriately. 9. Swimmers will participate in the practice appropriate to his or her age group unless asked by the head coach to do otherwise. 10. Swimmers will attend at least two practices per week. The head coach must approve exceptions. 11. Cameras and smartphone cameras are prohibited in all locker rooms and changing areas. 12. Parents are required to sign the photo/social media permission form included with the team registration form. 13. Families are permitted to post pictures of their own child but are prohibited from posting pictures of team members and/or coaches on social media and/or the internet without the permission of the YMCA as some families have indicated that they do not want their child s picture to be shared.
Neptune Swim Team Policies (continued) 14. Any questions or concerns should be brought to the attention of the head coach, Jamie Stahl. If the matter is not concluded satisfactorily, it should then be brought to the attention of the Aquatics Director at the Central Branch of the Youngstown YMCA. Group A strong working parent group is the backbone of any competitive team. All parents whose child is a participant of the YMCA of Youngstown Neptune Swim Team is automatically considered a member of the team s parent group, known as the Neptune Parent Advisory Board (NPAB). As a Neptune Parent, I Can Help By 1. Supporting the Aquatic Director and Coaches in making the competitive program meaningful for all team members. Parent s good sportsmanship and supportive behavior of the YMCA of Youngstown Neptunes encourages swimmers to demonstrate the values of the YMCA. All parents are expected to demonstrate the YMCA s core values of Honesty, Respect, Caring, and Responsibility in all dealings with Neptune swimmers, YMCA members, and YMCA staff. 2. Attending monthly NPAB meetings. Parent input is an integral part of the success of all team events. 3. Communicating with the coaches, Aquatics Director, and NPAB. Communication is extremely important with any group. We will be using email and the Remind APP as our main sources of communication. Instructions for signing up for the Remind text blasts are included in the appendix section of this handbook. 4. All emails addressing the entire team will be sent by the communications liaison, Head Coach, or Aquatics Director only. 5. To ensure the NPAB is as productive as possible, we encourage full family participation. Your participation will help show our swimmers that you are part of their success as well as the success of the team. Parents are required to volunteer in some capacity at each of our 3 home swim meets and the Presidential Invitational. Additional information on this requirement can be found on page 4. You will be asked to help out with other Neptune Swim Team events such as banquet, parties, fundraising, etc. Volunteer Positions Elected President David Mullane Responsible for establishing the agenda and notifying the members of the NPAB, the Aquatic Director, the Head Coach, and all team members of all board meetings. Responsible for presiding over all meetings of the NPAB. Assists with all communications between the NPAB and the members of the Swim Team. Oversees any and all sub-committees formed by the NPAB. Nominates, and if necessary, appoint any elected position that becomes vacant prior to the next election of officers. Vice President Erin Parker Presides over all meetings of the NPAB in the absence of the President. Responsible for all home swim meets, including but not limited to the organization of parent volunteers. Responsible for the organization and certification of all swim meet officials.
NEPTUNE PARENT GUIDE 7 Secretary Dawn Kiraly Responsible for taking notes and preparing minutes of the action and activities of all NPAB meetings. The minutes will be disseminated for the membership to view, after review and acceptance by the President of the NPAB and the Central YMCA Aquatic Director. The Secretary shall keep accurate and permanent records of all authorized business of the NPAB Treasurer - Susan Satterfield Keep an accurate, itemized record of all monies received and disbursed by the organization. A detailed account of all transactions will be kept and reported at monthly NPAB meetings. Collect all monies from the team for meet fees, concessions, and clothing sales. These monies must be recorded and deposited in the proper account in a timely manner. Responsible for paying all Neptune bills in a timely manner, including, but not limited to the purchase of ribbons, trophies, facility rentals, and concession needs. Present the Central YMCA Aquatic Director with a bank statement to be reviewed monthly. Member-At-Large - TBD Advisor to the NPAB Serve in an advisory position with voting privileges. The Advisor shall be the preceding year s President. Is not a position that must be filled. Meet Workers/ Volunteers Clerk of Course Organize swimmers into events and heats Be available for all home meets Work with scorers for meet efficiency Scorers Keep score of meet Make copies of meet results and post on bulletin board, give copy to head coach, aquatic director and visiting team coach. Head Official Coordinate new officials to become certified Acquire enough officials for each home meet, away meet, divisionals, leagues and zones Enforce dress code of white or navy shorts and polo shirt Officials Arrive at all assigned meets on time and in proper uniform Maintain current official certification Head Timer Organize timers for all home meets. Schedule shifts for timers. Ensure substitutes for canceled workers. Responsible for keeping track of stopwatches, notify Aquatic Director if replacements are needed. Timers Make sure swimmer matches the card and lane Time events for either first or second half of meet Find replacement if unable to attend meet
Concessions Organize parent volunteers to set up, run, and tear down concessions. Arrive at YMCA before home meet to set up concessions. Banquet Schedule event with Aquatic Director and NPAB Promote event and make invitations Coordinate volunteers for help Arrange for food, drinks and cake Plan Chinese Auction Neptune Spirit Wear Contact company and order try-on kit Work with printing company to design Spirit Wear USA Swimming Parent Representative Attend USA swimming meetings Inform interested swimmers of upcoming USA meets and deadlines Social Committee / Party Committee Plan with Aquatic Director and coaches special social events Attend all socials Bulletin Boards Head Coach Post pertinent information on all swimming related bulletin boards for both Neptune and high school swimming. Information to include but not limited to: Zone cut-off times, YMCA invitational and USA meet information, Neptune meet results, Neptune dual meet sign-off sheet, fundraising ventures, Personal Best times, swimmer meet events for upcoming meets, high school meet schedules, etc. Record Keeper - Erin Parker Keep track of team records Update records board as needed Presidential Invitational Coordinate volunteers for event Communicate with proper people at YSU Work with persons in charge of concessions for the meet Communications Liaison / Web Master Mary Jane McCombs Update Neptune website with current information Sends weekly update to Neptune participants through e-mail Sends additional information as needed through e-mail blasts
NEPTUNE PARENT GUIDE 9 Website Communication YYN s primary methods of communication are e-mail and the team website, www.youngstownneptune.com. The website includes practice and meet schedules, news and events and meet sign-off tabs. The site is updated regularly. Please check for new and updated information. YYN encourages open communication. Please feel free to email the aquatics director or head coach with any questions or concerns. E-mail E-mails will be sent to inform parents/guardians and swimmers of upcoming events, such as swim meets, team social events, fundraising opportunities, volunteer events, etc. Be sure to keep your e-mail address current on the website. If you need help updating it ask the Communications Liaison or send an email to neptunescommunication@gmail.com. Remind Remind allows coaches, the Aquatics Director, and the NPAB to send group text blasts to all Neptune families. Registration information is found in the appendix section of this handbook. Newsletter The coaches will send out periodic newsletters sharing important Neptune team information. Record Board The display case in the deep pool viewing area displays all Team and Pool Records, which are updated on a regular basis. Bulletin Boards Information about upcoming invitationals, meet results, and more will be posted on this bulletin board, located in the bleacher area of the Deep Pool. Swimmer Folders Awards (ribbons and medals) for swim meets, personal best recognition, and any other pertinent information will be placed in the swimmer folders, located in the Deep Pool bleachers during practice times.
APPENDIX SECTION
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