Mamaroneck Swimming & Diving Club Parent Handbook Welcome to Mamaroneck Swimming & Diving at the Hommocks Pool Welcome to the exciting world of Westchester County Competitive summer swimming and diving. Summer swimming with Mamaroneck Swim and Dive Club (MSC) is a great way for children to make new friends in the Larchmont-Mamaroneck area. Our swim program focus is not only on swimming and diving but team comradery and building friendships.
Benefits of Swimming Swimming is not only a lifelong activity but an important skill for children of all ages. Swimming and diving encourage muscular strength, muscular endurance, cardiovascular endurance, agility, and flexibility for lifelong fitness. Throughout our program, we teach sportsmanship, self-discipline, team comradery and encourage our older swimmers to work with younger swimmers. While our program is competitive, we strive to make our program enjoyable and fun, so your children learn to love being in the water. Feel Free to Ask Questions Your child s swimming and diving experience is not only fostered through coaches support but parental support as well. It is important for parents to ask questions, in order to help the coaches ensure your children have a positive experience. This packet is designed to give new and experienced parents a more in depth understanding of our MSC program and the Westchester County Swimming Conference. Team Focus The Mamaroneck Swimming and Diving Program strives to promote a fun and enjoyable competitive team program for young athletes in our area. Win or lose, we want each child to learn the value of sportsmanship, team cooperation and respect for themselves and others. The older, more experienced swimmers are encouraged to set examples for our newer, younger swimmers. MSC works as a team, both in and out of the pool to create a successful program. Coaching Staff Head Coach: Kat Stuttle 2018 will mark Kat s 12th summer as the MSC Head Swim Coach. Kat has been with the MSC program since the age of 7. Head Diving Coach: Kevin Stuttle 2018 will mark Kevin s 8th summer as the MSC Head Diving Coach. Assistant Coaches: Christine Corsetti 2018 will mark Christine s 5th summer as an MSC Assistant Swim Coach.
Monthly Calendar and Team Schedule ***The calendar is subject to change. All changes will be emailed to parents. *** JUNE / JULY 2018 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday June 24 Parent s Meeting VFW @ 6pm 25 First MSC Practice 9-11am: 9 and under 9-Noon: 10 and up Diving Tryouts 26 Swim Suit Fitting 9-11am Diving Tryouts 27 Diving Tryouts 28 Diving Tryouts 29 Intersquad Meet All Swimmers 9am Noon Swim Suit Fitting 9-11 30 July 1 2 3 4 NO PRACTICE HAPPY 4th OF JULY 5 6 Team Photo 9:15am Parents Welcome 7 8 9 10 11 12 Poster Making Competition Send Supplies 13 5 th Annual MSC Invitational 5pm Warm-up 5:30pm Start 6:30 BBQ & DJ 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 Tye-Dye T-Shirt Day (Regular Practice Times) 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 Parents v. Kids Meet Start 9:30 All Swimmers 9am - Noon 28 ***The calendar is subject to change. All changes will be emailed to parents. ***
July/August 2018 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday July 29 30 Counties 3:30pm Warm-up 4:30pm Start Invite Only 5 6 Championship Practice 9-10:30am Conference Prelims 12s and 14s 8am Warm-up 9am Start Important FUN Dates 31 Counties 3:30pm Warm-up 4:30pm Start Invite Only 7 Championship Practice 9-10:30am Conference Prelims 6s and 8s 8am Warm-up 9am Start August 1 Counties 3:30pm Warm-up 4:30pm Start Invite Only Championship Practice 9-10:30am Conference Prelims 10s and 17s 8am Warm-up 9am Start 8 2 MSC TEAM PARTY 10-12 Counties 3:30pm Warm-up 4:30pm Start Invite Only 9 Conference Finals 8:30am Warmup 10:30am Start ***The calendar is subject to change. All changes will be emailed to parents. *** Swim Suit Fitting and Purchase o Tuesday, June 26-9:00-11:00 a.m. o Friday, June 29-9:00-11:00 a.m. Intersquad Meet (practice swim meet) Friday, June 29th o All swimmers from 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. o Volunteers needed Diving Tryouts June 24 th June 28 th Team Photo Friday, July 6 o 9:15 a.m. Poster Making competition Thursday, July 12 MSC 5 th Annual Invitational Friday, July 13 Tie-Dye T-shirt Day Friday, July 20 o Regular practice times Parents v. Kids Swim Meet Friday, July 27 Team Party Thursday, August 2 o All swimmers from 10:00 12:00 p.m. 3 NO PRACTICE Conference Diving ***For all events additional information will be sent out approximately one week in advance. 4 10 11
Parent Contact Information Important Information for Parents Parent contact information should have been given at registration. Please be sure all information is correct and up to date. If you are not getting emails please notify the coaches and we will make the appropriate changes. Medical Concerns Any medical information that the staff needs to be aware should be given to the Recreation Office at the time of registration. Please feel free to discuss any additional information or concerns with the Aquatics Director, Jennifer Pollak. Extra Expenses Extra MSC expenses include: Team Apparel Team Suits The purchase of a team suit (see below) Swimming goggles (recommended two pair) The purchase of any MSC swimming and diving apparel Money for the team pizza party at the conclusion of the season Team suits are the required apparel for boys and girls. Swimsuits are to be purchased individually. Team suits should be worn for meets only, to ensure they retain their elasticity throughout the summer season. Suits can be purchased through Swim N Surf, either during the swim suit fitting days or over the phone (203-292-6351). Label your child s swim suit! Swim Suit Fittings: There will be two posted dates for swim suit fittings. Swim suits are purchased through Swim N Surf. Swimmers can try on different sized suits at the fitting and purchase suits on the spot or over the phone (203-292-6351). Parents do not need to be in attendance however, your presence is highly recommended. ***These dates are: Tuesday, June 26-9:00-11:00 a.m. Friday, June 29-9:00-11:00 a.m. Swim Team E-mail: mamaroneckswim@gmail.com The best way to contact the coaching staff is via email at mamaroneckswim@gmail.com. If you wish to contact a specific coach please email the above email and your request will be forwarded accordingly.
MSC Invitational Each summer, MSC will host a Friday night invitational where we host competitive and non-competitive swimming races for other teams in the Westchester County Swimming Conference. Not every child will be able to participate but the coaches will strive to include as many swimmers as possible. We encourage swimmers and non-swimmers to attend the meet with their families, to show support for our team and our program. The MSC invitational is a community event with swimming races, music and dinner menu. Please check our calendar and mark the date of this fun event. If you have any questions regarding the invitational or would like to volunteer please contact either Sally Willert at sallywillert@hotmail.com, Shannon Powell at shanandmike@yahoo.com or Teresa Hsiao at teresahsiao9@aol.com. Bake Sale The bake sale is a fundraiser held during home meets; proceeds help fund the season team gift for our swimmers. The bake sale committee will ask for some healthy food donations to help kick off our summer season. Emails will be sent out asking for bake sale donations through Sign up Genius. Please consider making a donation to help keep our bake sale running this summer. We will have 2 home meets. If you have any questions or would like to help out with the bake sale please contact Nell Plunkett at nelljack73@aol.com. Home & Away Swim Meets Timing / Runners / Scoring /Ribbon Writers Each meet will need eight timers, two runners, two score keepers and six ribbon writers. Timers will stand behind each lane and keep time for their swimmers. The times are written on cards and handed to the runner for the scoring table. These times are for the coaches - meet results will not be decided based on the timer s recordings. The runners job is to collect all the time cards for each race, including the official s run down for the order of finish; these cards must be brought directly to the scoring table. The scorekeeper will keep a running record of the meet. There will be one scorekeeper from each team at the table and the score keepers can stop the meet to ask any question, dispute the order or finish or catch up at any time. The ribbon writers will write ribbons for each one of our swimmers as their cards come in. Names, events and times will be written on each ribbon to help our swimmer keep track of their events and times. The visiting teams will provide their own ribbon writers. Parent volunteers will be asked to report to Ben Sawyer before the start of both home and away meets. If you have any questions about volunteering please contact Ben at bensawyer9@hotmail.com.
General MSC Information What do I need for Practice? 1. Swim suit 2. Goggles 3. Cap 4. (Two) Towels 5. Water bottle w/water 6. Snacks for swimmer/diver practicing from 9a.m. 12p.m. 7. Sunscreen (coaches will not be permitted to apply sunscreen) 8. Electronic devices will not be permitted for use during swim practice or break times!! The coaches/pool staff will not be responsible for lost or stolen ipads, iphones, Nintendos, etc. Practices Practices are held Monday through Friday unless otherwise posted: 9 and Under Swimmers Swim Practices will be from 9a.m.-11a.m. for all swimmers 9 years old and under and diving will be held from 9:00a.m.-10:00a.m. Swimmers that are 9 years old and under should arrive at 8:50a.m. and be ready for warm up and stretching at 9a.m. They will enter the pool around 9:30am and swim until 11am. Rest will be given based on ability and need. 10 and Over Swimmers Swim Practices will be from 9:00a.m. -12:00p.m. for all swimmers ages 10 years old and over and diving will be held from 10:30a.m. -12:00p.m. Swimmers who are 10 years old and over should arrive at 8:50a.m. and be ready for warm up and stretching at 9a.m. Swimmers will take a short break around 10:20a.m. for a snack before continuing practice. The time from 9a.m. - 10a.m. will be reserved for older swimmers to either start their swimming workout or work as a coach in training. Coach in Training These swimmers will help work with the younger swimmers on the team during the first hour of practice. Practice time and coaches in training decisions will up to the MSC coaches discretion. Coaches in training will be an earned privilege for swimmers to demonstrate responsibility and knowledge on deck and in the pool skills. MSC Pre-Team (New 2018 Program) Coach Christine Corsetti Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday 11:30am-12:30pm This program is for swimmers ages 5-8 who are not ready for the full MSC program. Swimmers will practice 3 days a week and swim in at least one HOME swim meet. During practice swimmers will learn the skills for a racing dive, to swim freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke and butterfly. After a season or two of this program the goal for swimmers on the pre-team is to eventually join the MSC swim team five mornings a week and compete in all home and away meets.
Drop off and Pick up Swimmers and divers can be dropped off at the Hommocks pool entrance or escorted on to the pool area by their parents. Swimmers and divers can be picked up from the Hommocks pool entrance or from the pool deck. Parents, we trust you to discuss with your children what will work best for your family and make sure your children know the drop off and pick up plan. We expect to have around 110 swimmers and divers on the team each summer and cannot be responsible for drop off and pick up times. The coaches will promise to arrive early and leave late, to ensure that all children are picked up an accounted for. We ask that parents and children have a plan and routine so that each child is accounted for. Please make sure your child knows who will be picking them up each day and where to meet you. If there is a change of plans feel free to send in a note to the coaches so we can ensure your child s safety. All younger swimmers must be picked up at 11:00am. The pool will not open for public swim until 12:00 noon. We meet under the awning on the men s locker room side of the pool. There will be at least one coach there to meet the swimmers arriving at 8:50a.m. All swimmers should keep their belongings under the awning. Entering the Facility All swimmers and parents must enter the pool through the locker rooms. The exterior doors are for emergency use only and must not be used to enter or exit the pool. We thank you for your cooperation. Locker Rooms Swimmers will not be supervised by the coaching staff in the locker rooms. Our priority is the safety of the swimmers and divers in the pool. Parents are welcome to escort their swimmers through the locker rooms at drop off and pick up. During practice time, the swimmers must ask permission to use the rest room facilities and notify a coach upon their return to the pool. Swimmers should bring all of their swimming bags and equipment out of locker rooms during practice time. The locker rooms will be used by a number of different groups and any personal belongs left in the locker rooms cannot be supervised. **Parents of younger swimmers may want to help their child identify a bathroom buddy as a friend to use the facilities with. In the past this practice has made both parents and children more comfortable using the bathrooms during practice times. On the Deck During practice, the coaches will be supervising your swimmer. The coaches are trained to recognize the needs and limitations of each child; we ask that you please respect our knowledge and experience. We ask that you please refrain from approaching the coaches on deck during practice time. Our priory needs to be the safety and supervision of our swimmers. Please feel free to email any questions or concerns; if necessary, appointments can be made via email at mamaronckswim@gmail.com. It is important swimmers and families feel comfortable and confident and the coaches are happy to address your needs. However, poolside discussions take away from valuable practice time. Diving Any child wishing to participate on the diving team must also be on the swimming team. All swimmers will have the opportunity to try-out for the diving team. Please be sure to add your child s name to the dive try-out list at the Town of Mamaroneck Recreation Department before the start of the season. Diving tryouts will be held the first week of practice. At the conclusion of the first week you will be notified by the Town of Mamaroneck if your child is eligible to join the team and all additional fees must be paid within 3 days to ensure your child s place on the team.
Lane Selection Swimming lanes are given based on swimming ability, not age. Lanes are subject to change throughout the season and determined at the coaches discretion. Camp Transfers Practice will end for all swimmers 9 and under promptly at 11am. This will be only time available for swimmers and divers to be transferred to their camps. Campers will be picked up by a member of the Flint Park or Hommock s staff. There will be a Google doc emailed out to all families requesting information on which camp your child attends. If they do not attend a camp please have them picked up at 11:00a.m. Please ensure that your child knows if he or she is attending camp and which camp they attend. Cap and Goggles Every year about half of our swimmers will lose their googles. Please label your child s goggles clearly and always have a backup set on hand. Goggles must be purchased by parents; the coaches do not provide goggles for swimmers. All girls must wear a swim cap to compete in swim meets. Girls 10 years old and over are required to wear swim caps to practices. Team caps will be purchased by the Town of Mamaroneck Recreation Department and handed out at the first swim meet. Please be sure to label your child s cap. Throughout the season the coaches collect many lost caps and goggles that are never reclaimed. Water Bottles Swimmers are encouraged to bring a water bottle or two, to each practice and all swim meets. The water bottles can be kept on the side of pool for easy access during practice. The coaches will not provide water. Please be sure to label all water bottles. Only bottles with WATER will be accepted at the side of the pool deck. Weather Swim Meets and Practices will be held rain or shine. If you are unsure if a practice or meet has been canceled due to weather conditions, please check your email or call the pool office at (914) 834-0052. In the event of lightning storms, the pool may close for a short period of time and then reopen to continue practices or swim meets. Please note that meets will not be canceled and to arrive on time regardless of the weather. Private Lessons The coaches are available by appointment, for private swimming and diving lessons after practice; for an additional charge. Swimmers can benefit from one on one instruction to improve their technique and time. Please email the coaches to inquire at mamaroneckswim@gmail.com. End of the Season MSC Team Party The party will take place on Thursday, August 2, 2018 at the Hommocks Pool from 10 a.m. 12 p.m. All swimmers and divers are invited to attend. All swimmers should bring their swim suits!! The party is for swimmers and divers only! There will be fun games and relay races for all who attend. Pizza, chips, fruit, snacks and drinks will be served. Parent volunteers will send home information.
Westchester County Swimming Conference Break Down The Westchester County Swimming Conference is made up of 33 swimming and diving teams. The teams are broken down into divisions. Division one is the most competitive division and division 6 is least competitive division. Dual meets are held within each division through the month of July. The team with the most successful record will move up a division for the start of the next season and the team with the least successful record will move down a division for the next season. We will be competing in division 3 for the 2018 summer season. Check the Conference website for more details: http://www.westchesterswimconference.com. 1. Please be aware of pool depth markers. Hommocks Pool Rules (During Public Swimming Hours) 2. Please obey lifeguards; no talking to lifeguards unless requesting assistance. 3. Street clothing is not permitted in the pool area, except for special events such as swim meets, water shows, lessons, etc. 4. Smoking is not permitted in the pool area, locker rooms, or hallways. 5. Food and drinks will be available from the snack bar during the summer and must be consumed in the picnic area of the facility. No outside food is permitted. 6. No running, ball playing or dangerous play is allowed anywhere in the pool complex. 7. The diving boards are not open to the public. 8. Adults are responsible for and must supervise any child using a swim aid (bubble/water wings). Adults must be in the water with their child within arm s reach. 9. Children 12 and under sent to the pool without adequate supervision will not be allowed admittance. 10. Town flotation equipment is not available to be used by the public and swim aids (face masks, snorkels, etc.) Are not permitted in the pool without the approval of the pool director. 11. Babies still in the diaper stage are permitted in the pools with rubber pants covering a diaper, or by wearing a swim diaper. 12. Baby carriages and chairs are not permitted on the pool deck or within 5 feet of the training pool edge. 13. No radios, mp3, ipods or cd players are permitted in the pool or patio area. Personal players may be used with headphones only. 14. Proper swimming attire required- no cutoffs permitted. 15. The Town of Mamaroneck is not responsible for any valuables brought to the pool (please lock up!). 16. Chairs and tables may not be reserved for an entire day. Adults have priority over children using the lawn furniture. 17. Pools will close upon the first clap of thunder or sighting of lightning and will remain closed until management deems it safe to reopen. All patrons must go indoors. 18. Please use gender specific locker rooms with children over 6 years old. 19. Entrance to all facilities is through the locker rooms. No one will be admitted through the outside gates or pool deck blue doors. 20. Management reserves the right to close certain sections and/or pools to ensure swimmer safety and meet health code requirements
Swim Meet Information Dual meets are swimming and diving competitions held between two different swim teams in our conference division. Dual meets are both home and away. Each meet will take about four hours including warm up. Morning meets will have an 8a.m. warm up and a 9a.m. start time. Evening meets will have a 4p.m. warm up and a 5p.m. start time. Please plan travel time accordingly. All home meets will take place in the mornings. Directions can be found on the Westchester County Swimming Conference website. http://www.westchesterswimconference.com. ***ARRIVE RAIN OR SHINE! *** What Do I Pack for a Meet? 1. Team Suit (and an extra suit) 2. Goggles 3. Cap 4. Water bottle 5. Snacks 6. At least two Towels 7. Warm clothes (to wear between races) 8. Sunscreen 9. A deck of cards for entertainment Events Divers will compete first, followed by freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke, butterfly and freestyle relays. The order of events are: 6 and under girls, 6 and under boys, 8 and under girls, 8 and under boys, 10 and under girls, 10 and under boys, 12 and under girls, 12 and under boys, 14 and under girls, 14 and under boys, and 17 and under girls, 17 and under boys. Boys and girls events maybe combined to save time and space. The first heat of each event is the only scoring heat of each event. Swimmers are identified for heat one based on their times. Swimmers can be moved up or down heats based on their improvements and/or the improvements of other swimmers throughout the season. Each swimmer can only swim (or dive) in three individual events and one relay event. Freestyle and Backstroke are the only strokes that allow extra heats. The coaches will try to put every swimmer in two individual events and one relay each meet. The relay swimmers maybe rotated based on numbers. Remember that if one swimmer does not show up for the relay three other swimmers will not get to compete. Scoring 1 st, 2 nd and 3 rd place each score points for individual events and only 1 st place scores for relays. If there are no swimmers in an event no points can be scored. If there is a dispute the score keeper must notify either one of the swim coaches or the official. The meet will be halted until the dispute is addressed. Attendance It is extremely important that all swimmers attend all meets to ensure that all events are filled. All swimmers are expected to attend all swim meets home and away.
Timing A timer will be posted at the end of each swimmer s lane to record times for each race. Each child will have a time card with their event and stroke listed that must be handed to the timer before the start of a race. Ribbons Every child will receive a ribbon with their event and time for a home meet. Ribbons are not usually given for extra heats at away meets. Ribbons will be handed out to swimmers at a practice later in the week. The coaches and older swimmers will need time to organize the ribbons. Bake Sales and Concession Stands The bake sale is a fundraiser provide at our home meets to help purchase a team gift for the swimmers at the end of the season. Please bring some money to support our team. Concession stands are available at away meets and private clubs ask that you please not bring a cooler to their facilities. Garbage Parents and swimmers must police their areas during home and away meets to dispose of trash. This is not the coaches job or the lifeguards responsibility. Bake Sales will not be permitted if garbage is not picked up at the end of meets and practices. Spectators Families are encouraged to attend and cheer at all meets; each child must have adult supervision at each away meet. The coaches ask that you please keep your children in our team s designated area. If we cannot find your child for their race they will not swim. Away Invitationals Away Invitationals are by invite only and swimmers are selected based on time. Parents will be emailed with your child s eligibly. Invitationals last about an hour and each team invited usually brings around 25 swimmers. Some Invitationals are highly competitive and others are just for fun. Championship Meets The counties and conference meets are invite only. Swimmers must meet a cute off time to compete and only 2 swimmers can compete in each event at conferences while 4 can compete in counties. These meets will take place the first 2 weeks of August. Parents will be notified if your child is eligible to swim. More information will follow for those swimmers eligible.
Contact Information For more information on the MSC swim team please contact Head Coach Kat Stuttle at mamaroneckswim@gmail.com. For more information on MSC registration or program questions please contact the Recreation Department at recreationdept@townofmamaroneckny.org or 914-381-7865. MSC Invitational Contacts Sally Willert: sallywillert@hotmail.com Shannon Powell: shanandmike@yahoo.com Teresa Hsiao: teresahsiao9@aol.com Bake Sale Contacts Nell Plunkett: nelljack73@aol.com Team Party Contacts Home and Away Meet Volunteer Contact Ben Sawyer: bensawyer9@hotmail.com Important Websites Town of Mamaroneck Recreation Department http://www.townofmamaroneckny.org/recreation Westchester Country Swimming Conference http://www.westchesterswimconference.com/ Dates for Home and Away Swim Meets Meet Results Away Meet information including addresses and phone numbers Conference Meet Results Westchester County Swimming Association County Meet Results Dates and Times for County Meets Location of County Meets Swim N Surf (203)292-6351 http://www.swimnsurfshop.com/ To order and purchase swim suits
MSC 2018 Away Meet directions