Auburn-Lewiston YMCA TWIN CITIES SWIM TEAM Parent Handbook Welcome! As a member, you will be prepared for the complexities and promises of the world of competitive swimming. The swimmer who stays with the program is one in whom you can take pride. He/she has learned to budget their time, to set goals, to deal with failure without making excuses or giving up. They develop self-esteem and learn how to handle themselves. Sports are supposed to be good for children. They should promote sportsmanship, self-motivation and perseverance. Swimming does this extremely well. Swimming also develops the cardiovascular system (the key to lifelong health) to the maximum. TEAM PHILOSOPHY First and foremost Twin Cities Swim Team is a TEAM. Each member of the team will have opportunities to contribute to the success of the team. The contributions of each member of the team are valued equally. When your teammates succeed, you succeed. The objective of the Twin Cities Swim Team is to help its members to develop into competitive swimmers. We realize that all swimmers develop differently. It is our aim to get all swimmers to realize their full athletic potential. Philosophy of the MAINE YMCA Swim League It is the philosophy of the Maine State YMCA Swim League that in order to: Meet accepted YMCA program objectives. Prepare our competitors for further swimming competition. Foster in our participants a healthy outlook on life. The League and its Teams must: Create a fair set of rules and enforce them firmly and consistently, and Seek out coaches and officials who will use every opportunity to demonstrate that fair, firm, and consistent rules are in the end better for everyone. pg. 1 (revised 9/20/2017)
ROLES AND EXPECTATIONS COACHES: The main responsibility of the coaching staff is to meet the needs of all swimmers in both programs offered (YMCA & USA Swimming). The coaches are responsible for teaching and training swimmers for competition. This includes stroke mechanics as well as demonstrating good sportsmanship and responsibility to the team and teammates. Other responsibilities include attending practices and competitions; communicating to swimmers, parents, and administrators; and attending related team and league meetings. PARENTS: It is the responsibility of the swimmer s parents to make sure that their child is at practice or meets on time and ready to swim. It is especially important that a swimmer does not miss warm-ups. The warm-up period is used to prepare a swimmer for practice or competition. Missing warm-ups increases the chance of injury. Arriving at practice 15 minutes early to change up will teach your child responsibility and discipline. Parents need to check the swim team bulletin board and email on a regular basis. You will find information about upcoming events Team meetings, Swim Meets, Schedule Changes, Fundraisers, etc. The YM bulletin board is located in the pool area. This is also where you will find the team file crates with swimmers folders. Fundraisers, helping out with swim meets, getting your child to practices and meets are all-important roles of swim team parents. The most important role of a swim team parent is to offer POSITIVE ENCOURAGEMENT. Your child works hard at practices and meets, please make sure you let them know that their efforts are appreciated. SWIMMERS Swimmers should be at practices and meets on time and ready to swim. That means changing into your uniform before practice or meet begins. Car-pooling is always an option. Goggles and swim caps should be adjusted before practice and not during warm-ups. All stretching should be done before warm ups. You are the responsible person who should make sure you have a suit, cap, goggles, and towel, etc. Swimmers will also take part in fundraising for the team as needed. pg. 2 (revised 9/20/2017)
PARENT S GROUP: All TCST families are part of the parent s group with the Board consisting of elected heads of the Board and Committees. Responsibilities of the elected Board include communicating with the coaches and administration on related swim team issues. They should support and assist the coaching staff by forming committees as needed, helping at swim meets, and displaying a positive role model for the team and swimmers. 1) The Board Chair 2) The Board Vice-Chair 3) The Board Secretary 4) The Board Treasurer 5) At-Large members will be the chair of each committee and will report to the officers on the work and needs of each committee. Meet Committee Chair Concession Committee Chair Social Committee Chair Fundraising Committee Chair Parents Group committees are led by committee chairs and committee chairs sit on the Parents Group Leadership Team. The Leadership Team has various offices with each office position filled by a nomination process and voted on by all parents of swim team members. We encourage all swim families to pick a committee that they feel they can offer help to that committee chair. The By-laws will be posted on the YMCA website page for TCST. CEO of the Auburn-Lewiston YMCA: The CEO of the Y, Steve Wallace, is extremely supportive of this program as it reinforces the Y mission in all that we do at the Y. While Steve practices an open door policy regarding comments, suggestions, or grievances, he recognizes that it is also important to maintain proper protocols which best influence change and idea exchange. If you have swim team related feedback, please first engage with Coach Manduca, then to Chris Shea, Senior Program Director, and finally the CEO, Steve Wallace. YMCA AQUATICS DIRECTOR: Linda Pepitone is a tremendous resource for the team. While she coordinates the pool schedule, she also does a good job of resolving problems that may arise concerning YMCA staff and the Twin Cities Swim Team. Please know that she is an advocate for the program and is actively promoting involvement in the team through contact with our hundreds of youth engaged in Y swimming lessons. pg. 3 (revised 9/20/2017)
pg. 4 (revised 9/20/2017) GENERAL POLICIES ATTENDANCE: Attendance is important. If you know ahead of time that you will be unable to attend a meet or an extended amount of practice days due to vacation or sickness, please be responsible and inform the head coach as soon as possible. Email works best unless it is the day of the meet. VACATION POLICY: If you are planning a vacation during swim season and know ahead of time, please notify the coaches in writing, at least 2 weeks in advance. Coaches can also provide workouts if a pool will be available to you. TEAMMATES: This is your team; make it enjoyable for everyone. Offer encouragement to at least one other swimmer each day. The better your teammates are the better your team will be. A good swim or nice set helps make the practice time shorter. Supporting teammates and giving positive encouragement is a good way to illustrate leadership and demonstrate team spirit. PARTICIPATION REQUIREMENTS 1. All Twin Cities Swim Team swimmers participate in scheduled YMCA DUAL swim meets & the YMCA State Meet is mandatory. Any meet absences must be excused in writing (EMAIL) through the coaching staff prior to the scheduled meet. This is by Tuesday night for all dual meets at TCST@alymca.org. For the YMCA State Meet you must speak with Coach Tom one month prior if you expect a conflict as all TCST swimmers are needed at this meet. NOTE: A phone call for any emergencies on meet day is requested 656-3135. 2. In order to swim in the Maine YMCA State Meet, a swimmer must represent our YMCA in at least THREE Y League meets. The YMCA State Swim Meet is a mandatory meet for all Auburn-Lewiston Y Swim Team swimmers. 3. In order to swim in the Y Nationals, a swimmer must represent our YMCA in the Maine State Meet, New England s, or East Field Championship and make the required cut times. 4. If a swimmer has represented some other USA team, he/she must wait 120 days before representing our YMCA in USA competition. This might be either more or less than the wait to represent your team in YMCA Meets. The swimmer will be designated as unattached until the 120 days has passed. 5. In order to participate in any Y meet, a swimmer must be a member of the YMCA in good standing for at least 30 days
MEETS: Meets are held on the weekends, most often on Saturdays. Our home meets are held at Bates College in Lewiston. The YMCA dual meets are when our team competes against one other team. At YMCA Invitational meets, USA meets, and championships, several teams compete against each other, often vying for higher points and trophies. Meet & practice schedules will be posted on the bulletin boards and emailed. Please arrange your arrival for all meets to allow for a proper warm-up. Being on time allows the coaches to arrange the lineup. If you re sick, please call us ASAP at home or if we are already gone you can call the hosting YMCA to leave a message! Meets take time. Bring something to keep you busy while you re not swimming. Swimmers must sit with their teammates. This is so coaches can find you when your event is up! We ask that all swimmers stay until the end of the meet and if you need to leave early check with a coach to make sure you are not scheduled in a relay. The best way for parents to keep busy is to volunteer to help! There is always a need for timers, concession stand help, meet marshals and a host of other jobs. The more help we have in organizing and running our home meets, the more smoothly they run. A well run meet is a much more pleasurable and positive experience for all involved. USE OF FACILITIES: Whether home or away, at practice or at a meet, you are a representative of our YMCA TEAM. Your behavior directly affects our team s image. We are a respected group and will respect others. Please conduct yourselves appropriately in all areas, including those outside the pool deck i.e., hallways, locker rooms, and restaurants. SWIMMERS PLEASE REMEMBER TO CLEAN UP AFTER YOURSELF AT PRACTICES AND SWIM MEETS pg. 5 (revised 9/20/2017)
REASONS FOR WARMING UP: 1. Stretching joints should increase flexibility and thus improve stroke efficiency. 2. A good warm-up can provide a rehearsal effect. Swimmers can refine stroke techniques, starts, and turns for an upcoming competition, and they can practice paces and stroke rates for various events during the warm-up so that they can go into their races knowing exactly how they should feel when they try to swim a particular speed. 3. Swimmers can become accustomed to their surroundings during the warm-up. Each new pool has a different feel and distinctive problems and various identifying landmarks (such as backstroke flags) that swimmers use to gauge their position during a race. Source: Swimming Even Faster, Earnest W. Maglishco, p. 626 DISCIPLINE: We want to make sure that our swimmers get the most out of every practice. Swim team is supposed to be fun, but we expect the swimmers to listen to the coaches and do what is asked of them. If the coaches have to spend time addressing behavior issues with one swimmer it takes time away from the rest of the swimmers. For this reason, disobedience/horseplay will not be tolerated. If a coach has to speak to a swimmer, the following will take place. 1 ST offense: Verbal warning from coach 2 nd offense: For younger swimmers (10 & Under), sit out time. For older swimmers (11 & over), will be asked to leave practice. 3 rd offense: Parent conference with a coach and possibility of a suspension. LET THE COACH, COACH: Parents are welcome to observe workouts at the YMCA: however, they are not allowed on the pool deck during practice time or at meets. Keep in mind that a coach carefully prepares a season plan that should yield a peak performance by the conclusion of the swim season. The coaches appreciate the opportunity to talk with you, but PLEASE, do this before or after practice and not during. If it is difficult to meet with a coach at those times, a phone call, email, or a note will work. *Please note that parents are not allowed to sit on the wall during practice. pg. 6 (revised 9/20/2017)
COMMUNICATION FOLDERS & TCST Bulletin Board: The communication folders will be located in the hanging file box in the pool area in front of the TCST Bulletin Board. Each swim team family will have a folder with the swimmer(s) name on it. Swimmers ribbons and other notices will be placed in the folders. The bulletin board will have information of meets, suit orders, etc. In order to continue the flow of communication the head swim coach will have a mail box at the YMCA front desk. pg. 7 (revised 9/20/2017) FINANCIAL OBLIGATIONS The following fees are required for participation on Twin Cities Swim Team (These fees are subject to review and change on a yearly basis): *YMCA Membership *Swim Team program fees at the YMCA What is included in your swim team package? Membership to the YMCA Y team practices, Y swim meet fees, etc. What is not included? Swim suits, goggles, caps USA SWIMMING USA Swimming is an optional membership that is not covered by the Twin Cities Swim Team participation fee. Meet entry fees/stipend are paid by the swimmer for each USA meet you decide to sign up for. USA members will get notification of upcoming meets and are responsible to get their entries to Coach Tom by the posted meet entry deadline. Entry fee amounts will be placed on your YMCA account and after entries are verified you are responsible to stop by the YMCA desk to pay these prior to the meet date. Please check in with Coach Tom if you have any questions about USA swimming. Website for information is: maineswimming.org Membership options are as follows: Year-round membership and includes Splash Magazine; Seasonal membership for either winter season until March or summer season (with no magazine). Outreach Year-round membership $5.00 and includes Splash Magazine and this membership application must include the document(s) noted on the form. This is the one membership that you will not register at Y desk first. *All USA registrations will require you to register at the YMCA desk (under programs) and pay ALYMCA the fee at that time. Registration forms must be placed in Coach Tom s mail slot in order to complete the registration process with USA swimming.
FUNDRAISING: TCST team fees are among the lowest in the state. The Fundraising effort helps to keep it that way. This fund raising effort not only helps to keep the program fees manageable (scholarships available for all who qualify), but also cover of ribbons, trophies, banquet costs, and State Meet entry fees, pizza parties, coaches costs for attending away championship meets, etc.. It is important that ALL PARENTS & SWIMMERS become involved in fundraising efforts. We do not want this burden to fall onto a small group of parents. These fundraisers benefit your child, so please help us. Information for you as it comes up for the current season will be posted. SUIT & OTHER SWIM TEAM EQUIPMENT: Our team has chosen a team suit, using the team colors navy blue & red with a gold cap. The purchase of a team suit is strongly recommended. Please watch for sizing and ordering information. Due to health and safety reasons, a swim cap and goggles are required of each swimmer. Fins and water bottles are recommended. Sandals or Crocs are needed for use in the locker room, showers and if the swimmer needs to leave the pool deck during a meet. All Y facilities require that everyone have footwear on if they are anywhere outside of the pool deck. IMPORTANT REMINDERS 1. Label everything your child takes to the pool & meets. 2. Please encourage your swimmer to keep all his/her things together in a locked locker. 3. Please keep checking the lost & found for missing items. 4. Chlorine spells disaster for synthetics, so rinse out suits as soon as possible. A helpful hint is to have a practice suit and please save your team suit for meets only. 5. Consult with a coach before investing in the latest swimming gimmick. pg. 8 (revised 9/20/2017)
HEALTH and NUTRITION Swimmers are generally healthy, but if you don t take simple precautions, it might mean no swimming for a week or more. Special attention must be given to the ears dry them as thoroughly as possible. Swimmer s ear is a fungus and can be prevented with a few drops of an alcohol/vinegar solution (3 parts rubbing alcohol to 1 part vinegar) after each practice session. Just put the alcohol/vinegar solution into the ear with an eyedropper, let solution go in as far as possible, then turn the head so the solution can flow out. If the problem persists, we recommend seeing your physician. A planter s wart requires medical attention. It is a virus; it is contagious and prevalent at all pools. Check the bottom of your child s feet regularly. A pair of deck shoes or sandals is a smart idea. Cramps can be kept to a minimum by giving your swimmer fresh fruit (especially bananas), water, and reducing salt intake. Proper everyday nutrition is basic for first rate athletic performance. Avoid fried, greasy, high-fat foods and junk food. Be sure to eat the right amount of servings from the five food groups each day. A special word about processed sugar NO! Instead of candy and soft drinks, substitute honey, raisins, fruit and things made from them, along with non-carbonated drinks. One to two days before the meet: start increasing carbohydrates and decreasing fats and proteins. Foods such as pasta, breads, and grains are high in carbohydrates. On the day of the meet, breakfast should be light and food should be easy to digest. Breakfast foods such as pancakes, dry cereal, bagels, muffins, oranges, bananas, juice, or water are fast digesting foods to eat. During the meet, it is important to replenish the body with good foods to sustain energy. Granola, dry cereal, bagels, juice, Gatorade, raisins, carrots, celery sticks, crackers, oranges, bananas, watermelon, and plenty of water are great to pack for a meet. On swim meet days.stay away from junk food, soda, fried or fast foods, popcorn, fruit roll ups, sugarcoated cereal, doughnuts, bacon, sausage, eggs, milk, and other milk products. These foods are slower to digest and can affect the swimmers performance in a negative way. A FEW LAST WORDS Competitive training is only part of a swimmers job. It s also the extra time spent in personalization and self-discipline. It s a good give and take relationship with teammates. It s knowing how to accept defeat with your head held high and being able to win with grace. It s the setting of goals and working toward them. It s learning your own capabilities. It s meeting and making new friends. It s developing self-poise and confidence. It s also just plain having fun. These are some of the values we hope to see develop in each swimmer. pg. 9 (revised 9/20/2017)
SWIMMING VOCABULARY Carbo-loading: Practice of increasing carbohydrate intake before a meet. Refer to the nutrition section of this handbook. Cut-offs: Also called Qualifying times. The swimmer must do the time set for the event or faster, in order to participate. For some USA meets there may be a cut-off that you must be slower than in order to compete. These are posted with meets and are generally for championship meets. Dryland: An important part of training, this increases a swimmer s strength and flexibility, as well as helping to prevent injury. Exercises and equipment use may vary. Dual meet: Our meet structure for YMCA league. Our team competes against another YMCA team. Eastern Zone Championships: For those USA swimmers placing first or second in their events at JO s (Junior Olympics). These swimmers go on to compete at this championship meet against other swimmers from the Eastern States as far south as Virginia. Invitational Meet: As opposed to a dual meet, this meet structure is open to many different teams. New England s: Championship Meet for all YMCA teams in New England. They are usually held in late March in Rhode Island or Massachusetts. Swimmers have cut-off times they must meet or exceed in order to participate. Taper: A training period before a big championship meet, such as Y States, New Englands, USA Championships, etc. Practices have low yardage, fast paced swims and lots of rest. The coach will take care of this for you with prepared workouts. Time trials: Run by official Y rules, or USA rules. Swimmers are given a chance to swim their events outside of meets. Early in the season, this gives swimmers and coaches a chance to become familiar with their times. Later on, this gives swimmers another try at qualifying for a Championship Meet. USA Championships: Often called JO s or Junior Olympics, this is a championship meet for our USA swimmers who qualify. USA Swimming: United States Swimming Association is a national organization separate from the YMCA that governs swim competition. YMCA league: A group of teams that compete within the YMCA organization. YMCA Nationals: A championship meet held annually for those swimmers who qualify. They compete against other swimmers from YMCA s across the country. pg. 10 (revised 9/20/2017)
pg. 11 (revised 9/20/2017) TEN COMMANDMENTS FOR SWIMMING PARENTS by Rose Snyder, Managing Director Coaching Division, USOC Former Director of Club Services, USA Swimming (adapted from Ed Clendaniel's 10 Commandments for Little League Parents) 1. Thou shalt not impose your ambitions on thy child. Remember that swimming is your child s activity. Improvements and progress occurs at different rates for each individual. Don t judge your child s progress based on the performance of other athletes and don t push them based on what your think they should be doing. The nice thing about swimming is that every person can strive to do his or her personal best. 2. Thou shalt be supportive no matter what. There is only one question to ask your child Did you have fun? If meets and practices are not fun, your child should not be forced to participate. 3. Thou shalt not coach your child. You have taken your child to a professional coach, do not undermine that coach by trying to coach your child on the side. Your job is to support, love and hug your child no matter what. The coach is responsible for the technical part of the job. You should not offer advice on technique or race strategy. This is not your area. This will only serve to confuse your child and prevent that swimmer/coach bond from forming. 4. Thou shalt only have positive things to say at a swim meet. If you are going to show up at a swim meet, you should cheer and applaud, but never criticize your child or coach. 5. Thou shalt acknowledge thy child s fears. A first swim meet, 500 free or 200 IM can be a stressful situation. It is totally appropriate for your child to be scared. Don t yell or belittle, just assure your child that the coach would not have suggested the event if your child were not ready to compete in it. 6. Thou shalt not criticize the officials. If you do not have the time or the desire to volunteer as an official, don t criticize those who are doing the best they can. 7. Honor thy child s coach. The bond between coach and swimmer is a special one, and one that contributes to your child s success as well as fun. Do not criticize the coach in the presence of your child, it will only serve to hurt your child s swimming. 8. Thou shalt not jump from team to team. The water isn t necessarily bluer at the other team s pool. Every team has its own internal problems, even teams that build champions. Children who switch from team to team are often ostracized for a long, long time by the teammates they leave behind. Often times, swimmers who do switch teams never do better than they did before they sought bluer water. 9. Thy child shalt have goals besides winning. Giving an honest effort regardless of what the outcome is, is much more important than winning. One Olympian said, My goal was to set a world record. Well, I did that, but someone else did it too, just a little faster than I did. I achieved my goal and I lost. This does not make me a failure, in fact, I am very proud of that swim. 10. Thou shalt not expect thy child to become an Olympian. There are 225,000 athletes in the United States Swimming. There are only 52 spots available for the Olympic Team every four years. Your child s odds of becoming an Olympian are 1 in 4,300. Swimming is much more than just the Olympics. Ask your coach why he/she coaches. Chances are, he/she was not an Olympian, but still got enough out of swimming that he/she wants to pass that love for the sport onto others. Swimming teaches self-discipline and sportsmanship; it builds self-esteem and fitness; it provides lifelong friendships and much more. Most Olympians will tell you that these intangibles far outweigh any medal they may have won. Swimming builds good people and you should be happy your child wants to participate.
TCST COACHING STAFF Tom Manduca Head Coach Louise Tirabassi Assistant Coach CONTACT INFORMATION 2016-2017 Tom Manduca Phone: 656-3135 Head Coach Email: TCST@alymca.org Steve Wallace Office: 795-4095 CEO, A-L YMCA Email: swallace@alymca.org Chris Shea Office: 795-4095 Senior Program Dir. Email: cshea@alymca.org Linda Pepitone Phone: 795-4095 Aquatics Director Email: lpepitone@alymca.org Auburn- Lewiston YMCA Phone: 795-4095 Links to swim information Auburn-Lewiston YMCA www.alymca.org *Please note the USA swimming anti-bullying policy in the Twin City Swim Team section on the website. Maine YMCA swim league Maine Swimming, INC http://maineymcaswimming.org/ https://www.teamunify.com/home.jsp?team=mams New England Region YMCA swimming https://www.teamunify.com/home.jsp?team=ymcane Twin Cities Swim Team Store http://www.swimoutlet.com/affiliate_storedetail_ts.asp?sid=9326 pg. 12 (revised 9/20/2017)