Five Seasons Swim Team Handbook Informational Meeting & Walk-In Registration Sunday April 25, 2010 7:00pm 8:00pm 2010 Swim Team Handbook.docx 1 of 11 2/28/2010 3:55 PM
Table of Contents Parent Information...3 Parent Board...6 Coaching Staff...7 Volunteer Descriptions...8 2010 Practice Schedule...9 2010 Summer Swim Season Schedule...10 2010 Registration Form...11 2010 Swim Team Handbook.docx 2 of 11 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 Previous years' swimmers and year round members will have first priority for swim team openings. Previous swimmers must complete the attached registration and return it by March 31 to be guaranteed a spot. 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. Once new swimmers have passed the swim test, they will be put into a lottery system for available swim team openings. Swimmers will NOT be chosen based on ability. Previous year's swimmers that do not sign up by the March 31 deadline will not be required to complete the swim test. However, these swimmers will be put in the lottery. The lottery will be completed Friday May 14. Why do we have a lottery system? 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. 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 swim team fees? $100 for the first child, $170 for two children and a limit of $220 for a family. 2010 Swim Team Handbook.docx 3 of 11 2/28/2010 3:55 PM
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 re working! In addition, it s a great way to meet other parents and get to know the swimmers! Guidelines: All swimmers will swim in a minimum of two meets. All parents are REQUIRED TO WORK AT 3 MEETS. 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 is strongly encouraged. These meets allow swimmers to swim in more events and events of their choice. Attend practices regularly and be punctual. Respect coaches, teammates and other swimmers. Please bring any comments or concerns regarding coaching 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. 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 (513) 777-7967 Communication 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 2010 Swim Team Handbook.docx 4 of 11 2/28/2010 3:55 PM
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 and 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 Contact information for the head coach is available in this handbook. Please use email and hand written notes as opposed to verbal messages. 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. 2010 Swim Team Handbook.docx 5 of 11 2/28/2010 3:55 PM
2010 Parent Board Co-President: Co- President: Volunteer Coordinator: Social Chairs: Records Management: Photographer: 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 Carol Oberholzer Sheila Kidd Julie Lockett If you are interested in being on the Five Seasons Swim Team Parent board, please contact one of the Co-Presidents. 2010 Swim Team Handbook.docx 6 of 11 2/28/2010 3:55 PM
2010 Coaching Staff Head Coach Kari Smith: This will be my 3 rd season here at 5 seasons and my 1 st year as head coach. I am a 3 rd year communication major at the University of Kentucky. I started swimming when I was 5 years old for the Landen Stingrays. I then went on to swim for the Countryside Torpedoes for my club team. Then for high school I swam for Kings High School. My favorite events were distant freestyle and backstroke. My favorite swimming memory was winning summer league championships with all the fantastic little sharks that swam their heart out! I am looking forward to seeing everyone again this summer and for the new faces here at 5 seasons!! To contact me, please email smithka89@uky.edu. Associate Head Coach Alex Ollila: I am 21 and I am a 4th year marketing student at the University of Cincinnati. I started swimming at the age of five with the Landen stingrays. I then competed with the Countryside Torpedoes and Kings High School. After High School I swam for the Bearcats for two seasons. While swimming for the Bearcats my favorite events were the mile and the 500 freestyle. My favorite memory from swimming would have to be making my first national cut. Swimming has always been a big part of my life and I am very excited to continue this aspect of my life through coaching Five Seasons this summer. Assistant Coach Austin Bessey: I am graduating from Loveland High School and going to Ohio State in the fall! I started swimming for Harpers when I was 6 and switched to 5 Seasons when it opened. I started swimming for the Sycamore Flying Fish in 7th grade and then switched to Mason Manta Rays at the start of my sophomore year. Both junior and senior year I was on two state relays. My favorite events are the 50 and 100 free. My Best swimming memory was dominating at summer league Champs last summer. I am looking forward to another successful league meet and another undefeated season. Assistant Coach Lindsey Heim: I am a senior at Mason High School and will be attending Auburn University next fall. I have been swimming for seven years and loved every minute of it. I have swum for the Cincinnati Marlins, Mason Manta Rays, and Mason High School. My favorite stroke is butterfly and my favorite events are the 100 and 200 I.M. My favorite swimming memory is this year at Mason at my last conference meet (after we won for the third time in row) and got awarded the trophy and we all jumped in the pool. This will be my third summer coaching and I cannot wait. I am excited to see all the kids drop time and for everyone to have a fun summer! Assistant Coach Sydnee Eberly: I am a junior (soon to be senior!) at Ursuline Academy. I started swimming when I was three years old at Wetherington and fell in love with the sport. I started swimming year round at Blue Ash YMCA and then switched to Countryside YMCA. My favorite stroke is freestyle and I loved to swim the 200 freestyle. My favorite memories of swimming were qualifying for YMCA short course nationals in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida and going to the beach with my teammates. I look forward to helping out the kids on the team improve and just have fun! 2010 Swim Team Handbook.docx 7 of 11 2/28/2010 3:55 PM
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. NOTE: A fee of $50 will be charged for each meet not worked. ** 2010 Swim Team Handbook.docx 8 of 11 2/28/2010 3:55 PM
Practice Schedule Monday, May 17 Friday, June 4, 2010 (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 17 June 4. 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 7 Thursday, July 22: 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 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. 2010 Swim Team Handbook.docx 9 of 11 2/28/2010 3:55 PM
2010 Summer Swim Season Schedule (subject to change - please note another meet may be added) Sunday, April 25 Informational Meeting & 7:00-8:00 pm Walk-In Registration Monday, May 17 Optional Evening Practices Begin 6:00 pm Monday, May 17 New Family Parent Meeting 6:00 pm Kast-a-way Suit Fitting 6:30 8:30 pm Saturday, June 5 Practice Swim Meet 9-11am Required for ages 10 and under Monday, June 7 Morning Practices Begin 7:30 am Tuesday, June 8 AWAY at Fairfield City 5:30 pm arrival time* Tuesday, June 15 Swim Team Dive-In Movie 8:00 pm Thursday, June 17 AWAY at Montgomery 5:30 pm arrival time* Fri/Sat, June 18/19 Rolling Hills Invitational TBA Thursday, June 24 HOME vs. Four Bridges 5:00 pm arrival time* Tuesday, June 29 HOME vs. Dutchland Woods 5:00 pm arrival time* Tuesday, July 6 HOME vs. Wetherington 5:00 pm arrival time* Thursday, July 8 HOME vs. Landen 5:00 pm arrival time* Tuesday, July 13 AWAY vs. Mason 5:00 pm arrival time* Thursday, July 15 HOME vs. Blue Ash 5:00 pm arrival time* Saturday, July 17 Beckett Ridge Invitational TBA Wednesday, July 21 Championships Psych Practice Regular AM practice Fri/Sat, July 23/24 Championships at Miami Univ. TBA Monday, August 2 Awards Evening 6:00 pm * All meets begin at 6:30 pm. Warm up at home meets is 5:30-6:00 pm. Warm up for away meets is 6:00-6:30 pm. 2010 Swim Team Handbook.docx 10 of 11 2/28/2010 3:55 PM
2010 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 6/1/10 # years competitive swimming Other swim teams M F / / M F / / M F / / Pricing: $100/first child $170/two children $220/three or more children VOLUNTEERING: (Please indicate 1st, 2nd, & 3rd choices to volunteer - see handbook for details) ( ) Starter or Referee ( ) Age Group Parent ( ) Scorekeeper/computer ( ) Stroke/Turn Judge ( ) Timer ( ) Ribbons ( ) Runner ( ) Board member Please initial that you agree and understand each of the following: I have read and understand the Swim Team Handbook. (To be given out at parent meeting 4/25) Volunteer Commitment: All parents are REQUIRED to work three meets. A FEE OF $50 WILL BE CHARGED FOR EACH MEET NOT WORKED Swim Meet Commitment: All swimmers are REQUIRED TO SWIM IN A MINIMUM OF 2 MEETS. 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. 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. 2010 Swim Team Handbook.docx 11 of 11 2/28/2010 3:55 PM