Welcome to the Carlynton Aqua Club Wildcats.
We're looking forward to another great season of swimming and we're excited to have
your family as members of our team.
Our home pool is at the Carlynton Jr/Sr.
High School on Kings Highway in Robinson Township.
This handbook was created to help you understand and answer questions about
the sport of swimming. If at any time you need explanations or have questions
about swimming or the club, please see one of the coaches or board members.
MEETS
- MEETS are
"GAMES" in the sport of swimming. Each meet has EVENTS (Freestyle, backstroke, butterfly, breaststroke, etc.,); each event has HEATS (6 swimmers in a heat )
- Swimmers are seeded (or
lined up) according to times.
- A DUAL MEET is 2
teams competing against each other; TRI MEET is 3 teams and counts
as 2 meets; and a Quad is 4 teams and counts as 3 meets. Dual meets can
last from 2½-4 hours
- Cost – dual meet costs are
is covered in your competitive swim team registration fees.
- The number of dual meets
will vary from season to season
- Participation is expected
unless an emergency or personal conflict arises.
- Parents and swimmers are
required to sign a pledge form at the beginning of the season stating what
meets they will compete in.
- **CALL the Head Coach at any
time the night before or the morning of a meet if your child suddenly
becomes ill or cannot attend for any reason!
- ALL team members can
swim up to 3 individual events and 2 relays. The coaches decide which
events the swimmers will compete in.
Parents and swimmers may request events
but the final decision rests with the coaches.
- Registering for meets will be done electronically. Information will be provided to each
family at the start of the year.
In general, swimmers must register for a meet 7-10 days before the meet.
What to Bring to a Dual Meet:
- Blanket (a place for your
swimmers to hang out between events)
- Pen or Sharpie (to mark your
swimmers hands with their event numbers)
- Extra towels
- Entertainment for the kids
(cards, books, game boys, board games, etc., – no balls)
The Morning of a Meet
- Report to the pool at least
15 minutes before the specified warm up time.
- Check In – report on deck to
the Head Seeding parent when your family arrives.
- Events swimmers will compete
in are posted on the wall outside the pool area during home meets.
- Swimmers can write their
events on their hand or leg with marker/pen so they know what they're
swimming.
During the Meet:
- After Warm ups and
throughout the meet, swimmers are to pay attention to what event is being
called by the seeders so they know when to go sit on deck.
- During HOME meets, swimmers
age 10 and under are taken on deck by a seeding parent; swimmers age 11
and up are responsible for being on deck in time for their event.
After the Meet:
- Make sure your swimmer has
all their belongings before you leave. Get into the habit of asking if
they have their suit, goggles, cap and towel. It's amazing how forgetful
they can become.
- All families are asked to
help with clean up in the hallways, spectator area, locker rooms and
concession stand areas
INVITATIONALS
Invitationals are a great opportunity for swimmers
to lower their times, see what the competition is from other cubs and to meet
new people.
Invitationals
- Are OPTIONAL meets
that are made available to swimmers who want to compete outside of the
regular dual meet schedule.
- Charge a fee for each event.
Families are responsible for these fees that can range from $2.50 – $3.00
for individual events and $10.00 – $12.00 for Relays (relay cost is be
split among each swimmer in the relay team and billed later).
- Are hosted by a swim club
that invites other clubs to compete in a number of events for all age
swimmers.
- Attract a large number of
teams and swimmers
- May award trophies, medals
and/or ribbons to event winners.
- Trophies are usually awarded
to the top individual high point winners in each age group and some times the top team high
point trophies are given.
- Flyers about upcoming invitationals will be posted on the website, easel
board and in family folders with the what, where, how much and when
information. Check the entry deadline.
- Parents and swimmer DECIDE which events to swim. Coaches are available to help with your
swimmer's selections.
- The number of events a
swimmer may enter varies by invitational
- An invitational can last anywhere
from 5–8 hours.
- Some invitationals
are run in split sessions. Half the swimmers swim in the morning and the
other half in the afternoon making the sessions not as long .
What to Bring to an Invitational:
- Blanket and/or chairs –
(there can bee long waits in between events and swimmers are usually
housed in a gym or other open area)
- Pen (to mark your swimmer's
hand with their event numbers and heat sheet).
- Highlighter (to mark your
heat sheet).
- Heat Sheet (sold at the
front door that lists events and swimmers names).
- Extra towels.
- Entertainment for kids – no
balls!
- High carbohydrate/energy
snacks, fruit, water, Gatorade®, etc
- Concession stands are always
available with a variety of foods/drinks.
MISC. INFORMATION
- COMMUNICATION –
refer to club website on a regular basis for important updates, forms and
other information. Each family will also have a folder at the pool located
on a table in a box in front of the pool seats; however, use of email and
our website is recommended and will be a main source our the clubs
communication. Families are asked to provide an email address on their
registration form so that information can be sent in a timely manner.
Emails will not be shared and distributed as a BLIND COPY. Families
without computer access are to contact the Communications Chair so that
information posted on the web site and via email can be placed in their
folder or a phone call made to their home.
- BEHAVIOR – all
swimmers are expected to behave in a respectful and sportsman-like manner
when participating in any Carlynton Aqua Club
activity.
- During practice,
swimmers are to listen to their coach's instructions and are not disturb
other swimmers (i.e.: jumping line when swimming, pulling on another's
legs, talking unnecessarily or out of place, etc..). This also pertains
to conduct in the locker room before, during and after practice.
- At meets/invitationals, all swimmers are expected to act
accordingly – there will be no running in the halls or gymnasiums; no
ball or frisbee tossing/playing; no karate-type
kicks, punches or holds; hitting; biting or other actions that may result
in harm to another person.
- Swimmers and parents
are to report behavior problems to a coach or board member immediately. Remember,
corrective action cannot be taken unless the board is notified of an
incident.
- All swimmers will be
required to sign a CAC Swimmer’s Code of Behavior, which outlines the
expectations for behavior and consequences of not following the code.
- PARENT BEHAVIOR – all parents will be required to sign
a Parent Code of Behavior, which outlines the expectation for behavior.
In a nutshell, we ask our parents
to support our swimmers with positive praise and encouragement.
- DIRECTIONS – are
posted on our web site or see a board member or coach for a copy of
directions.
- DRIVING – most
driving distances to dual meets are 30 - 90 minutes.
- TRANSPORTATION –
anyone needing transportation to/from a dual meet for their swimmer should
see one of the coaches.
- MARK YOUR STUFF –
mark all your swimmer's belongings with their name in permanent marker –
swimsuits, towels, team shirt, swim shoes, goggles, clothing, swim bag,
etc., Pack a plastic bag to put their wet suits and towels in after the
meet.
- FUNDRAISING – consists
of meet concession stands, our annual invitational, swim lessons,
lifeguard classes and misc. fundraisers as deemed necessary by the Board.
Our annual invitational is the only mandatory fundraiser; families may pay
a $50.00 Opt-Out Fee if unable to attend.
- VOLUNTEERING – all families are expected to serve on
a CAC committee and to serve as volunteers at meets and other activities.
The Board will determine the volunteer requirement at the start of each
season.
Remember, we can only have
a successful season if everyone helps!
There is a $50 volunteer deposit that will be returned at the end
of the season if your family volunteer commitment has been met.
- BANQUET – the Club
holds a banquet at the end of each swim season.
PARENTS and VOLUNTEERING
Our swimmers' parents are the heartbeat of our Club. Without your support
the club will not succeed.
Swimming is a family sport – you'll be spending a good part of the day
together during the meets. You can make this time go more quickly when you're
involved.
Parent volunteers are needed at our invitational, home meets and away meets and
also with our Invitational Planning Committee and Banquet Committee.
Below are the positions that are crucial in making our meets successful:
ON DECK:
- Referee (1) –
official that oversees the entire meet and enforces rules( training
required)
- Starter (1) –
Announces and controls the start of each event( training required)
- Stroke & Turn Judge
(2-4) – watches swimmers strokes and turns to insure they are done
according to the rules (training required)
- Timers (6-18) – uses
a stop watch to time swimmers in their lanes during each event.
- Head Timer (1-2) –
oversees the timers & has two back up stop watches if a timer misses
the start of an event or a stopwatch malfunctions.
- Security (1 male & 1
female) – polices the area and sees that no one is running, pushing,
or misbehaving in the halls, locker rooms or spectator areas.
- Seeding Persons (2-6) – One distributes event cards; Two round up swimmers & take them to
the seating benches on deck area and One to stand by the benches and
escort swimmers to the blocks before each race.
- Runners (4) – take
time result sheets from the timers and gives to the computer table
OFF DECK:
- Concession Stand (4-6) – sell food items and 50/50 tickets.
- Scorer Keepers (3-4) – operates computer and electronic score board.
- Awards Table (2) –
puts labels on ribbons for all participants.
- Set Up Before & Clean
Up after (ALL)
Families will be contacted by the Meet Director at least 1 week before a
dual meet to confirm availability and job duty. Families new to swimming will
be trained in the fall for the positions of timer, head timer, seeder and deck
runners.
There is a $50 fee for families that fail to work the required number of
meets during any season. The number of
meets will be set by the board at the start of the season.
CHAMPIONSHIP MEET
- The Championship meet is the
individual goal for each swimmer to achieve.
- Any swimmer that competes in
one half of our regular meets (1-2 must be an away meet which will be stipulated
in the beginning of the season) and our invitational, is eligible to
attend Championships
- It is not mandatory for a
swimmer to participate in Championships.
- The coaching staff will
inform the swimmer and parents that he/she has qualified for Championships.
- The Championship Meet is
hosted by a WPCSL swim club in mid/late-March at a local
college/university if available.
- Qualifying swimmers from all
WCPSL teams compete in Championships.
- Parents are responsible for
all entry fees, transportation and lodging.
- If necessary, the Club will
reserve a block of rooms at a local hotel. Information regarding the hotel
and room rates will be distributed far enough in advance to make
reservations.
AGE GROUPS*
| Age |
Event Lengths |
6 and under |
Swim 25 yd events |
7 / 8 years |
Swim 25 yd events, 50 Free & 100 IM |
9 / 10 years |
Swim 50 & 100 yd events |
11 / 12 years |
Swim 50, 100 & 200 yd events |
13 / 14 years |
Swim 50, 100, & 200 yd events |
15 to 18 years |
Swim 50 , 100 & 200 yd events |
*Age as of October 1st determines what group your child will swim in.
10 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)
I. Thou shalt not impose thy ambitions on thy child.
Remember that swimming is your child's activity. Improvements and progress
occur 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
you think they should be doing. The nice thing about swimming is every person
can strive to do their personal best and benefit from the process of
competitive swimming.
II. Thou shalt be supportive no matter what.
There is only one question to ask your child after a practice or a competition
- "Did you have fun?" If meets and practices are not fun, your child
should not be forced to participate.
III. Thou shalt not coach thy child.
You are involved in one of the few youth sports programs that offer
professional coaching, do not undermine the professional coach by trying to
coach your child on the side. Your job is to provide love and support and a
safe place to return at the end of the day. 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 or any other area that is not
yours. And above all, never pay your child for a performance. This will only
serve to confuse your child concerning the reasons to strive for excellence and
weaken the swimmer/coach bond.
IV. Thou shalt only have positive things to say at a swimming meet.
If you are going to show up at a swimming meet, you should be encouraging, but
never criticize your child or the coach. Both of them know when mistakes have
been made. And remember "yelling at" is not the same as
"cheering for".
V. Thou shalt acknowledge thy child's fears.
A first swimming 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 was not ready to compete in it. Remember your job is to love and support
your child through all of the swimming experience.
VI. Thou shalt not criticize the officials.
If you do not care to devote the time or do not have the desire to volunteer as
an official, don't criticize those who are doing the best they can.
VII. 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.
VIII. Thou shalt be loyal and
supportive of thy team.
It is not wise for parents to take their swimmers and to jump from team to
team. The water isn't necessarily bluer in another 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 and are slowly received by new team mates. Often times
swimmers who do switch teams never do better than they did before they sought
the bluer water.
IX. Thy child shalt have goals besides winning.
Most successful swimmers are those who have learned to focus on the process and
not the outcome. 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. Does this make me a failure?
No, in fact I am very proud of that swim." What a tremendous outlook to
carry on through life.
X. Thou shalt not expect thy child to become an Olympian.
There are 250,000 athletes in USA Swimming and USA Swimming keeps a record of the Top 100
all time swimming performance by age group. Only 2% of the swimmers listed in
the all-time Top 100 10 & Under age group make it to the Top 100 in the
17-18 age group and of those only a small percentage will become elite level,
world class athletes. There are only 52 spots available for the Olympic Team
every four years. Your child's odds of becoming an Olympian is about .0002%.
POSITIVE PARENTING TIPS
- Your child needs your emotional,
physical, and financial support. Be liberal in providing this support.
- Support, but do not push
your child.
- Understand development –
long-term development as an athlete, and growth and development as it
impacts performance.
- Be realistic in terms of
expectations; factor in age and skill level; be aware of your child's
perception of your expectations.
- Emphasize performance and
effort, not just outcome. The athlete only has control over his/her
performance. Define and measure success as giving maximal effort and as
personal improvement.
- Keep winning in
perspective.
- Do not bribe.
- Give plenty of encouraging and rewarding statements. Criticize sparingly.
- View swimming as an arena in which to teach your child about commitment, hard work, and coping with adversity.
- Work to form an effective Coach-Athlete-Parent Triangle.