Northampton Area Swimming
Team Handbook
September 2007
Table of Contents
§ Mission , Philosophy, and
Swimming on the Team
§ Descriptions of Practice Groups
Mission
It is the
mission of Northampton Area Swimming to provide a quality and affordable swim
team program to members of the community.
We value the members of the swimming community, including swimmers and
their families, and the staff and volunteers who serve them. We are committed to excellence, and to
fostering a lifelong love of swimming.
Philosophy
Northampton Area
Swimming is a program in which swimmers are developed as
people and as athletes. Our program is
not only physically challenging, but is a program, which includes
character-building, leadership development, self-discipline, and personal
growth. We strive for excellence, as
well as personal and team successes both in and out of the water. We are a cooperative group with shared and
valued objectives, which includes swimmers and their families, coaches,
volunteers, and the community. Many
opportunities for swimming, competitions, goal-setting, and other team
activities help swimmers reach their highest potentials.
Swimming
on the Team
Swimming is
challenging physically and a big commitment for swimmers and families, but
being part of the swim team is fun.
Swimmers will get to know teammates, coaches, and other swimming
families during training, meets, and special events. Swimmers will get to know swimmers from other
teams at meets, too, and may build friendships to last a lifetime.
On our team, we
believe everyone is a winner. The first
place swimmer in a competition is not the only winner, as NAS teammates helped
provide support and encouragement for that swimmer in training at during
competition. Improvement by every
swimmer is our goal: in addition to improvement
in time in swimming (best times), swimmers improve and excel in other areas,
such as in sportsmanship, in team spirit, in focus, in practice habits, in
self-esteem, or in attitude. We value and
recognize all of those contributions of each individual swimmer - everyone is a
winner.
Descriptions of Practice Groups
Novice Team and 8
& Unders: for younger swimmers and
swimmers with limited knowledge and skills in competitive swimming.
Prerequisites include the ability to swim 2 consecutive lengths of the pool
(one free, one back) and a minimum age of 6. Swimmers in this group will learn
the four competitive strokes with proper starts and turns, as well as drills
and skills to help develop good swimming technique. Swimmers at this level are
expected to compete at the appropriate meets hosted by our team, and other
meets as ready. Practice is offered 3 times per week (1 hour each), MWF
6:30-7:30 pm; attendance is strongly encouraged.
Novice
Plus: for the older Novice swimmers (9+),
who will need the additional swim time for endurance and for 8 & Under
swimmers who have more experience in competitive swimming and are ready for
additional practice time (competitive strokes are good/legal and swimmers will
benefit from some endurance training).
Extra ½ hour swim time MWF 7:30-8:00 pm.
Age-Group
Team: for swimmers with experience
swimming all four competitive strokes, as well as legal IMs, turns, and starts.
Generally, swimmers in this group are aged 9-12 (younger swimmers with 10 &
Under Age-group cut times may swim in this group). Some less experienced teens
may also swim with this group. Swimmers need to be able to swim 200 yards
continuously and must have the ability to read and follow a pace clock.
Training will include endurance building, developing efficiency, gaining speed,
and competitive techniques. Swimmers at this level are expected to participate
in the appropriate meets hosted by our team and any Championship meet for which
they have qualified. Practice is offered 5 times per week (1.5 hours each),
M,W,F 6:30-8:00 pm, Tu,Th 7:00-8:30 pm; attendance at a minimum of 3 per week
is strongly encouraged.
Senior
Team: for swimmers (mostly 13+ or any
with Open/13 & Over cut times), knowledgeable, experienced, and proficient
in training and competition and dedicated to the sport. Training includes
intense swimming, distance and sprint work, numerous drills to improve
efficiency, more advanced competitive techniques, and development of pace
strategies. Swimmers at this level are expected to participate in the
appropriate meets hosted by our team and any Championship meet for which they
have qualified. Practice is offered 5 times per week (1.5 – 2 hours each), MWF
6:30-8:30 pm and T/Th 7-8:30 pm attendance at a minimum of 4 per week is
strongly encouraged.
High
School: for Senior swimmers that swim
for their High School team for part of the season. High School swimmers are
expected to participate in the appropriate meets hosted by our team and any
Championship meet for which they have qualified. Practice is offered 5 times
per week (1.5 – 2 hours each), MWF 6:30-8:30 pm and T/Th 7-8:30 pm.
Practice
Info: All swimmers are expected to be on
time for practice and prepared with caps (a must for longer hair) and/or
goggles. Other equipment is recommended,
including fins and pull-buoys. Parents
are not allowed on deck during practice for all groups.
Swim
Meets: All swimmers and families are
expected to participate in the meets hosted by our team (set-up &/or take
down and work at sessions) and make donations for the food table for each meet,
and Age Group and Senior Swimmers are expected to participate in any
Championship meets for which qualified.
All other meets offered are optional, but meets are recommended to give
swimmers and coaches more skill focus at practice sessions. Swimmers are expected to have meet attire,
including a team cap for all meets.
The Spring/Summer season begins in April and
ends late in July or early August with Championships. The Fall/Winter season begins in September
and ends in late February or early March.
Practice
Information
Coaches may
determine practice groups and lane assignments for swimmers. Coaches determine practice groups based on
many factors including the swimmer's willingness or desire to swim in a certain
lane, practice attendance and habits, age, and emotional and physical
development, as well as swimming ability.
Please support your swimmer and the coach. If you have a question or concern about a
practice group or lane, please speak to your child’s coach or the head coach.
Swimmers
will need to be dressed appropriately for practice and should have the minimum
necessary equipment, including a practice swim suit (the competition swim suit
should be saved for competition), goggles (which are tested and adjusted prior
to practice), a swim cap (if hair covers the swimmer’s eyes), and a towel. Other optional equipment for practice
includes deck shoes, fins (for use during kick sets), and a kick board,
pull-buoy and/or kickbuoy (for use during kick or pull sets).
Swimmers
are expected to arrive to practices ON TIME.
It is a disruption to swimmers and coaches when late-comers arrive to
swim and it is not always possible to get the late-comers into the water right
away. When swimmers are late, they miss
stretching and announcements, and lane assignments are made based on swimmers
at practice on time.
Parents
are not allowed on deck during practice for all groups. Parents of young children should come into
practice at the very beginning to see that their swimmers have "made
it" to the pool and should come back for the last few minutes, so your
swimmers know you are there for them when finished to help and supervise in the
locker room. Parents should plan to attend swim meets to see swimming and progress. Swimmers who are not ready to be away from
their parents for the length of a swim practice are probably not quite ready
for the team.
U.S.
Swimming
U.S.
Swimming is the national governing body for amateur competitive swimming in the
United States. It provides programs and
services for members, supporters, affiliates, and the interested public, but,
most importantly to swimmers, USS sponsors swim meets up to the Olympics. U.S. Swimming requires coaches to be
certified and U.S. Swimming provides teams with insurance.
U.S.
Swimmers pay an annual fee (currently $55) and receive a membership card, as
well as Splash Magazine, a quarterly publication from U.S. Swimming.
Our team is
a club member of U.S. Swimming and we pay a yearly fee, as well. Our member benefits include a copy of the US
Swimming Rules and Regulations, a certificate of insurance, and a yearly
subscription to Splash Magazine.
USS
sanctions swim meets, protecting swimmers and teams, providing fair and
equitable conditions of competition, and promoting uniformity in the
sport. Swimmers compete with those of
like ability usually. At times, swimmers
compete with others from a wide geographic area, and no swimmer has an unfair
advantage over another under U.S. sanctioning.
On our
team, swimmers must register for USS.
Our team provides coaching and support for swimmers at meets on our U.S.
Meet Schedule. Team swimmers warm-up
together in assigned lanes and are supervised and instructed by our
coaches. There are many teams at most
U.S. meets, sometimes from a huge area.
Swimmers can choose events for some of the meets, and there are entry
fees for every meet and/or event, and $1.00 fee per swimmer per meet
administrative fee. Sometimes, coaches
will enter swimmers into appropriate events for meets and families are
responsible for their entry fees.
(Currently, meet fees are $4.00-$5.00 per event, per meet). Families are responsible for their own
travel, hotel, etc. NO NEW MEET ENTRIES
WILL BE ACCEPTED FROM SWIMMERS/FAMILIES IF THEY HAVE ANY OUTSTANDING BALANCES
(PREVIOUS MEET ENTRY FEES AND MORE).
There will be no changing of events after entering (or refunds of entry
fees). For meets hosted by our team,
swimmers will pay a reduced entry fee, and parents of every swimmer are
expected to work at the meet.
Parents are responsible for helping to fulfill any timing
assignments for our team during meet sessions in which their children are
swimming. Our team receives timing
assignments at many U.S. meets. There may
also be a fine for scratching from Championship meets after the entry has gone
in, if team assignments were made based on our team’s number of swimmers entered
into the meet.
The Fall/Winter Season (September
through February or March) is the Short Course season and most meets take place
in 25 yard venues. The Spring/Summer
Season (April through July/August) is the Long Course season and many meets and
all New England Championship meets are in 50 meter venues, although our team
will continue to practice in a 25 yard course and will attend short course
meets, as well.
Websites
for more info: www.neswim.com and www.usaswimming.org
Swim Meet
Responsibilities
Swimmers will need
certain gear for meets. All swimmers are
required to be in a team uniform at all meets.
This uniform includes a team swim cap, if a cap is worn, and a team swim
suit or plain black swim suit.
Often, a swimmer’s competition suit will be smaller than their practice
suit for less resistance. Team caps are
always available for purchase at a reasonable cost and MUST be worn in
competition when a cap is worn. Swimmers
will be scratched if not in team attire for meets. Other gear to bring to meets includes deck
shoes, extra goggles, extra towels (at least 2), sweats (to keep warm in
between races), and a book to read or games to play (between races).
Swimmers are expected to arrive on time for
warm-up and stay until the end of any meet or session in which entered to swim
(unless excused by coaches). Swimmers
are expected to know when it is time to swim and be in the proper location for
doing so at the proper time. Swimmers
should be supportive of their teammates and should be cheering during the meet,
or resting somewhere near the team preparing for the next race. After every meet, swimmers are expected to
help clean up after themselves and our team, including picking up and throwing
away any trash in our area, and help with any team equipment or team
“duties.”
At all meets hosted by our team, swimmers and
families are to help with the set-up and/or the clean up. This includes food booth set-up, equipment
and touch pad set-up; and clean-up of the pool area, stands or bleachers,
locker rooms and hallways, and take-down and clean-up of the food booth area or
concessions. Parents are required to
help at all meets hosted by our team with duties such as timing, admissions,
food booth, running, awards, computer table, etc.
Meet
attendance: swimmers and parents are
expected to attend meets hosted by our team.
If you cannot make it to the meets we host, you will be assessed a fine
of $50 (unless prior arrangements are made to help before or after the
meet). Any swimmer in the Age-Group or
Senior Program is expected to attend any Championship Meet for which qualified
to swim. Anyone with other plans should
let coaches know as early as possible in writing and should know that they may
be ineligible to swim for the team in the future.
Coaches
determine all relays for all meets. In
many circumstances, the relay determination will be according to times and the
computer will "pick" the fastest relays; however, coaches may choose
relays based on the competition, practice or meet attendance, or other
factors. In most cases, swimmers will
not know their placement in relays until the meet or the session in which the
relay is scheduled.
Parent
Information
The Parents’ most significant job is to
support your swimmer(s); encourage them, love them, be there for them no matter
what or how they do; always try to be positive and focus on the positives;
leave the coaching to the coaches.
Swim
team is a family program and parents’ support is needed. In addition to getting swimmers to practice
and on time, parents should talk to swimmers frequently about announcements, as
well as check emails and websites for swim team information. All parents on the team are expected to
volunteer throughout the season; all parents are required to help with team
fundraisers; swim team could not run without the help of many. Everyone is required to do their fair share.
Communication
is on-going throughout the season. The
team uses email frequently and we hope to have an email address for everyone on
the team (of course, this method of communication requires you to open and read
your mail). Information also gets posted
on the team’s website: www.naswim.org. Swim team mailboxes or family folders are
also made for each family for info and meet ribbons, etc. Please check your folder often. There will be occasional parent meetings, and
parents are encouraged to come. Please
try to communicate with the coach when you disagree with something, rather than
complain to other parents. When another
parent brings a complaint to you, encourage them to go to the coach. Remember, the problem will only be solved if
the coach is included and the success of our team depends on the cooperation of
everyone involved.
Parents
can support their swimmer(s) and the team by attending the parent orientation
meeting in the beginning of each season and volunteering at meets and other
team activities. Parents are expected to
attend meets hosted by our team. If you
cannot make it to the meets we host, you will be assessed a fine of $50 (unless
prior arrangements are made to help before or after the meet). Even though it may appear that there is
enough help at any given meet or event, often it is the same parents stepping up
because no one else has offered and they know the team can’t function
successfully without help. Volunteers
are always needed and expected in team activities such as meets, fundraisers,
special team activities, etc. just to name a few. Your help is required and expected.
All
NAS swim team parents are members of a volunteer group dedicated to the
interests and growth of the NAS Swim Team and it is expected that they will
support the swimmers, coaches, and swim team parents and families.
Parents
may help with banquets, the organization of volunteers for dual meets and
championships, fundraising, concession stands, Parent Orientation meetings,
hotel reservations, special events for swimmers, or suit fittings. Parents help plan many of the “extras”
throughout the season.
Swim
Team Parent Resources/Info can be found at www.neswim.com
and www.usaswimming.org
Meet
Jobs and Descriptions:
Most
jobs only require minimal “on the job” training, which will be provided. Jobs
requiring advance training are noted.
Most jobs are fun and will help pass the time when you are waiting to
see your child swim. If we have more
help than needed, some jobs may be broken up into ½ sessions (there are jobs
that are always the entire session, though, too, including computer and
officiating).
Admissions: Arrive to duty 30 minutes before warm-up,
sell programs and meet admission to spectators, help direct swimmers and
coaches to the pool (approx. ½ session).
Announcer:
Arrive to duty 10 minutes
before warm-up to make announcements during
warm-up periods and during the meet
session.
Awards: Arrive
to duty for start of meet, organize awards, then label as results and labels
are available (will last a bit longer than the session for last awards).
Bullpen: Arrive
to duty approx. 10 minutes before meet start to organize swimmers to get behind
the right blocks/in the right lane and heat, etc. for all events in the
session.
Computer: Advance
training needed (let us know if interested); arrive to duty for warm-up, enter
data as needed (scratches, stop watch times, etc), print heat sheets, results,
etc. throughout session and until results are complete.
Concessions: Arrive
to duty before warm-up for set-up, organize table for sales, customer service,
etc.
throughout meet
Console: Advance
training needed (let us know if interested); arrive to duty before meet start,
watch all races and heats, reset timing console for each heat, etc. throughout
sessions.
Hospitality: Organize
and attend to hospitality room for coaches and officials, order meals,
plan
menus, as needed; arrange water and beverages to be offered to timers and deck
workers at least twice during each session.
Marshals: Arrive
to duty 10 minutes before warm-up, supervise all warm-up sessions for safety.
Officiating: Advance
training needed (let us know if interested); arrive to duty for warm-up, attend
officials’ meeting, work during entire session as directed by the meet referee.
Results
Poster/Heat Sheets:Arrive
to duty 15 minutes before the meet, post heat sheets in various locations
at/before
meet start and post results in various locations throughout the meet as results
are printed.
Runner: Arrive
to duty 15 minutes before the meet, distribute timers’ sheets, and collect
timers’ sheets and bring to computer table at the conclusion of each event.
Timer: Arrive
to duty for warm-up (the timer’s meeting will happen during warm-up), attend
meeting, time each heat, record times, etc. throughout session. Also, back up timer and/or head timer
included in timing.
Before
the Meet:
·
Pack
and transport supplies from JFK to Smith
·
Shop
for meet necessities for Food Table
·
Printing
of programs.
·
Make
meet signs, including admission, program prices, heat sheet, results, food
table signs, etc.
·
Meet
publicity (before and after) – contact newspaper(s), TV, etc.
·
Coaches’
packets – prepare packet for coaches with meet info, programs, warm-ups, etc.
·
Order and pick-up awards.
·
Plan, prepare for coaches and officials’
hospitality at meet.
NAS
Coaches and More
Our coaches have many years of experience and have been with the team
since it began. All have coached with
other teams in the area previously, as well.
- Sherry Wingfield is the Head Coach with over 20 years of experience,
also having coached high school swimming in the past, YMCA swimming, and
most recently was Head Coach of the New England Zone Team. Sherry is active on the Board of New
England Swimming and currently is the New England Swimming Senior Coaches’
Representative.
- Ed Wingfield (Sherry’s husband) began coaching before Sherry with
some breaks in coaching since, but has been active in the sport as a
swimming official, swim parent, and team web master. Ed maintains and up-dates the NAS
website.
- Donna Link has also been active in the sport for many years prior to
her coaching career as a swimmer herself and a swim parent. She started coaching several years ago
for another local team before NAS started.
Our coaches all maintain coach certification and continue their
coach education through the American Swimming Coaches Association, clinics,
and other resources.
Coaches all work with swimmers in every group and get to know every
swimmer on the team. Coaches will work together to help educate
families and swimmers about all aspects of the team: training and terminology, strokes and stroke
technique, specific swimming skills and drills, meets and competition, team
goals and philosophy, goal-setting, sportsmanship, and positive attitudes, to
name a few. We strive to create positive
experiences for all and we welcome feedback at any time.