About

A Guide To Swimming

Welcome to the Chico Area Swim Association (CASA). This association is comprised of four distinct programs, the Chico AquaJets (CAJ), Chico Masters Swimming, the SummerJets, and the MiniJets. We encourage you to join in the multi-dimensional experience of swimming which can be enjoyed at many levels, With this handbook, we hope to answer some of your questions about the Chico AquaJet swim team, the Chico Masters Swimming, the MiniJet program, along with the differing aspects of swim meet competition.

 

Chico AquaJet History

The Chico AquaJets swim team began as a summer recreational program for Chico youngsters in 1949 under the leadership of the Chico Area Recreation and Park District (CARD). Practices were held at Sycamore Pool (One Mile) in Bidwell Park under the guidance of volunteer coaches. As interest grew, it became necessary to form a booster group. In 1953, the Chico Area Swim Association was formed and held its first Chico Invitational Swim Meet. CARD remains a supporter of our team and offers assistance in many capacities, but the CAJ is an independent entity today. We have since introduced programs such as the Chico Masters Swimming team, and the MiniJet program. The Chico Masters Swim Team is a program for adults ages 18 and over. The program offers supervised lap swimming for beginners who want to do their own program, planned practices offering an aerobic workout, and competition for those who are interested. There is technical stroke instruction to swimming available at the fitness level or for the competitive master swimmer. The MiniJet program is for swimmers and toddlers who are just learning to swim. This program is offered in April through August. Currently the CASA programs are being held in the pool at In Motion Fitness year round and at CARD?s Pleasant Valley pool during the summer. For additional information on the Chico Masters or MiniJet programs contact us at 345-SWIM.

 

Chico AquaJet's Mission

The Chico AquaJets Swim Team is a program run by the Chico Area Swim Association, a non-profit organization under the sanction of USA Swimming, Inc. (the national governing bodies for the sport). CAJ's mission is to encourage, enhance and provide a competitive swimming experience for the entire spectrum of swimmers from the beginner, who is able to swim only 25 yards to the senior, more experienced swimmer, who competes at the highest level possible. It is a group which provides the coaching, facilities, encouragement, and opportunity for youth athletes to achieve, through participation in team activities; their maximum individual potential. It also offers, for those who are less competitive, a highly rewarding and FUN group experience in the sport of swimming. The competitive swim strokes included in the program are the freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke, and butterfly, which are swum individually, in combination, and in team relays. Requirements for participation are minimal: Swimmers must be able to complete 25 yards, 1 lap of the pool. This handbook is designed to be helpful at all levels. So please review the information and enjoy the experience of competitive swimming with us.

             

Our team consists of four integral parts:  1. Swimmers 2. Parents 3. Coaches 4. The Board of Directors.  It is the combined efforts of all of these parts that make the CAJ a viable team. Swimmers are encouraged to participate and compete to the best of their abilities at team meets. They focus on improving their swimming skills and technique enabling them to swim faster and more efficiently. Parents are called upon for volunteer support, encouragement, and assisting their swimmer and the team. Coaches are to provide the swimmers with proper technique building and training experiences so as to prepare them to compete to the best of their ability. The board of directors is the governing body that oversees the setting of policies, financial management and general administration of the team.

 

 Swimmer's Responsibilities

  • Attend practice with the team on a regular basis.
  • Participate in CAJ home meets including dual meets and NVAL Championships.
  • Take an active role in advertising the positive aspects of AquaJet swimming.
  • Participate in team social activities
  • Participate in team fund-raisers.
  • Wear your CAJ cap, suit and team t-shirt at all official swim meets.
  • Communicate with your team and your coach.
  • Be courteous and respectful of the coaching staff and other team members.
  • Seek new and lasting friendships.
  • Establish high goals and actively train to achieve them.
  • Have a great time in the sport of swimming.

Parent's Responsibilities      

  • Support your swimmer in his or her dedication to swimming.
  • Support your swimmers efforts to attend all designated team swim meets.
  • Attend all parent meetings and Board of Directors meetings when appropriate.
  • Attend team social functions with your swimmer(s).
  • Participate in team fund-raisers and keep financial obligations to the team current.
  • Support the team store whenever possible. AquaJet apparel and equipment make great gifts.
  • Review memos and newsletters to stay current on upcoming events and activities.
  • Allow the coaches to do their job -coaching. If you have questions, contact them after practice hours.
  • Volunteer time to serve on various committees and work at the swim meets.
  • Communicate concerns or suggestions to the coaching staff or the Board of Directors.
  • Enjoy the sport of swimming with your child.

Workouts

Workouts are held Monday through Friday, and are voluntary. Setting up a regular schedule for your swimmer is suggested and highly encouraged since individual progress can only be attained through regular practice. The team is broken up into five different workout groups, the white group, the gold group, the navy group, the pre-senior group, and the senior group. The coaches designate the groups based on age, ability level, maturity, and experience. The majority of the workouts are held at the In Motion Fitness Pool with some workouts at a CARD pool.

 

Swim Meets

As a member team of USA Swimming, the Chico AquaJets swim team is further governed by and has responsibilities to local representatives of USA Swimming, our Local Swimming Committee (LSC), which in our area is Sierra Nevada Swimming. This LSC is comprised of approximately 50 teams and extends from Sacramento to the Oregon border. USS through Sierra Nevada Swimming sanctions most of the swim meets, which CAJ attends. Age groups are with events for both boys and girls in each age group:

  • 8 and under
  • 10 and under
  • 11-12
  • 13-14
  • 15-16
  • 17-18

From an extensive schedule, the coaching staff chooses a Team Meet per month during the fall and spring seasons, held mainly in the Sacramento area, and two Team Meets per month during the summer season, which are held around the North Valley area. The Chico AquaJets host two home swim meets, one in June and the other in August, and all CAJ swimmers are asked to participate in our team hosted meets. Although competitive participation is optional at all swim meets, CAJ swimmers are encouraged to enter as many as possible not only for contribution to the team effort but as a tool to measure individual progress.

        

CAJ is also a member of the North Valley Aquatic League (NVAL), which is made up of swim teams in Northern California. NVAL sponsored dual meets are held on Wednesday evening during the summer. Summer swimmers are especially encouraged to participate in the dual meets, since they are against another North Valley summer team. They prove to be a lot of fun as well as provide great experience for the beginning competitive swimmer. The NVAL Championships held in August is the culmination of the summer league activities, and determines the League champion. It is hoped that ALL CAJ swimmers will participate in what has become the highlight of the summer swim season.