Parent Handbook

Grand Junction Dolphin Swim Club

General Rules and Regulations

Introduction

We are glad you are here! The purpose of this handbook is twofold: to explain to new members just what the Dolphin Swim Club is and to outline various policies that affect all swimmers, year after year. All families should read it so that they may become familiar with important facts and rules of the club.

Why Swim?

            The United States Swimming (USA) age group swimming program is America’s largest program of guided fitness activity for children. Age group swimming builds a strong foundation for a lifetime of good health, by teaching healthy fitness habits.

            We offer a guided age-group youth program for children of all ages, from the beginning swimmer to the most competitive and skilled swimmer.

            When a young person becomes a member of the Dolphin Swim Club, he/she learns the values of sportsmanship and teamwork. Swimming, through the Dolphin Swim Club, provides the opportunity to acquire physical, emotional, and intellectual skills that will last a lifetime.

Physical Development

·           Many physicians and pediatricians consider swimming the ideal activity for developing muscular and skeletal growth, as well as major organ systems. Why do doctors like it so much?

·           Swimming develops high quality aerobic endurance, the most important key to physical fitness. In other sports, an hour of practice may yield as little as 10 minutes of meaningful exercise. Age group swimming teams use every precious minute of practice time developing fitness and teaching skills.

·           Swimming does a better job in proportional muscular development by using all the body’s major muscle groups. No other sport does this as well.

·           Swimming enhances children’s natural flexibility (at a time when they ordinarily begin to lose it) by exercising all of their major joints through a full range of motion.

·           Swimming helps develop superior coordination because it requires combinations of complex movements of all parts of the body, enhancing harmonious muscle function, grace, and fluidity of movement.

·           Swimming is the most injury-free of all children’s sports.

·           Swimming is a sport that will bring kids fitness and enjoyment for life. Participants in Master’s Swimming programs are still training and racing well into their 80s.

Intellectual Competence

            In addition to physical development, children can develop greater intellectual competence by participating in a guided program of physical activity. Learning and using swimming skills engages the thinking processes. As they learn new techniques, children must develop and plan movement sequences. They improve by exploring new ideas. They learn that greater progress results from using their creative talents. Self-expression can be just as much physical as intellectual. Finally, their accomplishments in learning and using new skills contribute to a stronger self-image.

"Preparation for Life" by Phil Hansel Reprinted from Swimming World magazine, Feb. 1988

            Not everything we do in life is a pleasant experience. Not everything we do is beneficial. Not everything is productive. Not everything is a nurturing, loving experience. Life is full of negative, destructive experiences. Rejection, defeat, and failure surround all of us. The trick is to be prepared to deal with this side of life and learn to overcome discouragement.

            I have always felt that the great value of swimming as a sport is that it prepares one for life. The total swimming experience is made up of people, attitudes, beliefs, work habits, fitness, health, winning and losing, and so much more. Swimming is a cross section of lifetime experiences. It can provide so many learning situations. A swimmer learns to deal with pressure and stress, sometimes self-imposed, sometimes applied by others. One learns to deal with success and failure. One learns teamwork and discipline.

            Swimming becomes a self-achievement activity. There is only one person in the water in a given lane in any race. The responsibility for performance ultimately lies with the individual. How well the individual has prepared physically and mentally to a large degree will determine the performance level.

            Many swimming experiences can be of the disruptive, discouraging type. At least a young swimmer learns that this is part of life, and the swimmer must learn to cope.

            By learning how to handle frustration and disappointment, the young swimmer gains confidence. The swimmer learns dedication and commitment. Through perseverance, a swimmer learns to overcome adversity. All of these experiences tend to develop an individual who is better able to handle life’s hardships and face problems.

            As coaches and parents, we tend to preach that hard work will lead to victory. We preach that clean living and proper training such as diet, sleep, and regular attendance at workouts will lead to winning. However, in the end for a productive successful life, these are probably truthful concepts that do not always work in short term situations.

            We have all been in situations where a bigger, more bestowed poor work upon person habits is the victor in race after race. Alternatively, we have known others who never seem to study, yet get good grades. We have known business people who never seem to lift a finger, yet for one reason or another, they close deal after deal.

            These things just are not fair. Yet this is one of the valuable lessons that swimmers learn: "Life is not fair." We do not all start out in life with the same physical, mental, emotional and financial resources. In that respect, "Life is not fair."

            A swimmer must learn what is fair for one is not necessarily fair for another. A swimmer learns we are all different and each individual controls his or her own destiny. A swimmer learns to emphasize given talents and skills. A swimmer learns to improve on a regular basis. By not setting limits and restrictions, this improvement will surely lead to success. A swimmer learns if he or she does their best, then there are no failures. A swimmer learns to set realistic goals. Once a goal is reached, then new goals must be established. A swimmer learns that effort becomes an individual crusade. If the ultimate goal is an Olympic gold medal, then with the proper talent, dedication, belief, and support, all swimmers believe it can be done. This is the positive achievement side of swimming that I like so much. Through experience in swimming, our young people learn attitudes and habits that will remain with them throughout the rest of their life. Most swimmers learn to be "can do" people.

            Generally, these positive attitudes, belief in self and solid work habits will produce a terrific adult. These former swimmers enrich our society and our world, as they become adults. Because of their training, they handle life with a smile. They contribute time and energy to others in every way imaginable.

            We can be proud of what swimming contributes to this world. Though "life is not fair," a swimmer knows how to deal with that and can achieve a balance. For the most part, former swimmers grow up to be ordinary people, but they always have that extra plus from the swimming experience.

            We are different and can be proud of it. It is a pity and truly "unfair" that thousands and thousands of young people are missing the swimming experience. We must open our programs to everyone. We must find ways to share our fantastic sport.

History of the Grand Junction Dolphin Swim Club

            The Grand Junction Dolphin Swim Club has been an important part of the Grand Valley for nearly fifty years! No one recalls precisely when the club was first formed, but early participants believe the swim club formed in 1951 when Jack and Jill Crawford began holding informal competitions at the old Moyer Pool in Grand Junction’s Lincoln Park.

            By 1954, the Grand Junction Exchange Club, an early service club, was sponsoring the annual Grand Junction swim contest with swimmers from Ouray, Raven, Glenwood Springs, Delta, and Rangely. Even though the pool was only one foot deep in the shallow end and had no swim lanes and ropes, records from that time show surprisingly fast swims! During this time, the Club collected S&H Green Stamps to buy ribbons and trophies.

            It is believed that the Club got its name in 1956 or 1957. A reference in the July 22, 1956 Sentinel, Grand Junction’s daily newspaper, reports a meet in Ouray with the "Grand Junction Swim Team." In July 1958, the newspaper refers to the "Grand Junction Dolphins" participating in a meet in Montrose. The Dolphin logo (two Dolphins forming the abbreviation "GJ"), still in use today, was designed by Lloyd Porter in 1960.

            Throughout the 1960s, the cost of swimming was $1.00, but each participant was required to purchase a pool season pass. Coaches were not paid a salary, but were tipped by the parents if they thought the coaching merited a tip. Coaching was a man’s job. One year in the early 60’s, the team found itself without a coach, so two women, Libby Kirkendall and Marie Porter, took the team to Denver for a competition. One of the Denver coaches came up to Libby to inquire as to her purpose. When Libby explained that SHE was the coach, he patted her on the head and said, "You sure are cute!"

            "We’ve come a long way, Baby!" The Dolphin Swim Club now enjoys the coaching of professionally trained, nationally certified coaches. The team has seen community leaders and legislators rise from its waters.

            Each year, the swimmers remember one of its earliest swimmers, Gracie Welch, who started swimming with the Dolphins in 1954 when she was eight years old, and was a "spark plug" of the team. According to the Sentinel, Gracie swam at the Montrose meet in July 1959 and "turned in a standout performance." She attended Grand Junction High School graduating in 1964. Grace died from a brain tumor in 1985. Her mother, Maxine, one of the first parents responsible for the formation of the Dolphins, created the "Grace Welch Award." It is given yearly to an outstanding member of the Club who displays a sense of fair play, community, and who brings to the Club spirit, hard work, and humor.

            It is in remembering our past that we continue to grow.

The Mission of the Dolphin Swim Club is to:

1.      Promote amateur, competitive swimming;

2.      Encourage development of each individual’s fullest swimming potential;

3.      Promote good fellowship and sportsmanship;

4.      Promote a healthy lifestyle and highly regarded life values; and

5.      Promote family involvement as we grow to being the best swim team in our state.

Team Philosophy

The team philosophy is encompassed in the words courage, and perseverance.

                Courage is the willingness to accept risk(s) and endure failings. Courage does not exist unless there is a situation that presents the opportunity for success. We encourage our athletes to embrace these opportunities and not fear the outcome.

                Perseverance is the backbone of success in any endeavor in life. One cannot succeed at the highest levels without enduring some setbacks. These difficult times can create a lack of faith, low self-esteem, and an obvious drop in enthusiasm. Perseverance is the quality that transcends these difficult times. It allows the individual to find the true strength of their character.

Dolphin Swim Club believes that COURAGE and PERSEVERANCE developed by swimming will prepare the individual for the challenges they will face in life.

Coaching Staff

            Nothing has a greater influence on the quality of children’s sports than the excellence of the coach. The Dolphin Swim Club staff consists of professionally trained, nationally certified coaches. They, as member coaches in the American Swimming Coaches Association, have access to the most comprehensive training and certification program for youth coaches of any sport in the United States. Certified coaches in U.S. Swimming programs possess training and experience in the physiology and psychology of adolescent development. Our coaching staff provides the assurances that the time your children spend in swimming will be quality time. A biography of each of our coaches is included in the Appendix.

Coaches’ Responsibilities

            The coaches’ job is to supervise the entire competitive swim program. The Dolphin Swim Club coaching staff is dedicated to providing a program for children that will enable them to learn the value of striving to improve oneself-- "to be the best you can be.h Therefore, the coaches must be in total control in matters affecting training and competition.

1.      The coaches are responsible for placing swimmers in practice groups. This is based on the age and ability level of each individual. When it is in the best interest of a swimmer, he/she will be placed in a more challenging training group by the coach.

2.      Sole responsibility for stroke instruction and the training regimen rests with the Dolphin Swim Club coaching staff. Each group’s practices are based on sound scientific principles and are geared to the specific goals of that group.

3.      A representative from the coaching staff attends each board meeting.

4.      The coaching staff will meet with the Board of Directors to discuss the yearly calendar of swim meets before the meet schedule is finalized. The coaches accept input and consider the board’s recommendations when making the final decision concerning which meets Dolphin Swim Club swimmers attend. The coaching staff also makes the final decision concerning which events a swimmer is entered into.

5.      At meets, the coaching staff will conduct and supervise warm-up procedures for the team. After each race, the coaches will offer constructive criticism regarding the swimmers performance. (It is the parent’s job to offer love and understanding regardless of their youngster’s performance).

6.      The building of a relay team is the sole responsibility of the coaching staff.

7.      The coaching staff is constantly updating and improving the Dolphin Swim Club program. It is the swimmers and parents’ responsibility to make the most out of the excellent opportunity this program provides for success in swimming.

Team Levels

            The Dolphin Swim Club uses a "progressive" age group program designed to develop the child physically, mentally and emotionally in a systematic fashion. A well-defined, long-term approach of gradually increasing degrees of commitment is essential to reach peak performance levels during a swimmer’s physiological prime. The emphasis in the early stages of participation must be placed on developing technical skills and a love for the sport. In the later years, a more demanding physical and psychological challenge must be introduced to the training program. In this respect, "too much too soon" is more often the cause of failure to achieve maximum potential in senior swimming than in the reverse situation.

            In addition to emphasizing long-term rather than short-term results, it is also important that we establish training groups of swimmers who are compatible in respect to abilities, commitment levels, and goals. Unfortunately, this is not always the most convenient approach to take, but it is always the most productive. At each level, the goals and objectives are specific and directed toward meeting the needs of the swimmer. The long-term goal of total excellence is always in mind. As each child is different, he/she will progress at his/her own rate. The coaching staff recognizes this fact by making team assignments based on a swimmer’s physical, mental, and emotional level of development.

Swimming Groups

            Platinum:  The Platinum group consists of those competitors who have demonstrated a skill level commensurate with that needed to compete at the United States Sectional and Senior National Championships.

            Gold:  The Gold group consists of the Dolphin high school age swimmers and some middle school age swimmers that exhibit a high level of swimming and workout ability. These swimmers are expected to be mature, dedicated, responsible, and dependable. As our more advanced swimmers increase their commitment to swimming, we promote and support maintaining good academic standing.

            Silver:  Silver group swimmers are well versed in technique and strategy. They are also a full-fledged training group. Generally, they have a skill level commensurate with Colorado Junior Olympic time standards. All swimmers in the Silver group are between the ages of 11-12 years old. Workouts for the Silver’s are offered five days a week and usually last two hours each day.

            Bronze III:  Bronze III group swimmers have started to exhibit good swimming skills. They spend their time equally between stroke technique and training skills and processes. Bronze swimmers are offered practices three days a week where workouts.

            Bronze II:  Bronze II group swimmers’ majority of time is spent working on refining stroke mechanics. These swimmers have started to exhibit good swimming skills and will be introduced to some training skills and processes. This group swims two to three days a week.

            Bronze I:  Bronze I group includes our novice swimmers who desire the team experience. They can swim 25 yards of freestyle. They practice one to two times per week.

            Swim School:  Swim School is for any swimmer who wishes to learn how to swim in a lesson environment. Swim school is for all ages and abilities who may want to join the team at some point.

Training Sessions

            Training sessions are the most important aspect of competitive swimming. Consistent training is needed move through the developmental progression of competitive swimming. Training schedules are designed to provide only slightly more time than is required for a swimmer to accomplish this. Therefore, it is important that each swimmer attend as many practices as possible in order to derive the full benefits of the program.  

Practice and Attendance Policies

            The following guidelines are to inform parents and swimmers of the coaches’ policies regarding practice. These policies have been developed over many years and are designed to provide the best possible practice environment for all.

1.     Each training group has specific attendance requirements appropriate for the objectives of that group. As a rule, the least possible interruption in the training schedule will produce the greatest amount of success. The club does, however, encourage younger swimmers to participate in other activities in addition to swimming. The expectation level of the coaches for swimmers to attend practices increases as swimmers move to higher groups.

2.     For the swimmers’ protection, they should arrive at the pool no earlier than 15 minutes prior to their workout time. They should also be picked up at the end of practice. Swimmers should be ready to swim five minutes prior to the start of their practice.  Swimmers should wait inside the facility until their ride arrives.

3.     If a swimmer is late for practice, please send a note with the child explaining the reason for tardiness.

4.     Plan to stay the entire practice. The last part of practice is very often the most important. Usually, there are also announcements made at the end of each practice. In the event that your child needs to be dismissed early from practice, a note from the parent for each dismissal is required.

5.     Occasionally, most of a practice group may be attending a meet, in which case you will be notified of a practice change or cancellation.   Changes will be communicated by email, posting at the pool and website announcement.

6.     While on public\pool grounds, during posted practice times, the swimmers are the responsibility of the coaching staff.  During practice sessions, swimmers are never to leave the pool area without thecoach’s permission.

7.     The club has an obligation to act as guests while in the pool areas (both swimmers and parents). Every member of the club needs to do everything possible to respect this privilege. Any damages to pool property may result in financial liability of the swimmer’s parents. Any damage may also result in the swimmer being asked to leave the team permanently.

8.     Parents may be allowed to observe practice from a designated area. Please do not interfere with practice.

Illness and Injury

            Whenever possible, the coach should be informed in advance of an illness or injury, regardless of how serious or trivial it may be.

            If your swimmer will be out of the water over a long period  of time with an injury or illness, please notify the Head Coach so the coaching staff is aware of the problem. For serious injuries, the coaching staff or Board may require a medical release before the swimmer returns to the water.

Swimmer’s Training Responsibilities

            As a swimmer’s level of swimming ability increases so does his/her responsibility. The program is designed to encourage all swimmers to be Senior Swimming bound. As swimmers improve this is a deep commitment that requires great effort on all parts. A swimmer has responsibilities to the team, the coach, his/her parents, and most importantly to themselves. Swimmers need to prepare themselves for a 100% effort each time they come to practice.

            Swimmers will be required to bring specified training accessories (i.e., goggles, flippers, etc.) to workouts. It is the swimmer’s responsibility to make sure these items are properly adjusted and that spares are readily available. Equipment adjustment and repair will not be accepted as an excuse to miss part of a training session.

Code of Conduct

Failure to observe the articles of the code of ethics will result in consequences as agreed upon by the board and coaching staff.

1.      Any swimmer who is known to use alcohol, drugs, or tobacco is subject to suspension from the team.

2.      Never interfere with the progress of another swimmer, during practice or otherwise.

3.      At all club functions, whether practice, camps, clinics, meets, or social gatherings, we expect each swimmer to behave in such a way that their actions reflect respect for self, others, our team and sport.

4.      All members of the club, whether parents or swimmers, continue to protect and improve the excellent reputation the club has throughout the state and country.

5.      Negative behavior such as bullying and harassment will not be tolerated.  Concerns need to be reported to the coach.

Relays

The coach is responsible for assigning swimmers to relays.  Relay competition in developmental meets is based on participation and team building.  Relay competition at championship meets is based on the best possible performance.

Parents, Your Athlete Needs You!

            To have a successful program there must be understanding and cooperation among parents, swimmers, and coaches. The progress your youngster makes depends largely on this triangular relationship. It is with this in mind that we ask you to consider this section as you join the Dolphin Swim Club and reacquaint yourself with this section if you are a returning Dolphin Swim Club parent.

            You have done a great deal to raise your child. You create the environment in which they are growing up. Your child is a product of your values, the structure you have provided, and the model you have been. Human nature, however, is such that a parent loses some of his /her ability to remain detached and objective in matters concerning his/hers children’s athletics. The following guidelines will help you keep your child’s development in the proper perspective and help your child reach his/her full potential as an athlete.

            The coach is the Coach! We want your swimmer to relate to his or her coach as soon as possible concerning swimming matters. This relationship between coach and swimmer produces best results. When parents interfere with opinions as to how the swimmer should swim or train, it causes considerable, and oftentimes insurmountable, confusion as to which the swimmer should listen to. If you have a problem, concern, or complaint, please contact the coach.

œ    Best kind of parent : The coach’s job is to motivate and constructively criticize the swimmer’s performance. It is the parent’s job to supply the love, recognition, and encouragement necessary to make the child work harder in practice, which in turn gives him/her the confidence to perform well in competition.

œ    Ten and Under Swimmers: Ten and Unders are the most inconsistent swimmers and this can be frustrating for parents, coaches, and the swimmer alike! Parents and coaches must be patient and permit these youngsters to learn to love the sport. When a young swimmer first joins the Dolphins, there may be a brief period in which he/she appears to slow down. This is a result of the added concentration on stroke technique, but this will soon lead to much faster swims for the individual.

œ    Not every time: Even the very best swimmer will have meets where they do not swim their best times. These "plateaus" are a normal part of swimming. Over the course of a season, times should improve. Please be supportive of these "poor" meets. The older swimmers may have only two or three meets a year for which they will be rested and tapered.

            Swimmers are expected to keep an optimum body weight and percent of body fat. Physiologists have found that female swimmers should be 10-18% and males should maintain 6 -12% body fat for optimum performance. Parents should contribute to the education of proper nutrition and eating habits.

Parents’ Responsibilities

            Please make every effort to have your swimmers at practice on time. Realize that your child is working hard and give all the support you can. Encourage good diet and sleeping habits. They will serve your children well.

1.      The greatest contribution you can make to your swimmer’s progress is to be a loving, supportive parent. On page 15 in this handbook is a reprint of an article called, "The Ten Commandments for Parents of Athletic Children." It offers some very useful and sound advice on communicating with your swimmer.

2.      In the Appendix, located at the end of this book there is a copy of the "Terms and Conditions for Participation in the Dolphin Swim Club" that you sign when you register with the Club. Please familiarize yourself with these items.

3.      Over one-half of the Dolphin operating budget relies upon fundraising in order to keep dues at a reasonable level. Dolphin Swim Club has a reputation in the state and throughout the country of hosting swim meets of the highest caliber. Twenty percent of our operating budget is generated from the Club hosting at least two to three swim meets each year. One of the commitments you make when you joined the Dolphin Swim Club is to help work our own swim meets. We usually host a meet in January, one in July, and strive to host a championship meet yearly.

4.      *Each Dolphin swimmer must also contribute to the annual assessment as well as participate in other fundraising activities, as outlined in the Appendix.

Communication

œ     Dolphin Swim Club Newsletter - The team publishes a monthly newsletter. Results of the last swim meet(s), general information from the coaching staff and announcements from the Board of Directors are covered in the newsletter. Make sure you and your swimmers read the contents of this when it is distributed.

œ     Handouts/E-Mail – All information that is handed out to swimmers is also e-mailed to those families who have given out their e-mail address.

œ     Bulletin Board-The bulletin board at Mesa State pool provides meet information in detail and entry summaries for upcoming meets. It is the swimmer’s’ responsibility to double-check each meet entry after it is posted. Mistakes sometimes happen in meet entries.

œ     Club Web site- The Club maintains a web site, www.grandjunctiondolphins.com and encourages all families to visit the site often and to check e-mail, as many reminder messages will be sent via e-mail.

Problems with the Coach?

            Contact with Coaches - When contacting the coaches, please be considerate. The best way to speak with the coaches is to meet them after practice. They usually make themselves available for 10 minutes to answer questions, provide information, etc. Sending a note to the coach with your swimmer is a good way to get information to them.

            One of the traditional swim team communication gaps is that some parents seem to feel more comfortable in discussing their disagreements over coaching philosophy with other parents rather than taking them directly to the coach. Not only is the problem never resolved that way, but in fact this approach often results in new problems being created. Listed below are some guidelines for a parent raising some difficult issues with a coach:

1.      Try to keep foremost in your mind that you and the coach have the best interests of your child at heart. If you trust that the coach’s goals match yours, even though his/her approach may be different, you are more likely to enjoy good rapport and a constructive dialogue.

2.      Keep in mind that the coach must balance your perspective of what is best for your child with the needs of the team or a training group that can range in size from 2-100 members. On occasion, an individual child’s interest may need to be subordinate to the interests of the group, but in the long run the benefits of membership in the group compensate for occasional short-term inconvenience.

3.      If your child swims for an assistant coach, always discuss the matter first with that coach, following the same guidelines and preconceptions noted above. If the assistant coach cannot satisfactorily resolve your concern, then ask that the head age group coach or head coach join the dialogue as a third party.

4.      If another parent uses you as a sounding board for complaints about the coach’s performance or policies, listen empathetically, but encourage the other parent to speak directly to the coach. He/she is the only one who can resolve the problem.

5.      The Board has established a coaches’ liaison committee, which you may also contact at any time to discuss concerns.

The Ten Commandments for Parents of Athletic Children

Reprinted from The Young Athlete by Bill Burgess

1.    Make sure your child knows that-win or lose, scared or heroic-you love him/her, appreciate their efforts, and are not disappointed in them. This will allow them to do their best without a fear of failure. Be the person in their life they can look to for constant positive reinforcement.

2.    Try your best to be completely honest about your child’s athletic ability, his/hers             competitive attitude, their sportsmanship, and their actual skill level.

3.    Be helpful, but do not coach him/her on the way to the pool or on the way back, or at breakfast, and so on. It is tough not to, but it is a lot tougher for the child to be inundated with advice, pep talks and often critical instruction.

4.    Teach them to enjoy the thrill of competition, to be "out there trying," to be working to improve his/her swimming skills and attitudes. Help him/her to develop the feel for competing, for trying hard, for having fun.

5.    Try not to re-live your athletic life through your child in a way that creates pressure; you lost as well as won. You were frightened, you backed off at times, and you were not always heroic. Do not pressure your child because of your pride. Athletic children need their parents so you must not withdraw. Just remember there is a thinking, feeling, sensitive free spirit out there in that uniform who needs a lot of understanding, especially when his world turns bad. If he/she is comfortable with you-win or lose-he/she is on their way to maximum achievement and enjoyment.

6.    Don’t compete with the coach. If the coach becomes an authority figure, it will run from   enchantment to disenchantment, etc., with your athlete.

7.    Don’t compare the skill, courage, or attitudes of your child with other members of the team, at least within his/her hearing.

8.    Get to know the coach so that you can be assured that his/her philosophy, attitudes, ethics, and knowledge are such that you are happy to have your child under his/her leadership.

9.    Always remember that children tend to exaggerate, both when praised and when criticized. Temper your reaction and investigate before over-reacting.

10. Make a point of understanding courage, and the fact that it is relative. Some of us can climb mountains, and are afraid to fight. Some of us will fight, but turn to jelly if a bee approaches. Everyone is frightened in certain areas. Explain that courage is not the absence of fear, but a means of doing something in spite of fear of discomfort.

Board of Directors

            The Board of Directors oversees the administrative functions of the club. The board consists of nine Dolphin parents or guardians elected for three-year terms. Two parents or guardians of a swimmer may jointly serve on the board and shall be counted as one Board member vote.  Parents or guardians serving on the board must have a child swimming with the Dolphins.  Board members must have been members of the club for 1 year to be eligible to serve on the Board.  The elections for board positions are held annually in *August.   For further detail on the Board of Directors, refer to the by-laws, in the Appendix.

Board Job Responsibilities

            The officers of the board are the President, Vice-President, Secretary and Treasurer.  Officers must have been a board member for one year prior to taking the position.  Committees are appointed by the President with the approval of the Board.  The following committees are comprised of members and at least one member of the Board:

1.      Membership:  The Membership Committee is responsible for the organizational work of the team and the acquisition of new members. 

2.      Coaches’ Liaison:  The Coaches’ Liaison Committee is chaired by a board member and is responsible for searches for new coaches, maintaining contact with the head coach, and serving as a liaison between the board and the coaches.  It mediates swimmer, parent, board and coach issues.  It organizes team schedules and follows established procedures for grievances.  It also oversees the athlete representatives.

3.      Finance:  The Finance Committee is comprised of board members only.

4.      Fund Raising:  The Fund Raising Committee oversees and presents fund raising proposals to the Board.  This committee directs and organizes all fund raising activities.

5.      Publicity:  The Publicity Committee establishes a public relations program to promote team activities to the community.

6.      Swim Meet:  The Swim Meet Committee organizes and coordinates Dolphins sponsored swim meets, coordinates travel to away swim meets and activities, and schedules team activities throughout the year.

7.      Hospitality:  The Hospitality Committee is responsible for hospitality at Dolphins sponsored swim meets and scheduling team activities for away meets.

“Welcome, so you want to be a GJD Board Member?

            Serving as a GJD Board member is a challenging and very rewarding volunteer responsibility.  While appointment or election to the GJD Board is an honor, board members have important legal and fiduciary responsibilities that require a commitment of time, skill and devotion.  Prospective board members can do themselves a great service and show the current board that they are serious about the commitment they are about to make by attending all board meetings as a guest for one year and asking some basic questions before they volunteer to join the GJD Board.

1.      Questions about the GJD organization: 

œ     What is the GJD organization’s mission?

œ     How does its current program relate to the mission:

œ     Does the organization have a strategic plan that is reviewed and evaluated on a regular basis?

2.      Questions about the organization’s financial status:

œ     Is the financial condition of the organization sound?

œ     Does the board discuss and approve the annual budget?

œ     How often do board members receive financial reports?

3.      Questions about the structure of the board:

œ     How is the board structured?

œ     Are there descriptions of the responsibilities of the GJD Board as a whole and of individual board members?

œ     Who are the other board members?

œ     Why are there only 9 board members?

œ     Is there a system of checks and balances in place to prevent conflicts of interest between board members and the GJD organization?

4.      Questions about individual board members’ responsibilities:

œ     What are the ways that you can contribute as a board member?

œ     How much of my time will be required for meetings and special events?

œ     How are committee assignments made:

œ     Will I receive orientation to the organization and to the responsibilities of board service?

            After one year of being a paying GJD team member, and once you are satisfied with the information you have received, it is time to evaluate your own interest in serving on the board.  Ask yourself the following questions:

œ     Am I committed to the mission of the organization:

œ     Can I contribute the time necessary to be an effective board member?

œ     Am I comfortable with the approach and tone of the organization’s fund raising efforts?

œ     Can I place the organizations purposes and interests above my own professional and personal interests when making decisions as a board member?

Fee Structure and Club Fees

1.      The current club fee structure is noted in the Appendix.

2.      Meet Entry Fees: At the beginning of the season, you will receive a meet calendar for the season. Host clubs set the entry fee for events and a pool surcharge. The entry fee and pool surcharge are paid by the swimmer.  Relays are paid for by the team.

Non-Payment of Fees

            If swimmer’s dues are 60 days late, parents will be contacted by phone and payment requested.  If dues are not paid within 15 days of the phone call, the swimmer will not be allowed to enter the water until the dues are paid.

Annual Swimmer Assessment
            When your swimmer was registered with the swim team, you were provided a brief explanation of this fundraiser.  Each year round swimmer is responsible for collecting $125.00, and summer season only swimmers are responsible for collecting $75.00 in event sponsorships, encouragements or advertisements for the summer GJD Invitational.  There are several options to choose from:

1.      Collect the full amount in advertisements by the deadline date (determined yearly).  Year round season - $125.00, summer season only - $75.00.

2.      Year round season - $75.00 by deadline and balance due by September 1.

3.      Pay full amount out of pocket, due by deadline.

4.      The assessment will be prorated and added to your monthly bill.  Year round swimmer -  an additional $20.00 added for 6 months, starting Feb. 1.  Summer only swimmers, an additional $37.50 added for 2 months, starting June 1.

Fund Raising Requirements

            Fund raising is essential in order to maintain the financial solvency of the GJD Swim Club.  In addition to the annual assessment, several fund raising activities are conducted annually.  Each swimmer’s family is expected to participate in the fund raising opportunities.  Some examples are bingo, basket raffles at swim meets, yard sales, etc.  We are always looking for fund raising ideas – please contact the fund raising committee! 

The breakdown of annual monetary proceeds is as follows:

œ     50% swimmer monthly dues

œ     20% Dolphin sponsored swim meets

œ     30% fund raising

Dolphin Sponsored Swim Meets

            All Dolphin families are expected to serve in some capacity in the operation of our swim meets.  There are opportunities to volunteer at the computer, timing, setup/break down, hospitality, concessions, meet directory, gift basket preparation and sales, officiating, etc.  Sign in/out at the Clerk of Course table at a meet to have your volunteer hours validated for the meet.

Volunteer Hours

            Based on your swimmer’s age group, each family is required to contribute volunteer hours towards the team.  These hours can be spent helping at a swim meet, on committees or fund raising.  It is the volunteers who make our team successful – so please contribute cheerfully!!

Insurance

            The Dolphin Swim Club is a member of USA Swimming. By paying USA Swimming fees, each registered swimmer is covered under an excess accident medical protection policy during participation in competitions, meets, or other events sponsored or sanctioned by USA Swimming, during participation in organized, scheduled practice sessions, and during organized, supervised travel to and from sponsored and sanctioned events or organized, supervised practice sessions.  We also have a second insurance policy for our Swim School program.  The Club and members are also covered by a general liability policy.  Details of coverage, exclusions, and other terms are available from the Board.

Team Uniform

            The team colors are black and red. Team suits may be ordered by contacting our supplier directly. Information on the current suit is provided in the Appendix.

Competitive Strokes

            The four competitive strokes are (1) freestyle, (2) backstroke, (3) breaststroke, and (4) butterfly. Events are held in all of the competitive strokes at varying distances depending on the age group of the swimmer. In addition, there is a combination of the strokes swum by one swimmer called the individual medley (IM). Other swimming events include relays, which are a group of four swimmers who either all swim freestyle (freestyle relay) or each swim one of the competitive strokes in the order of backstroke, breaststroke, butterfly and freestyle (medley relay).

Swim Seasons

            The swim year is divided into two seasons. The winter, or "short course,h season runs from mid- September to mid-March. The meets are held in a 25-yard pool. The summer, or "long course,h season runs from early April to mid-August. During the long course season, meets are generally held outside in 50-meter pools (Olympic size). Generally, Dolphin Swim Club hosts its own meets in the Orchard Mesa Pool and Lincoln Park-Moyer Pool.

Annual Awards

            Annual awards are presented at the annual members meeting in August/September each year. 

1.      Most Promising Newcomer:  This is awarded to a novice swimmer who’s shown the greatest gains in the sport.

2.      Most Improved Swimmer:  This award is given to one swimmer in the 12&U and 13&O groups.  It is based on comparative individual development from start to finish.

3.      Most Valuable Swimmer:  This award is given to one swimmer in the 12&U and 13&O groups.  It is based on both swimming and contribution to the team.

4.      Outstanding Achievement:  This award is given to one swimmer for both 12&U and 13&O groups.  It is based on performance and points achieved for the season.

5.      Grace Welsh Reinhart Award:  This award goes to the swimmer or person who demonstrates outstanding citizenship and team leadership, and contribution to the club.

6.      Hale Adams Memorial Volunteer Award:  This award is given for outstanding volunteer contributions to the club.

Competition ...and the winner is...

            Dolphin Swim Club staff does not see the first place person as the only winner. We would rather look to see who behaves like a winner. There are certain characteristics of a winner, and every swimmer, no matter where they place, has the opportunity to emulate those characteristics: concentration, listening skills, and working toward goals.

            A sport is not an end in itself, but a vehicle we use to teach children life skills and how to reach their potential. We use sports as organized play to demonstrate and measure one’s abilities. Seen in that light, winning without learning is not the Dolphin Swim Club’s desired intention. In competition, the important measure is not who collected the most medals, or even who improved the most seconds. The real critical measure is who learned the most from the competitive experience.

            Swimmers quickly forget the medals, records, and other material benefits. They will, however, remember the development of interpersonal skills, discipline, listening skills, time management, goal setting, and enhanced self- image. These are the things that make the swimmer a more successful person with a better chance of living a life closer to their peak potential, and to contribute to the world they live in.

Levels of Achievement

            There are seven different age group classifications recognized by USA Swimming (the governing body of the sport): 8-Under, 10-Under, 11-12, 13-14, 15-16, 17-18, and Senior. The Senior classification includes any age of registered swimmer who has achieved the prescribed qualifying time for the event. Not all age group classifications are offered at every swim meet. The swimmer’s age on the first day of a meet will govern the swimmer’s age for the entire meet.

            Within each age group there are different nationally recognized levels of achievement based on times. All swimmers begin as "C" swimmers. As they improve, they advance from "C,h to "BB", "B", "A", "AA,h "AAA,h and ultimately "AAAA.h United States Swimming publishes the times required for each ability level each year. This permits fair, yet challenging, competition on all levels. In some cases, a swimmer may be in a different class in each stroke. An example: a "C" breaststroke time, a "B" freestyle time, and an "AA" backstroke time.

            Some swim meets set certain qualification standards. In order to swim in a certain classification, a swimmer must have achieved the qualifying time for that particular classification.

Types or Levels of Swim Meets

1.     Dual Meets-Occasionally, the Dolphin Swim Club will compete with one other team in a dual meet. These meets help promote team unity, but usually limit the number of events a swimmer may enter.

2.     Developmental Meets-These meets generally do not have any qualification time standards. Most of the time these meets offer each one of the competitive strokes in the two distances offered for each group. Each swimmer is usually allowed to enter from 3-5 events per day.

3.     Qualification Meets-These meets have some type of qualification time standard(s) that a swimmer must meet in order to enter the meet.

4.     State Championships-At the end of each short course (winter) and long course (summer) season, a State Championship meet is sanctioned by Colorado Swimming (CSI), the governing body of swimming in the state of Colorado. Colorado swimming sets the qualifying time standards for these championship meets. Generally, the standards fall between the national "A" and "AA" time standards. There are two championships held each season: the Age Group Championship for swimmers 14-Under and the Senior Championship open to any swimmer in the state who has met the qualifying standards regardless of age.

5.     Zone Championships-After the state championships are held in the summer, a swimmer may qualify to participate in the Western Zone Championships. This is an all-star meet where swimmers compete as members of the Colorado Zone team competing against other swimmers from western states.

6.     Sectional Championships- One of the highest levels of achievement Dolphin swimmers strive for is the participation in the Sectional Championships. Dolphin swimmers meeting qualifying time standards for this meet travel to different locations throughout the western half of the United States to compete against the best swimmers in the nation. (These championships were formerly known as "junior nationals.").

7.     Phillips 66/USA National Championships (Senior Nationals )-Other than the Olympic Trials and the World Championship Trials, each of which is held every four years, the highest level of competition for our senior swimmers is the USA National Championships. As with the sectional championships, swimmers meeting the national qualifying time standards travel to various cities throughout the U.S. to compete against America’s best swimmers. Swimmers can qualify for national teams that represent the U.S. in international competition by their performances at Senior Nationals.

Meet Schedule

            The meet schedule is distributed at the outset of each season. On an average, each team member should compete on a regular basis. In some cases, meets of a similar classification are scheduled close together. This happens when the meets that the coaching staff chooses from offer no other alternative.  Attending meets that are not on the team schedule should be approved by the coach prior to entry.

            The coaching staff reserves the right to make the final decision concerning meets Dolphin Swim Club swimmers may attend, but the Coaching Staff accepts input from the Board as to team desire and financial concerns

            Team Effort Meets-Team championship meets are either indicated on the meet schedule or talked about in the parent meetings. Since the coaching staff places the most emphasis on these meets, Dolphin swimmers who are qualified are highly encouraged to attend. The Colorado State Age Group and Senior Championships are always considered "Team Effort Meetsh.

Philosophy of Competition

            The Dolphin Swim Club engages in a multi-level competition program with United States Swimming that, like our training program, attempts to provide challenging, yet success oriented competitive situations for swimmers of all ages and abilities. The following policies outline our philosophy:

1.      We emphasize competition with oneself. Winning ribbons, medals, or trophies is not our main goal. Even if the swimmer finishes first, but has swum poorly in comparison to his/her own past performances, he/she is encouraged to do better. The individual’s improvement is our primary objective.     

2.    Sportsmanlike behavior is of equal importance of improved performance. All the coaches teach swimmers how to behave like a champion when the swimmer has both a "good" and a "bad" swim. Respect for officials, congratulations to other competitors, encouragement to teammates, determined effort, and mature attitudes are examples of behaviors praised and rewarded by the Dolphin Swim Club coaching staff.

3.      A swimmer is praised for improving his/her stroke or time. It is the coach’s job to offer constructive criticism of a swimmer’s performance. It is the parent’s responsibility to provide love and encouragement that bolster the swimmer’s confidence along the way.

4.     Swimmers are taught to set realistic, yet challenging, goals for meets and to relate those            goals to practice to direct their training efforts.

5.      Swimmers are prepared and encouraged to compete in all swimming events, distances, and strokes. This policy promotes versatility and encourages the swimmer to explore his/her potential in the wide range of events offered in competitive swimming. Oftentimes, a swimmer’s "best" stroke changes as they mature and his/her body goes through physical changes.

About Swim Meets

            Swim meets are a great family experience! They are a place where the whole family can spend time together. Listed below are some very in-depth guidelines geared to help you through your first couple of swim meets. It may seem a little overwhelming, but we tried to be as specific and as detailed as we possibly could. If you have any questions, please ask your coach or a board member.  Some meets become an avenue for other activities. The team may attend sporting events, concerts, shopping junkets, etc.

                What you should bring:

1.      Team suit, Dolphin cap and goggles (an extra pair of goggles is a good idea!)

      Note: For outdoor meets dark goggles for backstroke are helpful.

2.      Chairs:  most pools do not have much seating on deck so bring your own chairs to set up on deck.

3.      Towels- more than one is a good idea.

4.      Flip-flops or deck shoes (especially for outdoor meets)

5.      Nutritious snacks

6.      Water bottle

7.      Money for meet program.  Usually these are between $5.00 - $7.00 and will tell you when your child is swimming and what lanes.

8.      Highlighter: for marking your child’s races in the program.  (If you have more than one child it helps to bring a different color for each.)

9.      Sharpie: some of the kids like to write their events/lanes etc. on their arm.

10.    The weather at swim meets can be variable.  Be sure to have warm clothes, hat, socks, etc. available.  Don’t forget sunscreen for outdoor meets.  Be prepared for any weather!

Your meet entry form will tell you what time warm-up begins.  Arrange to arrive 15 minutes prior to warm-up.

                When you arrive at the pool:

1.      When you arrive look for other GJD swimmers.  We try to sit together as a team.

2.      Check in with the coach so they know you are there.

3.      Your swimmer now gets his/her cap and goggles and reports to the pool and/or coach for warm-up instructions. It is very important for all swimmers to warm-up with the team. Swimmer’s bodies are just like cars on a cold day-he/she needs to get the engine going and warmed-up before he/she can go all out.

4.      Buy a program (usually at the concession table) so you will know when your child is swimming and what lanes they are in.  Sometimes the programs do not have the heat/lane information.  In these instances, heat sheets are posted.

5.      During warm up you can highlight your child’s events.  Notify the coaches when they are not busy if your child is missing from a race they were entered into.

a.      Most meets we attend will be swum slowest to fastest.  Kids with no times (NT) will usually swim in heat one.

b.      The kids usually write their races on their arms:

Example:

E= EVENT

H= HEAT

L= LANE

W= WHAT DISTANCE/STROKE

                Reading the Heat Sheet :

œ     The very first time your child swims a race they will be listed as ‘NT’ meaning they do not have an official time in that event.  Once they have an official time, their time will be recorded as their ‘seed time’ at the next swim meet, and their heat will be based on this time.

œ     The Events are listed in order usually alternating girls and boys events.

œ     Sample Heat Sheet:

4.      Encourage your child to cheer for their team mates when they are not swimming.

5.      Your child should talk to their coach before and after their races.

6.      A swimmer’s event number will be called, usually over the loudspeaker, noting first call or last call. The swimmer should check in with his/her coach before swimming to set a strategy and to discuss the race. Next, swimmers should report (either behind the blocks or to the clerk of course as directed by meet management) with his/her cap and goggles. Make sure your child gets to their lane, behind their block on time.  Some meets do not allow parents behind the blocks.  Some meets also have heating areas for 8&U swimmers.  Coaches will be watching swimmers and talking to swimmers about their races and cannot be looking for swimmers.

7.      Generally, girls’ events are odd-numbered and boys’ events are even-numbered. Example: "Event #26, 10-Under Boys, 50 freestyle, report to Clerk of Course."

8.      After each swim:

A.      He/she is to ask the timers (people behind the blocks at each lane) his/her time. B. He/she should go immediately to their coach. The coach will ask him/her their time and discuss the swim with each swimmer.

B.      Generally, the coach follows these guidelines when discussing swims:

a.      Positive comments or praise

b.      Suggestions for improvement

c.      Positive comments

9.      Things you, as a parent, can do after each swim:

d.      Tell him/her how great they did! The coaching staff will be sure to discuss stroke technique with them. You need to tell him/her how proud you are and what a great job he/she did.

e.      Take him/her back to the towel area and relax.

f.       This is another good time to check out the bathrooms, get a drink or something light to eat.

g.      The swimmer now waits until his/her next event is called and starts the procedure again at the "Clerk of Course.h

10.     When a swimmer has completed all of their events, they and their parents can go home. Make sure, however, you, as a parent, check with the coach before leaving to make sure your swimmer is not included on a relay. It is not fair to other swimmers who may have stayed to swim on a relay where your swimmer is expected to be a member and he/she is not there.

                What Happens If Your Child has a Disappointing Swim?

            If your child has a poor race and comes out of it feeling badly, talk about the good things. The first thing you say is, "Hey, that is not like you. You’re usually a top swimmer." Then you can go on and talk about the good things the child did. You never talk about the negative things.

            If your child comes up to you and says, "That was a bad race, don’t tell me it wasn’t," realize that there is nothing wrong with a swimmer negatively evaluating a race. The important thing is for the child not to dwell on it. You should move the swimmer on to something good. "All right, you have had a bad race. How do you think you can do better next time?" Immediately start talking about the positive things.

                Meet Results:

            Encourage your swimmer to do their best and have fun.  Results are usually posted on a wall at the meet as they become available.  These will show their official time and place for each event.  The coaches also get all results after the meet and the results are available on the csi.org website.  If your child places in an event, ribbons are given to the coaches and are given out as a team at the next practice.  How the meet is scored and awarded is usually on the meet information or the meet program and can vary from meet to meet.  Encourage your child to go out and have fun and not worry about placing or getting ribbons. 

            Disqualifications: If your child is disqualified (DQ’ed) in an event an official will talk to them after the race and explain why.  The coaches are also notified of the reason and will talk to your child.  This helps them learn the rules and helps the coaches know what they need to work on in practice.  Try to keep your child from getting discouraged when this happens.  The most important thing to remind your child it to go out and have fun!!

                Team dinners:

            The team will usually organize a team dinner at an out of town meet.  Listen for announcements of this during the meet for the time and place.  This is a great way to for you and your child to meet other swim families and is a great team building activity.

Championship Meets

            Policy:  One of our team goals is to qualify as many swimmers as possible for the Championship meet(s). Whether attendance is required or optional, the Championship meet is a special experience and extremely important in the athlete’s development.

            As our season progresses, most swimmers get excited and motivated to "go for a State cut.h Unfortunately, some of the swimmers do not have the consistent practice habits, experience, or the USA meet experience to make the cut.

            As an Age Group swimmer, our swimmers learn they swim faster at the Championship meet than at any other time during the season. They are prepared for this; they are taught this; we practice this. If a young swimmer goes to the Championship meet and is not properly prepared, the experience is negative and can affect other championships later in his/her swimming career.

            We, as coaches, believe that the honor of competing in a Championship meet is earned through consistent practice habits and competitive experience at USA swim meets. There is a big difference between "wanting" to go to the championships and "deserving" to be at the championships. Talent plays a supporting role to commitment. To insure that all of our swimmers are properly prepared for their championships:

1.      Meet attendance and participation through out the entire season is important. USA meets offer the experience necessary for the championships.

2.      Practice habits must be within our recommendations for the group the swimmer trains with. Consistency" is the key word.

            The State Championship is not the ultimate goal. It is a seasonal goal that should lead to Zones, Sectional & Senior Nationals, and beyond. Making the "cut off time" is simply a requirement to attend the meet. The goal is to be as prepared as possible and perform to the best of one’s ability at the meet. Sometimes swimmers get the "end" and the "means" mixed up.

            Swimmers are special people and deserve to have positive experiences as rewards for their dedication and commitment. Let us make sure that parents, swimmers, and coaches, are laying the foundation for the best possible experience at the Championship meet.

Prelims & Finals

œ     Meet Format:   In a preliminaries and finals meet format, the object of the preliminary swim is to qualify for the evening finals session. If a swimmer places among the top 8 (in an 8-lane pool) after his/her morning swim they then qualify to swim in the championship finals in the evening session. Some meets also swim a Consolation final. If a swimmer places From 9th - 16th place from preliminaries, he/she qualifies to participate in the Consolation finals in the evening session. In the evening finals session, the Consolation heat is swum first followed immediately by the Championship heat. During the prelims, the results are usually posted within 1/2 hour of the conclusion of the event. If a swimmer does not wish to swim in a final swim he or she may designate his "intention to scratch" the event and not be penalized. At the end of the session, they must notify the Clerk Of Course of their decision.  This must take place within a half-hour of the posting of the preliminary results. Therefore, within approximately 1 hour of the end of an event, a swimmer should know if they have made finals. A swimmer should never leave the meet without making sure if they are a finalist or an alternate. United States Swimming rules dictate that if a swimmer makes a finals event and fails to show up they are bared from participating in the remainder of the meet (individual events and relays). Alternates (the 17th & 18th place swimmers) should check with his/her coach about attending finals.

œ     Circle\Barrel Seeding:   Used only in the prelims of Championship meets with events that have "prelims & finals.h This affects only the top 24 seeded swimmers (8-lane pool) which compete in the last 3 heats. All other heats are regular seeding according to timed finals procedures. Circle seeding goes like this: The fastest seeded swimmer will be in the last heat in lane 4. The second fastest swimmer will be in the second to last heat lane 4. The third fastest swimmer will be in the third to last heat lane 4. The fourth fastest swimmer will be in the last heat lane 5 and so on.  The finals are seeded like a regular meet as are any events that are swam as timed finals such as relays, distance freestyles and other events most often held on Friday evening as a timed finals session.

œ     Awards & Placing:   The swimmers who participate in the championship finals receive awards as listed in the meet information. The swimmers who participate in the consolation finals often do not receive awards, but do score points for the team. One very important thing: Once a swimmer has made the championship final, the worst they can place is 8th, regardless of how slow they may swim in finals. The swimmers who participate in the consolation finals may place no better than 9th (the winner of the heat) regardless how fast they swim. It has been known to happen that the winner of the consolation finals swims a time that would have placed him/her 2nd or 3rd in he championship finals, but the highest he/she can score is 9th. That is why it is important to swim very fast in the morning prelims session to make the championship finals. If a swimmer is disqualified in finals, they do not score points or get awards, however, a non-­finals swimmer cannot be moved up to score. The place simply is not awarded. Alternates occasionally get to swim and can score the same as any other swimmer.

œ     Receiving Awards in Public :  Whenever there is a system of presenting awards at a meet, it is customary for swimmers to be prompt and to cooperate fully with dignity and respect at the presentations. A club uniform is to be worn when accepting the award. It is also customary for Dolphin Swim Club swimmers to be polite and modestly thankful for any awards they receive. It is appropriate to congratulate other swimmers and receive the same with poise and a "thank you.h Good sportsmanship is essential. If photos are being taken, we ask the swimmer to remain until the shooting is complete, being sure to cooperate with the photographer. Do not ham it up! The picture may be special to someone else. The image a swimmer presents is a direct reflection of the team.

Out of Town Meets

            Trips to meets in other cities become an important aspect of a swimmer’s career while advancing through the age group ranks. Dolphin Swim Club has established the following policies for the safety of the swimmer and peace-of-mind of parents:

1.      Parents are to be responsible for arranging transportation and lodging to away meets, with the exception of those competitions where the team provides transportation. DO NOT ASK YOUR SWIMMER (S) TO HANDLE THIS JOB. Oftentimes, a certain hotel will be designated as "team headquarters."

2.      Parents are encouraged to attend out-of-town meets with their swimmers and to chaperone other youngsters. These trips can be great fun for parents and swimmers alike. They also are a rare opportunity to participate in a special way in each young swimmer’s career.

3.      A coach has too many responsibilities to the entire team to accept responsibility for an individual swimmer. Therefore, do not ask a coach to provide transportation.

4.      Any swimmer riding in a car is responsible to the parent/driver for his/her behavior and is expected to adhere to the Dolphin Swim Club "Honor Code" at all times.

5.      A medical release and liability form as well as an emergency telephone number should be given to the parent/driver with whom your swimmer is riding in case emergency medical treatment is required.

6.      An appropriate contribution is expected from each passenger in a car to the driver/owner to help defray gasoline and related expenses.

Bus and Air Trip Policy

            It is important for swimmers to participate in meets both with and without their parents in attendance. This adds to the growth experience a child can gain from competitive swimming, teamwork, and individual initiative. As a swimmer progresses to Sectional and Senior Nationals, oftentimes they attend these meets without his/her parents. It is, therefore, necessary for a swimmer to learn to travel without their parents.

1.      All Dolphin Swim Club swimmers must travel with the team and stay in the hotel with the team on all bus or air trips. (Talk to the coach if you must request an exemption from this requirement.)

2.      Dolphin Swim Club swimmers must remain with the team for the duration of the trip (including meals and team functions). (Again, your coach and chaperone must be consulted for any exemption.)

3.      If a Dolphin Swim Club swimmer would like to return with his/her parents, they may leave if their meet is over and arrangements were made prior to the start of the trip with a signed permission slip. However, the swimmer is still responsible for full round-trip transportation costs.

4.      The full amount of designated transportation will be collected in advance. These amounts are not refundable.

5.      All release forms must be signed prior to the trip.

6.      All swimmers must follow the "Honor Code.h Regulations must be followed as set forth by coaches and chaperones.

Very Basic Swimming Rules

Starts     
                                              

The swimmers are not allowed a false start. If they jump the start and the starter thinks they are trying to get an advantage (whether intentional or not-it does not matter), they will be disqualified. Rules change frequently.  To familiarize yourself with the rules, refer to USA Swimming guidelines.   

Turns and finishes    
                         

1.      Freestyle: feet have to touch the wall

2.      2. Backstroke: swimmers have to be on their back when they touch the wall. After he/she touches, he/she can then turn         around, but he/she must push off on their back. At the finish, a swimmer must finish on his/her back. A swimmer  may not        roll over and grab the wall until they have first touched it.

3.   Breaststroke and Butterfly:

a.      Swimmers have to touch with both hands at the same time.

b.      A swimmer may not freestyle kick off the wall in either breaststroke or butterfly.     

c.      When swimming butterfly, both arms must move at the same time.  

Appendix I

Appendix II