Saratoga Stingrays General
Information
Minimum
Requirements
Saratoga
Stingrays is a fun summer team, and also a competitive swim
team. Team practices
are not intended or appropriate as learn-to-swim lessons. We do offer a separate
learn-to-swim lessons in the "Little Rays" program, and many Little
Rays have graduated onto the swim team. The minimum swimming skill to
qualify for the regular team, is the ability to swim one length of
a 25 meter pool unassisted, using any stroke. That's a beginning, and we'll
build from there. The
team absolutely does teach swimmers the strokes and techniques
required at swim meets. While stroke development and
teaching is a very important part of what our coaches do, it is not
fair to expect them to be teaching one on one every day. Coaches will be holding
evaluations prior to the season and swimmer placement is at their
discretion. Swimmers
on the team are expected to participate in meet, but because this
is a summer activity, absences for family vacations and the like
are expected-- but the coaches certainly appreciate advance
notice.
Swimmers
who are at the pool during their designated practice time are
expected to participate or they will be asked to leave the
deck. Injured swimmers
should make arrangements with the coach. Parents or guardians of
swimmers 11 and under are required to remain on deck during
practice as a safety policy.
Swimmers
are expected to wear swim suits in team colors, and the team cap
(caps are provided) to all meets.
Attendance
Policy
In the
interest of fairness, the Saratoga Swim Team has created an
attendance policy concerning practice attendance and meet
eligibility. The team
does not want to exclude anyone from participating though-- the
coaches are flexible and willing to work with reasonable
requests.
•
Please communicate
vacation plans, camps, and any other scheduling conflicts as soon
as you know them.
•
Swimmers are expected
to make at least two
practices per week to be considered for the Saturday Meet lineup.
•
Swimmers whose main
practices are mornings with USA Swimming teams in the area will be
asked to come to Saratoga Swim team practices at least twice a
week. We understand
the importance of year-round serious training for those committed
swimmers, but we hope that those committed swimmers understand the
importance of team-building and support within the Saratoga Swim
team.
General Practice
Rules
Arrive on
time, have cap and goggles on and be ready at the start time. Caps are strongly
recommended for those with long hair.
Just as
at school, the coach is the teacher. Please leave coaching to the
coaches. Should you need to speak with the coach, please do so
after practice.
Parents
should not sit in the area directly behind the coaches during
practice, and generally should remain behind any roped-off
area.
Practice
Cancelation
Practice
will proceed as scheduled in light rain. If thunder is heard or lightning
sighted everyone is required to clear the deck until 30 minutes
after the last clap of thunder or flash of lightning.
Parent
Expectations
Swim
teams require a lot of volunteer time in order to run
smoothly.
Approximately 26 adult volunteers per team are needed at each
meet. Families will be required to
volunteer 5 meets each season. See
“Volunteering” for more information.
Fun Team
Activities
After
each Saturday meet, the team meets at a restaurant to enjoy lunch
together. The
restaurant we are going to is announced during the
meet.
Team
pictures will be taken at a morning practice during the
season. A group photo
is taken, followed by individual photos, if desired. All swimmers must wear the team
color suits and/or the team t-shirt. Date is TBD.
The
Saratoga Stingray swim team holds pot-luck end-of-season banquet on
the day after the divisional meet. The rain date is the following
Sunday. There is food,
fun, and trophies for all swimmers.
In the
off-season, the team occasionally assembles for informal fun
activities. Laser tag,
bowling, and fundraising for toys-for-tots have been done in the
past. Similar events
will be held each off-season.
Location
Board
Coaches
SAR record board
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