The Regional YMCA of
Western CT Mako Swim Club is an operating program of the Regional
YMCA of Western CT, and is led by a professional coaching staff
that is supported by a strong parents committee. The Mako Swim Team
is supervised and structured by a YMCA Senior Director that
implements the educational and training objectives for the program
which are then executed by the YMCA Mako coaches. The Senior
Aquatics Director oversees the development of all levels and
supervises all staff members associated with the program as well as
the members of the Mako Parent Committee. All team policies,
with the exception of volunteer requirements, are set by the YMCA
professional staff including the Branch Executive
Director.
The Mako Swim Team
functions as a “YMCA” and “USA” swimming
club, meaning the club participates within a local YMCA league and
United States Swimming sanctioned events throughout the
year.
YMCA Swimming and Diving
is part of the YMCA of the USA organization. United States Swimming
is the National governing body for competitive swimming. They
select the teams for all international meets, including the
Olympics. USA Swimming grew out of AAU swimming when each sport
under the AAU umbrella split out to form its own governing body. It
has its headquarters in Colorado Springs at the Olympic Training
Center and is organized into 56 regional Local Swimming Committees
(LSCs), which all follow the same technical rules but are in most
ways autonomous. Our LSC is called Connecticut Swimming Inc. (CSI),
and is run by parent and coach volunteers. If you are interested in
becoming active in this organization, contact your squad
Commissioner, the MPC Chair, or go to the Connecticut Swimming web
site which can be accessed through a link on the Mako web
site.
USA Swimming publishes a
yearly rule book containing all the swimming rules, national time
standards, and other useful information. If you would like to
obtain a copy, contact USA Swimming at 719-578-4578. You may also
download one for free at www.usa-swimming.org. Anyone joining USA
Swimming as a non-athlete member receives a rule book as part of
the membership fee.
YMCA meets consist of
"dual" meets between Y's, the Y league championship, and Y
Nationals in late March/early April. Swimmers must be current,
active members of the Y to compete in the Y championship meets.
YMCA Swimming and Diving governs these meets.
USA Swimming meets are
usually significantly larger with many teams represented. They can
often be multiple day events spanning 2-3 days. At the end of each
season championship meets are held. More information pertaining to
USA Swimming meets can be found in the Competition section of this
handbook.
Professional
Staff Info:
Executive
Director:
Gail Null / Email: [email protected] / Phone: 203-775-4444 ext
119
Senior Aquatics
Director/ Head Coach:
Jason Paige / Email: [email protected] / Phone:
203-775-1077
Assistant Competitive Swimming Director/ Head Developmental Age
Group Coach:
Sarah Basile /
Email: sbasile @regionalymca.org / Phone 203-775-1077 Ext
153