CFYN

USA & YMCA SWIMMING

Swim Team Handbook 2013-2014
Updated August 26, 2013

Tigershark Booster Club Members

Office
President Vice President & Volunteer Coordinator Secretary Treasurer Head Coach Meet Entry Secretary USA Meet Secretary Merchandising & Awards Socials Publicity Sponsorship

Current Officer
Keith Turnbull Becky Turnbull Vince Cappabianca Lynn Dilullo Dale Craddock Stephanie Ball Diane Kurlich Rosanne Lewis Bob Nagle Open Open

Email Contact
President@cfyntigersharks.com Becky@cfyntigersharks.com vcappabianca@yahoo.com ld2728@yahoo.com dcraddock@ameritech.net steph-dan@sbcglobal.net momoftwins972@yahoo.com franklewis1966@sbcglobal.net silkmoney@roadrunner.com

Visit our team website at www.cfyntigersharks.com

Tigershark Vision Statement

The Cuyahoga Falls Tigershark Swim Team continually strives for excellence both in and out of the pool by providing quality leadership that motivates our swimmers to grow and succeed both as individuals and as a team. Focuses on sportsmanship, hard work, dedication, healthy conditioning of the body, and encouraging our athletes to be well rounded individuals provides an environment where fun and improvement are inevitable rewards at all ability levels.

Tigershark Mission Statement

The Tigershark Swim Teams mission is to provide an environment where swimmers of all levels of ability can develop their technical skills and character values through competitive team membership. The YMCA mission is to put christian principles into practice through programs that build health, spirit, mind, and body for all. The YMCA builds strong kids, strong families, and strong communities. The character values caring, honesty, respect, and responsibility are incorporated into all YMCA programs. Tigershark coaches instill these values though teachable moments in the sport of swimming. Tigershark swimmers will be pushed to realize their full potential. Our philosophy is to stress success of each individual swimmer and to combine that with a strong team atmosphere so all swimmers come away with a good feeling about themselves and the team. In the sport of swimming, the swimmer will develop self-disciple, a sense of responsibility, and the ability to develop into a wholesome well rounded individual.

Welcome New Families

We are glad that you have joined our Tigershark Family! It can be overwhelming to be new, but we will do our best to help you adjust to life as a Tigershark Team Member. To help you get started we have a website that has all the information you need to know to get you through the season including practice and meet schedules, links to sign-up for meets, a calendar of events, announcements, meet results, record breakers, top times, and much more. On this page, you will also find some tips for new families as well as answers to frequently asked questions. An excellent first step for new families is to read this handbook. This year we are continuing with our position of New Parent Liason. All new families and anyone else who would like to be included will be put on a email list which will periodically send out helpful tips and other information that may be

helpful to newer families. This person will also act as a point person for your questions. She will also be available to answer questions at meets and some practices. If you have any questions please contact Becky Turnbull at Becky@CFYNTigersharks.com. You can also use the website to find the contact information for all of the boosters and coaches (under the contact us link) who will also be happy to answer your questions.

Meet Volunteers
With the exception of the coaches, the Tigershark swim team is run 100% by volunteers. As such it is essential that everyone do their fair share to contribute to the running of the team. Without the collaborative effort of all families meets cannot be held successfully. Therefore all families are required to work a minimum number of meets during the season. If a family does not meet their minimum requirements the Booster Board reserves the right to not enter your swimmer(s) into championship meets, which may include YMCA Divisionals, YMCA Leagues, YMCA Zones, YMCA Nationals, and USA Championships. If this occurs any applicable Divisional fees are considered non-refundable. On the other hand, any family who exceeds their minimum volunteer requirements will earn entries into our volunteer incentive raffle for each volunteer position they fill above and beyond their minimum requirement. Grand prize is a $100 CAS gift card plus additional swimming related prizes will be raffled off to other winners. (See the website for more details) Full Time Tigershark Requirements: All families who have at least one full time Tigershark (aka a swimmer who does not swim for their High School) must work a minimum of 4 meets during the season. At least one of those must be a CFYN hosted Invitational (Rocktober Pentathlon, Hang Ten, or YMCA Divisionals). Failure to complete this requirement will result in your swimmer not being eligible for Championship meets. High School Pre-season Requirements: All families who have only High School Preseason swimmers must work at the Rocktober Pentathlon. Any family of a swimmer planning on swimming more meets, and/or who plan to swim at end of the season Championship meets must work at least a minimum total of 2 meets. Failure to complete this requirement will result in your swimmer not being eligible for Championship meets. Hosting invitationals and the divisional meet has a direct benefit to the Tigershark families because the profits (thousands of dollars) from these events serve as our team's primary fund raisers and help keep costs as low as possible while still providing a top notch program for our swimmers. Also if your swimmer participates in YMCA League Championships, Zones, the USA Championships, or Long Course Championships, you will also be asked to help fill any volunteer positions assigned to CFYN for these meets.

This season you will be able to sign up and manage your volunteer positions on the internet using VolunteerSpot.com. Simply click on the links for Volunteer Spot on our team website and choose your positions. If you've entered your email information correctly you will then receive automated reminders for your positions a few days before any meet you've volunteered for. The booster club vice president is the volunteer coordinator. It is his/her responsibility to make sure each volunteer position is filled for each meet. He/She keeps a record of who has signed up to work at meets, whether volunteers worked the meets they signed up for, and which families still have volunteer obligations they need to fulfill. We realize that emergencies do arise during the long swimming season and if you find that you will not be able to work at a meet you signed up for, please contact the volunteer coordinator right away. Then it is your responsibility to sign up to work at another meet to fulfill your volunteer obligations. In order to have your work count toward your obligation you must follow these simple steps: 1. Sign up for your position through Volunteer Spot or the Volunteer Coordinator. (Volunteer Spot is preferred, a link and a step by step guide on how to sign up is available on our website www.cfyntigersharks.com) 2. Show up to the meet you are scheduled to work at and sign-in with the volunteer check-in person. Signing in is a MUST! 3. Do all of the required work of your position.

Some of our Volunteer Positions include: Timers: A total of 12 primary timers, one head timer, and two back up timers are needed for each home meet. Prior to each meet there will be a timers meeting where you will be instructed on what is expected. Two primary timers will be assigned to each lane during the meet. The back-up timers will be behind the blocks and will start their watches with each start. If a primary timer misses the start or has problems with his/her watch, the back-up timers will be called up to time the event. Back-up timers may also be asked to provide breaks for the primary timers during the meet. The head timer will be responsible for making sure each lane has a clipboard, pencil, stop watch, and correct lane sheets prior to the meet. The head timer will also make sure all timers are present and in the correct lanes. During the course of the meet, the head timer will remain behind the blocks and will act as a back-up timer and will assist the primary timers as needed. After the meet, the head timer will make sure that all equipment used by the timers is collected and stowed.

Runners: The runner will collect disqualification sheets from the officials. The runner may also be asked to run errands for the scorer. Maintaining the on-call board: This volunteers keep the on-call board current. The on-call board is located in the gym and is used to keep the swimmers informed as to what event is in the water and what events should be lining up behind the blocks. This volunteer will also get results from the scorers table and post the results in the gym at home dual meets. Volunteer Sign-in Aide: Prior to the meet, all volunteers report to the volunteer sign-in aide located near the on-call board in the gym. You will need to inform the volunteer coordinator if there are volunteers who are missing and will help in obtaining any additional volunteers that may be needed the day of the meet. Lane Aides: Two per meet. You will work behind the blocks during the meet to aid swimmers, as needed, in getting to the correct blocks for the correct events. You will also help keep order behind the blocks and will help keep swimmers quiet for the starts. Substitutes: You are on call to fill any positions that are vacant the day of the meet. You must bring clothing and shoes suitable for working on the deck regardless of whether you have been notified prior to the meet that you will be working. If a volunteer does not show up the day of the meet, you will be taking his/her place. Age Group Coordinators : You will make sure that the younger swimmers are lined up in the gym for their events and will take the 8 and unders to the pool deck for their events. These positions also need to be filled at away meets. Set Up and Tear Down: Two needed per meet. Responsible for assisting with the set up and tear down of the pool area including the scorers table and the timing touch pads. Please report to the scorers table 30 minutes before the meet and immediately after the meet. Merchandise Sales: Two needed per meet. You will work in the pool area at the Tigershark merchandise table. Officials: Officials include the starter, the referee, and stroke and turn judges. Officials must attend training and be certified. The training is usually held the first weekend in October. Please contact the Head Coach, or Booster President or Vice President if you are interested in becoming an official.

Additional positions are required at invitational meets. Descriptions of these positions are available on Volunteerspot.com.

Fund Raising
Why does the team need to fund raise, and where does the money go?
As we all know swimming is an expensive sport. Each year the boosters strive to raise funds to help keep it as affordable as possible for our Tigershark families. This year the Booster club will contribute more than $11,000 toward operating expenses to help keep your program fees as low as possible. This can only be done with the continued support of our team members in our fund raising efforts. In addition to these large amounts of money contributed to program fees some other benefits you and your swimmers may receive from fund raising include but are not limited to: $25 booster subsidy for program fees. $25 Sibling credit off program fees. Booster fees have been reduced from $100 to $75 Team T-shirts Coaching at all invitational meets A wide variety in practice schedule options Zone jackets, Zone caps, and Zone t-shirts Awards for dual meets End of the year awards (awards pins, trophies, plaques, and awards ceremony) League dinner for League qualifiers and their families. Free Relay entries for all YMCA and USA Invitationals and Championships. Pool & Pizza Party Entry into League, Zone, and National YMCA meets.

Types of Fund raisers: 1. Hosting Invitationals: This year the Tigersharks will be hosting two
Invitationals, the Rocktober Pentathlon in October (which will also serve as our time trials) and the Hang Ten Invitational in January. We are also hoping to be awarded to privilege of hosting the Divisional Championship meet.. Parents can help make these events successful by having their children participate in the meets, and volunteering. For some meets you may also be asked to make a small food donation to the hospitality room.

2. Sponsorship: Our team also solicits sponsorships from local businesses. In

return for their donations they become team sponsors and enjoy a variety of advertising benefits at our invitationals and on our website. Parents can help by passing Sponsorship information on to anyone they know who maybe interested in becoming a team Sponsor. Additional information can be found on our website.

Coaches' Responsibilities
The coaches' primary duties include running practice, setting and pursuing team and individual goals, and working closely with the swimmers. Establish practice and meet schedules. Write dual meet line-ups, championship line-ups and selecting swimmers for all relays. Work in cooperation with the Boosters in promoting and developing the team.

Swimmers' Responsibilities
Attend practice regularly and have fun! Show support for your teammates. Show good sportsmanship always! Show appreciation to your parents. Older swimmers should set good examples and be supportive of their younger teamates. Attend all entered meets. Talk to your coach after your events at every meet. Attend any championship meets for which you qualify. Participate in team fund raisers. Check your mailbox at the Natatorium or YMCA at least once a week for important communications. Follow your coaches rules regarding workout behavior. Be on your best behavior in locker rooms (home and away). Spend as little time there as possible. Clean up after yourselves at meets and practices.

The Parents' Responsibilities

Be supportive and loving towards your swimmers at all times while encouraging them to do their best. Have fun. Know the meet schedule, and be sure your swimmer is available for any and all championship meets he/she may qualify for. Complete your required volunteer work in a timely fashion. Participate in team fund raisers.

Be respectful of team volunteers. It is important to remember Booster board members are volunteers who are not compensated in anyway for their time and work. Get your swimmer to practice on time--not too early, not late. Pick up your swimmer on time. What does this mean?? For 10 and under ---You must be in the building prior to the end of practice. For 11 & upsYou must be at the practice facility by the end of practice. Help check locker room behavior. Check your mailbox at the Natatorium or YMCA often (or make sure your swimmer does). Be at all meets your swimmer attends. If you are unable to attend a meet (home or away) you must have a parent or designated adult there to be responsible for your swimmer, (this is not a Coach's job) and report this designation to your swimmer's age group coach. Check your email and the team website frequently for team announcements and news. Team emails go out on on Wednesdays, be sure we have your current email address. Remember it is up to you to keep yourself informed using the tools provided.

CFYN Practice Groups

If you are unsure what practice group you belong in please talk with a coach. 8 and Unders: This group is for swimmers new to competitive swimming, who have not yet attained any qualifying times for the more advanced groups. This is composed solely of swimmers 8 years of age and under.. Two-Three practices per week recommended. Black: This group is for swimmers who are either 9 years old and older OR 8 and under swimmers who have attained a 50 yard freestyle time of 45 seconds or faster. Three practices per week recommended. Black Advanced Time qualification for Black Advanced is 43 seconds or faster in the 50 yard freestyle. Three practices per week recommended. Gold This group requires a 50 yard freestyle qualifier time of 40 seconds or faster and be able to complete the set 8 x 50 frees on 1:30. Coaches recommend 3 practices per week Junior This group requires a 50 yard freestyle qualifier time of 35 seconds or faster.

plus be able to complete the set8 x 50 frees on 1:20. Coaches recommend 3-4 practices per week Senior This is highest practice group and requires a qualifying time of 30 seconds or faster. Plus be able to complete a set of 8 x 50 free on 1:05. 3-4 practices a week recommended.

SWIM MEET INFORMATION

Description of Swim Meets Dual Meets: CFYN participates in seven dual meets. These are run similar to High School meets where two teams compete against each other. Swimmers may swim up to two individual events and two relays. Home meets are held at the Cuyahoga Falls Natatorium where warm-ups begin at 2:00 and the meet begins at 3:00. Away meet times vary by meet, see the schedule web page for more information. You will need to sign-up for these meets on our website by the deadline. Coaches determine what events swimmers will compete in so you will only need to indicate whether or not you are attending for each swimmer. YMCA Invitationals: CFYN swimmers have the opportunity to participate in optional invitational swim meets. These are away meets sponsored by an area YMCA and are usually an all-day affair with awards given to top placers. Information regarding these opportunities will be posted well in advance on the meet schedule web page with a link to the entry system. With these meets you, not the coaches, get to choose your events. USA Swimming Invitationals: CFYN swimmers have the opportunity to participate in our USA swim program. USA membership is required in order to participate in these meets. For more information, please contact your swimmers coach. Information regarding these meet opportunities will be posted on the website meet schedule. USA swimmers can sign-up for these meets the same way the sign-up for YMCA invitationals. Championship Meets: All swimmers are required to attend the championship meets for which they qualify.

YMCA Divisionals: We require all swimmers to attend this meet since every point counts for our team standing. Also, swimmers cannot go onto te League meet unless they qualify in the Divisional meet. This is the Championship for our YMCA Division (Northwest Division of the North East Ohio League). YMCA Leagues: After the completion of all divisional championships, all swimmers in each event are ranked. The top swimmers will move on to the League meet. This is where all three Divisions of our League meet and compete. YMCA Zone Championships: Time standards for the Zone Meet are determined by the YMCA Zone Committee. These times will be posted on the bulletin boards at the Y and Nat, and are posted on our team website. We are members of the Great Lakes Zone and compete against swimmers from Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan and West Virginia. YMCA Nationals: The ultimate swimming experience for YMCA swimmers and the highest level of competition available in the YMCA. The qualifying times are tough, as is the competition. USA qualifiers, age group state championships, and senior championships: These are time standard qualified meets for USA registered swimmers. These meets are held at the end of the swim season, usually in late Feb. and early March. Unlike YMCA championships, USA swimmers get to choose what events they want to swim from the events which they have qualifying times. See the website for more details as the year progresses.

Zone Policies
Each year one of our major team goals is to send the largest most competitive team to Zone Championships as possible. Determining which swimmers get to go can be a complicated and confusing process, so we have set the following guidelines and policies to help explain the process. How does a swimmer make Zones? There are two ways to make Zone Championships. 1. Qualify for an Individual Event. This is the most straightforward way to make Zones. Swim a qualifying time at any sanctioned meet, including YMCA Dual Meets, YMCA or USA Invitationals, YMCA or USA Championship Meets, or a YMCA Last Chance Meet. Qualifying times can be found on our website, and posted on our bulletin boards. 2. Be selected by your coach to participate on a Zone Relay. This is where things get a bit more complicated . There are two ways a relay can qualify for Zones. A relay swims a qualifying time at a meet. In this case the relay, not the swimmers who swam the relay, qualifies for Zones. When the time comes

to put the Zone team together the coaches will determine who the best 4 swimmers are at that time and appoint them to the relay. For example, Susie may swim on a relay in October that swims a Zone time, however by March Susie may not be determined to be one of the 4 best swimmers for that relay and therefore Susie might not be selected for that relay for Zones. A relay can qualify by using the composite times of 4 swimmers' individual events. A relay doesn't necessarily have to swim a Zone time as a relay at a meet. Instead a coach could add up their best individual times as though they were a leg of a relay and if the total is faster than the Zone relay time, then those swims qualify the relay. In this case if your individual time is used to qualify a relay then you will be selected for that relay.

How are Zone (and other championship) Relay Positions Determined? The shortest and most accurate answer to this question is Relays are made at the sole discretion of the Coaches. Some of the things a coach might look at when making these decision include but are not limited to: Swimmers fastest times. How recently the swimmer swam their fastest time. Consistency of the swimmer. -For example, a consistent swimmer who almost always swims 32.0 -33.0 seconds maybe preferable to an inconsistent swimmer who ranges anywhere from 31.0-35.0 seconds. Trending of the swimmer. - When looking at two fairly evenly matched swimmers the swimmer who has been showing time drops at his/her recent meets may get the edge over a swimmer who has not dropped time recently. The potential to get more swimmers into the Zone meet. -For example if there are two evenly matched swimmers who could swim two relays the coach may have them each swim one relay so that both swimmers can have the experience of going to Zones, especially if the Coach thinks this decision will not affect the overall outcome for the relay.

With all of this in mind it is important for parents and swimmers to understand that the ultimate decision is 100% up to the coaches, and they always do their best to be as fair as possible while still making the largest and most competitive Zone Team possible. Awards policies for Zone and National Meets: Please note: In order to receive these awards swimmers must qualify for the meet and participate in the meet. Extraordinary cases where the swimmer qualifies for the meet but cannot compete due to injury or other unexpected and unavoidable circumstances will be evaluated on a case by case basis to determine what, and if any awards will be distributed. Zone Jackets: Zone Jackets are given to swimmers as a gift from the team the

first time they qualify & compete in Zones as either an individual or relay swimmer. We recommend you order the jacket so that there is room to grow because the parents are responsible for purchasing all future Zone jackets. So if your swimmer loses their jacket or grows out of it, it is up to the parents to purchase a replacement. Each year you qualify for zones the team will collect your jacket and have the year embroidered on it. If you qualify for a National event you will also get a patch on the sleeve of your jacket to recognize that accomplishment. Zone and National Caps: The first year you qualify & compete in Zones and/or Nationals the team will give you the corresponding cap(s). Replacement caps may be purchased by qualified swimmers for $10. Zone and National Caps may not be worn by swimmers who have not qualified for these meets. Your first Zone/National cap will be presented to you shortly before those meets. Last Chance Meets: Last chance meets can be used to qualify you for an individual Zone or National event. Last chance meets can be used to qualify a relay that has not already qualified for zones or Nationals (a coach will contact you if he would like you to try to help get a relay qualified). Last chance meet results will not be used to help determine who will swim on a relay unless your individual time is used to help qualify a relay. For example, this means Susie's last chance meet times will not be taken into consideration when trying to decide whether Susie or Donna should fill a relay slot. Last Chance meet results can be used to establish a team record which had not already been set, but can not break an existing record. What is the last meet that will be used to determine Zone Relays? Each year the coach will look at the team schedule to determine the cut off date for Zone relay enteries. This is often (but not always) one of the USA Championship meets. Which meet it is depends solely on scheduling. Watch the website or contact Coach Dale to find out the exact time line each year.

Meet Procedures
All Swimmers Must:
1. Sign up by the deadline indicated on the website if they intend to swim in a meet. 2. Check in at home and away meets (by crossing off name on check-in sheets.) Check-in sheets will be posted in a prominent place on wall. Failure to check in may cause you to be scratched. 3. After checking in, find the Meet Line-up sheets. There you will see what

events you are swimming. You should take a ball point pen and write your events on the back of your hand. 4. Next, change and be ready for warm-ups. Listen up, your coach will instruct you regarding warm-ups. After warm-ups, dry off and be ready for your first event. 5. Assemble immediately after warm-ups for Medley Relays. The Age Group Parent Reps will help you assemble and send you to the Clerk of Course (or to the blocks at away meets.) 8 AND UNDERS WILL MEET THEIR COACH AT THEIR AREA. 6. We do not use cards at home meets; however, some teams still use them for away meets. If cards are to be used: Ten events before your event you will need to get ready for your event. Get your Heat Card. 8 and Under swimmers will get their cards from their coach. All other age groups will pick their cards from your Age Group Parent Rep. (They will tell you at the beginning of each away meet where they can be located during the meet). You will know what event it is at any time by watching the meet, listening to the starter or looking at the event board it will be updated after every event. Keep the heat card with you and 5 events before your event report to the Clerk of Course (if there is one), or directly to your lane if there is no Clerk of Course. You will give your Heat Card to the timer when it is time for your event.

7. As soon as you get out of the water after your swim, ask the timers for your time. Then go and see your coach so they can discuss your race. 8. Gather your Free Relay group in your designated relay area before the Breaststroke events are over. (If you are swimming breaststroke and are in a Free Relay, report to the area immediately after your race.) 9. Do not leave the meet early without checking with your coach. (Coaches may need you to fill in a Free Relay.) 10. You are not to be behind the blocks unless you are on deck for your event, or cheering for your buddy. 11. If you participate in the Buddy program be sure to cheer for your buddy.

Parents:
Please help your child with their responsibilities above. Volunteers Check-in- If you signed up to work the meet, please check in with the volunteer coordinator during warm-ups. The volunteer coordinator will

place a check after your name on the sheet. Volunteers Meeting - A meeting of all volunteers will be called about 20 minutes before the start of the meet. Be sure to attend this meeting. Model good Sportsmanship for your children. Bring a photo ID to all home dual meets. The Natatorium requires you to have a photo ID, they will not let you in without it, no exceptions. Follow Natatorium/Pool Rules. Please be respectful of pool/facilities rules and be courteous to the staff.

How to Survive a Tigershark Meet

Before the Meet:
Our website schedule page has a list of meets with links you can use to sign-up for the meet. Deadlines for entry are also posted so please be sure you sign-up in time. Once a deadline has passed you will not be able to register for the meet. For dual meets coaches will choose your events, and a line-up will be posted at the meet. For YMCA and USA Invitationals you get to choose your own events. Please make every effort to attend a meet that you have signed up for. Your team is counting on you! If you absolutely cannot make a meet that you must notify the coaches so that they can make arrangements to fill that spot on a relay. Nothing is more disappointing to the other three members of a relay than a no show! For away meets, the addresses and locations are listed on the meet schedule page. Length of meets:- Dual meets (CFYN vs. one other team) including warm-ups, can last four to five hours, in some cases longer! Invitationals, Leagues, and Divisionals can last considerably longer. Most USA meets have a 4 hour time limit per session each day. You may want to pack a lunch and snacks. However, the host team generally has an adequate concession stand, and it is nice to support any swim team's fund raising.

Day of the meet:

At home meets (the Natatorium): Many parents find that it is hot and humid in the spectator area and wear, or pack, T-shirts, shorts, deck sandals, etc. If you are working a meet and have a poolside job, sandals and shorts are recommended, as you will get wet. The Natatorium has a changing area. Swimmers will stay in the gym area right next door to the pool, and parents are welcome to hang out there, too. The gym is considerably cooler so swimmers should bring sweatshirts

STUFF TO PACK:
Chairs for spectators. Old blanket or sleeping bag for swimmers to camp out on. Swim suits, goggles, caps, team t-shirt, & towels Extra clothes for during meet to keep warm. Snacks no sugar for swimmers! Water bottle. Deck of playing cards, travel games, magazines, books, etc... Pens, paper, permanent markers For invitationals, you may want to bring a highlighter too.

Once you arrive - Make sure you are ready to swim by warm-up time. Check the line-up of events posted on the wall. You may choose to write down your swimmers event numbers for your own information. You will want to write your swimmer's event numbers on the back of their hand (permanent marker works best for this.) This will help you know which events your swimmer will be in and help your swimmer get to the event on time. Now, sit back, relax and enjoy the meet. Always be supportive and positive towards your swimmer regarding their performance. Meets should always be a pleasant family time. Your swimmer works hard in practice and is doing the best he/she can. Be a loving parent to your child and let the coaches do their job of coaching.

General Swim Meet Information

There are four swimming strokes freestyle, backstroke, butterfly and breaststroke. The distance of the races varies from 25 yards (1 length) to 500 yards (20 lengths). An individual medley (I.M.) is all four strokes in the following order: butterfly, backstroke, breaststroke and freestyle. A medley relay is swum in the following order: backstroke, breaststroke, butterfly and freestyle. In addition, there will be exhibition heats. They do not score points. They will be noted with an A, B, or C (or 2, 3, 4) following the event number. Even though you are swimming an exhibition heat, you should always swim your fastest times. This information is critical to the coaches in assessing progress and planning future line-ups. It is also an import measure to help your swimmer reach personal goals.

Sometimes you will see boys and girls swimming against each other. This is just for time saving purposes where they have combined heats that werent full. The results remain separate for scoring purposes.

Explanation of Terms
BACKSTROKE FLAGS: These pennants are stretched over the water so that backstrokers will know how far away the wall is for their turns and finishes. BLOCK: The starting platform where swimmers begin their races. BREASTSTROKE: Both arms pull together, under water, whole legs kick together. The kick looks easy, but hard to teach young ones. BUTTERFLY: Maybe the prettiest stroke, if done right. It requires a lot of timing and strength. Both arms must go above the water at the same time while both legs kick together. CIRCLE IN: At USA invitationals swimmers need to find the check in sheets and circle their name by each event before warm-ups. If you don't circle in you will not be able to swim. CIRCLE SWIMMING: Performed by staying to the right of the black lane center line while swimming to enable more swimmers to swim in each lane. DECK ENTRY: Some meets will allow us to enter a swimmer on the day of the meet. Sometimes being deck entered means you will swim in the slowest heat and are eligible for awards. DISQUALIFIED: If you break a swim rule you can be disqualified or DQd. This is normally shown as a DQ behind your name on the official results. A swimmer can be DQd for a start, finish, stroke or turn. Two officials may have to see the error and you will be told what you did wrong. If your swimmer is disqualified, dont worry. It is an opportunity to learn. DISTANCE: Term used to refer to events over 400 meters/500 yards. DRILL: An exercise involving a portion of a stroke used to improve technique. DRYLAND TRAINING: Training done out of the water that aids and enhances swimming performance. Usually includes stretching, calisthenics, running, and/or weight training. ELECTRONIC TIMING: Most meets use electronic systems to give times and finish places. There are pads in the water the swimmer touches to signal the machine of your finish. Young swimmer often do not touch the pad hard enough, therefore the

need for two hand times to back-up the timing system. FALSE START: Occurs when a swimmer is moving at the start. FINISH: The final phase of the race, the touch at the end of the race. GOAL: A specific time achievement a swimmer sets and strives for, can be either short or long term. HEAT SHEET: The program that lists the events, heat, and lane assignments. You will see these sold at invitationals and championship meets. I.M.: Slang for Individual Medley, an event in which the swimmer uses all four strokes in this order: butterfly, backstroke, breaststroke, freestyle. LAP COUNTER: A set of display numbers used to keep track of laps during a distance race. Also, the person who counts laps for the swimmer, stationed at the opposite end from the start. MEET: Competition designed to be a learning experience. By implementing what has been learned in practice, the swimmer tests himself against the clock to determine improvement. NEGATIVE SPLIT: Swimming the second half of the race with a time equal to or faster than the first half. OFFICIAL: A judge on the deck of the pool at a sanctioned competition who enforces YMCA (NCAA) rules. There are stroke and turn judges, finish judges, administrative officials, starters, timers and referees. PACE CLOCK: Large clock with a large second hand and smaller minute hand used to check pace or maintain intervals in practice; may also be digital. PSYCH SHEET: This lists the swimmers and their seed times for each event at a meet, but does not include heat and lane assignments. These are sold at USA meets instead of heat sheets because USA events are not assigned heats and lanes until after swimmers circle in right before warm ups. RELAY: An event in which 4 swimmers compete together as a team to achieve one time. SCRATCH: To withdraw from an event in competition. SPLIT: This refers to a certain portion of a race. For example in a 100 yrd race a coach will look at each of your 50 yrd splits to compare your first and second half pacing. A split can also refer to an individual's time in their relay leg. SPRINT: Describes the shorter events, 50 and 100 yard/meter. In training, to swim

as fast as possible for a short distance. STREAMLINE: The position used to gain maximum distance during a start and/or push-off from the wall in which the swimmers body is as tight as it can be. TAPER: The final preparation phase leading up to a major competition. Often practices will change during this time, focusing more on starts, turns, and sprints, and the yardage will go down. TIME TRIAL: A time-only swim. A time trial is not part of a regular meet. TOUCH PAD: A large sensitive board at the end of each lane where a swimmers touch is registered and sent electronically to the timing system. WARM DOWN: Low intensity swimming used by a swimmer after a race or main practice set to rid the body of excess lactic acid, and to gradually reduce heart and respiration rate. WARM-UP: Low intensity swimming used by swimmer prior to a main practice set or race to get muscles loose and warm, and gradually increase heart and respiration rate.

ORDER OF EVENTS GIRLS EVENT NUMBER

1 3 5 7 9 11 13 15 17 19 21 23 25 27 29 31 33 35 37 39 41 43 45 47 49 51 53 55 57 59 61 63 65 67 69 71 73 75 77 79 81 83 85 87 89

AGE GROUP
15-18 13-14 11-12 9-10 8&U 15-18 13-14 11-12 9-10 15-18 13-14 11-12 9-10 15-18 13-14 11-12 9-10 8&U 15-18 13-14 11-12 9-10 8&U 15-18 13-14 11-12 9-10 8&U 15-18 13-14 15-18 13-14 11-12 9-10 8&U 15-18 13-14 11-12 9-10 8&U 15-18 13-14 11-12 9-10 8&U 200 200 200 200 100 200 200 200 200 200 200 100 100 50 50 50 50 25 100 100 50 50 25 100 100 100 100 50 500 500 100 100 50 50 25 100 100 50 50 25 400 200 200 200 100

EVENT
MEDLEY RELAY MEDLEY RELAY MEDLEY RELAY MEDLEY RELAY MEDLEY RELAY FREESTYLE FREESTYLE FREESTYLE FREESTYLE INDIVIDUAL MEDLEY INDIVIDUAL MEDLEY INDIVIDUAL MEDLEY INDIVIDUAL MEDLEY FREESTYLE FREESTYLE FREESTYLE FREESTYLE FREESTYLE BUTTERFLY BUTTERFLY BUTTERFLY BUTTERFLY BUTTERFLY FREESTYLE FREESTYLE FREESTYLE FREESTYLE FREESTYLE FREESTYLE FREESTYLE BACKSTROKE BACKSTROKE BACKSTROKE BACKSTROKE BACKSTROKE BREASTSTROKE BREASTSTROKE BREASTSTROKE BREASTSTROKE BREASTSTROKE FREE RELAY FREE RELAY FREE RELAY FREE RELAY FREE RELAY

AGE GROUP
15-18 13-14 11-12 9-10 8&U 15-18 13-14 11-12 9-10 15-18 13-14 11-12 9-10 15-18 13-14 11-12 9-10 8&U 15-18 13-14 11-12 9-10 8&U 15-18 13-14 11-12 9-10 8&U 15-18 13-14 15-18 13-14 11-12 9-10 8&U 15-18 13-14 11-12 9-10 8&U 15-18 13-14 11-12 9-10 8&U

BOYS EVENT NUMBER

2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 26 28 30 32 34 36 38 40 42 44 46 48 50 52 54 56 58 60 62 64 66 68 70 72 74 76 78 80 82 84 86 88 90