Poolesville
Piranhas
Swim Team
2011 Handbook
20151 Fisher Ave.
Poolesville, MD 20837
www.poolesvilleswimteam.us
Poolesville Piranhas Swim
Team
2011 Organization
|
Head Coach |
Tracy Craemer TheCoach@PoolesvilleSwimTeam.us |
|
|
Assistant Coaches |
Elizabeth Pepper,
Tyler Mumford, Caitlin McKelvey, Chuck Miller |
Parent Representatives
|
"A"
Representative |
Anne Jagodits & Annemieke Vander Sluijs |
301-349-5733 |
|
"B"
Representatives |
Michael and Laura Manack B-Rep@PoolesvilleSwimTeam.us |
301-349-2389 |
|
Tammy Lightcap B-Rep@PoolesvilleSwimTeam.us |
301-407-0502 |
|
|
Automation |
Jon
and Nancy Kasner |
301-349-2134 |
|
Treasurer |
Mark Miller |
301-972-7659 |
|
Concessions |
TBD |
|
|
Swimwear Coordinator |
Pat Kuldell |
301-349-5342 |
|
Western County Pool |
|
301-349-2217 |
Welcome to the Poolesville Piranhas Swim Team!
In this booklet you will find information that will
be helpful throughout the season. Please read it carefully and keep it
handy as a reference.
Team membership is available to any child, and
membership to the pool is not required. Swimmers must be able to complete
one length of the pool using a coordinated stroke and rhythmic breathing.
Every child is an important part of the swim
team. The parents are equally important. Please support your
children by giving them lots of encouragement and by volunteering to help the
program run smoothly. At each
meet, we need at least 30 volunteers. Therefore, it is required that each
family provides an adult to work at a minimum of three meets.
There is a team bulletin board at the pool and each
family has a file in the swim team file box, which is available during practices.
In addition, the team reps are available by phone or e-mail and during meets to
answer questions.
Please visit our team website – www.poolesvilleswimteam.us. The web site is updated
frequently and provides information about schedules, announcements, results and
much more.
Enjoy the season -- let's make it fun and worthwhile
for all our children!
Suggestions are always welcome!
OUR MISSION
*The Poolesville Piranhas swim team is
dedicated to the development of its members as swimmers/athletes.
*It seeks to foster the respect
of each team member for the other members of the team, other athletes,
officials, and for the sport of swimming.
*The team will emphasize the
concept of teamwork. The team will strive to provide fun, meaningful competition
for all its members.
This swim team is part of the Montgomery County
Department of Recreation Aquatics Program.
MONTGOMERY COUNTY SWIM LEAGUE
(MCSL)
The MCSL is made up of approximately 90 teams
divided into 15 divisions (A through O), with 6 teams per division. The teams
are seeded into the divisions according to the prior year's performance.
For 2011 we will be in the F division. You can follow all the teams in MCSL by
visiting the website at www.mcsl.org.
There are two swim meets each week. The A meet
is typically held on Saturday mornings. The roster for the A meets is
determined by the coaches and is generally made up of the three fastest
swimmers (or in some cases, the six fastest) in each event. The B meet is
typically held on Wednesday evenings. The B meets are open to all team
members. Please see the section on the B League meets for specific rules.
MCSL "A" MEETS –
SATURDAY MORNINGS
The coaches decide who will be in the Saturday
morning lineup based on the times swimmers swam during time trials held at the
beginning of the season, as well as times swam in both Saturday and Wednesday
night "B" Meets. In addition, a swimmer's practice attendance
and attitude may be taken into consideration. Meet lineups are made
entirely at the coaching staff's discretion and may change from week to week.
The coaching staff will select which event a swimmer will swim and who will
swim in the relays.
A swimmer in a Saturday morning MCSL Meet may
participate in a maximum of five events, including IM and relays, and may not
swim more than three individual strokes. Individual strokes include
freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke, and butterfly.
The 2011 Poolesville Piranhas Schedule is available
on the website.
"B" LEAGUE MEETS –
WEDNESDAY EVENINGS
The "B" League competes on Wednesday
evenings against five other teams in the Upper Montgomery County area.
The "B" League was organized to provide an opportunity for all
swimmers on teams to swim in organized meets.
All swimmers are eligible to swim in the
"B" Meets as long as they have mastered the mechanics of the stroke
they will swim. In addition, the following eligibility rules apply:
1.
General:
a.
In
a swimming week (Saturday – Friday), a swimmer is eligible to Swim:
1.
An
individual event (including the I.M.) only once per week in either an A or B
meet.
2.
A
total of three individual strokes and one I.M.
per week.
2. Restrictions:
a.
A
swimmer is not eligible to swim in a Wednesday night meet (i.e., for place or
ribbon) if he/she scored in two or more events on the previous Saturday. This
swimmer is only eligible to swim exhibition.
3. Exhibition:
a.
A
swimmer who has scored in two or more events the previous Saturday may swim
exhibition in one of the two off-strokes or I.M., if there is an available
lane.
b.
At
the coach’s request (i.e., he “needs a time”), a swimmer may swim any stroke as
exhibition. (This rule is to be used
with discretion by coaches and team representatives.)
c.
Exhibition
swimmers must wear an orange cap.
4.
There
will be no swimming up to an older age level – except in events 45 & 50 for
the 15 – 18 age group and the “B” Relay Carnival.
5.
All
swimmers must perform a “legal” stroke in order to participate.
6.
Meet
Entry Guidelines:
a.
A
swimmer competing in any 25m race be able to swim the stroke legally and in 60
sec or less
b.
A
swimmer competing in the 100m IM be able to swim all strokes legally and finish
the event in 3 minutes or less.
Swimmers wishing to swim during a "B" Meet
must sign up. Sign-up occurs with the coaches at the pool beginning
Friday morning for the upcoming Wednesday meet. Swimmers must sign up
by Monday of each week in order to be included in the line-up. The B
Meets will be automated just as the "A" meets are, therefore no late
entries will be accepted, and no "deck entries" (last-minute
during-the-meet entries) will be accepted. Each swimmer is responsible
for ensuring his or her wishes are indicated in the sign-up book. If you
are unable to sign up at the pool, swimmers will also be allowed to sign up by
sending an e-mail to the Kasners at Automation@PoolesvilleSwimTeam.us
8 and Unders – check with the coaches to get
approval to swim in the B Meet.
REGISTRATION FEE
The Western County Pool is owned and operated by the Montgomery
County Recreation Department. The County provides, among other things, the
coaches, the pool staff, ribbons, and so on. The registration fee is $175.00
per swimmer and all the money goes directly to the MCRD to pay for those items.
There is an additional fee of $15.00 per swimmer for each non-county resident. Registration will be held at the Western
County Pool on May 31, 2011 but can also be done online at https://recweb.montgomerycountymd.gov/Activities/ActivitiesAdvSearch.asp Barcode 303170.
SOCIAL FEE
The team has added expenses that are not covered by
the county. To help offset these expenses, each family is asked to
contribute TBD for one swimmer or TBD for 2 or more swimmers at the beginning
of the season to the Swim Team. Funds collected are used for additional
place ribbons, pep rally supplies, end-of-season awards, equipment, and the
initial stocking of the concession stand.
8 AND UNDERS
8 and under swimmers can vary widely
in their experience, abilities and swimming mechanics. As a result, all new 8 and under swimmers
will be evaluated and placed in a practice group that offers them the blend of
stroke work and conditioning which the coaches feel will most benefit that
group of swimmers.
The younger swimmers in the group,
will begin practicing after school gets out, giving the pool two more weeks to
warm up so they are not as cold.
Practices consist of thorough stroke instruction. The lane
groupings within the practice may be adjusted somewhat during the beginning of
the season as the coaches become familiar with the abilities and needs of the
individual swimmers.
Meet participation is highly
recommended, but only after a particular stroke has been effectively
demonstrated by the swimmer.
For the more experienced swimmers, we
will continue to develop a swimmers stroke, especially in the 8-and-Under
practice, but increasing endurance is the other major focus area.
8 and Under team members are an
important part of the team and are invited to participate in team pictures, pep
rallies and other social events. We will be working hard to help them
celebrate their achievements as the season goes on. Remember – They are the future of the swim
team!
OFFICIALS CLINICS
Every MCSL and B League team
must have starters, stroke-and-turn judges and referees who have been trained
and certified at a clinic. It is strongly urged that as many parents as
possible attend at least one clinic. Clinics last approximately two
hours.
VOLUNTEERS
As noted earlier in this booklet, parent volunteers are critical to the
success of the swim season and each family will be asked to volunteer for a
duty during at least three meets. For each meet, each team must provide:
|
1 |
Referee/Starter |
|
2-3 |
Stroke and Turn officials |
|
1 |
Head Timer/ Assistant Head Timer |
|
9 - 12 |
Timers |
|
2 - 4 |
Clerk of Course |
|
6 - 8 |
Concessions (home meets) |
|
1 |
Announcer (home meets) |
|
1-2 |
Computer Operator |
|
2 |
Runners |
|
1 |
Ribbon Organizer |
Parents will be called to fill a variety of jobs and
it is asked that you readily agree to help whenever you can. Those
families whose children participate in additional events during the season
(Relay Carnivals, Divisionals, All Stars, etc.) will be asked to fill
additional jobs, as necessary. Remember,
without parent volunteers, there can be no meets.
In addition to jobs during meets, there are a number
of "behind-the-scenes" positions that must be filled. These
include organizing and working the social events and the spirit
committee. Some of the work can be done from home. Please sign up at swim team registration or
contact one of the reps,
PRACTICE SCHEDULE AND
POLICIES
The 2011 practice schedule is located on the team
website. Copies are also available during team registration.
Swimmers are expected to attend all practices. Exceptions are made on an
individual basis and should be discussed with the coaching staff.
High school swimmers will be excused from practice
in the event they have a conflict with employment.
Swimmers should be on time for practice. This
means being on deck and ready to swim at the scheduled time. Practice
will be held during inclement weather unless lightning has been spotted.
Parents are not permitted on deck during practices
unless there is an emergency. Please wait in the snack bar area while
practice is underway and hold questions for the coaching staff until after
practice.
MEETS
Parents are
responsible for the behavior of their children during meets. Swimmers
should remain in the designated team area and inform a coach should it become
necessary to leave. Everyone is encouraged to cheer for Poolesville
swimmers, and to have fun. In addition, all swimmers are responsible for
the clean-up of the team area at the end of the meet.
AWARDS
Ribbons are awarded for 1st through 6th place for
"A" Meets and for 1st through 8th place for "B"
Meets. Heat winner ribbons and participation ribbons are also awarded for
home B meets.
TEAM SUIT
All swimmers are encouraged to wear the designated
team suit and cap during meets. You may order suits during team registration or
on the day designated by the swimsuit coordinator. The suit is also
available throughout the season at Capital Sport & Swim in Kensington http://capitalsportandswim.com/ .
To care for your swimsuit, rinse with cold water
after EVERY practice and swim meet. If your child showers at the pool,
he/she should shower in the swimsuit. Do not wash in the washing
machine. Hand wash with cold water in the sink, using no soap or mild
soap. NEVER put the swimsuit in the dryer.
VACATIONS
Each year, vacations and camps make it difficult for
the coaches to know who will be available to swim in a given meet.
Coaches do the line-ups and must provide this information to the opposing team
in advance of the meet. Please help us do the best possible job
scheduling the meets by e-mailing your vacation dates to the coach or by
putting a note in the Coach’s folder in the swim team file box as soon as your
plans are known – the sooner the better!.
TEAM SOCIAL EVENTS
There will be team social events and pep rallies
scheduled during the season. Some of our past events have included movies,
hikes, Shadowland laser tag, tie-dyeing T-shirts, and our annual spaghetti
dinner. Please check e-mails and the team website for information.
Following A Meets, the team usually distributes ribbons at a location in town (for
home meets) or a fast food restaurant near the pool (for away meets). B meet ribbons will be handed out in practice
after the meets.
END-OF-SEASON CELEBRATION AND
AWARDS
Each year the team has an end-of-season celebration,
which is an ice cream social, and the distribution of awards to swimmers.
Details on the celebration and awards will be provided toward the end of the
season.
SWIMMING EVENTS DURING THE
SEASON
Dual Meets: The
regular MCSL "A" Meets and "B" League "B"
Meets. Two teams compete, swimming a specified order of events.
Coaches
Long Course Meet: An individual meet for the 8 fastest swimmers in each
event from the entire MCSL League. The meet is swum in a long course pool
(50 meters), so all events are twice the usual length.
Relay
Carnival: Each MCSL Division hosts a Relay Carnival in the middle of
the swim season. All six teams in each division race one another in
special relay events. We also participate in a B Relay Carnival.
Divisionals: An
MCSL meet at the end of the season in which the six teams in each division race
their two fastest swimmers in each event. Final selection of the swimmers
for this event is at the coaching staff’s discretion, and may only include
swimmers who swam in an A meets during the current season.
All-Star
Relays: An identical meet to the Relay Carnival, except that it is
made up of those relay teams placing first in their respective MCSL division
Relay Carnival, or had the fastest time during the season in the 200 Medley
(open) and the 175 Free Relay.
Individual
All-Stars: An invitational meet for the 16 fastest swimmers in each
event from the entire MCSL. A list of All-Star nominating times can be
found at http://www.mcsl.org/allstar/2010/nomin.html.