July 5 – No Meet

Procedures

·        Our Mission

The Holly Park Sharks are committed to developing the technical skills of competitive swimming, strengthening friendships and encouraging our swimmers to strive for their personal best. With this in mind, we urge our swimmers, coaches and parents to commit themselves to practice and meets, and to set high goals, as well as to conduct themselves with courtesy, goodwill and sportsmanship.

·        The Basics

The Holly Park Sharks swim team competes in the B1 division of the Mountain Hi Swim League. The league has 23 teams divided into four divisions (A1, A2, B1 and B2). Teams are placed in divisions each year based on a weighted scale that ranks teams into two main divisions (A and B) according to roster size and number qualifiers for All Stars. The swim team is open to any swimmer 18 and younger who can swim one length of the pool. The age of a swimmer on June 1 determines the age group in which that swimmer will participate.

·        Registration

To be a member of the Holly Park Sharks team, swimmers must be registered with the South Suburban Parks and Recreation District and pay an annual fee. In 2008, the fee for district residents is $115 and $165 for non-district. The league collects a $6 secondary insurance fee from the team for every swimmer, in addition to a $4 league dues per swimmer, regardless of a swimmer’s primary insurance coverage; and an insurance waiver, a copy of which the team must have present at every meet. The insurance/dues fee is included in the South Suburban registration fee. There is also a team booster fee ($15 per swimmer) collected by the team for trophies and special medals given out at the end-of-season banquet, and used to replace or upgrade team equipment not provided by South Suburban. In 2008, South Suburban is collecting the insurance waivers and team fees at registration, as well as the registration and emergency contact forms.

·        Swimsuits

Holly Park is on a two-year program, with a new suit design in even years. The 2008-2009 blue and black suit made by Speedo called the “Sparkler” will be available from April 2008 to May 2009.  An alternate basic black and blue team suit called the Speedo “Splice” will also be an option if the “Sparkler” becomes unavailable in the summer of 2009.  Sizing and orders are taken every year at the April all-team meeting by Out of Breath Sports, 42 E. Arapahoe Road, 303-798-5037. The store, which also sells caps, goggles, sweats, T-shirts and other apparel, has a close connection to the league and offers discounts to MHSL team members. However, suits may also be purchased online or at other sports retailers. 

·        Team and Individual Pictures

This year’s team and individual pictures will be taken (date and time yet to be determined).

·        Regular Season Meets

Coaches will determine which swimmers are entered in which events, but parents and swimmers are encouraged to make known their preferences. Place your written preferences in the coaches’ divider at practice no later than Wednesday before the meet.

Swimmers are expected to be prompt and to participate at practices and meets as much as possible, and to communicate with their coaches about expected absences. Please arrive 15 minutes before your practice time for stretching and informational talks.

Coaches will need to know by Wednesday before the meet if a swimmer will not participate. Coaches will spell out their specific policies, but swimmers should not leave a meet early without telling their coach, in writing, in order to prevent confusion in the makeup of relays.

Five regular-season dual meets are held each season, with a different opponent from our division each week.  Maps can be found on page 11 of this manual. Meets begin at 8 a.m., with 7 a.m. warm-ups, and are usually completed before 1 p.m. Each swimmer may swim in three individual events and two relays in his or her age group. Each event has a number of heats, in which swimmers are seeded by their entry times. For example, the slowest swimmers in an event will be in the first heat, followed by the fastest swimmers in succeeding heats.

Swimmers are coached to swim strokes according to MHSL guidelines. The league awards ribbons to the top six finishers in each event, but team points are awarded to the top four places only (1^st place, 6 points; 2^nd place, 3 points; 3^rd place, 2 points; 4^th place, 1 point).  Only swimmers 8 and older are subject to disqualification for stroke violations. Swimmers 6 and under do not compete for points, but they still receive participation ribbons.

·        Preliminaries

After the regular season, each division puts on Prelim meets to determine which swimmers move on to swim in the Championships meet the following Saturday. Because the two Prelims are on weekdays, divided by age groups, parent volunteers are especially important. MHSL by-laws state that for a swimmer to compete in prelims and/or championships, he or she must have attended at least 10 practices during the regular season and swam in at least two dual meets.

·        Championships

The Championships meet is the sixth meet of the season. Prelim qualifiers from all teams in the division, as well as alternates and relay swimmers, are involved. (Relay swimmers need not have qualified in an individual event.) All swimmers are encouraged to attend and cheer their teammates. Team trophies are presented at the end of the meet.

·        All-Stars

The league has established times for each event by age group to qualify for the All-Stars meet, in which the four divisions’ fastest swimmers compete. To qualify, swimmers must beat or meet a pre-set time in an event during a dual meet, Prelims or Championships. 2007 times are on page 12 (when 2008 times become available, you will be notified). Another way to qualify is to win an event at the Championships meet. There is an additional fee for a qualifying swimmer to enter this meet, but that fee is paid by the team.

·        End of Season

A potluck banquet after the season is held to recognize swimmers, parents and coaches. All swimmers receive a trophy or special medal.  Medals are awarded to swimmers for their in-pool accomplishments, but coaches also have their own awards for sportsmanship, leadership and dedication. Team and individual picture packages purchased earlier in the season are handed out at this time. The 2008 banquet will be at Grace Community Church, 7200 S. Clinton St., starting at 6 p.m., date TBD.

Parent Volunteer Positions

From setup to cleanup, a swim meet works best when we share the effort. Volunteering at the meets is a great way to meet a lot of terrific people. The meets go by a lot faster when you’re involved. Many teams present their parents with the option of paying a fee to opt out of volunteer duties. We think that runs contrary to our mission of creating an enjoyable and competitive environment for summer swimmers. Following is a technical description of the various jobs that exist to help a swim team run effectively:

·        Parent Rep(s) (Parent board member)

Represents the team at monthly league meetings, distributes and collects insurance forms, nurtures all team parents while encouraging volunteerism, works with South Suburban on pool issues, maintains and stores team equipment, and fosters cooperation and good relations with the teams in our division. The parent rep position is made much easier by the participation and enthusiasm of a great parent board.

·        Clerk of Course (Parent board member; two per home meet; must attend MHSL clinic)

Two clerks of course from the home team and one from the visiting team are responsible for lining up the swimmers for each heat in an event. One clerk handles the swimmers' cards and the other organizes the heating area. They are also responsible for combining heats and events – when swimmers have been scratched – to use as many lanes as possible, and in this effort work closely with the starter and meet referee.

·        Volunteer Coordinator (Parent board member)

Enlists parents to work jobs by shift at home and away meets. Is present at timers meeting and at shift change to make sure jobs are filled and second-shift replacements have arrived. By season’s end, this volunteer probably knows more people on the team than anyone. The coordinator stays in close contact with parents who have not had an opportunity to volunteer. 

·        Concessions (Parent board member)

This job is for the mega shopper – usually Sam’s Club or Costco – and creative salesperson. A variety of items, including pastries, bagels, fruit, veggies, candy, water and soda, are sold at home meets, and the menu changes as a meet moves from early morning toward noon. Helping in concessions is a good way to stay out of the sun.

·        New Parent Coordinator (Parent board member)

Facilitates information and training on how the team and meets work. 

·        Treasurer (Parent board member)

Keeps the team checkbook, receives bank statements, disburses funds for concession purchases, then collects and deposits concession proceeds. The treasurer collects and records booster fee payments.

·        Meet Manager Software (Parent board member; must attend MHSL scoring clinic)

Before all home meets, this volunteer sets up the database, incorporating data from the visiting team, then prints entry-card labels, athlete rosters with events and heat sheets.  At home meets, qualified volunteers run the software during the meet.  They interact closely with the scoring table, getting the swimmers' cards for data entry from the scoring table and then giving the scoring table back the cards with award labels to put on the ribbons.  This position also provides result files on disks for the coaches. Much of the database setup must be done by Friday morning, so this position is very good for someone who can work independently on Thursday afternoon or evening.

·        Scoring Table / Ribbons

This is a job to sign up for to stay out of the sun.  The scoring table reviews the swimmers' cards and the DQ slips from each event, determines the official time and marks the cards in the finish order.  The results make their way through the computer using an application called “Meet Manager,” which tracks times and keeps the meet score, then prints results and award labels.  Helpers put the award labels on the appropriate ribbons.  Attending a league training session is mandatory for the volunteer who runs the software.  Any volunteers who will be working in the scoring area are welcome to attend.

·        Setup / Take-down (Home meets only)

No special talents or training needed here. On Friday evenings before home meets, the team must put up tables, chairs, signs and backstroke flag stanchions to prepare the pool for the next day. A comprehensive list of duties makes it simple. After the meet, we take down the chairs and tables and put away the equipment, as well as police the grounds and carry trash bags to the dumpster to make way for the pool to open to the public.

·        Runners (Home meets only)

No special talents or training needed here, either. After each race, runners make their way around the pool to pick up swimmers' event cards from the timers and disqualification slips from the chief judge and turn them in to the scoring table. Runners also may be asked to distribute DQ slips to coaches. It works best to have two runners during 8 & under events.

·        Timers

This is one of the best positions for watching the races. Three timers in each lane (two from the home team), start and stop their watches, then record times on an event card for that swimmer and give the card to a runner. Races start quickly. Timers often have to remember a swimmer’s race time, clear their watch and start the next race before times can be recorded. Backup timers start their watches each race to fill in for a regular timer’s misfire.

·        Age Group Helpers

Helpers contribute greatly to rounding up younger swimmers to be in the heating area well before their events are. This is a great position for someone who wants to get to know all of the swimmers or who might have a small child who needs to be kept close at hand.

·        Meet Referee (Home meets only; must attend MHSL clinic)

This is the big enchilada. Meet refs affirm the meet rules in meetings for judges and timers before a meet starts. They resolve any ground rule questions and try to watch over the whole pool. The meet ref signals the starter that the pool is clear to start the next race, confirms all disqualification calls and can determine on his or her own if a start has been unfair. The meet referee is conversant with the league rules as stated in the MHSL by-laws, and interprets all the rules to be followed by the starter and stroke and turn judges.

·        Starter / Announcer (Home meets only; must attend MHSL clinic)

Calls swimmers to the starting blocks and starts each race electronically, ensuring a fair start, according to league rules. Starter and timers work closely to develop a rhythm between end and start of next race. Starter coordinates combined heats with clerk of course.

·        Stroke and Turn Judges (Four or more provided by each team; must attend MHSL clinic/take test)

Requires annual certification at a league or neighborhood clinic (first-time judges must attend a league clinic) because of its technical nature. Needs a thorough understanding of the strokes to ensure swimmers are judged accurately, and always gives the benefit of the doubt to the swimmer. Judges validate that the strokes, turns and finish of each swimmer -- in his or her jurisdiction -- comply with USA Swimming rules. They report violations to the meet referee, and if a disqualification is confirmed, they tell the swimmer why he or she was disqualified. 

·        Chief Judge

After the meet referee confirms a disqualification, the chief judge (a misnomer) records the DQs on official slips that are picked up by runners and delivered to the scoring table. 

·        Parent Board

The board is responsible for overall operation of the team. Responsibilities include:

·      Setting up an operating budget

·      Monitoring expenses against budget projections

·      Planning capital expenditures

·      Determining supplemental team activities

·      Providing operating guidelines to all areas

·      Setting team photo dates