Team 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 C division of the Mountain Hi Swim League. The league has 24 teams divided into four divisions (A, B, C and D). Teams are placed in divisions each year based on a weighted scale that ranks teams according to roster size and number of qualifiers for All Stars. The swim team is open to any swimmer 18 and younger (as of June 1, 2011) who can swim one length of the pool. It is a League requirement that all swimmers be able to successfully complete one length of the pool unassisted using one of the four competitive strokes.  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 2011, the fee for District residents is $125 and $185 for Non-District. The league collects a $9, non-refundable, secondary insurance fee from the team for every 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.   The waiver must be signed and turned into the Parent Rep before the swimmer is allowed to enter the water.

 

There is also a required team booster fee ($15 per swimmer) and a Volunteer Fee ($100 per Family).  Two separate checks made out to Holly Park Sharks for the booster and volunteer fee need to be turned into the Treasurer or Parent Rep by the Wednesday prior to the first swim meet in order for the swimmer to swim at that meet.  The same goes for subsequent meets until all fees are collected.  The booster fee is for team supplies, awards and special medals given out at the end-of-season awards ceremony, and used to replace or upgrade team equipment not provided by South Suburban.   The Volunteer Fee of $100 will NOT be cashed as long as each family fulfills their volunteer duties for a minimum of (4) shifts during the swim season.  

 

Swimsuits

Holly Park is on a two-year program, with a new suit design in even years. The 2010-2011 blue and black suit made by TYR called “Belmont Plaid” will be available from May 2010 to December 2011.  An alternate basic black and blue team suit called the Speedo “Splice” will also be an option if the “Belmont Plaid” becomes unavailable in the summer of 2011.  Sizing and orders are taken every year at the May all-team meeting by Kompetitive Edge. The store is also available to purchase caps, goggles, teams sweats, towels and other apparel.  Kompetitive Edge is located at 3820 S. Federal Blvd.  Sheridan CO 80110.   Their direct phone number is 303.468.1067. You can also visit them on the web at www.kompetitiveedge.com.  Team swimsuits are not required for swimming with the Holly Park Sharks.

 

 

Swim-A-Thon

The Holly Park Sharks Swim-a-thon is our one big fundraiser that helps cover necessary expenses not funded by South Suburban such as lane ropes, back stroke flags, starting system, meet software, computer and printer equipment to name a few.  The Swim-a-thon will be conducted during normal morning practice times on Tuesday, June 21st and will be a FUN event for all!!  A delicious breakfast will be served and lots of prizes will be awarded to swimmers who participate.  Special prizes will go to those who collect the most donations and to those who swim the most laps.  More details will follow, but mark your calendar now for this exciting event!

 

Team and Individual Pictures

This year’s team and individual pictures will be taken by Action Pics on Thursday, June 16.  Individual pictures will begin at 7 AM and the team photo will be taken at 7:30 AM, remaining individual pictures will continue after the team picture. 

 

Regular Season Meets

Coaches will determine which swimmers are entered into which events, but parents and swimmers are encouraged to make known their preferences. The coaches make every effort to heat a meet based on which events the swimmers want to swim and events the coaches believe they’ll do well in.  Swimmers, and/or parents, are asked to submit their event preferences via the web site or by sign up on the entrance wall by no later than Wednesday at 6 PM prior to that weekends meet.  Swimmers may swim up for three individual events max, and two relays (one medley, one free).

 

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 at the upcoming meet. 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; it is difficult to plan the last relay when swimmers leave early – should not enough swimmers be present relays will be scratched. Remember, swimmers get relay tickets to use at concessions when they compete in a relay at the end of the meet!

 

Five regular-season dual meets are held each season, with a different opponent from our division each week.  Addresses can be found on page 15 of this manual. Meets generally begin at 8 AM, with 7 AM warm-ups, and are usually completed before 2 PM. Please listen for announcements of any changes – Coaches will announce as soon as they know if it’s going to be different. 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 faster swimmers in succeeding heats.

 

Swimmers will warm up for Home Meets at 7 AM and at Away Meets at 7:30 AM; unless coaches indicate otherwise. This means IN THE WATER at this time with arrival at the pool 15 minutes prior to our warm up time. It is important to have your swimmer participate in warm-ups. Not only does it “get their blood flowing” it also allows the coaches to identify who is NOT at that meet, thus requiring to “scratch” the missing swimmer from their events and replace them with another. The coaches spend a great amount of time “heating” swimmers. (To “heat” a meet means to determine which swimmers will swim in which individual events and relays.) Please be aware of the tremendous burden it puts on the coaches and officials to make last minute changes.

 

We ask that ALL swimmers stay nearby during the meet, and listen to announcements regarding event numbers.  Coaches will not be able to search for a swimmer during the meet to ensure that they are in the heating area at the appropriate time.  It is the swimmers responsibility to make sure they are in the right place at the right time.

 

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 (1st place, 6 points; 2nd place, 3 points; 3rd place, 2 points; 4th place, 1 point).  Only swimmers in 8 and Under and older age group events are subject to disqualification for stroke violations. Events for swimmers 6 and under do not compete for points, but they still receive participation ribbons.

 

We are a “recreational” swim team, however, a swimmer’s accuracy in executing a stroke is judged in order to make competition fair for all swimmers. Stroke judges are required by the MHSL to disqualify (DQ) swimmers who are not swimming a stroke correctly regardless of age or ability. If a swimmer is allowed to continually swim a stroke incorrectly, they may have an unfair advantage over the other contestants.  The MHSL encourages stroke judges to err on the side of the swimmer; when in doubt, they are to rule in favor of the swimmer.

 

As a spectator, please stay behind the ropes around the pool deck. The Starter, Referee, Stroke Judges, Clerk of the Course, Timers, Runners, Place Pickers and Coaches are all busy doing their jobs inside the ropes. We ask that you cooperate and encourage you to cheer on your swimmers from “behind the ropes”!

 

A few helpful things to consider when thinking about meets:

Check on your swimmer's events. The "lineups" (list of entries) are posted each Friday evening on the team website, assuming both teams have submitted their entries. Please remember that although not all swimmer requests may be granted, the coaches do an incredible job in accommodating each swimmer while fulfilling all the swim meet requirements. If there is a significant concern, contact a coach or Board representative before the day of the meet, remembering that the coaches are trying to balance many factors (swimmer ability and preferences, swimmer development, team needs, etc.) when creating entries and seeding the meet. Know the location, directions, and time for warm-up of the swim meet - all posted on the web site. Plan on dual meets lasting 5 to 7 hours, including warm-up.

 

Items you may want at a swim meet include:

Team Suit (wear)

Sweat pants/shirt (wear)

Goggles (good idea to bring an extra pair)

Swim cap (especially for swimmers with long hair)

Sunscreen and hat

Towel(s) (2+ towels are nice if the swimmer is in multiple events)

Blanket/sleeping bag (for leisurely comfort on the grass)

Games and books (to keep busy between swim events)

Healthy snack and water/sports drink (concessions will also be available for a variety of food, snacks, and drinks)

- Money for concessions (optional)

- Lawn chairs (for seating during meet; pool chairs will also be available)

- A fine-point permanent marker (for writing event numbers on swimmer's hand).

LABEL EVERYTHING … and check the lost & found regularly!

 

Arrive at the meet in time to get settled and organized prior to warm-up. Check/confirm the list of events for your swimmer. Swim events will be posted in a general area at the pool. Coaches often need to make "last-minute" changes due to a variety of reasons.  You may want to write each of the swimmer's event number with corresponding heat and lane number on the hand/leg. This is optional, but very helpful to keep track of their events.

 

After your swimmer completes their event they are encouraged to go to the coaches and ask for feedback on their race. Coaches do their best to see each swimmer after each event, however with the number of swimmers they aren’t able to run around looking for each individual swimmer.  Have your swimmer ask the coach what they did well and what they should work on for next time. This will help your swimmer recognize what they need to work on during the week as well as give them another opportunity for one on one attention from the coaches.

 

Have FUN swimming, do your best, and cheer for your teammates!

 

If you are disqualified, ask the stroke judge why, so that you can improve next time. The coaches also will receive a record of every disqualification after the meet, for their follow-up during the following week.  Stroke judges are required by the MHSL to disqualify (DQ) swimmers who are not swimming a stroke correctly regardless of age or ability.  If a swimmer is allowed to continually swim a stroke incorrectly, they may have an unfair advantage over the over swimmers.  Swimmers in the 6 and under category are DQ’ed if their stroke is obviously flagrantly incorrect. 

 

Prior to departing the meet, please thank the coaches. They will want to congratulate you as well as to make sure you are not needed for a relay or another event.

 

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 Prelims are on weekdays, divided by age groups, parent volunteers are especially important for these meets. 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 during the same season.

 

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.  Relay teams will be created based on times of the individual swimmers – the four fastest swimmers will be chosen.) All swimmers are encouraged to attend and cheer on 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. 2011 times are on page 17. 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 picnic and awards ceremony after the season is held at Holly Pool to recognize swimmers, parents and coaches. All swimmers receive a medal or special award.  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 2011 picnic/awards will be at the Holly Pool starting at 6 PM, on Sunday, July 17th.