Charger Aquatics FAQ’S

1. Our child had a successful tryout and has been registered. Our first practice is tonight, what do we wear? Boys: Wear a racing swimsuit, either jammer or brief styles, not the traditional “trunks” that are worn to the pool during public swim. Girls: Wear a one piece swimsuit with secure straps.  Caps for everyone are needed for practice and meets; they protect hair, and swimmers learn to hear the coach when their ears are covered.  Goggles are a necessity. 2. Where do I purchase swim gear? Swim suits and Charger Aquatics team gear can be purchased in several ways. We do not have a specific team suit, but we are a Speedo-sponsored team and appreciate your support through Speedo brand purchases. We do ask that swimmers wear navy or navy/gold to competitions. Purchases can be made online at POCO LOCO, our official Speedo vendor, or locally at STREAMLINE Swimming Equipment and Apparel. Both offer our families discounts on suits and gear; click on their logos on our homepage for info. 3. We were told that our child is in Bronze? What does that mean? Swimmers are assigned to specific practice groups based upon the coach’s assessment of skill level and training ability. Factors such as age, practice habits and attendance, emotional maturity, skill development, commitment and attitude also affect a swimmer’s placement. Swimmers may “move up” to the next tier of practice group progression, at the discretion of their coach, based on the above criteria. They can answer specific move-up questions regarding your swimmer; all move-ups are handled on a case-by-case basis. Practice Group Names (beginner to advanced):  Bronze  Silver  Gold  Age Group 2  Age Group 1  Senior 3  Senior 2  Senior 1 Please note: Team dues increase when your swimmer moves to a higher skill group, as these levels practice more frequently and for a longer duration. This dues increase will be reflected on the monthly statement following the group change. 4. How do I pay my monthly dues? You will be billed the first week of each month for dues and any incidental charges (i.e. apparel, social events, additional meet fees, etc.) Statements will be placed in your family file folder in the bins outside the CAQ offices; an email will be sent to inform you when statements are available.  Most families find it easiest to drop payments off at the CAQ office, room 103, while they are here during practice times; there are envelopes on the ledge outside the door and a mail slot for delivery if the office is closed.  Payments may also be mailed to: Charger Aquatic, 6400 Wyoming Blvd NE, Albuquerque, NM 87109  Checks should be made out to Charger Aquatics  Credit card payments are accepted in the office or over the phone  All payments are due in full by the 25th of each month

5. Where are the majority of swim meets held? Most swim meets are held in the Albuquerque metro area. Charger Aquatics hosts several meets each year; others are hosted at pools around the city. There are some overnight or travel trips, particularly for older swimmers. Please refer to the meet schedule on the CAQ website for details. 6. Which strokes will my child will be learning? The swimmers are learning and perfecting Freestyle (FR), Backstroke(BK), Breaststroke(BR), and Butterfly (FLY). The event called the Individual Medley (IM) gives them the opportunity to swim each stroke in this order: FL, BK, BR, FR. 7. Does my child REALLY have to go to ALL of these practices? Yes! It’s important to attend all scheduled practices; the coaches check attendance at every practice, and it is a factor in decision making for group advancement. Swimmers who attend only sporadically tend to fall behind in training as the others progress, which can be frustrating for a young swimmer. Another important aspect is the bonding and friendship building that happens in the practice pool, as these teammates are likely to advance together through the various levels over the years.

8. Can we just come to practice regularly and not attend the swim meets?

2 While winning is not the primary goal, this IS a competitive club, and recreational swimmers should look elsewhere if competition is not their goal. Meets are where your swimmer sees all the hard work in practice pay off, and it gives them a great sense of team spirit as they support their fellow swimmers. Swimming is ultimately about racing and times, and meets give coaches the opportunity to see how well they are progressing. Yes, it is scary at first, but also fun and inspiring. And it gets easier with each meet…. really! 9. Are there practices and meets in the summer? What about during holidays? Yes to both. As a USA Swimming team, CAQ practices and competes year round. The summer practice schedule is somewhat different from the school year schedule. Practice schedules also vary during holidays, swim meets, and school breaks; watch for changes on the website or through emails. 10. May I watch my child practice? Where…….? USA Swimming insurance and safety specifications dictate that no one is allowed on the pool deck at any time during work-outs unless directly involved in the practice. The Albuquerque Academy Natatorium has seating in the upstairs bleachers, giving all waiting parents a great opportunity to meet each other and ask questions. As a CAQ parent, please remember that it is your responsibility to ensure that your swimmer is properly supervised before and after practice. CAQ policy states that swimmers should be delivered to and picked up from the practice facility within 10 minutes of their scheduled practice times – late fees will apply if swimmers are habitually picked up late. Children should not be left unsupervised while their siblings are swimming. 11. I’ve got a few questions for my child’s coach; if I can’t go down on deck during practice, how do I get in touch with him/her? For everyone’s safety, please do not approach the coaches while they have swimmers in the pool; their attention needs to be focused on the swimmers at all times. The best way to contact a coach is through email: John Butcher – [email protected] Tom Cyprus – [email protected] Shea Djang – [email protected] Cristina Kawamoto – [email protected] Tiva North – [email protected] Annette Thies – [email protected] These email addresses are also listed on the website at the bottom of each coach’s bio or on the website under “team info”/”office numbers”.

12. How does the team communicate general information to its members?  Our most effective way to communicate with all of our swim families is through email. Please be sure we have a correct email address for anyone who should be receiving CAQ information; please check your email regularly for updates.

3  The website is also a great resource, particularly regarding meets. We will post any last-minute changes (such as pool closures or snow days) on the website home page, so check it frequently as well.  Check the mail bins in the hallway outside the CAQ office that have a drop file for each family. These files will be used to distribute medals and awards, registration cards, lost items, handouts, etc., so check them regularly.

13. I understand there is a volunteer requirement. What’s that all about? Charger Aquatics hosts 4-5 swim meets per year, most of them quite large, and your support at these events is critical to our success. The swim seasons run Sept 1- February 28 (short course) and March 1 – August 31 (long course). At the end of the “year” any family who has not participated in the required 6 volunteer sessions (this does NOT include helping out at outside meets other than state championships) will be assessed a $150 charge. Volunteer tasks include but are not limited to:

 selling heat sheets  working concessions and hospitality  timing the swimming events or serving as an official  safety marshals  running the timing system  providing meals for hospitality

Non-meet opportunities include heading up a committees, fund raising and sponsorships, and organizing social activities for each group. Our website, www.chargerswim.com , will provide you with the ability to sign up for swim meet related jobs on line. All positions will be available on a first come, first served basis.

Please be advised that it is not a good idea to wait until the last minute to fulfill your volunteer requirements. The last CAQ hosted meet for the year is usually held in May……..it is YOUR responsibility to find ways to fulfill your volunteer commitment before the August deadline.

REMEMBER: You must sign in/out on the posted volunteer sheets in order to receive volunteer credit at any meet.

14. I’m feeling very lost and overwhelmed. Who can help me? If you stay to watch practice, get to know the other parents in your group; many of them have been in the program for years and are very knowledgeable in the ways of the swim world. This is NOT, however, a time to engage in rumor, gossip or complaints regarding any aspects of the team or other swimmers. If you have specific questions regarding your swimmer or any aspects of their training, please contact your coach directly through email. If you have questions about your account, meet information, or general team activities, contact the CAQ office at 858-8808.

4 Please ask questions! Most parents didn’t know what they were doing when they joined either!

GENERAL QUESTIONS ABOUT SWIM MEETS & ENTRY FORMS 1. What does my child need to wear to the swim meets? The official CAQ uniform for both boys and girls is comprised of:  any navy blue or navy/gold swimsuit (preferably Speedo brand)  our bright yellow Charger Aquatics swim cap; caps come in latex or silicone, one size fits all, and are available only through the CAQ office. 2. How do I know what size suit to buy my child? Boys and girls swimsuits are available in (waist) sizes 24-34. Suits for girls should fit snugly with no gaps when the straps are pulled up, boys should wear a fitted brief or jammer-style suit. Check with a salesperson or ask your coach for advise if you are uncertain.

5 3. How do I sign up my child for a meet? The meet schedule will be listed on the home page of the CAQ website, and it is helpful to review the schedule for the entire season in order to plan ahead if you wish to attend. Once the meet information has been loaded onto the website, CAQ will send out an email to inform you that entries are available; you will then:  click on “”edit commitment” box next to the meet of choice  click on member name and select your declaration  check the boxes for events you wish to enter your swimmer  save the information  coaches will review and amend all entries Your child’s coach is always the best person to advise you. Here are some general guidelines:  If your swimmer feels ready to swim in a meet, the coach will usually agree.  If your swimmer is unsure about swimming in a meet, the coach may encourage your child to try anyway in a limited capacity.  If your swimmer has been working out regularly with a CAQ practice group for at least one month, s/he is probably ready to participate.  Do NOT enter your child in any relay events; relay placement is unknown until the day of the event, and swimmers are chosen at the coach’s discretion. Charges for relays will be billed to your account.

Your swimmer should sign up for events in the strokes and distances in which s/he is most comfortable. As swimmers become more familiar with the swim meet format and develop their strokes, the coaches will encourage them to branch out and compete in different events at future meets.

4. I missed the entry deadline. Now what? Some meets allow “deck entry” on the day of the meet, but only if there is lane space; check the meet-specific information for details. Be aware that deck entries cost more, and you must present your USA Swimming registration card and payment at the time of entry to a representative of the host team…..no exceptions! 5. What does “short course” and “long course” mean? When do we swim what? Short course events are in 25 or 50 yard lengths. The short course season runs from September to March and culminates with the New Mexico State Short Course Championships at the end of February. Long course events are in 50 meter lengths. The long course season runs March -July, ending with the New Mexico State Long Course Championships. Championship meets require specific qualifying times, which can be found on the CAQ and NM Swimming websites. 6. Are all swim meets in Albuquerque?

6 Most swim meets are held in the Albuquerque metro area, and several of them are hosted in the AA Natatorium by Charger Aquatics. There will be some in-state overnight travel, perhaps to Farmington, Los Alamos or Las Cruces. There may be some out of state swim meets the team will attend, but often they are only for senior swimmers. There will be a schedule of events listed on the CAQ website. 7. Travel Meets On some occasions CAQ will attend meets that are out of the Albuquerque area. Most often the swimmers will travel with their family to these meets and will be responsible for making travel, meals and lodging arrangements along with any other meet-related requirements. Swimmers will be responsible for prompt arrival at the swim meet venue. Most travel meets will have time standards attached to the meet information, and swimmers need to meet or exceed those standards in order to participate. Parents should contact the coach prior to arranging any travel plans if there are any questions regarding eligibility. There will be other opportunities, such as a team travel meet or higher level meets, such as Sectionals or Zones, when the swimmers will travel with the coaches. For these meets, swimmers will be under the direct supervision of the Head Coach and/or chaperone(s) at all times. Participating swimmers will be required to complete and return to the Head Coach both the Code of Conduct and Medical Release forms prior to departure. Travel arrangements, hotel room assignments, meals, and all swim-related decisions will be made by the Head Coach, either in advance of or at the meet, depending on the circumstances. All participants will share in travel and meal costs SWIM MEET ENTRY FORMS: WHAT DOES IT ALL MEAN???? Meet Information: To download the meet information from our website, click on the name of the meet on the homepage, then click on the link that appears under “documents”. The first few pages will include everything you will need to know about that specific event: location, eligibility, start times, scoring, order of events, etc. Read through this information carefully to be sure you are familiar with all requirements, as each meet has different rules. Eligibility: A competitor’s eligibility is determined by time standards based on a swimmer’s age. Important! For 50 yard and longer events, the time standards (also called time cuts) change once a swimmer turns 11 years of age. Make sure that you enter your swimmer in the correct “age group division” for all events. The age group divisions at meets are usually structured as:  8 and under: these are all 25 yard events; if a swimmer in this age group wants to swim in a 50 yard event (and the coach agrees that it is appropriate), the swimmer must compete in the 10 and under category.  10 and under: these events are 50 yard, 100 yard and occasionally 200 yard individual events.  11/12, 13/14 and 15 and over: remaining age group divisions.

7 Please be careful about entering your child in the correct age group division when his/her birthday is fast approaching! The meet information will specify “swimmers age as of ____date, which will determine the age group for the meet”.

You will notice that many meets will run two sessions on any given day, a morning and an afternoon, so check your event times carefully. Some swim meets are designated only for ages 10 and under, others specifically for 11 and over, some are open to all ages with certain time standards. The “eligibility” section in the meet information will also advise you as to the maximum number of events each swimmer may enter. You’ll also be reminded that your child cannot enter an event in which s/he has an official time that exceeds the time standards for the meet. Entry Process: You will need to log on to the CAQ website in order to register your swimmer for a meet – see page 6 for instructions Make a note of the events and event numbers in which you’ve entered your swimmer. Take this information with you to the swim meet, as you will need to refer to it often.

Scoring/Awards: Each meet sets its own standards for awards, which will be specified in the meet information.

How to Survive (And Enjoy!) Short and Long Course Swim Meets

Swim meets can be bewildering to families new to the sport. These tips will help you get prepared for the big day. The night before the meet: Your swimmer (and you) will probably be a little nervous, but it’s always best for everyone to get a good night of solid rest before a meet. Please spend a few minutes the night before making sure you have clear directions to the facility hosting the meet (the address and, perhaps, directions will be in the meet information). Arrival time: Yes, you really are required to be there in time for warm-up….even if warm- ups begin two hours before the meet! Reread the meet information to reacquaint yourself with the time you must be there. Please do not miss warm-up; many important things happen during this time. At really large meets, there may be an early warm-up session and a late warm-up session. Coaches will remind their team members what time they are expected to be at the meet for warm-up, but it is ultimately your responsibility. Pack gear the night before: Swimmers should wear team suits and caps to a meets. Bring extra towels, goggles and caps. While indoor pools are air conditioned for the comfort of the spectators, swimmers can get chilled while they’re waiting. For this reason, bring extra sweat pants and sweatshirts to wear between events. Bring another set of completely dry clothes to change into after the meet. In the summer, if they are swimming outside, don’t forget to pack the sunscreen! Optional: Not all swim facilities have adequate seating for the number of people attending the meet, so it’s a good idea to keep portable seats in your car, just in case.

8 Snacks for the meet: Although the team hosting the meet almost always sells concessions, most swimmers and their parents like to bring their own healthy snacks. Generally, the rule is “no eating on the pool deck”, but there is usually an area outside where the swimmers can eat. Don’t forget water! Each facility sets its own rules with regard to allowing coolers or lawn chairs around the pool; check before you drag them in. The morning of the meet - what to feed them? If you have the first morning warm up session, you’ll be leaving your house so early there’s often no time to think about eating at home. Please resist the temptation to drive through the fast food restaurant for breakfast for your swimmer. Milk and other dairy products can be hard to digest and might be a good food group to avoid on swim meet days. A light breakfast (toast/jam and fruit) will take them through warm up and they will have plenty of time between their events to nibble the nutritious snacks you’ve brought for the day. Arriving at the host pool: Families are given a lot of freedom to set up an area at swim meets. Some parents like to find their friends and sit together in a group. Others like to wander off and find areas that aren’t quite so crowded so they can spread out a bit. You’ll find what works for you.

Heat sheet: The heat sheet is the meet program, which contains all kinds of helpful information. Heat sheets list the order of all events and their respective swimmers. Entries for each event (not including deck entries) will be grouped by age and gender, and seeded by their current best times in that event. “NT” means that a swimmer has entered an event with “No Time”, meaning the swimmer does not yet have a legal time in that event. The 50 yard and longer events will usually list the age group time standards for the event. While waiting for the meet to begin, highlight your swimmer’s name and events on the heat sheet, and record your swimmer’s time at the completion of each event. Always keep track of your swimmer’s best times, you’ll use this information to decide which events to enter at future meets. Event start: Meets begin with the playing of the National Anthem and some preliminary announcements. The first events are often the relay events. Once relays are concluded, the meet progresses to individual events. Swimmers are placed in a heat based upon current best times for the event. Slower and NT swimmers compete in the early heats. The faster swimmers are in the later heats, and the fastest of those swimmers earns the middle lane assignment.

Event etiquette: Beginners swimming 25 yard events may not start their races from the starting blocks, and often leave from the opposite end of the pool. Someone on deck will make sure all swimmers are where they are supposed to be; unless you are working in that capacity, you DO NOT need to be on deck to help them!  The starter will announce the event by saying something like, “this is the women’s 25 yard freestyle. Heat 1, step up.”  S/he will then position the swimmers for the start of the race by saying “Swimmers, take your mark”, and the swimmers will go off at the sound of the horn.  If the official sees a false start, the race will be stopped, and the swimmers will return to the starting blocks for another start.

9 Disqualification: At the meet official’s discretion, swimmers can be disqualified for false starts. During the race, judges watch the swimmers to insure they are swimming with a legal stroke, kick and proper turn. If they see something done incorrectly, they will raise their hand. At the end of the race the swimmer will be told by the official why s/he has been disqualified. The coach will be given a sheet of paper on which the judge has written the infraction. All swimmers (even those who have been disqualified) must report back to their coach immediately following their swims for feedback on their performance. TIP: Being disqualified is no fun for any swimmer, but it can be devastating to the beginners. This is a time when parents must be at their most supportive and compassionate. It is important that swimmers understand why they were disqualified and learn from the experience. Times: There is usually an electronic timing board located at one end of the pool or on a wall where you can pick up your swimmer’s times as each event is completed. Most of the boards will flash the order of finish, the lane, and time. It goes by quickly, so be ready. If you miss it, you can pick up all this information when the event results are posted. There is a lag time between the end of an event and the posting of the results, so be patient. Occasionally, the times that flash on the board at the end of an event are incorrect. This is usually due to the swimmer failing to hit the touchpad at the end of the race or not hitting it hard enough to stop the clock. Each lane has two volunteer “timers”, and each of those timers is carefully timing your swimmer’s race with a stopwatch. When they see your swimmer touch the wall at the end of his/her race, they also push a button on a cable under the blocks that is part of the meet timing system. Their stopwatch times are recorded on paper and turned in to the meet officials at the end of every heat. Generally, the meet officials and coaches know immediately when there is a problem with the scoreboard times and they are already working to correct the results in the computer. Awards – All awards will be given to the team coaches and distributed either during practice or in the mail bins outside the CAQ office.

What Not to Do at a Swim Meet CAQ takes great pride in our team and the ways in which our swimmers represent us, not only through their skills but in their behaviors. Parents: the team greatly appreciates your adherence to the following guidelines for swim meet etiquette:  Do not approach the coaches with questions - They have so many swimmers to keep up with and our team members need and deserve their coach’s full attention. (Remember, the coaches give EACH of our swimmers important feedback after their swims. They need to be totally focused during this time.)  Let the coaches do the coaching- It’s what they do BEST! Parents always want to help their children succeed, but most of us don’t have a USA Swimming background. For this reason, it’s very likely that your “helpful” advice may place the swimmer in the unhappy position of trying to please either a parent OR a coach. Each coach is

10 totally committed to helping your swimmer realize his/her potential. If your child comes to you with a swimming question (or frustration), empower that child to take it up with the coach as soon as possible.  Please stay off the deck area while the meet is in progress. Unless you are helping to run the meet as a volunteer of the host team, your presence on the deck can interfere with the movement of the officials observing the meet.  NEVER question an official about a decision; this is the coach’s domain. The officials are in charge of all aspects of the meet, including crowd control.  Please make sure your swimmer is behaving properly at all times. Adrenaline is running high at a meet and the children can get VERY excited. The coaches and meet officials don’t have time to maintain order and discipline, that concern is the parent’s domain.  Please respect the facilities of the host team; remember to pick up litter around your immediate area and leave it as clean (or cleaner) than you found it.  Remember to model and support the competitive values of good sportsmanship and healthy competition.  Please treat volunteers who are manning the various stations with courtesy and appreciation. They do not set policy and are only following the procedures that have been dictated to them by the meet directors. Anything Else? Have fun! Celebrate your child’s accomplishments with pride, and treat any “mistakes” as learning opportunities. Remember, the swim season is long and there will be another meet next month!

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