Coho Swim Club Handbook

1 COHO SWIM CLUB HANDBOOK

DESCRIPTION:

The COHO Swim Club is a high quality competitive and comprehensive developmental program for residents in Deerfield, Highland Park, and surrounding communities. Founded in 1971, COHO is a co-sponsored program of the Deerfield Park District and the Park District of Highland Park with a long-standing rich tradition and history of success in swimming on the local, regional, and national levels. The Coho Swim Club is a developmental and competitive swim club open to swimmers age 5 years and older. The club is divided into Developmental (Minnows 1, Minnows 2), Age Group (Bronze, Silver 1, and Silver 2), and Senior Programs (Gold 1, Gold 2, and Gold 3). All swimmers are placed into groups according to their age, ability, and commitment level. This structure allows us to meet the individual needs of each swimmer.

MISSION:

Our mission is to provide coaches, facilities, and support for increased proficiency in competitive amateur swimming; to encourage and develop sound swimming skills; to develop good sportsmanship, individual integrity, and a positive team atmosphere.

OBJECTIVES:

 To build a base from which we can expand our membership in order to share our sport with as many people as possible.  To encourage and develop excellence in developmental and competitive swimming.  To promote competitive swimming on a local, regional, and national level.  To provide training, development, and support for the coaching staff.  To develop and promote a club social program, encourage attendance, develop team unity, and build long-term friendships between team members and club families.  To encourage and develop a supportive parent and administrative body.  To develop and administer an adequate evaluation system of swimming skills.  To provide equipment and facilities which promote excellence in the sport of swimming

COACHING STAFF:

The Coho Head Coach, Head Age Group Coach and Head Developmental Coach are full-time employees of the Deerfield Park District. The primary function of each position is the daily operation of the Coho Swim Club, but all three positions also incorporate other duties within the District. The three full-time Coho coaches are also voting members of the Coho Parent Board. Part-time coaches are also employed by the Deerfield Park District and are hired at the discretion of the Head Coach. All Coho coaches are trained in CPR, First Aid, and Coaches Safety Training. All coaches are certified by USA Swimming. Coho coaches also further their education by attending clinics and seminars, and by participating in the American Swim Coaches Association (ASCA), an accreditation and continuing education program.

NEW SWIMMER TRYOUTS:

All new swimmers must try out for Coho. The minimum skill requirements are: Individuals ages 5 and over must be able to swim 1 length of continuous freestyle with rhythmic breathing (face in the water, turning the head to the side to breathe), 1 length of continuous backstroke, demonstrate basic breaststroke, be able to go underwater and touch the bottom of the pool in the shallow end, and be comfortable swimming in the deep end of the pool. Swimmers who can successfully complete this criterion will be placed in a specific group based on age and ability. 2 DEVELOPMENTAL PROGRAM – MINNOWS 1 & MINNOWS 2:

The COHO Minnows (MIN) Program is designed for children ages 5 and older who are novices or relative novices to the sport of swimming. Emphasis is placed on learning proper competitive stroke technique and skills, developing positive self-esteem, making new friends, and having fun! Swimmers are introduced to competition through Developmental swim meets. Swimmers are taught the basics of the four competitive strokes and competition starts and turns, while building their endurance. The main goal is to prepare swimmers for the COHO Age Group Program. We recommend a minimum of 3 practices per week. The more often swimmers attend practice, the quicker they learn and perfect new skills. For Minnows 1, individuals ages 5 and older must be able to: swim one length of continuous freestyle with rhythmic breathing (face in water, turn head to side to breathe), swim one length of continuous backstroke, and be comfortable in deep water. Lead Coach: Jeff Napolski

For Minnows 2, individuals ages 7 and older must be able to meet all of the requirements of Minnows 1 AND be able to streamline, swim freestyle with in-line bilateral breathing, and either swim legal butterfly stroke or have a legal breaststroke kick. Lead Coach: Jeff Napolski

AGE GROUP PROGRAM – BRONZE, SILVER 1, & SILVER 2:

The COHO Age Group Program is designed for new and experienced swimmers ages 12 and younger. The three practice groups that make up the Age Group Program are Bronze (BRZ), Silver 1 (S1) and Silver 2 (S2). Swimmers will be assigned to groups and must follow the specific schedule for their group.

In the Age Group Program emphasis is placed on stroke development, team spirit, self-esteem, friendships, fun, and introduction to competition. Great workout habits will be taught as stroke development and refinement, building endurance and conditioning will be emphasized. Age Group swimmers may compete in all swim meets offered by COHO. There may be meets with qualifying times that swimmers will need to achieve in order to participate. Age Group swimmers who qualify for Championship meets will be expected to represent COHO unless prior arrangements have been made with their coach.

For the Bronze Group, swimmers ages 7 and older must be able to swim all four competitive strokes legally; 25 yards each of breaststroke and butterfly, and 50 yards each of backstroke and freestyle with flip turns. Lead Coach: Jeff Napolski

For the Silver 1 Group, swimmers ages 12 and younger must be able to swim 50 yards of all four competitive strokes with legal turns and finishes, swim 200 yards of continuous freestyle with flip turns, and swim a 100 yard IM with legal turns. Swimmers may also be required to complete training test sets as part of the requirements for Silver 1. A minimum of 50% practice attendance is expected. Lead Coach: Jacob Weber

For the Silver 2 Group, swimmers ages 12 and younger must be able to meet all the requirements for Silver 1 AND be able to swim a continuous 500 yard free with flip turns, and a continuous 200 yard IM with legal turns. Swimmers may also be required to complete training test sets as part of the requirements of Silver 2. A minimum of 60% practice attendance is expected. Lead Coach: Jacob Weber The Silver 2 Program accommodates highly skilled and highly committed age group swimmers dedicated to year-round competitive swimming. Individual training plans are established based on ability, level of commitment, and goals.

*Note regarding minimum requirements: We have established minimum requirements for swimmers to be assigned to certain groups. What is expected of swimmers is to do more than the minimum requirements, especially if they desire to progress and advance. What swimmers do in their current group will affect their group placement as they get older and move towards the Senior/Gold level on COHO. 3 SENIOR PROGRAM – GOLD 1, GOLD 2, & GOLD 3:

Gold 1, Gold 2, and Gold 3 The COHO Senior Program is designed for both new and experienced swimmers ages 13 and older. The practice groups that make up the COHO Senior Program are Gold 1 (G1), Gold 2 (G2), Gold 3 (G3). Swimmers will be assigned to practice groups based on set requirements and expectations and must follow the specific schedule for their assigned group. Swimmers ages 13 and older have a wide range of ability, experience and level of commitment. These swimmers require a variety of different instructional and training needs. Great workout habits, endurance, conditioning and stroke refinement continue to be emphasized. In addition, dry-land training, race strategy, goal setting, and an understanding of time standards are accentuated. Several swim meets appropriate for Senior swimmers are offered each month. There may be meets with qualifying times that swimmers need to achieve in order to participate. Senior swimmers who qualify for Championship meets will be expected to participate. Please contact Head Coach Nancy Reese at 847-572-2622 or [email protected] for more information.

Gold 1: 13&over beginning swimmers and intermediate swimmers who have never consistently practiced more than 2-3 times per week. Swimmers are expected to maintain a minimum of 65% practice attendance. Participation in at least one meet per month is suggested. Lead Coach: Sep-May TBA; June-Aug John Sullivan

Gold 2: 13 & over advanced swimmers who have experience training 4 or more times per week. Swimmers are expected to maintain a minimum of 75% practice attendance and train year-round. Participation in all meets as directed by the Lead Coach is preferred, and at least two meets per month plus all Championship meets qualified for is expected. Lead Coach: Nancy Reese

Gold 3: 13& over advanced swimmers who have achieved at least an individual NCSA JR National qualifying time. Depending on group size, swimmers with multiple individual Speedo Sectional qualifying times may be considered for this group. Swimmers are expected to maintain a minimum of 85% practice attendance and train year-round. Participation in all meets as directed by the Lead Coach plus all Championship meets qualified for is expected. Lead Coach: Nancy Reese

CHANGING GROUPS:

Group placement and advancement are major concerns of most swimming families. Usually these concerns arise from a combined motive of: (1) wanting what’s best for the child and (2) logistical conveniences such as practice time and location.

From a coach’s perspective, the placement and advancement of swimmers is also of great importance, but for somewhat different reasons. The Goal of the coach and the swim program is to provide the swimmer with the best possible opportunity to develop his or her fullest swimming potential. Also, given the diverse age and ability levels on the swim club, athletes must be grouped to facilitate maximum benefit from the practice environment.

The COHO coaching staff uses ability, age, physical and emotional maturity of the swimmer, performance in competition, sizes of groups, and experience to place swimmers in the appropriate groups. Coaches evaluate each swimmer throughout a swim season. At the end of each session the coaching staff meets and goes over those evaluations. Most group changes are done right after the summer session or right after Winter Session. If a group change is recommended by the coaching staff, prior to the end of winter or summer seasons, you will be contacted by the Coho office.

It is the goal of our program that each swimmer reaches his/her full potential. By focusing on self- improvement through technique training, each swimmer should attain this goal. The criteria the coaching staff uses was developed over many years of coaching experience. Every swimmer develops at a different rate, no individuals are alike. 4 SPIRIT*CHARACTER*PRIDE SENIOR SCHOLARSHIP:

In addition to supporting the development of swimming skills and competitive talent, the Coho Swim Club also supports the development of well-rounded athletes. For this reason, the Coho Parents’ Association offers up to 2 scholarships ($1000 each) for 2 graduating high school seniors each year. These graduating seniors must exemplify “spirit, character and pride” both within and outside of the swimming environment.

The selection will be based on a diverse a review of the applicant’s overall spirit, character and pride in such areas such as community service, scholastic achievement, extracurricular activities, awards and recognitions, etc as well as Coho team participation, leadership, sportsmanship and team spirit. A committee of 4 or 6 members will be formed to choose the award recipient(s). This committee will consist of the current Coho Head Coach, and either 3 or 5 additional Coho Parent Association Board members (parents of applicants are not eligible for the committee).

APPLICATION PROCESS:

To apply, graduating high school seniors must meet the following criteria:

 Have participated on Coho for at least three years, and be an active participant on Coho during at least one season in his/her senior year.  Have participated in at least 10 (ten) USA Swimming sanctioned meets total over the past two years, and a minimum of at least 3 (three) USA Swimming sanctioned meets in each of the past two years.  Have at least a 3.0 GPA.  Plan to continue his/her education the next year following high school graduation.

The components of the application are:

 Completed application form, including extracurricular activities, awards/honors.  Written essay (1000 words) answering: “How I have exemplified Spirit, Character & Pride as a representative of the Coho Swim Club.”  Two letters of recommendation from an adult not affiliated in any way with Coho.

After applications are received, the following process is followed:

 Applications received are reviewed by a committee and finalists are chosen.  Finalists are interviewed by the committee.  Winner(s) are chosen and all applicants are informed prior to the Coho Annual Awards Banquet.  Winner(s) are announced at the Coho Annual Awards Banquet. The recipient(s) of the award are given a $1000.00 check for the continuation of his or her education in any field. 5 Our swimmer recognition program is designed to encourage and reward club participation. Swimmers have one year in which to earn achievement points, beginning the first day of the fall season and ending the last day of the summer season. At the end of the year we total the points and award swimmers who have earned 175 (one time only), 275, 375, and 475 points with achievement prizes. These prizes vary each year, but have in the past included warm-up jackets, team suits, team sweatshirts, equipment bags, and warm-up pants. The breakdown of points that can be earned is as follows:

PRACTICE ATTENDANCE: 1 point per practice

SWIMMER OF THE WEEK AND SWIMMER OF THE MONTH RECOGNITION: 5 points for swimmer of the week 20 points for swimmer of the month

SWIM MEET PARTICIPATION: The points that can be earned for attending meet sessions will gradually increase after a swimmer attends their 5th meet session.

5 points per meet session for first 5 meet sessions attended (1-5) 6 points per meet session for sessions 6-10 attended 7 points per meet session for sessions 11-15 attended 8 points per meet session for sessions 16-20 attended 9 points per meet session for sessions 21-25 attended 10 points per meet session for sessions 26+ attended 12 points per session for regional championship sessions attended 20 points per session for Age-group or Senior state sessions attended 25 points per session for Zones or USA Sectional, NCSA, or Futures championships sessions attended 100 points per session for USA Junior National sessions attended 150 points per session for USA Senior National or U.S. Open sessions attended 200 points per session for USA Olympic Trial sessions attended 500 points per session for any International Olympic Games Sessions attended

SCHOLAR ATHLETE REWARD: *5 points for an “A” & “B” report card *10 points for a straight “A” report card *Must include all pages of report card (i.e. Music, Art and P.E.) *Must be received in a timely manner, no later than 1 month after end of grading period *Points awarded for only 1 grading period at a time (i.e. 3rd quarter report card will only earn points for 1 quarter only, not all 3) *Report Cards WILL NOT ACCEPTED after the July 15th each year. *Only accepted if the swimmer is registered for the CURRENT SESSION OF THE REPORT CARD *Academic grading keys not using the letter system are read as follows: Alternative Grading System: What we consider A’s and B’s: 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 4s & 3s 1 / 2 / 3 3s & 2s beginning / developing / secure secure & developing - / √ / + +s & √s

RECOGNITION JACKET: When a swimmer earns 175 points for the first time he/she earns a Coho achievement jacket. The achievement jackets are only ordered at the end of the winter season and at the end of the summer season. These jackets are never available for purchase; they can only be earned through the achievement program.

ATTENDANCE RECOGNITION CAPS/PINS: We reward our swimmers for their good attendance with Coho Achievement caps and pins. When swimmers have attended 25 practices they will receive a 25 practice cap 6 (Minnows & Bronze only). When they have attended 50, 75, 100, & 150 practices they will receive a pin with the corresponding practice number. Any swimmer that attends 200+ practices for the year will receive a special award.

SWIMMERS OF THE WEEK RECOGNTIONO POINTS: The swimmers selected must have shown good attendance, a positive attitude, worked hard to improve and tried their best during the week. Swimmers earn 5 Achievement points for Swimmer of the Week.

SWIMMERS OF THE MONTH RECOGNITION CAP: The swimmers selected must have shown outstanding effort and leadership, demonstrated the ability to improve, and maintained a good attitude towards their coach and teammates. Swimmers receive a Coho Swimmer of the Month cap and earn 20 Achievement points for Swimmer of the Month.

USA SWIMMING DECK PASS PROGRAM: We encourage all swimmers on Coho to sign up for the USA Swimming, on line, deck pass program. More information and a link can be found through the Coho website.

COHO TEAM STORE: Coho offers a variety of apparel and training equipment that you may order at any time during the year. We sell team caps, suits, equipment bags, pull buoys, kick boards, paddles, and fins, etc... You can link to our team store suppliers on the website. You also contact our Team Equipment Director to ask about any apparel or equipment available. **Silver and Gold Team swimmers do have some equipment required for practices. The lists for these groups can be found on the Kiefer Team Store website link.

COMMUNICATION:  Website – Our website contains practice schedules, news, swim meet info (directions, results, and entries), registration information, etc. Visit the Coho website often at www.teamcoho.org and sign up for meets online. THIS IS OUR MAIN LINE OF COMMUNICATION. PLEASE CHECK ON A REGULAR BASIS! ALL MEET REGISTRAION IS DONE THROUGH THE WEBSITE.

 General Calendar – Events and items that pertain to each or most groups are on this calendar. Posted on website under schedules.  News – Important announcements, Coho news, swimmers’ birthdays, Swimmers of the Week, Swimmers of the Month, honor roll, etc. is available on the website under News.  Parent Meetings – These meetings are held occasionally throughout the year. All new parents should attend this meeting. A Q&A session is held at the conclusion.  Info Line – Check the daily practice schedule at 847-572-COHO after 3:00pm; for last minute notifications of a conflict, questionable weather conditions, and/or announcements.  E-Mail – E-mail communication goes both ways: E-mail blast messages will be sent out via the Coho office. Meet sign-up reminders will go out 1 week prior to the sign-up deadline.  Like us on Facebook- A great place for team last minute news, swim meet and event pictures can be found here. Our Facebook page is also a great place to find articles and links related to swimming. A link to Facebook is right on the Coho website.  Twitter- @COHOSwimClub for any Coho Swim Club breaking news!  Abbreviations DFPD: Deerfield Park District DHS: Deerfield High School DSPG: Deerspring Pool (summer only) HPHS: Highland Park High School HP REC: Highland Park Rec. Center MIT: Mitchell Pool (summer only) SRC: Sachs Recreation Center M1: Minnow 1 7 BRZ: Bronze M2: Minnows 2 S1: Silver 1 G1: Gold 1 S2: Silver 2 G2: Gold 2 NAT: National Team G3: Gold 3

FUNDRAISING: It is very important that you help out with the fundraising efforts since your family is a part of this team. The first and largest fundraiser is LAPS FOR COHO. Depending on how much money your child raises, he/she receives prizes for that price level. The group that brings in the most money wins a pizza/pool party with their coach, so be sure to motivate your kids to get out there and earn those pledges! Coho also depends on club volunteers to help run the Deerfield Park District’s Deer Dash, Tinman Triathlon, and Halloween Hoopla. The Deer Dash and Tinman Triathlon generate funds for the Coho program. The Deer Dash is held in the springtime and the Tinman Triathlon is held during the summer. Volunteering at all three of these events are great ways to boost your child’s achievement points.

VOLUNTEERING: There are many events that require volunteering throughout the year for the team. The only events we ask for volunteers for are things that help generate money for the entire club. First of all, whenever your child is swimming in a meet we expect parents to help out!

In the spring and summer we need volunteers (parents and swimmers) for our Deer Dash and Tinman Triathlon. Both of these events help bring in a great deal of money for the club, and each lasts only a few hours. We know everyone is very busy, so any time that you can volunteer would be greatly appreciated.

MEET VOLUNTEERS: Parents serve in many capacities at both home and away meets. Experience is not necessary for most positions. Meets cannot happen without parent volunteers. Below is a list of the volunteer positions that need to be filled for each meet:

Timers – Time swimmers with a stopwatch and record back up times on lane sheets. Officials – Meet referee, starters, administrative, and stroke & turn judges. This job requires that you attend a one-day training class hosted by ISI (no experience required). Head Timer – Run the timer’s meeting and train new timers prior to the start of the meet. Runner – Collect lane sheets from timers and bring them to the Admin table. Concessions – The Concessions Director coordinates everything, but will need assistance to sell before (set-up), during (sales) and after (tear-down) the meet. Overall Meet– The Meet Directors manage and oversee the entire meet. They also do parent volunteer assignments and should be contacted in case of any special requests. Computer Operator Set up the computer system at the meet, update entries after positive check-in is pulled each session, enter race results, and print meet results and ribbon labels. Timing System Operator – Prepare timing system and operate timing system throughout meet. Awards – Place labels onto ribbons/trophies and sort by team. Safety Coordinator – Insure that USA Swimming and ISI safety rules are followed at swim meets. The person in this position must learn USA/ISI Safety Guidelines, District 113 Safety Guidelines, and Deerfield High School Pool Emergency Action Plan. At away meets - we may be asked to provide timers based on how many swimmers we have participating. Away meet timing assignments are typically posted on the website and emailed out a day or two before. 8

BECOMING AN OFFICIAL: Contact the current Coho Officials Director for more information. You do not need to have any swimming experience to officiate; even a minimal amount of interest in swimming is enough to get started. Most of our Parent Board members are officials, so it would be nice to spread the volunteering around. Also, officials have swimmers who grow up and eventually leave Coho, so it is important that we replenish our “pool” of officials. Coho will cover all registration and clinic fees and officials do not pay admission fees to meets and are always provided with free hospitality. In order to become an official, you must attend a clinic and register with USA Swimming. Before attending the clinic, telephone the contact person to reserve a spot and obtain all the registration forms. Return the completed forms to the ISI address indicated. You can also call the ISI office at (630) 844-0476 with any questions.

PARENT BOARD: Our most dedicated group of volunteers is our Parent Board. Officially known as the Coho Swim Club Parents’ Association; our Board is made up of a variety of positions, each with its own description and responsibilities. The commitment varies depending on the position, but all members attend a monthly evening board meeting. Positions include President, Past President, Secretary, Treasurer, Meet Director, Team Activity Director, Fundraising, Equipment, Officials Director, and Concessions. On occasion we also form committees to address certain needs of the club in which we try for a mixture of current Board members and other Coho parents. It is always good to have a variety of opinions from a wide range of parents when we are addressing the needs of the club. Board positions are a two-year commitment, and we are always looking for new parents to step up and get involved.

SWIM MEETS: WHEN PARTICIPATING IN MEETS ALL COHO SWIMMERS MUST WEAR A COHO TEAM SUIT AND CAP. The only exceptions are Meets designated as Developmental meets and other meets designated by coaches. For Championship meets, the wearing of “high tech” suits will be decided on an individual basis, with the coaches having the final say on what suit will be appropriate to wear. It is assumed that all swimmers who qualify for state, regional, zone, or national championship meets will be available to compete. Meet entries for these swimmers will be handled on an individual basis by the coaches. If you foresee a conflict with any of these dates, please inform the coach as soon as possible, preferably at the beginning of the season. When signing up your child for a swim meet, please note that all swimmers, regardless of their practice group, should sign up for the session in which their age group competes.

EQUIPMENT FOR SWIMMERS AT ALL MEETS:  Team Suit – Required at meets for everyone! (except Minnows)  Goggles – Always have an extra pair of goggles available in case the first pair breaks.  Team Caps – Always have an extra team cap in case one breaks.  Towels – Bring 2-3 towels, they get wet fast!  Deck Shoes or Sandals – Pool decks are not kind to bare feet.  Water Bottle – It is very important for swimmers to remain hydrated at meets.  Extra Clothing – Swimmers must remain warm between races, so shirts, pants, parkas, gloves, hats, shoes and socks are recommended for meets. Bring more than one set since items will get wet.  Healthy food or $ for concessions (please note that at most dual/tri meets concessions is not offered).

TYPES OF MEETS: Developmental Meet – These are non-sanctioned (unofficial) meets, in which we swim with other local clubs. Emphasis is placed on FUN and learning the “who, what, where, when, why and how’s” of competition. Only new swimmers in Minnow and Bronze may participate. 9 Dual/Tri Meet – A meet with 2-3 teams which usually last 2-3 hours. Open to all groups except Minnows; swimmers compete in individual events and sometimes relays. These meets are great for 1st time competitors.

USA Meet – A multi-team meet that runs 1-3 days. Each age group competes in one session per day, usually lasting about 4 hours. Friday sessions usually offer distance events, for more experienced swimmers. Swimmers need to sign up for these meets well in advance. Swimmers in all groups except Minnows may participate.

Coho Classic – Our USA swimming meet/club money raiser. It requires a great deal of work from everyone. If your child is signed up, you are expected to volunteer. Swimmers in all groups except Minnows may participate.

IMX Meet – An IMX meet is an opportunity for swimmers to swim some longer events and enjoy a different kind of meet scoring system used by USA Swimming. It is open for all Coho swimmers (except Minnows) but STRONGLY encouraged for Bronze, Silver, Gold, and National Team groups to compete.

Coach Chaperoned Travel Meet – In a coach chaperoned travel meet (for 13&over swimmers only) a coach bus is reserved, swimmers are assigned to hotel rooms, and the coaches chaperone the swimmers. There is a charge to attend as the cost of the bus and hotel rooms will be divided among the swimmers attending.

Family or Regular Travel Meet – In a family or regular travel meet families must provide and pay for their own transportation and accommodations. Blocks of hotel rooms may be arranged under “COHO”, but parents will need to make their own reservations. Basically, a travel meet is like a regular meet but farther away. We do travel meets to take advantage of swimming in different facilities and against different competition.

Regional Champs – This meet is for swimmers who have achieved a Regional time, but have not surpassed the State cut. This is a “last chance” meet to qualify for state. This is held at the end of the winter and summer season.

Illinois Swimming Age Group State Champs – This is the state championship meet for swimmers age 14 and under. Swimmers who achieve at least one qualifying time or qualify for a relay are expected to compete. This meet is held at the end of the winter and summer seasons in March and July/August.

Illinois Swimming Senior State Champs – Swimmers and relays (no age restrictions) who achieve at least one Senior Championship qualifying time may compete in this meet. Swimmers who achieve at least one qualifying time or qualify for a relay are expected to compete. This meet is held at the end of the winter/summer seasons in March and July/August.

USA Swimming Central Zones – Swimmers 14 and under with at least one “AAA” time may swim in the Zone Championship meet. They will compete on Team Illinois against teams fielded by the rest of the Midwest. This meet is held in August, after the Age-Group State Championships.

USA Swimming Speedo Sectionals –Swimmers and relays (no age restrictions) who achieve at least one Sectional Championship qualifying time may compete in this meet. The purpose of this meet is to qualify individuals and relays for the National Championship Meet. This meet is held after the Senior State Champs in March and July.

NCSA Junior Nationals – Swimmers and relays (no age restrictions) who achieve at least one NCSA qualifying time may compete in this meet. This meet is hosted in Orlando, Florida in March by the National Club Swimming Association. The NCSA is a private organization of swimming clubs, different from USA Swimming. This IS a USA Swimming sanctioned meet, but just run by a separate organization. Cuts for this meet are slightly easier than USA Swimming Junior Nationals.

USA Swimming Futures Championship – The meets are designed to bridge the gap between Sectionals meets and Junior Nationals. Meet is for swimmers to make the leap to Junior Nationals, the Future Championships are open-age meet not limited to 18 & unders. 10 USA Swimming Junior Nationals – This is a National Championship meet for swimmers under 19 years old. Swimmers and relays (Under 19) who achieve at least one Junior National Championship qualifying time may compete in this meet. The purpose of this meet is to represent COHO at the National Level. This meet is held in December (short course) and August (long course).

USA Swimming National Championship, USA Olympic Trials, – These meets are open to any swimmers who achieve the qualifying times. These are the highest level meets at which a swimmer can represent the COHO Swim Club. The USA Nationals (called the US Open in the summer of an Olympic year) are held twice a year (December and August). Olympic Trials are held every four years prior to the Olympics. Note regarding Championship Meet participation: Some swimmers who qualify for certain Championship meets may not participate at the discretion of the Head Senior Coach or Head Age Group Coach if the proximity to other Championship meets is a consideration.

OTHER INFORMATION ON MEETS: Missed Meets – If you know in advance that your child will miss a meet that he/she is signed up for contact the Coho office as soon as possible. If it is a last minute emergency and it is after 3pm on Friday, please notify another swimmer/parent that will be at the meet. This is important because other swimmers depend on their teammates in order to compete in relay events.

Away Meets – Parents must provide their own transportation for away meets. If you are going to be out of town and want to participate in a meet you must pay the entry fees yourself. Coho will only cover the cost of meet fees for meets in which a Coho coach is being sent and their expenses are being covered by Coho.

Events – Each coach follows the same basic philosophy when selecting events. First, swimmers compete only in the strokes that their coaches feel they can legally swim. Second, swimmers compete only in the distances that they are physically and mentally ready to handle. However, coaches regularly challenge swimmers to attain greater levels of performance. Finally, swimmers are placed in a wide variety of events (not just their best/favorites!) to gain experience in every stroke and distance.

Relays – The coaches make the final decision at the meet as to which swimmers will swim on which relay, and in what order. In general, the four fastest swimmers in each age group will make up the “A” relay; the next four will make up the “B” relay, etc. Coaches may take into account how individuals are performing on that day to make final relay decisions. If you sign up for a meet you should plan to be there for the entire session. If a swimmer is not scheduled to participate on a relay, he or she may leave after the last individual swim, provided they have been given the ok from their coach. In regards to championship meets, coaches will make every effort to give as much notice as possible to “relay only” swimmers. Final relay selections will be decided by the final USA meet.

Positive Check-in – Swimmers must check-in with their coach at least 15 minutes prior to warm-up. Some meets require a Positive Check-in. In this case, swimmers must check in at the Positive Check-in table by high lighting their name. When positive check-in closes, all swimmers who have not checked in are taken out of the meet.

Stretching/Meet Warm-up – All swimmers will participate in stretching and warm-up before all meets. This warm-up may last from 30 min. to 1 hr. The reason for stretching and warm-up is to allow all swimmers to loosen up their muscles and to make final preparations before competition. The warm-up is mandatory for all Coho swimmers. All Coho swimmers must be on deck ready for stretching 15 minutes before warm-ups begin.

Reporting to Coaches – Every Coho swimmer is expected to see his or her coach before and after each race. This is important so that before a race their coach can give them reminders to help ensure a successful swim. The first person a swimmer should go to see after each race should be the coach so that the swim can be discussed.

RULES AND REGULATIONS: 1. You must wear a team suit and team cap to all Coho meets. 2. When the coach is speaking, you are ALWAYS listening! 3. Never say “I CAN’T”! Nothing is impossible, always try your hardest and give 100% effort. 11 4. Always swim from wall to wall – No stopping or walking on the bottom of the pool. 5. If you are going to be late or must leave early please bring a note. 6. There will be absolutely NO running on deck. 7. Locker room privileges may be revoked if a swimmer causes problems in the locker room. 8. If you have a question, always ask your coach, and please raise your hand. 9. When you are at the wall, keep your head above the water and your eyes on the coach. 10. Stroke work is our main goal; you need to concentrate hard and work on your strokes. 11. There will be no arguing with other teammates about the order of the lane. 12. At meets you should ALWAYS see your coach before and after each race

REFUND POLICY FOR COHO SWIM CLUB: 1. A refund of DFPD program fees may be obtained prior to the first practice of a Coho season. A 10% service charge ($5 Minimum/$10 Maximum) will be deducted from the amount paid for the season. 2. Once a Coho season begins, and prior to it ending, you may request a prorated refund of DFPD program fees based on the number of weeks attended and the date the refund request is received. A 10% service charge ($5 Minimum/$10 Maximum) will be assessed. 3. Refunds will not be processed for a Coho season once it has ended. 4. The ISI/USA Swimming Registration Fee and Coho Activity Fee will not be refunded once a Coho season has begun. In addition, refunds will not be given for any equipment or apparel that has already been ordered. 5. Refunds will be offered if a group is cancelled or closed by the park district. 6. If a participant is dropped from Coho at the request and discretion of the district staff, a refund will be made, less the prorated cost of weeks passed. 7. In lieu of a refund, participants may transfer money to other currently offered activities. The amount to be transferred will be prorated based on the number of weeks of the current Coho season that have passed.

CODE OF CONDUCT: 1. Coho swimmers are expected to exhibit good sportsmanship. Swimmers are expected to cheer for teammates, be modest winners and gracious losers. 2. All Coho swimmers are expected to be well mannered and polite. They are expected to listen to and follow instructions from all coaches and all adults. 3. Coho swimmers are expected to treat others with high regard and with the utmost respect. 4. At no time may any Coho swimmer possess or use alcohol, tobacco or illegal drugs. 5. High school athletes must abide by all the rules of the high school they attend, all IHSA rules, and the Township High School District 113 Co-curricular Code at all times. 6. College athletes must adhere to the same rules as high school athletes, as well as follow all the rules and guidelines prescribed by the NCAA and NAIA.

If a swimmer violates the Code of Conduct, the coaching staff will notify his/her parents. The Executive Board of the Parents’ Association will review each case. Depending on the severity of the infraction the committee may recommend suspension from practices and meets (without a refund for the length of suspension), counseling (with written proof that counseling was obtained), or termination from participation on Coho. In all cases, the Head Coach will communicate with the parents of the swimmer regarding the infraction and penalty. A meeting with the Executive Board may also be arranged. Such a meeting gives the opportunity for the swimmer to plead his/her case. The decision of the Executive Board is final with no recourse.