WILDWOOD WAVES SWIM TEAM Informational Handbook 2017-2018 INTRODUCTION Welcome to the 2017-2018 season of the Wildwood Waves Swim Team! We are so excited to have you as part of our team and are looking forward to a successful, fun year of swimming. We are committed to offering a quality swim team that emphasizes teaching not only the fundamentals of competitive swimming, but good sportsmanship, positive attitude, personal responsibility and honesty. The purpose of this handbook is to explain to new members what our swim team is and to outline various policies that affect all swimmers, year after year. All families should read it so that they may become familiar with important facts and rules of the club. Please read the handbook carefully as it contains information about team policies. OUR MISSION To put Christian principles into practice through programs that build healthy spirit, mind and body for all. OUR VALUES Caring, honesty, respect and responsibility are the basis for all that we do. OUR PROMISE We build strong kids, strong families and strong communities. “The things you learn from sports- setting goals, being part of a team, confidence- that’s invaluable. It’s not about trophies and ribbons. It’s about BEING ON TIME for practice, ACCEPTING CHALLENGES and being fearful of the elements.” -Summer Sanders “The water is your friend...you don’t have to fight with water, just share the same spirit as the water and it will help you move.” -Aleksander Popov 2 “Your biggest challenge isn’t someone else. It’s the ache in your lungs. The burning in your legs. And the voice in your head that yells ‘CAN’T’, but you don’t listen. You push harder. And then you hear that voice whisper ‘CAN’, and you discover that the person you thought you were is no match for the person you truly are.” -Mark Schubert HISTORY The Wildwood Waves Swim Team was founded in 2002. We have always been a competitive team with emphasis on stroke technique. WHO’S WHO Aquatics Director-Jen Humphrey Jen was a lifeguard at the Edward Jones YMCA in 2003 and became their aquatic coordinator in 2004 until early 2006. She worked at the West County YMCA from 2011-2014 and was the aquatic director at Jefferson County Y from 2014-2015. Jen joined the Wildwood Y as the aquatic director in May 2015. Jen is a certified PADI scuba diver and has been for over 20 years, specialties include deep water diving, night diving and rescue diving. She loves training staff in water activities and is excited to have a swim team at Wildwood! Jen looks forward to learning all the ins and outs of a swim team as well as getting to know all those involved. Please feel free to contact Jen with any questions or concerns at 636-458- 6636, ext. 245, or [email protected]. Coach Rich Murphy Rich joined the coaching staff during the 2013-2014 season. He has been a member of the YMCA since 2003, with two of his children swimming for the Chesterfield YMCA team for several years. Rich was a competitive swimmer in Nashville, TN for 10 years. (Claim to fame: he was on the same team as Olympians Tracy Caulkins and Joan Pennington… different lane, but same team). He has swum on several Masters Swim teams (in 6 states), and coached Masters Swimming, as well. Rich has worked with youth, both as Cub Scout Packmaster and Boy Scout Troop leader; and as a basketball coach in the Rockwood Recreation league. Rich is a retired US Navy officer, and currently an engineering supervisor. He is married with three children. 3 His approach in developing young swimmers focuses on good technique, with age appropriate conditioning, while keeping it fun and enjoyable. Please feel free to contact Coach Rich with any coaching questions at [email protected]. Coach Molly Meyer Molly has worked for the Wildwood YMCA since 2003 and joined the coaching staff of the Wildwood Waves in 2004. Molly swam competitively since 3rd grade for the Rockwood Swim Club. She continued swimming up through high school where she was on the girls’ varsity swim team and was captain her senior year for Ursuline Academy. Molly is married with two young sons. Molly is strict on form and technique and pushes the swimmers to know and understand their full potential. Please feel free to contact Coach Molly with any coaching questions at [email protected]. Coach Amanda Warner Amanda is an assistant coach who joined the staff during the 2014-2015 swim season. Amanda began her swimming career at the age of 10 on a summer swim team, and then progressed to swimming for several club teams. Amanda swam through high school, and continues to hold four records. Amanda swam collegiately for Truman state University and was a NCAA II All-American. Amanda has been coaching children since high school in both swimming lessons and competitive teams. She continues to coach her four children who have all come to love swimming. Amanda focuses on technique, concentrating on making the most of each lap, and helping children find a lifelong love of the sport. TEAM REQUIREMENTS and FEES All swim team members must be full YMCA members. SWIM TEAM FEES Level 1: $375 Level 2: $450 Level 3: $475 4 We do not charge separate fees for administration fees, fundraising fees, or pool fees. We offer discounts for each additional child and for parent board members. An additional $100 registration fee applies to those registering after Nov. 30, 2017. TEAM LEVELS Level 1 This is our entry level group and is intended as an introduction to competitive swimming for ages 5 and older. An athlete needs only to swim 25 yards freestyle and 25 yards backstroke without assistance and have a basic knowledge of rotary breathing. Emphasis placed on learning all four strokes. Level 2 This group is for elementary age swimmers that have knowledge of all four competitive strokes. Emphasis placed on stroke technique, endurance, starts, and turns. Swimmers must be able to swim 100 IM and 200 Freestyle. Level 3 This group will be comprised of advanced swimmers that have mastered proper technique of all four competitive strokes and are becoming more involved in the competitive aspect of swimming. Emphasis placed on technique, endurance, dry land, and team commitment. Longer distances swum regularly. 5 PRACTICE SCHEDULE Practices begin on Tuesday, September 12th Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Sunday* 12:00-1:00 Level 1 4:30-5:30pm 4:30-5:30pm pm* 5:30-6:45 6:00-7:15 12:00-1:15 Level 2 5:30-6:45 pm 5:30-6:45 pm pm pm* pm* 6:00-7:30 6:00-7:30 12:00-1:30 Level 3 6:00-7:30 pm 6:00-7:30 pm pm pm pm* *optional practices. No Sunday practices on meet weekends. NO PRACTICE: November 22, 23, 24 December 25-January 2 PRACTICE CANCELLATIONS/INCLEMENT WEATHER POLICY In the event of thunder or lightning, the pool must be closed for safety. Swim practice will be canceled in the case of thunder or lightning. Other cancellations may occur due to snowstorm, power outage, etc. We will do our best to notify every family by email as quickly as possible. TEAM SUITS You can purchase team suits at B & B Aquatics located at 1747 Clarkson Road Chesterfield, MO 63017. Please do not wear team suits to practice. We recommend that your swimmer wear a practice suit made from 100% polyester or a Speedo endurance suit. GEAR Swimmers must bring their own equipment to every practice. This includes goggles, fins, pull-buoys, paddles, swim caps and water bottles for levels 2 and 3. Water bottles are essential. Equipment for Level 1 includes swim caps, goggles and water bottles. 6 PRACTICE ETIQUETTE for SWIMMERS 1. Come to practice on time with all equipment. 2. Wait for your coach on deck before getting into the water. 3. Always swim from wall to wall. No stopping or walking on the bottom of the pool. 4. Walk on the pool deck. 5. When you are swimming breaststroke or butterfly, make sure you touch the wall with two hands. 6. If you know how to do flip turns on backstroke and freestyle, we expect you to do them all the time. 7. We circle swim at practice. Circle swim rules are as follows: 8. Swim down the right side of the lane and back on the right side. (The right side would be the side to your right from whichever end of the pool you are looking at.) 9. We expect all swimmers to be caring, honest, respectful and responsible at all times. 10. If you have a question, always ask your coach and please raise your hand. 11. When you are on the wall, keep your head above water and your eyes on the coach. 12. Have FUN! PRACTICE ETTIQUETTE for PARENTS 1. Coaches will reevaluate participants the first few days of practice and may recommend changes to better meet your swimmer’s needs. We realize that some participants have little or no experience in competitive swimming while others are quite accomplished. By separating the groups by ability, we hope to move swimmers ahead as soon as they master the progressive skills. 2. Please get your swimmer on deck in suit (preferably a one piece), goggles, and cap at scheduled starting times. Please make sure your swimmer uses the restroom before practice. 3. You are encouraged to watch practices in the viewing window, across from the front desk but please let the coaches do the “coaching”.