Team Handbook

New York Sharks Aquatics 2011-2012

Team Handbook

www.nysaquatics.com

New York Sharks Aquatics P.O. Box 217 Suffern, NY 10901

New York Sharks Aquatics 2011-2012 Dear Parents and Swimmers,

Welcome to New York Sharks Aquatics 2011-2012 season.

Our mission is to provide a competitive and positive environment that develops and attracts the highest quality athletes to the sport of swimming. Our team trains at three indoor facilities in Rockland County and one outdoor facility in North Bergen County.

1. The Short Course season runs from September through April – competitions are held in 25-yard pools. 2. The Long Course season runs from April through August – competitions are held in 50-meter and 25-meter pools.

Members of the New York Sharks are members of the Metropolitan Swimming Local Swim Committee (LSC), which encompasses Orange, Rockland, Dutchess, Westchester counties, as well as all five Boroughs of New York City and Long Island.

In addition to competitions held within the Metropolitan Swimming LSC, our athletes will also attend travel meets outside our LSC.

Table of Contents

Section Pages

1. Team Structure 3-5 2. Coaching Staff 6 3. Practice Schedule 7 4. Letter to North Groups – Coach Holmes 8 5. North Group Schedule Changes 9 6. Meet Schedule 10 7. Meet Sign-up 11 8. Volunteers - NY Shark Hosted Meets 12 9. Parent Task Forces 13 10. Fundraising 14 11. Splash N Swim Lessons 15

New York Sharks Aquatics 2011-2012 Team Structure – Age Group

South Orangetown Middle School (SOMS)

Guppies South – Guppies is our developmental swim group. Swimmers at this level already know how to swim, but will learn the skills to be competitive in competition. Swimmers age between 6-10 years old. Guppies do not compete in USA Swim meets.

Bronze South – Bronze is our first competitive level swim group. Swimmers at this level must be capable of swimming all 4 strokes, and completing starts and turns legally. Swimmers will learn how to read pace clocks, swim sets, and most importantly, RACE! Bronze swimmers are expected to achieve on the Silver and Junior Olympic Championship levels for their age groups. Swimmers age between 7-11 years old. Swimmers are expected to attend all NY Sharks hosted meets.

Silver – Silver is our next highest level swim group. Swimmers at this level are expected to be proficient with all 4 strokes as well as starts and turns. At this level, swimming yardage and kicking yardage increase and an aerobic endurance base is established. Silver swimmers are expected to achieve on the Silver and Junior Olympic Championship levels for their age groups. Swimmers age between 9 and 13 years old. Swimmers are expected to attend all NY Sharks hosted meets.

Gold – Gold is our second highest age group level swim group. Swimmers at this level are expected to be efficient with all 4 strokes as well as starts and turns. At this level, swimming yardage and kicking yardage are raised and the aerobic endurance base is improved. Gold swimmers are expected to achieve on the Silver, Junior Olympic and Zone Championship levels for their age groups. Swimmers age between 11 and 15 years old. Swimmers are expected to attend all NY Sharks hosted meets.

Senior Prep – Senior Prep is our highest age group level swim group. This group was created during the 2010- 2011 season as a transitional group between the Age Group Team and the Senior Team. Senior Prep swimmers are expected to achieve on the Junior Olympic and Zone Championship levels for their age group as well as Senior Metropolitan levels. Swimmers are expected to attend all NY Sharks hosted meets. (Senior Prep will practice at NRHS Tuesday and Thursday

New York Sharks Aquatics 2011-2012 Team Structure – Age Group

North Rockland High School (NRHS)

Guppies North – Guppies is our developmental swim group. Swimmers at this level already know how to swim, but will learn the skills to be competitive in competition. Swimmers age between 6-10 years old. Guppies do not compete in USA swim meets.

Bronze North – Bronze is our first competitive level swim group. Swimmers at this level must be capable of swimming all 4 strokes, and completing starts and turns legally. Swimmers will learn how to read pace clocks, swim sets, and most importantly, RACE! Bronze swimmers are expected to achieve on the Silver and Junior Olympic Championship levels for their age groups. Swimmers age between 7-11 years old. Swimmers are expected to attend all NY Sharks hosted meets.

New York Sharks Aquatics 2011-2012 Team Structure – Senior II and Senior I

Rockland Community College – RCC

Senior II Group – The Senior II Group is the first level of Senior training available on the New York Sharks. Swimmers must train 6 days per week with the possibility of mornings if notified. Senior II level swimmers must attend all available dry-land sessions and must dress accordingly. The Senior II Group is designed to be a positive training environment for swimmers to reach their highest possible potential in the sport of swimming. Senior group swimmers are expected to achieve on the Junior Olympic, Senior Metropolitan, and Speedo Sectional levels. Swimmers must turn 13 by December 31 years to be eligible for the Senior Group.

Senior I Group – The Senior I Group is the highest level of Senior training available on the New York Sharks. Swimmers must train 6 days per week with the possibility of mornings if notified. Senior I level swimmers must attend all available dry-land/weight sessions and must dress accordingly. The Senior I Group is designed for swimmers who show the highest levels of talent and desire in the sport of swimming. Senior I swimmers are expected to achieve on the Senior Metropolitan, Speedo Sectional, Junior National and Senior National levels. Swimmers must be 14 years old to be eligible for the Senior I Group.

*NY Shark athletes who qualify for NCSA Junior Nationals, Speedo Junior Nationals or Conoco Philips Senior Nationals will represent at these competitions as NY Sharks National Group.

North Rockland High School – NRHS

Masters – NY Sharks Masters is the newest program for the 2011-2012 season. All interested athletes aged 19-years or older are eligible for professional coaching and instruction with the NY Sharks Masters. Masters practices are offered four days per week at NRHS with competitions offered throughout the year in both short and long course, as well as Open Water formats.

New York Sharks Aquatics 2011-2012 Coaching Staff

Head Coach Todd Langenmayr – [email protected]

Senior I John Alaimo – [email protected]

Senior II Jennifer Cancro – [email protected]

Gold & Senior Prep Sean McIlhargy – [email protected]

Silver Group Fran Kaufman (SOMS) – [email protected] Dave Holmes (NRHS) – [email protected]

Bronze Group Peter O’Donnell (SOMS) – [email protected] Josh Melendez (NRHS) – [email protected]

Guppies Peter O’Donnell (SOMS) – [email protected] Josh Melendez (NRHS) – [email protected]

Splash N Swim Dave Holmes (NRHS and Venture) – [email protected]

New York Sharks Aquatics 2011-2012 Short Course Season Practice Schedule

Schedules are subject to change during vacations and holidays. Please check Group Calendars and look for updates from coaches during these times.

Senior I Monday-Friday 5:30-7:30 pm @ RCC Tues/Thurs 5:30-7:00 am @ Festa (Invitation only) Saturday 2:00-4:00 pm @ Festa

Senior II Monday-Friday 5:30-7:30 pm @ RCC Tues/Thurs 5:30-7:00 am @ Festa (Invitation only) Saturday 2:00-4:00 pm @ Festa

Gold/Senior Prep Mon-Friday 5:30-7:00 pm @ SOMS Saturday 2:00-4:00 pm @ Festa

Silver South Mon/Tues/Thurs/Friday 5:30-7:00 pm @ SOMS Saturday 2:00-4:00 pm @ Festa

Silver North (September only – see letter and schedule on next two pages) Mon/Tues/Wed/Thurs 6:30-8:00 pm @ NRHS Saturday 2:00-4:00 pm @ Festa

Bronze South Mon/Wed/Thursday 5:30-7:00 pm @ SOMS Saturday 2:00-4:00 pm @ Festa

Bronze North (September only – see letter and schedule on next two pages) Mon/Wed/Thursday 6:30-8:00 pm @ NRHS Saturday 2:00-4:00 pm @ Festa

Guppies South Tues/Thursday 5:30-6:30 pm @ SOMS Saturday 2:00-4:00 pm @ Festa

Guppies North (September only – see letter and schedule on next two pages) Tues/Wed/Thursday 6:30-7:45 pm @ NRHS Saturday 2:00-4:00 pm @ Festa

New York Sharks Aquatics 2011-2012 Hello to all NYSA North swimmers and families,

Hope all had a fun, restful and safe off season. Many have told me of the fun they had on vacation (Florida, Washington, Great Adventure and Water parks). Good for all. I hope all were lucky enough to skirt any damage from Hurricane Irene. As we approach the start of our 2011-2012 school year and swim season we wanted to take a minute to get you up to speed with a recent change (I was notified Wed., Sept. 7) to our schedule at the NR pool. Due to circumstances beyond our control we are required to make a change to our practice schedule. Effective Oct. 3, 2011 - Jan. 31 (approx. ending date for 1 st semester at NRHS) we will have practices on Monday, Friday and Saturday only. February 1-June 8 the schedule will change to Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday evenings only. Our new schedule is illustrated below. I will be confirming to all this week what our schedule will be for September. Final information (and Sept. practice schedule) will be available at North registration tomorrow night (Friday, Sept. 9 at NR Annex Café) and at our info. meeting on Sept. 13

North Registration – Friday, September 9, Annex Café.

We will be having a Team Information Night Tuesday, Sept. 13 from 6:30-8:00pm in the NR Annex Café. We are always working hard to keep all informed. We encourage all to come and ask questions. The more we know the more we understand how much is involved with running a large and successful USS team.

North practices begin Wednesday, Sept. 14.

Successful is what we have become. Our continued success is reliant on your continued support. Your relentless quest for excellence and your flexibility and willingness to adjust to change over this past year is admirable and appreciated. Our focus is, and has always been, to encourage and promote swimming in North Rockland and Rockland County. We encourage you continue to do the same. It is important that we stay focused on the good things happening around us and not the negative (NR community will survive these tough times. I feel the community struggle with all of you).

I make it a point to thank all involved with NRCSD for the opportunity to use the NR pool. When you get the chance please express your appreciation as well. When you combine two strong teams (regardless of size) you are likely going to have some bumps along the way. Many of us (especially me) have begun to see how our two teams joining together have made us stronger, in turn making our competitive future of our kids even brighter. Stay focused. I’m excited to get things started.

Coach Todd Langenmayr (Head Coach) and I will be at registration tomorrow night and at the Team Info. Night on Sept. 13. We look forward to seeing all of you there.

See you at the pool,

Coach Holmes

New York Sharks Aquatics 2011-2012 North Rockland Schedule – North Groups – Please read

September 12 - September 28 (tentative) @ NR Monday Tuesday Wednesday @ Thursday @ NR NR Development 6: 30 -7:45 6:30 -8:00pm 6:30 -8:00pm Bronze 6:30 - 6:30 - 8:00 pm 6:30 - 8:00 pm 8:15pm Silver 6:30 - 6:30 - 6:30 - 8:00 pm 6:30 - 8:00 pm 8:15pm 8:15pm

Oct. 3 , 2011 – Jan. 31, 2012 Monday @ NR Wednesday@ Friday @ NR Saturday @ SOMS NR Splash N’ 5:30 – 6:30pm 5:30 – 6:30pm Swim (Dates TBA) Development 6:30 -7:45pm 6:30 -7:45pm 9:45 - 11:00am Bronze 6:30 - 8:15pm 6:30 - 8:15pm 9:45 - 11:30am Silver 6:30 - 8:15pm 5:30 -7:00 @ 6:30 - 8:15pm 9:45 - SOMS 11:30am

Feb. 1, 2012 – June 8, 2012 all @ NR Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Splash N’ Swim 5:30 – 6:30pm 5:30 – 6:30pm 5:30 – 6:30pm (Dates TBA) Development 6:30 -8:00pm 6:30 -8:00pm 6:30 -8:00pm Bronze 6:30 - 8:00 pm 6:30 - 8:00 pm 6:30 - 8:00 pm Silver 6:30 - 8:00 pm 6:30 - 8:00 pm 6:30 - 8:00 pm

New York Sharks Aquatics 2011-2012 Meet Schedule [2011-2012 Short Course Season]

You can view our meet and event schedule on our homepage at www.nysaquatics.com. Each meet/event listed is linked to an information page that contains deadlines for sign-ups, meet information packets, as well as eligibility and entry reports.

October 2011 21-23 LIE Oktoberfest @ Hofstra University 23 WSSC and Devilfish @ Washingtonville HS (10 and Unders only)

November 2011 4-6 NYSA Fall Classic @ Felix Festa 5 BGNW 8 and Under meet @ Mount Kisco, NY (8 and Unders only) 25-27 LIE Thanksgiving @ Hofstra University

December 2011 1-3 AT&T Nationals @ Atlanta, GA (Qualifiers only) 2-4 NYSA Holiday Classic @ Felix Festa 8-10 Speedo Junior Nationals @ Minneapolis, MN (Qualifiers only) 9-11 TYR Holiday Classic @ F & M University (Qualifiers only)

January 2012 7-8 Aqua Gems January Blitz @ Washingtonville (12 and Unders) 13-15 Nu Finmen Dr King @ Flushing Meadows, Queens, NY 27-29 Condors NCAA @ Felix Festa (Qualifiers only)

February 2012 3-5 NYSA Last Chance @ Felix Festa 18-20 Metro Zone Quals @ Lehman College (Qualifiers only) 23-26 Senior Met Champs @ Lehman College (Qualifiers only)

March 2012 2-4 Silver Championships (NYSA) @ Felix Festa (Qualifiers only) 10-11 8 and Under Championships @ Felix Festa (8 and Unders only) 10-11 AGUA Last Chance Meet @Asphalt Green 13-16 NCSA Junior Nationals @ Orlando, FL (Qualifiers only) 16-18 Metro Junior Olympics @ Felix Festa (Qualifiers only) 22-24 Speedo Sectionals @ ECC, Buffalo, NY (Qualifiers only)

New York Sharks Aquatics 2011-2012 Meet Sign-Up

New York Shark Hosted Meets

New York Sharks hosts 7 meets throughout the year. All competing members of the team are expected to participate in all New York Shark hosted meets. Coaches always choose events for their swimmers.

All team-members will be automatically entered into these meets and meet fees will be committed to the team unless parents opt-out before the deadline.

Opting Out – To opt-out of a New York Shark Hosted Meet, you must send an email to [email protected] before the opt-out deadline stating that you and your son or daughter will not be able to attend the meet, or certain days/sessions of the meet.

New York Shark “Away” Meets

New York Shark “Away” Meets are all other meets that New York Sharks attends, but does not host. You must sign up your son or daughter through the website to be entered into these meets. Coaches always choose events for their swimmers.

1. Log on to www.nysaquatics.com . 2. Sign-in to the website • At registration, you are emailed a password for log-in to the website • Use your email and given password to log-in to the website • If you have trouble, you can reset your password on that page. 3. Once, signed in, go to the Upcoming Events on the Home Page. 4. Sign your child up for all “Away” meets by clicking “Attend this Event.” 5. You will be directed to an Event Sign-up Page and click the name of the child/children you wish to be entered in the meet. 6. To sign up for the meet : choose “Yes, please sign [Name] up for event” 7. To decline entry to the meet : choose “No, do not sign [Name] up for event” 8. Save Changes 9. Repeat for all meets you wish for your child to attend.

New York Sharks Aquatics 2011-2012 Volunteers - New York Shark Hosted Meets

New York Shark hosted swim meets depend on a large number parent volunteers that come out to work our meets. To streamline the volunteering this year, New York Sharks is adopting an hourly system for volunteering.

Volunteer Hours Each family is expected to work a total of 50 hours at our meets throughout the year. Each family will sign-up for our meets through their account on our website and choose which jobs and sessions they would like to work at our meets. Job Sign-up will open to members 3-4 weeks before the start of the meet. Families who do not sign- up via the website will not earn credit for their hours. Instructions for how to sign-up via your website account is below. Please email Coach John for questions at [email protected].

Volunteer Deposit For All Accounts on Schedule My Payment (SMP ) If your family fulfills the 50 hour requirement by July 1, there will be no charge to your account. If your family fails to fulfill the 50 hour requirement, $300 will be withdrawn from your account through SMP. The amount will not be pro-rated and there will be no exceptions . Directions for how to sign-up for volunteer hours at our meets is found on page 9 of our 2011-2012 Team Handbook.

For All Accounts not on Schedule My Payment (SMP) A $300 post-dated check must be given in at Fall Registration. If your family fulfills the 50 hour requirement throughout the year, the $300 check will be returned to you. If your family fails to fulfill the 50 hour requirement, the $300 check will be deposited. The amount will not be pro-rated and there will be no exceptions . Directions for how to sign-up for volunteer hours at our meets is found on page 9 of our 2011-2012 Team Handbook.

To Sign-Up 1. Log on to www.nysaquatics.com . 2. Sign-in to the website • At registration, you are emailed a password for log-in to the website. • Use your email and given password to log-in to the website. • If you have trouble, you can reset your password on that page. 3. Once, signed in, go to the Upcoming Events on the Home Page. 4. Sign-up to volunteer by clicking “Job Signup” next to the meet name. 5. Click on the time-slot you want to work under your desired Job. 6. Click the “Signup” button in the top left of the frame to make it official.

Volunteer Jobs at NY Shark Hosted Meets Concessions, Hospitality, Safety Marshalls, Timers, Officials (formal training), Desk (formal training)

Event Job Done Confirmation All volunteers must check-in at the desk with the designated coach (Coach will be announced prior to event). The designated coach will sign-in each volunteer with our OnDeck application through our team website.

You must check-in with the designated coach to receive credit for the hours worked . The team website will automatically keep track of each family’s hours.

**Hours that swimmers volunteer to work at our meets will count toward their family’s hours.

New York Sharks Aquatics 2011-2012 Parent Task Forces

Parent Task Forces are crucial to a successful and headache-free swim season. New York Sharks parents will sign-up for Task Forces in September 2011 for the 2011-2012 Season.

1. Fundraising Task Force The fundraising task force is in charge of running successful fundraisers for the team in both the fall and the spring seasons. The Golf Outing Fundraiser is our standard Fall Fundraiser.

2. Travel Coordinator Task Force Travel Coordinator Task Force is in charge of blocking hotel rooms and making travel arrangements for travel meets, including arranging team dinners at hotels after Finals for larger team travel meets.

3. Banquet/Party Task Force This Task Force is in charge of putting together the Winter Party in December, Team Banquet in March, and Summer Party in July.

4. Meet Volunteers

1. Safety Marshalls Must be USA Swimming members and wear easily identifiable vests or armbands. Responsibilities include, but are not limited to checking the deck and the stands to make sure exits and walkways are clear. They ensure that parents are not on deck, the building is safe and children are behaving appropriately.

2. Hospitality Task Force Hospitality is provided for coaches and officials during our hosted meets. Food and drink is provided for them at no cost. Purchases made by an individual will be reimbursed with appropriate receipts. Hospitality prepares and coordinates for the duration of the meet.

3. Concessions Task Force Concessions Task Force must sell food and drink to swimmers, families and other patrons during the meet. The Concessions Coordinator must plan, prepare, delegate and coordinate volunteers. Concessions Volunteers must sell food and drink during the meet.

4. Awards Task Force Awards Task Force must order awards prior to home meets, prepare awards during meet and distribute to coaches at end of the meet.

5. Admissions Task Force Admissions Task Force collects money at two entrances to Felix Festa Middle School during NY Sharks home meets. They also sell programs and finals heat sheets at the beginning of sessions.

6. Meet Desk Task Force Meet Desk Task Force work the computer system that records the results of each heat and event as the meet runs. Desk operators are also in charge of recording scratches during warm- up and troubleshooting as the meet goes on.

7. Officials Task Force 13

New York Sharks Aquatics 2011-2012 Fundraising

The cost of running New York Sharks Swim Team is not entirely covered by fees alone. Fundraising events are necessary for the Team to remain financially sound. If fundraisers are unsuccessful additional assessments charged to each swimmer may be necessary. Working at New York Sharks hosted swim meets does not count towards fundraising. Funds raised will go towards the purchase of outfitting and travel for coaches and swimmers reaching Junior/Senior Nationals, coach’s education classes, and team equipment.

Each family is responsible for fundraising $200 ($100 for Guppies families) for New York Sharks throughout the 2011-2012 Season. If your family is not on SMP, you must post a $200 check payable at the time of registration. Once your family has raised the money the $200 check will be refunded on May 15, 2012.

The Fundraising Task Force is in charge of getting information on Fundraisers to our membership. Each family account has from September 2011 to May 15, 2012 to fulfill the aforementioned Fundraising responsibility. Any amount that has not been fulfilled will be charged to your family’s account by Schedule My Payment (SMP).

New York Sharks Golf Outing 2011

This year’s fall fundraiser is the New York Sharks Golf Outing at New York Country Club on October 3, 2011.

All information can be found on our website • Go to www.nysaquatics.com • Click the “Golf Outing” tab

Contact Chair Joe Fusco at [email protected] for more information.

All information regarding our Spring 2012 Fundraiser will be posted on our website by December 2011.

New York Sharks Aquatics 2011-2012 Splash N Swim Lessons 2011-2012

Session 1

Camp Venture (Sept 17 – Oct 22) Mommy and Me ($120) Three classes offered each Saturday AM 10:30-10:55 am, 11-11:25 am, 11:30-11:55 am Beginner ($120) Three classes offered each Saturday AM 10:30-10:55 am, 11-11:25 am, 11:30-11:55 am Advanced Beginner ($150) Two classes offered each Saturday AM 10:30-1:15 am, 11:15-12:00 pm

North Rockland High School (Sept 14-Oct 26) Beginner ($100 or $200) Two classes offered every Monday/Friday 5:30-5:55 pm, 6:00-6:25 pm Two classes per week - $240 One class per week - $120 Advanced Beginner ($200) One class offered every Monday/Friday 5:30-6:15 pm

Online Registration Online registration is open on September 1, 2011. To register: • Sign on to www.nysaquatics.com • Click “Splash N Swim” • Scroll to bottom of page • Click location • Choose and fill out forms.

Payment Options 1. Credit Card/Debit Card : Registering with your credit or debit card secures the spot for your child in the class.

2. Check : Registering by check is acceptable but your child will be put on the waitlist until your check is processed. Checks are made payable to NYSAQUATICS and should be mailed to New York Sharks PO Box 217, Suffern, NY 10901