|
|
|
Coaching Staff |
|
|
Head Coach; Platinum & Orange Coach: David Wakeley David Wakeley has been involved with
the ACAC as either the Gold or Platinum level coach for 9 years and brings
great excitement and enthusiasm to our swimming program. Within the last 6 years, many of the
swimmers under his tutelage have achieved levels of participation in the
following events: Junior Olympics, MA
Zone Team, Top Sixteen, Sectionals. He has also served 3 years as a MA Zone
coach and Head MA Zone coach in the summer of 2007. He has earned a reputation as a stickler
for stroke mechanic detail and is a true student of the coaching
profession. He will leave no stone
unturned to encourage our swimmers to improve at every level of their
development. Coach Dave graduated with a degree in Electrical
Engineering from |
|
|
Gold Coach: Dimitar Petrov Coach Dimitar has been coaching for the ACAC since the
fall of 2005. Under Dimitar's training, many of the Silver Group's swimmers have
reached Junior Olympic qualifying times and have become winners at the MA
Mini Championship. Currently, Coach
Dimitar works with our Gold Group swimmers who are at top Junior Olympic
levels and have successfully competed in the 2007 Eastern Zone competition. In the past, Coach Dimitar trained the junior and
intermediate level swimming groups for Ocean City, NJ C-Cerpance. He is from |
|
|
Silver Coach: Ryan Gaskill Coach Ryan has been working with our Bronze group since 2006, but he will be training our Silver
swimming group in the fall of 2008. He is a graduate of |
|
|
Bronze & Minnows Coach: Erin Grant
|
|
|
Bronze & Minnows Coach: Katie Sawers Katie assisted her sister Erin in our Learn-to-Swim program the summer of 2008 and her valuable help and expertise has helped to make this new program a success. She will continue to teach the Minnows and will also be one of our Bronze group coaches starting the fall of 2008.
|
|
|
Minnows Coach: Dante Braxton Dante
has greatly contributed at our Martin Luther King pool site and developed
many of our finest young swimmers. He has participated in USA Swimming’s Outreach Coaching Program at the
|
Contact
Information
Coaches: Name: Email: Phone :
Head Coach David Wakeley DandLWakeley@comcast.net H(601)
(Platinum & Orange) C(862)
W(609)
Group Coach (Gold) Dimitar Petrov mitkoswim@hotmail.com
Group Coach (Silver) Ryan Gaskill ryangaskill@hotmail.com
Group Coach (Bronze) Erin Grant erins2w@aol.com
Group Coach (Bronze) Katie Sawers erins2w@aol.com
Group Coach (Minnows) Erin Grant erins2w@aol.com
Group Coach (Minnows) Katie Sawers erins2s@aol.com
Group Coach (Minnows) Dante Braxton H(609)
C(609)
Interim Executive Board: Email: Phone:
President – Angela Cox fourayes@comcast.net H(609)
C(609)
Vice President – Lori Jackson Jacksona543@aol.com C(609)
Secretary – Linda Wakeley DandLWakeley@comcast.net H(609)
C(609)
Treasurer – Chris Barber cbarber519@comcast.net H(609)
C(609)
Platinum Representative –
Gold Representative – Steve
Greenleaf thegreenleafs@comcast.net C(609)
Silver Representative – Beverly Foy bgf40snm@aol.com H(609)
C(609)
Bronze Representative – Jessica Estlow bestlow@verizon.net H(609)
C(609)
Head Coach – David Wakeley DandLWakeley@comcast.net H(609)
C(862)
W(609)485-7773
WELCOME
Welcome to the
Please feel free to contact us with questions, concerns, and
general feedback at any time during the season.
We welcome you input.
GENERAL
INFORMATION
HISTORY
In 1998 the Atlantic City Aquatic Club became
“Providing
young people with a positive direction in life through excellence in aquatics.”
Primary Objectives:
·
Encourage youngsters to
commit to the concept of teamwork and to build strength and character
·
Provide a graduated program that will allow swimmers to reach for
the highest successes and accomplish them
·
Inform, educate, and encourage parents and swimmers to become
active supporters of our club philosophy
·
Utilize all local pools and open water to allow for a maximum
number of young people to participate at every level
·
Reach out to urban communities and provide swimming as a healthy
outlet for youngsters of all backgrounds and cultures
·
Advocate water safety to all members of our swim team and the
local community
·
Promote and acknowledge the accomplishments of our young athletes
through local media and special ceremonies
USA
Swimming (USA-S)
was established by Congress as the National Governing Body for competitive
swimming in the
The website for USA Swimming is www.usaswimming.org.
MIDDLE
ATLANTIC SWIMMING
Middle Atlantic Swimming is an administrative
arm of USA Swimming -- called a Local Swimming Committee (LSC), which
supervises competitive swimming within established geographic boundaries. There
are 59 LSCs in the
The Middle Atlantic LSC includes New Jersey,
south of Mercer and Monmouth Counties; Delaware; and Pennsylvania, east of and
including Potter, Clinton, Centre, Huntingdon, and Bedford Counties.
The website for Middle Atlantic is
www.maswim.org.
EASTERN
ZONE
Middle Atlantic Swimming is part of the Eastern
Zone of the US, which includes 11 other LSCs:
Allegheny Mt. (Eastern PA); Niagara, Adirondack, and Metropolitan (NY);
Maryland; Virginia; Potomac Valley; New Jersey; Connecticut; New England; and
Maine. All four Zones (Eastern, Southern, Central, and
Western) conduct All Star competitions and Sectional Meets for teams within
their Zone.
Atlantic City Aquatic Club is a USA
Swimming club participating in Middle Atlantic Swimming LSC. The website for ACAC is www.acacswim.org.
ACAC
POLICIES
COMMUNICATION
It is very important to communicate with Board Members and Coaches
of the club. There are many forms of communication
in place within our team:
·
E-mail – See ACAC Contacts
on page 3 of this handbook.
·
Suggestion Box – The suggestion box has been set up at the pool
near the mail boxes located right outside the pool area.
·
ACAC Website – The ACAC website will have updated information
about practice times, cancellations, and any important information or
announcements, as well as the latest swimmers’ information (acacswim.org).
·
Voice Messaging System – Periodically, you will receive automated
voice messages on your phone from ACAC that will convey important
announcements. Please make sure ACAC has
your latest contact information that includes the best phone number to use for
you to receive these messages.
·
Bulletin Board – Near the mail boxes we have a bulletin board
right outside the pool area. Please
check the bulletin board as often as possible for information.
·
Mail Boxes – Each membership family will have a mail box just
outside the pool area. Please check your
mail box as often as possible for important announcement handouts and also for
any ribbons your child has earned during a recent meet.
DISAGREEMENTS
From time to time parents/guardians may find themselves in
disagreement with the methods or philosophies of their child’s coach, the board
of directors, or even have conflicts among themselves. This is further complicated when these
parents discuss their grievances with other parents rather than talking
directly with the person with whom they are at odds. This leads to numerous
problems that include team disunity, unfounded gossip and rumors within and
beyond the swim team, and a general atmosphere of disgruntled negativity. These situations can and should be
avoided. Here are a few suggestions that
can be followed:
· If you disagree with your swimmer’s coach,
please remind yourself that you and the coach have the best interests of your
child at heart. You will maintain a good
relationship with your child’s coach as long as you keep in mind that he/she
has the same goals for your child as you do.
· Please be reminded that the coach must balance
your perspective of what is best for your swimmer with the needs of the team or
training group that can range in size from 10-50 members. On occasion, an individual child's interest
may need to be subordinate to the interests of the group. In the long run the benefits of membership in
the group compensate for occasional short term inconvenience.
· If your child swims for an assistant coach,
always discuss your concerns first with that coach. If the assistant coach cannot satisfactorily
resolve the matter, then ask that the head coach join the dialogue as a third
party.
· If another parent uses you as a sounding board
for complaints about a coach, board member, another parent, or team policies,
listen empathetically, but encourage the other parent to speak directly to the
partly with whom they have a grievance.
He/she is the only one who can resolve the problem.
FUNDRAISING
Each membership family is required to participate in fundraising
at least once every season, and it is to your advantage that you participate in
as many as possible. Of the funds you
collect in a fundraising activity, 60% will go to ACAC to offset expenses such
as pool rental, coach’s salaries, and equipment for the swimmers, and 40% will
go towards your family’s Meet Fees Bank.
These monies can only go towards your family’s swim meet fees.
Each Atlantic City Aquatic Club membership family is required to
establish a Meet Fees Bank (escrow account) for meets. This account will be opened with a minimum of
$50.00 per family. Every time a swimmer
is signed up for a meet, the entry fee will be removed from their Meet Fees
Bank. If an account falls below $10.00,
the swimmer will not be entered into a swim meet. This account will be required for all
families. No swimmer will be entered in
a meet without this account being activated. Please make a separate check saying “Meet
Fees Bank” in the memo section, with your registration.
Should a swimmer leave the team, the original $50.
deposited into the Meet Fees Bank will be refunded.
ACAC PRACTICES
Swim practice times are posted on our
website and copies are distributed at the pool.
Please check the website often to take note of any changes in the
schedule. Swimmers are arranged according
to groups depending on their age, ability level, commitment to attending
practices, and maturity. The group that
your swimmer is assigned to is determined by the coaching staff. The swim levels within ACAC are as
follows: Platinum, Gold, Silver, and
Bronze. PLEASE NOTE: No
swimmer will be allowed to participate in practices until they have completed a registration form and submitted the
appropriate fee payment.
Practice at
LEARN-TO-
ACAC offers a learn-to-swim program
called the Minnows. Group sizes are
limited to 12 swimmers. Minimum age is 4
years old. Instruction is 3 times per
week for 4 weeks (12 total hours). Upon
completion of instruction, if the swimmer shows readiness, the swimmers will be
invited to join the Bronze level swimming group of Atlantic City Aquatic Club.
Parents/Guardians: Please note that you are allowed to watch
practices/lessons from the balcony.
However, no parent is allowed
to be on deck during practices/lessons (for insurance reasons). In addition, please refrain from talking to
the coaches/instructors during practices/lessons. The coaches/instructors must pay attention to
the swimmers in the pool. If you have a question or concern, we request
that you contact the coach/instructor outside of practice/lesson times.
ATTENDANCE
REQUIREMENTS
It is the
expectation that all swimmers attend a set number of practices as determined by
the coaching staff. The minimum number of times
a swimmer must practice per week are as follows: Bronze—2x;
Silver—3x; Gold— 5x;
Swimmers
need to arrive 10 minutes before practice times and 30 minutes before warm-ups
for all swim meets. They should be on
deck with their equipment and ready to swim at the start of the scheduled practice time. Swimmers
are to remain for the duration of practice and will complete all sets during
the practice sessions. Proper workout habits will be monitored at
all times.
Swimmers and parents/guardians are asked to please respect these rules
and plan accordingly.
Regular attendance is very important. Although
our athletes establish and work towards success within their
own individual goals, ACAC practices and competes as a team. Regular
attendance demonstrates an athlete’s respect for the team, the coaches, and his
or her own goals. Still, swimmers will
complain from time to time about the hard work outs, and given our society’s
current craze for packed schedules and early athletic specialization, you will
hear about “burnout.” First of all, ACAC
does not believe that swimming needs to be our athletes’ only focus. Second of all, commitment to training hard
does not, in and of itself, lead to burn out.
As stated by Coach Michael Brooks of North Baltimore Aquatics Club:
For
every one case of ‘burnout’ caused by a swimmer’s spending too much time in the
water and working too hard, we still see a hundred cases of ‘pre-emptive
burnout’: in order not to be burned out,
the swimmer comes to practice only when she feels like it, doesn’t work out
very hard, skips team meets with regularity, and generally makes no commitment to
the program or to the sport. Not surprisingly, the swimmer swims slow, makes
little or no improvement, and sees her formerly slower competitors
whiz right by her. Then we wonder why
she ‘just can’t get jazzed about swimming.’
In
short, “To achieve great things, first show up every day!”
Finally,
discipline and commitment are good things, not things we should downplay, hide,
apologize for, or stop demanding just because they may be unpopular.
(Please refer
to the article, “What Does It Mean to Be Part of a Team?” in the Appendix of
this handbook for more information.)
VACATIONS,
SCHOOL BREAKS & HOLIDAYS:
Please
try to not to schedule vacations or breaks during the season not only for the
reasons stated above, but because this disrupts the training process. If a vacation must occur during the swim
season, please let your swimmer’s coach know so that he/she can help make
arrangements for your child to continue his or her training at another
Swim
meets are mandatory for all ACAC swimmers. Entries will be submitted at the beginning of
each season, and all swimmers will be entered in events selected by the
coaching staff. This is done because it
is very competitive to get in to the Middle Atlantic swimming competitions and
many times, if we do not get our entries submitted early enough, our athletes
get shut out of the meets. The ACAC’s swim meet
schedule is posted on our website (www.acacswim.org), and the bulletin boards outside the pool area.
Please Note: Mini-Meets are open to the 8 & under age
group only. All other meets (A/BB/C) are
intended for 9-10's, 11-12's, 13-14's, and Senior’s. Eligibility to compete in a particular age
group is determined by the swimmer's age on the first day of the meet.
ACAC
attends many meets during the course of the Fall/Winter season, as well as the
Spring/Summer season. Each of these
meets provides the swimmer with a number of opportunities. Bonding with fellow team mates, competing
with fellow age group swimmers, as well as performing championship cut times,
demonstrating positive character and good sportsmanship are among these
opportunities.
As
indicated above, meets are mandatory for all ACAC swimmers. We understand, however, that sometimes
conflicts do occur.
If you are aware that your swimmer will
not be able to attend a swim meet at the beginning of the season, please notify
their swim coach immediately so that entry fees are not submitted. However, if the coaching staff is not
notified in time and your child is entered in a meet that he/she cannot attend,
the meet fees will not be refunded to your meet fees bank.
If
something should come up during the course of the season that prevents your child
from participating in a meet in which he/she is already entered, we ask that
parents/guardians inform their swimmer’s coach as soon as possible. Again, meet fees cannot be refunded.
Meet
information and general announcements will be posted on both our ACAC website (www.acacswim.org) and the bulletin board outside the pool area throughout
the year.
The
Middle Atlantic website (www.maswim.org) is another source for meet information. We encourage all parents/guardians to visit
this site as frequently as possible.
GROUP
PLACEMENT & TRANSITIONING
Attitude
and commitment, as well as age and athletic skill, play an important role in
determining to which training group the swimmer will be assigned. The coaches spend a large amount of time and
energy evaluating each swimmer. We
understand that athletes perform best when they are in high spirits. It is our goal to ensure the swimmer’s
continued happiness and growth.
If a
coach feels that a swimmer is eligible to move into a higher level group,
he/she will discuss the transition with the parents and the swimmer before the
group change. Here is a list of the
criteria coaches consider when determining a swimmer’s possible transition into
a higher level:
· The swimmer displays a commitment to training and to the
ACAC program.
· The swimmer maintains a positive attitude and the maturity
to handle the increased expectations of a higher level swimmer.
· The swimmer meets the attendance requirements of their
current training group.
· The swimmer is able to maintain the base intervals typically
used at the next
level training group.
· The swimmer exhibits proficiency in stroke mechanics and the
abilities required of their current training group.
· The swimmer is close in age and skill of the next training
level to ensure he/she will fit in with this new peer group.
The
following is a list of standards that each swimmer must meet in order to transition
into an upper level training group:
Platinum:
· Must be 12 years old or be
invited
· Must average 6 practices a
week for a sustained period of time
· Displays maturity: exemplary respect for coaches and fellow
athletes in and out of pool, punctuality, demonstrate pace clock management
skills as well as a sense of personal interval and distance swimming pace
· Performance: 20 x 100Free @
· Must be able to do all four
strokes legally for 100 yards
· Must have A times to be considered
· Must have distance event
experience i.e. 400m, 500, 800m, 1000, 1500m,
1650Free and/or 400IM
·
Interview with Platinum
coach
Gold:
· Must be older than 9 years
old or turn 9 by that season championships.
· Must average 5 practices a week and have
exemplary meet attendance. 9 and 10 year
olds start with 4 practices per week
· Performance: 20 x 100Free @
· Must be able to do all four
strokes legally for 50 yards in practice
· Must have BB times to be
considered
· Must have distance event
experience i.e. 200 IM, 400/500 Free
Silver:
·
Must be 8 years old or
older
·
Must be able to swim a complete lap of each stroke: freestyle,
backstroke, breaststroke, butterfly
·
Performance: 10 X 50 Free on
Bronze:
·
Must be able to swim a
complete lap (25 meters) free
·
Must be able to kick a complete lap (25 meters) of free kick
PLEASE NOTE: ACAC reserves the right, if circumstances
warrant, to move an athlete to a more appropriate
training group.
CODE OF CONDUCT
Because ACAC believes that swimmers, regardless of their age, need
to demonstrate respect for themselves, their teammates, and their coaches, both
at practices and meets, we have implemented a formal “Code of Conduct” policy. This is located in the Appendix. Please read this to your swimmer, sign the
contract and return it to an ACAC Executive Board member. Swimmers will not be able to participate on
the swim team until these contracts are turned in.
PARENT GROUP REPRESENTATIVES
Hopefully this team handbook will answer most of your
questions. However, in order to further
assist you with any questions or needs, each swimming group has an elected
parent representative on the team’s Executive Board (see list of Executive
Board members on page 3 of this handbook) These
volunteers have made themselves accessible to you to help in any way that they
can. Please feel free to approach them
with your questions.
PRACTICE: Training attire must be worn for
practices. Girls should wear the
standard competitive swimsuit. Boys must
wear one of three suits: a standard training or “workout brief,” a Jammer, or a traditional “Speedo.” Drag suits for both sexes are also
permissible. It is recommended that you
purchase practice suits that are 100% nylon or 100% polyester as these fabrics
are able to withstand the harsh pool chemicals more than other suits. Suggested brands are Dolphins/Ugglies, Speedo Endurance, etc. At present, swim caps may be purchased from
the Executive Board members, and a date will be scheduled for swim team suit
(spring/summer season) and apparel fitting and ordering. It is our hope to set up an ACAC Swim Shop where
assorted swimming gear will be available for purchase. This, however, is still in the planning
stages. In the mean time we suggest the
following vendor for your needs: Metro
Swim Shop (
Water bottles are required for practice and for meets. Dehydration is the primary reason for cramps
and fatigue. A swimmer loses six to
eight ounces of fluid every fifteen minutes.
It is very important to rehydrate, to drink
during practice, and to rehydrate afterwards. We also recommend deck sandals for locker
room passage and meets. Chamois towels
are practical and do not take up a lot of room in swim bags or backpacks.
Coaches may require additional gear such as fins, snorkels, pull
buoys, paddles, or kick boards for practice/workout purposes. Check with your swimmer’s coach to find out
what they will need. Equipment bags are
also useful for you swimmer to carry all of his/her gear.
General safety rules will be enforced strictly on deck, in the
locker rooms, and throughout the facility.
Most notably: Swimmers are not allowed in the water or on the racing blocks without
permission and staff supervision. Diving
is restricted to the deep end and always must be supervised by ACAC staff
members. Horseplay in the locker rooms will not be
tolerated. The floors can be slippery, especially when they
are wet. We ask that parents of
swimmers who are not cooperating to please monitor the locker rooms to assist
with correcting the problem. Please remember to turn off the showers when
finished and to treat both the locker rooms and our facilities with respect.
Parents, friends, and guests are welcome to watch practice from the
balcony, but please do not bring food or drink (other than water) into the pool
or balcony area.
MISCELLANEOUS
SOCIAL EVENTS: ACAC will strive to organize
several non-swimming get-togethers/events such as
Movie Night, Bowling, and an end of year picnic. Information will be sent home and posted on
the ACAC website at a later date.
BANQUET: There will be an ACAC Awards Banquet at the conclusion of the
Fall/Winter season. Information for this
event will be sent home and posted on the ACAC website at a later date.
USA TRANSFERS: Swimmers from other USA clubs switching to ACAC
must have a transfer form completed before they can practice. There are no exceptions to this rule.
LIGHTNING & PRACTICE: The ACAC pool is grounded
and therefore safe during thunder and lightning—but our policy is to take all
swimmers out of the water at the sight of lightening and close the pool.
MINOR MODEL RELEASE FORM: From time to time ACAC will photograph swimmers
at swim meets or other team activities.
These photos are placed on the website for all to enjoy. Please take a moment to fill out this form
located in the appendix of this handbook and return it to any board member,
such as your group representative, as soon as possible.
IN CONCLUSION
It is our hope that this swim season will bring much enjoyment and
satisfaction for a job well done to your family and our team. With hard work and commitment, our swimmers
will achieve their goals and grow in strength and character as they participate
in a united swimming program. GO ACAC!!!
APPENDIX
“What Does It Mean to Be Part Of A Team?”
Written by: John Leonard
To
become a part of a team is a privilege. Few people ever get the wonderful
opportunity to experience the support of teammates and friends in the crucible
of the competitive arena. A team lifts
and elevates the performance of an individual to heights never before
achieved. Each individual must also
recognize his/her responsibility to the team.
A
team is a collection of individuals who have chosen to pursue one or more
common goals. One of these goals, by tacit agreement of all concerned, is the
improvement of each individual, which can result in improvement of the team
performance. This is true in swimming.
We compete individually, but preparation for competition is best
accomplished in a team environment. No
individual can create this environment for excellence on his/her own. It takes a team.
There
is no such thing as a free lunch. If an individual wishes to benefit from the
team, they must give to the team. Successful teams nurture the individual, and
expect the individual to respond by also nurturing the team. Individual
sacrifices on behalf of the team are just as much a part of the team
environment as team accommodation of the individual.
The
most successful teams have some characteristics in common in terms of
accommodating the needs of individuals:
1) They demand adherence to the core values of the
team. Outside these core values, they allow freedom of individual expression.
But the core values are absolute, and not to be modified or bent for the
individual.
2)
They recognize that not every individual’s every need can be met, but they bend
over backwards to accommodate the most important needs of each
individual.
3)
They react positively to the idea in action that each individual first takes
care of their own responsibilities, then assists
others in their needs.
Individuals on successful teams also have some common
characteristics:
1) They give back.
If they want to be cheered for, they cheer for teammates. If they need special attention, they provide
special attention to others.
2)
They recognize that the fastest swimmer and the slowest swimmer on any team
have unique responsibilities. The team will go no higher than the fastest, and
will be limited by the efforts of the slowest. The individuals put special
effort into assisting each to maximize their potential.
3)
They know that rules do not make teams, but traditions based on what it takes
to achieve group goals do make a team. The individual recognizes the power of
peer pressure when the object is right behavior.
4)
Individuals recognize that a rising tide lifts all the boats, and that it is
better to make the pie bigger than to fight for their small piece of the pie.
If
you are on a good team, be thankful. If you are not, what are you doing to
create a good team from the one you are on today?
"The
Team Takes Care of Me, and I Take Care of The Team"
"Each
member of a team has a responsibility to be better today, than they were
yesterday, as an athlete, and as a person. That's how teams get better."
"On
our team, the fastest guys help the slower guys every day. Then when the meet
comes around the slower guys do better, but they also cheer so hard for the
fast guys that they'd bust a gut."
"Team
means together. We do a lot of things outside the pool together. When you know
your teammates as people, it makes it a lot easier to support them when it
counts."
"A
team is knowing other people care about you."
"We
all commit easier to group goals than we do to our own. We want to not let anyone else down....why
else do we swim faster on relays than in individual events?"
"I
love my team, because they give me so much. I get to follow five other fast
women in practice each day, and that makes me faster. I get to spend time with
five other fine women outside of practice, and that shows me how to solve
problems and be a better person than I could ever manage on my own. What's not
to love? I gotta give it back, and repay my
debts."
"Its more fun on a team."
"Teams
double the pleasure and half the pain."
"I
know people who think swimming is an individual sport. They've never tried
practicing alone."
"Swim
teams are like families. It ain't always pretty, but
it's much more rewarding to be in one."
“Swim Meet Etiquette”
BY CAMI BREMER
Special
Correspondent
Etiquette. It’s a word you’ve probably
heard only when your grandmother reminds you not to dig into your hearty serving
of Thanksgiving turkey until everyone has been served. However, etiquette
is a word that every swimmer should know. After all, just as there are
etiquette rules at your grandmother’s dinner table, there are etiquette rules
for swimming, both in practice and at meets. Following these simple guidelines
will help you (and your teammates) get the most out of the upcoming
championship season.
Meet Etiquette
·
Arrive on time.
Get to a meet early enough to settle down into a ‘spot’ with your team and be
ready with your cap and goggles on when the warm-up session starts. Meet
warm-ups are often short and crowded, so it’s important to be on time.
·
Be prepared. It is best to know what events you are swimming BEFORE warm-up.
This way, you can practice the appropriate starts, turns and sprints in the
warm-up. Also, make sure that you have everything you need – towels,
swimsuit, water bottle, cap and goggles
·
Sit with your teammates and cheer. Swim meets are the best time to get to know
your teammates and build team spirit. It is also easier for your coach
and teammates (relay members) to find you if they need you.
·
Stay positive.
If you have a bad swim, or you don’t want to swim the events you’re entered in,
get over it and just do your best. In her Road to Athens Journal,
recently published on USA Swimming’s web site, Mary DeScenza writes, “Sometimes your coach puts you in an event
you do not like. You just have to do your best and not complain.”
·
Bring plenty of drinks and snacks. Know how much water you will
need (about 8 ounces per event) and be prepared. Bring light snacks to
munch on, such as fruit, goldfish or string cheese. You don’t want to be
buying Skittles from the concession stand.
·
Realize that relays are just as important as your individual events (if
not more so).
Give it your all and help pump up your teammates (no matter which relay you’re
on). Swim in the relay order your coach gave you, and HAVE
·
Talk to your coach and cool down after every event. Make sure that you see your
coach after each event to get input on your race. And if you have time,
cool down between events until your heart rate is below 100. Cooling down
will make a huge difference in your body’s ability to recover for future races.
·
Respect the meet officials. Remember that these are volunteers who want to see
you get the most out of swimming. Go so far as to thank the person who DQ’d you for helping you to improve.
·
Clean up
See, etiquette is not just some stuffy
word your grandmother uses. Following these basic rules of etiquette will
ensure that you and your teammates enjoy each and every meet. So next
time you see grandmother, tell her you practice etiquette at swimming all the
time – She’ll be impressed.
“Nutrition and
Hydration Are Important”
http://66.223.35.252/My%20New%20Pages/Parents/handbook/Nutrition%20and%20Hydration%20Are%20Important.htm
Competitive swimmers need more energy
than athletes in almost any other sport. Delivering peak performance throughout
a long season is not easy. It takes plenty of practice, backed by solid
nutrition that provides energy and endurance. This section will help you
understand how the foods and fluids a swimmer consumes affect their
performance.
Swimmers should take a balanced
approach to nutrition. June Kloubec of the Health and
Exercise Science Department at Gustavus College in
Minnesota says there are no bad foods, just bad choices. Fat, protein,
carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals and water are all major nutrients that must
work together to regulate the body.
Carbohydrates: Used as fuel for intense exercise
·
During
digestion, carbohydrates are broken down into glucose, an important energy
source used by muscles during exercise. Glucose can be used by your body
immediately or stored in the liver and muscles as glycogen, readily available
as fuel for activity at a future time. Endurance is related to the amount of
glycogen or fuel stored in your muscles. The greater the amount of glycogen,
the longer a body can delay the onset of exhaustion.
·
Active
swimmers should consume from 60-65% of daily calories in carb-rich
foods. Male and female swimmers have different caloric requirements due to the
difference in their metabolic processes. 6 to 7 grams of carbohydrates per
pound of body weight should be considered. However, these figures are only
approximations, since requirements reflect age, sex, body size and the duration
and intensity of daily practice and schedules
Examples of High-Carbohydrate Foods
Moderate or Low in Fat
Food Calorie Carbs
Apple, Medium 81 21
Grapes, 1 cup 58 16
Strawberry Yogurt 257 43
Peas, cooked, 1 cup 110 19
Applesauce, ½ cup 97 26
Banana, medium 105 27
Corn, ½ cup 88 21
Baked Potato, large 139 32
Raisins, 2/3 cup 300 79
Whole Wheat Bread, slice 61 11
Corn Bread, 1 piece 198 29
Macaroni & Cheese 217 31
Noodles, egg, 1 cup 178 33
Cheese Pizza, one piece 153 18
Rice, 1 cup 205 45
White Toast, 1 slice 64 12
Corn Tortilla, 6” diameter 67 13
Spaghetti w/ Tomato Sauce, 1 cup 179 34
Protein: Builds and maintains muscle
tissue, enzymes, hormones and antibodies
·
The
primary purpose of proteins is to repair and build muscle tissue, but they can
also supply small amounts of energy for muscular contraction.
·
Recommended
daily protein is between 20-25% of total calories or .7 to .8 grams per pound
of body weight.
·
Recommended
proteins include lean meats, eggs and beans.
Fat: Carries vitamins through the body
and serves as a minor energy source
·
According
to the Gatorade Sports Science Institute, fats make up about 38% of the daily
calories in a typical American diet, which is close to twice the amount needed
for health and performance.
·
Swimmers
should limit the intake of fat to 15-20% of daily calories, or less than 80
grams. Avoid high fat foods such as fried food, salad dressings, butter, sweets
and chips
·
Concentrate
on unsaturated fats like vegetable oils, nuts and fish
Vitamins and Minerals: Essential for balancing body
processes
·
Swimmers
in training may need more than the recommended daily allowances of certain vitamins
and minerals. However, their large caloric intakes will usually supply the
extra vitamins and minerals they need.
·
Swimmers
should make sure they are getting enough vitamin A, C and E
·
Muscle
cramps? You might be lacking potassium and calcium
·
Female
swimmers are susceptible to possible deficiencies of iron and calcium. They can
increase their calcium intake with low fat or skim milk, yogurt or cheese.
Additional iron can be found in lean meats, raisins, poultry, beans, whole
grains or cereals
Fluids: 60% of body weight is water
·
Dehydration
can be a problem in swimming, especially if the air and water temperatures are
warm. Sweating is the body’s main mechanism for cooling itself; even though
practice takes place in the water, a swimmer can still lose a great deal of
body water in the form of sweat.
Dehydration robs the body of its primary means to cool itself and
generate energy.
·
Cool,
natural water is crucial to fluid replacement and is also needed to aid
digestion and energy production. A good rule of thumb according to the Gatorade
Sports Science Institute is to drink 2-8oz glasses of fluid for every pound of
weight that is lost.
Swimmers Diet Recommendations
Early Morning Pre-Workout:
Competitive swimmers often face
early morning workouts due to pool scheduling and availability. One of the
common concerns is what to do with breakfast. Athletes are advised to eat 2 to
3 hours before exercise to allow for the stomach to empty. However, many
athletes do not want to eat before practice, as the food left in their stomach
may cause nausea. Swimmers will simply forgo food before early practice but
this habit of skipping a meal before exercise can lower their store of energy
and impair a swimmers ability to train or compete.
Many swimmers can benefit from a
100-200 calorie carb and protein snack before
practice and then eat breakfast once the workout is over. Try these
suggestions:
·
A
glass of orange juice and 2 pieces of toast
·
Half
a bagel with peanut butter or cream cheese
·
A
Banana with 1 Tablespoon of peanut butter
·
Applesauce and 2 Graham Crackers
·
Trail
mix with nuts or dried fruits
·
A
low-fat yogurt
·
Granola
bar or Energy Bar
·
A
small bowl of cereal with low-fat milk
Recovery Strategies:
Once the workout is over, swimmers
should try to eat a regular breakfast. To recover from the workout, both fluid
and fuel must be available to the body. If the meal can be eaten within 30
minutes after the workout, then the body can start the recovery process and
should be ready by the next practice to provide a quality workout. Swimmers
should try some of the following breakfast suggestions:
·
A bagel with peanut butter and a banana
·
A
bowl of Oatmeal with raisins and nuts
·
Low-Fat
yogurt, a banana and orange juice
·
A
Waffle with syrup and low-fat milk
·
Three
Pancakes with syrup and low-fat milk
·
One
breakfast egg sandwich with ham and orange juice
Snacks:
In addition to breakfast, lunch and
dinner, swimmers that tend to lose weight easily should also consider eating a
mid-morning and mid-afternoon snack. These snacks should consist of nutritious carb-rich foods.
Pre-Meet Meal:
Contrary to popular belief, the
pre-meet meal does not usually provide very much energy for competition. That energy
should already be stored in the swimmer’s muscles from carb-rich
meals eaten during the previous 2-3 days.
The pre-competition meal is really a “mini-nutrition period” that should
occur 4 to 5 hours before the start of the meet. Most of the calories should come from easily
digested carbohydrates or foods that are efficiently converted to energy.
Swimmers should try to avoid heavily spiced foods or large amounts of fats and
proteins. Some examples of foods rich in complex carbohydrates include:
·
Pasta
·
Cereals
·
Baked
Potatoes
·
Muffins
·
Vegetables
·
Fruit
Juices
·
Low-fat
Yogurt
Summary
Regardless of the techniques or
products you use in your swimming nutrition and hydration programs, use common
sense and good judgment throughout the season. The following tips should help a
swimmer achieve a safe and rewarding season:
·
Eat
three balanced meals a day, including foods from all of the major food groups
·
Avoid
high-fat, high-sugar foods and snacks such as chips, soft drinks, mayonnaise,
candy bars, and desserts
·
Emphasize
foods that are rich in complex carbohydrate-cereals, pasta, baked potatoes,
muffins and vegetables
·
Make
sure your snacks are nutritious and good sources of energy. Fresh fruits,
juices and other nutritional beverages are good choices
·
Good
nutrition is something a swimmer should apply every day throughout the
season-not just the day before a meet.
“WHAT IS A TAPER?”
http://66.223.35.252/My%20New%20Pages/Parents/handbook/WHAT%20IS%20A%20TAPER.htm
Swim training is extremely
demanding physically. In order to
produce top performances at meets, the body needs rest. Before an important meet, a swimmer will go
through a training phase known as a taper. This means a reduction of work and
an increase in the amount of rest.
During the season, a coach will be very selective in deciding which
meets to taper for. Normally, a coach
will not rest or taper a swimmer more than two times during the short course
season. Sometimes, a swimmer will only
taper for the season-ending championship meet.
The
hard training of practices conditions a swimmer, but also produces fatigue.
When the training load is reduced, fatigue subsides more rapidly than fitness,
therefore, performance is enhanced. It is for this reason that a taper is
employed in the run up to a major competition.
An
important ingredient of an effective taper is the work that has gone into
swimming before the taper even starts.
The work done during the season is like money placed in a bank; at the
end of the season a swimmer can go to the bank and collect all of his/her
money, with interest as the pay-off for the hard work done in season. In other words, you have to have done enough
work to have something to taper from.
The
length of the tapering period is very important. Tapering for a suitable period of time will
help improve performance, but if the tapering period is too long, athletes will
begin to lose fitness and their performances will suffer. If the tapering
period is too short, swimmers will not be rested enough, and the physiological changes that
take place in the muscles during taper will not have been completed.
The
tapering period is a challenging time for the coach. There is no one
right way, or magic formula for a taper and not every swimmer will respond to a
taper in the same manner. Some require
shorter tapers than others. Some can
“hold a taper” longer than others.
Determining how long an individual swimmer needs to taper is often a
trial and error process. It is essential
that swimmers communicate to the coach how they are feeling during a
taper. If swimmers do not “hit their
taper” during an early season meet, there will probably be another chance to
make adjustments before the championship meet.
There
are many factors a coach must consider when planning a taper: age, gender, body
type and the swimmer’s primary event.
Older swimmers require more rest than younger swimmers. Men usually require more rest than women. Muscular swimmers need more rest and peak
performance in shorter events requires more rest than peak performances in
longer events.
For
young age group swimmers, a true physical taper is not usually necessary. In most cases, the muscle mass of young
swimmers is not large enough to require a great deal of rest. Additionally, young people have an abundance
of energy and recuperate rapidly from the stresses of training. A true taper is not usually productive for
young age group swimmers because their day-to-day training is not as intensive
as it would be for older swimmers. For
young age group swimmers, there is a greater emphasis on stroke work, drills
and fun in the training sessions. These
swimmers will usually prepare for a big meet with 1-2 days off, or, just a few
days of relative rest, reducing their work by 25 –50%.
As
swimmers get older and experience the growth spurts of adolescence (12 year old
females and 13-14 year old males), tapering is introduced. The taper period can last anywhere from 2-6
weeks. During the taper, coaches will
often include “broken swims” of race distance in their training sessions. There will be an emphasis on stroke technique
and starts and turns. There will also be
an emphasis on teaching strategy and pace, rather than physical training. There may be a moderate amount of true, “all-out”
sprints, of 25 yards or less, with complete recovery between each
repetition.
During
the course of the taper, all types of stress should be gradually reduced. As the taper progresses, the amount of high
stress work is decreased and the quality of performance is gradually
improved. For optimum performance, it is
suggested that swimmers curtail their outside activities as much as
possible. Most swim coaches realize it
is not always possible to skip a little league baseball, softball or soccer
game during a taper. However, the
neighborhood football game and overnight slumber parties should be saved for
another time. Ideally, you would like the swimmers to store up as much energy
as possible for the swimming meet. When
the workload is reduced, there is a noticeable increase in the swimmer’s energy
level. Swimmers must resist the urge to
use this extra energy before the competition.
Resting is an important part of the taper, and expending the energy will
only defeat the purpose of the taper.
The final aspect of
a taper, and by far not the least, is the mental side. Many swimmers may feel as if they are under
stress at this time. Sometimes too much
motivation, too much anxiety for results, or, pressure from parents or coaches
can come into play in a negative way.
Experiments have shown that it is possible to improve performance by
sitting in a chair, relaxed, for five minutes a day, visualizing one’s self performing the “perfect race”. It will help to visualize every aspect of the
race including, strategy, stroke technique, the finish, and even feelings of
nervousness. Some of the most important
things that a swimmer must do during a taper are to believe in themselves,
their abilities and the work they have done over the course of the season. They
must also believe in their coach as a professional, with their best interest
always in mind.
“
By Rose
Snyder
http://www.usaswimming.org/USASWeb/DesktopDefault.aspx?TabId=400&Alias=Rainbow&Lang=en
1.
Thou shalt not impose your ambitions on thy child.
Remember that
swimming is your child’s activity. Improvements and progress occur at
different rates
for each individual. Don’t judge your child’s progress based on the
performance of other
athletes, and don’t push them based on what you think they should
be doing. The nice
thing about swimming is that every person can strive to do their
personal best.
2.
Thou shalt be supportive no matter what.
There is
only one question to ask your child. “Did you have fun?” If meets and practices
are not fun, your child
should not be forced to participate.
3.
Thou shalt not coach your child.
You have
taken your child to a professional coach, do not
undermine that coach by trying
to coach your child on
the side. Your job is to support, love, and hug your child no matter
what. The coach is
responsible for the technical part of the job. You should not offer
advice on
technique or race strategy. That is not your area. This will only serve to
confuse your
child and prevent a swimmer/coach bond from forming.
4.
Thou shalt only have positive things to say at a
swimming meet.
If you
are going to show up at a swimming meet, you should cheer and applaud, but
never criticize your child
or the coach.
5.
Thou shalt acknowledge thy child’s fears.
A first swimming
meet, 500 free or 200 IM can be a stressful situation. It is totally
appropriate for your
child to be scared. Don’t yell or belittle, just assure your child that
the coach would not have
suggested the event if your child was not ready to compete in
it.
6.
Thou shalt not criticize the officials.
If you do
not have the time or the desire to volunteer as an official, don’t criticize
those
who are doing the best
they can.
7.
Honor thy child’s coach.
The bond between
coach and swimmer is a special one, and one that contributes to your
child’s success
as well as fun. Do not criticize the coach in the presence of your child, it
will only serve to hurt
your child’s swimming.
8.
Thou shalt not jump from team to team.
The water
isn’t necessarily bluer at the other team’s pool. Every team has its own
internal
problems, even
teams that build champions. Children who switch from team to team are
often ostracized for a
long time by the teammates they leave behind. More importantly,
swimmers who
switch teams rarely do better than they did before they sought the bluer
water.
9.
Thy child shalt have goals besides winning.
Giving an
honest effort regardless of the outcome, is much more
important than winning.
One
Olympian said, “My goal was to set a world record. Well, I did that, but
someone
else did it too, just a
little faster than I did. I achieved my goal and I lost. This does not
make me a failure, in
fact, I am very proud of that swim.”
10.
Thou shalt not expect thy child to become an
Olympian.
There are
225,000 athletes in United States Swimming. There are only 52 spots available
for the Olympic Team
every four years. Your child’s odds of becoming an Olympian are
1 in about 4,300. Swimming
is much more than just the Olympics. Ask your coach why
he coaches. Chances
are, he was not an Olympian, but still got enough out of swimming
that he wants to pass on
his love of the sport to others. Swimming teaches self-discipline
and sportsmanship; it
builds self-esteem and fitness; it provides lifelong friendships and
much more. Most Olympians
will tell you that these intangibles far outweigh any medals
they may have won.
Swimming builds good people and you should be happy your child
wants to participate.
MINOR MODEL RELEASE FORM
Name of Photographer:
__________________________________________________________
Date: ______________
Location Address:
______________________________________________________________
I hereby irrevocably authorize the
above Photographer, Photographer's legal representatives, assigns, and those
acting under Photographer's permission and on Photographer's authority, to
copyright, publish, and use in all forms and media and manners for advertising,
trade, promotion, exhibition, or any other lawful purpose whatsoever, any
depictions of minor model made by Photographer or Photographer's
representative, in which the minor may be included in whole or in part, alone
or in conjunction with other persons, or composite or distorted in character,
or form, or based on or involving any stunt poses, in conjunction with Model's
own or a fictitious name, or reproductions thereof in color or otherwise, or in
derivative works made through any medium, where said depictions may include any
or all of still, single, multiple or moving photographic images or pictures,
video recordings or audio recordings (collectively hereafter the
"Depictions.")
I hereby waive any right to inspect
or approve the finished product or advertising or other copy that may be used
in connection therewith or the use to which they may be applied. Model and
Parent hereby affirm that all poses, positions and situations enacted in the
Depictions covered in this release were entered into without force, coercion, or
threat whatsoever I hereby warrant that I am of full age and have every right
to contract for the minor in the above regard. I state further that I have read
the above authorization, release, and agreement, prior to its execution, and
that I am fully familiar with the contents thereof. This release shall be
binding upon the minor and me, and our respective heirs, legal representatives,
and assigns.
Minor’s Name
………………………………………………….............................................................
Father, Mother or Guardian
Name……………………………………………..………….....................
Address …………………………………………………………………………………………….…........
Father, Mother or Guardian Signature …………………………………………..Date
…………….….
Signature of
Photographer ……………………………………...........................Date ………………..
CODE OF
CONDUCT
Whereas the Atlantic City
Aquatic Club is established to promote the sport of swimming and in the process
help to develop the character of the individual swimmer, whereas for the orderly
operation of ACAC certain rules and
regulations and procedures for enforcing the same must be established, whereas
it is the expressed intention of ACAC to set forth procedures that will aid in
identifying behavior the club finds undesirable and define a process for
addressing an alleged occurrence, therefore, be it resolved that the following
shall be the Disciplinary Code and Procedures:
This Disciplinary Code shall apply
to all behavior occurring during an activity or function that is associated
with ACAC including but not limited to swim practice, swim meets, team trips,
team outings or individual group outings and addresses objectionable behavior
by members of the ACAC Program occurring outside of club activities as well.
OBJECTIONAL BEHAVIORS
The type of objectionable behavior
shall be divided into two (2) classifications:
Class I
Shall deal with behavior that is considered very
severe and disruptive, having a detrimental effect on one’s self, other members
of the team, coaches, or the general public: causes significant damage to the
reputation of the club or its coaches, and/or is in direct violation of
governmental laws. These are actions so detrimental that it is not
desirable to have such a person associated with the team.
Class II
Shall deal with
behavior that is somewhat disruptive; does not portray the ACAC in a good
light: and other actions that are not in compliance for good behavior as a
member or a team or society in general.
Class I Objectionable Behavior
Description: Unacceptable behavior, including but
not limited to possession, sale or distribution of illegal drugs, possession,
sale or distribution of alcohol, conviction of a felony, actions that result in
severe bodily injury of any person, as well as acts of theft or significant
vandalism regardless of whether at a club
activity or not. This includes functions such as practices or meets.
Disciplinary Procedure:
· The Board shall send
notice of hearing to parent/guardian and swimmer via certified mail.
· A committee of three
Board members will be chosen to participate in a hearing
· The hearing will be
held among the Board President or designee, the committee, the parent/guardian
and the swimmer with the Head Coach serving in an advisory capacity.
· The President and
committee’s decision on the outcome will be mailed within one week via
certified mail.
Recommended Discipline:
The discipline may result in
membership termination of the swimmer or other action as determined by the
Board and coaches.
A suspension from the team may be
incurred for a period of thirty or sixty days during which time the swimmer may
not attend any ACAC functions. These days may extend from one season to the
next. However, during the period of suspension, all dues and fees must be paid
and the swimmer will be reinstated to the team until all of their financial
obligations are met.
During all investigations into
allegation of Class I offenses, involving the questioning or interviewing of
the subject swimmer, a parent/guardian of such swimmer shall be present.
Class II Objectionable Behavior
Description:
Unacceptable behavior at ACAC practices, competitions, and team
functions that include but are not limited to: minor vandalism, being
disruptive in practices or meets, abusive or profane language or behavior,
insubordination of the members of the coaching staff, chaperones or others,
littering, and other acts of misconduct as determined by the coaching staff.
Disciplinary Procedure:
· Handled by the coaching
staff (Parents will be involved if anticipated discipline will result in
suspension)
Recommended Discipline:
As determined by the coaching staff
including but not limited to extra laps, clean-up duties, suspension from
practice and or meets. Repeated Class II offenses may result in the offense
being considered a Class I Objectionable Behavior and subject to the penalties
set forth.
Atlantic City Aquatic Club
Swim Team Contract
General:
Swim team members are expected to:
· Respect coaches,
teammates, competitors, parents, and staff
· Support and encourage
teammates at practices and meets
· Build and enhance team
spirit
· Be ready and on the
deck for practices and meets
· Maintain a positive
attitude:
- Accepting assigned practices
without complaining
- Refrain from being disruptive or using
inappropriate language
- Show good sportsmanship
· Meet and possibly
exceed the minimum attendance requirement for their level
· Train to the best of
their ability
Atlantic City Aquatic Club
Acknowledgement of Receipt of Handbook and Contract
We, the __________________ family,
acknowledge receipt of the ACAC Handbook and Team Contract. We have read the
handbook, understood its contents and have explained and discussed the rules
and guidelines for the team. Furthermore, we have read the Team Contract,
recognize our obligation to the team as outlines in the document, and will to
the best of our ability, and abide by its rules.
While this contract is not legally binding, we understand that by
signing it we are agreeing to the above points and we are committing ourselves
to the ACAC Swim Team in good faith. We, the coaches and Board members,
recognize that the handbook and matters contained herein, while intending to be
all-encompassing, may need revision and will be subject to periodic review and
updating. Such updates will be posted and forwarded to all team members.
_______________________ __________________
Swimmer’s Signature Date
_______________________ ___________________
Parent/Guardian Signature Date
GLOSSARY
http://66.223.35.252/My%20New%20Pages/Parents/glossary.htm
"A" - Time classification for a swimmer. National Age Group Time
Motivational Standard "A." "A" time is faster than the
"BB" time standard and slower than the "AA" time standard.
"AA" - Time classification for a swimmer.
Faster than "A" time standard.
"
"AAAA" - Time classification for a swimmer.
Faster than the "
A-Meet - Swim meet which requires swimmers
to have previously achieved an "A" time standard in the events they
wish to enter.
A-B Meet - Swim meet that offers separate
competition for both "A" swimmers and "B" swimmers, usually
with medals for the "A" swimmers and ribbons for the "B"
swimmers. Swimmers compete in separate brackets against other swimmers of their
own ability. Usually only "A" swimmers can score individual event
team points. NT (no time) entries are
not accepted in A-B meets.
A-B-C - Swim meet similar to the A-B meet except
that there are 3 divisions. This type of meet includes every ability level of
swimmer from novice to very experienced. All swimmers "A" time or
faster compete in the "A" division, and all
swimmers "C" and down compete in the "C" division. The
"B" division is the most limited with both top (slower than
"A") and bottom (faster than "C") limitations.
Add Up Aggregate Time - Times achieved by 4 swimmers in
individual events which are added together to arrive at a provable relay entry
time.
Age Group - Division of swimmers according to
age. Some LSC's
have divided the swimmers into more convenient divisions specific to their
situations: (i.e.) 8-under, 13-Over, 15-Over, Junior, Senior.
Age Group Swimming - The program through which USA
swimming provides fair and open competition for its younger members. Nationally recognized age groups are 10 and
under, 11-12, 13-14, 15-16 and 17-18
Alternate - In a Prelims/Finals meet, after the
finalists are decided, the next two fastest swimmers other than the finalists
are designated as alternates. The faster of the 2 is first alternate and the
next being second alternate. If a finalist cannot participate, the alternates
are called to take their place, often on a moment's notice.
Anchor - The final swimmer in a relay.
Approved Meet - Swim meets conducted by
organizations (other than USS member clubs or LSC's)
that have applied to USS or the local LSC for approval. If approval is granted,
swimmers may use times achieved as USS qualifying times. A USS official must be
present at all sessions of the meet.
Approval does not mean Sanctioned.
Example: Delaware High School
State Championships
"B" - Time classification for a swimmer. National Age Group Time Standard
"B." "B" time is faster than the "C" time
standard and slower than the "BB" time standard. See the NAGT
published chart.
"BB" - Time classification for a swimmer. National Age Group Time Standard
"BB." "BB" time is faster than the "B" time
standard and slower than the "A" time standard. See the NAGT
published chart.
B-Meet - Swim meet which requires swimmers
to have previously achieved a "B" time standard in the events they
wish to enter. Some meets have no bottom cut time, allowing "C"
swimmers also to compete.
B-C Meet - Swim meet that offers separate
competition for both "B" swimmers and "C" swimmers, usually
with ribbons for the "B" swimmers and smaller ribbons for the
"C" swimmers. Swimmers compete in separate brackets against other
swimmers of their own ability. Swimmers are not allowed to enter an event that
they have an "A" time in.
Backstroke - One of the 4 competitive racing
strokes, basically any style of swimming on your back. Backstroke is swum as
the first stroke in the Medley Relay and second stroke in the Individual Medley
(I.M.). Racing distances are 50 yds/mtr, 100 yds/mtr, and 200 yds/mtr (LSC's with 8-under
divisions offer the 25 yd back)
Banner - A team sign that is displayed at
swim meets. Banners are usually made from nylon material and carry the Team
Logo and possibly the name of a popular team sponsor. Some size restrictions
are enforced at certain meets.
Beep - The starting sound from an
electronic, computerized timing system.
Blocks - The starting platforms located
behind each lane. Some pools have blocks at the deeper end of the pool, and
some pools have blocks at both ends. Blocks have a variety of designs and can
be permanent or removable.
Bonus Heat - The heat held during the finals
session of a Prelims/Finals meet, that is slower than
the swimmers participating in the Championship finals. The Bonus Heat may refer
to Consolation Finals or an extra heat in addition to Consolation finals.
Bonus Event - At certain meets with qualifying times, a swimmer may enter a
restricted number of events for which they do not meet the qualifying time
standard. For example, at the Speedo
Championships (Sectionals) swimmers qualifying in one event may swim a second
“bonus” event for which they are not qualified.
Bottom - The floor of the pool. Bottom
depths are usually marked on the walls or sides of the pool.
Breaststroke - One of the 4 competitive racing
strokes. Breaststroke is swum as the second stroke in the Medley Relay and the
third stroke in the Individual Medley (I.M.).
Racing distances are 50 yds/mtr, 100 yds/mtr, and 200 yds/mtr (LSC's with 8-under divisions offer the 25 yd breast)
Bulkhead - A moveable wall, constructed to divide a pool into different
courses, such as a 50 meter pool into two 25 yard courses.
Butterfly - One of the 4 competitive racing
strokes. Butterfly (nicknamed FLY) is swum as the third stroke in the Medley
Relay and first stroke in the Individual Medley. Racing distances are 50 yds/mtr,
100 yds/mtr, and 200 yds/mtr
(LSC's with 8-under divisions offer the 25 yd fly)
Button - The manual Timing System stopping
device that records a back-up time in case the touch pad malfunctioned. The
button is at the end of a wire, plugged into a deck terminal box. It is the timer's responsibility to push the
button as the swimmer finishes the race.
Camp - A swimming function offered by USS,
your LSC, or a USS coach. There are many types of
camps for just about every level of swimmer. When selecting a camp, ask for
your coaches' advice as to what will be the best for the swimmer, or call USS
swimming for details on the many camps they offer.
Cap - The latex, silicone or lycra covering worn on the head of
swimmers. The colors and team logos adorning these caps are limitless. National Caps, State Team Caps, award caps, plain practice caps,
etc.
Carbohydrates - The main source of food energy used
by athletes. Refer to a nutritional manual for more information.
Championship Meet - The meet held at the end of a
season. Qualification times are usually necessary to enter meet.
Championship Finals - The top 6,8
or 10 swimmers (depending on the # of pool lanes) in a Prelims/Finals meet who,
after the Prelims swim, qualify to return to the Finals; the fastest heat of
finals when multiple heats are held.
Check-In - The procedure required before a
swimmer swims an event in a deck seeded meet. Sometimes referred to as positive
check in, the swimmer must mark their name on a list posted by the meet host.
Circle Swimming - Performed by staying to the right of the center line when
swimming to enable more swimmers to safely swim in each lane.
Clerk of Course - Retains names of all swimmers in all
events including relay swimmers in the order in which they swim; swimmers must
report to the “clerk of course” as soon as their event is called.
Clinic - A scheduled meeting for the purpose
of instruction, i.e., Officials' clinic, Coaches' clinic.
Closed Competition - Swim meet which is open only to the
members of an organization or group.
Club - A registered swim team that is a
dues-paying member of USS and the local LSC.
Code - A set of rules that have been
officially published.
Code of Ethics - A Code of Conduct that both
swimmers and coaches are required to sign at certain USS/LSC sponsored events.
The Code is not strict and involves common sense and proper behavior.
Conforming time - A qualifying time standard that
corresponds to the meet competition course.
Consolation Finals - After the fastest 6 or 8 swimmers,
the next 6 or 8 swimmers (depending on the # of pool lanes) in a Prelims/Finals
meet who, after the Prelims swim, qualify to return to the Finals. Consolations
are the second fastest heat of finals when multiple heats are held and are
conducted before the Championship heat.
Convention - United States Aquatic Sports annual,
week long meeting where all rules changes are decided and working committees
are established. Representatives are sent by each LSC to make up the voting
body.
Course - Designated distance (length of pool)
for swimming competition, i.e., Long Course = 50 meters / Short Course = 25
yards or 25 meters.
Cut - Slang for
qualifying time. A
time standard generally necessary to attend a particular championship-level
meet or event.
Deck - The area around the swimming pool
reserved for swimmers, officials, and coaches. No one but an
"authorized" USS member may be on the deck during a swim competition.
Deck Entries - Entries accepted into swimming
events on the first day or later day of a meet.
The fee for deck entries is often double the normal fee. Deck entered swimmers may not score or
receive awards.
Deck Seeding - A meet where swimmers must declare
availability to swim prior to the scratch deadlines. Swimmers report to a staging area to receive
their lane and heat assignments for the events.
Dehydration - The abnormal depletion of body
fluids (water). The most common cause of swimmers' cramps and
sick feelings.
Developmental - A classification of meet or
competition that is usually held early in the season. The purpose of a
developmental meet is to allow all levels of swimmers to compete in a
low-pressure environment.
Distance - How far a swimmer swims. Distances
for short course are: 25 yards (1 length), 50 yards (2 lengths),100 yards (4 lengths), 200 yards (8 lengths), 400 yards (16
lengths), 500 yards (20 lengths), 1000 yards (40 lengths), 1650 yards (66
lengths). Distances for long course are: 50 meters (1 length), 100 meters (2
lengths), 200 meters (4 lengths), 400 meters (8 lengths), 800 meters (16
lengths), 1500 meters (30 lengths).
Distance events - A term used to refer to events over 400 meters/500 yards.
Disqualified (DQ) - A swimmer's performance is not counted because of a rules
infraction. A disqualification is shown by an official raising one arm with
open hand above their head.
Dive - Entering the water head first.
Diving is not allowed during warm ups except at the designated time, in
specific lanes that are monitored by the swimmers' coach.
Diving Well - A separate pool or a pool set off
to the side of the competition pool. This pool has deeper water and diving
boards/platforms. During a meet, this area may be designated as a warm-down
pool with proper supervision.
Division I-II-III - NCAA member colleges and
universities are assigned divisions to compete in, depending on the school's
total enrollment. Division I includes the large universities and Division III
includes the smaller colleges.
Double Dual - Type of swim meet where three teams
compete in dual meets against each other, at the same time. Separate Meet
scores would be kept for Team A vs. Team B, Team A vs. Team C, and Team B vs.
Team C.
Dual Meet - Type of meet where two (2)
teams/clubs compete against each other.
Drill – A teaching exercise involving a
portion of a stroke which is used to improve technique.
Dropped Time - When a swimmer goes faster than the
previous performance they have "dropped their time".
Dryland - The exercises and various strength programs swimmers
do out of the water that aids and enhances swimming performance; usually
includes stretching and calisthenics, sometimes weight training.
Dry Side - That part of the Code book (rule
book) that deals with the "Administrative" Regulations of
Competition.
Entry - An Individual, Relay team, or Club
roster's event list into a swim competition.
Entry Chairperson - The host club's designated person
who is responsible for receiving and making sure the entries have met the
deadline, or returning the entries, if the meet is full. This person usually
will find discrepancies in the meet entries and notify the entering club to
correct any errors.
Entry Deadline - The date meet entries must be
"postmarked" by, to be accepted by the meet host. Making the meet
deadline does not guarantee acceptance into a meet since many meets are
"full" weeks before the entry deadline.
Entry Fees - The amount per event a swimmer or
relay is charged. This varies depending on the LSC and type of meet.
Entry Form - Form on
which a swimmer enters a competition. Usually includes
swimmer’s name, USS ID number, age, event numbers and event names.
Entry Limit - Each meet will usually have a limit
of total swimmers they can accept, or a time limit they cannot exceed. Once an entry limit has been reached, a meet
will be closed and all other entries returned.
Electronic Timing - Timing system operated on DC
current (battery). The timing system usually has touch pads in the water,
junction boxes on the deck with hookup cables, buttons for backup timing, and a
computer type console that prints out the results of each race. Some systems
are hooked up to a scoreboard that displays swimmers' times.
Eligible to compete - The status of a member swimmer that
means they are registered and have met all the requirements.
Equipment - The items necessary to operate a
swim practice or conduct a swim competition.
Event - A race or stroke over a given
distance. An event equals1 preliminary with its final,
or 1 timed final.
False Start - Occurs when a swimmer is moving
between the time the starter says “take your mark” and
the start signal is sounded. One false
start will disqualify a swimmer or a relay team, although the starter or
referee may disallow the false start due to unusual circumstances.
Fastest to Slowest - A seeding method used on the longer
events held at the end of a session. The fastest seeded swimmers participate in
the first heats followed by the next fastest and so on. Many times these events
will alternate one girls' heat and one boys' heat until all swimmers have
competed.
Fees - Money paid by swimmers for
services, i.e., practice fees, registration fee, USS membership fee, etc.
FINA
(Federation
Internationale de Natation)
- The
international, rules-making organization for the sport of swimming.
Final - The championship heat of an event
in which the top swimmers from the preliminaries compete.
Final Results - The printed copy of the results of
each race of a swim meet.
Fine - The monetary penalty assessed a
swimmer or club when a swimmer does not achieve the necessary time required to
swim in an event and cannot prove they have done the time previously.
Fins - A rubber covering for the foot
having a flat, flexible portion than widens as it extends from the toes. Used in swim practice, not competition. Also known as “flippers”.
Flags - Backstroke flags placed 5 yards
(short course yards) or 5 meters (long and short course meters) from the end of
the pool. These flags enable back strokers to execute a turn safely and more efficiently.
Format - The order of events and type of
swim meet being conducted.
Freestyle - One of the 4 competitive racing
strokes. Freestyle (nicknamed Free) is swum as the fourth stroke in the Medley Relay
and fourth stroke in the Individual Medley.
Racing distances are 50 yds/mtr, 100 yds/mtr, 200 yds/mtr, 400 mtr/500
yd, 800 mtr/1000 yds, 1500 mtr/1650 yds. (LSC's with 8-under
divisions offer the 25 yd free)
Gallery - The viewing area for spectators
during the swimming competition.
Goals - The short and long-range targets
for swimmers to aim for.
Goggles - Tight-fitting eyeglasses worn by
swimmers to keep their eyes from being irritated by the chlorine in the water.
Gun Lap - The part of a freestyle distance
race (500 yards or longer) when the lead swimmer has 2 lengths plus 5 yards to
go. The starter fires a gun shot over the lane of the lead swimmer when he(or she) is at the backstroke flags. This signals to the heat that the race is
near completion. Sometimes a bell is
used instead of a gun.
Gutter - The area along the edge of the pool in which water overflows
during a race and is circulated through the filtration system.
Headquarters - The motel designated by the meet
host. Usually, hospitality rooms and meetings relating to the meet will be held
at this location. Many times this motel is one of the sponsors of the meet.
Heat - A division of an event when there
are too many swimmers to compete at the same time. The results are compiled by swimmers'
time swum, after all heats of the event are completed.
Heat Award - A ribbon or coupon given to the
winner of a single heat at an age group swim meet.
Heat Sheet - The pre-meet printed listings of
swimmers' seed times in the various events at a swim meet. These sheets vary in
accuracy, since the coaches submit swimmers' times many weeks before the meet.
Heat sheets are sold at the admissions table and are used mainly to make sure
the swimmer has been properly entered in all the events they signed up for.
Parents enjoy looking at the seedings prior to the
race, and swimmers can tell how the order the events will be conducted and get
a rough idea how long the meet sessions will last. Unlike a program, a heat sheet has no cover,
nor does it contain advertisements, time standards, etc.
HOD (House of Delegates) - The ruling body of an LSC
composed of the designated representative of each club plus the board of
directors (BOD) of the LSC. One vote per club and board
member.
Horn - A sounding device used in place of
a gun. Used mainly with a fully automatic timing system. (see Beep)
Illegal - Doing something against the rules
that is cause for disqualification.
Individual Medley (IM) - A swimming event using all 4 of the
competitive strokes on consecutive lengths of the race. The order must be: Butterfly, Backstroke,
Breaststroke, Freestyle. Equal distances must be swum
of each stroke. Distances offered: 100 yds, 200 yds/mtr, 400 yds/mtr.
Insurance - USS offers "accident insurance
coverage" which is automatic when swimmer, coach, or official pays their
USS membership fee. Many restrictions apply, so check
with your club for detailed information.
Interval - A specific elapsed time for
swimming or rest used during swim practice.
Invitational - Type of meet that requires a club
to receive an invitation to attend the meet.
J.O. (Junior Olympics) - An age group championship meet conducted by the LSC. Swimmers must meet time standards of “A” or
faster in order to enter. The Junior
Olympic Championship is the main focus of the age group swim season.
Jump - An illegal start done by the 2nd,
3rd, or 4th member of a relay team. The swimmer on the block breaks contact
with the block before the swimmer in the water touches the wall.
Junior Nationals - A USS National Championship meet for
swimmers 18 years old or less.
Qualification times are necessary.
Kick Board - A flotation device used by swimmers during practice.
Lane - The specific area in which a
swimmer is assigned to swim, i.e., Lane 1 or Lane 2.
Lane Lines - Continuous floating markers
attached to a cable stretched from the starting end to the turning end for the
purpose of separating each lane and quieting the waves caused by racing
swimmers.
Lap - Technically, 1 lap is equal to 2
lengths of the pool, (down and back), but commonly referred to as 1 pool
length.
Lap Counter - The large numbered cards (or the
person turning the cards) used during the freestyle events 500 yards or longer.
Counting is done from the end opposite the starting end. The numbers on the
cards are "odd numbers" only with the final lap being designated by a
bright orange card.
Late Entries - Meet entries from a club or
individual that are received by the meet host after
the entry deadline. These entries are usually not accepted and are returned to
sender.
Lead-off swimmer - The swimmer who completes the first leg of a relay. Since the lead – off swimmer starts from an
official start signal, sounded by a certified starter, the time achieved during
his/her swim may be recorded as a sanctioned time for that event and
distance. This is not true for the
remaining 3 swimmers in the relay.
Leg - The part of a relay event swum by a
single team member. Also,
a single stroke in the Individual Medley.
Length - The extent of the competitive
course from end to end. See lap.
Long Course - A 50 meter pool.
USA Swimming conducts most of its summer competition in long course
pools. The US Open and all National
meets are conducted in long course pools.
LSC (Local Swim Committee) - The governing body for swimming at
the local level. There are 59 LSCs in the
LSC Camps - The LSC
camps provide local age group athletes with camp experiences that focus on
skill development and motivation.
Middle Atlantic Swimming Association
(MA) - Our Local Swimming Committee (LSC)
Malfunction - A mechanical or electronic failure (not a human
failure by the swimmer).
Mark - The command to take your starting
position.
Marshal - The adult(s) (official) who control
the crowd and swimmer flow at a swim meet.
Medals - Awards given to the swimmers at
some meets. They vary in size and design and method of presentation.
Meet - A competition comprised of series
of racing events held in one program.
Meet Director - The official in charge of the administration
of the meet. The person directing the "dry side" of
the meet.
Meters - The measurement of the length of a
swimming pool that was built per specs using the metric system. Long course meters is 50 meters, short course meters is 25
meters.
Middle distance - Term used to refer to events of 200 yards/meters to 400
meters/500 yards.
Mile - The slang referring to the 1500
meter or the 1650 yard freestyle, both of which are slightly short of a mile.
NAIA - National Association of
Intercollegiate Athletics
NAGTS - National Age Group Time Standards -
the list of "C" through "AAAA" times published every four
years. Also known as
“Motivational Times”.
Natatorium - A building constructed for the
purpose of housing a swimming pool and related equipment
Nationals - USS senior or junior-level meets
conducted in March/April and August. See Senior or Junior Nationals.
National Reportable Time (
National Team - The “A” team comprises those
American swimmers who are ranked in the top 8 in the world. The “B” team includes those swimmers ranked
in the top 16 in the world.
NCAA - National Collegiate Athletic
Association
Negative
NGB - National Governing Body
Non-Conforming Time - A short course time submitted to
qualify for a long course meet, or vice-versa.
Non-Team Meet - A meet not targeted by the coaching
staff. Swimmers who wish to attend non-team meets must provide meet information
to the
Novelty Meet - A meet that does not fall into a
specific category because of limited events, sessions, or age brackets.
Novice - A beginner or someone who does not
have experience.
NSSA -
NT (No Time) - The abbreviation used on a heat
sheet to designate that the swimmer has not swum that event before.
Officials - The certified judges on the pool deck at sanctioned competitions who enforce USA Swimming rules. There are stroke and turn judges, starters,
and referees. As a meet host team,
Open Water Swims - A freestyle event conducted in a natural body of water such as a
lake, river or ocean
Olympic Trials - The USS sanctioned long-course swim
meet held the year of the Olympic Games to decide which swimmers will represent
the
Omega - A brand of automatic timing system.
OT Official Time. - The swimmers event time recorded to one hundredth of
a second (.01).
OTC - Olympic
Open Competition - Competition which any qualified
club, organization, or individual may enter.
Pace Clock - The large clocks with highly
visible numbers and second hands, positioned at the ends or sides of a swimming
pool used to check pace or maintain intervals in practice; may also be digital
Paddle - Colored plastic devices worn on the
swimmers hands during swim practice.
Used as an aid to improve technique; sometimes used to add resistance to
improve strength.
Place Judge - Stands on the side of the finish line and records the order of
finish of all swimmers by lane
Positive Check In - The procedure required before a
swimmer swims an event in a deck seeded or pre seeded meet. Check In the
swimmer must mark his/her name on a list posted by the meet host.
Practice - The scheduled workouts a swimmer attends
with his/her swim team/club.
Prelims - Abbreviation for preliminaries. Sometimes called Trials. Session of a Prelims/Finals
meet in which swimmers qualify for the championship, consolation finals, bonus
heat or semi-finals.
Prelims-Finals - Type of meet with two sessions. The
preliminary heats are usually held in the morning session. The fastest 8
(A-finals) swimmers, and sometimes the next fastest 8
swimmers (B-finals) return in the evening to compete in the Finals. Some meets have a Bonus Heat or C-finals (17th-24th
ranked swimmers after prelims). A
swimmer who has qualified in the consolation (B) Finals may not place in the A
– Finals even if their finals time would place them so. The converse also
applies.
Pre-seeded - A meet conducted without a “bull
pen” in which a swimmer knows what lane and heat they are in by looking at the
Meet heat sheet, or posted meet program.
Program
-The order of events, including
starting times and intermissions, sequentially listed by class of competition,
sex, age group, distance and stroke as set forth in the meet announcement. Programs frequently contain other information
such as time standards, records and advertisements.
Proof of Time - An official meet result, OVC, or
other accepted form. Swimmers/Coaches must supply proof of time with some meet
entries, while at other meets, it is not required
unless a swimmer misses a cut of time at the meet.
Psych Sheet - A listing of all entrants in a meet
in order of ranking according to entry time.
Pull Buoy - A flotation device generally used
by swimmers in practice for pull-only drills to eliminate kicking, isolate the
upper body and help float the lower body.
Pyramid Seeding (circle seeding) - The top 3 heats in a prelim/finals format competition are seeded
such that each of the three fastest entrants has equal opportunity to swim in
the center lane (usually lane 4) in the preliminaries. The 4th-24th
ranked swimmers will be distributed in the final 3 preliminary heats
accordingly. For example, swimmers
ranked 4th, 5th and 6th will all swim in lane
5, swimmers ranked 7, 8th and 9th will all swim in lane
3, swimmers ranked 10th, 11th
and 12th will all swim in lane 6 and so on…
Qualifying Times (Q-times) - Published times necessary to
compete in a particular event and/or competition. Also known as a cut.
Race - Any single swimming competition,
i.e. preliminary, final, timed final.
Ready Room - A room pool side for the swimmers
to relax before they compete in finals.
Referee - The head official at a swim meet in
charge of all of the "Wet Side" administration and decisions.
Registered - Enrolled and paid as a member of
USS and the LSC.
Relays - A swimming event in which 4
swimmers participate as a team to achieve one time. Each swimmer completes an equal distance of
the race. There are two types of relays: 1.) Medley relay - One swimmer swims
Backstroke, one swimmer swims Breaststroke, one swimmer swims Butterfly and one
swimmer swims Freestyle, in that order.
Medley relays are conducted over 200 yd/mtr
and 400 yd/mtr distances. 2.) Freestyle relay - Each swimmer swims
freestyle. Free relays are conducted
over 200 yd/mtr, 400 yd/mtr,
and 800 yd/mtr distances.
Relay Take-off Judge - Stand so they can clearly see the touch of the incoming swimmer
and the feet of the departing swimmer; judges whether the departing swimmer is
in contact with the platform when the incoming swimmer touches the end of the
pool
Ribbons - Awards in a variety of sizes,
styles, and colors, given at most swim meets for age group swimmers.
Safety - The responsible and careful actions
of those participating in a swim meet. USS and each LSC now have a "Safety
Coordinator" and each meet must have "Marshals" in charge of
safety.
Sanction - A permit issued by an LSC to a USS
group member to conduct an event or meet.
Sanction Fee - The amount paid by a USS group
member to an LSC for issuing a sanction.
Schedule (USS or LSC) - List of meets with dates, meet
host, meet location, type of meet, and contact's address and phone.
Scratch - To withdraw from an event prior to
it being held in competition. Some meets have
scratch deadlines and specific scratch rules, and if not followed, swimmer can
be disqualified from remaining events.
Seed - Assign the swimmer's heats and lanes
according to their submitted or preliminary times.
Seeding - Deck Seeding - swimmers are called
to report to the Clerk of Course. After scratches are determined, the event is
seeded. Pre-Seeding - swimmers are arranged in heats according to submitted times,
usually a day prior to the meet.
Senior - A category for competition
synonymous with “Open”. Any age swimmer
may compete in an event designated “senior” or “open”, providing they meet the
qualifying time standard.
Senior Meet - A meet that is open to all ages but
races are not divided into age groups.
Qualification times are usually necessary and will vary depending on the
level of the meet.
Senior Nationals - Nationals are conducted long course
in the spring (usually in late March) and in the summer (usually in late July
or August).
Session - Portion of meet distinctly
separated from other portions by locale, time, type of competition, or age
group.
Shave - The process of removing all arm, leg, and exposed torso hair, to decrease the
"drag" or resistance of the body moving through the water and
heighten sensation in the water. Used
only by older, more experienced swimmers prior to major competitions.
Short Course - A 25 yard or 25 meter pool. USA Swimming conducts most of its winter
competition in short course pools.
Simultaneously - A term used in the rules of
butterfly and breaststroke, meaning at the same time.
Splash - 1) United States Swimming
newsletter that is mailed bi-monthly. 2)
Meet term used for counting number of actual swims.
Sprint - Describes the shorter events, 50 and 100 yard/meters. In
training, sprint means to swim as fast as possible for a short distance.
Start - The beginning of a race; the
forward dive used to begin a race in free, fly or breast, or the ‘back dive’ in
backstroke.
Starter - The official in charge of signaling
the beginning of a race and insuring that all swimmers have a fair takeoff.
Stand-up - The command given by the Starter or
Referee to release the swimmers from their starting position.
Step-Down - The command given by the Starter or
Referee to have the swimmers move off the blocks. Usually this command is a
good indication everything is not right for the race to start.
Streamline - The position used by swimmers when starting or pushing off the
walls, designed to reduce water resistance
Stroke - There are 4 competitive strokes:
Butterfly, Backstroke, Breaststroke, Freestyle.
Stroke Judge - The official positioned at the side
of the pool, walking the length of the course as the swimmers race. If the
Stroke Judge sees something illegal, they report to the referee and the swimmer
may be disqualified.
Submitted Time - Times used to enter swimmers in
meets. These times must have been achieved by the swimmer at previous meets.
Swim-A-Thon - The "Fund Raiser"
copyrighted by USS swimming for local clubs to use to make money.
Swim-off - In a Prelims/Finals type
competition, a race after the scheduled event to break a tie. The only
circumstance that warrants a swim-off is to determine which swimmer makes
finals or an alternate, otherwise ties stand.
Taper - The final preparation phase, sometimes referred to as the resting phase of a senior
swimmer at the end of the season; a slow, gradual reduction of workloads and
intensities in preparation for a championship meet.
Team - USS Registered club that has the
right to compete for points.
Team Meet - Meet targeted by the coaching staff.
Anyone in the group targeted who qualifies for the meet should plan on
attending. Coaches are present at these meets.
Team Records - The statistics a team keeps,
listing the fastest swimmer in the club's history for each age group/each
event.
Timed Finals - Competition in which only heats are
swum and final placings are determined by those
times.
Timer - The volunteers sitting behind the
starting blocks/finish end of pool, who are responsible for getting watch times
on events and activating the backup buttons for the timing system.
Time Standard - A time set by a meet or LSC or USS
(etc.) that a swimmer must achieve for qualification or recognition.
Time Trial - An event or series of events where
a swimmer may achieve or better a required time standard. Time trials are offered at championship
meets after the completion of regularly scheduled events. Swimmers may not use time trials to score or
receive awards. Time trials count toward
the event entry limits set forth in the meet announcement.
Top 16 - A list of times compiled by USA
Swimming that recognizes the top sixteen swimmers in each age group, in each
event, gender and distance.
Touch Out - To reach the touchpad and finish
first in a close race.
Touch Pad - The touch-sensitive, removable plate
(on the end of pools) that is connected to an automatic timing system. A swimmer must properly touch the touchpad to
register an official time in a race.
Transfer - The act of leaving one club or LSC
and going to another. 120 days of
unattached competition is required before swimmer can represent another USS
club.
Tri-meet - A meet with 3 team competing for
points to see who places 1st-2nd-3rd.
Trophy - Type of award given to teams and
swimmers at some meets.
Turn Judge - Judge that stands at the end of the pool and ensures that when
turning or finishing, the swimmer complies with the rules applicable to the
stroke used.
Unattached - An athlete member of USS who
competes, but does not represent a club or team. (abbr.
UNAT)
Unofficial Time - The time displayed on a read-out
board or read over the intercom by the announcer immediately after the
race. After the time has been checked,
it will become the official time.
USS Number - A number assigned to a swimmer upon
joining USA Swimming. The membership card with this number may be required at
any competition. The USS number is the
swimmer’s birth date (mmddyy) followed by the first 3
letters of the swimmers first name, followed by a middle initial and the first
4 letters of the last name.
USOTC - United States Olympic Training
Center located in
Warm-down - Low intensity swimming used by swimmers
after a race or main practice set to rid the body of excess lactic acid and to
gradually reduce heart rate and respiration.
Warm-up - Low intensity or moderate intensity swimming used
prior to a main practice set or race to get muscles loose and warm. Warm-up gradually increases heart rate and
respiration and helps prevent injury.
Watch - The hand held device used by timers
and coaches for timing a swimmer's races and taking splits. When totally automatic timing equipment is
used at competitions, watches serve as a back-up method.
Weight training - A form of dry land resistance
training. Weight training involves
various barbells / benches / machines and body-weight exercises.
Whistle - The sound a starter/referee makes to
signal for quiet before they give the command to start the race.
Work Out - The practice sessions a swimmer
attends.
Yards - The measurement of the length of a
swimming pool that was built per specifications using the American system. A short course yard pool is 25 yards (75
feet) in length.
Yardage - The distance a swimmer races or
swims in practice. Total yardage can be calculated for each practice session.
Zones - 1.)
The country is divided up into 4 major zones: Eastern - Southern -
Central - Western. 2.) Eastern
Zone Championship Meet - Swimmers qualify to represent the LSC (Middle
Atlantic) in competition against other swimmers representing other LSCs in the Eastern Zone.
Zone meets are the highest level of competition available to