Swim Meet Philosophy (This is a scanned / OCR-d document - Sorry for typos!)

Feb/2005

Swim Meet Information Philosophy Of Competition Classification Of Meet Types of strokes Logbooks How to Enter Meets Behavior At Meets Entry Fees and Surcharges Swim Meet Procedures Relays What To Bring To A Meet Swim Meet Information Philosophy Of Competition The PCST engages in a multi-level competition program with United States Swimming that like our training program attempts to provide challenging, yet success-oriented competitive situations for swimmers of all ages and abilities. The following policies outline our philosophy: 1.    We emphasize competition with oneself. Winning ribbons, medals, or trophies is not our main goal. Even if the swimmer finishes first, but has swum poorly in comparison to his/her own past performances, he is encouraged to do better. The individual’s improvement is our primary objective. 2.    Sportsman like behavior is of equal importance to improved performance. Respect for officials, congratulations to opponent’s (other competitors), encouragement to teammates, determined effort, and mature attitudes are examples of behaviors praised and rewarded by PCST Coaching Staff. 3.    A swimmer is praised for improving his/her stroke or time. It is the coach’s job to offer constructive criticism of a swimmer’s performance. It is the parent’s responsibility to provide love and encouragement that bolsters the swimmer’s confidence along the way. 4.    Swimmers are taught to set realistic, yet challenging goals for meets and to relate those goals to practice to direct their training efforts. 5.    Swimmers are prepared and encouraged to compete in all swimming events, distance and strokes. This policy promotes versatility and encourages the swimmer to explore the wide range of events offered in competitive swimming. Classification Of Meets Classified Age-Group Program — The age -group in United States Swimming are: 8 and under, 10 and under, 11 and 12, 13 and 14, 15 to 18, or Senior. The senior age group includes any age USS registered swimmer who has achieved the prescribed qualifying time for the event. Age on the first day of the meet will govern the swimmer’s age for the entire meet. Types of Meets Ameet is defined as being a series of competitive events held in one program and may be in any (or a combination) of the following categories: 1.    Developmental - these intra - team meets are held to assist the swimmer in gaining experience and assessing how well they are developing their skills acquired during practice. 2.    Dual - these meets are between two teams. They are similar to developmental in that the level of competition is not too high, and the novice swimmer has the best opportunity to earn recognition at these events. - 3.    Invitational - These are meets in which the Meet Manager of the host club invites the swimmers and clubs. They are the showpieces of ,coi~npetitive swimming and the principal fund raising events for every swim over the Southeast. Invitational are the vehicles for our more experienced swimmers to measure their progress as well as for the novice. 4.    Championship - These meets, generally held for the State or Region, require rigorous performance standards and attract swimmers of national caliber. Qualifying times for these meets are at least A times and often AA or faster. Example of this type meet includes Junior Olympics (J.O.’s), Junior and Senior National, and the Sunshine State Games. 5.    Novice - Meet for the beginning and inexperienced swimmer with NT (no times) or no qualifying times.    - 6.    Age Group - (AG) A meet for any or all age group. In Florida USS Swim Competition there are six age group: 8 and under, 10 and under, 11 - 12, 13 - 14, 15 - 18, or Senior. 7.    Open - Competition in which events are open at all USS registered swimmers. 8.    Closed - A meet for members of one organization or USS Association. 9.    Junior - For swimmers 18 and under. 10.  Masters - forswimmers 25 and over. 11.  Long Course (LC) - Competition in a 50 - or 55- yard or 50-meter pool. 12. Short course (SC) - Competition in a 20 - or 25 - yard or 25 - meter pool. 13. “A” Meet - To qualify for entry in this meet, a swimmer must have at least an “A” time in his age group. 14. “B” Meet - To enter, swimmers must have “B” times or slower. “A” times cannot be entered. Types of strokes used by the swimmers are: Breaststroke Butterfly Backstroke Freestyle An event in which your child may also swim is called an INDIVIDUAL MEDLEY. A sequence of stroke types used in the INDIVIDUAL MEDLEY is as follows: Butterfly Backstroke Breaststroke Freestyle There is two types of relays in which your child may participate with 3 other swimmers. They are the FREESTYLE RELAY — Each swimmer completing one-fourth of the prescribed distance using any stroke and MEDLEY RELAY — Each swimmer completing one — fourth of the prescribed distance in the following manner:     1st  Swimmer — Backstroke     2nd Swimmer — Breaststroke     3rd  Swimmer — Butterfly     4th  Swimmer — Freestyle Note that this is not the same order of strokes as the INDIVIDUAL MEDLEY. Logbooks One of the ways a swimmer improves is to become aware of his/her times and splits in every event. We suggest each PCST swimmer keep a record of his competition times from meet to meet. The coach will usually take his/her splits during a race and give them to himlher after the events, at which time he/she can enter them, along with their official time, in a logbook Keeping this logbook will help the swimmer aware of his/her times and goals, as well as facilitate signing up for meets. How to Enter Meets 1.    Meet information sheets will be distributed or posted at practice approximately one week before the turn-in date. Read ALL the information carefully. 2.    An entry form or entry cards for each event will be filled out as per the instruction in the meet information packet. 3.    Your lifetime beat time to the 1/100 of a second is used on the entry form. 4.    If you have questions about whether to enter a meet, or which events to enter, always confer with your coach. Turn your entries in too the coach forward them to meet host on time. 5.    With regard to which events a swimmer enters and competes in, the coaching staff shall have the final work. After checking the entries, the coaches will post them on the entry worksheets at the pool. 6.    Occasionally, a swimmer will forget to enter an event in a meet that they should swim. If space is available, and the Meet Director is willing, a late entry may be permitted. The fee is usually double the normal entry fee and must be paid on the deck by the swimmer. Late entries are generally discouraged. Behavior At Meets 1.    Whenever and wherever a member of PCST wears any item of the Team uniform, he should remember that his actions and words reflect on the Team he/she represents, and behave accordingly. Let your actions reflect the pride you have in the PCST organization. 2.    As a matter of courtesy to the officials and meet hosts, it is preferable that swimmers and parents alike stay off the deck and competition venue unless they are competing or serving in an official capacity. 3.    Similarly, as a matter of courtesy, all questions swimmers or parents may have concerning meet results, as officiating call, or the conduct of a meet, should be referred to the Coaching Staff. They, in turn will pursue the matter through proper channels. 4.    As a matter of pride, leave the rest area and pool in a neat and clean condition at the condition at the conclusion of each session of the meet. 5.    With regard to which events a swimmer competes in, the Coaching - Staff shall have the final word. PCST members are NEVER to scratch or late enter an event without first consulting the Coaches. 6.    In a meet with preliminaries and finals, it is expected that any PCST member qualifying to swim in the finals will do so. 7.    Parents will be responsible for each swimmer. Entry Fees and Surcharges Meet expenses for Invitational vary at each meet. However, as a result of our experience an average assessment of $20 per meet-day and per swimmer will cover these fees. Swimmers are permitted to swim three or four events a day plus relays. Please pay entry fees as soon as you know how much they will be. Be responsible for finding out and asking you to pay. An entry fees must-be paid before the given meet. No swimmer will be entered in a meet unless their fees have been paid. Swim Meet Procedures The following procedures will assist the swimmer and their parents in expedition their time at a meet. 1.    Set your goals for each of the events entered. Each race is an opportunity to achieve one of these goals. 2.    Arrive ten (10) minutes before the warm-up time. 3.    The best thing to do at this point is to locate and acquire a Heet Sheet. This is a list of all swimmers, the event and heet number. With this information you will know exactly which heet your child will be in and also the lane assigned to your child. It also includes the best time for each swimmer in the heet. Swimmers are seeded in each heet according to their fastest recorded time. You will notice that the fastest swimmers are assigned the center lanes, and the slowest are assigned the outside lanes with the first heet having the slowest swimmers and the final heet the fastest. 4.    Complete your stretching routine and report to the PCST lanes for warm-ups. 5.    Warm-ups are always conducted by a member of the PCST ~Goaching Staff. Team members are required to warm-up with the team. It is important that swimmers and parents understand that a good warm-up is an essential part of a successful performance. 6.    Once warm-up is completed the swimmer are on their own under the supervision of there parents until their event is called by the ANNOUNCER on the P.A. system. As a parent of a younger swimmer, you will be responsible for watching your child and having himfher available when the event is called. Use this opportunity to teach them to be responsible by showing them how to keep up with the day’s events. The coaching staff is not responsible for making sure the swimmer is on the starting block at the right time. 7.    It is customary for the PCST to have a “Team Area”, at meet and to sit together as a group. This helps promote team unity and team spirit. 8.    All PCST swimmers are expected to wear the team suit and team swim cap (if worn) in competition. All other team apparel is optional; however, wearing the complete team uniform promotes team unity and pride and greatly aids spectator recognition. 9.    After the race, the child will be back under your supervision Relays Sorry - There is a page missing here. 4.    Dual meet relays will be make at the coaches’ discretion based on exam needs and in order to providerelay experiences for all swimmers. 5.    Invitational relays — When two swimmers have times separated only by tenths of a second, one may swim the free relay and the other swim the medley relay. Coaches’ discretion may be used depending on the circumstances of the meet. What To Bring To A Meet: 1.    PCST team swim suit 2.    PCST team swim cap 3.    Goggle 4.    2 towels (or more) 5.    Old blanket or sleeping bag 6.    Quietgames or books 7.    Food — you may want to bring a nutritious snack 8.    Logbook — for recording official times 9.    Money for heet sheets Most swim meets have concessions on the site for lunch and sometimes breakfast. Some have shaded areas and some do not. Dress comfortably; most swim facilities do not have in door areas to allow you to escape the heat. Check with parents who have previously attended a meet in a certain area and they will be able to describe the facifities for you. Several families bring tarps and pitch them for shade.