GENEVA LAKES YMCA SWIM TEAM HANDBOOK: Fall/Winter 2017-2018 Season Welcome! We are very excited that you are joining us for the 2017/2018 season with the Geneva Lakes YMCA swim team. This is a handbook for the swim season to acquaint swimmers and parents with what to expect with the YMCA swim program. The YMCA’s website also provides a link to this team handout that can be accessed at any time. Communication is very important for swimmers, coaches, and parents. Feel free to contact the coaches on the team with any questions, ideas, comments, or concerns you may have. Our team is supportive of parents and family helping out to make this team healthy and successful. There will be various times throughout the season where we will need parents/family to be involved please contact Coach Lindsey on how you can do so. We couldn’t run this program without you, and you are a vital and appreciated part of the team. YMCA Mission Statement: The mission of the Geneva Lakes Family YMCA is to put Christian principles into practice through programs that build healthy spirit, mind, and body for all. GYST Mission: Our swim team's mission is to provide a healthy, family-centered environment that allows each athlete to develop life-long personal skills and reach his or her full potential within the sport. GYST Vision: Geneva Y Swim Team's vision is to be the premier team within the South Central Wisconsin area. We strive to uphold the Christian principles of the YMCA as we continue to grow and develop our athletes into elite swimmers. GYST Coaching Philosophy: Developing character skills in swimmers is our number one priority. When there is good sportsmanship, respect for teammates, competitors, and adults, and good communication on a team, then there will be a successful team. The team sport of swimming is about much more than the water. It’s a healthy, life-long sport that allows children and young adults to develop life skills that can be carried out through their entire lives.  

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Technique is vital in the sport of swimming. It is the key to growing and developing as a swimmer. Anyone can be a great swimmer with great technique! Endurance is then developed through longer yards in the pool and dry land training to enhance swimmers’ lung capacity and ability to swim longer while maintaining a strong pace throughout an event. Speed is also developed in the sport of swimming through anaerobic training in the pool and through dry land training exercises. These are usually shorter sets within a workout that allow for little recovery and less breathing.

GENEVA LAKES FAMILY YMCA

203 S. WELLS STREET LAKE GENEVA, WI 53147

262-248-6211

Coach Contact Information: - Head Swim Coach

Y: (262) 248-6211

[email protected]

For assistant coach contact info, go to our website and click the coach tab. YMCA & Team Website: YMCA: www.lakegenevaymca.com

GYST: www.lakegenevayswimteam.com

SWIM TEAM GROUPS Bronze Group: Entry Level GYST Swimmers The desired objectives of this group are to teach the fundamentals and mechanics of each stroke. Swimmers entering the team must be able to swim at least two lengths of the pool freestyle and two lengths of the pool backstroke. A swimmer in this group should have some experience with breaststroke and butterfly, and he/she should be able to endure a 45 minute practice. This group provides a fun atmosphere and introduces swimmers to competition when ready. Silver Group: Swimmers 8-13 years of age The desired objectives of this group is to further the development of stroke mechanic and skills learned in bronze as well as develop endurance in the sport. Swimmers in this group should be able to swim all 4 strokes legally as well as to continue to learn drills and develop starts and turns. Swimmers will start to participate in meets at this level. Gold Group: 9-13 years of age The desired objectives of this group are to develop stroke mastery and build endurance for those swimmers now competing in longer distances. They will develop the ability to use a pace clock and learn more about interval training. Swimmers in this group should be competing in meets during the year and should be attending bigger meets such three day meets and championship meets. Junior Group: 11-15 years of age The primary purpose of this group is to develop training habits that will prepare swimmers for senior level competition and training. Swimmers in this group will be introduced to goal setting and functional training habits that should be established before moving on to an elite level of training. This group is expected to attend at least 4 practices a week in order to maintain endurance, training habits, and to be prepared for end of season competitions. Dry land training in this group is primarily focused on developing more strength, endurance, and flexibility to prepare swimmers for the next level. These swimmers should be competing in most meets throughout the season and are expected to attend championship meets.

GENEVA LAKES FAMILY YMCA

203 S. WELLS STREET LAKE GENEVA, WI 53147

262-248-6211

Senior Group: 14-18+ years of age This group is for elite swimmers in high school or college who are willing to train for elite level competitions. Swimmers in this group will continue dry land training for strength, injury prevention, and flexibility purposes. This group focuses on race preparation; goal setting; aerobic; anaerobic; and specific stroke training; race strategy; pace work; and continued technique and mechanics work on strokes, starts, and turns. Swimmers in this group should be committed to attending practices daily and dry land as well as attending as many meets as possible throughout the season and the championship meets at the end.

PRACTICE REQUIREMENTS: We understand that at times during the season it will be rough to get your child to practice due to other activities going on. Not making the minimum requirement of practice for your swimmer’s group will not set your swimmer up for success. Please understand this. Please also review the meet schedule to find out when championships meets are to plan accordingly. Senior Group: 4-5 practices a week + dry land Junior Group: 3-5 practices a week Gold Group: 3-5 practices a week Silver Group: 3-4 practices a week Bronze Group: 2-3 practices a week

REGISTRATION

YMCA membership is required in being a part of Geneva Lakes YMCA Swim Team. Membership must be paid before entering the pool on the first day of practice. Based upon our team placement/evaluation, your child will be placed in one of the following groups: Bronze, Silver, Gold, Junior, Senior. Online payments for team fees are made via our team website at the beginning of the season. Registration is completed via the team website homepage: www.lakegenevayswimteam.com. You will then receive an e-mail to log-in to your account and add your payment information. Payment is due at time of registration. GENEVA LAKES FAMILY YMCA

203 S. WELLS STREET LAKE GENEVA, WI 53147

262-248-6211

Failure to register your swimmer within the first week of their return to the team will result in your swimmer not being able to practice. Late registration will be allowed depending on the time in the season and your communication of this late registration to the head coach. Payment for Swim Team Level

Monthly

Bronze Silver Gold Junior Senior

$41.00 $55.00 $69.00 $87.00 $110.00

Full Payment – Fall/Winter $246.00 $330.00 $414.00 $522.00 $660.00

Full PaymentSpring/summer $123.00 $165.00 $207.00 $261.00 $330.00

Team fees continued 

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Swimmers must be registered before their first practice or by the end of their first week back. Your swimmer will be turned away from practice by the second week. o If your swimmer is not starting with the team, please contact the head coach with the day of their expected return to help plan for coaching staff  Additional fees or discounts will be added to your account if you start mid-month o If your swimmer ends the season early, please contact the head coach to stop payments 15% discount will be given to your total fees if you are registering more than one family member.

YMCA Membership (Mandatory) Youth Membership $126 High School Membership $126 Family Membership $696 USA Swimming Registration Fees (Required for all USA Swimming Sanctioned Meets) This will be added to your team account- 2017 registration fee is $62. If you believe your family may qualify for a discounted rate, please ask about the USA Swimming Outreach Form. *Individual meet fees are not included with USA Swimming Registration

GENEVA LAKES FAMILY YMCA

203 S. WELLS STREET LAKE GENEVA, WI 53147

262-248-6211

MEETS/FEES Invitational Meet Fees: The Geneva Y Swim Team participants are required to pay for each meet. Information about meets will be posted (as it becomes available) on the GYST swim team board in the pool area as well as online via the team site. Most the YMCA and USA Swimming meets are 1-3 days in length, with AM and PM sessions by age group. Each session typically lasts 3-5 hours. Individual meet events usually cost $3.50-$5.00. These fees will be added to your account immediately upon the meet end date of online registration. More information about fees and meet event registration will be discussed and posted online.

In order to sign-up for individual swim meets, you must have an account through the team website. Signup for meets will be done online and must be submitted within the allotted time-frame given per meet in order to be entered. Sign up for me will be denied if you have a balance on your account more than 60 days. Once a child has committed to swimming in a meet and entries have been sent in, payment must be made for that meet regardless of whether or not the swimmer swims in the meet. Championship Meet Requirements: In order to qualify for championship meets, such as YMCA Nationals, YMCA State, etc., a swimmer must have participated in at least three inter-association YMCA meets. Championship meets are scheduled for the end of the season. If you are swimming in a championship meet beyond this date, you are expected to be at practice through the championship meet date. Age Groups: 8 & under boys & girls 9 & 10 boys and girls 11 & 12 boys and girls 13 & 14 boys and girls 15 & over boys and girls *Age of a swimmer is determined the first day of a swim meet for both YMCA and USA Swimming meets.

GENEVA LAKES FAMILY YMCA

203 S. WELLS STREET LAKE GENEVA, WI 53147

262-248-6211

PREPARING FOR MEETS Expectations: During swim meets, swimmers should always sit together with their teammates. Parents are asked to sit in the designated seating area assigned by the host team. This helps build team unity, keeps swimmers focused, and it will help coaches and officials to be able to find swimmers when they may be looking for them. Parents are not allowed on the pool deck at most swim meets. Younger swimmers do need to sit with the team as well. Coaches and other teammates will help them with their events, and sitting with the team will help them to be responsible in remembering where to go and what to do when it is time for their race. Attire: Swimmers are asked to ALWAYS wear their team suits to swim meets as well as wear the GYST swim cap. This is very important, as it signifies team unity and promotes team spirit. Only in the case of an emergency, may a swimmer wear another swimsuit or plain cap. Their suits and caps must be approved to wear in a race under YMCA and USA Swimming Rules. For awards, swimmers are to ALWAYS wear their swim team attire when going onto a podium or being presented with an award from a meet. Once again, this promotes team unity, spirit, and recognition of our swim team. During Meets: Swimmers should be on deck and ready to warm-up 15 minutes before the scheduled warm-up time. This will give the team enough time to stretch together, talk to the coach, and get mentally prepared for the meet. Warm-up lanes are also often scheduled on a first-come, first-serve basis, so it is important our team is able to warm-up by being ready to get in on time. Warm-ups are extremely important for all swimmers competing. This time allows swimmers to get accustomed to the pool and also get physically ready to compete in their races. Swimmers are asked to follow the directions of their coaches during this time, and it is important that all of the swimmers comply with the rules for the meet and requests from meet officials.

Once again, if a swimmer has a change in plans for attending a swim meet they originally signed up for, or did not sign up for, please contact Coach Lindsey as soon as possible. After meet entries have been submitted for a specific meet, that family will be expected to pay for the entered meet even if he/she does not show. Concessions are available at most meets, and some meets allow coolers. It is important for swimmers to bring some healthy snacks to swim meets along with plenty of fluids to keep hydrated. Also, please remember to wear warm clothes, bring several dry towels, and also bring tennis shoes to meets. Tennis shoes should be worn to keep swimmers’ feet warm when they are not swimming.

GENEVA LAKES FAMILY YMCA

203 S. WELLS STREET LAKE GENEVA, WI 53147

262-248-6211

TEAM MAIL/PARENTAL SUPPORT Mailboxes & E-mail: A team folder/mailbox for each family is located in the YMCA entrance area. Please make sure your swimmer or a family member checks this folder on a bi-weekly basis. Awards from meets will be placed in these files. A lot of information is posted online or via e-mail that pertains to meets, team events, meetings, etc. It’s very important to stay on top of postings on our team website as well as checking your e-mails on a weekly basis. Apparel Team swim suits can be bought at our team store with SwimOutlet. You can purchase them at www.swimoutlet.com/genevayswimteam. Bags and other apparel will be available through there as well. T-Shirts and other printed clothing will be order locally and handled through our parent representative. Apparel Leader: Kathy Phillips Parental Support/Swimming Improvement: Please make sure you are offering encouragement and praise to your swimmer throughout the season. Swimming is not just about winning the ribbon or the medal, or having the fastest time, or beating Susie, Johnny, or whomever. Each swimmer is different, and improvement can be seen in many ways. Achieving a personal best time or a season best time definitely deserves praise and congratulations, but every time a swimmer competes may not be a best time. If you are with the sport long enough, you will know that there are a lot of ups and downs in times based on a child’s age, maturity, physical development, mental attitude, work ethic, and practice consistency. Often times when swimmers are in mid-season intense training, focusing on changing their technique in practice, going about a race differently than in the past, or going through physical changes, his or her times may not be their best. Remember there are many factors beyond a swimmer’s physical capability that will determine their performance. Change always takes time and adjustment, and this will affect a swimmer’s times in meets. When swimmers are working hard, consistent in practice attendance, and communicating with their coaches, there will be success and improvement for that swimmer. Practices are planned out for the season so that when a swimmer follows direction from their coach and works hard, there will be improvement and growth. Every swimmer has the ability to get faster.

GENEVA LAKES FAMILY YMCA

203 S. WELLS STREET LAKE GENEVA, WI 53147

262-248-6211

DQ’s: Getting disqualified at a swim meet can often be discouraging to a swimmer. Please know that for new and younger swimmers, getting disqualified in a meet is all a part of the learning process. Encouragement from parents is important. Swimmers should learn from their mistake, and move on and focus on their next event.

Policies/Procedures Practice Cancellation: Snow days, days off, team outings and swim meets are reason for practice to be canceled. You will be notified through email beforehand which days the kids will not have practice due to free days, team outings, and swim meets. In the event of a snow storm, practices will follow the same cancelations as the Lake Geneva Schools. No school, no practice. No after school activities, no practice. In the event of a school being canceled due to cold weather, we will still have practice! Sexual Assault: Our organization provides our youths with the highest quality services available. We are committed to creating an environment for youths that is safe, nurturing, empowering, and that promotes growth and success. No form of abuse will be tolerated, and confirmed abuse will result in immediate dismissal from our organization. All reports of suspicious or inappropriate behavior with youths or allegation of abuse will be taken seriously. Our organization will fully cooperate with authorities if allegations of abuse are made that require investigation. Bullying: Our organization will not tolerate the mistreatment or abuse of one youth by another youth. In addition, our organization will not tolerate any behavior that is classified under the definition of bullying, and to the extent that such actions are disruptive, we will take steps needed to eliminate such behavior. Bullying can take on various forms including physical, verbal, nonverbal or relational bullying and cyberbullying. Our organization cooperates fully with the authorities to investigate all cases of alleged abuse. Any staff or volunteer shall cooperate to the fullest extent possible in any external investigation by outside authorities or internal investigation conducted by the organization or persons given investigative authority by the organization. Failure to cooperate fully may be grounds for termination.

GENEVA LAKES FAMILY YMCA

203 S. WELLS STREET LAKE GENEVA, WI 53147

262-248-6211

Team Goals 2017-2018:

**This form can be signed online with registration rather than turned in to the coach**

(Parent/Guardian Printed Name) ____________________________________________ I have read and gone over the Geneva Lakes YMCA Swim Team handbook with my swimmer(s), and I agree to support the team, my child(ren), and the coaches throughout the Spring/Summer 2014 swim season. My swimmer(s) and I agree to follow the written guidelines and requirements within this handbook in order to be a member of the Geneva Lakes YMCA Swim Team.

Parent/Guardian at Least 18 Years of Age Signature: _________________________________________________ Date: _____________________________

GENEVA LAKES FAMILY YMCA

203 S. WELLS STREET LAKE GENEVA, WI 53147

262-248-6211