WELCOME TO THE ENCHANTED VALLEY
MARLINS
This handbook has been prepared to familiarize you with the
Marlins and the
Your comments, suggestions and participation are very important to help your swimmer(s) and the success of the team. Our goal is to have all swimmers and their parents have a fun-filled season.
THE MIGHTY MARLINS
The Enchanted Valley Swim Team is a non-profit organization
formed to promote competitive swimming for all
Goals of the Marlins include:
· To provide healthful exercise and an opportunity to practice social skills in a positive environment.
· To help each swimmer realize their potential as an aquatic athlete through instruction in stroke technique, starts, turns, and endurance given by qualified
Coaches.
· To develop the qualities of good sportsmanship and self-discipline.
·
To provide a sense of self-community, to meet
your neighbors and become part of
Enchanted Valley is an original charter member of the
Northwest Aquatic League. The NWAL sanctions recreational youth swimming
throughout the
The Marlins are administered by volunteers: Team President, Team Representative, Secretary, Treasurer, parents, and coaches. The team is highly dependent upon parent volunteers. IT IS ESSENTIAL THAT PARENTS CONTRIBUTE TIME AT EACH MEET/EVENT, AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE, HOME OR AWAY. Parents look forward to the season as much as their children to have the opportunity to be involved with their neighbors and help with the team. You will find that the meets are more enjoyable when you help out through participation while watching your children swim. Timers have the best view of the competition.
FEES:
Registration fees are one primary income source for the Marlins and are used to pay coaches, purchase team equipment, ribbons, medals, and trophies. The team pays an annual fee to the NWAL for insurance which covers all swimmers during any organized team activity.
T-SHIRTS:
Marlin T-shirts will be distributed at Team Picture Day to insure that all swimmers have a shirt. Shirts are prepaid as part of the registration fees. Parents can purchase additional T-shirts by ordering during registration or as long as the supply lasts. Simply fill out a T-shirt order form. Please put swimmers name in the T-shirt with permanent marker.
TEAM AND INDIVIDUAL PICTURES:
A Professional Photographer will take team pictures and individual pictures.
Available at registration. It is not necessary to purchase a team swimsuit to participate with the Marlins. However, swimmers should wear a competition suit. The suit should be tight fitting. If the suit is too loose, air pockets will form under the suit when the swimmer dives into the pool slowing the swimmer down. It is recommended that the team suit be reserved for meets; however, it is of good quality and with proper care should last the summer season. Suits should be rinsed and hung to drip-dry. Avoid washing machines and dryers to prolong swim suit life.
Swim caps serve three purposes:
· They help protect a swimmer’s hair from chlorine damage.
· They help streamline the swimmer as he or she swims through the water.
· They identify the swimmer as part of the Marlin Swim Team at meets.
The coaches and team reps strongly recommend the use of swim
caps. At meets, the NWAL prohibits the wearing of swim caps that have
the name or emblem of a team other than the team the swimmer represents.
Goggles help swimmers see in the water and prevent eye irritation. Shaded goggles also help backstroke swimmers see in sunny days. Goggles should fit tightly so that they will not leak or fall off in competition. There are many different styles of goggles; the Marlins have two of the more common styles available. The coaches and team reps highly recommend using goggles during practices.
Swimmers who wear caps and goggles during meets should also wear them during practice. Not only will they protect their hair and eyes but the swimmer will also become accustomed to using this equipment.
PRACTICE:
Practice is held Monday through Friday and is divided by age group. To assure that practice can begin on time, please be at the pool five to ten minutes before practice begins. Each swimmer should be at the pool under the coaches’ Supervision, see website for times. When school is out, practice will move to mornings (beginning June 4th in 2009.)
BABY POOL / PLAYGROUND:
Insurance does not provide coverage for the baby pool during practice or meets. This area is prohibited. The playground/equipment outside the pool can also be a source of danger. Please keep all children safe and supervised. An adult monitor at each area is preferred during swim team activities, especially practice. Thank you for your kind cooperation!
MEETS AND MEET EXPECTATIONS
CHECKING IN AT MEETS:
Meets begin at 8:30; swimmers must be at the pool earlier for sign-in and warm-ups. The swimmers must check in with the round up area upon arrival at the meet so that they can be counted present. The swimmer should remain in the designated area so the swimmer will be able to report to his/her events at the correct time. If swimmers are not on the starting block at the time of the event, they are scratched from the event.
HOME MEETS 6:45 AWAY MEETS 7:15
Parents, please stay the entire meet if your child is in a relay. All swimmers are expected to stay until the end of meet, unless the clerk of course is notified at check in. This will allow time to get an alternate swimmer for your child’s absence and to avoid unnecessary relay scratches, loss of points, and disappointment to the other swimmers unable to swim their event.
WHAT TO BRING TO MEETS:
Past experience has shown that the following items should be taken to meets:
· Sunscreen
· Lawn chairs for parents, an old blanket for your swimmer(s) to sit on.
· Fruit juice, energy drinks, etc. and a snack.
· Towels, swim cap, goggles, and the rest of your swimming kit.
· Wear your Marlin T-shirt and a cap for the sun.
· A change of clothing for your swimmer to wear home.
· Money for concessions.
· Something to occupy your time between events.
SNACKS FOR MEETS:
A food concession will be available at the swim meets. This is a source of revenue for the team and we need your support. You may wish to bring your own snacks and here are a few things to remember:
· Fruit juice, fresh fruit, crackers, pretzels, string cheese, fig bars, and oatmeal cookies are a good snack for swimmers.
· The donuts are for the adults and non-swimmers.
· Avoid fried foods, nuts or seeds.
· Swimmers should avoid fats and protein, both of which take a long time to digest.
· Regardless of what your swimmer might claim, sugar does not make him/her swim faster.
VACATIONS AND MISSING MEETS:
If you know you will not be able to make a meet or need to leave early, let the coach know. By Tuesday of each week, please notify the coach that your swimmer will not be at the meet or must leave early. The coach and clerk of course have to submit on Thursday evening by 6:00 PM Saturday’s seeding for the meet.
MEETING WITH COACHES:
If you wish to have a meeting with a coach to discuss your swimmer’s progress, please come before or after practice. Coaches do not have time between practices to have a lengthy discussion. If it is not convenient for you to talk to a coach before or after practice, please have your swimmer tell the coach to contact you. There is a coaches’ box for notes, as well.
SWIMMING LESSONS:
Although not part of the Marlins program, any swimmers may attend swimming lessons given by the coaches. Swim lessons give the swimmer a chance to receive more individual instruction on basic swimming skills.
POOL TAGS:
Pool tags may be obtained through the Enchanted Valley Management Company.
Residential Community Management, Inc.
Cindy Yeglin
2000 Dairy Ashford,
Office: (281)493-5400
EVENTS:
Individual events for each age group include freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke, butterfly, and individual medley. There are also free and medley relay events that are swum by teams of four swimmers each. A swimmer may participate in no more than three individual events and two relays, five events total. A swimmer may move up age groups providing he/she remains in the upper age group throughout the entire meet.
It is the responsibility of the coach to determine which events each swimmer will swim in. It is the goal of the program to have each swimmer compete in every stroke at least once during the season. This is done to enhance the swimmer’s overall ability and experience. Therefore, the coach may not be able to put every swimmer in their best strokes each meet. Relays are computer generated through time trials and meet competition. Coaches are only authorized to make a relay switch if a swimmer is a high risk DQ candidate.
OFFICIALS AND DISAGREEMENTS:
Northwest Aquatic League events are officiated by trained and certified judges. If a swimmer does not swim a stroke within the limits established by the league, does not touch the wall in the prescribed manner, or does not have a clean start or finish, an official may call a disqualification and the swim will not count. At the conclusion of the swim the official will explain to the swimmer why he/she was disqualified. This should be looked at as a learning experience and the swimmer should tell the coach the reason for the disqualification so they can work on the problem at practice.
Under no circumstances is a parent or swimmer to approach an official or question an official’s decision. The officials are certified volunteers helping the sport and doing the best job they can. As with any sport, you may not always see it the way the official does. Please control your disappointment. Protests and questions con be directed to the coaches and team rep.
PRACTICE MEET:
The Marlins will have a practice meet/time trials prior to the first dual meet in May. This provides a great time for pre-meet questions and answers, as well as a good time.
AWARDS:
Each Tuesday following a swim meet, ribbons from the previous Saturday’s meet will be placed in each family’s mailbox. Ribbons are awarded to the first six finishers in each individual event and the first two finishing relay teams.
INVITATIONAL MEETS:
At the end of the season, the weekend after Divisional, swimmers whom have achieved certain time standards are INVITED to a meet that will include swimmers from all divisions of the Northwest Aquatic League. The Marlins participate in two of these meets. They are the Ponderosa Invitational Meet held in Spring, and Red, White and Blue hosted by Fleet (CFSC) at Cy-Springs High School.
SMOKING/DRINKING:
ABSOLUTELY NO SMOKING OR ALCOHOL is permitted in the pool area at any practice meet or event.
HAIR:
Caps should be used at practice, as well as meets, to help prevent chlorine damage. Wetting hair thoroughly before entering the pool also helps. This limits the amount of chlorine the hair can absorb. Local stores also carry special shampoos to help chlorine-damaged hair.
EYES:
Goggles are very important. Please make sure of proper fit to avoid leakage. Sometimes putting milk in swimmer’s eyes when they get back from practice eases those red eyes. The milk neutralizes the chlorine. Local stores will also carry special eye drops.
SWIMMER’S EAR:
To avoid trips to the doctor and the pain of ear infection, there are several things you can do. Every day be sure your swimmers rinse out their ears before and after swimming with a solution of 2/3 alcohol and 1/3 white vinegar or peroxide; or use commercially prepared solutions such as Swim Ear. Anything that prevents water from sitting in the ear will help, like earplugs, if they fit, and are used.
FOOD:
Two days prior a meet is a good time for a swimmer’s carbohydrates (pasta, pizza, baked potatoes, rice, etc.). Your coach will go over this with you before our first meet. Parents you can pretty well judge the food items that are nutritional for your individual swimmer(s).
RAIN:
The Marlins usually practice even if it is raining. If it begins to thunder or the coaches see lighting, the pool will be cleared and practice will be temporarily suspended. If you are not sure whether or not there will be practice, send your swimmer. Summer thunderstorms often pass quickly.
SPIRIT PARTIES:
Spirit parties are held every Friday evening before the meets. Each neighborhood will be hosting a party which will begin approximately at 5:30 pm. Foods such as pizza, hot dogs and ice cream will be served. Games, watermelon relays, etc. will also be planned. The Marlins want to swim as a team and have fun as a team.
WEBSITE:
Meet results will be posted per league standards. You can view our website at www.evswimming.com