Bluefins Swim Team Parent Guidelines
BF Travel Meet Memo
Bluefins Swim Team Parent Guidelines
Coach Weeks Wants You
Are We There Yet?
Bluefins Home Swim Meets
Rookies Swim Meet List
Bluefins Pin Instructions
BF Travel Meet Memo
IT’S NOT JUST A SWIM MEET……………
IT’S AN ADVENTURE!
What in the “Weeks World” are we talking about?
*Travel Swim Meets….that’s what!
What is the benefit of spending a “whole” weekend at a pool somewhere “Away” from Carrollton?
*Your child can experience many new things, make new friends, and at the same time “share” an ADVENTURE with you…their family!
What if we don’t want to spend the whole weekend in Macon, or Warner Robbins, or Dothan, or wherever?
*GREAT question! We have a lot of travel meets that are one-day, or drivable from Carrollton area within a single morning or afternoon. (example…We swim at Troup County in LaGrange a couple times of year, Peachtree City a couple times, and a few meets at Mountain View Center in Marietta, all of which are 30-45 minutes away. Even Columbus or Macon for one day of a multi-day meet is drivable to make a single day of swimming worthwhile and cost effective).
Is MY child ready for these kinds of meets?
*This is a great question for you to take up with either your GROUP COACH or Coach Weeks. Some meets are geared for Rookie level and younger age swimmers with lots of ribbons, and trophies, and shorter distances…while others are for more developed swimmers and challenge them at different distances, and expose them to lots of NEW competition.
If we DO decide to spend the weekend somewhere like Warner Robbins with the team…what is there to do before/ after swim sessions?
*Each city has something unique to offer for AFTER the racing or between sessions. Warner Robbins has an Aviation Museum; Columbus has a great FUN CENTER, etc. The team will always have a CENTRAL suggested hotel, where Coach Weeks gets us a TEAM rate. We meet for breakfast and many times have group dinners, and in smaller groups go out and see the sights. At the outdoor summer meets, Coach takes the BIG TENT and we set up Camp Bluefin.
What does MY child gain from this experience?
*As Dave Thomas of USA Swimming spoke of at our Team Seminar, our children gain many life lessons from swimming, and travel meets gives them even more opportunities to grow and learn…about swimming, and about other children and about other communities. Not to mention building TEAM spirit, team pride, and having a lot of FUN!
What do we need to know for these meets?
*One or more of the team Coaches is always at the meet…YOU WILL NEVER BE LEFT ALONE!
*Lots of other Bluefins attend these meets. We usually have 30-40 swimmers and sometimes 100 or more at these meets.
*Your Coaches will advise you of meet times, bullpen set-ups, warm-up times, etc
*We always camp in a common area as a team, so the children interact and play between races, and help each other to their races, and cheer for each other during the races.
*Driving directions are available either on the sign-up table under the Bulletin Board, or on the web-site, or from Coach Weeks (or MANY of the other parents who caravan around the State throughout the year.)
*Pack accordingly for what kind of meet (indoor, outdoor, one-day, two-day, etc.) There will be another memo coming soon about MEET PREP! Again, we recommend talking to OTHER parents who travel regularly. Each of us has gone through exactly the same process when we first traveled. One special thing about this team is the tight-knit sense of TEAM and community it offers. People will always help each other!
**OK, so now that you are psyched up for the Summer season of Travel meets…let’s get lots of Bluefins signed up for the RIGHT Summer meets for your Child!
Contact your Group level coach or Coach Weeks about this summer season and keep looking for MORE team info each week!
Bluefins Swim Team Parent Guidelines
General
- Pay monthly dues on time
- Pay meet fees on time
- Stay informed of team activities via handouts, web-site and bulletin board. Don’t be a stranger on the pool deck.
- Volunteer your time for team functions.
Practice
- Watching swim practice from the pool deck is a privilege which many teams do not allow. Please do not abuse it with interruptions or gossip.
- Please respect Coaches office hours which are clearly posted. If you have an issue or question to discuss with your group Coach, please make an appointment, OR see the Coach during their open office hours. NO Meetings on pool deck!
- Please provide Coaches written notes when your swimmer needs to leave practice early. Try to avoid pulling them out early if at ALL possible.
- Treat practice as any other commitment. Your swimmer is expected to be there…Practice is the only way swimmers can improve.
- There is not to be any communication between parent and swimmer during practice. NO interruptions of the Group practice.
- Parents should come into the pool area at least once a week to see what may be happening with upcoming meets, special events and team activities. Bluefins is not a child-sitting service, it is a voluntary activity. Please treat it like one.
Swim Meets
- Coach’s table, and the area behind starting blocks is strictly forbidden to parents during swim meets. This is so Coach’s time is focused on the swimmers, not parents, and so the swimmers are NOT distracted while awaiting the start of their races.
- Allow your Coaches to do their job, and then be your swimmer’s parent…be supportive, encourage your child and make sure they have fun. If they do…they stick with it and reach higher goals. Swimmers who have fun…Stay swimmers!
- Each and every Bluefin family MUST volunteer for a minimum of one session per day of a swim meet. Without volunteers, we cannot run HOME meets.
COACH WEEKS WANTS YOU!
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VOLUNTEER NOW FOR YOUR
TEAM’S HOME SWIM MEET!
There are lots of jobs that need done at a HOME swim meet. BLUEFINS are a VOLUNTEER ACTIVITY, and therefore we need EVERYONE’S help to make OUR home meets the BEST experience for ALL the kids on our team, and the visiting teams, so they can’t wait for the NEXT BLUEFINS meet!
Did you know we need as many as 50 VOLUNTEERS per session per day to accomplish all the jobs that need done to run a meet properly?
*TIMERS
*RUNNERS
*BULL PEN
*JUDGES
*SCORING TABLE
*TIMING SYSTEM
*AWARDS
*ANNOUNCER
*CONCESSIONS
*HOSPITALITY
*SET-UP & CLEAN-UP
*OFFICIALS (yes, to clarify, officials are parent volunteers. They are not paid!)
Each job is necessary for us to help the meet run smoothly and we need every family to volunteer for minimum of one session per day of the meet.
Are We There Yet?
OK, so we’ve signed up for a travel swim meet this summer. NOW WHAT?
Here are a few packing and preparation tips for the “Adventure”.
- Consider how many days/ nights you are staying and how many sessions in the water your child will have.
- Figure on around two towels per session per child, unless the hotel has laundry facilities.
- Racing suits dry rather quickly, so one or two for the weekend is sufficient. (Don’t forget the Woolite).
- Flip flops or sandals are a good idea, as sometimes the walk to the pool may not be just across the deck on concrete.
- Blankets or sleeping bags etc. They will need something to spread out and relax on.
- A cooler with your child’s choice of beverages. While each meet will offer concessions, it is no guarantee that they have exactly the flavor of Gatorade or whatever drink the child prefers. The same goes for snacks. Most meets will have muffins and some fruit at breakfast time, and sandwiches or hot dogs and pizza around lunch, but they do not necessarily have Power Bars, or the snack your child prefers. Again, in this case, keep in mind how many days and sessions you are packing for. The liquids are key, especially in outdoor summer meets. Swimmers need LOTS of fluids.
- Activities…meet sessions can last for 3-5 hours easily, and if you have children in different age groups, it may be a long day, so make sure they have plenty to do to keep occupied. Games, playing cards, crosswords or word searches, books, or drawing pads, etc.
- Remember your Sharpie pen and Highlighter for event grids and heat sheets.
OK…the kids are ready now! What about US?
*Camera, video camera, extra batteries and memory cards or film whichever applies
*Foldable chairs. Think COMFORT!
*Activities…Not just for the kids…we need something to do during that hour between those 30-second long races.
*A map…just in case you are not familiar with the area of the meet. Mapquest.com is great for driving directions to the meets, or even the local sights there may be.
*Suntan lotion…this goes for young and old alike.
GO BLUEFINS! Look for more info coming soon.
BLUEFINS HOME SWIM MEET DO’S & DON’TS
*DO respect the Coaches only area, which is off-limits while meet is in progress. If you have a question for your swimmer’s Coach, please politely get their attention and ask to see them.
*DO stay clear of Starting Blocks area. This is off-limits to all parents while meet is in progress unless you are working a volunteer job that requires you to be there. This eliminates distractions from swimmers and keeps the area clear for Officials.
*DON’T linger in the Bullpen area (ages 10 & under). Drop your swimmers off in the bullpen area where the volunteers will see that they get to their races. This area is in constant fill and refill mode during the meet and must stay clear.
*DO make sure your swimmers go directly to their respective Coach after their event is over for instruction and support. Afterward, you can hug them all you wish!
*DO VOLUNTEER to work each and every home meet in some job position.
*DON’T argue with an Official about a judges call. If you have a dispute, find your Coach and they will 1.) decide if there is a reason to dispute 2.) discuss with the official for clarification. Officials are volunteers, and also Parents of other swimmers. Treat them as you would wish to be treated yourself.
*DO cheer for ALL Bluefin swimmers in a sportsmanlike manner.
*DON’T cheer against another team or swimmer. Remember while you are watching the races…all these young people are trying their very best and want nothing more than parent approval. That is ALL the swimmers…not just your own. For every victory, there are several defeats and that is hard enough to handle without scorn of an opposing parent.
*DO treat the pool deck with respect, keeping it neat and clean as possible during and AFTER the meet. Everyone is expected to help clean up after the meet is over.
*DO give your swimmer ALL the love and support you can after they have talked to the Coaches. Swimming is a very mentally and physically demanding sport. If your swimmer has FUN at the meets and is encouraged by you…they will stick with it and reach higher levels of success as well.
LAST ONE
*DO RELAX and ENJOY yourself. Swim meets are a fun and exciting event for the whole family. If you are smiling, it is likely that your swimmer will feel that way as well!
Have fun everyone and GO FINS!
Rookie’s – First Swim Meet Information!
Things to bring:
*Sharpie permanent marker
*Highlighter
*Extra towels
*Blanket for comfort on the hard concrete
*Foldable chairs, if desired
*Toys/books to pass the time. Suggestions – crossword puzzles, drawing pads, etc.
Things to Know!
*Get a heat sheet (Cost is $5-10; a MUST for swim meets.)
*Highlight your child’s name and their events.
Make the following grid:
E |
H |
L |
S |
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E=Event; H=Heat; L=Lane; S=Stroke
Now fill in your child’s information. Sample below:
E |
H |
L |
S |
12 |
1 |
4 |
25 Free |
25 |
2 |
2 |
50 Back |
37 |
1 |
5 |
100 Free Relay |
*Write this information on your child … their hand, thigh, etc. Keep yours handy too … either on your heat sheet or written on you. This will really keep you on top of things so your child doesn’t miss a race.
*When your child’s event is called to the “bull pen”, please make sure they get there. Volunteers and coaches take care of the rest. There are usually several hundred children at these meets so we really need your help getting them to the bullpen. Coaches couldn’t possibly get everyone where they need to go. Coaches need to be at the starts and finishes.
Turn over for more information ®
*After each race, your child must go see the Coach at the coach’s table. Coach Weeks wants to make this a habit for the swimmer after every race. This is where he/she will get their praise, see their time and be instructed on what to work on for their stroke to improve next time.
What to eat!
*You want to make sure your swimmer eats a light breakfast. NO GREASY FOODS! We don’t need sick swimmers in the pool! Also, NO MILK on race days. Suggestions are dry cereal, fruit, toast, and juice. Bring light snacks for the meet. Again, dry cereal is great or fruit and fruit chews, Powerbars, etc. Bring Gatorade or water (no carbonated beverages). A concession stand will also be open for drinks, etc.
*There will be a place to purchase swimsuits, goggles, t-shirts and such. Many times you can get swim suits half price and they make great practice suits.
*An area for times will be displayed during the meet so you can get your child’s final times and rankings. You may also view your child’s time on the electronic scoreboard immediately at the end of their race (before the next one begins).
*If your child is disqualified, don’t worry. This is just a start! All we are looking for them to do at the first meet is finish and have a good time. Be supportive of your child’s efforts and let’s all have fun!
Have fun And Good Luck,
Your Rookie Coaches
Bluefins Pin Instructions
Dear Bluefin Parents:
For those who are not familiar with the Pay on-line system for Carrollton Parks and Rec, here is a brief instruction of how to use it.
- Call the CPRCAD at (770)832-1161 and tell them you are a Bluefin parent and need a PIN number.
- Go online to www.cprcad.org
- For paying monthly dues, follow the instructions from there.
- If you wish to pay for swim meets in that manner…you need to get the bar-code for those events from the same phone number as above. They can give you a code for every meet throughout the rest of the short course season ending in April.
If you have any trouble navigating, the office staff at the Rec can assist you.
Sincerely,
David Weeks, Head Coach
Mark McCormick, Board Treasurer
Deb Pierce, Board President
