1 New Member Short Course 13/14 Season Information Packet
Transcription
1 New Member Short Course 13/14 Season Information Packet
1 New Member Short Course 13/14 Season Information Packet Thank you for your interest in Viper Aquatics’ 2013-2014 season. This packet contains information for families and swimmers that are new to Viper Aquatics. Important information to check out in this packet: --How to Register for the Team (p. 1) --Important Dates (p. 1) --Fees (p. 2) --Team Suit Requirement (p. 3) --Practice and Meet Schedules (p. 4-6) --Payment Plan Descriptions (p. 7-8) -- Volunteering/Meet Hosting (p. 9) --Your Viper Commitment Summary—Very Important Information (p. 10) --The New Parent Checklist—A Good Checklist to Make Sure Your Swimmer is Ready for the Season (p. 11) --General Information about Viper Aquatics/Swimming/Swim Meets (p. 12-14) How to Register for the Team: To register your swimmer(s), please go to: www.viperaquatics.org. You will find a menu on the left side of the page, click on “Registration” and follow the directions in order to register. --Registration for new members* may be completed at any time on or after September 1st, 2013. *If you have been a member of a Westfield club swimming team at any point, please contact our team registrar at [email protected] before registering as a “new” member. Important Dates for the Winter Season—Please Mark Your Calendars: 08/28/13 (Wed); 08/29/13 (Thur) New Swimmer Evaluations 6-7pm @ WHS 09/3/13 (Tues) 09/09/13 (Mon) First Practice—King Cobras First Practice—Sea Snakes, Rattlers, Copperheads (1 & 2), Diamondbacks 10/4-6/13 (Fri, Sat, Sun) VIPER/Noblesville October Invitational @ Noblesville High School --Note: We are co-hosting this meet with Noblesville. All families are required to work at least three sessions. Welcome to a new season. Thank you for choosing to be a part of our great community. Together we can accomplish great things! 2 New Member Short Course 13/14 Season Information Packet Fees: There are 4 types of expenses you will typically incur as a swim parent—here is a brief explanation of each type. Registration Fees: $145 for each swimmer. --Included in this fee: --$57 USA Swimming Registration which includes secondary accident insurance, eligibility to enter swim meets, eligibility to enter swim meets, bi-monthly issues of Splash magazine, eligibility to participate in USA Swimming and Indiana Swimming programs such as camps. --$10 towards your first Viper Aquatics team shirt and cap. --The remainder is applied to Westfield Washington Schools’ facility usage fees. Training/Practice Fees: These fees vary by group, and can be paid either in monthly installments or as a onetime payment each season. Your child will be placed in the group our coaches feel best suits their ability. Meet Entry Fees: Swimmers are responsible for paying entry fees to all competitions in which they are entered. These fees vary depending on type of competition and the number of events entered and generally range from $20-$40 per meet. Meet entry fees are calculated by Viper Aquatics, and are automatically applied to your monthly bill. Apparel Costs: Viper Aquatics requires all swimmers to compete in Viper competitive gear. This includes a Viper suit and cap for all competitors, male and female. Our team provider typically does one on-deck fitting per season; please take advantage of this opportunity and save yourself a trip to the swim shop. Please see the following page for more information on our apparel expectations. Multi-swimmer Discounts and Scholarship Opportunities: We strive to make this an enjoyable, and affordable, experience for your family. Discounts: Sibling Discounts: Viper applies a 15% discount in training fees for the second swimmer in a family. Viper applies a 30% discount in training fees for the third swimmer in a family. Viper applies a 100% discount in training fees for the fourth (and 5th, 6th, etc.) swimmer in a family. Discounts are applied from the highest-fee group to the lowest-fee-group. Discounts are not applied to registration fees and/or meet fees. Scholarship Program: Viper Aquatics offers a scholarship program with reduced fees for families that qualify financially. Please see the “More Information” section on our website for information about this program. 3 New Member Short Course 13/14 Season Information Packet Apparel expectations: At Practice: Swimmers may practice in any practice suit they choose, however if a swimmer wears a cap in practice, it must be a Viper cap. Any variation in this policy must come from the head coach. At Meets: We expect Viper athletes to compete in Viper competitive gear. This includes a Viper suit and Viper cap for all competitors, male and female. During the regular, non-championship, season there will be few (if any) exceptions to this rule; we compete as a team! If a swimmer wishes to wear any suit other than a Viper suit, they must first have the permission of their coach. During championship meets, swimmers may wear competition suits other than their Viper suits—but only after having discussed it with their coach. Wearing the same suit and cap serves two purposes: it furthers team unity, and it helps coaches and parents easily identify Viper swimmers on deck. Other Apparel Requirements and Options: Viper T-shirt: All swimmers are expected to have a Viper t-shirt (team logo on the front, “Tenacity— Integrity” on the back). All new swimmers receive this t-shirt as part of the registration process. Additional t-shirts are available through the Apparel Committee. Viper Swim Cap: All swimmers are expected to wear a Viper cap during competitions and at practice when a swim cap is worn. New swimmers receive a Viper cap at registration. Additional caps are available from Coach Jim or Coach Kyle. All Viper swimmers are expected to wear a Viper shirt when they show up on deck at a swim meet. We also have other great apparel options that are encouraged, but not mandatory—please feel free to contact our Apparel Committee for further information. Equipment: Viper Aquatics provides paddles, kickboards, and pull buoys to swimmers. The Copperhead, Diamondback, and Cobra groups have a list of recommended additional equipment found on our team page at www.circlecityswimwear.com. Copperhead & Diamondback Groups: Fins and Mesh Bag Cobra Group: Tempo trainer, fins, mesh bag, and snorkel. All WHS swimmers will be required to have this equipment during the high school season as well. Apparel and equipment expectations are taken seriously. They are an outward reflection of the order and class of our team. Team members are expected to understand and follow this policy. 4 New Member Short Course 13/14 Season Information Packet Viper Winter 2013-2014 Practice Schedule (This is a good page to print out!) All practices will take place at either Westfield High School (WHS) or Westfield Middle School (WMS). Sea Snakes Monday: 5:45-6:45pm, WHS Wednesday: 5:45-6:45pm, WHS Friday: 5:30-6:30pm, WMS Rattlers Monday: 5:45-7:00pm, WMS Wednesday: 5:45-7:00pm, WMS Friday: 5:30-6:45pm, WHS Copperhead 1 Monday: 6:45-8:30pm, WHS Wednesday: 6:45-8:30pm, WHS Friday: 6:30-8:15pm, WMS Saturday: 9:00-11:00am, WHS (intend as make-up or additional practice opportunity) (10am-12pm during the WHS high school season) Copperhead 2 Monday: 6:45-8:30pm, WHS Tuesday: 6:00-8:00pm, WHS Thursday: 6:00-8:00pm, WHS Friday: 6:30-8:15pm, WMS Saturday: 9:00-11:00am, WHS (intend as make-up or additional practice opportunity) (10am-12pm during the WHS high school season) Diamondbacks Monday: 6:30-8:30pm, WMS Wednesday: 6:30-8:30pm, WMS Friday: 6:15-8:15pm, WHS Tuesday: 6:00-8:00pm, WHS Thursday: 6:00-8:00pm, WHS Saturday: 9:00-11:00am, WHS (10am-12pm during the WHS season) King Cobras (before and after high school season)—All practices are at WHS. Monday: 3:15-5:45pm Tuesday: 5:30-6:45am (WHS off-season); 3:15-5:45pm Wednesday: 3:15-5:45pm Thursday: 5:30-6:45am (WHS o.s.); 3:15-5:45pm Friday: 3:15-5:45pm Saturday: 7:00-9:00am PRACTICE SCHEDULE SUBJECT TO CHANGE! Please check for updates through your email and our website: www.viperaquatics.org 5 New Member Short Course 13/14 Season Information Packet Winter 2013-2014 Meet Schedule: Oct 4-6, 2013: Hamilton County Classic Noblesville High School (Noblesville, IN) (Timed Finals) Decline Deadline: 9/13/13 Notes for the Hamilton County Classic: We are co-hosting this meet with the Noblesville Swim Club. All families are required to work in some capacity for 3 sessions of the meet, and all swimmers who are ready to compete will be automatically signed up for all applicable sessions. If there is a conflict in your schedule, please let us know through our online meet sign-up systems by 9/13/13 at midnight. Oct 18, 2013: Viper Friday Night Time Trial Westfield High School (Westfield, IN) (Timed Finals) Entry Deadline: 10/14/2013 Notes for the Viper Friday Night Time Trial: This is a time trial meet we are hosting at WHS on a Friday night. Any swimmer who normally practices on Friday night is encouraged to attend. These meets are a great opportunity for our younger swimmers to get experience, or for our more experienced swimmers to try out some new events. We will not hold regular practices on this night—we will only hold the time trial meet. During this meet, swimmers will be allowed to swim up to 3 individual events. We will need parent volunteer help; if your swimmer is participating in the meet, please volunteer. Nov 8-10, 2013: Noblesville Icebreaker Invite Noblesville High School (Noblesville, IN) (Timed Finals) Entry Deadline: 9/30/13 Notes for the Noblesville Icebreaker Invite: All members are encouraged to attend. This will be the last meet for high school swimmers that doesn’t require an IHSAA waiver. A note on our December meets: We only intend for any swimmer to attend one of the following meets. Due to our high school schedule, the FAST Santa Claus Classic does not fit very well for our Cobra swimmers. So, we are offering a second meet in December for Cobra swimmers to better fit their needs. We recommend that our younger swimmers (Sea Snakes, Rattlers, Copperheads, and Diamondbacks) all swim at the FAST meet. We would like our Cobra (high school aged) swimmers to compete at the Warren meet the following weekend. To avoid splitting up your family between the two meets, if you have a high school swimmer as well as younger swimmers, please take them all to the Warren meet. If you have questions regarding this—please don’t hesitate to contact your child’s coach to work out the best meet schedule for your children. Dec 6-8, 2013: FAST Santa Claus Classic Fishers High School (Fishers, IN) (Prelims/Finals) Entry Deadline: 10/27/13 Notes for the FAST Santa Claus Classic: This is typically a big meet. Fishers will run two pools during prelims, and one pool during finals. All swimmers in the Sea Snakes, Rattlers, Copperheads, and Diamondbacks are encouraged to attend. Dec 13-15, 2013: Warren Winter Wipeout Warren Central High School (Indianapolis, IN) (Timed Finals) Entry Deadline: 10/27/13 Notes for the Warren Winter Wipeout: This event is for high-school-aged swimmers and their siblings—this meet is a good opportunity to use a waiver and will be swum in a timed finals format. This will be an early-winter focus meet for our older swimmers. 6 New Member Short Course 13/14 Season Information Packet Winter 2013-2014 Meet Schedule, continued: Jan 3, 2014: Viper Friday Night Time Trial Westfield High School (Westfield, IN) (Timed Finals) Entry Deadline: 12/20/2013 Notes for the Viper Friday Night Time Trial: This meet will follow the same format at our 10/18/13 time trial. Jan 17-19, 2014, Zionsville Z-Freeze Invite Zionsville High School (Zionsville, IN) (Timed Finals) Entry Deadline: 12/20/2013 Notes for the Z-Freeze: This meet is a closed invite (5 teams total). Any swimmer that practices in the evening groups is encouraged to attend. Feb 14-16, 2014, Avon Aquasprints Avon High School (Avon, IN) (Timed Finals) Entry Deadline: 12/20/2013 Notes for the Aquasprints: All evening practice groups are encouraged to attend this meet; attendance at this meet is strongly suggested for those competing in championship meets in March. Mar 2, 2014: FAST 10&U Invite and Time Trials Fishers High School (Fishers, IN) (Timed Finals) Entry Deadline: 2/1/2014 Notes for the FAST 10&U Invite and Time Trial: For all 10&U swimmers with no championship cuts—this will be your last meet of the season. All 11&Over swimmers still seeking cuts are encouraged to participate in the time trial right after the meet. Swimmers with Age Group State Cuts—this would be a great opportunity to stay “tuned up” for your championship meet. Mar 7-9, 2014: Divisional Championships North Central High School (Indianapolis, IN) (Prelims/Finals) Entry Deadline: This meet has qualification standards; all qualified swimmers will be signed up for their events. Mar 14-16, 2014: Age Group State Champs. IU Natatorium (Indianapolis, IN) (Prelims/Finals) Entry Deadline: This meet has qualification standards; all qualified swimmers will be signed up for their events. Mar 21-23, 2014: Senior State Championships Crawfordsville High School (Crawfordsville, IN) (Prelims/Finals) Entry Deadline: This meet has qualification standards; all qualified swimmers will be signed up for their events. Some Senior State qualifiers will skip this meet and attend the Sectional Championship meet instead—this will be decided on a case-by-case basis. Mar 27-30, 2014: Sectional Championships IU Natatorium (Indianapolis, IN) (Prelims/Finals) Entry Deadline: This meet has qualification standards; all qualified swimmers will be signed up for their events. This meet will be swum in Long Course Meters. Please see our team website, www.viperaquatics.org, for the most up-to-date information throughout the season regarding our meet schedule. 7 New Member Short Course 13/14 Season Information Packet Training Fee Payment Schedule We have two payment options (see schedules on the following pages): Monthly Payment Plan: Viper Aquatics has two seasons each year: Short Course (Winter) and Long Course (Summer). --When you join in the fall (Winter Season/Short Course Season), you are committing to paying all training fees through March 1, 2014. In addition to the registration fee, all groups (except King Cobra) pay training fees on the first of October, November, December, January and February. In addition to the registration fee, the King Cobra Group pays training fees on the first of October, November and March. --At the conclusion of the Winter Season, you will have the option to continue your membership through the Summer Season. You will not pay registration fees again at that time. Monthly Training Fee Payment Schedule—Winter 2013/2014 Training REG.* First Swimmer Full Price Sea Snakes Rattlers Copperhead 1 Copperhead 2 Diamondbacks King Cobra Second Swimmer 15% Discount Sea Snakes Rattlers Copperhead 1 Copperhead 2 Diamondbacks King Cobra Third Swimmer 30% Discount Sea Snakes Rattlers Copperhead 1 Copperhead 2 Diamondbacks King Cobra SEPT. OCT. NOV. 145 145 145 145 145 145 90 112 124 136 148 166 90 112 124 136 148 166 REG.* SEPT. OCT. NOV. 145 145 145 145 145 145 77 95 105 116 126 141 77 95 105 116 126 141 REG.* SEPT. OCT. NOV. 145 145 145 145 145 145 63 78 87 95 104 116 63 78 87 95 104 116 DEC. 90 112 124 136 148 Fees JAN. 90 112 124 136 148 FEB. MARCH Totals 166 595 705 765 825 885 643 MARCH Totals 141 530 620 670 725 775 568 MARCH Totals 116 460 535 580 620 665 493 90 112 124 136 148 Training DEC. Fees JAN. FEB. 77 95 105 116 126 77 95 105 116 126 77 95 105 116 126 Training DEC. Fees JAN. FEB. 63 78 87 95 104 63 78 87 95 104 63 78 87 95 104 8 New Member Short Course 13/14 Season Information Packet One-Time Payment Plan: Members may opt to pay their training fees in a one-time payment for the season. Payments are due October 1, 2013 for the short course season and are processed via our online payment system. Members who choose this plan receive a 10% discount on training fees. Members on this plan are still considered “Seasonal,” and must declare their intent to swim each season by re-registering. Choose “One-Time” for your “Location” when you register to pay in this manner. One-Time Training Fee Payment Schedule—Winter 2013/2014 Reg Fees Due Oct 1, for Swimmer #: Group: Sept. 1 1st 2nd 3rd 4th+ Sea Snakes 145 405 347 284 0 Rattlers 145 504 428 351 0 Copperhead 1 145 558 473 392 0 Copperhead 2 145 613 522 428 0 Diamondbacks 145 665 567 468 0 King Cobra 145 448 381 313 0 Joining After the Start of the Season: New members joining on or before October 31, 2013 may choose either of the following options: Monthly--You will pay your registration fees at sign-up (online), and your remaining training fees as they come due on the first of each month. One-Time Payment--You will pay your registration fees at sign-up (online), and pro-rated training fees, which will be applied automatically to your Viper account on the next first of the month after your sign-up. New members joining on or after November 1, 2013 must pay a one-time pro-rated sum for training fees. Online Payment: Automated Payment Processing Viper families must pay all training fees and charges online with a VISA or Mastercard or Discover, or through Automated Bank Withdrawal. When you register you have the option to set this up, or you can set this up through your online Viper website account (once you log in, click “Set up Auto Pay” on the left-hand side of the screen). All meet and training fees (as well as incidentals or fines, if necessary) will be run through our website. Please see a Viper Board Member if you have questions regarding this policy. Summer 2014 Training Fees At the end of March 2014, all current members will be given the opportunity to declare their intent to remain active members through the Summer Season. At that time, you will commit to either (1) three monthly payments in the months of May, June, and July, or (2) a one-time payment equivalent to the amount of the monthly payment plan at a 10% discount, due May 1, 2014. You may choose either payment option regardless of your previous payment option. 9 New Member Short Course 13/14 Season Information Packet Viper Aquatics Hosted Meets Volunteer Policy Viper Aquatics normally hosts one meet per season. Our 2013-2014 short course season meet is scheduled for October 4-6th, 2013. The meets provide quality competitive opportunities for our swimmers and opportunities for parents to become involved in our organization and support their children, and to promote and build the Viper community. The hosted meets are a significant source of revenue for the club, enabling us to maintain a reasonable fee structure while providing the highest quality program possible. By joining our team each family is committing to volunteer for 3 working sessions per team member at each VIPER-hosted meet. This responsibility is yours even if your child does not compete in the meet. Sign-up sheets for specific jobs and times will be available online in the month preceding the meet. If you know ahead of time that you will be unable to participate or volunteer in a meet, please contact the Meet Director at least one month before the meet, as there are usually ways to fulfill your requirement ahead of time. Families who are unable or unwilling to honor this commitment will be assessed a $35.00 financial penalty per family per session to ensure that we can provide adequate staffing at the meets and achieve our budget. 10 New Member Short Course 13/14 Season Information Packet A Quick Commitment Summary Viper Aquatics makes important decisions based on your commitment, including the recruitment, hiring and scheduling of coaches, the allotment of pool time for each group, and the reservation of and payment for pool time. When you join Viper Aquatics, please keep in mind that you are committing to the following for the season: (1) Timely payment of your dues through our automatic payment system. All members must pay their registration and training fees, as well as incidental costs (such as meet fees or apparel) incurred during the season, in this manner. Your child may not participate in any Viper practices until you have entered this information into our website. If, for some reason (such as an expired credit card or inaccurate payment information), payment is not made on the first of the month in which it is due, your child may not participate in Viper practices until a check for the amount due is received at the pool office. (2) Full payment of your Viper fees according to the amounts set forth in this packet. We offer two payment schedules as a convenience to our members—but your completed registration through our team website is your indication that you intend to pay your dues in full. There are two exceptions to this rule: New members: New members are granted a two-week trial period. If at the end of the trial period you would like to terminate your relationship with Viper Aquatics, you may do so by contacting the Head Coach with a formal request via email. Viper Aquatics will keep your registration fees, and you will be released from all further financial obligations. Injury/Illness: “Should a member swimmer suffer an injury or illness that prevents him/her from practicing, the Club will refund a pro-rated portion of the season (100% of the weeks missed swimming) minus the $50 handling fee. This amount will be issued in the form of a refund to the family unless otherwise determined by the Viper Board. Further requirements are: 1. A refund requires a doctor’s note. 2. The swimmer must miss more than ½ of the season to qualify for any refund. 3. At a minimum, Viper keeps the normal withdrawal-handling fee. 4. The request must be made before the season in question is over.” (3) Purchase of appropriate apparel and equipment for your child’s group. All Viper swimmers must have a fitting ‘Tenacity and Integrity’ t-shirt as well a Viper team suit and cap. Any exceptions to this rule must come from your child’s coach. Some of our higher groups have equipment expectations, and for your child to fully participate in their group’s workouts, they should have the proper equipment with them at all practices. (4) Volunteering at least three sessions of the Hamilton County Classic Invitational and at other Viper hosted meets is mandatory. This obligation is your family’s whether or not your child is participating in the meet. 11 New Member Short Course 13/14 Season Information Packet The New Parent Checklist! Please use this list to help ensure that you get your child ready for the season. Before your child’s first practice, please make sure to do the following: (1) Register online at www.viperaquatics.org. On the left-hand side of the page, click “Start Registration,” and follow the online instructions. Please be sure to use a contact email for your account that you check often. Done! ☐ (2) Set up some form of automatic payment through our team website. This will allow us to consistently and accurately bill your account on the first of each month. You may use a credit card or bank account for this secure payment system. Done! ☐ (3) Submit the IN Swimming Registration Form. The form is available in electronic format on our website under the “Winter 2013” menu tab, and it is available in hard copy format at our WHS pool office. Once your have filled out the form, please drop it off in the black and gold mailbox in the WHS pool office. (A couple of useful pieces of information as you fill out the form: our team code is “VIPR”; also, please be sure to sign the form.) Done! ☐ (4) If you are transferring from another USA Swimming team, please submit the IN Swimming Transfer Form. The form is available in electronic format on our website under the “Winter 2013” menu tab, and it is available in hard copy format at our WHS pool office. Once your have filled out the form, please drop it off in the black and gold mailbox in the WHS pool office. If you are unsure when your child’s last meets were with their previous team—we can help you with that information! Done! ☐ By the end of your child’s second week at practice, please make sure to do the following: (1) Submit a proof of identification/age for your child. Information regarding acceptable forms is available in electronic format on our website under the “Winter 2013” menu tab, and it is available in hard copy format at our WHS pool office. Please photocopy the relevant information (usually a birth certificate, passport, or driver’s license), and either drop of the copy in the black and gold mailbox in the WHS pool office or email the scanned copy to [email protected]. Done! ☐ (2) Order your child’s team suit. You can order online (http://www.circlecityswimwear.com) or over the phone (317 849-0900) with Circle City Swimwear, or take advantage of our on-deck fitting on Monday, September 16th, 2013. Done! ☐ (3) Order the equipment needed for your child’s practice group. You can order online (http://www.circlecityswimwear.com) or over the phone (317 849-0900) with Circle City Swimwear, or take advantage of our on-deck visit from the shop on Monday, September 16th, 2013. If you order ahead, they can bring your order to WHS for pick-up on 9/16/13. Done! ☐ 12 New Member Short Course 13/14 Season Information Packet Viper Aquatics Club Information Where do we train? Viper Aquatics trains at Westfield High School and Westfield Middle School. Each of these facilities contains a six-lane, 25-yard pool. At either facility, please enter the building through Door #13. Practice Group Levels Viper Aquatics uses a progressive multi-level team structure designed to challenge each swimmer’s development physically and mentally. At each level all swimmers are encouraged to achieve the objectives and goals set out by the swimmer and coach. This structure promotes long-term success and enjoyment of the sport of swimming. The coaching staff realizes each child is different and progresses at their own individual rate. All team assignments are made by the coaches and are based on a new swimmer tryout and the physical and emotional development of the swimmer. Sea Snakes: Three 1-hour practices per week, Monday, Wednesday, and Friday evenings. Rattlers: Three 1.25 hour practices per week, Monday, Wednesday, and Friday evenings. Copperhead 1: Three 1.75 hour practices per week, Monday, Wednesday, and Friday evenings. There is a Saturday practice for this group from 9-11am that is intended as a “make-up” practice or an additional practice opportunity for those getting ready to move up to the next practice group level. As determined by their coach, practices will have regular dryland. Copperhead 2: Four 1.75—2 hour practices per week, Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday evenings. There is a Saturday practice for this group from 9-11am that is intended as a “makeup” practice or an additional practice opportunity for those getting ready to move up to the next practice group level. As determined by their coach, practices will have regular dryland. Diamondbacks: Six 2 hour practices per week, Monday-Saturday. As determined by their coach, practices will have regular dryland. King Cobras: Eight 2-2.5 hour practices per week, Monday-Saturday. As determined by their coach, practices will have regular dryland. WHS’s off-season schedule will be incorporated into this group. Group Structuring We want to enable all the swimmers to realize their potential and to be in a group that best matches their abilities and goals. Our physical and mental training programs are geared to bring about individual improvement in several areas. The harder and more consistently a swimmer trains in each of these areas, the better they will condition themselves for peak performance. Through that development process, the swimmer will change their body and swim faster. The degree a swimmer is “conditioned” depends on the type, amount, and quality of the training that he/she may have done. Each time stress is placed on the body, the body attempts to adapt to this stress by changing itself. Improvement Areas 1. Water Conditioning (Speed/Endurance) 2. Mental Training And Race Preparation 3. Stroke, Turn and Start Technique 4. Strength Development 5. Flexibility 13 New Member Short Course 13/14 Season Information Packet All team members must realize that the body changes and adapts to changes in direct correlation to the effort and consistency put into the training. These changes most commonly come very slowly, and there are no short cuts. This is true for all athletes, regardless of age. Many times the younger swimmer is learning to focus on perfecting strokes and becoming comfortable with the sport. Alternatively, the older more experienced swimmer focuses on a more physically demanding training schedule. Both ages, however, will find that their success is directly related to a consistent and focused approach to their sport. Expectations 1. Always be punctual. This is rule #1 for a reason. Time is the most important resource any of us have! Honor your time and the time of your family and coaches, and show respect through being punctual. 2. Train to your limits. Give 100% each day--there is no such thing as 110% one day to make up for lackadaisical effort another day. Make everything you do count. 3. Use the pace clock. Don’t guess how fast you are swimming—know how fast you are swimming. 4. Start and finish every swim at the wall. 5. Listen – No talking when directions are being given. 6. Perform every set and drill exactly as stated. 100% right is 100% right; 99% right is 100% wrong. 7. Do every stroke and turn legally. 8. Learn to enjoy a hard challenging practice since this is what helps you reach your potential. 9. Always have the necessary equipment including an extra cap and goggles. 10. Have fun! 11. You may review additional code of conduct policies required of all USA Swimming members at www.usaswimming.org. Policies Regarding Practice **Viper Aquatics does not have a set attendance policy. As with most athletic activities, competition will improve as practice time increases. Your coaching staff spends a great deal of time preparing a practice schedule that caters to the variety of ages and ability levels. The coaching staff will take attendance on a daily basis so that the progress of each athlete can be tracked. **Swimmers should arrive at the pool practice facility no earlier than 15 minutes prior to their workout time and should be picked up no later than 15 minutes after practice time is over. This is for their safety. **In order to continue the good relationship that we currently have with the Westfield Washington Schools, no swimmers are allowed in any areas of the schools other than the workout facilities and the halls that lead to them. It is also extremely important for siblings of swimmers, as well as any other young children involved with the team, to be under constant adult supervision. **While at practice, swimmers are the responsibility of the coaching staff. During workouts, swimmers are not to leave the pool area without the coach’s permission. **Viper Aquatics is the guest of the Westfield Washington School District, and it is our responsibility to respect this privilege. Any damage to school property may result in the financial liability of the swimmer’s family. Any damage may also result in the swimmer being asked to leave the team permanently. **Viper practices are extremely important. Therefore if the parent needs to speak to a coach, please plan to do so before or after the practice, do not interrupt the coach during a practice. The coach’s responsibility is to the swimmer. When the attention is taken away from the swimmer the coach is not able to do their job. **Promptness is a must for practices to be worthwhile. 14 New Member Short Course 13/14 Season Information Packet Swimmer Code of Conduct **Smoking, the use of alcoholic beverages and drugs are not conducive to good swimming performance and will not be tolerated. Any swimmer who is known to use alcohol, drugs, or tobacco is subject to suspension from the team. **Unsportsmanlike, indiscreet, or destructive behavior and the use of obscene language will not be tolerated. **Never interfere with the progress of another swimmer. **At all club activities, swimmers are expected to behave in a manner that will reflect positively on the entire team. Always behave in a way that would make your parents proud—and your coach feel like everything is business as usual. **At away meets (senior swimmers), curfews and travel rules will be obeyed unless a swimmer has received permission from the coach for an extension or special exemption. **Never show disrespect to people working or officiating at a meet. Always be polite and let the coach handle any problems. **Lastly, and most importantly, remember that you are the member of a TEAM that is referred to as Viper Aquatics. Our success depends on the unity and dedication we have to not only becoming better ourselves, but helping our teammates become better as well. The friendships and camaraderie of our teammates is priceless, and nothing should be done to harm this bond. Website Please check www.viperaquatics.org for the current important club information. Your coach can answer questions regarding meet requirements. Our club website also has current board members, the club by-laws, coaches bios, email & contact information, photo galleries, and all other information to keep you up to date on Viper Aquatics. Check it often to stay informed!