A few reminders 13 and ups will need to arrive 15 minutes early to stretch and help get the ropes in place. Please be there at 0715—you will swim right up to 0900.

 8 and under please be there at 0845 to start stretching. You will be in the water until 0945.

9-10 please be there at 0930---you will be in the water by 0945 and swim until 1045

11-13 please be there by 1030---you will be in the water by 1045 and swim until 1200. (sorry—we will be updating the website to say 1200---not 1145)

2009 CHAMBERLAIN SWIM TEAM

Dear Swimmers and Parents:

            The goals and guidelines that govern the Chamberlain Swim Team (CST) are listed below. Please read and discuss them with your swimmer(s) and sign the acknowledgment at the bottom of the page.   Return a signed copy to the coach during the first week of practice.  Swimmers will not be allowed to practice after the first week until they return a signed acknowledgement. Two copies are being provided so you will have one to refer to during the season.  Please note that all policies and procedures are subject to change, and the Swim Team Board has final authority on decisions regarding these guidelines.

1)         ATTENDANCE AND EXCUSED ABSENCES

Regular attendance is essential to building a quality team. In order to participate in swim meets, each swimmer must be in regular attendance at scheduled practices.  The coach must have notification from parents for all absences. 

EXCUSED ABSENCES: vacations, camps, medical appointments, driver’s ed., etc. – Parent must send note prior to.

UNEXCUSED ABSENCES / SKIPS:  When a swimmer misses practice without advance notice or for an unjustified reason, the absence will be considered an unexcused absence, or skip.  If a swimmer has an unexcused absence/skip, it is the swimmer’s/parent’s responsibility to notify the coach immediately upon the swimmer’s return to practice. Excessive unexcused absences may result in suspension or removal of the swimmer from further practice or competition for the remainder of the summer, to be decided by the coach and CST board. 

2)         BEING ON TIME FOR PRACTICES

Tardiness is not acceptable. Swimmers are expected to show up 15 minutes before practice officially starts.   If a swimmer must be late, they are encouraged to let the coach know ahead of time. If a swimmer arrives after attendance has been taken, the swimmer is considered tardy.  If a coach believes that a swimmer is excessively tardy, the swimmer will be asked to leave and the tardiness will be counted as an unexcused absence. See #1 above.  Excessive tardiness may result in suspension or removal of the swimmer from further practice or competition for the remainder of the summer, to be decided by the coach and CST board. 

3)                   TEAM CAPTAINS

Team Captains may be selected for each age group prior to the first scheduled meet.  In the event that Team Captains are chosen, responsibilities are to assist the coaches with various duties during practice and in providing leadership for the team.  The Team Captains will lead stretches and assist with taking attendance.  In the older age groups, they will also assist in ensuring that all swimmers share equally in the duties of preparing the pool in the morning (pool covers, pool cleaning, lane ropes, blocks, etc.).  Team Captains are to be treated with the same respect that coaches are given.

4)         PRACTICE IS FOR PRACTICING – DISCIPLINE PROBLEMS

The following steps will be taken for all swimmers having discipline problems:  *First Offense – the child will sit out of the pool, but will stay at practice and watch-parents will be notified. *Second Offense – the child will be asked to leave and will be suspended from practice for the next 2 practice sessions-parents will be notified. Once asked to leave, the child will wait outside the fence for a ride or is expected to leave pool grounds. At this point, we will no longer be responsible for your child.  *Third Offense – the child will be asked to leave the pool and will be suspended from the team for the remainder of the season-parents will be notified. Discipline problems can include but are not limited to: inappropriate comments or language, inappropriate touching, teasing/bullying/harassment, poor attitude, refusing to do workouts, horseplay, insubordination, etc.  SAFETY for our swimmers is our main concern. It wastes the coaches’ time and is distracting for everyone involved to baby-sit a child who doesn’t want to be at swim team practice.

5)         TOBACCO OR ALCOHOL, ETC

Use of tobacco or alcohol will result in immediate disciplinary action.  The following steps will be taken: *First Offense – the swimmer will be required to attend practice, but will not swim for one week. Parents will be notified. *Second Offense – the swimmer will be suspended from the team for the remainder of the season. Parents will be notified. We are trying to help our swimmers be the best they can be. Use of tobacco and alcohol is not only harmful to a swimmer’s body, but also affects a swimmer’s performance.  It also slows down achievement of our team goals.

6)         SIGNING UP FOR MEETS

All swimmers must sign up for meets in writing. A sign up form will be sent home in advance and will include a response date. THESE FORMS MUST BE RETURNED TO THE COACH BY THE RESPONSE DATE STATED OR THE CHILD WILL NOT BE ABLE TO SWIM IN THAT MEET. THERE ARE NO EXCEPTIONS. *As a member of CST, each swimmer must compete in a minimum of two swim meets before 7/26/09, in order to qualify for Summer Team Championship Meet.  Swimmers that have not met this minimum requirement will end their season on July 26, 2009.  This will allow the coaches to work with the swimmers attending SD State Meet and Summer Team Championship Meet.

**All swimmers/parents are strongly encouraged to set the time aside to attend the Seasonal Champs meet as this is the common goal that swimmers and coaches are working toward during the summer. 

7)         NO COMPETE - Any registered swimmer of CST who wishes to swim competitively for another team or league between May 1 and August 31, must petition the board members in person with this request.  It is our belief that monies raised for CST are used to pay our coaches to prepare swimmers competitions in which CST will be competing as a team.  Any violation of this rule is grounds for immediate removal from the team.

8)         SWIM MEET EXPENSES

*CST will pay meet fee expenses for the Chamberlain Invitational Meet and the Summer Teams Championship Meet and two other meets during the season.  If a swimmer attends additional meets, the fees will be the responsibility of the swimmer. The cost for participation per swimmer/meet will be determined based upon location of meet and # of events per swimmer and final cost will be billed to swimmer/parent for immediate payment.

9)         SWIM EVENT SHEETS

Event sheets listing the events a swimmer is entered in will be given to every swimmer prior to each meet.  These events are final. If a swimmer needs to scratch an event they must pay a scratch fee. All decisions to scratch an event will be made by the coach. * Swimmers will be entered in events that the coach feels they are ready to compete in. For example, new swimmers may only be entered into the 50 meter freestyle and 50 meter backstroke for a swim meet if the coach feels that these are the only events the swimmer is ready for.

10)        SCRATCH FEES

Swimmers that do not swim an event because of illness, being late for a meet or not attending the meet will pay scratch fees.   The coach will record all scratch fees and a bill will be mailed to the parent/guardian. *Scratch fees must be paid immediately after receipt of the bill.  Swimmers will not be allowed to compete in following swim meets until all fees are paid.

11)        CONDUCT AT MEETS

When attending a swim meet, swimmers must be on time for warm-ups and swim the required warm-ups including specifics.  Swimmers must report for every event they are signed up for. A positive attitude and good sportsmanship is a must for all swimmers and their parents. CST is known throughout the State for our sportsmanship. Let’s keep this tradition.

12)        FUND RAISING

Swim families raise all the money needed to operate our team through fundraisers, donations and grants. This money covers the cost of our meet fees, equipment, insurance and coaching salaries, per diems, and other expenses. Average cost per swimmer for the swim season runs between $300.00 to 400.00 per summer. Your registration fee of $75.00 does not cover all expenses.

Various fundraisers are held throughout the summer and the entire year. Each swimmer must participate in the annual summer fundraiser, by raising the dollar amount set by the board or donating the set amount.  This requirement is per swimmer, not per household.  In addition, each swim family must participate in a minimum of one other fundraiser, not only through donation, but also by working at an event.   We need 100% participation at all fund raising events. Any new ideas for fundraising are greatly appreciated – let’s hear them!

Why fund raise? We strive to give opportunity for any child with the desire to swim competitively to join our team.  Chamberlain Swim Team Articles of Incorporation states: “The purpose for which the corporation is found, and the business and objects to be carried on and promoted by it as follows: (b) To provide this service to all youngsters regardless of race, creed, color or financial status. (c) To obtain funds by gift, devise, bequest, grants and fund raising to adequately maintain the team.”

13)        GRIEVANCES

CST board members and/or the coaching staff will work with parents to ensure a positive experience for all swimmers. If a concern should arise, please feel free to bring it to our attention after the last practice session of the day.  The coaching staff needs to work with the swimmers during practice and will not be available to discuss concerns during practice sessions.  This will help ensure that the coaching staff is able to devote their entire attention to our swimmers.  We also encourage parents to watch practice sessions from outside the fence to help avoid distractions.

14)        TEAM SWIMSUITS

CST’s team suit for meets is any one-piece plain black suit for the girls and black form fitting jammers for the boys. It is our goal to instill a sense of team pride as well as keep costs low for families, so any plain black suit, free of any embellishments, is acceptable. Every CST swimmer must wear a black swimsuit to all meets. 

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

We acknowledge we have read and understand these rules for CST

__________________________________________                                   ______________________________________

Swimmer’s Signature                                                                             Parent/Guardian Signature