General Information
SPA PARENTS’ ASSOCIATIONSWIMMING PROGRAMS
PRACTICES
WITHDRAWELS
SUMMER SWIM FEES
SWIM MEETS
HIGH SCHOOL SWIMMING
RELAY ASSIGNMENTS
DISQUALIFICATION (slang DQ)
MEET ETIQUETTE
TRAVEL
ANNUAL AWARDS & BANQUET
SPA PARENTS’ ASSOCIATIONNo organized youth activity can hope to succeed without the enthusiastic support, and work, of dedicated parents. SPA is no exception, and the Parents’ Association is the organization that takes care of the many details that go into the operation of the Club. To run a successful club we need every parent’s help and support. So when you receive that call, and you will, requesting volunteers for the next SPA sponsored swim meet or activity, please say yes!
Our Parents’ Association Board is comprised of nine Board members. (Please refer to the bylaws section concerning nomination and terms.) Each person serving on the board is obligated to attend the monthly board meetings and work with the various committees throughout his/her term of office. Club parents not currently serving on the board are always welcome to attend the board meetings. Committee chairmen are especially encouraged to attend. Look for meeting notices to be posted on the SPA Information Board or in the most recent newsletter.
A listing of officers, board members and committee chairmen along with phone numbers can be found on the contact page of the web site
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SWIMMING PROGRAMS
USA Swimming – USA Swimming is an organization that has jurisdiction over amateur swimmers in the United States. Every swimmer must be registered with United States Swimming. The USA Swimming athletes are the best swimmers in the United States, always ranking high in world competition. USA Swimming is divided into Local Swim Committees (LSC) for the purposes of competition and administration. Springfield Aquatics is a member of the Arkansas LSC, which includes all of Arkansas and the southwestern portion of Missouri. Several LSC’s make up a Region. We are part of Region 8, which is comprised of the Missouri Valley, Ozark, Oklahoma, and Arkansas LSCs.
USA Swimming Eligibility and Insurance Coverage – Because SPA is a USA Swimming club, your child must become a member and be registered with the Missouri Valley LSC. Springfield Aquatics collects the registration fees each fall for the following calendar year and processes the swimmer’s application for membership. Each swimmer will be issued a membership card and a membership number. The card is proof of membership, and the swimmer’s registration number is required on each meet entry filed by the club. Our current computer program automatically records the swimmer number.
Springfield Aquatics Swim Groups – Springfield Aquatics competes in AGE GROUP COMPETITIVE SWIMMING. Age group competitive swimming means that swimmers compete against swimmers as follows:
SEX – swimmers of the same sex compete against each other.
AGE – swimmers of the same age group compete against each other.
ABILITY – swimmers of the same ability level swim against each other
Swimmer movement from group to group is based upon a combination of a swimmer’s age, skill development and meet performance. Group changes usually take place at the end of each season (March and August). Swimmers and parents will be notified of any group movement during the last few weeks of each season.
When your swimmer competes in a sanctioned (approved by the governing body) meet he/she will swim with their age group. The age groups are defined as follows:
8 & Under
10 & Under
11-12 year olds
13-14 year olds
Seniors
You will find that at some meets swimmers are allowed to compete in a 12&Under and 13&Over format. Age divisions are determined by the host club. Swimmers may compete out of their age group in “Open” events or those listed specifically as Senior and do not place a minimum age requirement. In other words a 12 year old could swim in the 200 Fly (not offered for 11-12 year olds) as long as the event was “Open”. If the meet information lists the event as 13&Over, they would not be able to enter the event. If you have questions, please ask the meet entry person or review the meet information for that specific meet on our web site
It is always a good idea for 12&Under swimmers to discuss events with their coach if they would like to attempt longer distances not offered in their age group.
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PRACTICES
Please help us impress upon your swimmer that practice time is very important. Competitive swimming is unique among sports in that there is a provable relationship between the amount of practice and the level of performance. Because of this, each swimmer should strive to develop good practice discipline. This means that your swimmer is to be in the water and ready to go when the practice starts. This means that you, as a parent, must consider driving time, unloading time, and dressing time in order that your swimmer will be in the water ready to go when practice starts.
Practice schedules vary from season to season and from group to group. During the long course season (April through August) an arrangement is typically made with the Springfield Park Board to utilize the outdoor pool at Meador Park for some morning practices. Schedules are available on this web site, and posted outside the pool doors.
Cancellation Policy – Cancellations are announced on the Team Unify website and via email notification.
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WITHDRAWAL FROM CLUB
In accordance with our Financial Commitment Agreement, a swimmer must notify the business manager via an email through the Team Unify website Feedback Zone by the 15th of the month preceding the withdrawal. This includes injury-related issues, summer season, high school or just dropping out.
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SUMMER SWIM FEES
As stated previously, if you choose to take the summer off the club business manager must be notified via email prior to May 15th. Swimmers may withdraw for the summer months without paying dues under the following conditions.
1. The club must be notified, via emailing the business manager on the Team Unify website, prior to May 15th of your intention to withdraw.
2. If, at any time, you choose to return to the club during the summer to compete or practice, all three months will be due and payable upon your return.
When making the decision to participate during the summer or not, please keep in mind that ONLY SWIMMERS PARTICIPATING AND PAYING DUES IN BOTH SHORT AND LONG COURSE SEASONS WILL RECEIVE A TROPHY OR BE ELIGIBLE FOR AWARDS DURING THE AWARDS BANQUET (see explanation under Annual Awards Banquet).
High school seniors electing to swim with the club the summer prior to college are still responsible for fees as outlined in our Financial Commitment Agreement. This includes payment for June, July and August. College students that would like to swim during their summer’s home may due so without paying monthly fees. They will, however, be required to have a valid USA Registration and agree to pay any entry fees or other hard costs related to participation in a meet.
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SWIM MEETS
Short Course Season – Beginning in September and culminating with the ASI Championship meet in early March. Short Course meets compete in a 25-yard indoor pool. Our SPA sponsored “Halloween Classic” is typically the club’s first short course meet of the season.
Long Course Season – Beginning immediately following short course and finishing with the ASI Championship meet in early August. Long Course competes in a 50-meter pool. Typically, we will compete in outdoor pools but on occasion we will swim at a larger indoor facility.
Volunteers – A swim meet can’t run without the assistance of a wide range of volunteers. Please give your time generously when timers and officials are requested at a home or away meet. Championship meets typically require timers from each club to volunteer.
The Taper – The focal meets of both the short and long course seasons are the Division Championships held in March and August. To do our best at these meets is the main goal of each season.
It is not unusual for swimmers to gain time in the middle of a season if they are training unusually hard and are possibly swimming muscle tired before the tapering reduction begins.
The tapering periods begin two to three weeks before these big meets. Tapering is the reduction of the mileage in workouts and the stoppage of body conditioning to allow resting to occur. Effective tapers produce drops in times for the championship meets.
SPA Meet Schedule – Springfield Aquatics schedules several team meets throughout both the long course and short course seasons. ALL swimmers are encouraged to attend team meets. Coaches attend these meets as well as team members and their families. Our Travel Committee books a block of rooms so that everyone can stay at the same hotel if they so desire. The rewards of hard work, friendship and travel are realized during these team meets, plus you will find your child has a great time! Information announcing these meets and hotel accommodations will be posted on the web site, in the newsletter with extra copies placed in the file folders directly under the message board at the pool.
The culmination of both short and long course seasons is the ASI Championships held in March and August. Every swimmer who qualifies for these championship meets are encouraged to attend. Your swimmer has worked hard to get to this level and deserves this type of recognition.
To make competitive swimming as pleasant as possible, parents should consider their own comfort as well as that of their swimmer. At indoor meets it is usually hot and humid. Dress in lightweight clothing. You may want to include the following when packing for the meet
--Extra towels, blankets or sleeping bags
--Swim parkas or sweatshirts and sweat pants
--Pillows, chairs
--Cooler with healthy snacks and drinks
--Good book to read
--Flip Flops or some type of water resistant shoe
Outdoor meets can be hot, cold, wet or dry. Additional items for consideration may include sunglasses, sweaters, shorts, raincoats, hats, sun block, tarps, tents, folding picnic tables and lots of water. Swimmers will enjoy a personal stereo, playing cards or games.
Region 8 Central Sectional Championships – The Region 8 Championships is designed for upper-level senior swimmers. The Region 8 Championships involve swimmers from the Oklahoma, Arkansas, Ozark, Midwestern, and Missouri Valley LSCs. Region 8’s has specific time standards to allow approximately 400 swimmers into each meet. The Region 8 Short Course Championships are held each March and the Region 8 Long Course Championships are held each July.
Time standards for this meet are included in our spreadsheet. However, standards can be changed for each meet so it is important to review the time standards for each meet for qualifying times.
Zones – You will hear swimmers referring to their “zone” cuts. This means that the swimmer has qualified for a AAA time in their age group (refer to time standards in back of guide). If a swimmer achieves a AAA time in an individual event, they may attend the “Zone” meet, which is usually one week after the ASI Championship meet. Swimmers attending this meet are representing Arkansas LSC along with athletes from the other teams in the Arkansas LSC.
HIGH SCHOOL SWIMMING
Swimmers competing for their high school team will not be required to pay dues during that time frame. The men’s season is from August through mid-November and the girls season is from mid-November through February.
Hs swimmers choosing to practice with SPA at any time during the summer months are required to pay for June, July and August dues. Boys dues are waived for the months of September, October, November, and Girls dues are waived for December, January, February.
MSHSAA, or the Missouri State High School Athletic Association, recently changed the rules governing high school swimmers. It is now possible for high school swimmers to swim with their club AND their high school team at the same time. However, high school practices and competitions take precedence over club events. Swimmers may only compete for their club with the permission of the high school Athletic Director and high school Coach prior to attendance.
Springfield Public Schools will allow swimmers to practice with their club in addition to their high school practices but not in place of those practices.
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MEET ENTRY
When a swimmer decides to enter an invitational meet, the swimmer (or parent) must declare their intintion online. Please pay close attention to the entry deadlines. If your entries are past the deadline, swimmers will not be allowed to participate in relays. The coaching staff reserves the right to make adjustments on all relays.
DO NOT PAY for relays. Coaches assign relays and the club will pick up the cost.
The meet information will provide a list of events, cost of entry fees, and starting times for warm-ups. We provide the meet information on our web site for your convenience.
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RELAY ASSIGNMENTS
The clubs software automatically assigns swimmers to relays. Assignments are made based solely on swimmers best times. The software program chooses the combination of swimmers that produce the best mathematical solution for a winning relay!
A swimmer with late meet entries automatically forfeits their right to swim relays.
The SPA coaching staff reserves the right to change relays during a meet as necessary.
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DISQUALIFICATION (slang DQ)
There are many rules in the sport of swimming. Each stroke has its own set of technical rules including turn and starts. If a swimmer does not use correct technique or follow the rules of the race, he/she will be DQ’d (disqualified). It takes many years for swimmers to learn all the rules and to perfect the skills required so they are not disqualified. Most first time competitors or younger athletes will experience a disqualification or two.
What is a disqualification? A disqualification is an infraction of the rules and regulations set forth by United States Swimming. In a coach’s eye, this is an opportunity for the athlete to learn and be reminded of the rules they are taught during practice. Often the child knows the rules but with the pressure of racing and the distractions of a meet, they may not remember it through the race. The more times they compete and the more comfortable they become the fewer times they get disqualified.
How will you know if your child is disqualified? The official usually contacts the swimmers after the swim. If the meet is moving too fast, he/she will usually say something to the coach. However, sometimes they are not notified. In this case it will show up on the results as DQ in your child’s race position. Each DQ is recorded with the Meet Referee so the coach if necessary can find the reason. Often the coach sees the reason during the swim.
What should you, as the parent, do if your child gets disqualified? Please let the coach discuss the infraction with the athlete. When a swimmer gets disqualified the coach on deck will tell them how to fix it. A disqualification should be viewed as a learning experience. Usually the child is disappointed and does not need coaches or parents contributing to their disappointment. The coach’s role is to correct and teach while the parent’s role is to support and encourage.
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MEET ETIQUETTE
Cami Bremer, Special Correspondent to Splash Magazine, wrote the following article. It appeared in the January/February 2004 issue, Volume 12, Issue 1.
Etiquette. It’s a word you’ve probably heard only when your grandmother reminds you not to dig into your hearty serving of Thanksgiving turkey until everyone has been served. However, etiquette is a word that every swimmer should know. After all, just as there are etiquette rules at your grandmother’s dinner table, there are etiquette rules for swimming, both in practice and at meets. Following these simple guidelines will help you (and your teammates) get the most out of the upcoming championship season.
Meet Etiquette
- Arrive on time. Get to a meet early enough to settle down into a ‘spot’ with your team and be ready with your cap and goggles on when the warm-up session starts. Meet warm-ups are often short and crowded, so it’s important to be on time.
- Be prepared. It is best to know what events you are swimming BEFORE warm-up. This way, you can practice the appropriate starts, turns and sprints in the warm-up. Also, make sure that you have everything you need – towels, swimsuit, water bottle, cap and goggles.
- Sit with your teammates and cheer. Swim meets are the best time to get to know your teammates and build team spirit. It is also easier for your coach and teammates (relay members) to find you if they need you.
- Stay positive. If you have a bad swim, or you don’t want to swim the events you’re entered in, get over it and just do your best. In her Road to Athens Journal, recently published on USA Swimming’s web site, Mary DeScenza writes, “Sometimes your coach puts you in an event you do not like. You just have to do your best and not complain.”
- Bring plenty of drinks and snacks. Know how much water you will need (about 8 ounces per event) and be prepared. Bring light snacks to munch on, such as fruit, goldfish or string cheese. You don’t want to be buying Skittles from the concession stand.
- Realize that relays are just as important as your individual events (if not more so). Give it your all and help pump up your teammates (no matter which relay you’re on). Swim in the relay order your coach gave you, and HAVE FUN! Also, stay and cheer on your team until your last teammate is out of the water.
- Talk to your coach and cool down after every event. Make sure that you see your coach after each event to get input on your race. And if you have time, cool down between events until your heart rate is below 100. Cooling down will make a huge difference in your body’s ability to recover for future races.
- Respect the meet officials. Remember that these are volunteers who want to see you get the most out of swimming. Go so far as to thank the person who DQ’d you for helping you to improve.
- Clean up ALL of your mess. It is important to leave your area just as you found it. Throw away your empty bottles and Power Bar wrappers. If your teammates left a mess, go ahead and pick it up. That’s what teammates are for!
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TRAVEL
The travel committee will arrange for a block of discounted rooms at a convenient hotel. A deadline will be set for the hotel to hold the block of rooms. You will need to call the hotel direct and confirm your reservation. After the deadline has expired you will have to take your chances on getting hotel accommodations.
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ANNUAL AWARDS & BANQUET
The board of directors reserves the right to make changes in awards and gifts from year to year. For the 2004-05 season the following was distributed to qualifying swimmers.
- ASI Championship Team, Zone, Sectional or National level qualifiers receive a T-shirt and gift to be determined by the Recognition Committee. This is done twice during the year, once for short course qualifiers and again for long course qualifiers. Swimmers MUST participate in one of the above mentioned meets in order to receive the shirt free of charge from the club.
- Swimmers participating in a USA Swimming Sanctioned meet representing SPA will receive a team gift at the Annual Awards Banquet.
Immediately before beginning the Short Course season, the club hosts an Annual Banquet. The purpose is to recognize the personal achievements of each swimmer. Each swimmer will receive a trophy based on their highest level of achievement (C, B, BB, A, AA, AAA, AAAA) during the most recent Short and Long course seasons. Swimmers must participate in BOTH Short and Long course seasons to receive an award.
Typically, four major awards are presented.
Rookie of the Year, Male & Female – This award is for a swimmer new to the club within the past year that has made significant achievements.
Most Improved Swimmer, Male & Female – This award gives recognition to the swimmer who has shown a significant improvement in both time drops and stroke technique.
Hardest Worker, Male & Female – This award gives recognition to an athlete who has demonstrated the commitment and work ethic of a dedicated swimmer. This recipient serves as a role model to all other SPA swimmers.
High Point, Male & Female – Individual awards are presented to the male and female athlete who has achieved swimming success in multiple events. Points are calculated according to the USS National Motivational Time Standards and are based on the swimmer’s best times in all five stroke categories. The recipients of this award must be good, well-rounded swimmers in ALL strokes.
Coaching staff determines criteria for awards as well as final decision for selections.
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