The information in this manual has been informally assembled to provide a general explanation of how the Quince Orchard Otter Swim Club, Inc (QO) functions. Further details on the Montgomery County Swim League (MCSL) can be found in a separate handbook available by request. Specific questions regarding the MCSL or QO should be addressed to the Head Coach or the Swim Club representatives. Information can also be found at the MCSL web site: www.mcsl.org.
There are fifteen divisions in the MCSL rated from "A" Division through “O” Division. Teams are placed in divisions each year based on a computer swim-off using times from the previous year. In 1996, QO was ranked #1 in the "A" Division –1st overall in a league of 80 teams. In 2008 QO is in the “B” Division. This is our eighth straight year in “B” division, longer than any other team.
The Quince Orchard Swim and Tennis Club is privately owned and not directly involved in the operation of the Otter swim team. The Otters are an independent organization founded in 1979 by members of the swim club who wanted their children to have the opportunity to compete in the MCSL. Each year an Executive Board is elected to govern the swim team and represent the interests of our swimmers in the MCSL. The 2008 coaches, Board members and other major volunteers are:
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Coaching Staff |
Phone No. |
Email address |
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Dyann Charette, Head-Coach |
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Tim Brockway, Assistant Coach |
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Board Members |
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Sandy Liu, President |
240-631-0695 |
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Ron Weaver, Vice President |
301-947-8241 |
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Tracy Hauri, Treasurer |
301-926-8011 |
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David Sperbeck, Secretary |
301-926-8853 |
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Amy Cooley, At-Large |
301-467-5645 |
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Phil Dennis, At-Large |
301-519-2053 |
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Bill Szymczak, At-Large |
301-339-0733 |
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Mark Steinwandel, At-Large |
301-216-2333 |
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Terry Shen, At-Large |
301-340-9468 |
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Mark Rogers, "A" Rep |
301-869-6647 |
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Erik Hauri, "A" Rep |
301-926-8011 |
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Carol Chornock, "B" Rep |
240-876-7962 |
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Karen Schwartzman, "B" Rep |
301-330-4226 |
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Team Mgmt |
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Cindy Whiteis, Volunteer mgr |
301-977-7659 |
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Linda
Shawen |
301-990-7784 |
llshawen@verizon.net |
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Barbara Textoris, Event mgr |
301-947-1397 |
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Mimi Myers, Otterware mgr |
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mimim_myers@yahoo.com |
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Semi-Vacant, Spirit Coordinator |
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Gail Faucett |
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gfaucet@aol.com |
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Terry Bernstein, Website mgr |
301-330-8809 |
webma@bernsteins.cc |
The parents of our swimmers run the team and are responsible for all expenses. The dues and fees we must charge reflect the cost of paying our coaches, buying equipment and paying for all other swim team expenses, including MCSL dues. The annual financial contribution of the Quince Orchard Swim and Tennis Club to the Otters and the grant of pool time for Otter practices is gratefully appreciated.
Aside from practice and meets, the Otters schedule social activities throughout the Summer. During the swim season, we schedule pancake breakfasts and spaghetti dinners. These activities help our swimmers get to know one another and build team spirit. Otter parents also sponsor other activities such as bowling, movies, and bagel/donut Fridays.
Swimming, especially summer swimming, is a parent intensive sport. Without a great amount of work by the parents of the Otter swimmers, there would not be a Quince Orchard Otter Swim Club, Inc. In order to make the summer swim team a safe, fun filled activity, we need as much parental involvement as possible. For example, in order for a swim meet to take place parents are needed to set up and take down equipment, to time the events, act as stroke and turn officials, starters, referees and announcers. To become an MCSL certified meet official, parents must attend clinics sponsored by the MCSL. (For your information, you do not have to be MCSL certified to work at a swim meet as a timer.) Parents who do not wish to officiate at meets can help by selling refreshments at home meets. The funds raised by the sale of refreshments help pay for our coaches and equipment. Parents can also support the team by donating food and paper goods. Ideally, each family should participate on one of the parent committees and also sign up for a job at four swim meets. Please contact one of the Executive Board members if you have any questions about how you can help. Remember that we are all doing this for our children and we are all volunteers. The summer swim season is only as good as we make it.
There are six teams in each division. Therefore, the MCSL schedules five dual meets so that each team can compete against each other once before Divisionals. Although MCSL rules limit the number of events in which each swimmer may participate on Saturday, we are in the enviable position of having more qualified swimmers than places in "A" meets. In order to allow each swimmer to swim a full quota of events in a competitively scored meet, we participate in a Wednesday night league. Those swimmers who have the ability but do not have the opportunity to swim three individual events and an individual medley (IM) on Saturday will swim on Wednesday. Two relay carnivals are also scheduled during the summer so that everyone can participate.
Team suits, caps, shirts, goggles, and other equipment are available as a convenience to Quince Orchard swim team members and their parents. No swimmer is obligated to purchase our team suit, although wearing the same suit does provide a feeling of team unity and pride. If your child is having trouble with their hair while swimming they might want to try a cap. Both girls and boys use caps.
The purpose of time trials is to establish official times for the swimmers prior to the first Saturday meet. For summer swimmers, these times can be used to measure individual progress throughout the season. Time trials are typically held one week before the first Saturday meet.
It takes the coach three to four hours each week to seed the MCSL meet. The Division record keeper has a full set of meet results from all of the dual meets in our Division. After the first dual meet, we obtain copies of these meet results and maintain a complete list of the times of all the swimmers in our division. Our Head Coach records all the times of all QO swimmers listed by age group and gender. The dual meet is seeded and pre-scored simultaneously. We generally use the following procedure.
1) We try to guess our opponent's line up.
2) We list the opponent’s line-up and times divided by age group and gender.
3) Using the seeding rules in the MCSL Handbook, we place the QO swimmer into the appropriate events. (For your information, each swimmer may compete in no more than five events. She or he may swim three of the following: freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke, and butterfly. He or she may also swim two of the following: graduated relay, medley relay, and individual medley.)
a) In general, the top three swimmers in each event will swim in the dual meet on Saturday. Six swimmers will compete in all 12 and under free-style events.
b) However, often a swimmer will have one of the three fastest times in all events within his or her age group. When this happens, our first objective is to place that swimmer in the events for which the team will earn the most points against our opponent's likely line-up. This process is repeated with each swimmer within an age group until all events have three participants. The names of the swimmers will be announced by the Head Coach prior to the Saturday meet. The lineups are up to the Head Coach.
c) A QO Swimmer's most recent times are used for seeding the "A" meets. Our Head Coach has the option of going back as far as the "time trials" to select a most recent time. The lineups are up to the Head Coach.
d) If a swimmer competing in a Wednesday night meet beats a time swum in the previous
Saturday meet, that swimmer
may be
eligible to swim that event on following
Saturday. The lineups are up to
the Head Coach.
It is the responsibility of both the swimmer and the parent TO INFORM THE COACH IN WRITING IF HE OR SHE WILL BE UNAVAILABLE ON A SATURDAY. Not only do we want to give as many swimmers as possible a chance to swim, but also we do not want to lose points because of empty lanes.
The Head Coach of the QO Otter Swim Club has the right, indeed the responsibility, to take any action necessary to protect the safety of our children and to preserve team discipline. Therefore, the Head Coach may prevent a swimmer from practicing with the team, competing in any meet, or in a worst case situation, expel a swimmer from the team. Parents will notified if any such situation exists.
The four relays swum at each dual meet are the Boys and Girls Open Medleys (events #3 and #4) and the Boys and Girls Graduated Relays (events #45 and #46).
The Open Medleys are open to the fastest swimmers regardless of age. They are swum in the following order: back, breast, fly and free. The Head Coach prior to the start of the dual meet chooses the participants.
Two Graduated Relays are swum in the following order: 9-10 (25M), 11-12 (50M), 13-14 (50M), and 8 & Under (25M). The participants are chosen by the Head Coach after the dual meet in question. Usually the fastest freestyle swimmers at the dual meet in each age group will swim in the graduated relay that week.
The Wednesday night "B" league is structured to give ALL swimmers the opportunity to participate in a meet, particularly those swimmers who do not regularly swim in the Saturday MCSL meets.
Through our "B" league we hope to encourage full team participation and spirit. Our goal is to give ALL swimmers the opportunity to compete in an actual meet. This includes our future stars - six-year-old and under swimmers have their own events in both freestyle and backstroke.
1) The teams comprising our Wednesday night "B" league are of similar size.
2) All meets will begin at 6:00 p.m. on Wednesdays (warm-ups will begin at 5:00). If an alternate date must be set due to weather or any other conflict, it is to be agreed upon by the involved coaches and team representatives.
3) Stroke judging and all other rules for the meet follow the MCSL guidelines. These meets are to be fun, but structured.
4)
To insure a smooth running meet, parent volunteers are
needed in the same positions as a Saturday meet.
5) Our "B' league has four scheduled dual meets, a "B" Relay Carnival and a SuperStar Meet.
1. Coach Dyann will prepare the B meet lineups for each Wednesday meet over the previous weekend and post them on the Otter bulletin board by Monday morning practice.
2. Each swimmer or parent is to sign off by initialing next to the swimmer's name. Check each child in the family, even if you aren't expecting them to be in the meet, just to be sure.
3. If any changes are desired, write them on the lineup next to the swimmer's name and inform Coach Dyann. (There are over 200 swimmers on the team and the coaches cannot be expected to remember verbal requests.) This must be done by 6pm Tuesday; no changes can be made after that time. All changes are subject to the coach’s approval.
4. If your child is unable to swim any Wednesday (or Saturday), it is very important that you inform the coaches. Empty lanes mean extra heats, a longer meet, and possibly someone losing their chance to swim entirely if there is a weather delay. If there are no initials by your child’s name, it will be assumed that (s)he is not in town and will not be swimming on Wednesday.
1) In any swimming week (Saturday-Friday) a swimmer is eligible to swim a total of three individual events and an IM. This includes both "A" and "B" meets. If a swimmer participates in two individual events at a Saturday meet they may only swim one individual event on Wednesday. A swimmer is not eligible for a place ribbon at the Wednesday night “B” meet if he/she has won two or more ribbons on the previous Saturday. Exhibition swimming will be used only at the discretion of the Coach and the team representative.
2) All events are seeded by entry times from the fastest to the slowest.
3) All swimmers who did not swim two events on the previous Saturday are eligible for the SuperStar meet. The SuperStar meet is typically held on a Wednesday night at the end of the “B” season. It usually involves four or more teams competing at the same time.
Scoring will be done through five places. For individual events, the team gets 6 points for First Place, 4 points for Second, 3 points for Third, 2 points for Fourth, and 1 point for Fifth for each event. For relay events, the team gets 8 points for First Place, 4 points for Second, and in the case of the Graduated Relay, 2 points for Third Place.
1) Ribbons will be awarded through sixth place at Saturday meets and through eighth place at Wednesday meets.
2) All Quince Orchard swimmers will be awarded participant ribbons for each event they entered but did not place in.
3) Ribbons will be given for all heat winners (with the exception of exhibition swimmers).
4) Super Star ribbons will awarded 1-16 places.
The goal of the Pre-Team program is to prepare swimmers to participate at a swim meet once they acquire the necessary skills. The Pre-Team members must be able to swim one length of the pool without touching the bottom of the pool. The Head Coach will decide when a swimmer is ready to participate in a meet.
The Little Otters program is designed to introduce new swimmers to competitive swimming. Children signed up for the Little Otters program should also be enrolled in a formal swimming instruction program. The Little Otters program can augment formal instruction and assist the children learn the four basic competitive strokes.
Every QO swimmer who competes for the Quince Orchard Otter Swim Club, Inc. will receive a trophy. Trophies will be awarded according to star level achieved. The Quince Orchard Executive Board believes that this award system will reward and promote individual achievement and promote the overall team goals of the Quince Orchard Otter Swim Club. The star level standards are posted on the Team web site under the “Awarded Times” menu button.
In addition to the dual meets on Saturdays and Wednesdays, the Otters will participate in Relay Carnivals. The Saturday and Wednesday Leagues will hold separate Relay Carnivals. Each team from the Saturday League and the Wednesday League will be invited to swim in the Relay Carnivals. The Head Coach will decide who swims in each relay.
The Relay Carnivals feature competition in the four relays swum at dual meets (Boys Graduated, Girls Graduated, Boys Open Medley, and Girls Open Medley), but they also include relay races that are not swum at the dual meets. Many of these other relays involve mixed gender teams. Many of the winning relay teams at the Divisional Relay Carnival will qualify to swim at the All-Star Relays held at the end of the season. The All-Star Relay qualifiers for the four relays swum at each dual meet (Boys Graduated, Girls Graduated, Boys Open Medley, and Girls Open Medley) are based on the times recorded throughout the season. For those four events, the fastest relay teams in each division (based on all the five dual meets, Divisionals, and Relay Carnival) are chosen to swim those relays at the All-Star Relays.
On the Tuesday after the fourth dual meet, the Coaches' Long Course Meet is held at the Rockville Pool. The events are the same as the non-relay events in the dual meets with doubled distance. Eight swimmers and two alternates are invited by MCSL to participate in each event, based on the fastest times from the first three dual meets. A swimmer may not compete in more than two events.
The Individual All-Star Meet is held the weekend after the Divisional Meets. Sixteen swimmers and two alternates are invited by the MCSL to participate in each event, based on the fastest times from the dual meets and Divisionals. Two heats of eight swimmers will swim each event. The swimmers are seeded based on their times.
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Meets are FUN! Everyone is encouraged to cheer for all swimmers. There are several rules that must be followed to ensure fairness:
1) As a courtesy, swimmers should wait in the water at the finish of a race until all other swimmers have finished. Be quiet at the start of each race.
2) Do not talk to meet officials during the meet. Questions and/or concerns should be brought to the attention of our "A" and "B" representatives.
3) Do not obstruct the view of meet officials, especially stroke and turn judges.
4) Smoking is prohibited on the deck, in the locker rooms, in spectator areas and in all areas used by the swimmers during the meet or warm-ups.
Most of the Quince Orchard parents will at some time volunteer to time at a swim meet. This is an extremely important job for which accuracy and consistency are vital. Below is a list of points to remember while serving as a timer.
1) Timers should assure that their watches are functioning properly at all times during the meet by:
a) Checking for accuracy at the starter's time check.
b) Watching for proper operation throughout the meet.
2) Timers should look at the starter system and start their watches at the sign of the flash- NOT BY THE SOUND. Start your watch even if there is no swimmer in your lane.
1) Before the end of each race, timers should position themselves at the end of the pool directly, overlooking the finish line in order to observe, CLOSELY, the swimmers finish. Watch for underwater touches.
4) The watch should be stopped when ANY PART OF THE SWIMMER'S BODY touches the solid wall. It is NOT the responsibility of the lane timers to judge if the finish touch meets the requirements of the appropriate stroke finish rule.
4) If during an event, a timer discovers that he/she failed to properly start the watch, or that the watch is not functioning properly, the timer should IMMEDIATELY raise his hand to notify the Head or Assistant Timer.
5) All lane timers shall promptly report their times to the recorder and present their watches for inspection, if requested. DO NOT CLEAR YOUR WATCH until the Head Timer gives the command to "clear all watches”.
6) One timer in each lane will be designated as recorder. The Head Lane Timers shall be responsible for the following:
a)
Determination that the proper swimmer is in his lane and that
relay swimmers are swimming in the order listed on the lane timer's card.
b) Determination of and recording of all manual watch times.
1) If the times of two of the three watches agree, that time shall be me official time.
2) If all three watches disagree, the intermediate time shall be official.
3) If times from only two watches are available, the official time shall be the average of those two watches.
There are many reasons for the disqualification of a swimmer:
1) Stroke infractions.
2) False start.
3) Any swimmer who acts in an unsportsmanlike manner may be considered for disciplinary action, at the discretion of the Referee.
4) A swimmer must start and finish the race in his/her assigned lane.
5) Standing on the bottom during a freestyle race shall not disqualify a swimmer, but he must not leave the pool, or walk or spring off the bottom.
6) Obstructing a swimmer by swimming across or otherwise interfering shall disqualify the offender, subject to the discretion of the Referee.
7) Any swimmer not entered in a race that enters the pool, before all swimmers have completed the race shall be disqualified from his next scheduled competition.
8) Dipping goggles in the water or splashing water on the competitor's face or body prior to his/her next event shall not be considered as entering the pool unless the Referee finds that such action is interfering with the competition. In other words, check with the Referee before you splash and dip.
9) Should a foul endanger the chances of success of a swimmer, the Referee may allow the swimmer to swim the race again. In case collusion to foul another, the Referee may, at his discretion, disqualify the swimmer for whose aid the foul was committed, as well as the swimmer doing me fouling. A foul most commonly is hitting or kicking a swimmer in the adjacent lane.
10) Coaches are not permitted in the immediate starting area of the swimming pool. Coaching of a swimmer during the progress of an event shall not permitted.
11) No swimmer is permitted to wear or use any device or substance to help his speed or buoyancy during a race. Goggles can be worn and rubdown oil can be applied as long as it's not considered excessive by the Referee.
12) Once competitors have reported to the Starter they may receive no assistance such as guiding backstroke swimmers with arm motions or touching the backstroker at the turn or finish to keep the swimmer from striking the pool walls.
13) Backstroke starts are not permitted from swimmers below the surface of the water.
14) Stand-up backstroke starts and pike dives are unsafe and will result in disqualification.
15) Head first diving is not permitted. Racing starts may be done only under the direct supervision of a coach, the meet Referee or Starter.
1) No swimmer shall swim more than one leg in any relay event.
2) A swimmer (other that the first swimmer) shall not start until his teammate has finished his leg of the relay race. A swimmer's feet MUST NOT lose touch with the deck before his preceding teammate touches the wall.
3) A relay team shall be disqualified if a team member other than the swimmer designated to swim that leg enters the pool in the area where the race is being conducted before ALL swimmers from ALL teams have finished the race.
4) Each relay team member shall leave the water immediately upon finishing his relay leg except the last member.
The time and place of any swimmer or relay team disqualified either during or following an event shall not be recorded in the results of that event. Points are not scored by those individuals or relay teams that have been disqualified.
Quince Orchard fully supports the MCSL safety guidelines. While we realize that the safety record of competitive swimming in general, and of MCSL in particular, has been excellent, we feel that compliance with these recommendations will assist in prevention of any future problems.
1) The starting end of the course should be located such that the deepest water possible is available to the greatest number of swimmers.
a) The starting end should be the deeper end. No Quince Orchard swimmer is permitted to dive in the shallow end.
b) The 25M races will be started at the deeper end. This will necessitate moving the timers to the shallow end of the pool.
2) Practice and warm-up safety:
a) Practice starts will be done from the deeper end only. Swimmers should enter the pool FEET FIRST at any practices or meets, with the exception that racing dives may be done ONLY at the DIRECT supervision of a Coach, the Referee, or the Starter.
b) Only one-way swimming is allowed in lanes where starts will be done.
c) The pike dive and Stand-up backstroke start are strictly FORBIDDEN.
3) Post-meet celebration:
a) The post-meet celebration will be strictly controlled. No one may enter the pool after the meet is completed. No one is to be pushed into the pool.
The coaches would appreciate the swimmers' and parents'
cooperation with these very important safety rules.
1) Get plenty of rest before your meet! Heat and sun are especially tiring for swimmers.
2) Eat meals high in complex carbohydrates (pasta, bread) and low in fats. Eat well-rounded meals in moderation. Many swimmers eat spaghetti for dinner the day before a meet. Eat a light meal one-hour prior to warm-up and LIGHT snacks between events. During a meet, drink water or a sports drink between events.
3) Be early for meet warm-ups and practices; if you are right on time, you're late! Work hard at all practices!
4) Know your event number and report to the Clerk of Course when called.
5) STAY IN THE TEAM AREA! Conduct yourself in a responsible manner and be proud to be an Otter!
6) Support your teammates. SHOW SOME SPIRIT!! Stay until the end of the meet even if your events are completed to cheer on your teammates.
7) When the meet is over, it is the responsibility of all swimmers and parents to clean the pool area. Please do not leave the pool until you have met your responsibility. Parents, we need your cooperation and support in this matter!!
8) Communicate with your coaches and team representatives; inform them of illness, camp, vacations, etc., giving written notice when possible. This will help our coaches when preparing line-ups for meets and the Relay Carnival.
9) Sign up for the strokes you want to swim in the Wednesday meet by the end of Monday’s morning practice.
10) Check your mailbox! Each family has their own file folder (mailbox). The file folders are in two file boxes brought out for practice each day. Please also check the bulletin board located on the outside wall of the clubhouse. Important updates will be posted there also. These are the primary means of communicating important changes and upcoming events. We will also e-mail information as much as possible.
11) Remember that this is fun, but you do have a commitment to your team.
12)
Have Fun!!! Swim Fast!!!
1. Why are the Saturday meets called “A” meets and the Wednesday meets called “B” meets? Is the swim team in Division A or B?
The Quince Orchard Otters team is in Division B in 2008. All of our swimmers are in Division B whether they swim in the Saturday “A” meets or the Wednesday “B” meets. The swimmers with the fastest times participate in the Saturday “A” meets. Division ratings are based only on “A” meet results. The “B” meets provide an opportunity for all of the children to participate in a competitive event. If a swimmer start s out competing in the Wednesday meets and his/her times improve to the point they are one of the fastest swimmers for that stroke in their age group, the Head Coach may put them in the Saturday “A” meet. A swimmer may be asked to swim one stroke on Saturday and a different stroke on Wednesday (sort of like a pro baseball farm club where players move back and forth between the Minors and the Majors depending on their skill).
2. How does the Head Coach decide who swims each event on Saturday and on Wednesday?
The three fastest times in each event for each age group swim in the “A” meet on Saturday except for freestyle. The top six times swim on Saturday in freestyle.
The coach puts each swimmer in the event where the team needs that swimmer most. This may not necessarily be the child's best event. The time used for placement at a meet is usually the last time the child swam not the child's fastest time.
If a child who swam three events in the “A” meet does not have a time for a different event, they may swim exhibition in the “B” meet. Exhibition means that they cannot place in the race, they are just getting a time. Exhibition swimmers often swim in the outside lane if one is available. The Head Coach will decide if a swimmer will swim an exhibition event.
3. How are the lane assignments determined for each event?
In events with more than one heat, the slower swimmers swim in the first heat. The fastest swimmers swim in the last heat. Within a heat, the fastest swimmers swim in the middle lanes while the slower swimmers swim in the outer lanes.
4. How do I know if my child is “legal” in a stroke?
Here are some guidelines, but please consult the MCSL Handbook for a complete set of rules. Also, Stroke & Turn clinics are offered by the MCSL at the start of the season. Check the MCSL web site (www.mcsl.org) for more information.
Breaststroke and butterfly require a two hand simultaneous finish or your child will be disqualified. Finishes may be underwater. If your child is swimming 50 or 100 meter events, they will swim more than one length so they must do a two hand simultaneous touch at the end of each length or they will be disqualified.
If your child is swimming breaststroke and finishes with his/her arms outside the width of their shoulders they will be disqualified for using a butterfly arm motion. If they are swimming breast-stroke and use a flutter or butterfly kick they will be disqualified.
Freestyle and Back require only a one hand finish.
If a child is swimming butterfly and uses a frog or flutter kick they will be disqualified.
If a child is swimming backstroke and turns over to touch the wall at the end of the length they will be disqualified.
(No coaching while your child is swimming or your child could be disqualified.)
5. Did the starting procedures and the rules regarding false starts change recently?
Two significant changes to the competitive starting procedures were adopted by the MCSL in 2000. The first involves using whistle signals (rather than voice commands) to have swimmers step up to the edge of the pool (or into the water for backstroke.) The second involves not recalling a heat (under most circumstances) if there is a false start. Rather, the race will proceed and any swimmers who left early will be notified by an official of their DQ at the end of the race. A swimmer who is disqualified from an event will not get a ribbon for that event nor will the swimmer’s time be used for placement in the next meet.
6. What is an IM?
IM's are Individual Medleys which are comprised of all four individual events. For example, a 100M IM consists of 25 meters of butterfly, back, breast & free in that order. A 100 M Medley Relay consists of four swimmers each swimming one of the four strokes.
7. Can my child leave the meet after his/her events are completed?
Everyone should try and stay until the end of the meet to cheer on their teammates. In addition, the three fastest freestyle swimmers in each age group swim a relay at the very end of the meet. Please do not leave because your child may be asked to swim in the relay.
8. Will my child get a ribbon for participating?
On Wednesday nights, the first 8 places are awarded place ribbons while all other children receive participation ribbons. At the “A’ meets, the first 6 places receive ribbons. At some special meets, like the Super Stars meet, the first 16 places get ribbons.
Some events have more than one heat. On Wednesday nights, Heat Winner ribbons are awarded to the winner of a heat even though they may not place in the event.
9. Can a swim meet be “rained out”?
Swim meets are not postponed by rain, only by thunder and lightning. Even if it is raining you should show up at a meet until it is called because it may only be delayed. If it begins to thunder and lightning during the meet, the meet will be delayed until 1 hour after the last lightning was seen. If it does not appear that it will blow over, the meet is postponed to another mutually agreeable time for both teams. If a meet is partially completed when interrupted by weather, only the events not yet performed because of the weather will occur on the alternate day.
10. How are the age groups determined?
The cutoff date for determining the age groups is June 1. If the swimmer was born June1 or before he/she will swim with the older group. If the swimmer was born on June 2 or after they swim with the younger group.
11. How will I find out about team events and other team news? How can I communicate with the coaches or other parents?
Every family (and each of the coaches) has a file folder in the team boxes. Your family is responsible for checking your folder every day. This is the only way the coaches can communicate with you so please check your box regularly. If you need to tell one of the coaches something you may leave it in their folder. The weekly team newsletter will be placed in your folder each week. During the season a weekly newsletter is also published. The newsletter will be posted on the web site, and can be e-mailed to you directly by joining the Yahoo news group by sending an e-mail to: quinceorchardotters-subscribe@yahoogroups.com.
If you will be away and your child cannot attend a meet please leave a note in the Head Coach’s folder at least one week in advance. He and the other coaches spend a lot of time making the line up so they need to know if your child will not be available ahead of time.
Remember, the coaching staff has asked that parents not ask the coaches questions while they are coaching at practice or at a meet. They are concentrating on our children and cannot be distracted for safety reasons. The Team Reps can answer most of the parent’s questions. If you need to communicate directly with a coach, please catch them after practice or leave them a note in their folder.
12. How do we sign up for the special ‘8 & under” Mini Meet or the Damascus Pentathlon?
If you would like your child to swim in the special 8 & under Mini Meet (Demon Derby) or the Damascus Pentathlon (14 & under), parents must sign them up for each event in which they would like to swim. This is not done by the coaching staff. A QO parent volunteer will provide information about the Mini Meet after the beginning of the season. There is a small charge to cover the cost ribbons and medals. The coaches will attend the Mini Meet, but typically do not attend the Damascus Pentathlon.
13. Are all swimmers required to wear the team suit?
Team swimsuits are not required but are highly encouraged. If your child has a matching suit then your child will feel like they are part of the team. It also makes it easier for the coaches during meets if all our swimmers are wearing team suits.