Saugus Swim Team: Information and Expectations

Mission:

Our mission is to safely provide students with aquatic training and competition in an environment that stresses the values of dedication, teamwork, fair play, integrity, sportsmanship, and self-improvement.  All athletes, parents, and coaches should conduct themselves in a manner that models a commitment to this goal while demonstrating the strongest concern for the reputation of the team and Saugus High.

 

Expectations:

Swimmers:            

 

Parents/Families:

 

Coaches:

 

Communications:

Most questions, concerns, and misunderstandings can be cleared up with face-to-face dialogues between coaches and athletes.  If this is not successful or appropriate, parents can contact the coaches by phone (297-3900) or email ( jklipfe@hartdistrict.org or kbottton@hartdistrict.org ).  We check our emails far more often then voice mail, so consider using email to reach us.  Attendance by parents and athletes at appropriate meetings is essential to good communications.  In cases where anonymity is desired, notes can be placed in the coach’s mailbox in the front office.

 

Academics:

While a 2.0 GPA is CIF’s minimum to participate in athletics, the swim program prides itself on its high team GPA.  Athletes must work to continue this tradition.  Struggling students should seek guidance from the coaches as soon as possible each quarter.  Also, students must attend all classes the day of the meet.  Any exceptions must be cleared by an administrator before 8:00 am on the day of the meet.

 

Success/Winning:

With the exception of psychological tactics and wakes in the pool, swimming is a sport without a defense.  Since we basically cannot control or influence our competition, meets become an arena to challenge ourselves and beat our own times.  As a general philosophy, competitive swimming is about the swimmer, the clock, and one lane in the pool.  Swimmers focused on this will work to consistently improve their times.  The frequency of life-time-bests (LTBs) will be a major indicator of individual and team success.  While it is gratifying to see Saugus swimmers win races and meets, one must also applaud individuals and teams that defeat our dedicated athletes.  We must celebrate the success of all.

Roster/Cuts:

Several factors force the use of cuts in a successful and popular swim program.  First, competition spots are limited.  Dual meets provide only 60-80 varsity and 57-76 junior varsity slots for athletes.  League finals and other meets can provide even fewer.  Therefore, in order to provide athletes with the opportunity to swim in 2, 3, or 4 events, squads (e.g. girls jv) should not exceed a  reasonably high number.  Second, pool pace at practice is limited.  Since the quality of workouts is diminished by increasingly crowded lanes, workout numbers must have reasonable caps.  Finally, bus space is limited.  Preliminary rosters will be posted periodically during the fall semester. Students may move on, off, or within the roster at this time.  A final roster will be made after fall tryouts and semester grades.  Varsity rosters are generally filled with the most talented, experienced and dedicated athletes in the various strokes and events.  All seniors swim varsity according to league rules.  Due to this requirement, some seniors may be cut or placed in fewer events.  Junior varsity rosters are generally filled with younger swimmers with the most talent--current and potential--and dedication.  Every effort will be made to cut as few freshmen as possible.  This provides ninth graders a chance to participate, improve, and develop.  A downside of this policy is that some tenth, eleventh, and twelfth graders might be cut.  Returning swimmers who are dropped are generally those who have not shown sufficient improvement to justify keeping a ninth grader off the squad.  Academics, behavior, and attendance will also be considered when cuts are made.  Students who do not make the team are welcome to participate with the team as active managers.  Also, these students are encouraged to continue their efforts and try out the following year.

 

Every effort is made to maximize the size of the roster to allow the highest number of students access to the many benefits of the program (e.g. PE credit, team camaraderie, etc.).  However, this means that a significant number of athletes on the roster may compete infrequently and some may spend the season as managers.  

 

Who swims what?

A balance between individual and team needs are considered when placing swimmers in events.  For example, if a swimmer needs the last dual meet to qualify for CIF, then his or her individual situation might take precedence over the team’s scoring needs.  On the other hand, individual preferences will generally be considered secondarily to the goal of putting our fastest and deepest squad on the starting blocks.  Our opponents deserve to face the toughest challenge we can offer.  Talent, attendance, health, potential, dedication, scholarships, year (e.g. tenth), the opponents, and other factors will be considered when coaches make meet entries.  These factors are also considered in determining which swimmers will participate on CIF relays.  Coaching decisions are open to discussion with the athletes, but final decisions are to be enthusiastically supported by all.

 

Equipment:

·         Students need an appropriate training swim suit for workouts.  The team suit and shirt should be worn at all competitions.

·         Swimmers with long hair will need swim caps.  Only team or blank caps can be worn at meets.

·         Students may wish to buy extra goggles, caps, and suits for the long season of training.   

·         Swim parkas will be checked out to interested athletes.  Lost parkas cost $120.00 to replace, and students will be asked to pay the bill.

·         Remember to bring appropriate school clothes when attending morning swim practices. 

·         Students may store their equipment in the coaches’ classrooms at their own risk.

 

Letters and Awards:

Season awards (e.g. Most Improved Swimmer) and varsity/junior varsity letters will be rewarded at the coaches’ discretion.  Participation, attendance, improvement, behavior, and talent will all be considered.  Swimmers dropped from the squad due to poor grades or for disciplinary reasons will not receive awards at the banquet.

 

Safety:

·         Do not dive into the pool unless you are in the deep end.

·         Do not run at any time.

·         Pay attention to your swimming so you do not injure each other in the lanes.

·         Stay out of the sun when possible, and wear sunscreen when appropriate.

 

Travel/Buses:

Students must be on their top behavior while traveling.  No standing, walking or moving about when the bus is traveling.  No eating or drinking on the bus.  Nothing goes outside open windows.  Nothing is to be thrown on the bus. 

·         Students are not to drive students other than siblings to or from swim practices, competitions, or activities.

·         Students are not to drive themselves to competitions or activities outside the Santa Clarita Valley.

·         Parents planning to drive their students to and/or from a competition outside the Santa Clarita Valley must fill out and sign the NCR form in the office 48 hours in advance.

·         Parents planning to drive another family’s students (at any time during the season to or from a competition) should submit the driving packet to one of the coaches as soon as possible.

 

 

Meet attendance and missing other classes:

Students may miss class time on swim meet days.  Swimmers need to responsibly notify their teachers about these absences in advance, and steps should be taken to make up all missed work.

 

Consequences:

When requests for proper behavior are not met, individuals are usually disciplined with some immediate consequence.  Swimmers may be asked to put away workout equipment, pick up trash after a meet, or clean a bus after traveling.  In some cases more significant consequences are needed.  This might include being benched at a meet or serving Saturday school detentions.  When a swimmer’s behavior is exceptionally hazardous, damaging, or “cancerous” in nature, removal from the team may be necessary

­­____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

 

The Swim PE Class:

All students enrolled in one of the two swim PE classes will be eligible to receive credit at SHS for one or two quarters of physical education.  Students not enrolled in these classes cannot join the team’s one-hour practices until the CIF start of season date (usually mid February). 

 

Goals:   

The primary purpose of this class is to learn and practice the basic strokes, starts, turns, and finishes used in competitive swimming today.  The class will also focus on rules, basic nutrition, as well as training and competition strategies.  Since the natatorium may not always be available, classroom time and other physical education activities may be an important part of the class.*

 

Participation:

This course is based on participation, effort, and improvement.  It is not possible to miss large numbers of days and still pass the class.  The Saugus 15 point attendance policy will prevent students with 15 absences from passing, and excessive non-swim/dress days will also result in a low or failing grade.  Students who are sick or injured for significant portions of the semester should consider dropping the class or be prepared for a low or failing grade. 

 

Grade rubric:

D or F                     Did I often fail to dress and/or practice?

                                Was my effort or conduct disruptive to the flow of class or practice?

                                Did I frequently fail to listen to instruction, pay attention, or finish sets?

                                Was I defiant to the coach or pool staff, or was my attitude consistently negative?

                                Did I fail to turn in assignments or participate in classroom activities?

                                Was I frequently tardy, or did I get out of practice early?

 

C                             Did I occasionally fail to dress and practice?

                                Did I generally follow instructions, focus, and complete all sets?

                                Was my attitude and level of cooperation periodically less than acceptable?

                                Was I occasionally uninvolved in non-swimming activities?     

                                Was I periodically tardy, or did I get out of practice early?

 

B or A                    Did I dress and practice nearly every day?

                                Was I frequently a role model to others with my effort, attitude, and dedication?

                                Was I often one of the first athletes in the pool, and did I do the warm-up?

                                Did I consistently strive to finish all sets each workout?

                                Was my passion for each day’s challenges evident to my peers and instructor?

 

Coaches’ discretion will be used to determine the level of participation, commitment, responsibility, and dedication.  “A” grades will be reserved for the most dedicated role models. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

* When the class is out on the field or on the courts, students will need the appropriate shoes and clothes to compete.  Students may wish to buy a lock and ask for a PE locker, but this is not required.