Damascus Dolphins 2003 Handbook

1.     Damascus Swim Team – 2003 Season

Welcome to the 2003 Swim Season! As a member of the Montgomery County Swim League’s “A” Division, you are a part of a community sports activity rich in its tradition of providing a competitive and fun community-based summer activity. Please support our Damascus Dolphins!  

1.1     Damascus Swim Team Coaching Staff

1.2     Damascus Swim Team Executive Committee

The Damascus Swim Team Executive Committee serves to assist the DST members and is an all-volunteer organization of the following members elected by the general membership:

2.          Swim Team Participation Ground Rules

The Damascus Swim Team (DST) Executive Committee has determined these Ground Rules to provide a basis for understanding and conducting DST swim meets and related activities. DST participates in the Montgomery County Swim League (MCSL). This organization enrolls over 8,000 swimmers through teams within the County and provides competitive structure by boys’ and girls’ age groups including both individual and relay events. The Saturday meets, or “A Meets,” are operated in accordance with MCSL rules. Wednesday meets, or “B Meets,” are governed by flexible rules as determined by the “B” Reps who are voting members of the DST Executive Committee.

A Meets are customarily held on Saturday mornings, and B Meets are conducted primarily on Wednesday evenings. A and B Relay Carnivals are held during the season. The Division Championship Meet is the last meet of the regular season. Swim clubs throughout the MCSL hold fund-raising meets during the season, such as the Damascus Pentathlon and the various mini-meets. Special MCSL meets are held during the season. These include the Coaches’ Long Course Meet, which is conducted mid-season, and the Montgomery County All Star Relays and Individual Meets are held at the end of the season.

DST Practices are every weekday during the season. Until school is over for the summer, practices will be held each weekday afternoon. After school is out for the year, practices will be each weekday morning and occasional weekday evenings (See No.6 below, and your DST calendar or the DST website for times and dates). Practices are an integral part of the competitive swim program and they build team spirit. All team members are encouraged to practice regularly with the team. The Head Coach may set a requirement for a minimum number of practices each swimmer must attend each week of the season.

Several resources support DST including the Damascus Recreation Association (DRA), annual fees, fund raising and most importantly, our member volunteers. The coaching staff, Damascus Swim Team Executive Committee members, team members, and their families are essential because swimming is a “people-intense” sport requiring all these people working together to conduct team functions in sportsmanlike and competitive manners. 

This handbook addresses questions parents and swimmers may have about meets, line-ups, practices, and other DST activities. 

3.     Swim Program Objectives

The primary objective of the Damascus Swim Team is to sponsor a swim team to participate in the Montgomery County Swim League (according to their rules) for competitive and recreational purposes.  It is the intent of the Damascus Swim Team to encourage good sportsmanship and active, participative team spirit, and to provide an environment to strengthen the emotional and physical well-being of all members in a setting of family participation, encouragement, and support.

4.     Swim Team Fees

The DST Executive Committee sets an annual fee each year that must be paid by each swim team member before the first day of practice. A pre-dated check will also be required and held until verification that the minimum volunteer obligation requirements have been fulfilled. These fees are not pro-rated when joining the team after the season begins. Swimmers will be ineligible to attend any swim team practice or function until all fees have been paid. Annual fees are a primary source of operating revenue the team must have for MCSL membership and to provide for the various season activities.

4.1     REFUNDS

  No refunds will be administered after June 17, 2003.  There are no exceptions.  Refunds administered prior to this date will be pro-rated from the first day of practice. The first day of practice is the first Tuesday after Memorial Day.

5.     SWIM TEAM ELIGIBILITY

Any family that is currently a member in good standing of the Damascus Recreation Association is eligible to join the Damascus Swim Team. The swimmer must not be older than 18 on June 1, 2003.

A swimmer must be able to swim one 25 meter length of the pool unassisted to participate in a meet.  The coaches will make every effort to help swimmers meet this eligibility requirement.

6.     Practice Schedule

6.1     Evening Practices

May 28 – June 20:  Monday – Friday  

6.2     Morning Practices

June 23 – July 18:  Monday – Friday  

6.3     Divisional and All Star Practice

All qualified swimmers are eligible for this practice. The head coach will announce the schedule for these practices.

7.     Swim Team Apparel

All members of the team are requested to buy and wear the established swim team suit and cap at all swim meets. Wearing the team suit at scheduled swim meets is very important for team morale and contributes significantly to team spirit. There will be a team swim suit order day, announced at the General Meeting, where swimmers may try on suits for size. If you miss ordering at this time, you may order your suits individually by contacting the DST Apparel Manager.  The Damascus Swim Team suit is registered at Underwater Wear, and they can fill your order without you knowing the style.

Other available swim wear items you may purchase from the team include caps, goggles, fins, bags, T-shirts, sweatshirts, shorts, etc. These items are not mandatory, but again, purchase support DST revenue and wearing these items denote team spirit. For information regarding these items, contact the DST Apparel Manager listed on page 3 of this Handbook.

8.     COMMUNICATION

The following methods are used to communicate upcoming events, news, and general announcements to the Damascus Swim Team members:

8.1     Bulletin Board

·        Times and Meet Line-Ups will be posted on the Damascus Swim Team Bulletin Board in the pool entryway. 

·        For Saturday A Meets, the Line-Up and list of meet volunteers and officials will be posted no later than noon Friday.

·        Results from a Saturday A Meet will be posted no later than 6:00 p.m. on Sunday.

·        For Wednesday  B Meets, the list of meet volunteers and officials will be posted no later than 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday.

·        Results from a Wednesday  B Meet will be posted no later than 6:00 p.m. on Thursday.

·        Schedule changes, announcements, and upcoming events will be posted on the Damascus Swim Team Bulletin Board.  PLEASE CHECK THE BULLETIN BOARDS DAILY!

8.2     Internet Website

  The Damascus Swim Team Internet Website address is http://www.damascusdolphins.org .  The website contains most of the information contained in this handbook, DST Executive Committee member e-mail addresses, as well as a host of other information relating to the Damascus Swim Team.  CHECK THIS SITE OFTEN FOR UPDATES AND INFORMATION!

8.3     Coaches

Coaches will make announcements at practices regarding any changes to schedules, line-ups, meet times, etc.  ASK YOUR SWIMMER AFTER EACH PRACTICE FOR ANY NEW INFORMATION OR HANDOUTS!

8.4     Handouts

The Damascus Swim Team Handbook, an initial practice schedule, meet dates and social events’ calendar will be distributed to each family at the beginning of the swim season when the registration fee is paid. There may be a need to facilitate some changes, so check the Damascus Swim Team bulletin board and website frequently.  The MCSL Handbook will be available in a .PDF format from www.mcsl.org.

8.5     Parent Meetings

The DST Executive Committee sponsors two meetings with Coaches to answer parent and swimmer questions and address problems or concerns. These meetings are held at the pool.  The Parents’ Meetings dates and times will be announced and posted.

8.6     Ribbon Boxes

Swimmers are encouraged to attend ribbon presentations by coaches immediately after each A Meet and at the first practice following each B Meet. In these sessions, coaches announce ribbon winners from each competition. It is a time to celebrate swimmer accomplishments and is meant to bolster team spirit. If schedules do not permit attending the ribbon presentations, DST maintains file boxes containing a folder for each swim team family. Ribbons and other information will be placed in these boxes. These boxes are usually located on a table in the garage area next to the snack bar.

9.     Obligations & Responsibilities:  Coaches, Swimmers, & Parents

9.1     Obligations & Responsibilities of Coaches

The coaches will be responsible for the obligations written in the bylaws and in their individual contracts. Coaches will notify swimmers of changes in practice or meet schedules. The Head Coach is responsible for posting meet line-ups on time as described in the bulletin board section (8.1).  The Team Representatives will review the line-ups for A and B Meets before posting, for the sole purpose of establishing that all MCSL and Wednesday Meet rules have been observed and that Division Swim Off slots are filled.

9.2     Obligations & Responsibilities of Swimmers

Swimmers have the following responsibilities to the Damascus Swim Team and their teammates.

1.      Swimmers should attend one practice daily. Coaches may excuse swimmers from attending daily practice who train with a USA Swimming club, but every swimmer should attend at least one Damascus Swim Team practice a week. Swimmers are encouraged to participate in other Damascus Swim Team events.

2.      Swimmers are responsible to report the information they receive from the coaches at practices to their parents.

3.      Swimmers are responsible for checking the Bulletin Board for changes and new information regarding Damascus Swim Team events.

4.      Swimmers will give the Coach written notification, as far in advance as possible, if they must miss a meet or leave a meet early.  This should be done no later than the end of practice on Monday before a B Meet and Wednesday morning before an A Meet to permit the Coach adequate time to prepare the meet line-up. When a swimmer fails to do this for A Meets, there will be an empty lane resulting not only in a loss of points for the team, but it deprives another deserving swimmer, who has worked hard and wants to be in an A Meet, from participating.

5.      Swimmers should have plenty of rest before a meet.

6.      Swimmers are expected to be on-time for scheduled practices and pre-meet warm-ups. 

7.      Once entered in a meet, a swimmer will swim in all events he/she is entered unless unable to do so for medical or other emergency reasons.

8.      During meets, swimmers must stay in the designated Damascus Swim Team area.  They must talk to one of the coaches before leaving this area for any reason. This is an important rule to promote safety at all swim meets.

9.      Swimmers are expected to know their event numbers and be ready to report to the Clerk of Course when their events are called.

10.  Swimmers will display courteous and sportsman-like behavior at practices, meets and at all other team events. DST and MCSL have zero tolerance policies for un-sportsmanlike behavior.

11.  Each swimmer is responsible for respecting the property of the other swimmers on their team and opposing teams. 

12.  Swimmers must keep their team areas clean. At all meets and practices, swimmers will leave the Damascus Swim Team area in the same condition in which they found it.

13.  Swimmers should take the initial responsibility to discuss with the coaching staff questions they have about meet line-ups or other team and practice activities.

14.  Swimmers will not use any controlled substances, including illegal drugs, alcohol or tobacco, at any team activities.

15.  All swimmers are expected to respect ALL COACHES during practice, meets, and swim team functions. This includes volunteer Assistants appointed by DST Coaches. A swimmer, at the coaches’ discretion, will be removed from practice or a meet when the swimmer is disruptive.  The coach must notify a DST Executive Committee member and may notify the parent/guardian if this action was necessary.

16.  A swimmer or parent is responsible for signing up swimmers for the Wednesday meets.  Sign up sheets will be available on the bulletin board soon after the Saturday meet results are posted.  This must be done each Monday by Noon.

9.3     Obligations & Responsibilities of Parents

1.      Parents must demonstrate good sportsmanship and direct their children to behave in the same manner. 

2.      Parents must notify coaches promptly as to a swimmer’s absence from practices and meets.  Written notification should be given to the coaches at least two days before a meet if a swimmer is going to miss a meet. 

3.      Parents must direct all complaints to the DST Executive Committee President or Team Representatives and will maintain a courteous manner toward the coaching staff at all times.

4.      As a courtesy to coaches and swimmers, parents must refrain from approaching coaches during practices and during meets so the coaches may perform their duties during these times. 

5.      Parents are expected to assist in the operation of meets when called upon, to attend meets,  and  provide support and encouragement to all the swimmers.

6.      Parents must ensure that their swimmers respect all coaches and understand and support the team discipline policy.

7.      Parents must ensure that the Head Coach and the President, DST Executive Committee are informed promptly when their swimmer(s) elect to quit the team.

8.      Each swim team family must provide a parent or other qualified person over eighteen years of age to work the daily snack bar at least 1 day during the summer.  (This obligation is not to be confused with the meet volunteer position of Refreshment Stand).  Working the daily snack bar includes the following duties:

a.      Opening the snack bar on time (the pool manager will have the key).

b.      Stocking the racks with items from bins.

c.      Restocking the refrigerator with drinks.

d.      At the completion of the assigned time, returning all food items to the bins, cleaning the counters and emptying trash, and locking up the snack bar.

      9.      At the completion of the assigned time, counting the money, filling out a deposit slip and dropping the money in the night deposit or drive-in window at the Damascus Community Bank.

10.  If a parent is unable to fulfill the Daily Snack Bar obligation, an approved person must be paid $25.00 to work the Daily Snack Bar.  A parent unable to cover his/her assigned day must arrange for and/or pay a substitute. A parent may choose to pay $25.00 and the Snack Bar Manager will arrange for a substitute.

11.  Each swimmer must provide a parent to assist in the general operation of meets, both at home meets and away meets AT LEAST 4 TIMES during the swim season. Volunteers sign up for the meets of their choice.  This allows everyone an opportunity to sign up for the majority of their obligations. Failure to meet these obligations will result in the loss of your $50 obligation deposit:

One Swimmer - 4 obligations

Two Swimmers - 8 obligations

Three Swimmers - 12 obligations

Four Swimmers - 16 obligations

12.  Please see the Volunteer Sign-Up sheets posted in the Snack Bar area each day. If you cannot make it to the volunteer assignment you have signed-up for, you are responsible to find and post a replacement, and so indicate on the appropriate sign-up sheet.

13.  All volunteers must sign-in with the Volunteer Coordinator (s) to receive credit.