Parent Responsibilities & Handbook

Good parental support is the foundation for a successful swim program. Parents are needed in many areas for the team to function efficiently. Parents of Chabot swimmers are required to take an active role in helping the swim team. This includes helping at meets, fund raising and social activities. Everyone has something to offer. Below are some guidelines that will help you and your swimmer.

Age Group Classifications | Meet Information | Criteria for Roster
Swimmer Illness | Communications

Guidelines for Supporting Your Swimmer | How to Be A Perfect Swimming Parent

Parents Code of Ethics

• Keep yourself informed by reading all publications from the team. Check your swimmer's file folder often for current information.
• Volunteer your time at swim meets as directed up by the Meet Director. It takes the whole parent membership to put on a successful meet. When attending away meets, your help is still a necessity and, during all of the team's social and fundraising events, your assistance is expected. With all of us helping, the work should be evenly distributed amongst us. We want our swimmers to be proud of the job their parents do.
• If you have a special skill and are willing to volunteer that skill to the team, please let us know. Extra help is always welcomed!
• Support the coaches and team with a positive attitude.
• See that your swimmer gets the proper rest and nutrition, including a well-balanced diet.

Guidelines for Supporting Your Swimmer

• Be positive. Help your child look beyond today and toward his or her goals.
• Be patient. Swimmers develop at different paces, but all swimmers need time. No matter how your child seems to be doing in comparison to other swimmers, don't push. When he or she is ready, the big improvement will come.
• Never "bug" your swimmer about his or her swimming. It will only irritate your child.
• Please make sure that your swimmer arrives to all workouts, and meets on time. If your child is late, he or she will not benefit from a proper warm-up and/or perhaps not receive an important message from the coaches.
• Be a follower not a leader. Your swimmer will perform as well as he or she wants to, not as either you or we, the coaches, want.
• Although swimming has a strong individual element, your child is, most of all, part of a team. We encourage families to stay until the meet is over to show team spirit and pride (and help clean up!).
• The single most important thing which you can do for your child is to help him develop a strong sense of sportsmanship and a positive self-image. With your help, this will be swimming's best benefit to your child.

How To Be A Perfect Swimming Parent

• Don't try to talk to the coaches while they are conducting a workout. Consider the pool deck a classroom. Would you interrupt a classroom teacher while he/she was in the middle of a lecture? If a coach is not talking to the swimmers, he is thinking, watching and analyzing. If you need to ask questions about meet entries, workouts, fund raisers, etc., please leave a note in the office and the coach will call you.
• "The Coach is the Coach." We want your child to relate to his/her coach as soon as possible concerning swimming competition, technique and training. This relationship and bonding between coach and swimmer produces the best results. When parents interfere with opinions as to how the child should swim it causes considerable confusion as to who the swimmer should listen to.
• Watching Workouts. If you choose to watch the teaching and training sessions, you may do so from a distance. Parents are asked to keep your distance from the swimmers. Never talk, signal, wave or admonish your child while he is in workouts. If you notice a problem, talk to the coach about it by phone or appointment. Never time your child during workouts. The repeat times are something for his/her coach and the child to discuss. If your swimmer has a poor workout, offer encouragement for him/her to swim better at the next one. Note: NO SMOKING on the pool deck!
• Anything worthwhile usually means sacrifice and hard work. Never complain about the number of hours of practice your child logs each week. Make your swimmer realize that you will support him in every way possible.
• Above all; communicate. If you question any aspect of the swim program, please make an appointment and discuss it with the coach.

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Age Group Classifications

Age group swimming is organized into classifications based on age and gender. An individual's age as of June 1, 2003 will determine the age group that he/she will swim for the entire season. The basic age group classifications are:

6 and under (freestyle event only)
8 and under
9 - 10
11 - 12
13 - 14
15 - 18

The 8 and under and 9-10 age groups swim individual events of 25 yards (one lap of the pool) in length.

The 11-12, 13-14, and 15-18 age groups swim 50 yard events (two laps of the pool) with the exception of the 100yd. Individual Medley (I.M.)

Medley Relay - Relay consisting of four swimmers, each one swimming a different stroke. Relay order is: Back, Breast, Fly, Free.

Individual Medley (IM) - One swimmer (11-12 age groups and older) swims all four strokes in the following order: Fly, Back, Breast, Free.

Freestyle Relay - Relay consisting of four swimmers, each one swimming freestyle stroke.

Meet Information

We belong the the East Bay Swim League along with eleven other teams (Columbia, Glenmoor, Highland, Kennedy, Manor, Mission Valley, San Leandro, Newark, Southgate, Treeview, and Warm Springs). Every member of the Chabot Swim Team can participate in the dual meets. The dual meets take place on Saturdays.

EBSL Championship Meet

Our league championship meet takes place on Saturday, July 26, 2003.

Meet Entries

Entries for all meets will be posted at the pool at least one day before the meet. It is important to check to see what you are swimming. No swimmer may swim more than 4 events (combined individual and relay events). Confirm that you are swimming at least 3 events. If not, see the coach ASAP.

Swimmer Illness

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Missing a Swim Meet

If your child will have to miss, leave early or arrive late to a swim meet, it is important that you inform the coach - the earlier the better. Missed meet schedules for each meet will be posted on the bulletin board for you to fill out and will be used by the coaches in determining meet entries.

Criteria for Roster

Chabot Swim Team permits swimmers to join based on the following criteria:

1. Must be a member of the Chabot Swim Club.
2. Must be capable of swimming the length of the pool unassisted.

There is no restriction to the maximum number of participants on the team!

As a member of the Chabot Swim Team, swimmers can:

1. Participate in daily practice sessions.
2. Compete in all dual meets.
3. Participate in all social events, including team and family functions, picnics and a trip.
4. All are eligible to receive awards throughout the season such as best time stars and placing ribbons.
5. All are eligible to attend and receive an award at the Awards Banquet.

Swimmers may be eliminated from participating in the Championship Meet due to poor attendance at workouts or meets, or inappropriate behavior. This decision will be determined by the Swim Team Board and the Coaching Staff.

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Communications

A major goal of any organization is the accurate and efficient dissemination of information to its membership. The Chabot Swim Team uses the following methods of communication:

Newsletter - Our newsletter, otherwise known as the "Marlin Memo", is sent home with swimmers as necessary. It contains information regarding team meets and workout schedules, notices about upcoming social and fundraising events, and editorials from coaches and parents. Teammates and parents are encouraged to submit new ideas and information for the Marlin Memo. The Marlin Memo is also posted regularly to our website.

File Folders - Each swimmer has their own individual file folder in the swim box. The swim box is kept in the Team Office. Swimmers and/or parents should check their folder every day for important team and meet information. Ribbons, Marlin Memos, and the Meet Director's Assignments are just a few of the items to be found weekly in the folders.

Bulletin Board - Periodically check the large bulletin board located on the wall next to the office for current information and announcements.

Conferences - Interaction with the coaches while they are on deck is strongly discouraged. If you need to speak with any of the coaches, leave a note with your name and number for them in the coaches box located in the office at the pool. The coach will get back to you as soon as possible, usually within 48 hours.

Email - The swim team maintains an email address of . This email is monitored by your swim team Board of Directors. Questions will be replied to promptly.

Website - Here! Be sure to check the main/front/home page frequently as important updates will be posted throughout the season, and often, several times each week.

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Parents' Code of Ethics

I hereby pledge to provide positive support, care and encouragement for my child participating on Chabot Swim Team by following this Parents' Code of Ethics Pledge.

I will encourage good sportsmanship by demonstrating positive support for all swimmers, coaches and officials at every swim meet, practice, or other swim team sponsored event.

I will place the emotional and physical well-being of my child ahead of my personal desire to win.

I will insist that my child swim in a safe and healthy environment.

I will support the coaches and officials working with my child in order to encourage a positive and enjoyable experience for all.

I will remember that the swim meets are for youth and should be a positive family experience.

I will do my best to make swimming fun for my child.

I will ask my child to treat other swimmers, coaches, parents and officials with respect regardless of race, sex, creed or ability.

I promise to help my child enjoy the swim team experience by doing whatever I can, such as being a respectful fan, assisting at swim meets and swim team sponsored events.

I will read the Chabot Swim Team Handbook and become an informed and supportive fan of the Chabot Swim Team.

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