Pequannock Piranhas Parents Association
Swim Team Handbook
This handbook is an attempt to answer the most common questions that parents raise during the course of a relatively bust and fast moving season. Please take the time to read this handbook before the season starts. We believe that parents, especially those new to the team will find this information extremely useful.
WELCOME
On behalf of the Pequannock Piranhas Parents Association, the Executive Board would like to extend a warm welcome to all our new swim families and a welcome back to all our seasoned veterans. The season officially begins with optional practices on Monday, June 7th and ends on August 7th with the "A" Championships.
2010 Executive Board
President Lori Mann
Co-Vice Presidents Maureen Stefanides
Terri Horgan
Recording Secretary Krista Daley
Corresp. Secretary Carol Blakely
Treasurer Lia Czubachowski
Member-at-Large Erin Afflito Christine Smolen
Coaching Staff
Head Coach Jessica Lyon
Mackenzie Cahill
Kyle Madison
Alex
Caitlyn Horgan
Swim Meet/Swim Team Job Descriptions
Lake Assignments:
Head Timer (one head timer for each home meet)
Before meet: call scheduled timers 2-3 days in advance as a reminder of their assignment. At the meet: During warm-ups, get and distribute watches and insure all timers are present. Make sure all timers are in place for the start of the meet. Collects watches at the end of the meet. Acts as the backup timer (fills in for anyone who misses the start of a race).
Timer (at least 8-16 timers for each away/home meets; more for invitational) There is usually two timers per lane at dual meets, three timers at an invitational. Timers are responsible for timing the swimmer in their lane using the electronic timing system and stop watches. One timer is also responsible for recording the stopwatch times.
Officials (four officials are needed for home meet, two for away meets); Level II for Wednesday night meets; Level I and trainees fro Friday morning meets.
Marshals (two marshals for each home meet)
Make sure that the swimmers are ready for their races (mostly the younger swimmers). Line up all the swimmers according to the meet sheets.
Runners (several runners for Friday morning home meets)
Distributes/collects time cards from the timers and runs them over to the scorer's desk.
Booth assignments (home meets only):
Announcer (one announcer for each meet)
Announce the simmers lane assignments and team scores during the meet.
Colorado Timing System (two operators for each meet)
Operate the electronic timing system, which produces the race results. Must be present before and after the meet to ensure proper setup and breakdown of the system.
Scorer (one scorer for each meet)
Record the times and scores of each race for both teams. Compare results with the scorer from the other team for consistency. Get the signature of the coaches/officials on the results form at the end of the meet.
Table Coordinator (one coordinator for each meet)
Make any last minute changes to the heat sheets submitted by the coaches. Review the results from the timing system and the place judges for consistency. Must average stopwatch times for the 25's (Friday mornings only), or for the 50's if the timing system has problems. Gives validated times to the scorer. Coordinate all activities in the booth. Checks and notes DQs from the officials.
Miscellaneous Assignment (home meets only):
Set-up and Breakdown: (multiple workers for each meet)
Before the meet, set up the scoring booth, PA system and Colorado and put away at conclusion.
Snack Stand Head (one for each home meet)
Before the meet: call scheduled snack stand volunteers 2 days in advance to remind them of their responsibilities. At that meet, make sure that each shift is covered and volunteers are relieved at the end of ach shift. Assist with set up and clean up.
Snack Stand: (six helpers for each home meet: done in shifts of three each).
PEQUANNOCK PIRANHAS PARENTS ASSOCIATION SWIM TEAM
QUESTION AND ANSWER AND SECTION
This section is an attempt to answer the most common questions that parents raise during the course of a relatively busy season.
Please take the time to read this section before the season starts. We believe that parents, especially parent new to the s3im team, will find this information very useful.
1. The Swim Team and the Parents' Association
The Pequannock Piranhas is a competitive summer swim team sponsored by the Pequannock Township department of Parks and Recreation. As such, the Parks and Recreation department assumes authority of the operation of the team. The team swims at PV Park, where a 25 yard short course and a 50 meter long course are available for the team's use. Practice sessions are held on a daily basis, except weekend. Swim meets are held Wednesday evenings and Friday mornings.
The coach and assistants are in charge of most aspects of the team's operation. They are township employees and are responsible for training the swimmers. The PV Park director, another township employee, is responsible for the entire park facility. PV Park is municipal facility and the team is subject to township ordinances governing its use.
The Pequannock Piranhas Parents' Association (PPPA) is a non-profit organization to which we now welcome you. Our primary purpose is to support the swim team. All members are required to participate and assist in the operation of the team activities and meets.
It should be mentioned that the swim team will not provide daylong supervision for your child. In other words, the team does not operate a day care cent and coaches are not bay sitter. You are responsible for getting your child to practice and for picking them up which practice is over.
2. For Parents
Parental Encouragement
If your child has never swum competitively before, you will have to help your child prepare for the physical conditioning that competition demands. It is not unusual for children to want to hang up their suits after just one or two practices. Your young swimmer has a lot to gain from being on the swim team. Encourage your child to "stick it out," and in a few weeks, the conditioning techniques used by the coaches will begin to pay off.
3. About the Coaches
Please do not bombard the coaches with questions. While we don't feel the coaches are unapproachable, we'd rather have them use their time teaching and getting the swimmers ready for competition. Try not to involve the coaches in technical or philosophical discussions - they're just too busy! Also, encourage your child to deal directly with the coaches on matter such stroke technique. It's more efficient and sometimes helps a shy child becomes more outspoken and self- assured.
Do not criticize the coaching staff in the presence of swimmers. Remember that the coaches have the final say on what event your child swims in. Whether or not you agree with a coaching decision, effective coaching requires that the coaches have the swimmers trust and respect. Do not do anything to undermine that authority.
Please remember that a swim meet is not the proper time or place to discuss coaching decisions.
4. About Parks and Rec.
Do not contact the Parks and Rec. Dept. directly; the Parent's Association should be able to answer any questions that may come up during the season. Please check the back of the snack stand for important information throughout the season as well as emails sent to every member of the team. The back of the snack stand and emails are a valuable tool for any last minute changes or cancellations of swim meets. The Park and Rec. Dept. recording will probable NOT have this information.
5. About Practice
The swimmers are divided into practice groups based on age and experience. The practice sessions run back to back for most of the morning and, on some days, into the afternoon. All swimmers should show up at least 10 minutes before their practice starts. This gives them enough time to properly stretch before their workout and it also gives the coach some time to explain the day's practice.
6. Missing Swim Meets
The coaches spend an enormous amount of time making the lineup for each swim meet. Pequannock has a very large swim team and it is a big job trying to include as many swimmers as possible in each meet. You should notify the coach as soon as possible if your child is going to miss a swim meet (giving the coach your vacation schedule before the season will help). This allows the coach time to change the lineup, and, it may open up a spot for some other swimmer.
7. The Swim Conference
This swim team belongs to two different summer leagues known as the Lakeland Swim conference and the Ramapo Hills Swim Conference. The member teams come from Morris, Bergen, Passaic and Sussex counties. The Ramapo conference swim meets are held on Friday mornings and the Lakeland Conference swim meets are held Wednesday evenings.
At Ramapo meets, swimmers ages 10 and und swim in the 25-YARD lanes. Older swimmers ages 11 and up, swim in the 50 METER lanes. There are typically several heats per event and ribbons are awarded for the first four places in each heat. If there are more than eight swimmers in a race the swimmers are divided up into different groups called heats. All swimmers participate in the Ramapo meets.
At the Lakeland Conference meets held on Wednesday evening, all swimmers swim in the 50-metter lanes. There is usually only one heat per race. Not all swimmers will swim in these meets. No awards are given at the Lakeland meets.
8. Questions and Answers
What is a swim meet?
Good question. There are two kinds of swim meets, dual meets and invitational/championship meets.
A dual meet involves only two teams, which compete against each others. All Wednesday night and Friday morning meets are dual meets.
In general, four swimmers from each team will swim in alternate lanes, the fastest swimmers in the center lanes (4 and 5) the next fastest in the next lanes (3 and 6) etc. Points are awarded for the first five places in the individual races and to the swimming team in the relays. At the end of the meet the team with the most points win.
An invitational or championship meet involves many different teams competing at the same time. In some invitationals, there are team points and team trophies, but usually the competition is on an individual basis. Awards may vary, but usually small trophies, medals or ribbons are awarded. Invitational meets are not mandatory. You must sign your child up for an invitational when they are posted. An invitational sigh-up book is located in the Piranha Snack Stand. Be sure to circle and initial you child's events. If you wish for he/she to compete in an invitational you sign up before the posted deadline. If you sign up for an invitational and do not show, you will be charged the meet fee for the events missed (usually it is approx. $3.00 - $5.00 per race).
9. Who swims against whom at a meet?
Boys swim against boys and girls swim against girls. The swimmers are divided up into two-year age groups. The age groups are:
Ramapo Conference Lakeland Conference
6/under
7/8 8/under
9/10 (10/under for butterfly) 9/10 (10/under for butterfly)
11/12 11/12
13/14 13/14
15-18 15-18
The age cutoff is June 1st. Therefore, if your child turns 9 on or before June 1st, they would swim in the 9/10 age group. If your child turns 9 on or after June2nd, they would swim in the 7/8 age group.
10. What do we swim at a meet?
There are both individual and relay events.
In the individual events a swimmer will swim one of the four competitive stokes for a given distance.
In the individual events a swimmer will swim on of the four competitive strokes for a given distance. In the relay events, four swimmers swim as a group. There are tow types of relays. A free relay is a relay where all four swimmers swim freestyle. In a medley relay each swimmer swims different stroke. The stroke order for the medley relay is backstroke, breaststroke, butterfly and freestyle.
There are a few other relay events which you occasionally see. There is a step-up relay in which each team member is from a different age group and a mixed relay in which the relay team is coed.
11. What rules do we use?
For the most part, United States swimming, the governing body for amateur swimming in the United States, determines the rules. There are a few minor differences in these rules to make them a bit more lenient for the summer leagues. A good example of this is the "false start" rule. U.S. Swimming requires that one false start disqualifies a swimmer for that event. This rule has been modified so that the first two false starts by anyone in an event don't count. Any subsequent false start will then disqualify a swimmer from the event.
12. What is a "DQ"?
A "DQ" is a disqualification from a race because the swimmer did not swim the stroke correctly. Stroke officials who walk alongside the swim lanes during a race looking at the swimmers give DQ's. There are usually several stroke officials at a swim meet.
13. What are the competitive strokes and what can cause a "DQ"?
Freestyle
This is basically the front crawl, however, technically speaking, any stroke can be use. Every now and the, a younger swimmer (7/under) uses the backstroke in a 50-meter freestyle event.
Normally, a swimmer is not disqualified in the freestyle. However, a swimmer can be DQ'd if they pull on the lane lines, which sometimes happens with young swimmers.
Backstroke
This stroke is the back crawl. DQ's can occur if the swimmer does not stay on their back. This usually occurs at the end of the race if a swimmer mistakenly turns over on their side in order to see or touch the wall.
Breaststroke
The rules for swimming the breaststroke are complex. The arms must move simultaneously in the same horizontal plane, the kick must have simultaneous vertical and lateral movements (a frog kick), and the head must break the surface of the water between strokes. In addition, a swimmer cannot break the stroke movement (a swimmer cannot adjust their goggles after they dine in).
DQ's usually occur for an illegal kick; typically, a swimmer puts in an extra flutter at the end of the frog kick. In addition, a swimmer is allowed one arm stroke while they are underwater at the start of the race. DQ's occur when the swimmer takes more that one underwater arm stroke. Finally, a swimmer must touch the wall with two hands simultaneously at the end of the race; DQ's are called for failing to do this.
Butterfly
This stoke involves simultaneous arm movements over the surface of the water and a dolphin kick. The kick requires that both legs move in the same position relative to one another.
DQ's usually occur for an illegal kick; typically, a swimmer does not move their legs together making the kick look like a flutter kick. Also, a DQ can occur if the swimmer takes an arm stroke while underwater at the start of the race or fails to touch the wall simultaneously with both hands at the end of the race.
14. Can I cheer at a swim meet?
You can cheer to your heart's content AFTER the race has begun.
From the time the referee blows the start whistle until the time when the starter horn sounds, there should be silence.
This prevents the starter from having to shout above the crowd and also insures that the swimmers can hear the starter's instructions. Besides, the last thing you want to do is you out "Go Barney" and have little Barney miss the start of the race because he's looking into the stands.
15. How far do we swim at a meet?
There are three recognized swimming courses.
1. Short course yards (SCY). The swim lane is 25 yards, which is the type used in most indoor pools. Pequannock's short course is 25 yards long.
2. Short course meters (SCM). The swim lane is 25 meters. Not much difference between the SCY and SCM courses, but remember, twenty-five meters is a little over twenty-seven yards.
3. Long course meters (LCM). The swim lane is 50 meters. There is no recognized 50-yard course in swimming; therefore, most long courses are 50 meters in length. Pequannock's long course is 50 meters long.
In the Ramapo Conference younger swimmer, ages 10 and under, swim 25-yards while the older swimmers compete in 50-meter events. In the Lakeland Conference all events are 50 meters. The Lakeland Conference also has a 100-meter freestyle event for teenage swimmers.
16. What is an "A" time?
In the Lakeland conference, a swimmer must make a qualifying time in order to participate in the end of the season championship meet know as the "A's". These times are known as "A" times. The conference publishes each "A" time by sex, age group and stroke. Toward the end of the season, the "A" times may be raised with the intent of increasing the number swimmers in the championship meet (the goal is 32 swimmers, or 4 heats, per event).
A swimmer can obtain an "A" time during any Wednesday night meet or at any of the Invitationals. Times achieved at Friday morning meets or at the Pequannock time trials do not count. The last opportunity to obtain an "A" time is during the last Wednesday night meet which is just days before the championship meet.
17. Who officiates at a meet?
Needless to say, it takes a large number of people to run a swim meet. Some require training and certification, while others are just volunteers.
The certified officials include the referee, who is the chief official at the meet, the starter, and usually two or more stroke judges. The certified officials are the people wearing the white uniforms.
Other meet officials include the scorers, who run the electronic timing system and tabulate the results, and, the meet announcer, who calls the swimmers for events, announces the placing, etc.
18. What happens if I see an official make a wrong call during a race?
No spectator has the right to interfere with an official, timer, or any other person working the swim meet. The coaching staff should make any and all protests. Any questions should be addressed to the coach or the PPPA after the meet.
19. How is a meet timed?
In the 50-meter swim lanes, the races are timed by a 3 button electronic timing system known as the "Colorado" (a brand name). In the 25-yard swim lanes; stopwatches time the races. Both methods require timers to time the race.
When using the Colorado system, stopwatches are used as a backup just in case the system has a problem. Also, most swimmers want to know their time right after a race; feel free to tell them the stopwatch time.
Sometimes when stopwatches are used, there are instances where the judges will determine the placing of an event. The principle here is that the eye is faster than the hand. For example, if the judges agree that the swimmer in lane 6 came in first, followed by the swimmers in lane 5 then lane 3, that placing will become the official result regardless of the stopwatch times. Although it rarely occurs, it is possible for a swimmer with a faster time to place behind a swimmer with a slower time.
With two timers, the official time is the average of the two recorded times. With three timers, the official time the middle of the three recorded times (if any two time agree, that becomes the official time).
20. How do I time?
Piece of cake.
For dual meets, there are two timers per lane; for invitational and championship meets, there are usually tree timers per lane. These timers are parent volunteers and not officials.
At the start of each event, the meet referee will instruct the times to "Clear Your Watches" and then hands the event over to the starter. When this happens, reset your stopwatch and just check to make sure that the time is cleared. The starter will instruct the swimmers "Step Up," "Take Your Mark," and then start the race with a horn. With the Colorado system, a strobe light flashes when the horn goes off. Start your stopwatch when you see the strobe light, not when you hear the horn. Also, you do not have to press the button on the Colorado at the beginning of the race, only at the end.
When any part of the swimmer touches the wall, simultaneously stop the stopwatch and press the stop button on the Colorado. Do not be concerned with a legal or illegal touch, that's the stroke official's job. Do not clear your stopwatch until the referee says so, just in case the stopwatch times are needed.
Helpful hint: hang the stop button over the overheard wire of just set it down on the deck when you clear your stopwatch; this prevents someone from accidentally pressing the button at the start of the race. You should pick up the stop button when the swimmers are about half way down the lane.
See, piece of cake.
About the Invitational and Championship Meets
With the exception of the Fayson Lakes coaches Choice Invitational and the Ramapo Championships invitationals are long and last most of the day. The day will be what you make of it. If you plan properly you will have a good time and your swimmer will too.
Some tips:
The parents, not the coaches, are responsible for signing the swimmers up for invitational meets. This is done a week or two in advance by circling the events and initialing it in the entry meet book (which is kept at the snack stand). Entry fees are paid by the team; however, if you miss the deadline the winner (not the team) will be responsible for paying the entry fee. If you sign up and do not show then the swimmer will be responsible to reimburse the team for the entry fee.
Listen to the weather forecast. This will allow you to dress appropriately and bring along the things you might need for comfort (suntan oil, rain gear, etc.).
The host clubs use these meets as fundraiser. You will be charged an entry fee and be charged for a program. You can usually purchase food and beverages and other items at these meets. We encourage bringing a cooler with snacks and drinks to keep the kids (and parents) happy.
While you child's name will be listed in the seeding portion of the program for individual events, the relay teams will be listed only as Pequannock or Pequannock A or B. Your child will find out from the coach if he/she is on a relay team. Typically, championship meets have relay events while invitational meets do not.
In most cases, the meets are held at swim clubs that are on private property. Don't be put off by restricted access to some facilities such as clubhouses and beaches. Remember, while the swim team would love to have you enjoy all their facilities, the other club members want their privacy.
The Packanack Lake Invitational
This is an odd-age group meet. All teams for the Lakeland Conference and occasionally, some teams outside the conference are invited. In an odd-age meet, the conventional age groups are reversed; the age groups become 7/under, 8/9, 10/11, 12/13, 14/up. Obviously, this gives the children who are ordinarily at the bottom of their age group a better chance to place. Besides being a well run meet, there are events for parents, coaches and even a family relay event. The major drawback is the weather; the meet is held in mid July and there is zero shade on the beach. Remember to bring hats, suntan lotion and plenty of water and juice to drink.
Individual Age Invitational
This meet is host by the Pequannock piranhas and is designed to give swimmers a chance to compete against children only in their own age group; 8 year olds swim against 8 year olds, 9's against 9's, etc. Again, this gives the children who are usually at the bottom of their age group a better chance to place.
The Highland Lakes Invitational
Swimmers with two or more "A" times are not eligible for this meet. A swimmer with one "A" time cannot swim that stroke in the meet but is eligible to swim any other stroke. This meet occasionally referred to as the "B" invitational or "B" championships. Traditionally, medals are awarded to the first three of four place and ribbons for the nest few place. There are also open events for older swimmers: 100 & 200-meter freestyle, and a 200 meter IM.
A swimmer, who does not place in this meet and does not have an "A" time, is then eligible to swim at the Erskine Lakes Invitational. The facilities are good; parking is adequate, although latecomers will wind up parking a block or two away. There is a refreshment stand and some shaded areas, which will be occupied by the early birds.
The Erskine Lakes Invitational
This is sometimes called the "C" invitational, although there is no such thing as a "C" time. A swimmer with an "A" time or a swimmer that place in the Highland Lakes Invitational is not eligible to win in this meet. Therefore, this is the least competitive of the summer invitational and gives the kids who have not won an award a chance to do so. Typically, small trophies are given to the first three places and there are ribbons for the winners of each heat.
Because of the generous number of awards given out, rumors have circulated that "everyone gets something" at Erskine. NOT TRUE! A swimmer who goes to this meet with the ideas that they will win something may cone away very disappointed. Try to discourage such things and instead, have your swimmer concentrate on doing their best.
A far as the facilities go, parking is very limited by the swim lanes. You will inevitable have to find parking on the side streets around the lake, There is a good refreshment stand, and this course is one of the best shaded in the conference.
The Fayson Lakes Invitational / Ramapo Conference Championship
These meets are held in the evening and run with only one championship final heat. Unlike other invitationals the parent and swimmers do not sigh up for this one - it is purely the coach's choice.
The Ramapo championship is the only invitational where a swimmer cannot achieve an "A" time.
The Lakeland Conference Championship
This meet is rotated around the conference, so a different team hosts it each year. This meet is the "A" Championship and participation is limited to swimmers who have achieved "A" times. A swimmer is limited to two events, even if the swimmer has three or four "A" times. The coach will select the events that the swimmer competes in. If a swimmer achieves an "A" time throughout the season, they are expected to swim at this meet.
What To Do When The Summer Season Is Over
If the summer season has gotten your child so interested in swimming that they express an interest in swimming year-round, there are several choices open to your and your child.
Swim clinics and lessons
Classes are run several times over the winter and usually last about two months. Several YM/YHCA and swim clubs have excellent instructional programs. Feel free to ask the Parent Association concerning these
Montclair YMCA Lakeland Hills YMCA YM-YWHA Pioneer Aquatic Club
Park Street Fanny Road 1 Pike Drive William Paterson U.
Montclair, NJ Mountain Lake, NJ Wayne, NJ Ed Gurka, H.C.
Tel: 973-783-8867 973-334-2820 973-595-0100 973-831-5993
Winter swim teams
Your decision should be made after honest consideration of you child's level of ability and commitment, as well as your financial situation and availability to take your child to meets and practices. Winter swimming demands a lot of time from both you and your child.
In most cases, winter swim teams (including the Y's) require a try-out, which your child will have to pass in order to make the team. Training programs vary in degree of difficulty and you should "shop around" by talking to other parents, team members, and coaches before you make any decisions.
