MAC Red Swim Team

Red Swim Team registration dates are:
Tuesday, April 1, 4-7 p.m.
Thursday, May 1, 4-7 p.m.
Registration will be held at MAC West Poolside Cafe.
This year, all interested participants MUST SIGN UP IN PERSON!

Introduction
Welcome to MAC's Swimming and Diving Team! This manual has been prepared especially for parents to acquaint you with the philosophy and structure of our program. You will be asked to give your time and talent. In turn, the swimming and diving representatives (reps) welcome your questions and suggestions. We hope this manual will give you much of the information you need.

Team Goals
Learning.
Our goal for each swimmer and diver is to learn and improve continually. A swimmer’s progress is easily measured by comparing lap times after every race. If the times are faster each week, the swimmer is improving, even though he/she may consistently finish in last place. In diving, progress is more difficult to measure. A diver’s meet performance is scored by judges, who sometimes differ. In general, however, an increase in the total points on a dive indicates improvement. Improvement, for the swimmer or the diver, is not easily achieved. Hard work and attention to instructions are required.
Competition.
We believe competition can be a positive learning experience. We encourage individual effort as well as team performance and good sportsmanship.
Fun.
The team situation provides fun for the participants as they build friendships and team spirit. There is also an awards banquet at the end of the season.
Exercise.
Swimming is one of the best forms of exercise. Any swimmer who conscientiously participates in practice is guaranteed to get “in shape”.

Team Suits
The team suit has been chosen and orders can be placed at Kid’s Sportsworld in Des. Peres.

Meet and Activity Schedule

Tuesday, April 1
Swim Team Registration
4-7 p.m.
MAC West Poolside Cafe

Thursday, May 1
Swim Team Registration
4-7 p.m.
MAC West Poolside Cafe

Saturdays, April 12, April 19, April 26, May 3, May 10, May 17 (for six consecutive weeks)
Spring Warm-Up Session
9-11 a.m.
Downtown Clubhouse

Tuesday, May 27
Evening Practice Begins

Friday, May 30
Ice Cream Social (after practice)

Monday, June 2
Penguin Meet (Red v. Black)
Time Trials
4:30 p.m.
Pizza Party (after meet)

Monday, June 9
MAC at Castle Pines
5:30 p.m.

Monday, June 16
MAC at Wildwood
5:30 p.m.

Monday, June 23
Cool Dell at MAC
5:30 p.m.

Monday, June 30
MAC at Cedar Mill
5:30 p.m.

Monday, July 7
Chesterfield Farms at MAC
5:30 p.m.

Wednesday, July 9
Dive Conference

Thursday, July 10
Spirit Night/Pasta Party

Saturday, July 12
Swim Conference 10 & under

Sunday, July 13
Swim Conference 11 & up

Monday, July 14
Swim & Dive Team Banquet
6 p.m.
Downtown

The cost is $75 for one child and $65 for each additional child.

GET INTO SHAPE!
Spring Warm-ups for the MAC Penguins.
Held at the Downtown Clubhouse from 9 to 11 a.m. on Saturdays from April 12 to May 17
Please call Tim Kelley 314-539-4476.

SWIM TEAM GUIDELINES

Lessons v. Team
In general, youngsters who do not have a good grasp of the fundamentals of the freestyle and backstroke would do better to master these skills in lessons before joining the team or participate on either of the MAC’S two fun teams.. Otherwise, they may quickly become discouraged if they lag far behind others in their age group. Even for many team members, refresher lessons are very helpful. These can be set up individually with the coaches.

Practice Times

Afternoon practices the first week. Consult Swim Team Manual for up-to-date times. Morning practicies begin June 2. Double check with the front desk on practice times at 314-539-4444.

Monday: Meet Day
8-8:45 a.m. Open Age Group
8:45-9:30 a.m. Open Age Group

Tuesday:
NO PRACTICE

Wednesday, Thursday, Friday
Times	Age
8-8:45 a.m.	Open Age Group
8:45-9:45 a.m.	9/10
8:45-10 a.m.	13 & over
9:45-10:30 a.m.	8 & under
10-11 a.m.	11/12
10:30-11 a.m.	6 & under

Wednesday & Thursday Afternoons:
4-4:45 p.m. 8 & Under
4:45-5:30 p.m. 9 & Over

Practice Procedures
Practices include two basic elements: teaching and repetition drill. A typical practice has a warm-up (usually a slow, relatively long-distance swim), stroke drills (emphasizing some specific lessons) and sprints or distance swimming (to develop speed and endurance). Parents should be aware that group practice precludes individual attention. The coach will make every effort to point out errors, give tips on improvement, and teach the strokes. However, quick reminders are not always enough to change a child’s technique. If your child is having some difficulty with a stroke, feel free to discuss this with the coach. He may share some pointers with you or suggest lessons. Improvement comes with practice; regular attendance is beneficial to the child and the team. Please have your child to practice on time. Repeating instructions several times for the benefit of latecom-
ers wastes coaching time.

Notes on practicing
It is important that swimmers practice the techniques they learn all the time, not just during the specific stroke drill Although the coach will remind them, you can reinforce this idea too. This means that the time to practice flip turns is every time the swimmer completes a lap, and the time to practice starts is every time a swimmer goes off the block. The best swimmers also practice on their own time to perfect starts, turns, finishes, and stroke techniques.

Parent/Coach Contact
Most parents drop their children off for practice. You may certainly stay to watch if you wish, but please do not interrupt the workout. If your child misbehaves and the coach misses it, please wait until after practice is over to make your displeasure known. If you wish to discuss something with the coach, please wait until after practice to do so.

What to do if your child will miss a meet
ALL VACATIONS MUST BE MARKED IN THE VACATION BOOK. It is the responsibility of the swimmer to do this. If a child is ill the day of the meet, the coach must be notified by noon so that adjustments can be made. If not, the swimmer will not be allowed to swim in the next meet. If a swimmer misses a meet because the coach was not properly informed, then the swimmer will not be allowed to swim in the next meet.

MEET DAY WARM-UPS ARE AT 4:30 P.M. FOR HOME MEETS AND 5 P.M. FOR AWAY MEETS. COMPETITION BEGINS AT 5:30 P.M. AND RUNS UNTIL APPROXIMATELY 10 P.M. Warm-up usually looks chaotic, but it is
very important for swimmers to loosen up, adjust to the starting blocks, practice turns on the wall and check backstroke flags and any other markings which may be unfamiliar to them. In a tight race these times can make a difference. During meets all swimmers must remain in the team area. Limiting trips to the snack bar and restroom is advised. If a child misses a race, it is his own fault. When it is his turn to swim, a swimmer
will be directed from the team area to the starting blocks by the official starter. Swimmers must learn to follow the starter’s directions exactly. Once the race is over, swimmers should report to the team area.

Parents
All parents are required to work at least three meets, depending on enrollment. This includes time trials, and Division Dual Meets. In addition, you will be required to work the conference meet if your child/children participate. Parent workers must report to the team rep. no later than 5:00 p.m. and work until the end of the meet to receive credit.

Those parents not fulfilling this commitment will be fined $150 and denied participation in the 2007 swim team season. The money will be used to buy new equipment for next year. Parents who sign up for a meet and do not attend or do not find their own sub will not be allowed to have their child swim in the following meet. Parents are asked to let the parent representative know who is subbing for you.

Note that the Gateway Swimming & Diving Conference prohibits any parent worker or parent representative from drinking alcoholic beverages during any meet including the Championship meet (prelim, finals, or a timed final meet). Such actions by a parent worker will force the team to automatically forfeit the meet.

In the event that a swimmer/diver belongs to two participating clubs in the Gateway Conference, he/she may only swim/dive for ONE team for the entire season.