Team Information 2008

Qualifications for Swim Team Membership

A child must be able to swim a length of the pool in order to be on the Swim Team. We strongly encourage lessons if your child is just beginning. It is possible to join the swim team after the swim session has begun.

Notes on Meets

Each team has a warm-up period before a meet begins. The home team warms up first, allowing the visiting team access to the pool immediately preceding the start of the meet. You should plan to arrive at least 10 minutes before the DT warm-ups so that your child can get settled in the team area and get ready to swim. Swimmers must sit with the team during teh meet.

Swimmers should cheer for their teammates and show good sportsmanship at all times during a meet.

Swimmers should try for a best time with each swim. Any swimmer who achieves a "personal best" is a winner regardless of place standing.

We will post times on the Swim Team Bulletin Board at the pool following each meet and will report best times.

Race Feedback

Someone on the coaching staff should talk to a swimmer before and after each race. Feedback is easiest to understand right after the race. Coaches will attempt to be positive and constructive in giving feedback. If the swimmer is disqualified for any reason, the coach should explain the disqualification. Parents need to understand reasons for disqualification, as well. If you need information, see a member of the coaching staff or a qualified official AFTER THE MEET.

Away Meets

Everyone should meet at the pool at the announced time on the day of an away meet. This ensures that all swimmers have rides and that drivers have proper directions. We will post a map at the pool for any latecomers. Directions to all away meets are available on the GCC Seahawks website.

Nutrition and Rest

Children should eat a nutritional meal before swimming. A good breakfast would be pancakes without a lot of syrup and fresh fruit. The night before a Meet, we recommend that swimmers eat a large serving of pasta and fruit.

Please urge your childrento postpone eating "junk food" at a meet until after they finish swimming. Sugar only slows a swimmer down! Water or a sport drink such as Gatorade is the best drink during a Meet. On hot days swimmers should drink frequently to avoid dehydration.

It is important to get a good night's rest before a meet. Swimming takes a lot of energy. We recommend that children stay out of the sun on Friday afternoons in order to do their best on Saturdays.


Water and Safety

Practice and swim Meets take place even if it rains. However, any sound of lightning or thunder clears the pool until at least 30 minutes have passed without recurrence.

The safety of all swimmers is of the greatest importance. We urge swimmers, coaches and everyone connected to the Swim Team in any way to use common sense to avoid accidents. Behavior such as throwing someone in the pool can result in serious injury or even death. Let's continue our record of no serious accidents.

Also, remember that the sun beats down hard in the mornings in summer. Urge your children to use a waterproof sunscreen before arriving for practices or meets.

Team Behavior Policy

Swim Team members must display good sportsmanship at all team functions. Any verbal or physical violation of this principle will be dealt with according to its severity, but may result in removal from the Swim Team.

Swim Team Photos

The team will pose for a group photo at a Family Fun Night. Date TBA We urge all swimmers to be in the photo wearing their GCC Seahawks swimsuits.

Respect for Other Pool Members

Many people not associated with the Swim Team enjoy the Greenbrier Country Club pool and facilities. We encourage Swim Team families to be sensitive to the needs of other pool members throughout the summer, both at practices and before and after meets.

Parent-Swimmer-Coach

A unique way of looking at the parent-swimmer-coach relationship is as a triangle, with the parent(s) and coach at the bottom of either side of the base, and the swimmer at the top. Both parent(s) and coaches work together in a partnership to help the swimmer rise to his/her highest potential. Each member of this triangle has specific responsibilities. The coach is the professional, with the knowledge and training to guide the swimmer in the sport. The coach is also an important source of motivation for the swimmer.

The parent(s) are the swimmer's emotional base on whom the swimmer relies on for a sense of well-being and security. This can be provided best through support and encouragement no matter how the swimmer performs and by guiding them through the emotional ups and downs that will inevitably come in their swimming (as well as other sport) careers.

Finally, the swimmer's responsibility is to listen to the coach, attempt to do what the coach asks of him/her, and to develop with the coach as a positive working relationship that will allow the two to work as effectively as possible.

If you, as a parent, have any questions or concerns about a coach's decisions, please feel free to contact him/her. The best time to do this is after practice or, if possible, write a note asking to speak with the coach, and briefly describe what you would like to discuss. The coach will get back to you as soon as possible.

Complaints and Suggestions

If you have a question, complaint, or suggestion, don't hesitate to contact the GCC Seahawks Board Reps. If you'd like us to pass along a compliment to the coaching staff, we'll take those too! They will respond as soon as possible. Your ideas and feedback, both positive and negative, are appreciated.