TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page Topic(s) Addressed
2 Welcome. HEAT History and Overview
3 Background Info.: USA Swimming, Ozark Swimming
HEAT Swimming & “Philosophy”
4 Coaching Staff
5 Practice Groups
6 Practice Schedule
7 Practice Group Fees
8 Additional Costs. / Discounts and Credits
9 Scholarships
10 HEAT Boosters
11 Booster Fundraising Expectations
12 Sources of Information and Communication
13 Weather Cancellations / Miscellaneous Info.
14 Signing Up for Swim Meets
15 General Meet Information for Parents
16 Explanation of Time Standards / Enrolling New Swimmers
17 Team Uniform
18 Swim Meet Volunteers and Officials
HEAT SWIMMING Phone: (314) 576-3028 www.heatswimming.org
Welcome to HEAT Swimming! HEAT Swimming started in 1997 as the Hazelwood Elite Aquatic Team. The name pays homage to the generous support of the Hazelwood School District; but the name also seemed to limit our growth to those wrongfully assuming that swimmers had to reside in the City of Hazelwood or in the Hazelwood School District in order to become a team member. For those reasons, and due to a “corporate” restructuring that separated some responsibilities, we now identify ourselves with the acronym H.E.A.T. instead of spelling out the original name.
HEAT is actually two non-profit organizations working together. The “business” side of HEAT Swimming is operated by our Executive Director David Stevens. Executive Director Stevens recruits, hires, trains, and pays the entire teaching/coaching staff. He must collect and track all dues payments, handle all aspects of meet entries, and see that contracts, taxes, and insurance requirements are constantly met.
The other half of HEAT is our Boosters. HEAT Swimming could not exist without the efforts of the Boosters. All families are needed to fully participate in the fundraising activities of the Boosters. The Boosters use the funds raised to help pay for pool rentals, to assist lower income families in paying their fees through our scholarship program, to pay for relay entries at swim meets and to help defray the travel costs associated with sending the coaches to meets and educational clinics each year. The Boosters fund many expenses that would otherwise be passed directly to families in the form of higher fees. So your volunteer work for them is saving you money!
Thanks for choosing HEAT! If this handbook doesn’t answer your questions, contact us via any of the methods above.
BACKGROUND INFO. & HEAT “PHILOSOPHY”
HEAT Swimming is a medium-sized team by most swimming standards, having an average of 100 swimmers. HEAT and all other year-round teams are members of United States Swimming – the national governing body of our sport. USA Swimming conducts several major meets (including the National Championships) throughout any given year, selects the teams that will represent our Nation in International Competition, and sets the rules that govern our sport. For analogy purposes, USA Swimming is the “federal government” of swimming. USA Swimming is subdivided into 57 local swim committees (LSC’s). “Ozark” is the LSC that governs the Greater St. Louis Area. Ozark extends as far north as Hannibal, as far south as Cape Girardeau, and as far east as Carbondale, IL. Ozark is our “State” within the USA Swimming “Nation”. Ozark conducts local championship meets throughout the year, sets the local meet schedule, collects registration fees, and administers over rules not directly governed by USA Swimming. (Again, “State” law vs. “Federal” jurisdiction.)
There are approximately 280,000 year-round swimmers registered with USA Swimming. Of those, Ozark has an enrollment of about 3,000. About 1,400 of those 3,000 swimmers are members of Ozark Swimming’s four “big” teams, each team having from 250 to over 450 swimmers. The other 1,600 are spread out across an additional 25 teams. HEAT Swimming ranks at or near the top of those “other” 25 teams at each year’s Ozark’s Championships. In fact, we’ve placed as high as 3rd at our Sectionals meet, beating the “big” teams with our quality.
Quality will always be more important at HEAT Swimming than quantity. We will strive as a team to be the very best team that we can be. But more importantly, from our most fundamental practice groups on up, our coaches will teach our swimmers to forever attempt to enhance their own skills. Without a solid foundation of good technique, it won’t matter how hard or how often your child trains within this sport. If they are “doing it wrong”, and continue to practice “doing it wrong” lap after lap, day after day, year after year – they will develop some very deeply learned bad habits that may become very difficult to correct.
As a parent, be supportive and patient. Let’s face it; if learning to master these skills was an easy task, every child would be setting world records. Some will learn quickly, others will progress more slowly. At times, all swimmers will plateau or even temporarily decline in terms of performance. Just as there are “A” students, and “C” students, “big league” talent and “bench warmer” talent – we will see the same from our children as swimmers. We at HEAT are truly not too concerned with how many ribbons your child wins or records that s/he sets. We are concerned with teaching your child how to do their very best with the skills and gifts that they have been born with. We only lose or fail when we quit trying…
HEAT Swimming has high expectations. We want you to learn to always strive to be the best that you can be. We intend to create an environment where people who wish to, can excel. We will have fun. We will have our lighter moments. But we want your child to feel and know the pride of accomplishing something worthy; of understanding a “job well done”.
HEAT’S COACHING STAFF
Dave Stevens: Executive Director
Dave is certified by the American Swimming Coaches Association (ASCA) as a Level 4 Coach. Level 5 is the highest rating; Coach Stevens has achieved the experience and education requirements for Level 5, and needs only to have an individual place in the top 8 at Nationals to secure that honor. Coach Stevens has led multiple All-Star and Zone Teams, and has served several terms as an elected official within local and national swimming governance. Dave is also a certified teacher, having earned his degree magna cum laude. He has coached numerous nationally-ranked swimmers thru the years, including experience working with three Olympians. One of those Olympians still serves as a Board Member of, and legal counsel for HEAT Swimming – even though he last swam for Dave in 1988! As a former NCAA Division I swimmer and World Championship-level triathlete, Coach Stevens has competed all over the globe, including in Perth, Australia and at the Hawaiian Ironman. Dave completed a law degree in May 2011.
Diana Rosen: Senior Coach (Central) Lesson Coordinator
Coach Diana is a Level 2 coach entering her 11th year with HEAT. She has extensive experience teaching younger developmental swimmers who are relatively new to the sport. Diana has over 10 years’ summer league and club team coaching, and 20 years of swim lesson experience. Diana will be entering her second year as the senior coach.
Sally Cole – Age Group Coach (Central)
Coach Sally is a Level 2 certified swim coach, starting her 10th year with HEAT and work’s primarily with our middle-school aged swimmers. She is also the backbone of the HEAT office, handling all dues billing, meet entry fees, and other administrative tasks. Sally has a degree in Special Education from the University of Missouri.
Theresa Beck – Stroke Development and Jr.. Age Group Coach (West)
Theresa is in her 4th year with HEAT and is a Level 1 swim coach. Theresa graduated from the University of Missouri with a Bachelors of Science in Education, emphasis in Physical Education, and has a Masters of Education. Theresa was a High School All-American soccer player, played select soccer for Busch Soccer Club for 27 years, played soccer and softball for UMSL, coached high school sports for 10 years and coach the Barrington Swim Club for three years. Theresa has been teaching for 24 years and spent 2 years as an Instructional Specialist.
Jeremy Rosen: Stroke Development 1/Assistant Jr. Age Group Coach
Jeremy is a Level 1 swim coach and his second year with HEAT. Jeremy is a graduate from McClure North High School and currently attending St. Louis Community College. Jeremy is a former HEAT and high school swimmer and has been a lesson instructor for HEAT for five years.
Sandy Looney-Water Aerobics Instructor (Central)
Sandy is entering her 5th year as the water aerobics instructor.
NOTE: All swimmers should arrive for practice wearing shoes and clothing (even your swim suit) suitable for running, jumping, and doing calisthenics! Flip flops may be stylish and comfy, but they won’t work on when we are doing dryland exercises!
PRACTICE GROUPS
HEAT is split into different programs with each program being specific to your swimmer’s needs. Promotion from group to group will generally occur at one of four times during the year. A swimmer may move up to the next group in September at the beginning of the fall season, in December around the break from school, in February/March after the Ozark Championships, and at the beginning of the summer season.
Developmental Programs:
Lessons: This group is for ages 3 and over and designed for any ability level. They meet for 30 minutes either once or twice per week; depending on the class.
Pre-Team: Pre-Team is for the advanced swim lesson student looking for more of a challenge, and for younger swimmers not yet interested in or ready to swim 3 days per week.
Stroke Development 1: This group is for swimmers with basic swimming skills. Our primary goal is to teach proper stroke technique in all four strokes. SD1 meets three times a week for 45 minutes per session. The swimmers must be able to swim 25 yards (one length) freestyle and backstroke without stopping to join this group. Swimmers will advance from SD1 to either SD2 or Jr. Age Group based on individual circumstances.
Stroke Development 2: Swimmers in SD2 will continue refining technique in all four strokes while learning turns, starts and basic racing strategy. Participants must have enough stamina and concentration to remain focused on executing proper skills throughout the entire practice. SD2 meets three times a week for 60 minutes per session. The swimmers must be able to swim 50 yards (two lengths) of freestyle and backstroke without stopping and have the coach’s approval to join this group. Swimmers will usually advance from SD2 to Jr. Age Group (JAG).
Junior Age Group: “JAG” swimmers must be consistently “legal” in all four strokes and competing in the 100 Individual Medley (IM) on a regular basis. This group meets three times a week for 75 minutes per session. Swimmers typically advance to Age Group upon coaches’ recommendation.
Age Group: Swimmers must be consistently “legal” in all four strokes and competing in the 200 Individual Medley (IM) on a regular basis. This group meets four times a week for 90 minutes per session. Swimmers typically advance to Senior or Senior Development based on coaches’ recommendation.
Senior Program
Senior Development: Must be able to swim a 100 free, 100 back, and either a 100 breast or a 100 fly without stopping. This group is geared toward developing the stamina and skills necessary for successful participation in the more challenging Senior group. It can also be home to students with interests too diverse to make the commitment required for the more advanced Senior groups. Four, 90-minute sessions are offered per week.
Senior: The swimmers must be able to perform all 4 competitive strokes, and are expected to attend meets. Six sessions are offered per week lasting 2 hours each. Senior Swimmers are those who want to attend six practices per week.
PRACTICE SCHEDULE
Practice Times 2011-2012
Hazelwood West
Stroke Development 1 M-W-F 5:30-6:15 PM
Stroke Development 2 M-W-F 5:30-6:30 PM
Jr. Age Group M-W-F 6:15-7:30 PM
Hazelwood Central
Age Group Mon/Wed 5:30-7:00 PM
Fri. 5:00-6:30 PM
Sat. 8:00-9:30 AM
Sr. Development Tues/Thurs 5:00-5:30 PM –Dryland
5:30-7:00 PM – Swim
Fri. 5:00-6:30 PM
Sat. 8:00-9:30 AM
Senior Mon/Wed 5:00-7:00 PM
Tues/Thurs 5:00-5:30 PM – Dryland
5:30-7:30 PM – Swim
Fri 5:00-6:30 PM
Sat 8:00-9:30 AM
MONTHLY PRACTICE GROUP FEES
Stroke Development 1 $50.00
Stroke Development 2 $55.00
Junior Age Group $60.00
Age Group $65.00
Senior Development $70.00
Senior $80.00
Note: Families with more than one swimmer will receive a $5.00 discount on the monthly fee for additional children.
Fees will be assessed for all or any portion of the month that the swimmer participates. In other words, if you swim in the month, you are charged for the month. Exceptions: If your child registers for and begins swimming for HEAT in the middle of the month, then the fees will be prorated for that month only. High school swimmers will have their fees adjusted on a case-by-case basis. You will receive an email statement on the 23th of each month for next month’s fees and an invoice on the first of the month. Place a check in the DUES ENVELOPE located in the front of the file folder box at the pool, or you may mail fees to the address listed below or you may pay by credit card on line. A convenience charge will be applied to all payments made with a credit card. Fees are due on the last 5th of the month. Please make your check payable to HEAT SWIMMING.