This handbook is intended to answer any and all questions concerning the guidelines, rules, and expected behavior of athletes on the Swim Team for 2017-2018.

Each athlete will sign and return a document stating that they are responsible for reading and knowing the content of this handbook. Ignorance is not an excuse.

If you do have any questions, please contact me.

Coach Steven Griffin

817-992-4145

Athletic Forms

The athlete must complete a physical and all on line forms at No athlete will be allowed to participate until they are cleared on the computer.

> athletics > forms

Equipment

Need to Purchase:practice swim suit or jammers

2 pairs of goggles

1 competition swim suit or jammers

To be Issued:1 pair of wind pants

1 practice cap

1 competition cap

1 pair of fins

1 water bottle

1 team tee shirt

Option to Purchase:1 wind jacket

1 towel

1 equipment bag

All personalized for the swimmer

Otherwise Issued:1 wind jacket

1 equipment bag

Practice Equipment

Athletes are expected to bring the following items to all practices:

  • practice swimsuit
  • swim cap
  • 2 pairs of goggles
  • towel
  • water bottle
  • fins

Competition Equipment

Athletes are expected to bring the following items to all competitions.

  • competition suit
  • competition swim cap
  • 2 pairs of goggles
  • towel
  • water bottle

Lost Items

Replacement T-Shirt$10

Windpants$40

Equipment Bag$50

Competition Swim Cap$15

SeasonPractice Schedule (begins 9/5/2017)

Practice at FIT-N-WISE IN DECATUR

6:00 ambus leaves for Decatur

6:30 ampractice begins

7:40 ampractice ends/team chant

8:00 am bus leaves for Azle

8:30 ambus arrives at Azle (breakfast)

8:45 am2nd period begins

**Always check Facebook and the provided calendar

for practice and meet information.

**If a practice is suddenly cancelled, it will be posted

Remind Safe Classrooms (Remind 101).

Practice Expectations

Athletes are expected to be at and participate in all practices.

Athletes must ride the bus to practice with the following exceptions:

  • driven to and from practice by parent/guardian
  • permission granted to drive to practice by Coach Griffin

Athletes may only leave practice on the bus or with a parent/guardian.

Athletes will not study at practice.

Athletes will do dryland workouts if they forgot theirpractice equipment plus demerits will be countedagainst the athlete.

Athletes will notify Coach Griffin verbally or with a text message if they are not attending a practice. Failure to notify Coach Griffin will result in demerits being issued.

The only valid reasons for missing practices or competitions are:

  • illness

**demerits will be assigned any athlete who misses for anyreason other than listed above.

Competition Expectations

It is expected that the athlete will attend all competitions. The athlete may only miss a competition for the same reasons as missing practice.

All athletes will ride the bus as a team to the meets and the athlete must stay for the duration of the meet. Only after the meet is concluded may the athlete leave with a parent/guardian. No athlete may leave the meet early; nor may they leave with anyone other than a parent/guardian.

Such action will result in demerits. Parent/Guardian must notify Coach Griffin and sign the athlete out.

The bus will leave at the posted schedule time.

Parents will be notified via text message through Remind Safe Classrooms of the expected time of arrival back at AHS. There will be an expected time posted on the schedule; however, this time is often a complete guess. You will receive your text approximately 1 to 1 ½ hours ahead of our arrival time back at AHS.

Eligibility

Athletes, of course, must follow “no pass, no play”.

Any athlete who is ineligible because of grades is still expected to practice; however, the athlete cannot attend the meet with the team, nor wear any part of the uniform.

Grades will be checked every Monday. Any athletes with failing grades will report for mandatory tutorials in F17 at 3:30 pm on Wednesday of that week. The athlete will be notified to report.

Team Meals

There are two types of team meals:

  • the evening before a competition
  • on the trip home from a competition

**Until District and Regionals; all meals are at the athlete’s expense and are optional.

**The places will change; the costs will be minimized.

Lettering

All athletes swim at the varsity level.

Beginning this year, athletes can letter in three ways:

  • compete in at least 7 varsity events and the district meet
  • swim for two years in the program
  • qualify for regionals in an individual event
  • coach’s discretion

Credits:

All athletes assigned an athletic period will receive a full PE credit. Others swimming club and for the swim team will receive ½ PE credit if they swim a minimum of 5 meets and the district meet.

Awards

These are the annual awards given to one boy andone girl in each category.

  • Most Valuable Swimmer (based on competition points)
  • Most Improved Swimmer (based on times)
  • Most Dedicated Swimmer (based on attendanceand attitude)

All District awards are as follows and are based on individual competitions only at the District Meet.

  • 1st thru 3rd place – All District First Team
  • 4th thru 6th place – All District Second Team
  • 7th or 8th place – All District Honorable Mention

Academic All State:

  • Have lettered in swimming
  • Juniors: maintain 3.75 or 93.75 GPA for previous 5 semesters
  • Seniors: maintain 3.75 or 93.75 GPA for previous 7 semesters

Communication

Check the Swim Team Facebook page every Sunday evening for updates on the week ahead.

Any changes will be posted as soon as possible and sent out on Remind Safe Classrooms.

It is expected that athletes and parents/guardians will join both Facebook and Remind Safe Classrooms.

Code of Conduct

Athletes represent themselves, their families, their school and their community; therefore, proper conduct is expected.

  • athletes will not take videos or photos and post them on the internet; you may post on the team Facebook page.
  • athletes will curb their PDA (public displays of affection); no prolonged hugs, no kissing – even on the cheek.
  • athletes will not share a seat on the bus if they are laying down.
  • athletes will not be allowed to lay their head in another athlete’s lap
  • athletes will not enter rooms of the opposite sex on overnight trips
  • if athletes bring a bedroll to the meet; no athletes will share that bedroll
  • no athlete will be allowed to go to the bus to take naps, etc.
  • when boarding the bus to leave for or depart from a meet, all athletes will be attired in their team t-shirt and windpants
  • athletes will not practice in any competition gear
  • athletes must wear the proper swim cap at practice and competition
  • athletes will compete in all events and are responsible for checking their events
  • only Coach Griffin can approve your withdrawal from a competition event
  • athletes will wear their t-shirt and bluejeans to school on all days prior to a meet
  • athletes will bring all equipment to practice or to a competition
  • any conduct that Coach Griffin deems inappropriate will be dealt with
  • If necessary, athletes will report to Wednesday mandatory tutorials

Consequences

All disciplinary action starting this year will be on a demerit basis, will be as follows, and will be cumulative:

  • 5 demerits – removed from relays; swim only individual events
  • 10 demerits – removed from 1 competition
  • 15 demerits – removal from team

1 demerit infractions:

  • Failure to contact Coach – missing practice or competition
  • Missing practice or competition for invalid reason
  • Forgetting equipment for practice or competition
  • Late to the bus; either practice or competition
  • Missing an event at competition
  • Practicing in competition gear
  • Failing to report for competition in proper attire
  • Failing to wear t shirt and jeans the day before competition
  • Missing mandatory tutorials

2 demerits infractions:

  • Violations of Code of Conduct that are in bold print
  • Arguing with officials
  • Failing to follow specific directions from Coach

Team Chant

Prior to all competitions and at the end of each practice, captains will lead the following chant.

In a circle with arms around fellow athletes, we chant:

Captain:Off the blocks

Team:We fly

Captain:Through the water

Team:We glide

Captain:Because we’ve got

Team:Hornet pride

Captain:What do we got

Team:Hornet pride

Captain:We are

Team:Azle

Captain:We are

Team:Azle

Captain:We are

Team:Azle

The circle comes together with the right index fingers raised like a stinger.

Captain:1, 2, 3

Team:Train fast; swim fast