Loudoun County High School

Loudoun County High School

Raiders Swim Team

2016-2017 Team Handbook

Please abide by the following rules for ALL practices:

·  Please arrive fifteen minutes early to allow time to change and to stretch. We go onto the pool deck 15 minutes prior to the start time of practice to stretch as a team led by the captains.

·  Swimmers will need to provide their own transportation to and from practice.

·  If you are late or absent, you must provide the coaches with a written excuse and/or doctor’s note. Swimmers who miss any of the listed practices without approval by the coaching staff prior to the practice day, will be considered unexcused and will be subject to the following consequences:

·  1st unexcused absence – You will receive a verbal warning.

·  2nd unexcused absence – You will not be able to swim individual events in the next meet but MAY be eligible to swim in relays in that same meet.

·  3rd unexcused absence – You will be benched for the next meet – you are still expected to attend the meet.

·  4th unexcused absence – You will be contacted by the LCHS Athletic Director and be excused from the team.

·  The following gear is needed for all swim practices (swimmers only):

·  Suit

·  Towel

·  Swim cap (LCHS Swim Team cap will be provided to each athlete at the beginning of the season)

·  Goggles

·  Water bottle

·  When leaving the pool a hat, pants, jacket, and sock and shoes are required.

·  These are mandatory from ALL athletes every practice.

·  Do not leave clothes/personal items in the locker rooms at Ida Lee Recreation Center during practice – bring them onto the pool deck and place them on the bleachers (not on the pool deck). Loudoun County High School and its staff/coaches cannot be held responsible for any personal items that end up missing or stolen at practice.

·  If a LCHS Swim team member arrives to school after 9:15 AM, they may not participate that night, but are still expected to attend practice.

·  If a regular school day is canceled due to inclement weather (snow, freezing rain, etc.) there will be no practice. The phone tree will be put into action in addition to an e-mail being sent out and an announcement on the swim team website with further details.

Dual Swim Meets

Swimmers will be asked each week to submit the events/relays that they would like to swim for the upcoming meet(s) on a form distributed at the beginning of the week. These meet selection sheets are not “guarantees” that the swimmer will swim the events that they wish – the coaching staff will select the final line up for each meet, along with practices and participation. Also, there may be meets where members of the team will not be selected to swim in any event/relays. These swimmers are still required to attend the meet.

Swimming Events

High school swim meets have eleven swimming events - eight individual events and three relays. For dual meets, each team enters a maximum of four swimmers per event and four relay teams per relay. A swimmer may be entered in up to four events, including relays, but no more than two individual events. Swimmers are selected for events by the coaching staff based on their times in those events and the coaching staff's goals for the meet. Lanes are assigned with the fastest swimmers generally getting the inside lanes. Relays are labeled A, B, C and D, usually with the fastest competitors being assigned to the A relay.

Boys' and girls' events alternate during the meet with the boys going first. There is a 10-minute break following the 50 freestyle. Continuous warm-up and cool down has been set into policy by the Conference 21 Coaches and Officials for each meet. Swimmers must enter the water feet first on the opposite end of the starting side.

Order of Events for High School Swimming (Boys are assigned odd numbered events and girls are assigned even numbered events)

Events 1 & 2 - 200 yard medley relay

Events 3 & 4 - 200 yard freestyle

Events 5 & 6 - 200 yard individual medley

Events 7 & 8 - 50 yard freestyle (A ten minute break will follow)

Events 11 & 12 - 100 yard butterfly (Events 9 & 10 are Diving in the VHSL, however, Conference 21 does not have Diving)

Events 13 & 14 - 100 yard freestyle

Events 15 & 16 - 500 yard freestyle

Events 17 & 18 - 200 yard freestyle relay

Events 19 & 20 - 100 yard backstroke

Events 21 & 22 - 100 yard breaststroke

Events 23 & 24 - 400 yard freestyle relay

Scoring

·  Relays are scored 10-5-3-0 with only the first two relays scoring for a school. So if your school happens to finish 1-2-3 only the first and second lace relays will score points for the school (10+5=15 pts).

·  Individual events are scored 8-6-5-4-3-2-1-0. Don't be surprised if you don't know the score of the meet as it ends. By the time the swimmers emerge from the locker room, the word should begin to filter out. There are no ribbons or awards for the dual meets, only the opportunity for the swimmers to better their times, or qualify for the championship meets at the end of the season.

Please abide by the following rules for ALL meets:

·  Attend all meets. You must notify the coaches at least ONE week in advance if you will miss a dual meet. If you become ill shortly before a meet a doctor’s note is required so that your absence is not considered unexcused.

·  Team members who miss a meet or their assigned event(s) during a meet without approval from the coaches will be subject to meet or season suspensions. These may be considered an unexcused absence.

·  All LCHS Swim team swimmers will wear the warm-ups provided (or purchased) for them for the season. It is not mandatory to purchase team warm-ups – each swimmer will receive a warm-up from LCHS Swim Team. Those swimmers who purchase their own warm-up may return their assigned warm-up prior to the end of the season. Only Loudoun County High School Swimming gear such as sweat suits, swim suits, caps, t-shirts, etc will be worn at LCHS Swimming meets. No USS or Summer League gear is permitted. You may, however, wear this gear at team practices.

·  All LCHS Swim team members are required to travel to and from away meets (these are considered any meets not at Ida Lee Recreation Center) on the team bus. Swim Team members need to be respectful of the driver and his/her bus. Please thank your driver and be sure to pick up all trash and personal items before exiting. No eating on the bus will take place. For meets at Ida Lee Recreation Center, all swimmers will meet in the cafeteria one hour before the scheduled meet time for check in. The team will then caravan to Ida Lee Recreation Center.

·  If a LCHS Swim team member arrives to school after 9:15 am on the day of a meet, they are ineligible to participate in the dual meet occurring on this date. This will be considered an unexcused absence and the repercussions listed under practice will be followed. Swim team members who are not eligible to participate in the meet because of their unexcused tardy or absence are expected to attend the meet – if a swim team member does not attend the meet, this action will be considered a second unexcused absence.

·  Swim team members are expected to leave the pool deck and locker room better than the condition they found it in. Be sure to pick up all trash and personal items before exiting the deck.

Conduct

·  Loudoun County High School Swim Team members are expected to conduct themselves in a manner appropriate for school representation and follow all rules outlined in the Loudoun County Public Schools Athletes Handbook. This includes following good sportsmanship policies as stated below:

Accept discipline and decisions without questions;

·  Refrain from grandstanding;

·  Represent the school well in the community and as a member of the hosting or visiting team;

·  Use appropriate language at ALL times;

·  Respect all coaches, officials, parents, team members and opponents.

·  Smoking is prohibited for all team members.

·  You may not drink any energy drinks (such as Monster or Red Bull) during meets or practice – sports drinks (such as Gatorade and Powerade) are acceptable.

·  Any form of hazing will result in immediate dismissal from the swim/dive team.

·  Coaches Gallo and Moats and/or Loudoun County High School Administration will determine discipline procedures.

·  All team members will be expected to participate in spirit wear during school on (or prior to) meet days. Team captains will relay what the spirit wear will be worn on Friday during the school day to all swimmers at each Thursday evening practice.

Lettering Policy

Swimmers

·  Be an eligible and active team member throughout the 2016-17 Season, and...

·  Finish the season as a member in good standing;

·  Compete in ½ of all Varsity regular season meets and finish in the top 2 OR Qualify for the Conference Swim Meet.

Managers

·  Be present at practices you are scheduled to assist.

·  Be present at all meets.

·  Fulfill the duties assigned by the coaches during all practices.

Signature Sheet

Please sign below and return to the LCHS Swim Team coaching staff by Wednesday, November 16, 2016, to signify that you have read and agree to abide by rules and procedures, conduct, and lettering policy for the 2016-17 season.

We have read, discussed and understand the rules and procedures, conduct, and lettering policy for the 2016-17 LCHS Swim Team.

PRINT Student-Athlete Name: ______

Student Athlete Signature: ______

Date: ______

PRINT Parent Name: ______

Parent Signature: ______

Date: ______

PRINT Parent Name: ______

Parent Signature: ______

Date: ______

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