Queanbeyan Leagues
Swimming Club Inc
HANDBOOK
SEASON 2013 – 2014
‘Promoting the sport of swimming at all levels within the Queanbeyan Region by providing access to a high standard of facilities and coaching, fair competition, fitness, fun and equity of participation’
Visit our website - www.qlsc.com.au
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Message from the President
I would like to extend a big welcome to our new members. Please, if there is something we can do to help, let us know. If you are unsure of anything, ask. No question is silly; we have all been the new kids on the block. To our returning members, thank you for entrusting your children to us again.
Congratulations to all our swimmers who qualified for Country, State and National All Schools. I am sure that many more of our swimmers will reach their goals, whether it is to compete at a higher level or just to improve their technique and confidence in the water.
It takes quite a few people to help run club nights, and we would encourage all parents to give a little of their time and meet other parents/swimmers. If parents wish to become involved in the club committee, please speak to one of the committee members for more information. Our committee meetings are held on the second Monday of the month at the Queanbeyan Leagues Club and all members are welcome to attend.
I hope that all members enjoy their time spent with us and feel free to ask any questions you might have with any of the committee members.
Have fun and always enjoy yourself – whether swimming or officiating.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Queanbeyan Leagues Club, the Queanbeyan City Council and Jerrabomberra Meats for their ongoing support of our club. From time to time other local business also support us and in turn, where you can please try and support them.
Thank you
Jane Nichols
President QLSC
Queanbeyan Leagues Swimming Club (QLSC)
2013 – 2014 Committee
The committee is made up of volunteer parents. We always need more people to join in and we still have some roles to fill. So please consider joining us – it is a great way to support your child in the sport of swimming. Information about each committee position is below.
Please feel free to contact any committee member if you have questions or would like to help in any way.
Position / Name / Phone / EmailPresident / Jane Nichols / 0414594996 /
Vice President / Richard Rauter / 0419601885 /
Secretary / Fran Molineux /
Treasurer / Geraldine Manser /
Registrar / Di Silk / 61401307 /
Race Secretary / Shaun Manning /
Merchandise / Tanya Manning / 62999103 /
Life Members:
Nancy Leck Cecil Leck † Marcell Bijorac Reg Berry
Joan Thompson Eunice Campbell Jean McMahon Hugh Cocking
Jack Gudgeon † Betty Gudgeon † Julie Fawns Helen DeBritt
Di Silk
General information
Welcome
Welcome! Queanbeyan Leagues Swimming Club (QLSC) is happy to welcome you to the 2013 - 2014 swimming year. Swimming is a sport that provides opportunities to improve as an athlete and a person. Swimmers, as a group, tend to be more disciplined, get better grades in school, and have an advantage over their peers when assimilating life-skills such as goal-setting, perseverance, sharing, and personal responsibility.
About Our Club
The Queanbeyan Leagues Swimming Club has a year-round swimming program and welcomes new swimmers to start at any time during the year. Our Club aims to promote swimming at all levels and to provide opportunities to all our swimmers to improve their strokes and performance through a variety of activities.
Our program is designed for all ages. No competition experience is necessary to join our Club. It is the perfect gateway into year round swimming for those who love recreational swimming in the summer. Our main aim is to enhance and develop the heart, minds and souls of our swimmers for success in and out of the swimming arena.
Membership
Club membership is open to both child and adult swimmers, and to non-swimming parents.
To join or renew membership of the Swim Club you will need to complete NSW Registration online (assistance can be provided by the club Registrar). For swimmers joining as summer club night members, see attached flyer on club fees.
Please note: at least one parent is to be registered as non-swimmer, for insurance purposes
Registration is mandatory for all swimmers. This is in addition to QLSC Squad or training costs.
All club officials and committee members need to be registered as club members.
Registered members receive an Australian Swimming Association (ASA) card.
Club Membership Fees
The 2013 / 14 fees are located on NSW Swimming Online website.
Membership is annual and falls due on the first day of October each year.
Only registered club members are able to participate in club activities or compete at swim meets.
At least one adult per family is required by Swimming NSW to be registered as a non-swimmer, for insurance purposes. If both parents and other adults are going to attend swimming competitions with their swimmer, then they should all be registered as non-swimming members. This ensures they are all covered by insurance while attending training or meets.
All adults who attend and assist with club activities and swimming competitions are required to complete a prohibited Status / Child Welfare Declaration as part of the annual registration process. This is a legal requirement of NSW Sport and Recreation. Completed declarations are confidential and will be handled with appropriate document management protocols.
Our Home: Queanbeyan Aquatic Centre
Our home is the Queanbeyan Aquatic Centre. This enables us access to a 25m indoor pool and a 50m outdoor pool, giving our swimmers the best of both worlds and valuable experience swimming in both pool settings.
We have a Club Notice Board at the pool – please check it regularly as we post details about club events, coming swim meets, newsletters and other relevant information.
Club Uniforms
Club uniforms are available for purchase at reasonable cost. Please contact our Uniform Officer or ask one of the committee members if you are interested in purchasing something. Wearing of club shirts and swim caps is strongly encouraged at all swim meets. This builds a sense of camaraderie and team spirit.
Our Policies
Australian Legislation requires clubs to implement relevant Child Protection Policies. QLSC policy is based on policy set down by Swimming NSW and Swimming Australia. The compliance of clubs in implementing this policy is required to ensure we provide a safe environment for children and young people to participate in the sport of swimming.
As part of the QLSC Child Welfare policy (outlined in full on the club website – www.qlsc.com.au) all adult members of the club are required to complete a prohibited Status / Child Welfare Declaration as part of their initial registration / membership.
Club Captains
The QLSC Committee seeks nominations for male and female club captains at the beginning of the summer season.
The nominees have to be financial members and be at least 12 years of age. Voting is by all members prior to club nights and the election results are ratified at the next Committee meeting once voting is completed. Captains are announced at the Club Presentation Night at the end of summer season.
Swim Meets
Numerous other Swim meets are held throughout ACT and NSW throughout the year and all our swimmers are encouraged to participate and compete at their age and skill level. Each year QLSC conducts a meet at our home pool.
If you are interested in competing at a swim meet, please talk to the Race Secretary and your coach. The coach will assist you in deciding what events to enter and the Race Secretary will help you complete a meet entry form.
Information about all swim meets can be found through our website www.qlsc.com.au
Time trials
QLSC will conduct official time trials as required during the summer season. An email will be sent out to all members with a link to the spread sheet Entry Form.
Swimmers Rewards Scheme
The Club has an incentive scheme for competitive swimmers. A swimmer is eligible to receive an award when they qualify, compete and represent our Club at Country, State or National level for the first time. This award may vary each year at the discretion of the committee, and may include presentation of a an embroidered representative shirt, additional embroidery of existing club shirts or the option of a capped dollar amount for payment of race entries to state or national level meets. If a shirt is presented, when the swimmer requires a new one (e.g due to loss or upsizing), the swimmer will be responsible for any replacement embroidery.
Coaching and Training
QLSC offers a year round training program. The Club asks that those swimmers who elect to train with us and compete, also commit to compete at all levels under the Queanbeyan Leagues Swimming Club banner – This is known as ‘First claim membership’.
The Club enjoys the services of qualified coaching staff. If you have any questions about joining our club, swimming technique, competing in swim meets etc., please feel free to talk to our coaches or any member of the Committee. A Coach is usually available on Club Nights and is also at the Queanbeyan Aquatic Centre most afternoons Monday to Thursday after 4:00 PM. It is best to talk before or after a training session so as not to disrupt training.
Information relating to training sessions, fees and criteria for each squad level is also available on our website (www.qlsc.com.au) or on the club notice board at the Queanbeyan Aquatic Centre.
Our coaches are dedicated to providing competitive training programs designed to develop and enable swimmers reach their goals in swimming. The training programs aim to achieve and maintain the high level of skill and fitness necessary to succeed in swimming.
As part of our Team, all swimmers are encouraged to compete at targeted meets together. Competition enables each swimmer to demonstrate the skills they have achieved in training and also to experience the fun and spirit of being part of Team. Each swimmer has different goals therefore individual training requirements need to be discussed with your coach.
Training Sessions
Our training schedule allows the swimmer, based on their level of commitment to grow with the program. Though we do not specify a minimum attendance expectation, we do have swimmers who truly want to commit themselves to the sport of swimming and attend training sessions more than five times per week. Many of these swimmers started with our fun Club Night program and then started attending training sessions as well. Others started swimming two or three sessions per week, then developed a growing love for the sport and were inspired to train more often.
Training sessions are offered as per the programme and pool availability, Monday to Friday to club members. This allows swimmers to choose sessions that suit their training expectations and other commitments.
Before starting training sessions with the club, swimmers must be able to swim 50m free, back, breast, and 25m fly, and have an assessment with the Coach who will assign the swimmer to a training group based on the swimmers capability.
Coach / parent communication is important. Every swimmer receives personal attention to help them achieve their goals.
The club is able to support swimmers who want to make a full commitment to swimming. When this occurs, they are expected to attend most of the training sessions offered for their group. They are also encouraged to participate in as many meets as possible to enable them to reach their goal be it becoming an ACT Championship Finalist, a NSW Country and NSW State finalist, or swimming for Australia.
Want to Train? Here's how to get started
Each swimmer is assigned to a training group based on their abilities and level of commitment. Swimmers are constantly assessed and will be moved to the appropriate group based on their swimming capability, attitude, commitment and expectations. The coach is the person who will suggest and approve changes in groups.
First, Make contact to arrange a try-out with our coach. The coach will evaluate the swimmer and determine what training group best meets their needs. New swimmers are invited to take part in a couple of 3 (three) free training sessions if they wish. This is a great way to see if the swimmer can cope with training sessions. Sometimes the swimmer may be assessed as needing additional swimming development and the Queanbeyan Aquatic Centre can assist in preparing a swimmer for Swim Club.
Even if a swimmer is assessed as not quite ready for Swim Club Training Sessions, they can still join the club and participate in the Club Nights over summer. This gives the swimmer further swimming experience and also allows our coaches to assess improvements.
Second, if you are not already a member of the club, complete the required registration and speak with our Registrar.
Then, come to training, learn a lot, make new friends, and enjoy being a team member of Queanbeyan Leagues Swimming Club! Once you settle in, you may even want to start competing at swim meets.
Swim goggles protect your eyes from the chlorine in pools and help you to see more clearly under the water. The goggles shouldn't be too loose or too tight. You might also want to wear ear plugs and/or a nose clip to stop water getting in there.Important dates
The new swimming year starts 1 October – renewals and new club registrations will be processed from then. You can register with the club at any time and start participating in club nights from that point.
From Wednesday 22 October 2013 QLSC Club Night Competitions will commence fortnightly. Please check with our race secretaries.
Our swim meet will be held on 9 & 10 February 2013
QLSC Annual Presentation – TBA – check website or emails
The Sport of Swimming