2008 handbook

The “Must Read” List

This handbook is filled with information about Schenectady Swim Club. There’s a lot to read. Some of the most important messages are shown on this page. For more information, follow the page number next to each line.

Page 3 Every parent is urged to attend parent meetings. Please read, understand, believe and live the parent handbook section of this book.

Page 6 When it comes to practice, striving for the minimum is just that – striving for the minimum.

Page 7 Each member of the Senior Group will recognize his/her position as a role model for the entire Shark program. A positive attitude toward training and competing is vital. Swimmers will be on the deck for practice AT LEAST 10 to 15 minutes early every day to prepare for workout. Members of this group will prepare themselves to train at the highest level on a daily basis. There will be room in the Bronze group for those who initially enter the senior team but cannot live up to the training level or role model position.

Page 8 Always be present at the pool at least 10 to 15 minutes before the start of practice so that we can start on schedule and make efficient use of the allotted time.

Bring all belongings into pool area during practice. Do not leave things in unlocked lockers.

Page 10 It is the coaches’ job to offer constructive criticism of a swimmer’s performance. It is the parent’s job to supply love, recognition, and encouragement necessary to help the young athletes feel good about themselves.

Page 11 10 Commandments for Swimming Parents

Page 11 Each family will have to work at least one shift at each SSC-hosted meet, per day, for each child that is participating.

Page 12 SSC Web Site: The SSC Web Site is our primary source of communication and can be reached with any web browser at: http://www.schenectadyswimclub.org. As our use of the team site has evolved, it has become crucial to regularly check for updates. It is a wealth of information and includes team email links as well as links to the AD and USA Swimming sites. We post as much as we can here - meet schedules, practice schedules and changes, fund-raising, social events, etc. Both parents and swimmers should be regularly checking the web site.

Page 13 ANY RESTING IS A TRAINING MATTER. YOU WILL BE BETTER SERVED TO WORK OUT THE DAY BEFORE A MEET.

Page 15 All Sharks are required to wear the team suit and team cap (if a cap is worn) to swim meets.

Part One: Introduction

Schenectady Swim Club (SSC): Who are the Sharks?

The SSC Sharks are a USA swimming team with swimmers from age 6 to post-college. We are the 19-time defending Adirondack Short Course District Champions. We have positions on the competitive team with room for more in the Pre-competitive program. Each swimmer has made the team because he/she has demonstrated the ability to train with other swimmers that are close in age in our program. Each swimmer will have the opportunity to stay with the team for as many years as that athlete desires to strive for his/her best, if he/she is able to meet the training requirements and follow the team policies.

The team policies and training requirements are spelled out for you in this handbook. All swimmers who make the team and all parents of those swimmers are considered members of the club. All members are responsible for knowing and following club policies. Please, spend time reading all parts of this notebook. The team policies were made with the following thoughts in mind:

We are a collective group of swimmers, parents, and coaches who have found swimming to be an excellent venue for teaching important life skills and values. These skills and values will help our swimmers become positive and productive members of the community.

The goal of our program is to have our athletes reach their potential as swimmers. It is the struggle to be our best that causes us to learn the lessons that make swimming a worthwhile endeavor. Often, individuals will be asked to give of themselves for the team and for other individuals. With a whole team of selfless people working together, we will all be able to reach much higher than any of us could have alone.

“It is the journey – not the destination”

Congratulations – You’re a Shark parent.

You must trust that you are entering your child in a professionally-run team - coached by a dedicated and able coaching staff - in a highly successful program. All swimming-related decisions are made by the coaching staff. Those include – but are not limited to – practice group placement, events swum at meets and the handling of disciplinary issues.

Parents parent and coaches coach. You want your child to be successful. We want your child to be successful. Coaching and motivating your child is the job of the Shark coaching staff. Please refrain from coaching your child. Keep in mind that this lifestyle is a marathon. The current coaching staff has worked with hundreds of swimmers and their families. If everyone understands his role, we can have a team of happy swimmers who want to continue in their development for years – through high school, college and beyond. We have seen many stressed out swimmers who are basically done with the sport at 12 or 13 years old because they were pushed too hard as a child.

Every parent is urged to attend parent meetings. Please read, understand, believe and live the parent handbook section of this book.

The SSC Coaches

HEAD COACH - JERRY ADAMS begins his 14^th year as Head Coach of the Sharks. He began coaching with SSC in 1990. Jerry was head coach of the Virgin Island Olympic Swimming team at the 2004 Games in Athens. Before being named head coach of SSC, he served as an age-group coach and then the senior coach. Jerry swam for and graduated from Springfield College. He coached the Shenendehowa Boys Varsity swim team for two years and led the Shenendehowa Girls Varsity to seven Section II titles. Jerry has also been an assistant swim coach at Union College the past eight years. Jerry resides in Clifton Park.

Lauren Tullock-Cleworth Lauren has coached with SSC since 1990 and has run the pre-competitive group for us for the past few years along with coaching the younger swimmers in Group Two. She swims competitively with the Union Masters Team and has medaled in two Empire State Games. Lauren is a Burnt Hills Ballston Lake graduate who spent 5 seasons on the varsity swim team and played basketball as well. She graduated from and swam for Hartwick College. Lauren is married to Tim Cleworth, and they have two children – Madeline and Calvin. They reside in Schenectady.

ALICIA FAUCETT Is a former Schenectady Swim Club Swimmer who has coached at SSC for eight years and worked as a swim coach for the Woodlin Club for six years. Alicia graduated from SUNY at Potsdam in the spring of 2000 with a bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts. She is currently employed by the Schenectady City School District as a middle and high school art teacher. Alicia coaches our youngest swimmers in Group One and helps with the Pre-competitive Group

Rachel Esterly begins her fifth season coaching with us. Rachel was a SSC swimmer for 9 years. A Shenendehowa graduate – and former school record-holder, she is a 2003 graduate of SUNY Geneseo and was a 2-time captain for the SUNYAC Champion Blue Wave. Rachel has coached with the Knolls Swim Team. Rachel works primarily with the Bronze Group. She is a school counselor in the Schodack schools and lives in Schenectady.

DOUG MARX has been on the Sharks staff since 1999. Doug is a 1994 graduate of Burnt Hills HS where he swam on the varsity swim team for four years. Doug also competed in varsity running and summer swimming. While at Ithaca College, Doug was a part of the Bombers Swim Team. Doug has been an assistant coach for the Burnt Hills Girls Varsity swim team. Doug has studied exercise physiology and has his Masters from Albany State in Secondary Education in the fields of science and social studies. Doug teaches in the North Colonie School District and lives in Niskayuna.

RIDGELY HARRISON is a graduate of Union College, where he was a record holder and All-American in the sprint freestyle events. Ridgely lives in Schenectady where he works for Union College for the school’s annual fund. He begins his second year coaching for the Sharks.

JOSH MULDNER is a graduate of Geneseo, where he was a swimming All American and is in the Athletic Hall of Fame. He has a masters Degree from William and Mary and is currently a counselor in the Saratoga schools. Josh is the Saratoga High School Girls Varsity Swimming coach. He lives in Saratoga.

KRISTEN ZEBROWSKI is a swimmer at Skidmore College and formerly swum in the Adirondack District and for Niskayuna High School. She has been coaching at the Saratoga Satellite.

Directory

SSC Board Members:

Name Phone Number Board Responsibility Team Committee

Carolyn Manor 374-4426 President Communications/Publicity/Meets

pres@schenectadyswimclub.org Travel and Accomodations

Linn Murphy 785-8306 Vice President Social

Vic Romanov 384-7854 Secretary Historical/records

Rick Henze 372-8397 Treasurer Finance/ Travel&Accomodations

Mark Duchesne 399-8832 Equipment

Kara Haraden 899-7450 Concession/ Saratoga

Ann Korzun 877-6571 Meets

Kevin Sharkey 384-2596

Linda Allen 885-0661

Meet Fees (Pat Rowledge)

Registration:

Helen Bopp 383-8741 Group Liaisons:

registrar@schenectadyswimclub.org Groups 1 & 2 - Pat Barno 885-2786

Head Coach: Group 3 - Linda Allen 885-0661

Jerry Adams 755-3271 Bronze - Ann Korzun 877-6571

Senior- Carolyn Manor 374-4426

Skidmore- Kara Haraden 899-7450

Coach E-mails:

Jerry: Jerry@schenectadyswimclub.org

Rachel resterly99@hotmail.com

Doug ghiabug@hotmail.com

Lauren CoachLT@nycap.rr.com

Alicia afaucett@nycap.rr.com

Ridgely harrisor@union.edu

Josh muldner@hotmail.com

Find other pertinent email addresses on the SSC website: www.schenectadyswimclub.org

Registration Fees

The fees for the Fall/Winter season are provided in the table below. The listed fees cover all registration charges from the period September through April. There is an additional fee for the Spring/Summer sessions. Copies of BIRTH CERTIFICATES must be presented at registration for new swimmers.

Groups 1 and 2 $575.

Groups 3 and Bronze $675

Senior $750.

Pre-Competitive $260

This is a twice per week, 18 week session. New this year, we will offer an optional add-on “Journey to Silvers” session for swimmers who would like to transition to the team. This will include entry in Silver Championships and inclusion in the team picture and Spring Banquet. Fee TBA.

Pre-registration for all returning swimmers must occur before tryouts. This includes Varsity girls.

All swimmers who were members of the club during the previous year and who have met the team's practice and meet requirements will be offered the opportunity to pre‑register. Exceptions are any swimmers who have broken other team policies or who owe money to the club.

Tryout Process

At tryouts, selections will be made as space allows, based on the coaches’ judgment regarding whether the swimmers will fit into the practice groups, taking into account age, ability, potential, desire, willingness to cooperate and meet schedule expectations.

Part Two: Shark Training Program

We are a developmental program – from top to bottom. 10 year olds are developmental swimmers - 13 year olds are developmental – high school seniors are developmental. It is in that belief that our training philosophies are born. Our program is based on the long-term benefit to the athletes. Keep in mind that a fast 10-year-old does not equate to a happy and fast 18-year-old. The record books are full of fast little kids that didn’t stay in the sport to their teen-age years.

We will not specialize in strokes or distances. All swimmers going through the program are swimmers – not backstrokers, butterflyers, or sprinters. We will train swimmers to be able to compete in the 400 IM, 200 of stroke and the distance freestyles. Once an athlete conquers those events – everything else is more easily conquered.

Practice Groups

The following is a brief overview of the group structure. The guidelines are general descriptions, as group makeup changes on a yearly basis. Like all swimming related decisions, the coaching staff makes group placement decisions. Placement decisions are made in the best interest of the individual swimmer and his/her long-term development. Please note that there are both minimum requirements – and recommended attendance.

When it comes to practice, striving for the minimum is just that – striving for the minimum.

Pre-competitive Groups

These groups are designed to help the beginning competitive swimmer who is not yet ready to train with the team. These groups are excellent for the 10 & under that wants to try out the sport. If there is enough demand, we will hold sessions for an older pre-competitive group. Practices will be held twice weekly for 18 weeks. The basics of the competitive strokes are taught in these groups in the hopes that the swimmer will be ready to move up to the main team. These are not swimming lessons, and participants must be interested in learning the 4 competitive strokes, flip turns and racing starts. USA SWIMMING membership is included in the fee. The opportunity to swim in a meet will be available toward the end of the session, followed by an optional “Journey to Silvers” session for those who want to transition to the team. This includes entry in the Silver Championship meet and participation in the team picture and Spring Banquet.

Group 1:

Group 1 is usually the starting point for new swimmers who join our team. Swimmers must already have the ability to swim the competitive strokes. (See Pre-competitive for a program that prepares children for group 1.) It is recommended that swimmers in this group attend 3-4 practices per week, though 2 practices per week are required. They must attend the meets scheduled for that group. Spring/Summer sessions are optional.

The four competitive strokes and basic start and turn techniques are taught. Elementary stroke drills are introduced at this level. We teach that technique comes first. Speed comes later. The ability to swim correctly will pay big dividends in the athlete’s competitive future.

It is never too early to learn that teammates are teammates – not yet competitors.

Group 2:

Group 2 swimmers have demonstrated an ability to do all four competitive strokes legally, can maintain their stroke for 50 -100 yards, and have listening and learning skills necessary for a more structured environment.

It is in Group 2 that swimmers will begin to compete in longer events. All Group 2 swimmers will compete in 100 of all strokes and freestyle events up to 500 yards. 11-over swimmers will compete in 200 of strokes. These swimmers are ready to learn slightly more advanced stroke drills. More swimming is done in practice than in Group 1, though the emphasis is still technique first, speed later.

Athletes in Group 2 are recommended to attend 4 practices per week, though 2 practices per week are required. Group 2 swimmers must swim in the meets on the Group 2 meet schedule. Spring/Summer sessions are optional.

Group 3:

Group 3 swimmers have begun work on endurance and basic interval training. They are ready, willing, and able to spend more time at the pool than Group 2. Group 3 swimmers learn most of the stroke drills that are taught to our top swimmers. The emphasis in group 3 begins to lean toward aerobic conditioning. Group 3 swimmers will begin to compete in the 400 IM and the distance frees. We do start thinking about working on speed and endurance, but not at the expense of stroke technique.

Athletes in Group 3 are recommended to attend 4-6 practices a week, though 3 practices per week are required. The requirement for any teenager in this – or any group - is at least 4 per week. They must attend meets on the Group 3 schedule. Spring/Summer sessions are recommended but optional.

Bronze group (Pre-senior):

Primarily, the Bronze Group prepares younger swimmers for eventual advancement into the SSC senior groups. These swimmers are ready to make a greater commitment and face a heavier practice load, and will ultimately become our senior group. It is recommended that these swimmers try to make all available practices. The coaches can distinguish the Bronze members who are on their way up to the senior groups by their dedication to the sport – and their commitment to the team.

The Bronze group is also the group for older swimmers who are not interested in or able to make the necessary commitment to the Senior groups.

Bronze group swimmers will compete in all events – with emphasis on the distance events, 400 IM and 200s of stroke.

Bronze group swimmers are required to attend 4 practices a week. Those with thoughts of one day swimming on the Sharks senior groups will attend more. They must attend meets on the Bronze meet schedule and must swim in either the spring or summer.

Senior Group:

Each member of the Senior Group will recognize his/her position as a role model for the entire Shark program. A positive attitude toward training and competing is vital. Swimmers will be on the deck for practice AT LEAST 10 to 15 minutes early every day to prepare for workout. Members of this group will prepare themselves to train at the highest level on a daily basis. There will be room in the Bronze group for those who initially enter the senior team but cannot live up to the training level or role model position.

Senior athletes who swim for their high school teams recognize that the varsity season falls within the USA SWIMMING season. Swimmers will be at SSC practice any time the HS team is given a practice off – and will swim every Saturday practice that does not interfere with meets.

Athletes who have already graduated from high school, but live locally and continue to swim for the Sharks, will make individual plans with Jerry to compete in the senior group. Requirements for those swimmers may differ from the younger swimmers. Fees will be determined on an individual basis.

Collegiate swimmers must have a current USA Swimming Membership and are welcome to swim with the club when home during the year on breaks at no charge. They must register and pay Summer session fees before beginning summer training.

Senior:

This group is generally made up of 13-18-year-old athletes who have chosen swimming as their primary sport. This group will represent SSC at local and regional meets - often competing without regard to age-group.

Senior swimmers follow a seasonal practice plan that allows for only 100% attendance. Senior athletes practice from 14- 20 hours per week. They will attend all meets assigned to the group. These athletes have agreed to make a greater commitment to the sport. They serve as student-athlete role models to the rest of the team. They will attend all meets assigned to the Senior group.

Senior swimmers will swim the summer season – and must swim at least 7 practices per week, though more may be mandated for those aspiring to Sectional and National level meets. Spring season is also highly recommended.

Those athletes who are not meeting the group requirements will be re-assigned by the coaching staff.

Practice Attendance

1. Always be present at the pool at least 10 to 15 minutes before the start of practice so that we can start on schedule and make efficient use of the allotted time.

2. Bring all belongings into pool area during practice. Do not leave things in unlocked lockers.

3. In case a youngster is late for practice, it is our hope that the parents will send a note with the child explaining the reason for tardiness.

4. Plan to stay for the entire practice. The last part of practice is very often the most important, and usually there are announcements made at the end of practice. In the event that your child needs to be dismissed early from practice, a note from the parent for each dismissal is required. Parents should not interrupt or talk to coaches on deck during practice.

5. When a swimmer cannot attend the required number of practices for his/her group, we will expect the parent to notify the swimmer’s coach to discuss the situation.

6. Swimmers who fail to meet their practice requirements will be approached by the coaching staff to ascertain the problem. A continuation of deficient attendance will prevent pre-registration or necessitate a group re-assignment.

7. If your swimmer will be out of the water over a long period of time with an injury or illness, please notify the swimmer’s practice coach so he/she is aware of the problem.

8. Practices are closed to parents and other observers at the Burnt Hills Pool, except for Saturdays. At Union, parents can find comfortable seating outside the pool area by the observation windows. At Skidmore, parents can observe quietly from the viewing area, when unlocked.

Please note coach email addresses on page 5.

Practice Schedules

As our club has evolved in the use of our web site, and the use of three pools on a regular basis, the club site has become your primary source for current practice schedule information. Our practice schedule is determined by the availability of the BHBL, Union and Skidmore pools. We sometimes get last minute notification before vacation times regarding pool availability. Unexpected scheduling changes can occur at any time. Please check our web site daily as well as bulletin board at your practice site.

Practice Behavior

1. Swimmers are encouraged to support their teammates at practice as well as in competition. Working together as a unit for the benefit of all individuals in the group is an important part of the “Shark Spirit.”

2. Sharks are expected at all times to follow the verbal directions of the coaching staff. At no time will disrespectful attitudes be tolerated from any swimmer.

3. Abusive language, lying, stealing, and/or vandalism are intolerable. These behaviors are directly contrary to the objectives of the Schenectady Swim Club and are detrimental enough to the group to warrant strict disciplinary action.

4. Spitting on the deck or in the pool will not be tolerated.

5. Swimmers may leave practice only with the coach’s permission.

6. Remember, at every pool we go to, including Burnt Hills, Union and Skidmore, we are guests. We m