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I. INTRODUCTION  

 

 

A.  Purpose of This Handbook 

 

Welcome to the East Bay Silver Dolphins! Whether your child is a dedicated swimmer or is checking out the sport for the first time, this handbook will help you learn how the team works, understand your responsibility as a swim parent or guardian, and help your child grow as an athlete and as a person.

 

B.  East Bay Silver Dolphins Mission Statement 

 

Team Motto: Where Determination Becomes Excellence

 

The East Bay Silver Dolphins (EBSD) is a competitive swim team dedicated to fostering a love for swimming, and providing a positive and challenging environment for growth to all levels of athletes from the East Bay.

 

Training: 

 

EBSD teaches swimmers stroke technique, conditioning skills, goal setting, teamwork and self-discipline in a safe, fun environment.

 

Life skills: 

 

We believe that swimming, a life long activity that is fun and great exercise, also teaches important life skills such as self-motivation, the importance of hard work and determination, setting and obtaining personal goals, and time management.

 

Team: 

 

Each EBSD swimmer is an important part of the team. They learn to have fun together and provide encouragement and motivation for their teammates.

 

C.  More About Our Club 

 

The East Bay Silver Dolphins is a year round USA Swimming Team for children between ages 5 and 18 who want to learn to swim well, and to learn about competitive swimming in a very positive environment. As a club member, your child will experience being on a team and what it means to be a team player, learn about hard work and dedication, receive recognition for a job well done, and most of all, make friends and have fun!

 

Our team is a parent-run, non-profit organization. Running the team is a challenging volunteer effort. Coaches are the only paid staff. The Head Coach takes charge of practices and meets, while parents do the administrative work, help at meets and plan special events. 

 

This is a developmental program. In practices, swimmers are grouped according to their age, the skill instruction they need, and their readiness. As a rule, beginning swimmers focus on basic stroke techniques. With time, swimmers train more intensively, however, each swimmer progresses at his or her own pace. The team values each swimmer as an individual.

 

We promote striving for personal best. The great thing about training with the swim team is that while swimmers practice as a group, the coach helps each swimmer set personal goals and work toward them. In competitions, swimmers strive to improve their times or technique in particular strokes. At meets, your child will strengthen friendships with teammates, work toward personal goals and develop a positive attitude toward competition.

 

The East Bay Silver Dolphins is an official USA Swimming team. USA Swimming is the National Governing Body for competitive swimming in the United States. It sets the rules for local competitions, conducts national championships and selects athletes to represent the United States in international competition. USA Swimming offers swim meets year-round, and children are grouped by age and ability, so every swimmer can participate.

Non-Discrimination Policy

In accordance with USA Swimming's Code of Conduct (304.3.3), EBSD strives to provide an equal opportunity for our swimmers to participate in amateur athletic competition, without discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, age, gender, or national origin.

 

 

D.  Club Structure 

 

A nine-member board (eight parents and the head coach) administrates the Club.

 

• Team parents elect board members every two years in August. Positions start October 1 through September 30. Current board members will shepherd new board members until Sept. 30.

 

• Board meetings and general membership meetings are held monthly and bi-monthly when needed.

 

• Parent/Team meetings are held a minimum of twice a year.

 

• Information and updates are communicated through the bulletin boards at the pool, via the coaches’ newsletter and with e-mail notices.

 

• For detailed information about club structure, ask for a copy of the Club's by-laws.

 

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II. POLICIES AND PROCEDURES

 

 

A.  Registration, Dues and Fees 

 

1.  New Member Registration

 

• Complete emergency information form

 

• Complete City of Hercules liability form

 

• Complete USA Swimming Registration online

 

• After swimmers register with the City of Hercules they will be required to pay an annual registration fee every year (per child) for a USA Swimming Membership. Parents will receive a link form the EBSD Board explaining how to do this.

 

New member registration should take place in the Front Office.

 

2.  USA Swimming Membership

 

• The USA Swimming Membership is offered annually and seasonally (Fall).  All swimmers must be USA-S members to participate on the team.

 

• Swimmers and their parents are required to do the Safe Sport course online with USA Swimming every two years when the team is up for recertification.

 

• Athletes 18 & older need to take Athletic Protection training before they turn 18.

 

 

3.  Monthly Dues

• Fees are due by the 5th of each month and late after the 5th of each month.

 

• Drop checks in "EBSD Blue Payment Box" located on the EBSD coaches’ desk, or pay at the Front office.

 

• Please make all monthly checks payable to the “City of Hercules.” or sign up for auto pay. 

 

• Payments made after the 5th of the month are considered late and will be assessed an additional fee of $10, please make payments accordingly.

 

• In December/January of each year you will re-register your swimmer(s), update information and fill out a new liability waiver.  

 

4.  Pause/Cancellation form

 

• This form must be submitted no later than the 15th of the month for the swimmer to be placed on pause from EBSD. Submit a separate request for each swimmer associated with your account.

 

• All forms received AFTER the 15th of the month will be effective only after the subsequent month (for e.g. if you submit the form on the June 21st asking your swimmer to be placed on leave from July 1, the leave will be effective only from August 1 and you will be charged the regular monthly fee for July).

 

• The Cancelation/Pause of Membership will be processed by the next payment cycle or when the City of Hercules' and EBSD receive this form.

 

• When you decide to rejoin or return to the team from your break, please contact Coach Chelsea at [email protected].

 

• You will also need to contact the City of Hercules' Parks and Recreation office to restart your payments. Depending on the time of year and when your break occurred, you may need to complete all of the registration forms again.

By submitting this form, you understand the policies set by EBSD in regards to canceling or pausing your membership.

 

 

B.  Practice and Training Requirements

 

1.  Attendance

 

• Practices are challenging and sequential, and swimmers need to attend practice regularly. Through regular practice, swimmers make steady progress and develop a love of the sport.

 

• The coaches recommend that beginning swimmers attend 2-3 times a week and intermediate and advanced swimmers workout a minimum of 4-5 times a week. A specific training schedule should be worked out with the coaches.

 

• Let the coach know your intended practice days, and make a commitment to your routine.

 

2.  Timeliness

 

• Swimmers should be on deck and ready to swim at the scheduled start of practice.

 

• Arrive in time for warm-up, it is an important part of practice and prevents injuries.

 

• Late swimmers really do disrupt practice! Swimmers arriving 10 minutes after the start of practice are considered late, unless they have made prior arrangements with the coach.

 

• The coach may ask late swimmers to sit out unless they have a legitimate reason.

 

• If a swimmer needs to leave early, it is necessary to inform the coach of this request at the beginning of practice.

 

C.  Code of Conduct 

 

1.  Practice Rules

 

• Observe pool rules at all times! No running on deck! No 'horsing around' on deck or in the water. No playing on the diving blocks.

 

• The coach is in charge of practice and each swimmer is expected to follow the coach's instructions.

 

• As a courtesy, swimmers should first ask the coach's permission if they need to temporarily leave the water during practice.

 

• For safety, any swimmer who is unable to complete the practice must stay on the pool deck until practice is over, or until picked up by a parent.

 

Teammates treat one another with respect at all times, and never interfere with the practice of fellow swimmers.

 

2.  Locker Room Rules

 

• The pool staff request that all swimmers shower, dress and leave the locker room promptly before and after practice.   

 

• Do not bring valuables to the pool and leave in your swim bag.                                                                                                                 

 

• ABSOLUTELY NO PHONES OR LAPTOP USAGE IN THE LOCKER ROOMS AT ANY TIME.    

 

• Each swimmer is responsible for leaving the locker room neat and clean. Food and drinks are not allowed in the locker rooms.

 

• Team members should respect the needs of other patrons using the locker rooms. No 'horseplay' or yelling in the locker rooms! Treat other patrons with courtesy.

 

D.  Code of Discipline 

 

We cannot offer a quality program if there are constant disruptions from misbehaved swimmers. If a swimmer has a problem that consistently disrupts practice, or is a safety concern, the coaches will take action. The team's disciplinary procedure applies equally to all swimmers.

 

1.  The Disciplinary Process 

 

• The coach will speak directly to the swimmer and clearly state what behavior change is needed. The coach decides what type of correction works best for the swimmer.

 

• At the coach's discretion, a swimmer may be asked to sit out part, or all, of a practice. The length of time depends on the child's age - and the seriousness of the misconduct.

 

• If the difficulty persists, the coach will issue a written warning and may request a meeting with the swimmer and his or her parent(s) to work out a solution. The meeting will include the Aquatics Coordinator and may include a board member.

 

• In certain instances, the Aquatics Coordinator may suspend a swimmer for up to two weeks or ask a swimmer to leave the team, to protect the integrity and safety of swim practice.

 

2.  Immediate Suspension from the Team 

 

These are the absolute 'No's' of the East Bay Silver Dolphins and are strictly enforced:

 

• NO Vandalizing any part of the pool facility

 

• NO Stealing or willfully damaging the property of other swimmers

 

• NO Physical fighting with other swimmers or pool patrons, or hazing other swimmers

 

• NO Spitting at anyone

 

• NO Use of tobacco, alcohol or illegal drugs or controlled substances

 

• NO Possession of a weapon

 

Serious disciplinary action or immediate dismissal from the team may result from illegal or harmful behaviors in the nature of the ones listed above.

 

E.  Team Parents and Swim Practice  

 

We encourage parents to observe practice without interfering with the swimmers or coaches. Coaches are available for discussion after practice or by appointment.

 

1.  Please Remain an Observer during Practice

 

• It is tempting to give the coach advice, or to discipline your child (or someone else's child) during practice, but please resist - and wait until after practice (see Sec 2 below for tips to express a concern).

 

• Every coach has a unique style of building relationships, and establishing rewards and discipline. Please allow the coach to assert their authority, and bond with each swimmer.

 

• Be assured that our team is committed to hiring coaches who use positive and constructive criticism, and are dedicated to each swimmer's progress.

 

 

2.  How to Express a Concern

If you have a problem with the way a practice is run, the way the coach relates to your child or the way the coach resolves a problem, the club supports you in your concern.

• Discuss your concern with the coach after practice. Please speak calmly and respectfully to the coach and model positive behavior to the swimmers.

 

• Discuss it with a board member. If you need assistance communicating your concern to the coach, any board member will gladly help you.

 

• If you still have a concern, you may contact the Aquatic Administrator at (510) 799-8229.

 

3.  Help Your Child Understand the Valuable Lessons the Swim Team Experience Can Teach

 

• Acquire appreciation for an active lifestyle

 

• Develop positive self-esteem by mastering sport skills

 

• Learn how to work as part of a team

 

• Develop social skills with other children and adults

 

• Learn how to manage success and disappointment

 

• Learn about good sportsmanship and fair play

 

• Learn respect for others.

 

F.  Swim Meet Requirements 

 

• For detailed swim meet information, refer to the annual "Pacific Swim Guide".

 

• We attend approximately one USA Swimming meet a month as a team, and swimmers may attend additional meets on their own. Parents are required to help with timing or other duties as need during the meet.

 

• Early registration is critical to secure spaces in swim meets, and we will give you the dates and locations of our team meets, and the registration form will be emailed to the swimmers (parents) email to fill out the Google form for that meet.

 

• Swimmers will receive a bill for their meet fees for the meet. Meet fees are still due if the swimmer does not attend the meet.

 

• The coach helps to determine each swimmer's readiness and the events a swimmer enters. As a rule, qualified swimmers are expected to attend scheduled meets, unless they notify the coach. 

 

• The Code of Conduct for swimmers (and parents) applies to both meets and practices.

 

G.  Safety

 

Safety of the swimmers and the coaches is a club priority, and the club's safety officer regularly distributes information to the team regarding safety awareness and accident prevention. A first-aid kit and emergency information forms are stored in a container on the pool deck. All USA Swimming coaches are certified in first aid and CPR. Swimmers, parents and coaches are expected to follow pool rules all times.

 

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III. RESPONSIBILITIES 

 

A.   The Board of Directors 

 

The Board meets monthly to conduct administrative business of the club, and does its best to ensure the smooth functioning of the team. It sets policy, with membership feedback, and enforces policy. It hires coaches, oversees the budget, and sets a calendar of events. The Board ensures that the Club is in compliance with USA Swimming rules and regulations.

 

B.  The Coach 

 

The coach is responsible for running the actual swim program. He or she designs practices with the goal of improving each swimmer's skill, and increasing each swimmer's enjoyment of swimming. The coach understands the physical and emotional needs of different age groups, and helps each swimmer develop to his or her potential.

 

C.  The Swimmers 

 

Each swimmer is responsible for making a commitment to his or her practice schedule and personal goals, and for following team rules. Each swimmer has the responsibility to be supportive of teammates, and treat parents and staff with respect. 12 and over take the Safe Sport course online.

 

D.  The Parents and Guardians 

 

Each parent and guardian has the responsibility to contribute to the operation of the club and its success. This includes helping your swimmer to follow team rules, being courteous to the coach and other parents, being supportive of all swimmers (not just your child), paying dues on time, participating in fundraisers, taking the Safe Sport course for parents and volunteering for team jobs. Which include (but not limited to) timing at meets, help set up and clean up area at meets, officiating (need to be certified), help with team social events.

 

E.  EBSD HOME MEETS

 

All parents of team members will be required to volunteer at EBSD Home Meets. Volunteers sign up sheets will be posted about one month prior to the meet.  The success of these events depends on the support of all team members and their families! Please make sure to save the date(s) on your calendar!

 

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Links that may be of interest:

1. USA Swimming - National organization - Good info for swimmers and parents: www.usaswimming.org

 

1. Pacific Swimming - Local swimming committee; we are in Zone 2:  www.pacswim.org

 

1. Swim Connection - Join and keep track of your swimmer's progress (annual membership):  www.swimconnection.com

 

1. Swim Connection - Join and use to enter meets (free membership): www.ome.swimconnection.com

 

1. Swim Outlet - best prices for swimsuits, equipment, etc.: www.swimoutlet.com/eastbaysilverdophlin