Our team is a year-round competitive USA Swimming team offering high-quality, professional coaching and technique instruction for all ages and abilities. The goal of our team is to promote a lifetime of wellness through the sport of swimming in a safe and inclusive environment.

Life Time Swim Team (LIFE) Handbook Summer
 

Introduction

Welcome to the Life Time Iowa Summer Swim Team where each swimmer is encouraged to pursue their goals and ability. The sport of swimming is something that each person can take with them for life. We want each swimmer to learn important life skills such as: dedication, determination, time management, goal setting, teamwork, and sportsmanship in a fun environment.

Mission Statement -

Dedication, Preparation, Determination....

To provide a fun and quality training environment for all swimmers within a structured progression to ensure each swimmer reaches their individual potential.

Coaching Staff

Head Coach: Zoe Randol- [email protected]

Assistant Coaches: Heidi Brown- [email protected]

Lehr Thorson- [email protected]

Kylie Engstrom- [email protected]

Jazlyn Horras- [email protected]

Aquatics Department Head: Ashley Tapps- [email protected]

Aquatics Lead: Brie Walker- [email protected]

Communication

Email 

  • You will receive email messages from Coach Zoe regularly.

  • Coaches and Aquatic Leaders can be reached directly by email to answer questions.

Etiquette

All Swimmers:

  • Must refrain from making remarks, except when made as expressions in the spirit of friendship and/or in good sportsmanship.

  • Never use foul language or obscene gestures.

  • Should always applaud the other teams’ performance and should always shake hands at the end of the race.

  • Follow all rules of the hosting pool.

  • Cooperate with the decisions of the stroke judges, starter and meet referee.

All Coaches:

  • Must require all swimmers to comply with above set conduct.

  • Must refrain from making derogatory remarks to any coach, swimmer, stroke judge, parent, timer, starter, meet referee or any other volunteer.

  • Will never use foul language or obscene gestures.

  • Should always applaud the other teams’ performance.

  • Follow rules of the hosting pool and stay in designated areas.

All Parents:

  • Must refrain from making derogatory remarks to any parent, coach, swimmer, stroke judge, timer, starter, meet referee or any other volunteer.

  • Will never use foul language or obscene gestures.

  • Should always applaud the other teams’ performance.

  • Follow all rules of the hosting team’s pool.

  • Respect the coaches’ decisions and abilities, except in the case where it may cause injury to the team or swimmer.

Apparel

  • Your registration fee includes one team tee-shirt and one team swim cap

  • All other items such as team suit, goggles, extra caps and any practice equipment is the parents’ responsibility.

TEAM Expectations

Swimmers

  • To arrive to practice and meets on time

  • To demonstrate a positive attitude, by listening, following instructions and being respectful of your coaches and other swimmers

  • To show good sportsmanship at all times

  • To come prepared for all practices and meets (goggles, swim caps, towels, and sunscreen etc.)

Coaches

  • To arrive on time

  • To create a positive atmosphere for learning

  • To teach correct strokes, starts and turns technique

  • To teach the value of good sportsmanship

  • To teach goal setting and methods of attainment

  • To have open communication with swimmers and parents

Parents

  • To bring your children to practice on time and prepared

  • To participate within the team through volunteering

  • To inform coaches as to absences and vacations prior to a meet ASAP

  • Email the Head Coach if your swimmer will miss a meet due to illness by 7:00 am on the day of the meet

  • To be a role model for Good Sportsmanship

  • To leave the coaching to the coaches

  • Please do not interrupt coaches during practice (questions and comments are welcome before and after)

Practice Schedule

Team members are expected to attend daily practices, but a minimum of 3 practices per week is recommended for meet preparation. If your swimmer will be missing several consecutive practices (due to vacation, etc.), please notify Coach Zoe through email and submit entries online early indicating your swimmer will not be attending, or desired events if they will be back for the meet.

What to Bring to Practice

  • swimsuit, it is best to have a “practice” suit & keep the team suit for meets

  • sunscreen

  • water bottle

  • swim cap

  • goggles

Bad Weather

Please check your email if you are in doubt about the status of a practice or a meet. The coaches will get the information out as early as possible if there is a change or cancellation. The coaches will make every effort to move practices inside to the indoor lap pool if the weather is bad.

Swim Meets

  • Swimmers are encouraged to participate in meets throughout the season.

  • Swimmers may enter up to 3 events per meet. The coaching staff will choose the events your child swims.

  • Any swimmer on the Summer Team is eligible to participate.

  • Swimmers will swim in their respective age groups

  • The Coaching Staff will be there to provide feedback about each individual swimmer’s race.

  • Meets usually take about 3 hours

  •  For all home mock meets, everyone must enter the Lifetime Facility through the main entrance. All non-member guests must sign in.

WHAT TO BRING – LABEL EVERYTHING!!!

  • Swimmer in team suit

  • Sweatshirts and pants – to keep swimmers warm

  • Swim cap or 2

  • Goggles – bring a spare pair – they get lost or broken easily

  • water bottles

  • 2 or 3 towels

Highly Recommended:

  • Healthy breakfast and power snacks.

  • Warm clothes or blanket for between each race

  • Permanent marker (labeling child with name and event(s) is highly encouraged)

  • Money for concessions

ARRIVAL AND SET-UP

  • In case of illness or emergency the morning of a meet, please notify Coach Zoe

  • Warm-ups generally begin 30 – 60 min prior to meet start. Start times vary so be sure to check the website for meet specifics. Please have swimmers at the pool NO LATER than 15 min prior to warmups since parking and seating options are often at a premium. Each team/group will have a designated area, and we should all sit together as much as possible. Please watch your email and/or the website for exact team warm up times each week.

  • Swimmers should check in with coaches before and after each of their races.

  • Use a permanent marker to write the swimmer’s number on the right shoulder and the event information (usually posted) on swimmer’s arm – this serves as a constant reminder of which events to be listening for event, heat, and lane numbers

Example: Write: If swimming Event #19 (9-10 Boys 50 Free), Heat 2, Lane 4 

E | H | L

50 Free - 19 | 2 | 4

WARM-UPS

  • Warm-ups will be done by practice group

  • The coaches often like to meet with the swimmers before or right after warm-ups to go over relays, advice, pep talk, etc.

  • There will be lots of experienced parents and older swimmers who will be available to help you as necessary – please ask if you’re not sure what to do!

DURING THE MEET

  • After warm-ups, your swimmer should know whether they are in a relay.

  • Many events have multiple heats since the pool can usually accommodate only 8 swimmers at a time.

  • Swimmers will be directed to their lane at the appropriate time. When it is time for the swimmer’s event/heat, the swimmer will move up to the starting blocks, the timer will ask their swimmer number

  • During and after the race, please have plenty of positive words for all of the participants!

  • Please make every effort to stay for the entire meet so that you can cheer for your friends and neighbors. It is VERY important to have swimmers check with their coach before leaving the meet to ensure they have completed all their events and are not needed for a Relay, which is often the last event.

  • Finally, during meets, please make an effort to clean up your area, every little bit helps us put the pool back in order after a meet.

RESULTS

Event results are posted as soon as they become available on the Meet Mobile app which is available from the App store for your phone.