Tiger Shark Parent Handbook

Decatur County Tiger Shark 

Congratulations!  You and your family have become part of our DCTS Swim Team Family.  If you are a new member, please feel free to ask any questions.  We all know how it is to start in this great sport (it can be a bit overwhelming), so we want to provide a tool to help give you direction and support. 

Swimming is an individual and team sport and we want you (swimmer & parent) to be a part of the team.  Swimming, having fun, learning and improving, participating as a family in all the Swim Team activities, and volunteering at the meets help build team spirit.  Your energy and enthusiasm are welcomed and appreciated.

The Tiger Sharks offers a spring clinic and summer swimming program for boys and girls 18 years and younger.  The objectives are:

1. To promote interest in competitive swimming.
2. To develop good sportsmanship.
3. To improve team members ability in swimming.
4. To stimulate effort to improve the team’s individual and team competitive spirit.
5. Encourage individual team members and parent participation.

End of the Season Awards

At the end-of-the-season banquet we will present awards which may include the following:

• MVP Award or High Point Award (valuable contributor in and out of the water)
• Overall Most Improved (1 for each gender – all ages eligible)
• The Optimist Mental Attitude Award (1 each gender – all ages eligible)
• Sharktitude Award

Age groups include 6 and under, 7-8, 9-10, 11-12, 13-14, and 15-18.  The swimmer’s age as of May 15, determines the age division for the entire summer.  A swimmer may be asked to swim-up or with an older group, such as in a relay, but may not swim down or in a younger group. 

The coach will have swimmers practice in groups of similar ability and age. A daily practice is recommended for all swimmers to properly enhance their swimming skills.  The coaches will distribute times for scheduled practices for each age group.

EQUIPMENT

We do not require any specific team suit or equipment.  However, if you'd like to purchase the team suit we use for all Greensburg swim teams.  A handout with details on where to purchase the team suit is available at the parent meeting.

Our suit colors are Black/Royal Trim.             Goggles are required and having 2 pairs is a good idea.

Caps help keep the hair out of the face and also offer some protection from chlorine damage.

Fins are highly recommended.  We do have some fins available on deck but not enough for everyone.

SWIM MEETS

Swim meets are an optional part of swimming with us, but are highly recommended.  They are a great way to challenge a swimmer, see improvement, and have lots of fun.  We must know if you are planning on attending a swim meet AND we must know if you are not planning on attending a swim meet.  The coach can only enter swimmers who have committed to a meet and you must commit (or decline) your swimmer several days before the meet occurs.  It is critical to let the coach know ASAP if you’re not able to attend a meet that you’ve committed to.  It can dramatically affect the event line-up if someone simply doesn’t show up. 

To commit swimmers to meets:

1. Log in to your Tiger Shark account
2. Select EVENTS tab and select an event.
3. Click "Edit Commitment". Select the drop down option of ATTEND/DECLINE and choose one for each swimmer.
4. Sign up as a volunteer for the meet.  We can train for any job!

Swimmers must compete in 3 meets during the regular season to qualify to compete in the conference meet.  You must commit to attending or decline to attend each meet on the team website. 

Also on the team website are opportunities for parents to commit to volunteer.  Please consider volunteering whenever possible! 

After swimmers compete in an event, they should check-in with the coach before checking with parents.  This is an excellent time for feedback from the coach on performance.  Parents are encouraged to begin at the first meet to chart times in each event for the individual swimmers.  The team encourages PERSONAL BESTS.  A swimmer may decrease his/her individual time by several seconds, but may not be in first place.  This is a personal accomplishment that should be recognized for the swimmer.  Our goal is to encourage, praise, and develop self-esteem through improved performance.

Suggestions for Meets:

Swim meets can be a bit hectic, especially just moments before the first event as everyone awaits the heat sheet to figure out heats and lanes.  One way you can help alleviate stress is to check your swimmer’s events on our website or using the OnDeck App before you leave for the meet. By at least writing (with a sharpie) the event numbers of your swimmer on their arm, we can add the final details of “heat“ and “lane” once the final heat sheet is printed. 

Please make sure that your swimmer is well prepared.  All swimmers should have their suits, cap, goggles, and towels – it’s highly recommended to also have “backups” of these items….bring a spare!  Make sure these are marked with the swimmer’s name.  Some money may be needed for concessions.  A jacket, sweatshirt, and sweatpants are often welcome for the swimmer after dark/after the meet.  The pools have shower facilities with dryers where swimmers can shower after a meet.  A dry set of clothing is comfortable to wear on the trip home.  Books, travel games, card games, quiet games or small toys help occupy time while waiting between events.  Rest is encouraged between events. 

If you didn’t note on the registration form, make sure the Coach knows if your swimmer has any medical conditions such as allergies.  A swimmer’s performance is affected by snacks.  Avoid an overload of food between events that may slow down a swimmer.  The Coach suggests eating foods that are easily digested like toast with honey, crackers, nuts, fun fruits, etc. and foods that are high in complex carbohydrates.  Avoid foods that take longer to digest. 

The team is expected to sit together in one general area and to encourage one another.  Swimmers are expected to stay close to the team in seating areas and to keep track of the event number.  If a younger swimmer is not sure of where to sit or where to go to swim, remind them to ask one of the older swimmers for assistance.

Parent participation in swim meets is not only appreciated, but absolutely necessary.  Assistance is needed at home meets for timing and in serving as stroke judges.  Training is available for stroke judges.  We also need help at all meets to line up younger swimmers in the clerk of course area.  You may be asked to donate items for the concession stand at home meets, as this is one area that provides financial assistance for the team.  Only parent volunteers who are working are allowed on the deck due to limited space.  If a parent is not actively engaged in the meet, seating is available in the upper viewing area.

Scoring for the dual meets is as follows:

 

 Chart your swimmer’s time:

 

Suggested foods before practice: (AVOID processed sugars and Energy drinks)

            15-30 minutes before

            Water              Banana            Dates or raisins (with pretzels?)         Pretzels or Goldfish

            Applesauce     Dried cereal    Dried apples or dried mango              Fruit cup

            Bagel or bread                        Popcorn (light on the butter)

           30-60 minutes before

            Water              Fig bar             Apple               Granola bar or breakfast bar

            Grapes             Oatmeal          Bagel or bread with peanut butter (and jam?)

            English muffin                         Fruit cup          Nut mix

            Energy mix…1 c. dry cereal, ½ c. dried fruits, 1 c. pretzels      Tortilla roll-up…PB, banana, drizzle of honey

            Berries…blueberries, strawberries, blackberries, raspberries

           

https://www.yourswimlog.com/swim-meet-nutrition/

https://www.swimming.org/masters/what-to-eat-during-swimming-competitions/

https://www.teamunify.com/ohfa/UserFiles/File/nutritionhandout.pdf

 

 

COMMUNICATION

Because of the size of the team, effective communication is sometimes a challenge.  Our primary method of communicating will be via email/text/Facebook notifications (dependent on proper online registration).  If needed, we will also have a file system (labeled by family name) in a portable file box on the pool deck for ribbons. 

Coach:                   Josh Hawkins                 Assistant Coach:    Amy Hawkins              Assistant Coach: Abby Bausback

Cell Phone:             865-712-3764                  Cell Phone:          865-712-5698

e-Mail:  j[email protected].                          e-Mail: [email protected]

Officers for the Decatur County Tiger Sharks for the season:

President: Blake O'Mara                              Treasurer: Robyn McLean             

Phone: 812-614-0283                                    Phone: 812-593-6798

e-Mail: [email protected]

Secretary:                                                        Technical Support: Jeremy Stallsmith                                               

Member at Large:  Kathy Reynolds             At-Large, Fundraising: Kelly Wampler           Member at Large: Tim Hoeing

                                   

Team email: [email protected]

 

Directions to Swim Meets

Batesville (outdoor pool) – Take SR 46 toward Batesville.  Enter Batesville on Columbus Avenue to Mulberry Street and turn right.  The pool is located in the city park on the 200^th block of Mulberry Street and is directly across from the Middle School.  It is an outdoor 40-yard pool.  There are some bleachers but lawn chairs and blankets are a good idea.  Concessions are sold during dual meets.  You may be facing the setting sun at this pool so sunglasses are advised.

                  108 N. Mulberry Street       Batesville, IN 47006

Hidden Valley (outdoor pool) – This 25 meter outdoor pool is located at the Hidden Valley Lake development near Lawrenceburg.  Take I-74 to SR 1 south to US 50 east (left toward Ohio).  Go to the yellow flasher at the Indiana-Ohio state line and turn left on State Line Road.  Continue a short distance to Hidden Valley (there is a sign on the left) and enter Hidden Valley.  Take the road up the big hill to the right.  At the top of the big hill turn right.  Stay on that road for a mile or so to a fork in the road (there is a brown house), bear to the right at the fork in the road.  This turns into Greentree.  Take Greentree to the stop sign.  Turn right at the stop sign onto Lakeview continue on Lakeview to the pool that is on the right.  Take lawn chairs for parents and blankets for swimmers.

Jennings County - Go west from Greensburg on the bypass about 5 miles to the flashing light and turn left on SR 3.  Go through Westport to North Vernon and turn left on SR 7.  Go past the park and down the hill turn right on US 50.  Follow US 50 and go past the high school on the left to Middle School Road.  Turn left into the parking lot on south side of the Middle School.

                  820 W Walnut St.       North Vernon, IN. 47265

Milan –Take I-74 East to Batesville and turn right off the exit ramp.  Go to the stoplight on SR 46 and turn left.  Follow SR 46 east to SR 129 and turn right (The YMCA is at this intersection).  Go approximately 7 miles to SR 350 and turn left. Take SR 350 to the first flashing light and turn right onto SR 101.  Cross the railroad tracks and turn left.  Milan’s pool is located in the Milan Elementary School.  The school will be a short distance on your left.  It is an indoor 25-yard pool.  Seating is extremely limited in the pool area.  Concessions are sold however eating on the pool deck is discouraged.  Temperatures indoors can be quite warm so dress accordingly. 

                  418 E Carr St, Milan, IN 47031

Southwestern High School- Follow S Michigan Ave (US-421) heading southeast (toward Versailles) for 21.9 mi. Turn left onto W US Highway 50 (US-50/US-421) toward Versailles and at the stop light/McDonalds turn right onto S Adams St (US-421) for 20.7 mi. Turn right onto Michigan Rd.for 1.5 mi.  Then, turn right onto Clifty Dr (IN-62) for 5.6 mi. Take a right onto W State Road 56 (IN-56/IN-62) for 2 mi. and a left onto N Main Cross St. Turn left into the high school.

                   167 S Main Cross St, Hanover, Indiana

Switzerland County YMCA- Follow S Michigan Ave (US-421) heading southeast (toward Versailles) for 21.9 mi. Turn left onto W US Highway 50 (US-50/US-421) toward Versailles and at the stop light/McDonalds turn right onto S Adams St (US-421). Turn left in 0.5 miles onto SR-129. Follow this for 27 miles and turn left onto W Main St. In 1.4 miles, the Switzerland Co YMCA is on the left.

                   1114 W Main St, Vevay, IN 47043

 

 

DISQUALIFICATION REPORT (a.k.a. “DQ slip)...When swimmers incorrectly swim a stroke during a swim meet, they get "disqualified". Below is a breakdown of the different infractions for each stroke/event resulting in a swimmer getting disqualified. 

BUTTERFLY…Correctly done, feet kick and arms pull simultaneously

KICK: alternating           breast               scissor

ARMS: non-simultaneous          underwater recovery

TOUCH: one hand         not separated               non-simultaneous         no touch

NOT TOWARD THE BREAST OFF WALL

HEAD DIDN’T  BREAK SURFACE BY 15 meters      RE-SUBMERGED

BACKSTROKE…Correctly done, a swimmer is on their back into and off of each wall

NO TOUCH @ TURN (usually the feet didn’t touch the wall on the turn)

NOT ON BACK OFF WALL (usually a push off the wall on the belly before flipping to back)

SHOULDERS PAST VERTICAL TOWARDS THE BREAST (turned over before finish)

PAST VERTICAL AT TURN            delay initiating arm pull             delay initiating turn       multiple strokes

TOES OVER LIP OF GUTTER AT/AFTER START

HEAD DIDN’T  BREAK SURFACE BY 15 meters      RE-SUBMERGED

BREASTSTROKE

KICK:    alternating        butterfly           scissor

ARMS:  past hipline       non-simultaneous         2 strokes under

            not in same horizontal plane     elbows recovered over water

TOUCH:  one hand        not separated   non-simultaneous         no touch

NOT TOWARD THE BREAST OFF WALL

CYCLE     kick before pull                     head not up          double pull/kick

FREESTYLE

No touch at turn (usually the swimmer misses touching the wall with their feet on the flipturn)

HEAD DIDN’T  BREAK SURFACE BY 15 meters      RE-SUBMERGED

 

INDIVIDUAL MEDLEY                            RELAYS                                     MISCELLANEOUS

Stroke infraction                                   Stroke infraction                       False start (movement after “take your mark”)

Out of sequence                                   Early take off                            Did not finish

                                                            Changed order                          Delay of meet

            Changed stroke