| Parents’ and Swimmers’ Handbook Dear GATORs, The Parent Committee, coaches, and I would like to welcome all new and returning swimmers. We hope you are as excited about the upcoming season as we are. Let the GATOR fun begin! The coaching staff and parent committee want to continue to improve the overall quality of the team. We also want to make sure that everyone enjoys being a GATOR. With your help, support, and enthusiasm we can do just that. Should you or your parents have any questions or concerns during the season, please feel free to talk to one of the coaches (not during practice) or see one of our committee members around the pool. We look forward to another fun and exciting season! Go GATORS! Grace Baltimore Head Coach, Valleybrook Gators Coaches for the 2022 Season Grace Baltimore, Head Coach: Hello Valleybrook Community! I’m thrilled returning as the Valleybrook Swim Team Coach this year! I've been swimming in Harford County since I was 8 years old, and I've had the opportunity to compete year-round, in high school, and throughout college. I just graduated from Loyola University Maryland with my bachelor's degree in Elementary Education and Special Education. I work for Baltimore County Public as a elementary school teacher! This summer, I look forward to building a positive, tight-knit community that focuses on teamwork, friendship, and FUN! I'm SO excited to meet everyone, and I can't wait to have the BEST SUMMER EVER! COMMITTEE MEMBERS
- PARENT VOLUNTEER COORDINATORS:
In addition to coordinating the efforts of the parent volunteer committees, these persons act as focal points for any concerns/issues which parents may wish to discuss. 2. TREASURER: This person accepts and tracks all monies from fundraisers, registration and meets. This person also pays the HSL fees and disperses all re-imbursements. This person also makes deposits and writes checks on behalf of the Gators Swim Team. 3. NEW PARENT LIASONS: Interacts with parents of swimmers new to the team and directs them. This person(s) will also be able to answer questions as to what they need to know about swim team. This should be a seasoned parent. 4. DATA ENTRY OPERATOR: This person will oversee all the computer equipment and head up the entries for each home meet. They will receive entries from the opposing team for home meets and seed the meet. 5. HEAD TIMER: Keeps stop watches in running order. Purchase new watches as needed. Brings stop watches to meets, collects after meets. Is back up timer for all home meets. Will also take care of charging headsets after each meet. 7. VOLUNTEER COORDINATOR: Collects volunteer sheets, develops volunteer schedule for the mini-meet and each dual meet. Ensures that we have enough volunteers for every meet. See position requirements for each meet on page 15 of this handbook. PARENT VOLUNTEER POSITIONS
- STARTER REFEREE (1-2):
Each team in the HSL must provide one person as a starter. This person must take appropriate classes to officiate a swim meet as determined by the HSL. Will be scheduled by the HSL to officiate meets during the summer season. Must be certified in a 2-hour HSL training class. 2. STROKE AND TURN JUDGES: (3-5) Each team must have at least 3 stroke and turn judges to monitor each swim heat to determine if each swimmer's stroke is "legal." Must disqualify swimmers whose strokes are not legal, using the opportunity to instruct the swimmer on proper technique. Must be certified in a 2-hour HSL training class which is given on specific dates. 3. TIMER POSITIONS: (# of Timers needed depends on the meet) We need a minimum of 9 parent volunteer timers for the Gators team at every meet, home or away. This can be split up between parents who have small children or ones who cannot time the entire meet. One can do one half and the other can do the other half. 4. CLERK OF COURSE: (2 per meet) Individual from each team responsible for lining swimmers up in event and heat order in the designated seating area to ensure that all swimmers are ready for their events and that the meet proceeds on a timely basis. (not for a first-year parent) 5. AWARDS PICNIC COORDINATORS (2 OR 3): Coordinates the menu, arrange logistics for awards picnic and presentation. These individuals will also help set up the tables for the food and awards. They will also purchase tablecloths and drinks (reimbursed by the team). 6. GATOR WEAR COORDINATOR: (1) This individual will have caps for sale during practice times and make sure the caps are available for swim meets. Caps come in Latex and Silicone. 7. MEET ANNOUNCER: (1-2) These individuals will announce the events for each home meet and play appropriate music for the meet. 8. RIBBONS AND MAILBOX: (1) This person(s) will take home labels from each dual meet and place them on the appropriate place ribbon. They will also file them in the mailboxes of each swimmer. They will make up folders for each new swimmer. 11. SET-UP/BREAKDOWN CREW (Home Meets Only): (2) Arrive at the pool 20-30 minutes prior to first warm up to install lane lines, set up officials’ area and tents, set up clerk of course area, set up announcer tent and equipment and clear pool deck of lounge chairs as needed. Stays after the meet to help get the pool ready to open to the members. SWIM PRACTICE RULES Swimmers should attend the following number of practices a week:
- 8 and under at least 3 practices per week.
- 9-18 all practices during the week.
1. Come prepared for practice: in your suit, with swim goggles properly adjusted. Stretch or swim for a minimum of 10 minutes prior to practice. This greatly reduces the chance of any swimming related injuries. 2. Use of the bathroom facilities should be done before practice. 3. Running on the pool deck or pushing another swimmer (or Coaches) into the pool is not permitted at any anytime. 4. Diving into the pool is not allowed, unless instructed and supervised by a Coach. 5. No one is allowed in the practice lanes of the pool without a Coach's permission 6. Swimmers are expected to be attentive to the Coaches during practice. Talking, fooling around, going underwater, and sitting/playing on the lane lines, is not permitted. 7. Any team member deliberately causing bodily harm to another swim team member or other pool guests, will not be tolerated, and will result in removal from the team. 8. Any swimmer who continually disrupts practice will be removed from that practice. Parents will be notified after practice should that occur. 9. Older swimmers must set a good example for, be supportive and helpful to the younger swimmers. 10. Please save questions for the Coaches for before or after practice, not during.
| Parents: please make sure your children are aware of the rules and fully understand them. |
HSL Anti- Bullying Policy Bullying of any kind is unacceptable and will not be tolerated. If bullying does occur, the incident will be dealt with promptly to include such penalties as: warning and probation. If repeated bullying occurs, it would be grounds for suspension or expulsion from HSL. Bullying is defined as: severe or repeated abuse by one or more HSL member(s) of oral, written, video, social media, electronic or other technological expression, image, sound, telephone, data or intelligence of any nature, or physical act or gesture, or any combination thereof, directed at any other member that insults, demeans, offends, or causes distress. SWIM TEAM PRACTICE SCHEDULE *Practice schedule subject to change. EVENING PRACTICES 6:00 pm – 6:30 pm Age 8 and under
6:30 pm – 7:15 pm Age 9 -12
7:15 pm – 8:00 pm Age 13 and over MORNING PRACTICE 8:30 am – 9:30 am Age 9 and over
9:30 am – 10:00 am Age 8 and under *Evening practices are only for those who cannot attend morning practices (both parents’ work). Practice starts promptly at the times above. Coming to, or starting practice late is very disruptive. We only have a few lanes available for team practice, and it is important that warm-ups are all completed at the same time. INCLEMENT WEATHER POLICY Practice and swim meets are held rain or shine! The only reason for cancellation is thunderstorms and/or other violent weather that would create unsafe conditions. The Head Coach and on-duty Certified Pool Operator will decide when to cancel swim practice. Practice will be cancelled during or prior to these conditions should they occur. Any thunder or lightening at or after 7:00pm shall close the pool for the evening. If you drop your swimmer off for practice and leave the pool grounds, please remain watchful of changing weather conditions. Please be prepared to pick your child up promptly (or have an agreement with another parent to do so), in the event of a sudden cancellation. Per pool regulations, swimmers under the age of 17 should not be left alone at the pool unless another parent agrees to oversee them during the practice. If you are not sure whether there will be practice due to the weather, check with the Valleybrook Swim Club. We will try to notify you be e-mail and/or text message/social media posting between 4:30 and 5:00 pm if there is a change in practice. SWIM MEET RULES AND PROCEDURES Note: Please be aware that most of the rules outlined below are included in the Harford Swim League Rules and regulations. 1. Each swimmer is an important member on our team. It is important to follow all these rules and procedures. Failure to follow the rules could hurt the team and result in the swimmer(s) being removed from the competitive roster. 2. If a swimmer cannot attend a scheduled meet, he or she must sign their name on the SCRATCH SHEET posted on the bulletin board a minimum of 3 days prior to the meet. If a swimmer must scratch after this point, they must inform Coach Grace. 3. Swimmers are to arrive at the pool 15 minutes prior to the announced warm-up time. Please wear your official team suit and cap to each of the swim meets. Please do not wear your team suit to practice. They are not designed to last for practice and meets. 4. No horseplay, running on deck, carrying of any glass objects on deck or in the locker rooms areas, or chewing gum is permitted during a swim meet. 5. SWIMMERS SHOULD STAY IN THE DESIGNATED VCC GATORS TEAM AREA when not swimming in an event. It is permissible to visit the parents in the stands during the meet, but make sure somebody knows where you are. It is not up to the Coaches to get a swimmer to their event on time. 6. Swimmers should always give Coaches their undivided attention and cooperation. 7. No swimmer is allowed during the actual swim meet to touch the water, enter the water, or place anything in the water without the permission of an official. This could get the swimmer and or the entire team disqualified. 8. Swimmers must be quiet at the start of each race. This will allow the starter/referee to give last minute instructions to the swimmers on the starting blocks. 9. It is the responsibility of the swimmer to know which event is in progress. Upcoming events are announced during the swim meet. The Mother Goose will be in the team area to assist the younger swimmers in getting to the blocks for their events. Once the Clerk of Course has seated the swimmer(s) for their upcoming event, they cannot leave the Clerk of Course area and must remain seated. 10. Swimmers must not leave a meet before its completion without first contacting the Head Coach. Failure to do so could result in the swimmer not being entered in the next meet. A swimmer who leaves without proper notification can cause their fellow swimmers to be ineligible to swim in a relay event, or the team to lose the meet because of the possible points a relay could score. 11. At the end of a swim meet, no swimmer may enter the water or push another person in the water. Otherwise, forfeiture of the meet could occur. 12. The age-up date for a swimmer in the Harford County Swim League is June 1st. A swimmer's age on this date determines the age group in which he/she will compete this season. A swimmer shall only be allowed to compete in his/her age group. 13. Please see one of the Coaches immediately after completion of each event. They will watch each of the events that you swim and will provide you with their comments on your performance (good or bad), and give you advice that might help you in your next event. If you wait too long before you talk to them, they will forget how well you did in your event. 14. Swimmers are expected to swim all events for which they are scheduled, and they are to always conduct themselves in a sportsmanlike manner. 15. Always offer positive feedback to your opponents after each race. 16. When not in an event, swimmers are encouraged to cheer on teammates and offer positive support to all other swimmers. 17. Alcoholic beverages are NOT permitted on the pool deck at any Harford Swim League sanctioned event.
| Parents: please make sure you and your children are aware of the rules and fully understand them. |
SWIM MEET WARM-UP AND STARTING TIMES Warm-up and starting times for the dual swim meets are as follows: 1. On Wednesdays, meets start at 6:00 PM. Warm-up starts at 5:00 PM when we swim at home, and at 5:30 PM when we swim in an away meet. Please arrive 15 minutes prior to warm- up times.
- On Saturdays, meets start at 8:00 AM. Warm-up starts at 7:00 AM when we swim at home, and at 7:30 AM when we swim in an away meet. Please arrive 15 minutes prior to warm- up times.
- For home meets (meets hosted by Valleybrook) Meet Set Up volunteers should arrive 20-30 minutes before home team warmups for pool and deck setup.
Note: The team swimming at home always has their warm-up first. This gives the visiting team an additional 30 minutes to arrive. 4. Warm-up and starting times for Invitational and championship swim meets will be announced as soon as they become available. Parents, it is important to have your swimmers at the pool 15 minutes before warm-up begins. The warm-up is necessary to loosen all muscles prior to the meet, preventing or greatly reducing the chance of any swimming related injuries. Having a 5-to-10-minute continuous warm-up swim is required by the Red-Cross as outlined in the "Coaches Safety Training" Manual. Your Coaches will strictly adhere to the Red-Cross safety rules and recommendations. Swimmers, make sure on chilly days you keep yourself warm after warm-up and in between the events that you swim. It will keep your muscles from stiffening. This will greatly affect your performance during the events that you are scheduled to swim. REQUIRED PARENT WORK A successful swim team does not consist of swimmers and coaches only. The support from all parents is equally important and required. The Harford Swim League rules require parent volunteers to perform various duties associated with a successful swim meet. It is important and only fair that we share all duties evenly amongst all parents during the season and have enough volunteers available and signed-up in time prior to each meet. Our team is not as large as many of the other teams in the Harford Swim League. The fact that we host the first meet of the year requires a HUGE commitment from all the parents and teen swimmers on our team. It takes a minimum of 33 adults for home meets and 25 adults for away meets to conduct each dual meet. We need a volunteer from each family to work all meets. Each meet must be carefully coordinate in advance so that jobs are spread fairly between each family. To accomplish this, we have implemented a Parent/Legal Guardian Agreement. The Parent/Legal Guardian Agreement states all job requirements, deadline, procedures, and consequences levied for not meeting one’s obligations. It is REQUIRED that every family complete and sign the agreement attached at the end of this handbook, return it with the registration, and fulfill their obligations accordingly. Volunteers are needed for the "at home" and "away" swim meets, and during the All-Star and Trophy meet Weekend. The jobs have been divided into areas and those in charge of these areas are listed on the following page. A swim meet cannot and will not start until all positions have been filled, and the people are in place. Failure to do so could result in the team being forced by the Head Official to forfeit the swim meet. For the Championship weekend meets, all swimmers that are registered to swim, must have a parent volunteer, for a 1-hour session. Dual Meet Volunteer Jobs Setup Crew (Home meets only) – at least 2 people Announcer – 1 person Clerk of Course – 1 from each team Mother Goose – 1 person Data Entry Review Coordinator – 1 person Result Coordinator – 1 person Results Poster (home meets only) – 1 person Runner (home meets only) – 2 people, take times from timers to computer table Head Timer – 1 person must have training. Starter – 1 person must have training. Computer Operator – 1 person must have training. Stroke & Turn Judges – at least 3 people, must have had training. Timers – at least 9 ADDRESSES OF POOLS Aqua Culture Conowingo Swimming Pool 4948 Conowingo Road Darlington, MD 21034 Aberdeen Penguins Aberdeen Family Swim Center 615 Old Robinhood Road Aberdeen, MD 21001 Fallston Fins Fallston Club 1912 Fallston Road Fallston, MD 21047 Fountain Green Dolphins Fountain Green Swim Club 1008 S. Fountain Green Rd Bel Air, MD 21015 Joppatowne Tigersharks Magnolia Middle School 288 Fort Hoyle Road Joppa, MD 21085 Maryland Golf Frogmen Maryland Golf and Country Club 1335 East MacPhail Road Bel Air, MD 21014 North Harford Neptunes North Harford Swim Club 3809 Federal Hill Road (Route 165) Jarrettsville, MD 21084 Rock Spring Racers Rock Spring Swim Club 454 Red Pump Road Forest Hill, MD 21050 |
