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Dear Parents,
Welcome to the Penn State
Harrisburg Aquatic Center (PSHAC) Sea Lion Team. May your child(ren)
develop new friendships, confidence, life skills, physical fitness, and
most of all a love for swimming whether in competition or as a life long
experience.
This handbook includes information
and policies that will help you be a supportive swimming parent, as well
as gives you and your child(ren) general information about the sport of
swimming in the Central Pennsylvania Aquatic League (CPAL).
We wish you and your child(ren) the
best of luck and hope that your experience is enjoyable.
The Sea Lions Coaching Staff
General Information
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Inform coaches of any medical limitations of your
swimmer(s).
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Team information will be posted on the Sea Lion
bulletin board which is located in the entrance hallway to the pool.
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Team information and ribbons will be found in the
file box which will be located under the team bulletin board during
practices. Please check it on a regular
basis.
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Any information/papers placed in the file box
must include the swimmers last name.
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A phone chain will be utilized when parents need to
be notified of pertinent information, such as meet cancellations,
practice cancellations, etc.
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Parents should attend all parent meetings to stay
informed. If unable to attend ask someone to give you the
information that was presented.
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Parents are responsible for the swimmer’s medical
and hospital insurance.
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Arrange a meeting with the head coach if you have a
concern. Please do not approach the coaches with concerns at
practice or immediately after practice. They have other
responsibilities during and at the conclusion of practice.
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The end of the year Divisional meet is open to all
swimmers on the team that have participated in three
dual meets.
Inclement Weather
If the Penn State Harrisburg Campus
cancels classes/activities due to the weather, practice is also
cancelled. If you haven’t seen or heard the cancellation on the TV or
radio, call 948-6000 for the current status of the University.
Coaches Responsibilities
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Coaches set practice times and assign swimmers to a
practice group. Any movement from one group to another will be
discussed by the coaches and if necessary adjustments will be
made. The parents and the swimmer will be notified if changes are
recommended.
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Coaches conduct the practices, organize line-ups and
coach the meets, choose invitationals for team participation and
attend with the team, and make decisions for the benefit of the team
concept.
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Coaches support, encourage, listen to, and teach the
swimmers but above all present the swimmers with an enjoyable, fun
approach to the sport of swimming.
Team Spirit and Behavior
(Parents and Swimmers)
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Proper behavior of swimmer and parents is expected
at all practices, meets, and invitationals.
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Display good sportsmanship to others on our team,
the other team(s), coaches and officials.
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Be enthusiastic and supportive. Let the coaches do
the coaching and the officials do the officiating.
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BE A POSITIVE ROLE MODEL.
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Parents or swimmers violating the rules will be
asked to leave the practice or meet and only be granted return to
the team after a meeting with the coaches.
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Swimmers will be disciplined fairly and on an
individual basis as deemed necessary. The coach’s decisions are
final.
-
A swimmer may be removed from the program for
continual misbehavior and/or disrespectfulness. There will be no
refund of monies from registration fees or suit costs.
Practice
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Attendance at practice promotes better swimming
technique, better conditioning and better times at meets. Attend on
a regular basis and BE ON TIME for your scheduled practice, ready to
get in the water.
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Notes are beneficial to the coaches if there is an
extended absence or a swimmer must leave early from a practice.
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Parents may not be on deck or in the pool area
during practice. Swimmers learn better when they are not looking
for parental input. Also extra noise is distracting to the team.
During the two posted visitation days parents may observe practice.
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Check the team calendar for any changes to practice
times or cancellation of practice. Changes do occur due to other
events scheduled at the facility. Calendars are placed in each
swimmers file in the file box and one is posted on the team bulletin
board.
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Practice items (bags, suits, etc.) may not be stored
in the locker rooms from one practice to another. During
practice items may be stored in the lockers. No personal locks may
be used. Penn State is not responsible for any lost items. Swimmers
may bring bags, etc. in then put on window ledge on the pool ramp
during practice.
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Use caution in the locker rooms. The floors become
slippery when wet.
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Be courteous of others while in the locker room
areas. These facilities are for us to use as long as we are
respectful and thoughtful in our use of them.
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Violations to the locker room guidelines will result
in loss of locker room privileges. First violation will result in a
one week suspension of locker room use. Repeated violations will
result in loss of locker room use indefinitely.
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The lobby upstairs may be used as a homework area IF
AND ONLY IF at least one adult is present in that area..
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If a swimmer is unable to attend their practice time
on a specific day (ie. Dr. appt., concert, etc.), it is only with
permission from the head coach that they may practice with another
group on that day. This must be done prior to that day’s
practice.
Meets
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Meets are scheduled primarily on Saturday mornings.
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Warm-up times will be posted for both home and away
meets. BE ON TIME.
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Coaches decide on the meet line-up for the best
opportunity to participate successfully. Honor their judgments.
THIS IS A TEAM EFFORT.
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Line-up (what the swimmers are swimming) for the
upcoming meet will be posted at practice on the Friday before the
meet.
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Parents are needed to successfully run a swim meet.
VOLUNTEER. It benefits the team and supports your child. Sign up
on the bulletin board before each meet.
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At swim meets only coaches, swimmers and meet
personnel are permitted on the pool deck.
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Swimmers should remain in the team area to assist in
getting them to the blocks for their race on time.
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At dual meets a swimmer may swim up to a total of
four (4) events, one event must be a relay.
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At the Divisional meet a swimmer may only swim three
(3) events. (It may be 2 individual events and 1 relay, or 1
individual event and 2 relays, or 3 individual events.)
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Exhibition races are swam following the first heat
of an event. These races allow the swimmer to receive a time and a
ribbon and to assess their improvement.
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Team spirit requires that all swimmers stay until
the end of the meet (home or away). If leaving early is necessary,
approval must be given by the head coach.
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Swimmers should clean up their area of any
belongings or trash at the conclusion of the meet. BE RESPECTFUL.
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Meet ribbons will be placed in the file box.
Ribbons may be retrieved at practice the following week. No ribbons
will be given out at the meets.
Glossary of Swimming Terms
Block – the starting platform
Bulkhead – a moveable wall,
constructed to divide a pool into different courses, such as a 50 meter
pool into two 25 yard courses.
Circle Swimming – performed by
staying to the right of the black/blue line when swimming in a lane,
enabling more swimmers to safely swim in each lane. Used during
practice.
DQ – disqualification. This
occurs when a swimmer has committed an infraction of the rules. Coaches
are informed of the infraction so that they may teach and correct the
error at practice. A disqualified swimmer is not eligible for a ribbon
in that event.
Drill – a teaching exercise
involving a portion of a stroke which is used to improve technique.
False Start – when a swimmer is
moving before the start is sounded. 8 and Under swimmers are allowed
one false start without penalty. All other swimmers are removed from
the event for a false start.
Finish – the touch of the end
wall at the end of the race.
Flags – Backstroke flags are
placed 5 yards or 5 meters from the end of the pool. The flags enable
backstrokers to execute a backstroke turn and finish safely and
efficiently.
Freestyle Relay – an event in
which four (4) swimmers compete together as a team to achieve one time,
each swimmer swimming a fourth of the required distance using the
freestyle stroke.
Goal – a specific skill or time
a swimmer sets and strives to accomplish. Can be short or long term.
Gutter – the area along the
edge of the pool in which water overflows during the race.
I.M. – short for the individual
medley. An event in which the swimmer uses all four strokes in the
following order: butterfly, backstroke, breaststroke and freestyle.
Long Course – a pool 50 meters
in length.
Medley Relay – an event in
which four (4) swimmers compete together as a team to achieve one time,
with each swimmer swimming a fourth of the required distance. Each
swimmer will swim a different stroke, in the order of backstroke,
breaststroke, butterfly and freestyle.
Meet - competition designed to
be a learning experience. By implementing what has been learned in
practice a swimmer races against the clock to determine improvement.
Negative Split – swimming the
second half of a race equal to or faster then the first half.
Official – a sanctioned judge
on deck who enforces the rules in the sport of swimming. There are
stroke and turn officials, administrative officials, starters, timers
and referees.
Scratch – a withdrawal from an
event prior to it being held in competition.
Short Course – a pool 25 yards
or 25 meters in length.
Streamline – the position used
by swimmers when starting and/or pushing off the wall to reduce water
resistance.
Touch Pad – an electronic board
placed in the end of the pool to record a swimmers time electronically.
Order of Winter Age-Group Swimming Events
(for a dual meet)
1.
Boys Unl. 200 Free 37. Boys 12
& U 50 Back
2.
Girls Unl. 200 Free 38. Girls
12 & U 50 Back
3.
Boys 8 & U 25 Free 39. Boys 14 &
U 100 Back
4.
Girls 8 & U 25 Free 40. Girls
14 & U 100 Back
5.
Boys 10 & U 50 Free 41. Boys Unl.
100 Back
6.
Girls 10 & U 50 Free 42. Girls
Unl. 100 Back
7.
Boys 12 & U 50 Free 43. Boys 8 & U
25 Fly
8.
Girls 12 & U 50 Free 44. Girls 8
& U 25 Fly
9.
Boys 14 & U 50 Free 45. Boys 10 &
U 50 Fly
10.
Girls 14 & U 50 Free 46. Girls 10
& U 50 Fly
11.
Boys Unl. 50 Free 47. Boys 12
& U 50 Fly
12.
Girls Unl. 50 Free 48. Girls
12 & U 50 Fly
13.
Boys 8 & U 25 Breast 49. Boys 14 & U
100 Fly
14.
Girls 8 & U 25 Breast 50. Girls 14 &
U 100 Fly
15.
Boys 10 & U 50 Breast 51. Boys Unl. 100 Fly
16.
Girls 10 & U 50 Breast 52. Girls Unl. 100 Fly
17.
Boys 12 & U 50 Breast 53. Boys 8 & U 100 IM
18.
Girls 12 & U 50 Breast 54. Girls 8 & U 100 IM
19.
Boys 14 & U 100 Breast 55. Boys 10 & U
100 IM
20.
Girls 14 & U 100 Breast 56. Girls 10 & U
100 IM
21.
Boys Unl. 100 Breast 57. Boys 12 & U
100 IM
22.
Girls Unl. 100 Breast 58. Girls 12
& U 100 IM
23.
Boys 8 & U 50 Free 59. Boys 14 &
U 200 IM
24.
Girls 8 & U 50 Free 60. Girls 14
& U 200 IM
25.
Boys 10 & U 100 Free 61. Boys Unl. 200 IM
26.
Girls 10 & U 100 Free 62. Girls Unl.
200 IM
27.
Boys 12 & U 100 Free 63. Boys 8 & U 100 Free Relay
28.
Girls 12 & U 100 Free 64. Girls 8 &
U 100 Free Relay
29.
Boys 14 & U 100 Free 65. Boys 10 & U 200 Free Relay
30.
Girls 14 & U 100 Free 66. Girls 10 &
U 200 Free Relay
31.
Boys Unl. 100 Free 67. Boys 12 &
U 200 Med Relay
32.
Girls Unl. 100 Free 68. Girls
12 & U 200 Med Relay
33.
Boys 8 & U 25 Back 69. Boys 14 & U
200 Med Relay
34.
Girls 8 & U 25 Back 70. Girls 14
& U 200 Med Relay
35.
Boys 10 & U 50 Back 71. Boys Unl.
200 Med Relay
36.
Girls 10 & U 50 Back 72. Girls Unl.
200 Med Relay
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