TEAM HAND BOOK

                                  2008-2009 TEAM HANDBOOK

VISION STATEMENT  

WE THE DYNAMO SWIM CLUB ARE COMMITTED TO EXCELLENCE AND DEDICATED TO PROVIDE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR EACH INDIVIDUAL INVOLVED IN THE SPORT OF SWIMMING, TO REACH HIS/HER MAXIMUM POTENTIAL AND TO DEVELOPING WORLD CLASS CITIZENS THROUGH THE SPORT OF SWIMMING AND OUR SWIMMING PROGRAM. 

“MEN SANA IN CORPORE SANO”

“HEALTHY MIND IN HEALTHY BODY 

MISSION STATEMENT  

WE THE BURNABY DYNAMO SWIM CLUB PLAN TO ACHIEVE OUR VISION THROUGH:

•       ATTENDING PRACTICE FAITHFULLY

•       TEACH SWIMMING FOR COMPETITION

•       TO STRIVE FOR PERSONAL EXCELLENCE AND ACHIEVEMENT

•       PROVIDE QUALITY AQUATIC PROGRAMS FOR A LIFETIME OF PARTICIPATION

•       HARD WORK AND DEDICATION

•       ADDING MEMBERS WHO SHARE IN OUR VISIONS

•       HIRING OF COMPETENT COACHES

•       CREATING A FUN SWIMMING ENVIRONMENT

•       CONDUCIVE TO IMPROVEMENT FOR ALL SWIMMERS

INTRODUCTION

Lidia Lucaciu Menzies created dynamo Swim Club in 1998.  Lidia is the head coach of the club she got a Masters Degree in Physical Education and has written a book entitled “Talent Identification in Swimming. The goal of our club is to provide a quality, year-round swim program for the communities of BURNABY B.C, Canada.  Please read our philosophy. The Dynamo swim club strives to provide all swimmers with the opportunity to be their best.  Our goal is to produce world-class citizens as well as world-class swimmers.

The Dynamo Swim Club is a fully sanctioned competitive Swimming Natation Canada Swimming program subsidized by its members and sponsors.  Our team operates eleven months of the year and offers two seasons of training and competition.  Dynamo prides itself on offering quality coaching, and a motivating and exciting environment in which to train. We provide swimmers with the opportunity to improve, strive for excellence, enjoy the sport of swimming and pursue their dreams.  From the beginner to advanced levels everyone can find a program to fulfil their swimming dreams.

The Dynamo Swim Club and the sport of swimming involve a commitment on the part of the swimmer as well as the parent. Traveling to meets, training sessions, fundraising, volunteering at meets, hours at the pool and an honest effort are all part of being a swimmer or "swim parent."

 Dynamo Swim Club competes as a member of SWIM BC and S.N.C Swimming. Dynamo Swim Club provides swimmers with the opportunity to compete at regional, national and international levels. Swim meets are offered throughout each season, and both the winter and summer seasons culminate with a Championship meet. Swimmers are encouraged to swim in the fastest championship meets for which they qualify. Those swimmers who achieve the necessary qualifying standards will participate at the Provincial and National Championships.

Along with the DYNAMO website, this handbook is one of the mediums we use to educate and inform parents and swimmers.  Please take the time to read these policies and become familiar with them.

"Play So You Can Be Serious.”

-Aristotle

OBJECTIVES OF YOUTH

SPORTS PROGRAMS

1.  To develop motor skills and sport fundamentals.

2.  To teach children how to cooperate.

3.  To develop a sense of achievement leading to positive self-esteem 

4   To develop interest in, and a desire to continue participation in sports in

      later years.

5.   To help develop independence through interdependent activities.

6.    To promote and convey the values of society.

7.    To contribute to moral development.

8.    To have fun.

9.    To develop social competencies.

10.  To help bring the family together.

11.  To develop speed, strength, endurance, coordination, flexibility and

agility.

12. To develop leadership skills.

13.  To develop self-reliance and emotional stability by learning to make

decisions and accept responsibilities.

14.  To teach sportsmanship.

15.  To develop initiative.

16.  To teach children how to compete.

17.  To teach goal setting and goal achievement.

18.  To teach life lessons through the sport of swimming.

SWIMMING IS A GOOD CHOICE

Sports are supposed to be good for kids.  In theory, a sport should build strong bodies, not tear them down. It should promote sportsmanship, self-discipline, self-esteem, and perseverance.  Unfortunately, not all sports live up to these ideals; swimming, however, does it quite well.

According to many authors of articles on sports for children, the fact that swimming uniquely develops the cardiovascular system to the maximum makes it an ideal sport for children since an efficient cardiovascular system is the key to long-life health.  This is in addition to the fact that children run so little risk of injury in swimming.  Swimming is rated as a "most desirable" sport in insurance company premiums.

Swimming is a sport in the true sense of the word.  It is a pursuit of striving for excellence.  Its very nature demands self-discipline and great strength of purpose.  There can be no teammates or bad luck to blame in swimming.  There is only you, the water and the watch, and the watch never lies.  Swimmers, more than most, learn early on the relationship between work and results.  Exceptional size and ability are soon overshadowed by hard work.

 TEN BASICS OF

DYNAMO SWIMMING

1.         LEAVE THE COACHING TO THE COACHES

The coaching staff wants every swimmer to become the best swimmer he/she can be.  The DYNAMO SWIM CLUB has taken the responsibility of hiring coaches that have the swimmers best interests in mind.  Please give them the respect and "space" they need to do their job effectively. 

2.         BE SUPPORTIVE OF THE COACHING STAFF

A good relationship between a swimmer and coach is imperative to positive results.  When parent's conflicting opinions interfere with this relationship, it makes the road a little rockier.  If there are conflicts of opinion, please take it up with the coach at an appropriate time.

3.         CODE OF SILENCE

When the coaches are in the process of running a practice, they ask that parents not speak with them or the swimmers, as this is disruptive to the practice session.  Unless there is an emergency, please wait until the end of practice to strike up a conversation.

4.         PARENTS AS SPECTATORS

As a parent of a swimmer, the best role you can play is #1 fan and supporter.  Parents are more than welcome to watch their children practice but we do require that all parents stay off the deck unless there is an emergency.

5.         "WE ARE HERE TO SWIM"

Inappropriate behaviour from one swimmer detracts from the quality of practice for all other swimmers.  We will ensure a safe training environment and do what we can to make swimming a good character developing activity.  Please be responsible for your child’s behaviour before and after practice.

6.         ENCOURAGE BUT DON’T PUSH

When swimmers hit a certain point in their swimming career, everything seems to come together.  Coaches are alert to this and recognize it almost immediately.  However, many of these sudden successes are merely stepping stones of a long path of work, swim, and more work.  We encourage parents to be alert to age grouping conquest by not getting too over-excited or catching "Olympic Dramatis" every time your swimmer wins.  Support and encourage your swimmer, but don't emphasize that Olympic goal too prematurely.

7.         PLATEAUS

Swimmers are often observed to improve steadily for a period of time and then reach a point where improvement in performance does not come as easily as it once did.  Coaches refer to this as "hitting a plateau".  This is usually not an easy time for a swimmer, but with patience, motivation, encouragement, rest periods, etc., the swimmer seems to bounce back when they are good and ready.  This happens to swimmers often and coaches recognize this, shrug it off and wait for a better day.

8.         "A DIAMOND IS A HUNK OF COAL THAT STUCK WITH IT"

Many of today's elite swimmers didn't start out that way.  At the very beginning, many of them didn't show much potential.  However, after years of training, dedication and hard work they grew to become the elite swimmers they are today.  Often swimmers who rise too quickly face more hardships than those swimmers who progress steadily.  Many things in life take time and swimming is no exception.

9.         “GROW WITH THE PROGRAM”

Our program is structured to provide for swimmers of varying levels of ability and effort.  The degree of attention, time and financial commitment grows for swimmers as they near the top levels of training with the club.  Because of their accomplishments, they demand more coaching time, need more counselling and require more training hours.  We cannot expect a beginner to endure what senior level swimmers do.  As each swimmer improves, he/she will be entitled to more.

10.       HARD WORK IS ITS OWN REWARD

With DYNAMO SWIM CLUB, our swimmers get a healthy dose of training.  We will praise honest efforts and good sportsmanship.  We ask a lot of our swimmers and expect them to make sacrifices and show the desire necessary to continually improve and become the best they can be.

TEAM STRUCTURE

The Dynamo Swim Club is divided into four training groups. These groups are designed so that swimmers with similar abilities and goals are practicing together.  Swimmers who are willing to make a strong and consistent commitment will realize their goals and be nurtured in a year-round, positive team environment.  Coaches reserve the authority to demote or promote a swimmer that does or does not meet the specific criteria.

Programs                                    

Summer Swimmer

This program is designed for swimmers who want to maintain their summer swimmer status.  The program teaches the most efficient stroke technique in all four strokes, starts, turns, race strategies, and more.  An excellent opportunity for swimmers to improve their skills, stays in shape, in the winter. This program consists of 1or 2 practices/week .                                              

I Can Swim

I Can Swim is a new program for achieving personal excellence in swimming.  Created by Swimming/Natation Canada (SNC) and developed for all ages and abilities, I Can Swim encourages learning at an individual pace. This program consist of 2 practices per week..

 Swimming is a Skill for Life

This program takes a swimmer from learning to float, breath control, and other essential skills needed to develop efficiency in all four strokes:  Freestyle, Backstroke, Breast Stroke, and Butterfly.                                                                                         

Everyone, including swimmers with disabilities, can learn how to enjoy the sport of swimming. This program consists of 3 practices/week.

I Can Swim Fast

This is the next step in the program for the development of the young swimmer.  Freestyle, Backstroke, Breaststroke, and Butterfly skills are further developed and refined.  Starts and Turns are also developed. This program consists of up to 4 practices every week.                                

Regional Age Group

This program is designed for swimmers ages 10 and under who have completed the “I Can Swim Fast Program” and are ready to continue their development in the sport of competitive swimming.  This program consists of   5-6 practices per week.    

Regional Championship Group

This program is designed for swimmers ages 12 and under who have attained A or AA times and wish to compete in the Regional Championship and continue their development in the competitive swimming. This program consists of up to 6 practices per week.                                                                          

Provincial Age Group

This program is designed to develop the skills needed for a competitive swimmer to compete at the regional and provincial level, with the primary objective being Provincial AAA qualification.  The focus of the group is to continue developing a training base, and skills acquisition, as well as encourage a commitment to and an education about the sport.  This group consists of swimmers 11 - 14 years in age and maturity.  The members of the Provincial Age Group compete at regional and provincial level and may compete outside of the province.  This program has 7 practices per week.                      

Youth / Junior National Group

This program is designed to develop swimmers at a national and international level.  The focus at this level is:

• Management of life-skills (i.e.. school, sleep/rest, nutrition, health, home life, leisure life.)
• Develop skills in sport psychology, (i.e.. relaxation techniques, mental rehearsal, stress management.)

The participant must demonstrate dedication to this level of swimming.  This program has 8  practices per week.                                                       

Masters / Triathlons / Open Water

This program is for adult swimming enthusiasts who want to learn to swim, improve their stroke technique, starts and turns.  Learning a proper technique, training and stroke efficiency is the focus of this group with the priority on fun and camaraderie.  Some of the athletes compete at Masters Swim Meets (ages 20 and up), proving that competitive swimming can be enjoyed by people of all ages.                                          

COSTS

Monthly fees are established at the minimum amount necessary to cover coaching salaries, pool rental and equipment, swim meet expenses, and other pool-related expenses.  Fees are payable on the first of each month.  Bills are distributed to members at the beginning of each month or upon request at any time.  Fees do not include SWIM BC registration, membership, fundraising, insurance, goggles, caps, bathing suit, and team apparel and meet fees.  Team apparel can be purchased through our in-house vendor.  The training fee structure is summarized below: DYNAMO IS THE ONLY SWIMMING CLUB OFFERING THE BEST DEAL FOR ALL SKILL LEVELS WITH A “LOWEST PRICE” GUARANTEE.

THE MORE YOU SWIM, THE LESS YOU PAY!

FUNDRAISING:  Is mandatory by all club members.  A total fee of $500.00 per family per season is required.  Dynamo offers a Family Participation Program to earn same funds back (15 hours volunteering work or $100.00).  Further details will be available before registration.

MEMBERSHIP: $100.00 per family per season, due at the registration.

SWIM BC /INSURANCE: minimum $ 18.00 per swimmer per season and is Due  at  registration.

 NEWSSLETTER: $30.00 per family per season. Due at  registration.

MEET FEES: 3 post-dated checks of $50.00 per athlete per season.

PRACTICE SESSIONS

Dynamo Swim Club conducts training sessions at Simon Fraser University, Bonsor and C.G.Brown swimming pools.  The monthly practice schedules are conveniently located on our website!  Practice is rarely cancelled due to inclement pool closed for maintenance etc., and advanced notice will be given if practice is cancelled for any other reason, either by telephone, e-mail, or through updates and changes to the website.

The coaching staff would like to stress the importance of attending practice faithfully and coming to the pool with a positive attitude.  What a swimmer receives from the club depends on what he/she is willing to give.  Attending practice and spending long hours in the pool are only the first step.  What is done during the training session is what makes the difference between being a mediocre swimmer and being an elite swimmer.  There is a direct correlation between attending practice, working hard and improvement.  There are very few secrets to becoming a good swimmer and there is only so much "magic" a coach can perform with a swimmer that does not attend practice or give an honest effort.

Throughout the year, Dynamo offers a convenient practice schedule for all swimmers.  It is for the benefit of the swimmer, and it is the swimmer's choice to take advantage of this generous scheduling.  There is an attendance policy for the club and we strongly encourage all swimmers to attend as many practices as possible in order to achieve their goals.  At the coaching staff's request, please make an honest effort to show up to practice on time.  Showing up after practice has begun is distracting and disruptive to coaches and fellow swimmers.

REGISTRATION SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 13th,2008 AT BONSOR POOL IN METROTOWN 5:00-7:00PM.

 ONGOING

TEL: 778-866-6604

SNC, SWIMBC & MEETS

 SWIMMING NATATION CANADA is the governing body for Swimming in Canada; SWIM BC is the governing body for competitive swimming in British Columbia. SNC and Swim BC provide competition for swimmers of all ages, levels and abilities at the regional, national and international levels. Meets are offered throughout the winter and summer seasons, and both seasons culminate with a Championship meet. In order to swim in meets, a swimmer must be a registered member of SWIM BC.  This registration provides insurance coverage for swimmers at meets and practices.  Registration forms are readily available at the pool. SNC is recognized as the highest level of competition available at the amateur level for individuals. 

 Meets are conveniently held on weekends, and meet locations are usually within a 1/2hour of the Lower Mainland area, as well as other areas of province.  The Dynamo swimmers may travel to some USA Swimming meets outside the province each season.  Swimmers are grouped by age for competitions, and the age group a swimmer competes in is determined by their age the day the meet begins.  Age groupings are as follows: 8/Under, 9/10, 11/12, 13/14, 15/Over, Senior.  Fees charged by the host team will range from $3-4 per event per swimmer.  A schedule of meets will be available at the beginning of each season and for each meet a swimmer enters, he/she will be responsible for the meet entry fees.  The majority of our meets are swum in short course 25-meter pool, but the swimmers may travel to compete in long course meter venues during the summer season.

The coaching staff decides in which meets the team will compete.   All swimmers are encouraged to attend all meets that Dynamo participate in, unless told otherwise by the coaches.  At the end of the season, Swim BC offers championship meets for all swimmers of varying levels of ability. There are qualification standards for Provincial Championship meets.  A swimmer is encouraged to swim in the fastest championship meet in which he/she qualifies. 

 Dynamo will be hosting three (1) Swimming meets this year.  These meets generate revenue for the team and help curb the cost of training fees.  Parental involvement is vital and necessary to provide a quality meet that will run smoothly and efficiently.  Our meets have been an overwhelming success in past years; we would like to keep this tradition alive.

TEAM AWARDS

At the conclusion of the season, Dynamo gives each active swimmer a carefully selected useful team gift.  Past gifts have included team logo knit caps and team towels.  

Dynamo Swim Club will hold an annual banquet this October.  At this banquet, each and every swimmer is awarded a Certificate of Recognition that summarizes personal best times achieved in each individual event during the course of the season.   At the same time, each graduating Swimmer is individually recognized for their respective contributions to the team. 

In addition, the “The Most Improved Swimmer Award” is an honour bestowed upon that swimmer who most exemplifies leadership and dedication to the sport of swimming and the Dynamo Swim Club.  The Award is given each year to the swimmer who best exemplifies the qualities of the complete swimmer:  team spirit, team involvement, sportsmanship, community involvement, efforts put into assigned tasks such as practice and school work, willingness to help others, and putting others before themselves.

The Dynamo Swim Club also awards the best swimmer of the season for each age group, girls and boys with a trophy.

The contact information for DYNAMO Head Coach and Board of Directors is conveniently located on the team Website!  If there are specific questions or concerns for the Head Coach, parents should either contact the coach via e-mail or drop a note in the DYNAMO box at the pool so that an appointment may be made to discuss the issue at hand.  The Head Coach conveniently has office hours scheduled at the pool every Monday for one hour immediately prior to the first practice session of the day.  Other times may be negotiable.                                                          

CONTACT INFORMATION DYNAMO BOARD OF DIRECTORS 2007-2008

DYNAMO SWIM CLUB

VISION    STATEMENT

To provide the opportunity for every individual involved in the sport of swimming to reach his her maximal potential in fitness and excellence.

MISSION   STATEMENT

*  Teach swimming lessons for learning the competitive swimming for all 

*  To strive for personal excellence and achievement.

*  Provide quality aquatic programs for a lifetime of participation

                                                "MENS SANA IN CORPORE SANO"

                                                 "HEALTHY MIND IN HEALTHY BODY"

History and Philosophy

Lidia Lucaciu  Menzies who is the Director of swimming of swimming formed the Dynamo Swim Club in 1998 in Burnaby. Dynamo Swim Club is the only year round competitive swim club in Burnaby who offers a swimming school program with lessons for all ages and develop a competitive excellence, from the developmental level to world-class competition. Everyone interested in swimming can find a place in the club programs to enjoy this wonderful sport. From learning to swim or improve the technique in all for strokes to swim and compete in a age group, masters, triathlon, iron man competition or swim just for fitness Dynamo is committed to offer a high quality programs aim to provide for all the best experience possible. In doing so, we hope to install healthy life style habits, love for sport, and specially for swimming, self-discipline, leadership and sportsmanship in all the athletes who swim with us.

The Dynamo Swim Club is operated as non-profit society, with income received from swimming lessons, monthly fees and various fundraising activities. The money is spending on pool rental, coaching salaries and travel.

The club operates in Burnaby at Simon Fraser University, Bonsor  and C.G.Brown. swimming pools.

The administration of the club shall be made by the Executive Committee of the club, and with advises and collaboration of the Board of Directors.

The only roll and responsibility for existence of DYNAMO SWIM CLUB is: to raise funds, acquiring sanction, train officials for swim meets. 

The Executive Committee of the club includes the President, Vice-President, and Tresurer.

The president shall be the Chief Executive Officer of the Society and shall call and, if present, preside all the meetings of the Society, of the Board of Directors and of Executive Committee. He shall sign all instruments, which require his signature and shall perform all other duties incident to the office. He shall have such other powers and the Executive Committee of the club may assign duties as to him from time to time. He shall be the official spokesman for the Society and the official representative when possible. He shall be the ex-officio member of all committees. He must be a member of the Board of Directors and hold one other job.

Vice President shall assist the President. He shall be vested with all the power and shall perform all the duties of the President in his absence or inability to act. He must be a member of the Board of Directors and hold one other job.

Treasurer shall make all the financial arrangements for the Society as directed by the Executive Committee, and shall be the custodian of the funds of the Society. He shall make expenditures only as directed by the Executive Committee and shall sign all cheques. He shall be responsible for proper books of account and banking records of the Society, and shall prepare and file a report for each meeting of Executive Committee and annual report for Annual Meeting. He shall be responsible for arranging the Annual Financial Review. Must be a member of the Board of Directors.

The Executive Committee of the club shall make all the decisions of any matter concerning all the areas of club.

For the final decision in any matter the Executive Committee of the club must have the approval of the Director of Swimming

The Board of Directors is composed of 6 sitting Directors.

Each Board seat will be responsible for certain areas of club administrative responsibility under their title.

1.Director of Swimming- hire the staff, He/She shall be responsible for seeing that insurance policies, are kept in good standing. He/She shall be responsible for acquiring, with the Board of Directors sanction, training and aquatic facilities for the Society’s activities. He/She shall be responsible for seeing that these Bylaws are followed.

2.President- all the duties describe above, and scheduling and chairing Board meeting, planning chair, meet bids, team manager, and entries, signing of coaching Contracts with the Director of Swimming approval, officials training and development, officials meet assignment,

3.Vice-President- all the duties describe above and, recruit and mange group reps, pool contracts, meets, travel, billet training and development, Special Events Coordinator; Swimathon, end-of-season banquet, social activities

4.Treasurer- statements, billings, payables, member’s accounts, equipment, mail-out, payroll and all describe above.

5.Secretary/Registrar- minutes, club file, phatocopyng, correspondence, manage and organize registration, maintain current registration lists for all groups, handbooks, telephone list.

6.Corporate Fundraising/Public Relations- rise funds and/or product through corporate connections, manage regular monthly fundraising schemes, press releases, publicity, recruting, newsletter boards, trophy case, historian

Minimum Position Requirement

A demonstrated  interest in the club’s goals and objectives.

Specific experience, interest and/or knowledge in at least one area of Board

Operation: administration, finance, public relation, fundraising, event planning and execution, meet management, parent education, officials` education and development.

Willingness to attend all Board meetings, take responsibility for one club operation and participate in appropriate club activities.

Willingness to participate in Board orientation and training activities and adhere to Board duties and responsibilities as outlined in the club’s job descriptions and By-laws.

The board of directors of Dynamo Swim Club meet once a month, and all are welcome to attend. Meetings are normally on the first Saturday of the month and the date is posted in the club newsletter and posted at the pools or in the voice mail.

The Dynamo Swim Club has two General Meeting per year, usually October and June. All the club members are requested to attend both meetings. Our club plans for the year are presented in the fall. The following years budget is presented and a new Board of Directors is elected. Any new policies are also presented then.

If you wish to address the Board, you may do so any time, provided you contact the President and ask to be placed on the agenda for that particular meeting.

In the event of winding up or dissolution of the society, the remaining assets after payment of all debts and liabilities shall be turned over to a recognized charitable organization in the province of British Columbia  as directed by the members. This provision is unalterable.

THE MAIN PROGRAMMS OF THE CLUB

1. Swimming School:  Teaching swimming for recreation and performance

                                    All ages and levels. Using the National program "I can                                                                swim” Canada.

2.Performance Swimming: Athlete Development Programs

3.Adults swimming programs. Masters, Triathlon, Ironman, Open Water etc.

Swim Meets and the Parent's Role

Swim meet are usually the highlight of each month for the swimmer as they final1y get to apply the skills that have been working on everyday, have some fun, meet new friends and race. Swim meets can't happen without the parents though, from little mini-meets to provincial championships and from the timer to the referee, every role needs to be filled. The following is a summary and description as to what help is needed at meets, what each role is and a description of what the official’s clinics are about.

The Meets

Over the course of the season parents will be asked to help out at swim meets in two different roles

Volunteer roles.

1. DYNAMO hosted meets

These meets include our DYNAMO Invitational on May 13/14, 2006 and the meets our swimmers compete.

These are the meets that you earn your Volunteer Credits back with. Parental

Involvement from everyone is key to running a successful meet.

(DYNAMO Invitational) we need help from all families if they

Have swimmers in the meet or not. There are many roles to be filled such as timers (one session of timing is usually about 3-4 hours), food coordinators or workers, officiating (if you have taken the appropriate clinics), concession coordinators or workers and other smaller areas. By helping out at our meets and taking an official’s clinic most families can probably work off all or most of their volunteer points with that help alone.

2. Non-DYNAMO Regional Meets

These are meets located in the lower mainland that your swimmer may be attending. This help is not a part of the Volunteer Credits program, but is a role we would like to see each family of a regiona11evel or higher swimmer takes an active role in. Most clubs will ask for help from participating clubs to help with timing or officiating at their hosted meets to fill in any gaps that they could not fill within their own club (as we will also ask help from other clubs at our met). Over the course of the year we would like to see all families try and help out at least twice at these local meets that your children attend.

Timing for one session (approx 4 hours) is all you would have to commit for at a meet, and you get the best seat in the house and free food out of it as well. What we will do this year for these local area meets is add a spot on the consent form that the parent can check off if they are available to help out for a session. This will save the officials coordinator having to phone every family for each meet and scrape together help. Again if each family could find at least two or three times over the course of the season it would help the whole region out.

The Roles

Here is a list and description of the basic officiating roles needed at a swim meet: Timers:

 Timers are responsible for getting the time for the swimmer. The job would entail either using a stopwatch and manually timing the swimmer or if there is electronic timing pushing a plunger to stop the backup system when the swimmer touches. When signing up as a timer you would sign up for a specific session (sessions are usually 3-5 hours long and there would be between 1-6 sessions in a meet). There is no qualifications to be a timer, although there is a clinic available for it.

Chief Timer: The chief timer is a designated timer who is not assigned a lane, but would have a stopwatch running each race and would be available to back up a lane in case one of the lane timers did not have a watch running that race.

Marshalling: The marshaller is the person at the meet who would help organize the swimmers before their races. For younger swimmers the marshall may actively group the swimmers into their heats and line them up before their races.

Clerk of Course: The clerk of course would be the person who would accept any scratches or late entries to the meet and notify the referee of any changes.

Stroke & Turn: Stroke and turn officials are responsible for making sure the swimmers do not make any stroke infractions. Usually there are about 4-8 stroke and turn officials working each session of the meet. You do need to take the stroke and turn clinic to work this job.

Starter: The starter is the person who shoots the starting gun to signal the beginning of the race. A clinic needs to be completed before performing this job.

Referee: The referee is the offical who is in charge of the session. The referee will signal the starter that the race is ready to begin and is the person that stroke and turn officials report to in case of any disqualifications. This is a senior position and completion of all clinics must be fulfilled before starting this position.

The Clinics

Two or three times a year clinics will be offered to parents somewhere in the lower mainland.

Every family should try and take one clinic a season to upgrade their qualifications, learn a new skill, and earn some Parent Participation points. There are five levels of certification you can go through.

 Level 1: Level 1 clinic consist of the timing and marshalling components.

Level 2: Level 2 clinics consist of chief timer, clerk of course, starter and stroke & turn

Level 3: Once you have completed all the level and 2 clinics you become a Level 3 official.

Level 4: Once you have taken the referee clinic and have the qualification to referee you is a Level 4 official.

Level 5: You become a Level 5 official once you have worked a certain number and level of swim meets.