• How do I join the team?
• Registration is typically held in April at the Towamencin Municipal Center.  Check the team website, www.towamencinswimteam.org or the township website for dates and times.  If you miss the formal registration, a $25 late registration fee will be charged.
• New families should allow themselves 1 hour total to do signup, volunteering and suit/sweats purchasing at registration.  It is recommended that you bring your calendar, as you will be expected to commit to various volunteer obligations.  You will also need to bring 5 to 6 checks or cash because many of the various fees must be paid for separately.  Insurance information is also required for registration.
• If you child will be purchasing a team swimsuit or sweatsuit, these must be ordered at registration, so it is recommended that your child accompany you to one of the sign-ups for proper sizing. 
• Am I required to purchase a team swim suit?
• No, the purchase of a team suit is optional.  They are available for order at registration.  Anyone requiring a team suit after registration will be responsible for obtaining it on their own.
• How are the registration fees used?
• The fees collected at registration cover the team's registration into the Bux-Mont League, team insurance, a portion of the coaches salary (with the size of our team, Beth wanted more coaches so we pay the salary of 1 1/2 coaches), team expenses (copies made for registration, etc), pizza and drinks for the beginning party and end of year party, team awards (stars, ribbons, trophies for Most Improved and Most Valuable) and team gift.  As needed, pool supplies are replaced (fins, lane lines, stopwatches).  We also recognize each graduating senior for his/her dedication to the team over the years with a balloon bouquet, an engraved mug, and flowers for the parents. We also recognize the coaches with a present at the end of the season.
• What is the volunteer fee?
• At registration a $100 volunteer fee will be collected from each participating family.  Your check will be returned at the Awards Night Party if you have completed all of your volunteer obligations.  If you have any questions, please see any member of the board for clarification.
• What are the volunteer opportunities?
• Anyone who has been to even one swim meet knows that it takes much effort on the part of parent volunteers to make it happen. Approximately 28 parent volunteers are needed for each away meet and at least 48 volunteers for each home meet as timers, judges, scorers, team snack helpers, etc. The number for Away meets, however, will vary depending on size of pool and whether extra help may be needed in the Team area, etc.
• We will be looking for help from every family during the course of the season, and we are sure that every parent can find a meet job that he/she enjoys doing. A description of the meet jobs is provided below:
• 50/50:
• This is a great way to meet everyone at the meet. This is another club fundraiser at home meets. You sell the lottery tickets at the start of diving until approximately 8 pm., and a drawing is held toward the end. The winner gets half of the money collected, and the team or a charity gets the other half.
• Announcer:
• This is a great job for someone with a strong voice and an ability to correctly pronounce names. You announce the names of the swimmers in each event, and work with the Starter/Referee to keep the meet moving quickly and smoothly.
• Back-up Timer:
• Time each race and be available to step into a particular lane if one of the timers misses the start.
• Computer:
• This job is for someone who likes computers and is willing to put in a little extra time preparing reports for the coaches. This person also sits at the scorers’ table and enters times of swimmers into ”Meet Manager” (program used to manage swimmers’ times, etc.) This job requires a couple sessions of on-the-job training, which your team leaders will be very happy to arrange.
• Finish Judge:
• These judges stand at the end of pool and observe the end of the race. They help decide the order in which the swimmers finished the event (i.e., who won). No technical knowledge of swimming is required, but it does require a keen ability to focus your attention for close races. (Training or shadowing is recommended and happily provided)
• Meet Director:
• Insure that equipment and supplies necessary to run the meet are available, create a work schedule, insure that all persons assigned to jobs are present and make replacements as necessary. Distribute drinks to meet workers, collect supplies equipment at the end of the meet.
• Ready Bench:
• This person helps the coaches find the swimmers scheduled for upcoming events and get them psyched up for their swim.
• Relay Starts Judge:
• These judges are available during relays. More eyes are needed during these events.
• Runner:
• Distribute cards to the timers before each event, after each race, the runner collects the times from the timers in each lane, along with finish sheet and takes them to the scoring table. You stay on the move throughout the meet, so it's great exercise.
• Scoring Table:
• Scorers from each team record the results following each race, and track the team scores. There can be some pressure at the table, and the job requires experience. The scorekeepers are critical to the success of the meet, and they are often the only ones who know which team is winning the meet. The league runs clinics to train new scoring table workers, and your team leaders will also be very happy to show you the ropes and have you apprentice for this essential job.
• Starter/Referee:
• This is the most technically demanding job. The Starter/Ref runs the events in the meet by ensuring that the swimmers start simultaneously and oversees all the other meet officials. This is a leadership position that requires experience and a take-charge personality. It is up to the Starter to keep the meet moving.
• Stroke & Turn Judge:
• These judges determine whether a swimmer touched the end of the pool during a turn and whether the technical aspects of the swimming stroke were legal. It requires knowledge of the US Swimming stroke regulations, and a willingness to fairly disqualify swimmers when appropriate. Those who are interested in this job usually shadow someone who has done it before. There is a training program available from the league.  The league holds a class every year at the high school, sometime in June for both judging and starter referee. Beyond that you may shadow a judge for a season and purchase a rulebook.
• Team Snack:
• Work with Team Snack Coordinator to set up snack area during relays at the end of the meet, so they are ready to serve immediately following the last event. Remain at the table to maintain order as swimmers, receive their snack.
• Timer:
• This is the most popular meet job among both new and experienced swim parents. You use a stopwatch to time the swimmer in your assigned lane. There are typically three timers per lane, and the median of the times is used as the official time.
• Take Down:
• Helps clean up the area and take down equipment. Also collects any items left behind by swimmers and places them in the lost and found.
• Additionally, there are volunteer opportunities at the triathlon team store, and bake table.
• What is the Journey for Joann?
• The Journey for Joann Triathlon is a team sponsored fundraiser which raises money for the Towamencin Community Wellness Foundation and the team.  It is a mini triathlon named after Joann McConnell former Parent President, Volunteer, and Team Mom who dedicated her time and efforts to the betterment of the Towamencin Swim Team.  All team families are expected to help with the running and organization of this fundraiser.
• What kind of social events are associated with the team?
• The team has a Kick-Off Pizza/Pool party at the beginning of the season, a Team Awards Night, and a Season “Wrap-Up” Pizza/Pool party. 
• What is the team store and how often is it open?
• The team store is where parents can buy practice suits, goggles, caps and TST spirit wear.  It is open during all home meets and will be open during about 3 summer morning swimming practices.
• What are the spirit nights?
• Towamencin has a spirit committee.  The committee selects a different theme for each meet and then the children are encouraged to dress for the theme at the meet.  For example, if it were Hawaiian night, many of the children (and parents) show up in Hawaiian shirts, grass skirts, leis, etc.  The theme will be advertised at practices.
• How does my child earn stars?
• Every time a child betters their time, they earn a star.  Many of the children purchase team sweatsuits and then their parents attach the stars to the sweatshirt.  These stars are to reward children for personal improvements.
• When are ribbons awarded?
• For every heat of every event, ribbons are awarded to those children who place 1st, 2nd, and 3rd.
• How can I contact the coach?
• Parents can contact the coach through written notes or email coachbeth1@verizon.net.

P R A C T I C E

• When are the practices?
• Swim/dive team practice begins in late May and the season ends in early August.  The practices in late May and early June are held after school in the late afternoon.  At the conclusion of the North Penn School District school year, practices move to the morning, with various practices divided by age group running from 7:30am – 10:45am.
• When the weather is bad, how do I find out if practice is cancelled?
• Practice usually runs rain or shine.  If there is thunder or lightning or extreme cold, you can check the web site if practice is on.
• What do the coaches expect of the children at practice?
• The coaches expect children to be able to listen to directions and give a good effort at each practice.  They expect the child to be cooperative and have a genuine desire to be there.  They also expect children to be on time and ready to go. 
• What do the coaches expect of the parents at practices?
• The coaches expect parents to have their children to practice on time.  Once practice has started, the parents are expected to stay away from the competition pool up by the pavilion.  They are expected to not interrupt practice or try to “coach” the child themselves from the sidelines.
• Are the children expected to attend every practice?
• Children are expected to be at the assigned practice 5 days a week.  There will be an occasion when it is necessary to miss and this should be communicated to the coaches ahead of time.  Swimming is an endurance sport and it is important that they are there everyday in order to achieve success. 

M E E T S

• What are Time Trials?
• Time Trials are typically held in mid to late June, before the first meet.  Time Trials is a mandatory event!  At time trials, each child will be asked to bring a 3 ½” x 5” index card with all of their strokes written on it along with their name (freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke, butterfly).  During the time trials, each child will swim each of the events and be timed.  These times are recorded and used by the coaches to create the lineups for the meets and to track improvements of individual children.
• When are the meets?
• Meets are typically held on Tuesday and Thursday evenings through the months of June and July.  The meets consist of two portions: diving and swimming.  The diving portion is held first with the swim portion following.
• Where are the meets held?
• Home meets are held at the Towamencin Community Pool.  Away meets are held at the opposing team’s pool.  Directions to the away pools can be found on the TST website.
• What if my child is unable to attend a meet?
• Provide a note about vacations ASAP in the coaches’ box!  (including champs)
• Meet box – fill out card as soon as you know you will miss a meet and put in the meet box!
• When the weather is bad, how do I find out if the meet is cancelled?
• Meets usually run rain or shine.  You should go to the facility no matter what and the team may try to wait out the storm.
• What happens if it starts to storm in the middle of the meet?
• If the weather turns bad and there is thunder and lightning, the coaches of the teams will make a decision to stop the meet.  Parents should gather their children and proceed to your car where you will wait for a coach or official to give further instruction.  If the weather clears, the meet will resume where it left off.  If the weather continues to be bad, the coaches/officials will make a decision to stop the meet and reschedule at a later date. 
• How many events are there?
• There are 50 swimming events and 4 diving events.
• How is a meet scored?
• There are a possible 466 points to be won in a swim meet.  They are broken down in the following way:
• Diving competition – 36 points - 9 points each for Jr. Girls, Jr. Boys, Sr. Girls, and Sr. Boys - 5 points for first place, 3 points for second place, and 1 point for third place
• Swimming - Relays – 70 points; the winning team in a relay gets 7 points.  No other points awarded.  Individual events – 360 points - 5 points for first place, 3 points for second place, and 1 point for third place
• Note:  A team cannot sweep an event as long is there is a person from the opposite team competing.  In other words, if Towamencin has three swimmers or divers finished first, second, and third in an event, but an opposing team had a member finish fourth, the other team is awarded 1 point for third place and Towamencin is awarded 8 points for first and second place. (However we do reward our swimmer who placed third with the correct ribbon in that situation.)
• The first heat of an event is the official heat (the only heat where points are scored).  In case of a tie, points are split (4 each for first and second place or 2 each for second and third place).  The middle four lanes of the relays are the only official relays.  The heats other than the first heat are called exhibition heats.  These times are official times and count toward Champs and personal best times for time improvement stars.
• How are time conversions done between yards and meters?
• The swimming pools in our league are different lengths.  Some are 25 yards and some are 25 meters.
• Fanny Chapman    25 yards 
• Pennridge             25 yards 
• Souderton             25 yards 
• Towamencin         25 yards 
• Hatfield               25 meters 
• Harleysville          25 meters 
• Lansdale              25 meters 
• Nor-Gwyn            25 meters 
• To change a yard time to meters:  Multiply 1.11 x the yard time 
• To change a meter time to yards:  Multiply .901 x the meter time 
• How many events can my child swim in a meet?
• For dual meets and championship meets a competitor is permitted to swim in a maximum of four events including relays and diving events.  A swimmer may swim up in individual and relay events; a diver may dive up an age group in individual events.
• What do I need to send with my child to a meet?
• All children should have goggles and it is very highly recommended that girls wear a swim cap.  Send your swimmers to the meets with extra towels and warm clothes.  When the sun goes down, they get cold after being in the water.  Three or four towels are not excessive.  Also they need something to sit on and put their things on during a meet.  An old blanket, quilt, or sleeping bag works great.  Try to put your child’s name on everything as the Lost & Found grows to be very large by the end of the season.  Please try to feed your child a nutritious meal at least one hour before warm-ups.  No candy or soda should be digested before or during a meet.  Carbohydrates are better.
• Is there an admission fee to the meets?
• No, there is not an admission fee to the meets or championships.  At the invitationals and championship meets, programs and event t-shirts are available for purchase. 
• What are the invitational meets?
• Invitational meets are optional meets that are held throughout the season.  These meets give children an additional opportunity to compete.  The children are able to select which events they would like to compete in so it gives them a greater opportunity to try out their skills.  There are entry fees for these meets.  Ribbons or trophies are awarded at these meets.  Information regarding the meets and the entry deadlines are posted on the team website.  Coaches do not go to all meets so if this is a concern for your child, please check with the head coach to verify if a coach will be present.
• What are odd-age meets?
• The age groups are divided up by even numbers.  Children are in their “up” year when they are the oldest in the age group and tend to have more success.  Odd-age meets are where the age groups are divided up by odd numbers (e.g. 7&under, 9&under, 11&under).  This gives children who are on their down year an opportunity to swim with children their own age or younger. 

G L O S S A R Y

• What are the different strokes?
• Freestyle, Backstroke, Breaststroke, Butterfly
• DQ
• Disqualification.  Your time or place of finish does not count.
• Down Year
• A swimmer in the lower age of his/her age group.  For example a 9 year old in the 10 and under age group.
• Event
• A portion of a meet broken down by stroke, age, gender, and relay type.
• Exhibition Heat
• Any heat in an event after the official heat.  Also called an unofficial heat.  The number of these varies from event to event, meet to meet.
• False Start
• When a swimmer inadvertently leaves the blocks before a heat is started by an official (1 permitted per event, 2nd results in a disqualification).
• Heat
• Portion of the event.
• IM
• Slang for individual medley, an event in which the swimmer uses all four competitive strokes in the following order: butterfly, backstroke, breaststroke, and freestyle.
• Lanelines
• The dividers used to designate the individual lanes.  These are made of individual finned disks strung on a cable, which rotate on a cable when hit by a wave.  The rotating disks dissipate surface tension waves in a competitive pool.
• Lap
• The point from one side of the pool to the other (25 yards or meters).
• Leg
• A portion, normally one-quarter, of an individual event or relay event.
• Medley Relay
• An event in which the swimmers use all four competitive strokes in the following order: backstroke, breaststroke, butterfly, and freestyle.
• Official
• A judge on the deck of the pool.  Various judges watch the swimmers strokes, turns, or finishes and are timers.
• Official Heat
• The first heat in an event.
• Relay
• An event in which 4 children swim individual legs of the race.
• Seeding
• The method of placing swimmers in lanes in order of their entry times.
• Split
•  A swimmer’s intermediate time in a race.  Splits are registered every 25 yards or meters (depending upon the pool) and are used to determine if a swimmer is on record pace.
• Time Trials
• A “swim meet” before the season starts allowing the coach to get times for the swimmers.
• Warm-up
• Used by the swimmer before the race to get their muscles loose and ready to race.
• My child loves swimming.  Where can they swim in the winter?
• There are many quality swimming programs in the area during the winter.  Some of them include:  North Penn Aquatic Club, Methacton Aquatic Club, and the North Penn YMCA. 

Coach’s Notes

•  The Coaches for 2011
• Beth McConnell
• 23^nd year as head coach of TST
• 8 years as NPAC coach
• 2 years as MAC coach
• 4 years as MHS head coach
• 7 years assistant high school coach
• Current NPHS boys assistant coach
• Sarah Miller
• 7^th year assistant coach
• Graduated from Plymouth Whitemarsh HS
• Graduated in Education from West Chester U.
• Dawn Linde
• 6^th year as assistant swimming coach
• 1 year as NP YMCA head coach
• 3 years MAC girls head coach
• 1 year NPAC assistant coach
• Megan Sisko
• 4^th year assistant coach
• Graduated NP
• Graduated Exercise Sci. University of Pittsburgh
• Pete Schmidley
• 3^rd year assistant coach
• Graduated NP
• Senior at Montgomery County CC
• Phil Letcavage
• 1^st year assistant coach
• Graduated LaSalle High School
• Freshman at West Chester University
• Jan Ikeda
• 1^st year assistant coach
• Senior North Penn High School
• Sue McDonald
• 11^th year as diving coach
• NPHS diving coach
• NPAC diving coach
• Kathleen Schoenberger
• 5^th year diving coach
• Graduated Lansdale Catholic HS
• Graduated from West Chester University
• Michael Kohler
• 1^st Year Diving Coach
• Freshman at Temple University
• GOAL
• The main purpose of this team and program is for the children to learn skills and team concepts while having fun.  However, this is a competitive swim league and winning will be a factor.  We will do the best we can.*** Swim team is a lot of work!  Be sure this is what your child wants, NOT you!
•  PRACTICES
• Be on time!
• Go to proper practice (unless prior approval and big problem)
• Must be there every day!
• Parents stay out in the pavilion area! (Less distractions for coaches and swimmers!)  Please stay away from upper pools when no guards are up there!
• If you need to speak to the coaches, please wait until after practice or write a note and place it in the coaches’ box located by the family folders each day.  A written note will be responded to promptly each day and allow the coaches to concentrate on coaching during practice.  (Unless it is an emergency.)
• After practice, children are your responsibility!
• BEHAVIOR
• If child is uncooperative (walking, won’t get in, not listening, goofing around):
• Get 1 warning
• Swimmer/Diver asked to get out and sit on bleachers until parent
• Arrives and is informed (If walk or ride bike, I will call!)
• If thrown out, they will not swim in next meet.
• If thrown out 3 times, dismissed from the team!
• MEETS
• Notes about vacations ASAP!  (including champs)
• Meet box – fill out card as soon as you know you will miss a meet even after note!
• Days of Meets
• NO POOL!!!!  (Sun makes you tired!)
• Eat a good dinner with carbohydrates – pasta, pancakes, etc. (no chocolate or sugar)
• Meets:
• Must be on time!  (there for diving)
• ** If you can’t get there find a ride for them.  Warm-up is very important!!!!
• May bring small quiet games and cards for 1-2 players 
• (No small pieces or expensive things) 
• Unfortunately things are stolen and lost.
• No FOOD – drinks in small containers and fruit or vegetables are acceptable.  That’s All!!!  (Causes cramps and creates a lot of trash!) 
• Kids must stay in team area; discourage them from coming to you!
• You are expected to stay until the end.  Often very late, so take a nap!
• Encourage good sportsmanship to all swimmers.
• Lineups
• We work on lineups night before or day of meet.
• We try to get everyone in every meet.  Some little ones may only swim a relay.
• Because we are a team and everyone participates, meets take a little longer.
• Must know if not there and cannot leave early!  This really messes up lineups for coaches and other swimmers.
• If not at practice on the day of a meet you need to let me know if they will be at the meet.
• If child wants to swim something, have them write me a note.
• Meet is ALWAYS on unless notified by email or hear cancellation on the radio 1440 WNPV.  We swim in the rain and wait out storms.  It is too hard to reschedule 400 people.
• Parent Behavior:
• Good sportsmanship!
• I am the only one allowed to talk to the officials!!!
• Try very hard NOT to talk to the assistants or me at meets.  We are very busy trying to help your children.
• You set the example for your kids as much as the coaches.
• Stay in proper area.  It does reflect on our entire team when you or your kids break the rules.
• Encourage good sportsmanship.  We work hard on this at Towamencin.  Encourage your children with the other team and our own. 
•  TIME TRIALS
•  All children are expected to be there.  MANDATORY!
•  **IF YOU ARE NOT COMING PLEASE GIVE BETH A NOTE BY THE 10th, 2011!**
• Each child will swim all 4 events except some of the little ones.
• Saturday June 18, 2011  Warm up 7:00 am  Start 7:45 am
• Bring a 3x5 card with name and all 4 strokes listed.***
• Need parent volunteers.  Great chance to practice/learn jobs, and ask questions.
• OTHER MEETS: 
• Strongly encourage you to go to these.  (Extra chance to swim)
• Times are official for champs.
• Always posted on website and forms can be downloaded.
• Coaches are at these meets
• Pennridge Sync or Dive Fun Meet – July 15, 2011 great awards for divers
• Soleco Summer Splash “A” meet  July 9, 2011  --  great awards, deadline soon
• Gator Run  “B” meet  July 16, 2011  --  great awards only “B,C” swimmers
• Fanny Fest Odd Age Meet July 10, 2011  -- great awards any one can participate
• NPAC Trophy Meet   July 9, 2011  --  great awards, competitive meet
• SunSplash Diving Invitational July 16 and 17, 2011 – Fun and great awards
•  B MEETS:
• Opportunity to swim anything you choose.  Informal meet
• Like to have these but need people to go and parents to work.
• Unsure of date but will post it and will try to set up at least one.
• Meet only intended for swimmers with B times or slower. 
• Want at least 40 –50 swimmers at each meet
• Ribbons are usually awarded for these meets, and stars are given.
• AWARDS
• Our team does give ribbons to 1^st, 2^nd, and 3^rd in each heat.
• Try not to over emphasize ribbons
• Stars are the most important awards!
• given for personal time improvement
• can not get for swimming in a relay of if disqualified (DQ)
• Please encourage swimmers to work toward stars!
•  CHAMPIONSHIPS
• Swimmers qualify for champs A, B, C based on time standards set by the league.  They are posted on the league website www.buxmontswimleague.org.
• This year the times will be entered for champs in yards because “A” Champs are at Souderton.
• To convert times from yards to meters --  Multiply time by 1.11
• To convert times from meters to yards --  Multiply time by .901
• Must go to championships you qualify for.
• Near end of season I will meet with each child and tell them their options.  Then they can decide what they will swim.  There is a chance that your child will need to attend more than one championship meet based on his/her times. 
• At that time someone will write down what your child has chosen to swim and at what champs they will be expected so you know.  This slip will be put in your family folder.
• After your child completes his/her championships, their season is over.  At that point, practice times may be changed to accommodate fewer swimmers and allow them a chance to sleep in.