Thompson Park Dolphins Swim Team



Parent/Swimmer Handbook



CONSTITUTION



Article I Name

SECTION I This organization shall be known at the Thompson Park Dolphins Swim Team

Article II Purpose

SECTION I The purpose of this non-profit organization shall be the education, instruction, and training of individuals in the four competitive swimming strokes (freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke, and butterfly), to develop and improve their capabilities in the sport of swimming, and to provide an opportunity to practice good sportsmanship and team cooperation by participating as a team in organized and supervised meets.

Article III Membership

SECTION I Members – The members of this organization shall consist of the following:

  1. Team Members – individuals who participate in the sport of swimming.

  2. Coach Members – individuals who have been approved by the Executive Board to instruct Team Members in the sport of swimming.

  3. Individual Members – individuals other than a Coach Member or a Team Member who are parents of Team Members or other individuals desiring to support the sport of swimming.

SECTION 2 Members’ Responsibilities – Each member shall:

  1. Abide by the Constitution & By-laws of this organization

  2. Abide by the Operating Procedures established by the Executive Board.

  3. Abide by the meet Rules & Regulations established by the Ohio Valley Swim League.

  4. Abide by the Rules & Regulations established by the hosting team of an individual swim meet.

  5. Elect responsible officers which shall serve on the Executive Board.

Article IV Dues and Fees


SECTION 1 Each Team Member shall pay a registration fee which shall be established each year by the Executive Board. There will be no dues or fees required from Coach or Individual Members.



Article V Government

Section 1 The government of the organization shall be vested in an Executive Board as hereinafter provided.

Article VI Executive Board

Section 1 Members – The executive Board shall consist of the following:

  1. The Elected Officers as hereinafter provided.

  2. The Appointed Officers as hereinafter provided.

  3. The Head Coach.

Section 2 Duties and Powers – The Executive Board shall have the power and shall be its duty to:

  1. Enforce the Constitution and By-laws for this organization.

  2. Establish and enforce the Operating Procedures for this organization.

  3. Enforce the meet Rules & Regulations established by the Ohio Valley Swim League.

  4. Establish and work within an annual budget.

  5. Retain independent contractors and employ such persons ad the Executive Board shall determine necessary or appropriate to conduct the affairs of this organization.

  6. Appoint committee chairmen and members for standing and special committees or coordinators as may be necessary to permit this organization to effectively, efficiently, and economically conduct its affairs.

  7. Remove from office any officers, committee chairman, committee members, or coordinators of this organization who have failed to attend their official duties.

  8. Appoint other officers, agents, committees, or coordinators to hold office for unexpired terms.

Article VII Officers

SECTION I Elected Officers – The elected Officers shall consist of the following:

  1. President

  2. Vice-President

  3. Secretary

  4. Treasurer

SECTION 2 Appointed Officers – The Executive Board shall appoint the following officers:

  1. Meet Manager

  2. Team Records Manager

SECTION 3 Elections - Coach and Individual Members, at the end of season picnic or an open general membership meeting, shall elect the President and Treasurer in even numbered years and the Vice-President and Secretary in odd numbered years.

SECTION 4 Terms of Office – The terms of office shall be as follows:

  1. All Elected Officers shall serve for two years

  2. All Appointed Officers shall serve for one year

  3. Each person elected to a position shall assume office January 1st following the election and shall serve until a successor takes office.

  4. There shall be no limitations to consecutive terms.

SECTION 5 – Eligibility – Only adult Individual Members in good standing shall be eligible to hold office and must maintain eligibility throughout their term in office.

SECTION 6 – Offices Combined – Any Elected Office may be combined with any Appointed Office, but the officer is only entitled to one vote and shall not be entitled to a vote for each office held.

SECTION 7 – Offices Split – Any office other than President and Treasurer may be jointly held by two Individual Members but shall only be entitled to one collective vote, and these two Individual Members shall decide how to cast such vote.

SECTION 8 – Duties and Powers – The duties and powers of the officers shall be to attend and participate in all meetings of the Executive Board as follows:

  1. President – The duties of the President shall be as follows:

    1. Oversee and have general charge of the management, business, operations, affairs, and property of the organization.

    2. Have general supervision over its officers and agents.

    3. Call meetings when and where deemed necessary.

    4. Preside at all meetings.

  1. Vice-President – The duties of the Vice-president shall be as follows:

    1. Conduct meetings in the absence of the President.

    2. At the request of the President in the event of the disability of the President, perform all of the duties of the President, and when so acting shall have all the powers of the President.

    3. Serve as Chairperson for all fundraisers.

  2. Secretary – The duties of the Secretary shall be as follows:

    1. Keep a record of all meetings.

    2. Conduct official correspondence.

    3. Have custody of the minute books and other records until the Secretary leaves office and pass them on to the successor Secretary.

  3. Treasurer - The Treasurer shall be the principle receiving and disbursing officer of the organization as directed buy the Executive Board and shall:

    1. Be responsible for the funds and other financial instruments of the organization.

    2. Cause the moneys and other financial instruments of the organization to be deposited in the name and to the credit of the organization in such institutions as shall be designated by the Executive Board.

    3. Obtain and preserve proper receipts or vouchers for all moneys disbursed.

    4. Issue as account balance and cash flow report at each meeting of the Executive Board and at the end of the session.

    5. Keep in safe keeping the correct books of account and other financial records of all its affairs and transactions and when the Treasurer leaves office, pass them on to the successor Treasurer.

  4. Meet Director – The duties of the Meet Director shall be as follows:

    1. Have general charge of organizing all home swim meets and home invitational’s.

    2. Be responsible for all necessary items required to run a swim meet (medals, ribbons, judge sheets, etc.).

  5. Team Record Manager – The duties of the Team Record Manager shall be as follows:

    1. Score all home meets.

    2. Register Team Members for team membership and individual meets.

    3. Maintain team and individual meet results.

    4. Maintain and keep in safe keeping pool and team records and when the Team Record Manager leaves office, pass them on to the successor Team Record Manager.

SECTION 9 – Resignations – Any officer may resign my orally advising the President or by submitting a written resignation to the Executive Board specifying an effective date of resignation. In the absence of a specified effective date, any such resignation shall take effect upon the appointment or election of a successor.

ARITCLE VIII MEETINGS

SECTION 1 Types of Meetings shall be as follows:

  1. General Membership Meetings may be called at the President’s request or when requested to do so by at least twenty-five percent (25%) of the organization membership and are open to all members of the organization.

  2. Executive Board Meetings may be called by the President’s request and are open to all members of the organization.

SECTION 2 Voting – Except as otherwise provided in this Constitution and By-laws, all motions, orders, elections, or other propositions coming before the general membership or Executive Board shall be determined by a majority vote.

SECTION 3 Voice and Voting Rights shall be as follows:

  1. Team members shall have voice but no vote in any meetings.

  2. Coach Members that are not the Head Coach shall have voice and one vote in General Membership meetings and shall have voice but no vote in Executive Board meetings. The Head Coach shall have voice and one vote in any meetings.

  3. Individual Members that are not Executive Board members shall have voice and one vote each in General Membership meetings and shall have voice but no vote in Executive Board meetings.

  4. Executive Board Members shall have voice and one vote each in any meetings except as otherwise provided in this Constitution and By-laws.



ARTIVLE IX AMENDMENTS

SECTION 1 – A proposed change to this Constitution and By-laws may be introduced at any General Membership meeting or any meeting of the Executive Board which shall then notify all members of the organization of any proposed changes and call a General membership meeting. A favorable majority vote of the members present at the meeting shall be required for amendment.

























OPERATING PROCEDURES



Team Colors

  1. The colors for this team shall be RED, WHITE, and BLUE.

ELIGIBILITY:

  1. This team shall accept any individual from 6 to 18 years old or a high school graduate from the current year to compete in the current season provided they are capable of swimming 25 yards of unassisted freestyle.

  2. A safety screening may be administered before joining the team.

  3. Accommodations shall be made to include swimmers with disabilities.

SWIM AGE:

  1. Each swimmer shall compete throughout the season at the age he/she is on June 1st of the current year.

REGISTRATION:

  1. Registration shall be held one Saturday each spring on a date determined by the Executive Board.

  2. After the registration date, an individual may register until the first scheduled meet, by contacting the registrar.

  3. Each registrant must have completed a Registration Form, Consent & Agreement Form, Waiver Form and Medical Emergency Authorization Form.

REGISTATION FEES:

  1. Registration fees shall be determined by the Executive Board prior to each registration.

  2. Fees shall be used to rent pool time (practice & meet), pay coaching wages, and purchase a trophy to be presented to each swimmer at the conclusion of the season.

PAYMENT POLICY:

  1. 50% of all registration fees and swimsuit orders shall be pain by cash or check at the time of registration.

  2. The balance shall be paid before the first scheduled meet or before a date determined by the Executive Board.

  3. There shall be no refunds after the first swim meet.

UNIFORMS & EQUIPMENT:

  1. There shall be no official team suit required to compete, but the Executive Board may choose an optional team suite for competition each year.

  2. Optional team suits may be ordered at registration and through a date determined by the Executive Board.

  3. If not wearing a team suit, black suits are recommended for uniformity, but not required.

  4. Girls shall practice and compete in one-piece racing-style suits. NO TWO-PIECE SUITS OR BIKINIS!

  5. Boys may compete and practice in racing briefs, bike shorts, or swim trunks.

  6. Drag suits maybe used at practice.

  7. Swim caps are recommended but not required for competition and practice.

  8. Swim goggles are recommended but not required for competition and practice.

  9. Practice equipment (fins, kickboards, etc.) is provided, but individuals may bring and use their own. (Please make sure it is well marked for identification.)

PRACTICE:

  1. Practice times shall be determined by the coaching staff.

  2. Swimmers shall be assigned to practice times/sessions according to age and/or ability at the discretion of the coaching staff.

  3. Dry land practices shall be conducted at the discretion of the coaching staff.

  4. Evening practices shall be conducted until all are schools have finished.

  5. Swimmers shall sign-in before every practice.

  6. Practice is voluntary and not mandatory, but at least two practices a week are recommended.

  7. Early swimmers shall assist coaches with practice set-up.

  8. Late swimmers shall assist coaches in putting equipment away.

  9. Swimmers shall not enter the water until instructed by a coach.

  10. Parents are permitted to watch practice from the pool deck, but they shall not interfere with practice by talking with the swimmers or coaches.

  11. If the weather is bad (lightening, heavy rain, etc.) practice will be cancelled. (Use your discretion, as there is not time to call everyone on the team before practice.)

COMMUNICATION:

  1. A file box, on the pool deck, will be the primary source of communication. Each family will have a file listed in alphabetical order. Someone from each family should check their file at each practice for information.

  2. A bulletin board, on the pool house wall, contains team record and standard information.

  3. A phone chain may be established and distributed to members after the season starts.

TRANSPORTATION:

  1. Swimmers are responsible for their own transportation to and from practices and meets. The team does not provide transportation to meets or invitationals.

FUNDRAISING:

  1. Fundraisers shall be the primary source of money to fund the team.

  2. The Executive Board as needed shall determine fundraisers.

  3. All swimmers and their parents are expected to participate in fundraisers.

  4. Moneys raised shall be used to pay for league fees, meet entry fees, ribbons, awards, memory books, and food for the Awards Picnic.

AWARDS PICNIC:

  1. An awards picnic shall be held at the end of each season.

  2. Each swimmer shall receive a trophy and a memory book.

  3. Ohio Valley Swim League All Stars shall be recognized.

  4. Swimmers who ended the year with a new team record shall be recognized.

  5. Awards shall be presented as hereinafter provided.

AWARDS & CRITERIA:

  1. Senior Graduate Plaques (7x9 brown wood) – Presented to swimmers completing their final year of eligibility in league swimming.

  2. Ten Year Member Picture Plaques (10x13) – Presented to swimmers who have been on the team for ten years.

  3. Excellence in Swimming Award (to be determined) – Presented to swimmers who successfully compete in every stroke in their age group (including individual medley if applicable) without being disqualified.

  4. Age Group Improvement Plaques (7x9 red marble) – Presented to the swimmer in each age group with the most improvement points (One improvement point shall be awarded every time a swimmer betters his/her time.)

  5. Blue Ribbon Plaque (8x10 blue marble) – Presented to swimmers with an undefeated season in all individual events. Individuals must have competed in every meet and invitational during the season.

  6. Top Dolphin Plaque (8x10 red marble) – Presented to the male & female swimmers who earned the most team points during the season.

  7. J. Burchfield Cartwright Plaque (8x10 white marble) – Presented to the swimmer(s) who best represents the characteristics of true sportsmanship, dedication to swimming, loyalty to the organization, and caring for fellow team members



GENERAL RULES:

  1. Swimmers shall abide by the safety rules and regulations established by the J. Burchfield Cartwright swimming pool and at any pool where the team is competing.

  2. Swimmers shall respect the locker room and pool facilities at the J. Burchfield Cartwright swimming pool and any pool where the team is competing.

  3. Any swimmer acting in a manner that would be deemed unsafe, either in the pool, on deck, in the locker rooms, or acting disrespectful to the coaches or any other individuals shall be subject to board inquiry and maybe suspended or asked to leave the team.















































MEET PROCEDURES



Meet Jurisdiction:

  1. The Ohio Valley Swim League Rules and Regulations shall govern all home dual, tri, and quad meets and all away meets with Ohio Valley League teams.

  2. Away meets with out-of-league teams shall be governed by the hosting team’s league or swim club rules.

  3. For individual meets, the Meet Director shall determine the criteria for the meet.

Meet Participation:

  1. Swimmer Participation in all regular meets and invitational’s is voluntary and not mandatory.

Regular Meets:

  1. Regular meets are scheduled with one or two other teams as dual or tri meets. (These meets usually last 2 ½ - 3 hours.)

  2. There is no charge for swimmers to compete in regular meets.

  3. Individual events shall be assigned by the coaching staff.

  4. Relay teams shall be chosen by the coaching staff.

  5. When necessary, exhibition swimmers shall be determined by he coaching staff and will be on a rotating basis so all swimmers can compete for points.

Invitational Meets:

  1. Invitational meets are fundraisers for the hosting team where several teams are invited. (These meets are usually held on a weekend and start early in the morning and last most of the day.)

  2. There is an event fee for each individual to participate.

  3. Swimmers shall pay for their event fees and may choose which events they want to compete in.

  4. Relays shall be chosen by the coaching staff determined by team members attending.

  5. Relay fees shall be paid from the team account.

  6. There is no exhibition swimming at invitational meets – everyone swims for team points.

  7. Invitational information shall be distributed to each swimmer prior to the meet by the Registrar.

  8. All meet entry information and fees shall be returned to the Registrar by the assigned deadline.

  9. No late entries will be accepted.

What to Bring to a Swim Meet:

  1. Team suit & swim cap (suggest extra cap).

  2. Goggles (suggest 2 pair).

  3. Towels

  4. Warm & dry clothes

  5. Toiletries & plastic bag to take wet things home in (if you are going to shower and change).

  6. Blanket to rest on

  7. Parents – bring a chair









































OHIO VALLEY SWIM LEAGUE

MEET RULES & REGULATIONS



Events:

  1. Each OVSL meet will consist of 88 events, as listed on the OVSL Event Sheet.

  2. Swimmers may enter a maximum of:

    1. Three (3) individual events and

    2. Two (2) relays events (one freestyle relay and one medley relay)

  1. Swimmers may only enter one individual freestyle event as well as one individual backstroke, breaststroke, and butterfly event.

  2. Relay teams may consist of either three or four swimmers (see Rule #2 under SCORING).

  3. In 100 yd. relays, 2nd and 4th swimmer may enter the water feet first after the 1st and 3rd swimmers dive in.

  4. Another swimmer can assist swimmers in the 6 & Under age group only.

Seeding:

  1. Seeding is the process of assigning swimmers or relay teams to heats and lanes.

  2. Lanes will be assigned as follows:

    1. Odd-numbered lanes – visiting team

    2. Even-numbered lanes – home team

    3. This guideline can be changed when combining events or heats

  3. All scoring swimmers must be seeded in the first heat.

Scoring:

  1. Teams may enter 3 swimmers (or relays) to score and an unlimited number of exhibition swimmers.

  2. Teams may enter 4 swimmers (or relays) to score in an eight-lane pool only if both teams are agreeable

  3. Only one three-person relay shall score points per event. Other three-person relay teams in the same event shall be exhibition.

  4. Exhibition swimmers shall not count for team points.

  5. TPD Rule – Exhibition swimmers shall count for team records.

  6. 8 & Under swimmers will participate but not compete for team points. Swimmers will be listed on the score sheet according to heat and lane assignments. Ribbons will be awarded designating the stroke swum.

  7. Scoring for individual events when each team enters three individual (or relays) to score shall be as follows:

1st place: 6 points

2nd place: 4 points

3rd place: 3 points

4th place: 2 points

5th place 1 point

6th place: 0 points

  1. Scoring for individual events in an eight-lane pool when each team enters for individuals (or relays) to score shall be:

1st place: 8 points

2nd place: 6 points

3rd place: 5 points

4th place: 4 points

5th place: 3 points

6th place: 2 points

7th lace: 1 point

8th place: 0 points

  1. Scoring for relay events in a six-lane pool shall be:

1st place: 8 points

2nd place 4 points

3rd place: 2 points

4th place: 0 points

  1. Scoring for relay events in an eight-lane pool shall be:

1st place: 10 points

2nd place: 5 points

3rd place: 3 points

4th place: 0 points

  1. In the event a meet must be called, the meet will be considered to be complete if Event 32 has been completed. The last complete bracket is the official score





OHIO VALLEY SWIM LEAGUE

ORDER OF EVENTS


Individual Medley 

(fly, back, breast free)

1-2 GIRLS & BOYS 9-10 100 YARDS

3-4 GIRLS & BOYS 11-12 100 YARDS

5-6 GIRLS & BOYS 13-14 100 YARDS

7-8 GIRLS & BOYS 15-18 100 YARDS



Individual Backstroke

9-10 GIRLS & BOYS 8 & UNDER 25 YARDS

11-12 GIRLS & BOYS 9-10 25 YARDS

13-14 GIRLS & BOYS 11-12 50 YARDS

15-16 GIRLS & BOYS 13-14 50 YARDS

17-18 GIRLS & BOYS OPEN 100 YARDS

19-20 GIRLS & BOYS 15-18 50 YARDS



Medley Relay

(back, breast, fly, free)

21-22 GIRLS & BOYS 8 & UNDER 100 YARDS

23-24 GIRLS & BOYS 9-10 100 YARDS

25-26 GIRLS & BOYS 11-12 200 YARDS

27-28 GIRLS & BOYS 13-14 200 YARDS

29-30 GIRLS & BOYS 15-18 200 YARDS



Individual Freestyle

31-32 GIRLS & BOYS OPEN 200 YARDS

33-34 GIRLS & BOYS 6 & UNDER 25 YARDS

35-36 GIRLS & BOYS 8 & UNDER 25 YARDS

37-38 GIRLS & BOYS 9-10 25 YARDS

39-40 GIRLS & BOYS 9-10 50 YARDS

41-42 GIRLS & BOYS 11-12 50 YARDS

43-44 GIRLS & BOYS 11-12 100 YARDS

45-46 GIRLS & BOYS 13-14 50 YARDS

47-48 GIRLS & BOYS 13-14 100 YARDS

49-50 GIRLS & BOYS 15-18 50 YARDS

51-52 GIRLS & BOYS 15-18 100 YARDS



Free Relay 

53-54 GIRLS & BOYS 6 & UNDER MIXED100 YARDS

55-56 GIRLS & BOYS 8 & UNDER 100 YARDS

57-58 GIRLS & BOYS 9-10 100 YARDS

59-60 GIRLS & BOYS 11-12 200 YARDS

61-62 GIRLS & BOYS 13-14 200 YARDS

63-64 GIRLS & BOYS 15-18 200 YARDS



Individual Breaststroke

65-66 GIRLS & BOYS 8 & UNDER 25 YARDS

67-68 GIRLS & BOYS 9-10 25 YARDS

69-70 GIRLS & BOYS 11-12 50 YARDS

71-72 GIRLS & BOYS 13-14 50 YARDS

73-74 GIRLS & BOYS OPEN 100 YARDS

75-76 GIRLS & BOYS 15-18 50 YARDS



Individual Butterfly

77-78 GIRLS & BOYS 8 & UNDER 25 YARDS

79-80 GIRLS & BOYS 9-10 25 YARDS

81-82 GIRLS & BOYS 11-12 50 YARDS

83-84 GIRLS & BOYS 13-14 50 YARDS

85-86 GIRLS & BOYS OPEN 100 YARDS

87-88 GIRLS & BOYS 15-18 50 YARDS







SWIMMING STROKES



FREESTYLE:

Body Position: Prone (stomach down) in the water looking straight ahead.

Arms & Hands: Arms move alternately, one hand entering above the head while the other hand sweeps through the water.

Kick: Flutter kick.

Breathing: Breathing is accomplished by turning the head to either side during the stroke.



BACKSTROKE:

Body Position: Supine (stomach up) in the water looking straight ahead.

Arms & Hands: Arms move alternately, one hand entering above the head while the other hand sweeps through the water.

Kick: Flutter kick.

Breathing: Breathing can take place at any time, as the face should be out of the water during most of the stroke.



BREASTSTOKE:

Body Position: The starting position is a prone streamline with palms turned out.

Arms & Hands: Arms and hands move together throughout the strike starting with a sweep into a “Y” position in front and quickly pulling through the water and squeezing elbows together underneath the body and finishing by shooting the hands to the starting position.

Kick: Frog kick.

Breathing: Breathing is accomplished by lifting the shoulders above the water surface during the pulling phase of the stroke.



BUTTERFLY:

Body position: Prone position with the hips and shoulders working in opposition; hips up, shoulders down, and vice versa.

Arms & Hands: Arms and hands move together throughout the stroke entering above the head and sweeping the water beneath the body.

Kick: Dolphin kick.

Breathing: Breathing is accomplished by lifting the head slightly above the water during the sweeping phase of the stroke.



INDIVIDUAL MEDLEY:

One individual swims a designated distance of each stroke: Backstroke, Breaststroke, Butterfly, and Freestyle.



MEDLEY RELAY:

Each relay member swims a designated distance of one of the four strokes until all four strokes are completed.



FREESTYLE RELAY:

Each relay member swims a designated distance of freestyle only.































Swimming Terms



Course: designated distance over which a swim meet is conducted.

Long Course - 50 meters

Short Course – 24 yards or 25 meters

Disqualification (DQ) – to be declared ineligible to score or time in an event that has already been swum for committing a stroke or turn violation or a false start.

Dual Competition – competition between two clubs or teams.

Event - any race or series of races in a given stroke and/or distance.

Exhibition (EX) - a declaration for a swimmer or relay that specifies that they are swimming for time but are not eligible for awards or points.

Final - any single race which determines final places and times in an event.

Forward start – a forward entry facing the course.

Heats – a division of an event in which there are too many swimmers to compete at one time.

Invitational Competition –f or those swimmers, organizations, and clubs invited by the host.

Judge’s Decision (JD) – a finish judge’s decision on who finished in what place independent of the automatic or manual time that was recorded.

Lane - the specific area in which the swimmer is assigned to swim: i.e. Lane One.

Lane Line - continuous floating markers attached to a line stretched from the starting end to the turning end for the purpose of separating each lane.

Lane Markings - the guidelines on the bottom of the pool and in the center of the lanes running from the starting end to the turning end.

Leg - the part of the relay event that is swum by a single team member.

Length – extent of the course from end to end

Mark - (take your) starting position,

Meet - a series of events held in one program.

Place Judges – two place judges, one on each side of the finish line, who will record the order of finish of all swimmers by lane.

Scratch – withdrawal from an event or competition.

Seed – to distribute the swimmers among the required number of heats and/or lanes according to their submitted or preliminary TIMES.