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Responsibilities

Swimmer Responsibilities

The Aqua Bears have a team-oriented program designed to teach swimmers of all ages how to improve their swimming techniques. It also teaches the importance of good teamwork and cooperation. Swimmers are expected to follow basic good conduct policies, including:

 

Swim Meet Sign-In/Out Procedure

A coaches' binder will be kept on the Snack Bar counter during practices.  One of the sections in it contains a spreadsheet listing all swimmers' names and the days in the swim season.  Please note on this spreadsheet when your swimmer is not available to swim because of vacations, camps, etc.  The coaches will seed each meet based on who is available to swim.  The coaches' binder also has a section for communication.  If there are any strokes your swimmer cannot swim or particular events he/she strongly objects to swimming, please note them in this section.  The coaches will try to honor these kinds of requests, but meet seeding is ultimately the coaches' discretion.  Sometimes, being needed to swim events is just what hesitant swimmers need to encourage them to try.

Swimmers must sign-in before each meet at the time specified by the coaches, usually 30-60 minutes prior to meet start time.  Failure to do so may result in swimmers being scratched from events.

Swimmers and their families are also required to follow the procedures of other clubs when meets are held at their facilities.

 

Parent Responsibilities - Very Important!!!

The success of the Aqua Bear swim team is directly related to enthusiastic support of our parents.  Parents support the program in two ways:

First, although Aqua Bear swimmers must be members of the San Ramon Golf Club, the club does not finance any of the swim team program or functions.  The primary source of income for the Aqua Bear swim team program comes from the dues, swim-a-thon and snack bar.  Please make sure dues are paid at registration and support the snack bar and swim-a-thon when possible.

Second, the swim meets are run by the much appreciated parent volunteers.  It takes approximately 55 parents to run a home meet.  No experience is necessary!  Each family is required to work a minimum of six shifts in one of the available jobs, with at least two of them at the poolside.  Parents who have a child or children 10 or younger must fulfill at least three of their six shifts as a "kid runner" unless there are no more remaining kid runner shifts open in their child(ren)'s age group(s).  Kid running is considered a poolside job.

In the event you are unable to work the job you committed to, it is your responsibility to find a replacement.  You will be provided a team roster with phone numbers for this purpose.  The Volunteer Coordinator may be able to help you find someone to swap dates with if the need arises.  Parents who do not fulfill their obligations will be jeopardizing their swimmer's participation with the Aqua Bears.  A club Chairperson will contact parents who do not show up for their jobs.  Further action will be taken which may include the family's swimmer(s) being scratched from the next meet and a possible loss of the volunteer deposit.

In addition to working jobs during the season, someone from each family is encouraged to serve on one of the team committees.  The committees provide help and support for the team as well as various functions and are a great way to get involved.

 

Aqua Bear Swim Team Communication

Information will be distributed primarily through the Aqua Bear Yahoo Group and the Aqua Bear website.  Announcements may be made at practice and/or posted on the bulletin board, and when possible, will be confirmed through the yahoo group.  Any handouts and ribbons will be distributed in the Family File Folders.  The Family File Folder box will be located on the Snack Bar counter during practices.  Each family has a folder of their own.  Updates and ribbons and the newsletter will be placed in these files.  Please make a habit of checking your family's file at least weekly.

The coaches will be happy to talk to you about any coaching concern or question you might have.  However, please do not approach coaches during practice.  The best way to contact the coaches is by leaving a note in the communication section of the coach's binder.  They will check the binder before leaving the pool and will usually get back to you by the end of the day.  You may also email the coaches, but please keep in mind that they spend most of the day at the pool and will most likely not see your message until they return home.

Please Do Not Interrupt Practice!!!

If you have other questions, please feel free to call the appropriate Committee Chair or Board Member.

 

Equipment

A team suit is required for all swim meets.  Aqua Bear team suits are available through Nor-Ski.  Swimmers will not be required to buy the new suit if they would prefer to use one of our older style team suits, but they must use either the new or an old team suit.

In addition, every swimmer is required to have the following equipment before the beginning of the season:

Required:

Optional:

ALL swimmers with long hair are required to wear caps during all practices and meets.  The swimming pool has an old filtration system.  Hair has been the main source of clogging in the past, which is why we must enforce this rule.