Practice Schedules for 2010:

Inclement Weather Policy:  In general, practice will be held rain or shine with the exception of thunderstorms.  If a thunderstorm is brief, we will clear the pool, and if time allows, continue practice afterward.  Practices may also be cancelled due to heavy rain or very cold temperatures.  If a practice is cancelled in advance, we will attempt to send an email to each family and/or post the info on the website.  Thus if weather conditions are poor, we ask that you check your email and the website before leaving for practice, if possible.  However, please note that due to abrupt weather changes we will not always be able to notify families of cancellations in advance.

Skill Level Breakdowns

Mini Team:  Beginners ages 9 and under; new to swimming

Level 1:  Intermediate 8 & unders and beginner 10-11 year olds

Level II:  Advanced 8 year olds and intermediate 9-14 year olds

Level III:  Advanced 10-14 year olds and ages 15 and up

The Mini Team practices from 9:00 - 9:45

Levels 1 and II practice from 9:00 - 10:00

Level III practices from 10:00 - 11:30

Tues & Thurs evening practices at Green Hills Swim Club 6:30 - 7:30 Levels II & III

However, this is a rough guide.  After the first week or two, the coaches will be able to better determine which practice level best fits the ability level of each swimmer.  Naturally, swimmers may be able to move up to higher practice levels as they progress.  If you have any questions regarding where your swimmer(s) fit best, please consult the coaches.  If schedule conflicts prevent you from attending the appropriate practice, let the coaches know and we will se what we can do to accommodate you.

Practice attendance is not mandatory but strongly encouraged.  Ideally, each swimmer should attend 4 or 5 practices per week.  Remember, the only way to improve is through regular practice.

We realize that many swimmers are involved in other athletic, scholastic, and work activities in addition to swimming.  All that we ask is that you attend as many practices as possible.  The swim season is relatively short, and if a number of swimmers are regularly missing practice, the whole team will suffer at meets.  At the minimum, we ask that each swimmer attend at least one practice per week on average.

Please arrive at practice on time and ready to swim.  Swimmers should bring at least one towel, running shoes, any caps and goggles they need, and warm clothes to put on after swimming.

Early in the season, it is usually a given that the water will be cold.  Obviously, this is not an ideal situation, and we know that swimming in cold water is not fun!  However, with the Polar Bear Meet on the first Saturday in June and our first dual meet the next weekend, we have no choice but to have kids in the water as much as possible.  We will do all that we can on land at the beginning of practice:  stretching, running, exercising etc.  But in the end, when it comes to improving one's swimming ability, there is no substitution for actually being in the pool.  Thus all of us, coaches and swimmers alike, are just going to have to tough it out until the weather and the water start to warm up.

Parents are welcome to observe practice, but we do ask that you not interfere with practice by distracting the coaches or any of the swimmers (especially your own).  Instead, we'll be happy to speak with you after practice with any questions or concerns.  If you don't have time to stay leave a message in the sign in book and someone will get back to you.

During practice it is important that swimmers listen to the coaches and follow instructions at all times.  Nothing is more frustrating for a coach than trying to give instructions while several swimmers are carrying on their own conversations.  Each practice is an opportunity to learn and improve and should be taken seriously.  We will make every attempt to make practice fun and enjoyable, but swimmers will be expected to work hard and excessive socializing/horseplay will not be tolerated.  Likewise, because practice time is so limited, it is essential that swimmers make the most of every practice by pushing themselves and swimming hard.  Taking a long time to get in the water, skipping sets, etc hurt both the individual and the team.

Please be considerate of other swimmers at practice.  Lanes will sometimes be crowded - please "circle swim" by swimming on the right hand side of the lane.  Give the swimmer in front of you plenty of room.  When turning, cross over to the middle/left of the lane before the turn if possible, so you don't collide with the person behind you after the turn.  Use the middle of the lane to pass slower swimmers in front of you, but use caution so as not to collide with other oncoming swimmers.

If you have any questions please contact me.

Click Here For Directions to some of the Pools

        June 12th, 2010 - Polar Bear Time Trial Invitational @ Wedgewood Hills Pool

June 19, 2010- Dauphin at MTV (away meet)  Our warms ups are at  7:45 AM.....I want everyone there ready to swim at 7:30 AM.  The meet starts at 8:30 AM  Directions are at the link above.  If you can not be at the swim meet please let coach know in advance.

June 18th, 2010 (Friday)- Team Picture Day @10:00AM

June 26, 2010 - WWH @ Dauphin (Home Meet)  Our warm ups are at 7:30 please be at the pool no later than 7:15.  Take your stuff to the team tent and start to warm up and stretch.  The meet starts at 8:30

July 3, 2010 LBY @ Dauphin (Home Meet)  Our warm ups are at 7:30 please be at the pool no later than 7:15.  Take your stuff to the team tent and start to warm up and stretch.  The meet starts at 8:30

July 6, 2010 - Middletown 10 & Under Meet  see information under invitational link

July 7, 2010- Devon Crest Novice Meet  see information under invitational link

July 14, 2010 Willowood Invitational Meet  see information under invitational link

July 10, 2010 - Dauphin at TVA (Away Meet) Meet starts at 8:30.  Our warm ups are at 8:00 AM  Please be at the pool by  7:45 Take your good stuff to the team tent and start to stretch.  directions are under the directions link

July 17, 2010  PEN @ Dauphin  (Home Meet)  Our warm ups are at 7:30 please be at the pool no later than 7:15.  Take  your stuff to the team tent and start to warm up and stretch.  The meet starts at 8:30

July 24, 2010 Divisionals at Dauphin

July 25, 2010 All Starts @ Annville

July 25, 2010   Team Picnic at Dauphin Swim Pool

July 31, 2010 Mid Caps @ Cumberland Valley

Divisionals is a special meet late in the season attended by every team in our division.  Each of the 3 divisions in our league has its own divisionals, and the top 16 individuals and the top 8 relays in each event from all 3 divisions qualify for All-Stars the next day. 

Please note that you must participate in at least 3 dual meets in order to swim in divisionals.  Swimming at divisionals is optional, but strongly encourage even for those swimmers who are not likely to qualify for All-Stars.  Every meet is an opportunity to improve and many swimmers swim their best times of the year at Divisionals

Swimmers may ONLY enter a total of 3 events at divisionals, including relays.  Thus, you could enter 1 individual event and 2 relays, 2 individual events and one relay, etc.  In addition to being a lot of fun, relays often offer a better chance of qualifying for All-Stars than individual events.

Unlike dual meets, swimmers can choose which individual events they want to swim at Divisionals.                 

July 25, 2010- All Stars @ Annville                                     

July 31, 2010- Mid-Caps @ Hershey      

You must swim in 3 meets to qualify for Divisionals.    If anyone has any questions about this please contact me.  

*****Attendance at dual meets cannot be stressed enough.  It is extremely important that the team be at full strength:  missing even a handful of swimmers can be costly in a close meet.  The whole team will suffer when swimmers cannot attend meets, much more so than with practice absences.  Accordingly, please make every effort to schedule family trips so that they do not conflict with the 5 dual meets.  This is especially important for families with multiple swimmers.  We realize that giving up several Saturday mornings can be a big sacrifice, and we are very appreciative of those swimmers and families who are able to attend every meet.

If you know in advance that a swimmer will miss a meet and there is no way to avoid it, please write it in the sign in book on the appropriate day that will be missed.  With the exception of illness or emergency, the coaches should know by the Wednesday morning before the meet if a swimmer will be unable to attend.  Finding out at the last minute, after the meet lineup has been created, can be very frustrating and time consuming. 

Please note that Mid Penn Swim League rules prevent lineup changes after a meet begins without the other teams coaches approval.  Therefore, if a swimmer needs to leave early and has not informed the coaches of this in advance we may not be able to replace them in a lineup.  This is especially costly in relays, as the entire relay may have to be scratched. 

Meet lineups will be determined solely by the coaches.  We welcome input from swimmers and parents, and make every attempt to accommodate your requests.  However, we have an obligation to the team to create the lineup that offers the best chance for team success.  As a result, swimmers will often be asked to swim events that they dislike, or to swim up to a higher age group, etc.  All we ask is that you do your best.  If there are events you feel you would be strong in that you are not swimming in meets, please let the coaches know.  Sometimes, especially with new swimmers, we may not be aware of which events are your strongest.

 

Dryland practice and maybe pool practice (depending on water) will begin on June 2  at 6:00 PM......we will meet at the pool.  If we have keys to the pool it will be at the pool otherwise we will be walking to the park behind the pool.

 

Tues & Thurs. after school is out and we are running morning practices in Dauphin there will be evening practices also at Green Hills Swim Club in Fishing Creek Valley from 6:30 - 7:30 for Levels  II, & III