Practice Attendance and Participation

Attendance at practice is mandatory, unless otherwise stated on the practice schedule as optional or with prior permission by the coach. 

Athletes are expected to arrive on time to every practice, wearing a MR cap, and be ready to jump in the water at the scheduled start time (within reason). Please communicate with a coach if you are running late.

Athletes are expected to be picked up on time/leave the pool within 20 minutes of the scheduled practice end-time. 

EXCUSED ABSENCES: illness-related, family event or emergency, & case-by-case, pending pre-approval. 

UNEXCUSED ABSENCES (work, clubs, “choice events,” etc.) may be made-up by attending optional workouts (preseason, postseason, holidays, etc.). If there are not enough reasonable opportunities to do so within a timely manner, athletes and coaches may collaborate to determine a satisfactory alternative. 

In the case of ANY kind of absence, you must notify a coach in writing at least 24 hours in advance (for practices), and at least 48 hours in advance for meets. 

PRACTICE ABSENCE “STRIKE-OUT” POLICY: To maintain status as a MRHS swimmer/diver, athletes must be present at practice whenever possible. Athletes with more than 5 unexcused absences will be placed on probation; this means the athlete will receive a maximum of 2 weeks to work with a coach to make up the workouts, and until the athlete makes up enough practices to return below the 5-absence limit, the athlete will not be allowed to participate in any meets. If the athlete fails to make up the absences within 2 weeks, the athlete will forfeit the right to participate for the remainder of the season.

UNX MEET ABSENCES (no call/no show/no valid reason) - First offense: athlete loses the right to participate in the next meet; Second offense: athlete has proven unreliability and will not be entered in any meets for the rest of the season.

To be a part of the team, you need to be with the team! 

Meets

100% attendance is required at all meets.  If a swimmer must miss a meet due to a prior school conflict (one per season will be excused), notify the coach as soon as possible, but at least a week before the meet. 

• Home meets:  Athletes must provide their own transportation to the VMAC from the Mountain for home meets.  On weekday meets, athletes are officially excused from any classes they may miss.

• Away meets:  Transportation to away meets are only provided by the district during the week and the school is 10 miles or farther from the school.  Athletes meet outside of the auditorium at the time designated by the coach.  Athletes who do not attend Mountain Range, please check in at the front office and meet by the auditorium.  

• Class Period Absences: Athletes need to make arrangements with their teacher PRIOR to missing class on meet days.  Wednesday Academic Support is an ideal time to meet with your teachers about this.  Be proactive.          

• Buses:  Athletes are expected to travel to and from the pool with the team when transportation is available.  If receiving a ride home, a swimmer or diver will only be allowed to travel with their parent or legal guardian.  Plan on riding the bus, as it builds team camaraderie. 

Parents and guardians- please pick up your athletes on time at MR in the student parking lot and at the VMAC. 

Academics

All Mountain Range High School athletes are to maintain good standing in every class. 

Athletes failing any class will not be allowed to participate in Mountain Range Swimming or Diving practices or meets until the grade improves a passing.  If the student is ineligible for a second week, the swimmer or diver will not be allowed to attend practice until grades are passing (a third time may result in the athlete being ineligible for the rest of the season).  Ineligible athletes do not have the ability to will not letter. 

If a student has two or more F’s in first quarter/semester, the athlete will not be allowed to join the Mountain Range Swimming and Diving Team. 

Swimming Events

All swimmers are expected to learn the four strokes.  The coaches decide each swimmer's event selection in meets.  A swimmer's event times and practice attendance is used in considering which swimmers participate in which events, relays, and meets.  Each athlete is allowed four events per meet: two relays and two individual events, or one individual event and three relay events.  A swimmer may swim less than four events.  Relay teams are normally determined by time.  The coaches will make the final decision (based on time, attitude, attendance, etc.).   

The coach reserves the right to take any athlete out of the meet on the basis of attitude, motivation, actions, etc.  All relays are subject to change at any time during the season.  This includes during meets or even between prelims and finals. 

The goal is to make the fastest team possible, not to hurt feelings.    

Events are as follows: 

200 Med Relay | 200 Free | 200 IM | 50 Free | 100 Fly | 100 Free | 500 Free | 200 Free Relay | 100 Back | 100 Breast | 400 Free Relay

Times

All swimmers should know their times.  The coaches will have an official record of all results, which will be posted to MaxPreps as well as our team website. The coach will also post results from each meet on the team website under RESULTS.           

Team Concept

Every athlete on this team is important. We will do several things to ensure team cohesion.  Encourage teammates.  Get to know names. Cheer. Sing. Enjoy this time in your life.     

Behavior

Any Mountain Range swimmer or diver receiving a behavior referral from a teacher or an administrator will be suspended from the team for 1 week (or longer depending on the infraction); this may jeopardize their ability to stay active on the team and letter.

Communication

If you will be unable to attend a meet or practice for any reason, please be sure to let the coaches know ASAP (both in person and in writing via email to hannah.m.burdge@adams12.org is preferred)

The team website is the best, fastest, and easiest way to find team-related information.  The website contains heaps of information, including directions to pools, the schedules, meet information, practice cancellations, results, qualifying times, and records.  Please review this material.  If there are questions, email coach Burdge or talk with her after practice.

Other Costs

A mandatory team suit is ordered at the beginning of the season and paid for by the athlete.  The price usually ranges from $30-50 for girls and $20-40 for boys. If an athlete misses the order deadline, they are responsible for ordering their own team suit. Caps will be provided for free by the team.  Each female swimmer will receive one silicone cap with their suit.  Other apparel may also be ordered at the beginning of the season, but these items are not mandatory.

Classroom Attendance

All Mountain Range High School athletes are expected to attend class and be on time.  If any swimmer or diver is unexcused (ditching), the athlete will not be eligible to compete in the next meet (no matter the meet).  The athletic secretary checks attendance daily, and the coach is informed of each athlete’s attendance, including excused and unexcused absences.  If any athlete has excessive tardiness, this will affect their ability to participate in practice and/or meets.