Attendance 

We will start practice at the time listed. Please be on the deck, ready to begin at the time listed on the calendar. We will start each day with dynamic stretching - have your swim suit on, comfortable shorts/yoga pants, and tennis shoes with socks. 10 minutes early is on time! If you are going to be late for any reason, please communicate that with a coach before practice starts (a text is fine) and bring a pass (or email) if you are coming from a teacher.

Prairie students, arrive to Jefferson as quickly as you can after school, jump in and stretch with us if you can, otherwise change and get in the water as soon as possible.

Visiting Suzi (athletic trainer) is not an excuse to be late. Jefferson students and Prairie Point freshmen who need to see Suzi before practice will be dismissed from study table at 3:30 or 3:45. They will be expected to join us on time for stretching. Prairie students who need to see Suzi before practice will need to communicate with Coach Hinke or Coach Klein.

Once season starts (August 7), all practices are mandatory. If you are going to miss practice, you need to communicate with Coach Hinke (swimmers) or Coach Klein (divers) ASAP. Missing practices will result in loss of competition time.

Communication 

Communication is the key to any successful relationship and that includes your relationship with this team. You have four coaches to communicate with, so take your pick! Coach Hinke would prefer to hear from swimmers first and Coach Klein would prefer to hear from divers first, but you can communicate with any coach.

If you are struggling with a class or teacher, you had a rough day at school, you’re going to be late for a practice/meet - all of that (and more) should be communicated with your coaches.

All parent communication will occur through email. Coach Hinke sends weekly updates on Sundays - although they are sometimes lengthy, you are encouraged to read every one. Every email subject line begins with "J-Hawk Swim & Dive" so they are easy to find.

If a parent or swimmer/diver has a question/concern for a coach that they would prefer to talk about, please schedule a time to call or meet in person via email or text.

Student First 

We love that you are part of our team, however you are a student first! This fall, your number one focus needs to be your classes. Not just because of eligibility rules, but because it is important.

Any swimmers assigned to the varsity practice time, should use their extra time after school for studying. Divers and swimmers in the JV practice group will start practice earlier every day so they will have more time in the eventing for studying.

In addition, any Jefferson students who have a D or F in any class will be expected to attend athlete study table from 3-4 pm, Monday-Thursday - NO EXCEPTIONS. You will be notified on Monday morning. Failure to report to the expected study table will result in a loss of competition time.

Also ask us if you need assistance. Coach Hinke has a degree in biology and teaches earth science, physics, and biology at Prairie High School. Coach Klein has a degree in chemistry and also teaches AP chemistry at Jefferson. 

Team Fees 

Because you will keep most of the uniform that you use, you are responsible for paying for your team suit, caps, and warm ups (if you choose). You will also need to purchase at least 2 pairs of goggles on your own - choose whatever is most comfortable for you, but make sure you always have at least one extra pair. We recommend shopping for personal swimming equipment (goggles, caps, etc.) at swimoutlet.com - they have low prices and fast shipping.

You will need to pay for your uniform before you receive it. Please contact Coach Hinke if you need assistance paying for your uniform. Checks made out to Jefferson High School are preferred, but cash will also be accepted.

Transportation to/from Meets  

We will have bus transportation to all of our swim meets. The team expectation is that all swimmers and divers ride the bus to and from meets. For weekday meets, the bus will pick up at Jefferson and Prairie Point, then return to Prairie Point then Jefferson. You may get on/off the bus at the location that works best for you - please communicate with coaches if that location differs from the school that you attend. For Saturday meets, the bus will only pick up/drop off at Jefferson - all swimmers and divers should plan to dropped off and picked up at Jefferson in a timely manner.

Weight Training 

We believe that weight training is important for building strong swimmers and divers, as well as preventing injuries. Therefore, we will be in the weight room together 3 mornings every week.

Jefferson students who are enrolled in Performance PE in the fall should attend Performance PE every day - they will not be expected to attend weekday morning workouts with the team. Please communicate with Coach Hinke so we can help adjust your workouts in Performance PE toward the end of your season. All Jefferson students are encouraged to enroll in Performance PE all school year to continue to build their strength before the next season.

Prairie students are encouraged to register for Weight Training during the spring semester and use our weight training in the fall so we can monitor your end of season training. Additional sessions with a personal trainer may be scheduled, but should not interfere with team practices and communication with coaches should be maintained throughout the season, especially toward the end of your season.

Injuries 

As much as we try to prevent injuries, sometimes they do happen. Please follow these guidelines for any pain experienced during the fall season:

1. As soon you feel pain (beyond tired/sore muscles from working hard), let a coach know. Be specific about what you feel, where you feel it, and when you feel it the most. We will attempt to fix it in the pool first - stretching or changing your technique.

2. A coach will advise you on when to see Suzi. You will maintain communication with Suzi and the coaches as you receive treatment.

3. If you notice an injury after practice, please wait until the next day to see Suzi (if you can). If you get a "do not practice" note from a doctor, Suzi cannot overturn it and you will have to follow the doctor's instructions regardless of how you feel.

Communication is the most important tool when it comes to injuries. We are doing all we can to prevent injuries, but if we notice an injury early it is usually easier to treat.

*EXCEPTION: Concussion symptoms will be addressed immediately by the coaches and athletic trainer**

Participation in Meets

Everyone who practices with the team will compete with the team at the weekday dual meets. Unexcused absences from practice will result in loss of competition time.

Meet line ups depend on a variety of factors including, but not limited to: the potential to win the meet (either JV, Varsity, or both), best times of the season, the strokes/events/dives the coaches know you can compete in, and the potential to score the most points. 

For the most part, the top 3 times/scores in each event will compete at the varsity level and the next 3 times/scores will compete at the JV level. There are usually exhibition heats for 50 freestyle prior to the JV heat, which will help everyone compete at a more equal level.

Entry limitations - Each swimmer/diver can compete in a maximum of 4 events per meet. No more than 2 of those events can be individual events. Common arrangements include: 2 relays + 2 individual, 3 relays + 1 individual, 2 relays + 1 individual. Divers will usually only compete in 1 individual (diving), but will sometimes be asked to swim in a relay or combine to form their own relay.

Saturday Meets - Most Saturday meets are varsity only and limited to 3 entries per event per team. Relays are often limited to 2 per team as well. On Saturdays, line ups will be determined by weekend availability and top 3 times in each event.

Special Note from the Coaches - Regardless of where you compete at meets, EVERYONE is a valuable part of this team. EVERYONE plays a role in the success of this team. Do not measure your worth based on the event or level you compete it. Meets are not won by the person who wins every event, but usually by those who place 3rd, 4th, and 5th (see "Scoring at Meets"). While it is always fun to win a meet, the coaches are always more focused on growth and improvement - throughout the season and from season to season.

End of Season 

The final Championship swim meets of the season have limited entries. Therefore, everyone's season will end at a different time. Beginning in early October, coaches will communicate with swimmers/divers and their parents about the changes to their schedule and when to expect the final meet. If you have questions, please direct them to Coach Hinke (swimmers) or Coach Klein (divers).

Metro JV - Unlimited entries per event. Open to swimmers and divers NOT competing at Regionals. You will compete in your favorite events (no more than four events per athlete, no more than 2 of them are individual events). This meet started in 2020 as a result of the conference meets being cancelled due to COVID.

Varsity MVC - Limited to 3 entries per event (except only two of each relay), top 3 swimmers in each event will compete. You will compete in your best events (no more than four events per athlete, no more than 2 of them are individual events) or the events that will lead you to the best "All Conference" award.

Sophomore MVC - Freshmen and sophomores only, limited to 3 entries per event (except only two of each relay). You will compete in your best events (no more than four events per athlete, no more than 2 of them are individuals).

Regionals - Limited to 3 entries per event (except only one of each relay). You will compete in your best events (no more than four events per athlete, no more than 2 of them are individuals) or the events that will take the most J-Hawks to State. This meet will determine who competes at State. Only those competing at Regionals will practice the week of Regionals.

State - Top 32 competitors in the State at the Regional meet, or based on qualifying times during the season. List is usually announced on Saturday night after Regionals. We are allowed one alternate per relay that qualifies. Only qualifiers and alternates will practice the week of State.

Participating in Other Activities 

Due to the time demands, it is recommended that you only participate in one high school activity at a time. However, we are willing to work with your schedule so you are able to swim/dive and participate in another school activity. Please communicate with Coach Hinke or Coach Klein if you are participating in another activity during our fall season. 

We are currently working with Jefferson Band of Blue, Prairie Marching Band, Prairie Varsity Cheerleading, and Prairie Ambassadors.

We encourage participation in club teams outside of our fall season. However, skipping high school practices to attend a club practice or meet will not be accepted.

Sportsmanship 

Sportsmanship is something that we, as coaches, are very passionate about. It is important that you treat everyone, teammates, competitors, coaches, and officials, with respect. Good sportsmanship is expected at practices, in the locker room, and at meets. Examples include: staying in the water after your race until all swimmers in your heat have finished, high-fiving and congratulating the competitors who swam next to you after your race, high-fiving the opposing team after the last race of a meet, congratulating other divers after the diving portion of the meet, and cheering appropriately for your team without putting-down the other team. Poor sportsmanship will not be tolerated. If sportsmanship is something that you have struggled with in the past, register for this free course (involves watching a video and answering a few questions) before the season starts: https://nfhslearn.com/courses/61130/sportsmanship.

Bullying

We do not expect everyone to be the best of friends, but we do expect mutual respect between teammates. We also know the more time you spend with someone the more likely you are to have conflict. 

However, bullying of any kind will not be accepted on our team. Criticizing your teammate or making fun of them will not be allowed. This includes in person or through text/group chats. Bullying can be defined as a serious one-time event. Any reports of bullying will be immediately turned over to the appropriate Activities Director (Chris Deam @ Jefferson and/or Rocky Bennett & Andrew Davis @ Prairie) and could result in termination from the team.

Making Good Decisions

Part of being successful in the pool is making good decisions out of the pool. 

Food - Make sure you are eating good food (more information coming later from the coaches) and enough food. You are going to burn a lot of calories during your workouts and you need to replenish your body. 

Water - You need to be drinking water throughout the school day, in addition to during practice. If you are constantly having to fill up your water bottle during practice, you aren’t drinking enough water. Also, lemonade and other flavored drinks do not count as water and neither does pop or coffee! 

Sleep - Do your best to get to bed at a decent time each night, especially on nights before morning practice! That 5:00 am alarm comes fast if you stay up until midnight! Plan ahead with school work - if you know you have a big project due on a Wednesday, don’t wait until Tuesday night after the away meet.

School - As mentioned before, school needs to come first. Attendance to class every day is a big factor in making sure your grades keep you eligible. Manage your time wisely. You are going to be busy with practices and homework, so plan your evenings accordingly. Coach Klein is in the building at Jefferson and will be able to check grades/attendance regularly. We will also be in contact with Prairie about this information as well.

Boys and friends - Don’t let distractions get in the way of your goals. Friends can be a helpful resource as you work hard, but they shouldn’t distract you from your goals and what is important to you.

Drugs and alcohol - You need to take care of your body and this is NOT the way to do it! Getting caught with drugs or alcohol is not only illegal at your age, but it will also make you ineligible as an athlete. If you find yourself in a bad situation, get out - call your parents or one of the coaches to come help you.

Changing - Whenever you leave the pool deck you need to wear shoes, shorts, and a t-shirt to cover up in the hallway. Although it is convenient to wrap up in your towel or throw on a t-shirt and shorts over your swim suit and then drive home, we highly recommend that you change out of your wet swim suit into dry clothes before leaving the locker room. Wearing your wet swim suit home can lead to health issues later in the season. In addition, deck changing is not allowed in high school swimming. You need to use the locker room to change into/out of your swim suit. The handicap bathroom on the pool deck is NOT for changing.

Parent Group 

Our parent group consists of 1-2 parents representing each grade level. The parent group organizes parent volunteers, post-meet meals, morning breakfasts, seniors' gifts and blankets, and coaches gifts. The parent group requests $50 from each swimmer/diver to help cover costs during the season - this will keep the parent group from asking for donations for each event.

Current Members of the Parent Group:

11 - Becky Gearheart, 11 - Brittany Benninghoven

Parent Volunteers 

Parents are our biggest supporters! We need your help for a successful season! We have a large team, so hopefully we can spread out the volunteering responsibilities. Please plan to volunteer at least twice during the season in the following areas:

• Bringing breakfast/protein bars to keep in Coach Hinke's classroom at PHS (for after morning practices)

• Bringing after school snacks to stock the refrigerator and back room - donations from Quaker Oats or General Mills are appreciated and are very popular among the swimmers and divers

• Bringing dinner/veggies/fruit/desserts for post-meet meals

• Jefferson Booster Club Concession Stand - need 2-3 workers for every home meet (can switch so you can watch your daughter compete), also responsible for a few spring events at Kingston

• Timing at swim meets - we will reach out to the boys' swim team first but we will need 2 timers per lane (12-13 timers total) in order for the times to be considered "official", we will usually be okay for timers during our meets because we will reach out to the boys' team to help