Team Handbook

Orchard Hill Swim Club proudly provides the children of our members with the wonderful opportunity to participate in the team sports of swimming and diving. Through daily workouts, our children will move forward on the path to physical fitness, high self-esteem, increased self-discipline, and responsibility. Summer club swimming and diving is often the fun beginning tgo continued year around involvement in these two sports; however, for the majority of our team members it is simply the basis for a healthful and fun summer. Whatever the reason, we are glad your child chose to be a member of the team.

As is true with any team sport, communication between swimmers, divers, parents, and coaches is very important. Problems can be minimized if all three work together to make the swim team a positive and fun experience. If you have a question or problem of any kind - please TALK to the coaches.

Team Goals for season:

  • improvement and personal growth
  • fast swimming and well executed dives
  • fun!!

Parent Expectations

  • work 5 meet sessions
  • donate baked goods/snacks for home meets
  • communicate with coaches

Swimming and diving are unique in the world of sport in that parent participation is not only encouraged, but also necessary. In order for the swimmers and divers to compete, your help is crucial. There are many different ways to participate and they are listed on the "Volunteer Description" tab. Each family is asked to work a minimum of 5 sessions. There is a $100 check due at the beginning of the season. That check will be destroyed if your family works 5 sessions during the year. We want your help to make a successful meet NOT your money .

COMPETITION

Orchard Hill is a member is a PPSL, Private Pool Swim League, At present, PPSL consists of 16 teams, which compete against each other in 5 dual meets per summer. The teams with whom we compete are determined by were we finish in the end of the season championships.

DUAL MEETS:

Dive

  • divers arrival time 2:45 at home and 3:15 for away meets
  • divers warm up time: 3:00 at home and 3:30 for away meets
  • dive meets begin at 4:00pm

EXPLANATION OF DIVE MEET

Divers compete in events divided by age and gender. The age groups for dual meets are 8 and under, 9-10, 11-12, 13-14, and 15-18. There is a combination of required and optional dives for each age group. The 8 and under divers may do two dives in each meet (3 in finals). The 9-10 age group does three dives, 11-12 age group does four dives, and the 13 and older divers do five dives. The dives are scored on a 10 point scale with 10 being excellent. In our league, a score of 4 is average with 6 and 7 being very good. The top three divers in each age group dive in the competition round and score points toward the meet toal. There can also be exhibition diers in each age group. This means that every diver may not be able to compete in each meet. If there is time, the coaches will find a way for most all to dive.

Swim

  • swimmers arrive at 5:45 pm at home and 6:15 for away meets
  • swimmers warm up at 6:00 pm at home and 6:30pm for awary meets
  • swim meets begin at 7:00pm and usually end by 10 pm

EXPLANATION OF SWIMMING EVENTS

Order of Events: (in each event boys swim first then girls)

8 & under, 9-10, 11-12, 13-14, 15-18

medley relay 100m 200m 200m 200m 200m

freestyle 25 50 50 100 100

back stroke 25 50 50 100 100

breast stroke 25 50 50 100 100

butterfly 25 25 50 50

individual medley 100m 100m 100m 100m

freestyle relay 100m 200m 200m 200m 2000m

Swimmers swim events divided by stoke, gender, age, and sdstance. Each swimmer can swim four events. Usually this will be two individual event and two relays. Each event will have a championship heat that is often preceded by one or more exhibition heats. Each team can have three swimmers in the championship heat. The fastest three swimmers will be put in the championship heat. THe championship heat swimmers are the only swimmers who can score points toward winning the meet. All other swimmers in the event will swim in the exhibition heats. This way, swimmers should always be swimming against others of like ability. The best time takes the middle lane.

FALSE STARTS

A false start occurs when a swimmer leaves the block before the actual start or is moving on the block after being told to "take your mark". In this case the starter will sound the starter several times after the starting signal to stop the race. There may also be a false start rope that can be lowered into the water to catch any swimmers still going. The race is then started again.

SWIMMING AND DIVING AWARDS

Ribbon awards will be awarded to the first three finishers in the championship heat and the first three finishers in the exhibition heat. If a child does not win a ribbon they will be given a best effort ribbon with their times on the back. Ribbons are usually given to swimmers and divers at the next practice.

PARENT AND COACH ETIQUETTE

We have hired excellent knowledgeable coaches to work with your child. If you should have questions about the expectations or procedures, please see your child's coach before or after practice, or leave a message at the pool office and the coach will contact you. Parents are encouraged to observe some practices during the season to allow the swimmers, divers, and coaches to focus on and have knowledge of foals for the practice and/or season. We look forward to a strong, positive partnership between coaches and parents.

BAKE SALE

At every home meet we have a bake sale to help earn the money that is needed for the various team expenses. You are welcome to bring more than one baked good item to our home meets. The more we have to sell, the more money we can make. Suggestions of things to bring: brownies, cookies, cupcakes, watermelon slices, grapes, bananas, red licorice sticks, bags of baby carrots/veggies and dip, etc.

VACATION AND MEET ABSENCES

Please be in communication with the coaches if your child will have several days of absence. When your child joins the team, there is a commitment made. It is our hope that parents will encourage their child to respect their commitment to the team. Please make your commitment to the meet using the Google link by noon on Monday before the meet.

REST ON THE DAY OF THE MEET

The day of the meet swimmers and divers should not be over exerting themselves. Heat and vigorous exercise "saps" your strength.

TEAM PRACTICE TIMES

It is good to arrive 10-15 minutes prior to practice.

May 28 - June 5 Evening Practices

6 pm - 7 pm Swim 10 and under

6 pm - 7 pm Dive 11 and over

7 pm - 8:30 pm Swim 11 and over

7 pm - 8:00 pm Dive 10 and under

June 7 - July 8 Morning Practices

7:30 am - 8:45 am Swim 11 and over with Coach Kevin

9 am - 10 am Dive 11 and over with Coach Josh

9 am - 10 am Swim 10 and under with Coach Sean, Coach Morgan, and Coach Anna

10 am - 11 am Dive 10 and under with Coach Josh

***FRIDAY Practices All Ages 9:30 - 10:30***

June 7 - July 2 Afternoon Practices

Mondays 5:30 - 6:45 with Coach Sean and Coach Morgan

Tuesdays 5:30 - 6:45 with Coach Kevin and Coach Anna


ORCA MINIS

This is what we are calling our swimmers who may not be ready to swim in every meet but practice with the team. At our last home meet, June 27 before the formal meet starts our Mini Orcas will be invited to swim one lap of the pool as a way to celebrate with all their Orca teammates cheering them on.


MEET SIGN UP

Each family is responsible to sign their swimmer up for meets. Please use the Google Sheets link to sign up for the meets. Swimmers must be signed up by the noon the Monday before the meet. This gives the coaches ample time to set the line up. Parents are also able to pick which events their swimmer will swim. The rules as to competition and exhibition heat still exist. Parents should also check if their swimmer is available for relays.


PARENT VOLUNTEERS

Summer swim and dive teams run smoothly thanks to parent volunteers at both home and away meets. Each family is required to work 5 shifts. Volunteers will be able to sign up for shifts on the Google Sheet towards the end of May. It is very important for each family to work the correct number of shifts. Families also support our concession stand at home meets by bringing a baked good or snack to be sold.


FINALS

PPSL offers two finals – A and B finals. Each team is allowed to send 2 swimmers per event, age group and gender to A finals. For instance, we can send two 8 and under girls for 25 meter freestyle and two 8 and under boys. This is true for every event. As with the meets, each swimmer is allowed to swim 2 individual events and 2 relays. A finals consist of prelims and finals. The top 16 swimmers in each event at prelims qualify to come back and swim at finals.

B finals are held for all swimmers who do not qualify for A finals. Once again each swimmer can swim 2 individual and 2 relays. B finals are a great opportunity for the swimmers who have swam exhibition all year. This is the opportunity to place in the top 8!

Each family will be notified as to which finals their swimmer will attend.


END OF YEAR PARTY

We will have our end of the year banquet and party the Tuesday after finals at Orchard. Swimmers and Divers who participated in finals will receive their ribbons and other awards will be given out. We will have some fun end of the team season activities planned for the athletes.

Coaches:

  • Kevin Huey
  • Seah Hergenrother
  • Morgan Hoffman
  • Anna Hergenrother

Swim Dive Committee:

  • Tara Binder
  • Mehgan Corson
  • Jen Froehle
  • Theresa Sewell