West Deptford High School Swimming and Diving
All athletes must obey all the rules and policies set forth by the West Deptford Board of Education. All rules and regulations are referenced from the West Deptford Student Athlete Handbook. In addition, all athletes must follow the guidelines established by the coaching staff. Since we are guests at our practice facility, Riverwinds, we are also bound to respect the directives of any RW staff member. The following statements are to provide the athlete with the basic code of conduct to which all swimmers and divers are expected to adhere. Specific situations may develop that are not covered by this guideline. The coaches reserve the right to assess each situation individually and to make allowances, exceptions and adjustments as they see fit based upon the circumstances.
- An absolute must for all who participate in this sport! Swim and dive in the appropriate places. Please have safety on your mind at all times. No one is permitted in the pool without a coach on deck.
- Feet first jumps into the pool is the only entry, but please be cautious as another swimmer may not be aware of your intentions. Diving into the pool is not permitted until you are certified by a coach. You may not dive off of the blocks until a coach says you are certified.
- Lane lines are to mark the lanes of the pool. They are not there for your relaxation. Lying on the lines will cause them to sag.
- Shaving is never allowed in the pool area or locker room.
- Jewelry is now allowed to be worn at meets with the exception of watches, Fitbits or other timing or pacing devices. Participants will be disqualified from their event for wearing prohibited items.
- No one will leave the deck, to go to the bleachers, lav., etc., without a coach’s permission (even at championship meets).
- No glass in the locker room or on the pool deck! Ever!
B. Attendance at Practice, Meets, and other Team Functions
- Mandatory attendance is required of all athletes. Three unexcused absences may result in a dismissal from the team. The only exception to this rule is for those students involved in an outside program whose training facilities and workouts provide development and conditioning. This exception allows the team to maximize the use of our facility benefiting the team as a whole. These people must provide the coaching staff with a written list of practice days and times. There may be practice sessions important to West Deptford that you must attend.
- Three unexcused absences will result in a performance review for continued participation on the team.
- The athletic department will review all notes for valid excuses.
- If after school help is necessary, get a teacher-signed pass and proceed to the pool afterwards. If you do not have permission to drive to practice, your parent must be the person to transport you to practice. NO OTHER STUDENT MAY TRANSPORT YOU TO PRACTICE AT ANY TIME. Try to arrange a morning study session with the teacher if at all possible.
- Try to help your club in other ways during our season.
- Doctor’s appointments, etc. are to be made for after practice if possible. Prior notice of the appointment must be given whenever possible. A doctor’s note must be presented to the coaching staff at the following practice.
- Participation may be limited in the meet if you are not at practice the day before the meet.
- Attendance at certain events where the intention is to create and reinforce a strong feeling of fraternity and team unity (i.e., pasta dinners) is not mandatory, but is strongly encouraged.
- If you are late to school, 8:31 AM, you may not participate in any activity (unexcused).
- If you have a doctor’s appointment, you must come to school, sign out, go to the doctor, and return to school before the end of the school day.
- Any variation in this policy must be approved by the athletic department.
- Each team member is given a cap and bathing suit. This is the team uniform. Each member is expected to wear the team uniform to meets only. Please wash your suit in fresh water after each use. The team suit and cap are NOT for practices. Practice suits must be purchased by the team member. A team member can never wear a suit that is considered immodest. By NJSIAA rules, a cap can be a white cap with American flag or the team cap. No other cap is permitted. Furthermore, suits worn for competition must be 100% permeable to air and water. They may not be made to aid in buoyancy, and only one suit may be worn at a time during competition. For additional suit regulation changes, visit https://www.njsiaa.org/ .
- The awarding of honors, such as a Varsity letter, is based on several criteria, not the least of which is performance in competition. A swimmer is eligible to receive a Varsity letter if they earn a minimum of two points per meet in dual meet competition during the season. Appropriate conduct is also essential.
- A diver must obtain a score of 100 points during a single dual competition. Appropriate conduct is also essential.
- A swimmer or diver may attain a Varsity award by qualifying for the SJISA, Gloucester County Championships or State Championships.
- A senior athlete is eligible to receive a Varsity letter if they show a strong commitment to the team and the sport of swimming or diving over the course of their high school career. Any awards won by an underclass athlete during previous seasons has no bearing on their status during the current season; no athlete is guaranteed, or entitled to, a Varsity or Junior varsity award, even if the athlete had earned that award in previous years.
- A manager is eligible to receive a varsity award based upon the following criteria: He or she must attend all practices and assist in whatever capacity is needed. He or she must also attend all dual meets and consistently and effectively run the scoring table. Attendance at all championship meets is also required. Managers must also accurately and efficiently record meet results and keep team records and statistics up-to-date.
- Violation of team rules, school board policy or the direction of the Coaches may jeopardize an athlete’s award status.
- A Varsity award may be granted at the Coaches’ discretion.
- Practice for those athletes participating in swim only begins at 2:15pm and ends at approximately 4:30pm.
- Practice times for those athletes participating in dive only will vary depending upon our practice/competition schedule. In general, practice will run from 3:30-5:00 Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, and from 5:00-6:00 on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Athletes who plan to dive and not swim must get their own transportation to and from practice. Divers are encouraged to swim as well as dive, however, to ensure maximum inclusion on the team and involvement in all meets.
- Practice times for those athletes who plan to swim and dive incorporate all of the above times.
- Bus transportation to practice will be provided at 2:15pm from the high school. At the conclusion of practice, all athletes MUST be picked up in front of Riverwinds no later than 4:45pm, with the exception of divers. There is no longer a 5:15pm sports bus that departs from the high school. If an athlete fails to be picked up by 4:45pm on more than three occasions, his or her participation in the next meet could be limited.
- Lateness to practice for any reason other than academic tutoring will be considered an unexcused absence. Any athlete participating in an after school study group must give prior notice to the coaching staff and hand in a dated signed note from the facilitating teacher at the time she arrives to practice. Lateness due to participation in after school clubs is NOT excused. The bus will leave promptly at 2:15pm.
- All athletes will obey the instruction given by the Coaches, the team captains, the bus driver, and any facility manager or lifeguard who is present. This includes being on time for the bus, changing, completing the warm-up, and ready to begin practice at the designated time.
- No one can leave the practice area without permission. Our practice area is the 8-lane pool.
- The bus, locker room, pool deck and meeting rooms are expected to be clean at all times.
- Each athlete will complete each part of the training session to the best of their ability. For injury or chronic pain, see a professional care-giver and provide the coach with written documentation.
- All athletes must keep in mind that swimming and diving are highly competitive sports where conditioning and training are paramount. Lanes and events during the meet are limited, and these slots will be given to the athlete who gives the team the best chance for a top performance. Cutting corners at practice can add seconds to your event time. This results in fewer points earned, and not participating at meets. Please remember that the diving event only allows for three members to dive each meet. New divers must have six different dives to compete in a meet.
- Hazing of any form will not be tolerated at any time and may result in dismissal from the team.
F. Conduct at Meets and Championships: Sportsmanship
- This is an area where our team excels in our team sport. Athletes will sit with the team and their teammates. While one may talk for a moment with family, friends, or other spectators, you are not to spend an inordinate amount of time outside the team designated area.
- Friends and family are not allowed in the team area. Our team area is the bleacher section closest to the diving boards.
- Do not get caught up in any negative moment.
- Cheer on all races.
- Cheer competitors and even compliment them on their performance. We know how hard people work to perform well.
- Shake hands at the end of the meet.
- On our meet days, you will dress very nicely in school. Team captains may request a special mode of dress for game days.
G. Driving: Senior Athlete and Parent
- Any meet at Riverwinds is considered a home meet and the athletes must ride the bus to the pool.
- Any meet at another pool is considered an away meet and the athletes must ride the bus to and from the pool.
There are three separate situations where a team member may request driving or pickup by a parent. These instances are listed below, and if your child leaves with you, have them say good bye to the coaches before they leave so we don’t worry about them!!!!!!!
- Practice: If a senior wants to drive to practice, a parent/guardian must sign the Section 1: Parental Permission for Senior form (This form is available in the athletic office.)
- Parent Drive to/from Away Meet: All athletes MUST travel on the bus both to and from all away meets. When a parent wants to take his or her child to or from a meet, the parent must sign the Section 2: Parental Transportation of Athlete form (This form is available in the athletic office.) HOWEVER, each time a parent requests to drive an athlete, he or she MUST put their request in writing three days before the event. Have your child take that letter directly to Mr. Morrell. Requests to drive from meets are honored when there is a time commitment to another meet, vacation, or a concert, etc. The Team member is expected to ride the bus with the team. We will keep you informed of any changes.
- Late Meet: When a meet is scheduled for 5:10 PM at Riverwinds, the athletes will arrive at the pool by their own means (by 4:00 PM or they will not compete) and leave on their own. This procedure is similar to other sporting events when there is a late game. No note is required. This does not include meets that are considered away meets.