Mountain Lakes
2003 Swimming and Diving Team
The Board
welcomes you to another great season of fun, competition, good sportsmanship,
and team spirit. Working together, we can provide a wholesome and rewarding
experience for the whole family.
Philosophy: Stroke Technique Ð Fun
- Team Unity
Emphasis on stroke technique
is the cornerstone of creating a competent and confident swimmer. Speed will
follow. Great swim teams are composed of swimmers proficient in all four main
strokes (fly, free, back, breast) and Individual Medley (IM). Although some
athletes will prefer one or more over others, our team will possess depth when
our swimmers can swim all stokes well. Fun is needed for success at all levels of sport. Fun is: sacrificing in
practice with your teammates; learning and improving together; encouraging
others; sharing time as part of a team; and participating in the teamÕs
success. Team unity builds
character and confidence in the athletes and the team. Once forged, these
qualities of champions cannot be broken.
It is essential that
parents of all swimmers and divers help run their respective meets. A volunteer
schedule of dates and tasks for weeknight meets will be distributed early in
the season. A parent from each swimming family is expected to help at a minimum
of two weeknight meets, and to time for a short period at most weekend
invitationals in which a child of theirs participates Timing responsibilities
for weekend swimming invitationals generally are handled in a co-operative
fashion on site. Aside from assuring efficient meets and the best views,
volunteering fosters team spirit among parents, and between parents and
swimmers.
Did
you know that the swim team pays an entry fee for each swimmer, for each event,
at all weekend invitationals? Did you know that there are a maximum number of
swimmers that coaches can enter in scoring lanes at each weeknight meet?
To be fair to
swimmers and coaches, and to eliminate unnecessary costs, please complete an Absentee
Card for each swimmer, projecting
dates that your child will be unavailable. Return the card to your childÕs
coach the first week of practice. As your summer plans evolve, submit
amendments via another Absentee Card.
á Wine and Cheese Party for Parents and Coaches:
Friday, June 27, 7:30 at the home of Betsy and Mark Cohen. Begin the summer
season by gathering with other parents and members of the Swimming and Diving
Association.
á Rafting for 11 and over swimmers and divers in
July. TBA
á Bowling for 10 and under swimmers and divers:
August 4.
á Diving AwardsÕ Ceremony and Ice Cream Social:
July 24
á Swimming AwardsÕ Ceremony and Family Barbecue:
August 9, following Lakeland ÔAÕs.
á Thursday evening meets: Warm-ups 6:00; Meets start
6:30
á 6 Monday evening meets: Warm-ups 6:00; Meets start
6:45
á Usually compete against two other teams in three
strokes and IM.
á Limited entries in scoring lanes; coaches add heats
to provide opportunity for all swimmers.
á 6 Wednesday evening meets: Warm-ups 6:15; Meets start
7:00
á Two teams compete in four strokes.
á League sponsors specialty meets throughout the season
to provide swimmers with varied opportunities. Generally, these are during the
day on Saturdays.
Diving (Birchwood Lake): 4:00
- 5:00 except Thursday. Thursday
12 Ð 2
Introduction
to Competitive Swimming:
9:00
- 10:00 June 23
Ð July 3 Mountain Lakes Club pool
2:00
- 3:00 July 7 Ð July 18 Birchwood Lake
Swim
Team: 8
and Unders 1 Ð 2
(Birchwood
Lake) 9
/ 10s 12:15
Ð 1:30
11 and overs* June 23 Ð July 3: 10:30 - 12:00;
July 7 Ð August 8:
10 - 12
*Note:
Swimmmers who participate in morning Rec. program may choose to practice from
12:15 Ð 1:30.
Bring to Workouts:
Beach tag and test badge; water bottle labeled with last name; practice suit
and shirt; goggles (dark or mirrored more comfortable in bright sun); swim cap;
towels; and fins (required for 11 and overs, optional for 9/10s)
Bring
to Evening Meets: team suit, cap, and t-shirt; ballpoint pen in ziplock
back; goggles (preferably clear for better night vision); water bottle; towels;
warm clothes; and footwear to protect feet on beaches
Bring
to Day Meets: same as evening meets, plus: additional food and drink;
sunscreen; dark or mirrored goggles; games and seating.
Home
page > Community organizations
> Recreation > Mountain Lakes Swim Association
á More on our coaches
á Meet directions
á Calendar of Meets and Social events
á Details of the required beach swim test
á Message updates to calendar and workout schedules
á Board contacts
Thank you for your
participation. Enjoy!
Mountain Lakes Swimming
Mountain Lakes
Beach Swim Test
Birchwood Lake
All
children, until age 13, must pass the swim test in order to:
1.
Swim
in deep water (generally, over a childÕs head)
2.
Use
rafts, kickboards, etc., even in shallow water
3.
Use
the diving boards
4.
Swim
in the lanes
5.
Swim
on the swim team or diving team
6.
When
10 or older, come to the beach alone.
Swim test
procedure:
These are general guidelines for your reference. The swim test administrator will describe the test to the children when they are on the beach, so it is clear and fresh in their minds.
A child
must swim the front crawl, starting at the long dock parallel to the beach, to
the far perimeter rope. This must be accomplished with rotary breathing, and
without stopping.
Once the
child reaches the perimeter rope, he/she must turn over and head back to the
starting point, using the back crawl.
Halfway
back, the child will be instructed to stop and tread water for up to one
minute.
When the
lifeguard signals, the child must resume swimming to return to the starting
point.
Upon successful completion, a swim badge will be given to the child to be worn on the bathing suit.
It is imperative that our children have good water
safety skills. Our lakes do not afford the clarity of a pool. There are many
areas in which to swim, and most of these involve deep water. Please support
this beach test procedure and the lifeguards on duty during the summer months.