Walnut Creek Swim Team

MISSION STATEMENT AND PHILOSOPHY

Mission Statement

To promote the sport of competitive swimming through positive motivation and the teaching of sound stroke mechanics in a fun, healthy and respectful atmosphere, encouraging sportsmanship and personal growth at all levels.

Philosophy

• To recognize and promote swimming as a life-long activity, which can contribute significantly to the physical and emotional growth and development of swim team members through healthful exercise.
• To develop and teach proper sportsmanship.
• To promote and develop a positive team atmosphere through individual and team effort and spirit.
• To improve the technical ability and overall performance of each swimmer in a safe, quality, athletic training program.

TEAM INFORMATION AND POLICIES

Code of Conduct:

Each parent and swimmer is required to sign a code of conduct prior to participating in a meet. The coaching staff trusts that all swimmers will conduct themselves in a supportive and sportsmanlike manner. The coaches encourage all swimmers to do their best at all times and in return, they will do their best to help each swimmer develop their strokes. 

Policies

All swimmer, parents and spectators are expected to adhere to all pool, Northland conference, Missouri Valley Swimming and USA Swimming rules.  Failure to adhere to these guidelines will result in the child not being allowed to participate.

Swimmers and families will conduct themselves at practices and meets so as to exhibit good discipline and sportsmanship toward all swimmers, coaches, and meet officials.  Any swimmer or family not adhering to this guideline, by the discretion of the Head Coach, Meet Officials, WCST Board or Swim Team Administrator, may be suspended from practices, meets, social events or expelled from the team. 

The swim team requires parent involvement in the organization.  No child is permitted to register and swim unless a parent meets the team volunteer requirement during swim meets.   

Practices

While the coaching staff is open to comments and suggestions, parents are requested to refrain from discussions with the coaches during practice and during swim meets, so the coaches’ full attention can be given to the swimmers. If a parent feels that immediate attention is required, comments should be directed to a board member, so that issues can be handled expediently and efficiently.

Dive certifications are held at specific practices and must be completed in order to participate in a meet. All swimmers are encouraged to help each other to create a strong sense of team spirit. 

Swimmers may only attend one practice per day to avoid crowding. 

Discipline Policy

In order to make practices and meets the most beneficial and safe for all, the following actions will be taken for those swimmers who disregard pool rules and safety and/or display disrespect for the coaches, teammates, personal property and/or lifeguards:

1. A coach or board member will give the swimmer a verbal warning to stop their disruptive behavior.

2. If the behavior continues, the swimmer will be asked to sit out of practice for 15 minutes.

3. If the behavior continues, the parents of the swimmer will be notified, and the Board will decide whether parental attendance will be required at all future practices and swim meets to monitor the swimmer’s behavior.

4. If the situation does not improve, upon approval of the Board, the swimmer will be removed from the team, without a refund.

If young children not on the team are brought to practice and are on the pool deck, they must be supervised at all times by their parents/guardians. Non-swimmers are not allowed in the baby pool. The only people permitted in the pool are the coaches, helpers and swimmers.

Team Communication

The team website, www.walnutcreekswimteam.swimtopia.com, is a major tool of communication. It will have up-to-the date information once the season starts including meet dates, results, coaches’ notes and any changes in schedule. Every effort will be made to update the most recent meet information. Please remember we are volunteers and as such work around our own responsibilities. Please check it when you have a question or wish to check team events.

The coaches or board will use e-mail to communicate important team information. Parents and swimmers are responsible for checking their emails and other forms of communication in order to stay informed. Please use the team email,[email protected], to leave messages for the coaches and the board members. 

Meets

Parents are responsible for committing their child to attend each meet. Only three individual events are allowed per swimmer. Please notify the coaches and/or board members if you are unable to swim in a meet.

Each meet is listed on the web site. It is the parent’s responsibility to indicate if their swimmer(s) will be attending each meet by clicking on the “Attending" or "Not Attending” BEFORE the registration deadline and following the instructions from there. It is very important to indicate your swimmer’s intentions, even if they cannot attend a meet. If you fail to commit your swimmer prior to the deadline, his/her participation in that meet cannot be guaranteed. While parents have the option to indicate preferred events, the entry decisions are ultimately made by the coaches.

Relays are determined solely by the coaches and are only subject to change at the discretion of the coaches.  Your swimmer may end up not swimming in a relay, even if they declared that they are available.  Sometimes there is not space in the meet for more than 1-2 relays.  It is expected that selected relay team members will represent WCST with respect, integrity and sportsmanship. When selected on a relay team the team is representing the entire Walnut Creek Swim Team.  

Swim meets are typically held on Thursday nights. There are 6 regular session meets, 3 at the Walnut Creek Pool and 3 at our opponent’s pools as visitors. All meets begin at 6:00 PM. Please have your child at home meets by 4:30 PM and at away meets by 4:45 PM.

If a swimmer cannot attend a meet or will be late, the team must be notified, preferably by the team email. Unanticipated absences should be reported to the coach or Board Member. Because no-show swimmers are extremely disruptive to the meet, please be prompt in notifying the appropriate parties when a swimmer will not be attending the meet.

Please note that late afternoon thundershowers are difficult to forecast so often a meet is not cancelled due to weather until the very last moment. Often this may not be until after the scheduled start time. Unless there is thunder and lightning, swim meets DO continue even if it is raining. All swimmers are expected to show up unless notified otherwise. 

Championship Meet

To participate in the Northland Conference Championship meet, a swimmer must achieve a conference qualifying time and compete in at least three dual meets. The conference dates and qualifying times are listed on the website.

PARENTS' PARTICIPATION

Volunteer Work

All parents are required to work each meet that their child swims in. You can choose which job you would like to do (first come, first served basis). This is done by logging in on the website and choosing “job signup” on the Event Calendar page.  All jobs must be filled in order to successfully run a swim meet. If a family has not signed up for a volunteer position by Tuesday evening (or two days) prior to the meet, a job will be assigned. An email will be sent out the day before the meet that will include your assigned job.

**Because so many volunteers are needed to run a meet, failure to show up for your assigned position may result in your swimmer being excluded from the next swim meet. **

It’s About the Children

Please remember, the purpose of the Walnut Creek Swim Team is to give children the opportunity to swim competitively and improve their skills, while enjoying the camaraderie of their teammates and having a good time. The summer swim team can only be successful if we have the full cooperation and support of ALL the parents.

GO CREEKERS!