Parent’s
Organization Handbook
6/06 Changed 5 meets to 6 for
working
4/07 Change arrival time to 45
minutes
Rev. 4/06, 4/07
CENTENNIAL BEACH MUDRATS
PARENT/SWIMMER HANDBOOK
CONTENTS
Purpose 3
Practice Times 4
Team Information (Attendance, Equipment, etc.) 5
Meet Procedures 6
Concessions Information/Parent Participation Requirements 7
Position Descriptions 8-10
Committee Chair Responsibilities 11
Returning Mudrat Policy 12
Scoring Information 13
Classic & City Meet Information 13
City Meet Qualifying Times 14
PURPOSE
The Mudrat Parent Organization’s goals for the swim team include:
1. Providing a healthy, safe, and enjoyable summer activity.
2. Improving individual swimming skills and abilities.
3. Experiencing a competitive team effort by supporting all teammates.
4. Experiencing an organized social environment.
5. Developing individual self-confidence.
6. Learning to compete, not by winning or losing, but by doing their personal best.
Mudrats Have More Fun!
PRACTICE SCHEDULE
SWIM SEASON
For more details and
changes to this schedule, always check the weekly Mudrat Memo.
Practice times and
locations for the week before the Classic and City meets will be confirmed at a
later date.
B = Boy G
= Girl
6
and under 9-10
Boys 11-12 Boys
B&G 9-10
Girls 13-14 B&G
Dates/Locations 7-8
B&G 11-12
Girls 15-18 B&G
Monday – Friday
(before school is out)
Monday – Thursday 6 & under
(after school is out)
The Beach 7 & 8
Fridays
(after school is out)
(see Mudrat Memo)
Classic & City Practice (see Mudrat Memo)
IMPORTANT PRACTICE
POLICIES
1. Swimmers need to arrive 5 minutes early for designated practice times. Your swim cap and goggles should be on so that you are ready to get into the water on time.
2. There will be absolutely NO swimmers on the lower deck during practices. You must stay on the grass until your designated practice time so that coaches can focus on swimmers in the water.
Parents: Please carefully read though this section of
the handbook and be sure to communicate its contents to your swimmers.
ATTENDANCE: Swimmers have a responsibility to attend
practices on a regular basis. In order
to be considered for the line-up at any given meet, attendance at three or more
practices in a week with the Mudrat Team is expected. Any problems adhering to this standard should
be discussed with your swimmer’s coach.
If a child cannot swim in a meet,
sign him or her out in the binder that the Head Coach will have with him at all
practices and meets. This should be done
at least a week in advance for planned absences (vacations, weddings, camp, etc.). In case of illness or other emergency, notify
your child’s coach in person or by phone as soon as possible and also sign them
out.
BAD WEATHER: Practices are scheduled for every day. Coaches are there and encourage attendance. Team spirit activities, held out of the water, are scheduled for unseasonably cold weather. In case of lightning or other severe weather, please do not take your swimmer(s) to the Beach. To confirm whether practice is taking place, call 848-5000, press #3 for facilities and follow the prompts for swim lesson rainout or check the website at www.napervilleparks.org.
SUPERVISION: Because there is no provision for
general supervision of non-participating children during practice times, the
Park District requires that younger children remain under the direct
supervision of their parents at all times.
They may not play in the water, but they may use playground equipment or
play in the sand if a parent is with them at all times. All
swimmers are expected to be with their coaches during the entire specified
practice time.
LINE-UPS: Line-ups will be posted the day before every meet. For Tuesday meets, line-ups will be posted Monday mornings. For Thursday meets, line-up will be posted on Wednesday mornings. For Saturday meets, line-ups will be posted on Friday mornings. Look for the line-ups on the Mudrat web site. At home meets, line-ups are posted inside the entrance to the viewer gallery at Naperville North/Central. At away meets, we attempt to post the line-up on a fence or wall in our swimmers’ team area. This can vary by facility. Look for the Mudrat banner.
EQUPIMENT:
1. Suits can be purchased by contacting the Spiritwear Chairman. Team suits have been known to last longer if not worn to every practice and rinsed in cold clean water after each wearing to rinse chlorine out. Do not put suits in the dryer.
2. Goggles are strongly recommended for practices and meets.
3. Swim suits, goggles, towels, and other belongings must be clearly marked with names.
4. Lost and found is displayed at every Friday practice.
5. Each swimmer is issued a team T-shirt on Picture Day (see schedule of events). You will receive your shirt at later date if you are absent.
6. Parents’ shirts, team athletic bags, and other specialized equipment are for sale at home meets. Much of the merchandise must be pre-ordered prior to Time Trials.
MEET PROCEDURES
The Head Coach has established specific warm-up times at the meets for each age group so that all swimmers will have 15 minutes of quality swimming before the meet. You will only be allowed to warm up during your designated time, so you must be on time!
6 & under B & G Tuesday, Thursday warm-up
7-8 B & G Saturday warm-up
9-10 B & G Tuesday,
Thursday warm-up
11-12 Girls Saturday
warm-up
11-12 Boys Tuesday,
Thursday warm-up
13-14 & 15-18 B & G Saturday warm-up
1. Swimmers
must be checked in 45 minutes prior to the beginning of the meet. Late check-in will result in being scratched
from the meet. (Parents who are working
must check in 45 minutes before the meet starts, also).
2. NO swimmers will be allowed to sit with the coaches at meets. Swimmers are encouraged to walk behind the coaches’ chairs or bench and talk to their coaches after they race. Please understand that the coaches need to watch all of their swimmers’ races, so do not take up more of your coach’s time than necessary.
3. Heats will be lined up by the Clerks of Course in a designated area. At home meets, this will occur on the stairs behind the concession area. It is important for swimmers to keep track of which event is being lined up and to report immediately when their events are announced for line-up. Parents are encouraged to help swimmers arrive on time for line-ups by checking the white board in the team area.
4. Swim meets usually last about 3 hours. All clubs do provide concessions, but you may want to plan your meals accordingly.
5. All swimmers are expected to stay until the end of each meet unless written notice is given to the coach.
6. It is a Mudrat tradition to gather at
Portillo’s on
7. Under NO CIRCUSTANCES should a swimmer wear jewelry of ANY KIND during a swim meet. This includes post earrings, friendship and/or ankle bracelets, rings, and necklaces. A swimmer will be disqualified from an event if not following this rule.
HOME MEET
CONCESSIONS: Selling concessions at
home meets is the primary way that the Mudrat Parents Organization raises money
that funds awards and helps keep the cost of social events reasonable. This year, we will be collecting $20.00 cash
donation for concession products. Pay
your money to the Mudrat treasurer or concession chairman on or before Time
Trials (see schedule of events).
PARENT PARTRICIPATION REQUIRED FOR MEETS
Swim meets could not take place
without the dedication of our parents.
This is a wonderful opportunity to be involved in your children’s
activity and to meet the other terrific Mudrat parents. To receive a refund of the participation
deposit, all Mudrat families are expected to provide adult workers for a
minimum of six meets during the regular season and in addition for any year-end
meet (Classic and/or City) in which a swimmer is participating. Families with swimmers in both Classic and
City maybe required to work at both meets.
Parents may sign up for positions
at the Parent Informational Meeting in May and at practices and meets for the
first three weeks of the season. After
mid-June, you may sign up by seeing the Parent Participation Coordinator. Please review descriptions of the various
jobs on the following pages to be sure you understand what is required before
you sign up. Thank you for all you do to
help the meets run smoothly!
All workers should arrive at the
meet forty-five minutes prior to the start time, sign in with the Parent
Participation Coordinator, and obtain a name tag. If a worker is not present and signed in for
his/her job 45 minutes prior to the beginning of the meet, the position may be
assigned to someone else. No credit will
be given to workers not signed in 45 minutes prior to the start of a
meets. This is the only record we have
that you worked. The Parent
Participation Coordinator can answer any questions you have about the
successful completion of your assignment.
It is expected that all workers be present from forty-five minutes prior
to the meet start time and stay until the end of the meet if credit for working
is to be received.
Rev. 4/06, 4/07
PARENT PARTICIPATION POSITION DESCRIPTIONS
H = number needed at Home meets A
= number needed at Away meets
* = mandatory
attendance required at preseason conference official’s clinic
Timers (H-14, A-11) use stopwatches to record swimmers’ times
during races. This position requires you
to be on your feet throughout the meet at the poolside where you get an
excellent view of the action. You must
arrive at the pool a half-hour before the start of the meet. Sign in with the Parent Participation
Coordinator, then see the Head Timer for a lane assignment, and then listen for
timers’ meeting to be announced. In
addition to using the stopwatch, you must confirm that you have the correct
swimmer in your lane for each heat; one timer on each lane records times. You will be trained on the stopwatch if you
are a newcomer. You cannot
supervise small children and time at a meet.
You will be relieved for a break at some point during the meet.
*Starter (H-1, A-0) is the official who begins each event. You must arrive forty-five minutes before the
start of the meet to be sure that the pool is set up and the equipment is
functioning. Attendance at an officials
meeting on the pool deck before the meet begins is mandatory.
*Referee (H-1, A-0) is the official in charge of the rules and the
smooth running of the meet. You will
work closely with the Starter to keep the meet moving at a brisk pace. You must arrive forty-five minutes before the
start of the meet to welcome the visiting team and hold the officials meeting.
*Stroke Judge (H-1, A-1) monitors the stroke of the swimmers from
the side of the pool. You must arrive forty-five
minutes before the start of the meet and attend an officials meeting on the
pool deck.
*Turn Judge (H-1, A-1) monitors proper turns and touches by
swimmers at the end of the pool opposite from the starting blocks. You must arrive forty-five minutes before the
start of the meet and attend an officials meeting on the pool deck.
Time Verifiers (H-2, A-2) verify times of all swimmers. You should arrive forty-five minutes before
the start of the meet to receive instructions from our Head Scorer at home
meets or from the other team’s people at away meets. You usually are able to
sit during the meet and can get up to watch your swimmer’s events.
Ribbons (H-2, A-2) verifies times and names on labels, then places them
on the appropriate place ribbon and files the ribbons accurately. You usually are able to sit during the meet
and can get up to watch your swimmer’s events.
If it is difficult for you to get to the meets forty-five minutes early,
this is a good position for you. You are
not really needed until the meet is underway, but you often will make up for
this later start by being one of the last workers to finish at the meet.
Runners (H-1, A-1) work on pool deck, collecting timers’ sheets and
judges’ DQ cards to deliver to the scoring table. You should plan on walking throughout the
meet, although you will be relieved for a break. This is a good spot for watching all the
events, although it is not for you if you have smaller children who need
supervision during the meet. Arrive forty-five
minutes before the start of the meet and report to the timers’ meeting before
the meet begins.
Concessions (H-4, A-0) set up, sell, replenish, and clean up food
and beverage items during home meets.
You should arrive forty-five minutes before the beginning of the meet to
help set up the concessions area. This
is a position that requires you to be on your feet throughout the meet,
although you can take turns with the other workers to catch your swimmer’s
events. Concessions workers with long
hair are asked to wear it pulled back.
Health guidelines will be communicated by Concessions Chairpersons in a
short meeting at the start of each meet.
Clerk of Course (H-2, A-2) uses a bullhorn to announce events to
swimmers and makes sure the swimmers stay in the bullpen area until their heat
is called. You will be working with the Line-up Assistants to locate missing
swimmers. As you coordinate the duties
with your partner, you should be able to take short breaks to watch your swimmer’s
events. You must sign-in forty-five
minutes before the beginning of the meet.
Line-up Assistants (H-2, A-2) lines up and leads each heat of
swimmers to the pool deck, making sure that each swimmer reaches the correct
lane. Your assistance may also be needed to locate swimmers who have not
reported for heats, within reason. At
home meets, you will update the dry-erase board that lets swimmers know which
event number that is being lined up.
Sign up for this job if you enjoy communicating with kids of all ages
and don’t mind a little exercise during the meet. There should be enough Clerks and Line-up
people to permit you to watch your own swimmer’s events. Sign in forty-five minutes before the meet
begins.
Marshals (H-3, A-2) in charge of maintaining safety at our swim
meets. At home meets, we will now have a Gate
Marshal who will supervise access to the pool deck, making sure that only
authorized individuals go on the deck. One
of the Marshals will remind swimmers and spectators not to stand at or play on
the rail in front of the viewing gallery at Naperville North/Central. You will need to stand during the entire meet
and must be willing to communicate clearly (i.e., tell people where to go☺).
Two Team Area Marshals will maintain a safe environment among our
Mudrats while they are out of the water, both at home and away meets. You will remind swimmers to clean up their
trash, play safely, and follow the Mudrat Code of Conduct at all times. During the last relay events, you will obtain
trash bags from the Concessions area and circulate through the team area,
asking swimmers to deposit their garbage.
After swimmers depart, you will consolidate any items left behind to be
added to the Lost and Found. This is a
good position if you need to keep young children with you during the meet (plus
they will learn how to become well-trained Mudrats someday). Please
do not sign up for this job, however, if you have a problem reminding other
people’s children how they are expected to behave.
At home meets, we will have one Marshal-at-Large who will help monitor
swimmer behavior in the concessions area, patrol the school hallways, and
assist and relieve the other Marshals.
During the last relay events, you will obtain a trash bag from
concessions and circulate it through the viewer gallery, asking spectators to
place their trash in it. As spectators
leave, you will consolidate any items left behind to add to the Lost and
Found. This position requires an
assertive personality. Think
sheriff/marshal, not parade marshal.
Marshals should plan on staying 15 minutes past the meets conclusion to
make sure all areas are clean.
All volunteers are expected to sign in with the Parent Participation
Coordinator forty-five minutes before the meet begins. If you are late, your position may be
reassigned, and you will need to sign up to work at another meet. Please make arrangements for someone to
supervise your younger children when you are working at a meet, so that your
full attention can be devoted to helping the meet to run smoothly.
MUDRAT COMMITTEE CHAIR RESPONSIBILITES
All Parent Board members need to be
available at Home and at Away meets to assist in any and all functions
necessary to run the meet smoothly from start to finish.
PARENT PARTICIPATION WORKERS/OFFICIALS: Creating
sign-up sheets for all dual and Classic/City meets, checking workers in at the
beginning of each meet, explaining job functions to workers, and maintaining
records of parent workers, and providing the Treasurer with lists of families
eligible for volunteer deposit refund and priority registration. Responsible
for recruiting officials and communicating the availability of pre-season
official training sessions, keeping a list of qualified officials, and holding
brief sessions before or during warm-ups of each home meet to welcome and
orient visiting team’s officials.
RECORDS/AWARDS: Responsible
for maintaining complete and accurate records and providing a means for their
public display, obtaining score sheets for both home and away meets, comparing
times against existing records, and updating the record board. Also secures awards and plans program for
Award Ceremony at the end of the season.
SCORING: Responsible
for the administration and preparation of all scoring related functions and
procedures, conducting scoring functions in accordance with Park District Swim
Conference guidelines, instructing and supervising parent scorers at meets,
distributing swim meet results to Head Coach, Ribbons, Goals, Publicity, and
Records/Awards, and assisting with scoring functions at the Classic and City
Championship Meets as required.
PUBLICITY/NEWSLETTER: Responsible
for writing, printing and distribution of weekly Mudrat Memo. Responsible for
providing meet results and public relations related information to the local
media, obtaining publicity data for home meets from score sheets, and
completing publicity form for all home meets within established deadlines.
TIMING: Responsible
for assigning Timers to lanes at each meet, holding a timers meeting, arranging
for “split” timers for relay events and seeing that those times are given to
the coaches, supervising timers, arranging for relief timing, maintaining and
caring for timing watches, and supervising timers for the Classic and City
Championship Meets as required. Also
responsible for providing beverages to workers on pool deck and bringing the
Mudrat banner to each meet.
RIBBONS/GOALS: Responsible
for supervising ribbon volunteers at all meets, ordering and receiving ribbons
through the Park District Swim Conference, keeping records of ribbons supplies,
distributing ribbons at practices throughout the season, and assisting with
ribbon functions at the Classic and City Championship Meets as required. Responsible for comparing times against individual swimmer’s
existing record and issuing a star and card for each “best time” achieved by
swimmers.
SOCIAL: Responsible
for making arrangements (or delegating same) for all team parties and outings,
creating and distributing flyers for these events, and arranging for team
pictures, and distribution of T-shirts.
CONCESSIONS: Responsible
for purchasing food to be sold and setting up, selling, and cleaning up for
Time Trials and each home meet. Also, responsible for contacting vendors, providing coffee, and paper
products. Responsible
for storing the dry erase board that is used to notify swimmers which event is
lining up.
SPIRITWEAR: Responsible
for organizing any fund raising events other than concessions, including sales
of Mudrat clothing items, towels, and swim caps.
RETURNING MUDRAT POLICY
For the past few years, there have been certain age groups
that have had more applicants than can be accommodated. Because this is
While you are only required to work 6 meets (plus Classic and/or City meets) to receive the refund on you volunteer deposit, you will also have the opportunity to register your swimmer(s) for Mudrats before the general lottery begins.
The rules for the policy are as follows:
1. Parents are required to work 6 swim meets to receive the refund of the $75.00 deposit and be entitled to sign their swimmer(s) up during early registration of the following season.
2. Parents maybe required to work the Classic and/or City meet if they have swimmers in these meets. If you do not meet this obligation, you will not be eligible for early registration.
3. If you work as an Official, you need only work 5 swim meets since you must attend a training session. After working 5 meets as an Official, your attendance at the Officials Training Clinic will count as your sixth parent commitment.
4. You must arrive at meets you are working forty-five minutes before the meet starts, sign in with the Parent Participation Coordinator, and work through the entire meet to be sure you receive your credit.
5. At the end of the season, you may check with the Parent Participation Coordinator to be sure you are on the list for early registration.
6. Families will be notified by mail of
the early registration date prior to the lottery registration date for the
following spring. It is the responsibility of the family to have your application to the
Park District office by the deadline date for early registration.
SCORING FOR DUAL MEETS
Relays: 1st place 8 points
2nd place 4 points
Individual: 1st place 5 points
2nd place 3 points
3rd place 2 points
4th place 1 point
A team may score only two places in individual events, one in relays. However, ribbons are given to the actual swimmer who places. There are other considerations such as ties and close races where judges’ decisions are necessary. These situations are worked out by Swim Conference Guidelines.
CLASSIC MEET
Next to last Saturday
in July
AM
Session:
PM Session:
The Classic Meet is for all swimmers who are not entered in the City Meet. This meet is held at three high school sties. The Beach will be assigned to swim as a team at one of these sites.
Individual event awards will be given to those who place in positions 1 through 12 at each site. Relay event awards will be given to teams who place 1st through 3rd.
If your child swims in the Classic Meet, you are expected to work that day.
CITY MEET
Last Friday in July
(15 – 18 year olds)
Last Saturday in July
The City Meet is for all swimmers who meet the qualifying times established by the conference for each event. A swimmer cannot swim in both the Classic and City Meets. (Rare exceptions are made involving relay events.)
This meet is scored as a team event – all three sessions contribute to the team score. Individual events and relay events are scored for 1st through 12th places.
Individual event awards are given to those through place 1st through 12th. Relay event awards are given to those teams who place 1st through 9th.
If your child swims in the City Meet, you are expected to work at the meet.
QUALIFYING TIMES FOR CITY MEET
8 & under
25 Free G 20.9 B 20.1
50 Free G 47.0 B 47.5
25 Fly G 26.6 B 28.3
25 Back G 25.9 B 26.7
25 Breast G 28.4 B 29.0
9-10
50 Free G 37.8 B 37.7
100 I.M. G 1:38.1 B 1:42.6
50 Fly G 46.4 B 52.0
50 Back G 47.2 B 48.0
50 Breast G 49.1 B 50.6
11-12
50 Free G 33.0 B
33.3
100 I.M. G 1:25.3 B 1:26.8
50 Fly G 39.2 B 41.1
50 Back G 41.7 B 42.3
50 Breast G 43.1 B 45.0
13-14
50 Free G 31.0 B 28.9
100 I.M. G 1:20.3 B 1:18.6
50 Fly G 35.4 B 35.6
50 Back G 39.9 B 39.2
50 Breast G 41.8 B 39.7
15-18
50 Free G 28.03 B 24.43
100 Free G 1:07.9 B 59.1
100 I.M. G 1:18.5 B 1:09.0
50 Fly G 34.7 B 30.3
100 Back G 1:23.8 B 1:16.9
100 Breast G 1:30.4 B 1:19.6
6 & Under – all swimmers go to Classic