March 2012

Dear Swim Team Family,

Welcome back to the Lopatcong Swim Team! Enclosed you will find all the registration forms, and information you need to understand the team rules and to ensure a successful season. Please review the information in pages 1-10. You will need to print the following forms, complete and sign them (with your checks):

1)Swim Team Application (to include Application Fee, Fundraiser Buy Out and Work Bond) (pp. 11-12).

2)Parental and Medical Form (pp. 13-14).

3)Statement of Understanding (p. 15).

4)Penn/Jersey Code of Conduct (p. 17).

5)Lopatcong Pool Application (to include Membership Fee) (attached separately as a PDF file).

6)Lopatcong Swim Team, Code of Conduct (attached separately)

After completing and signing all forms and writing the appropriate checks, mail everything to

Lopatcong Swim Team

P.O. Box 206

Phillipsburg, NJ 08865

All forms are due to the swim team (“postmarked by”) by April 13th, 2012. A late fee of $15.00 applies to all swimmers after April 13th. Please do not give your forms and checks to a board member or drop off forms and checks to any team member’s house. Mail everything to the Post Office Box! For the equal treatment of all swim families, and for the safety of all swimmers, these documents and checks must be submitted before swimmers enter the water at the first practice. There are no exceptions to this rule. If you have any questions about registration, please email or call me (908) 760-6661.

There are changes this year:

1)Our team size has grown so much that (unfortunately) we must limit our numbers this year and in the future. These limits will be set by the coaches. Priority will be given to veteran swimmers, then new swimmers who are siblings of veteran swimmers (as space allows), then new swimmers (as space allows). Thus, all veteran swimmers must submit their applications by April 13th to insure a spot on the team. We need to know how many slots are available for new swimmers.

2)Our fundraiser this year will be chaperoning the Lopatcong Pool Dances. We also will be having another “Night Out At Friendly’s or Applebee’s” and Apparel Sales.

The Team Fundraiser this year will be participating in the Chaperoning of the Lopatcong Pool Dances. This will consist of up to 5 dances, a minimum of 10 parents are needed for each dance. Also included in our fundraiser will be a Night out at Friendly’s.

Here is to a great season!

Sincerely,

Myla Frith

President

Enclosures

MISSION STATEMENT

The Lopatcong Aquatic Club provides competitive swimming opportunities and high quality swim team instruction for all levels of swimmers from the novice to the skilled. Our summer swim program welcomes all eligible swimmers and is committed to developing the skills and self-confidence of individual swimmers in a cohesive team environment.

POLICIES

Eligibility

  • Swimmers ages 5-19 (having not completed high school) are eligible to join.
  • Swimmers should be able to swim at least 25 meters freestyle.
  • Swimmers must be a member of the Lopatcong Pool. This is a township requirement for insurance purposes. There are no exceptions.

Fees

  • Swim Team fees
  • $50 for the first child, $35 for each additional child, not to exceed $100 per family.
  • Pool fees (please remember that the swim team does not set these fees!)
  • Family rates: $260 for Swim Team Family Members and Individual rates: $135 for Individual Swim Team Members.
  • Late fees for the Lopatcong Pool will apply after May 31st. See pool application for details.
  • Pool application and fees are paid separately to Lopatcong Township, but are collected by the swim team. (These checks are held and turned in at the beginning of May)

Proper Conduct

  • Swim team members and their family members will be respectful of one another during at all times (not just during the meets). Disrespectful or inappropriate behavior (to include cursing) will not be tolerated, and may, per the Lopatcong Swim Team Bylaws, result in disciplinary action.
  • During the meets, swimmers need to remain with the team. Wandering around is highly discouraged. Younger swimmers should inform the Marshallers when they need to leave the marshalling area.
  • No horseplay or fooling around is permitted during practices, meets, the Invitational, or Championships.
  • Toys and games that cause a disruption will be confiscated by the coaches.
  • A proper diet is recommended prior to participating in a meet. Eating right before participating in an event is discouraged.
  • During the meets, swimmers will remain out of the pool unless they are swimming in an event (no recreational swimming during a meet).

Attendance

  • Practices
  • Swimmers should make every effort to attend practice regularly to ensure they are at their best for every meet.
  • Swimmers should arrive 5 minutes early to practices, and be ready to swim (use the restroom prior to the start of practice).
  • Conflicts with practice schedules (particularly for those ages 15 and older) due to participation with other swim clubs, work schedules, etc. will be discussed with the Head Coach. The coaches may make allowances for these individuals to the practice schedule.
  • Meets
  • Swimmers should make every effort to attend each meet, this is vital to our team and where we place at the end of the season.
  • If a swimmer cannot attend a meet (for other than an illness or emergency), notify the Head coach at least 2 days in advance via email so that the coach may adjust the lineup.
  • If a swimmer cannot attend a meet due to an illness or emergency, notify the Head coach by phone, asap.
  • If a swimmer misses practice on the day of a meet, notify the Head coach by phone (above) as soon as possible (no later than 1:00 p.m. the day of the meet) to inform the coach whether the swimmer will be at the meet.
  • Meets begin at 6:00 p.m. Swimmers should arrive at 5:15 p.m., no later than 5:30 p.m. Notify the Head coach if you know you are going to be late to avoid being scratches from the lineup.

Invitational

  • All swimmers are eligible and highly encouraged to compete in the Invitational.
  • Proper Conduct rules apply.

Championship Qualifications

  • Swimmers qualify for Championships by meeting established time standards for a particular event. These standards will be provided in the mailboxes.
  • Swimmers must compete in at least 5 meets to be eligible for Championships. USS swimmers must compete in at least 6 meets.
  • Proper Conduct rules apply.

Inclement Weather

  • In case of electrical storms, swimmers will not enter the water. If it is only raining, swimmers may still swim. Coaches will determine whether swimmers will swim.
  • If a practice or a meet is cancelled due to inclement weather, swimmers will be notified (the method of notification is to be determined).
  • Swimmers should come prepared for weather changes. Bring sweatshirts, sweatpants, extra towels, etc.

Membership in Other Swim Clubs

Membership in other swim clubs is permitted under the following conditions. Please consult with the coaches.

  • The other team must be an official USS team or high-level club—not another Penn-Jersey team or a team comparable in level with the Lopatcong Swim Team. Some of the areas USS teams are: ATAC, TRAC, EMAC, WET, and Jersey Gators.
  • The USS team practice schedule takes priority in case of a conflict. Lopatcong coaches must receive notification of such conflicts.
  • USS swimmers should attend practices on Tuesdays and Thursdays (meet days). Notify coaches of conflicts.
  • Lopatcong Swim Team members who regularly attend practices and meets have priority in meet lineups and relays.
  • Lineups may be worked around the USS swimmer’s schedule, but coaches must receive notification at least one week in advance.
  • Participation in the Lopatcong Invitational is recommended.

Work Bond/Work Requirements

Running a successful swim team takes the help of all parents and guardians as well as finances. To insure that all families contribute equally, a Work Bond of $75 is required, due on April 13th.

  • Each swim family will be required to assist the swim team at a minimum of 4 meets (see Job Description memo for details).
  • Those families with children on the swim team who are ten years old or younger will be required to assist with marshalling during at least two of the four required meets (see Job Description memo for more details).
  • Assistance will also be needed for those participating in the Invitational or Championships.
  • Either parent or guardian can fulfill these assigned positions.
  • Gina Rosa will provide a work schedule for each family.
  • Parents/guardians are responsible for finding replacements if needed (this is not the responsibility of the swim team secretary or the Executive Board). Each family will be provided with a phone list so that replacements can be found. When you have found a replacement, contact the swim team secretary with the change.
  • Parents/guardians assigned to work during any given meet, Invitational, or Championships must show up to work on time. If a parent/guardian is late, they will need to be assigned another time to work to fulfill the work requirement.
  • Each family will provide a check for $75.00 made payable to the Lopatcong Swim Team. This check will be held by the swim team treasurer during the swim team season. It will be returned at the end of the season provided that the family has fulfilled the work requirements. It will be deposited into the swim team account if the family does not fulfill the work requirements.
  • Work Bond fees and Fundraiser fees are two very different things, Work Bond only covers your work responsibilities for meets.

Fundraising Requirements/Fundraising Buyout

Each family is also required to assist with fundraising, or to pay a “Buy Out” fee. Fundraising monies keep our application fees to a minimum.

  • A minimum of 2 dances per family must be chaperoned. These dances fall on Friday evenings in July and August.
  • If you choose not to participate in the chaperoning of dances, you must provide a check with for the “Buy Out” option of $40.00 made payable to the Lopatcong Swim Team by April 13th, 2012.

DIRECTIONS TO POOLS

BELVIDERETake Belvidere Road North (the road the Lopatcong Pool is on) into the

Center of town. At traffic light, go straight through and up slight hill. At

Dead End sign, turn right. Go a short distance and the pool is on your left.

HACKETTSTOWNTake 57 W for @ 20.5 miles. Turn left on CR 517 (Mountain Ave.). Turn left on Warren St. This is the Hackettstown Community Pool.

HUNTERDONTake I 78 E for @ 14 miles and merge onto NJ 31 S via Exit 17 toward Flemington/Trenton. After @ 6.4 miles turn left on W. Woodschurch. After 1.2 miles turn left on Woodschurch. Part of the road is unpaved (according to Mapquest). This is an indoor pool.

LOPATCONGTake Route 22 West. Turn right on Roseberry St. Turn right on Belvidere Rd. (Roseberry St. ends at Belvidere Rd.). Pass Mobile Station on right. Entrance to the pool is on your left.

PALMERTake Route 22 West to 25th Street Exit. Turn right going toward Palmer Park Mall. At 2nd traffic light turn left. Follow road in “S” shape. Will pass a diner and come to 1818 Tavern. At the Tavern, turn left onto Seip Ave. At the fork in the road, bear left onto Fischer Road. Two stone pillars on the right forentrance to Palmer Pool.

PHILLIPSBURG

MIDDLE SCHOOLTake Route 22 to Roseberry St. jug handle. Cross over Route 22. Turn right on Heckman (this is your 2nd right). Turn left on Warren St. (Finnegan Funeral home is on the corner).

WASHINGTONTake Route 57 to Route 31. Turn right onto Route 31. Just before the railroad trestle, turn right into ball field. Go down toward other end of field andPark. Pool down slight hill.

WILSONTake Route 22 West to 25th Street Exit. At light turn left. Stay in left hand laneand turn left at first traffic light onto Northhampton Street. Continue to 2nd traffic light (bank on left side). After bank look for small sign for pool. Turn left, go for a short distance, and turn left again. Road winds up slight hillon right, which goes into parking lot.

JOB DESCRIPTIONS

All those parents scheduled to work during a given meet must arrive 30 minutes prior to the beginning of the meet (this usually means 5:30 p.m.). Remember, if you fail to show up for your scheduled times (unless you have found a replacement), or if you are late and another parent is asked to fill in for you, you will be reassigned another time to work (in addition to the already assigned schedule). You must complete the requirements of the worker’s schedule to get your Work Bond check back.

Groups of families will also be assigned alphabetically to assist in general setup and cleanup of each home meet. The setup and clean up responsibilities are in addition to the four specifically assigned jobs required during the season.

Timer

  • Times swimmers in an assigned lane for every event during a meet, using a stopwatch or other timing device provided.
  • Records times on clipboard or verbally provides Runner with times.
  • With assistance from the Marshaller (see below), ensures the swimmer is in the proper lane, swimming in the right event.
  • Requires 12 Timers for each home meet (2 in each lane, not to include 1 timer from opposing team in each lane), and at least 1 backup Timer. Requires at least 6 timers for each away meet (1 in each lane, not to include 1 timer from each opposing team in each lane), and at least 1 backup Timer.

Runner

  • Collects or records times from each Timer (see above) for every event during a meet, for our swimmers only (specific lanes designated for our team swimmers).
  • Collects disqualification notices (DQ’s) from the Stroke and Turn judges (see below).
  • Collects placement sheets from the Finish Judges (see below).
  • Provides the Scorers (see below) with the times and DQ notices.
  • Requires 2 Runners for each meet (not to include the Runners from the opposing team).

Finish /Place Judge

  • Determines placement (1st, 2nd, 3rd, etc.) of the swimmers in each event.
  • Provides the Runner (see above) with the placement sheet after each event.
  • Requires one Finish Judge for each meet (not to include one Finish Judge from the opposing team).
  • NOTE: this job requires specific training. Contact the Executive Board for details.

Scorer

  • Collects times, DQ notices, and placement sheets from Runners (see above).
  • Records times, DQ notices, and placement for each event.
  • Tabulates placement (1st, 2nd, 3rd, etc.) of the swimmers in each event based on times.
  • Tabulates final scores of each meet to determine the winning team.
  • Provides scoring sheets to League Statistician, and both team Statisticians (see below).
  • NOTE: scorers will eventually be trained and be required to score via the computerized HYTEK system, once the League converts to using this system. This is a significant change to our current scoring system.

Marshalling

  • Takes attendance of all swimmers prior to the start of each meet.
  • Keeps younger swimmers (ages 10 and under) together in designated marshalling area.
  • Lines younger swimmers up for each event
  • Guides younger swimmers to assigned lanes for each event.
  • Ensures each younger swimmer is in the proper lane.
  • Ensures that younger swimmers know which stroke they are swimming.
  • Requires 2 Marshallers for each meet (parents/guardians with children 10 years old or younger must marshal at least one of the 4 required times).

Stroke and Turn Official

  • Evaluates the strokes of each swimmer in each event.
  • Records any DQs for each event.
  • Provides DQ information to the Runner (see above) after each event.
  • Requires one Stroke and Turn Official for each meet.
  • NOTE: this job requires certification. See the Executive Board for details.

Starter

  • Announces the beginning of the meet.
  • Announces the beginning of each event, and the names of the swimmers in each lane.
  • Starts the event (using starting system).
  • Announces final scoring at the end of the meet.
  • Makes any other general announcements needed.
  • Acts as overall referee of the meet.
  • Requires one Starter for each home meet.
  • NOTE: this job requires experience as a Stroke and Turn Official, and training by another experienced Starter. See the Executive Board for details.

Hospitality Workers

  • Assists Hospitality Coordinators (see Committee Descriptions) with hospitality table, collecting and selling food/beverage items during each home meet.
  • Assists with setup and cleanup of hospitality table.
  • Helps with general setup and breakdown of tables, chairs, tents, etc. before and after each home meet. Trash must be brought out to dumpsters when meet ends.
  • Assists the coaches with setup of the pool (connecting lane lines, setting up backstroke flags, etc.) as needed.
  • Requires 5-6 Hospitality Workers for each home meet.

COMMITTEE DESCRIPTIONS

Parents/guardians are encouraged to participate in the various committees, which help to ensure a successful swim team season. These duties are separate from the mandatory duties required for the work bond. We greatly appreciate your support on these committees!

Award and Team Gift Committee

  • Researches and chooses team gift (with suggestions from the Executive Board and the swim team families)
  • Orders awards and gifts, picks them up when ready.
  • Provides the awards and gifts at the End of Year Picnic.
  • Helps the coaches to distribute the awards and gifts.

Bylaw Revision