Somerset Hills YMCASwim Team

Swim Team Parents Organization

2013- 2014 Season

Successful Programs Require…

Strong coaching staff Top facility Support of YMCA Adequate resources Committed swimmers Involved & supportive parents Volunteers

Objectives of STPO

Foster fellowship, integrity, sportsmanship and honesty among parents and children (see Philosophy & Goals of SHY)

Support the Somerset Hills YMCA Further interest of competitive swimming with YMCA and area Sponsor & support YMCA league, SHY Swim team, USA

Swimming and the SHY National team Encourage & coordinate parental participation in swim team

activities Organize, execute and support fundraising for the SHY swim

team and YMCA Support the philosophy, goals & objectives of the Head Coach

What the STPO Does

Run Swim Meets Organize Social Events and Team Celebrations Purchase and maintain meet, pool and training equipment Provide swimmer t-shirts, awards, gifts, etc. Collect and pay out US registration and meet entry fees for

swimmers Research and make travel arrangements for swimmers and

coaches Conducts Fundraising efforts Support National Team And Much More

STPO Officers

President: Joanne Wachenfeld joannewach@verizon.net (908-542-0446) Treasurer: Kendra Russano grussano@hotmail.com (732-369-3372) Meet Director: Martin Scheidl mscheidl@gmail.com (973-543-1726) Secretary: Mary Bigini mgbigini@hotmail.com (908-221-0454) Officials Coordinator: Katie Straub goodphotostudio@yahoo.com (908-766-0846) Fundraising Coordinator: Andrea Adams lajastmom@yahoo.com (908-580-

9256) Head Coach: Peter Barry Peter Barry pbarry@somersethillsymca.org (908-

630-3531) Administrative Advisor: Suzi Pellegrino spellegrino@somersethillsymca.org

(908-766-7898 ext. 604)

Website Master: Lynn Southcott lsouthcott@gmail.com

Team Communication Announcements on SHY Website:

http://www.shyswimteam.org

Emails from SHY STPO Gmail Account

Be sure to complete STPO registration

Notify SHYSTPO@gmail.com if any changes to your email address during the season

Registration Fees

September – March Swim Team FeesPaid to SHY either in one payment or by e-pay

Meet Entry Fees Deposit is required and billing for additional fees will be mailed as we progress through

the seasonRegardless of whether or not your child ultimately swims, fees are charged when your

swimmer is entered into the meet

USA Swimming Fee (all swimmers 9 & Over) - $56

STPO Dues - $75 per family

STPO Invoices for the above will be emailed to Swim Team families

Team Clothing

Team Suit/Equipment Sales Vendor – California Beach Hut Online orders accepted through 9/17 Ask for SHY Team Discount for all in-store purchases Team Coordinator – Tracy Fitzgerald (tracer01@optonline.net)

SHY Sportswear Vendor – SneakerPlus Online Orders accepted through 9/30 Team Coordinator – Tess Buckley

buckley.theresa@gmail.com

Participation Policy All families are expected to participate by:

Volunteering for one Committee Working at least 3 Dual Meets per dual team on which you have swimmers Taking Turns Timing at Invitational Meets Volunteering for SHY Hosted Meets your swimmer attends Working the NJ YMCA 8 & Under State Championships

SHY has no volunteer deposit requirement because our parents have always stepped up in the past. Let’s keep it that way.

Volunteering is critical to the success of our team and as a result we need full participation

Committees

Banquet Committee Chris Corrigan cpcorrigan@verizon.net Plan annual team Banquet in March Handle RSVP’s Select team, coach and volunteer gifts Set-up and Clean-up

Dual Team VP’s Mary Bigini mgbigini@hotmail.com Communicate with Dual Meet Team Check-in volunteers Bring supplies to Dual Meets 2 per team

Fall Picnic Maryann Sardis mysixpack@verizon.net

Katie Straub goodphotostudio@yahoo.com Coordinate set-up, food and clean-up for Fall Picnic

Fall Social Andrea Adams lajastmom@yahoo.com

Barbara Cromie miller.barbara@att.net Plan, coordinate and set-up Fall Social for parents.

Fundraising Andrea Adams lajastmom@yahoo.com Research, plan and implement fundraisers Monies raised go towards operation of team Current programs: Scrip, Frozen Falls, Holiday Pie Sales

Committees

Committees

Hospitality Beth Sargen basargen@verizon.net Purchase refreshments for coaching and officials at SHY hosted meets Staff Hospitality Room

Photography Anne Castagno acastagno@verizon.net Take photos at SHY meets and events Create slide show/DVD for Banquet Produce team photo for Dual Teams

Practice Group Leaders Coordinate practice group parties Assist practice coaches Communicate with practice groups 2 per practice group

Committees

Publicity/Promotion Michelle Breslin m_breslin@yahoo.com Celebrate SHY swimmer achievements Recognize out of pool accomplishments Promote Team successes Planning a team e-newsletter

Sportswear Tess Buckley buckley.theresa@gmail.com Research and select team sportswear Coordinate ordering and distribution

Travel Chris Glockenmeier caglock@gmail.com Research and make travel arrangements Assist Head Coach with logistics – Nationals, Training Trip, LC Nationals Coordinate team dinners at away championship meets

Dual Meet Teams

Girls A Team Girls B Team Girls C Team

Boys A Team Boys B Team

Dates/ Times ( Saturdays, October – January) Specific dates TBA Usually 2 hour meet

Each family should volunteer for 3 Dual Meets during the season for each Dual Team they have swimmers on.

Dual Meet VP’s will request volunteers and send out a schedule. Jung Dettelback will coordinate the officials.

Volunteer Jobs include Officials, Timers, Colorado Operators, Meet Manager Operators, Runners, Set-up, Clean-up, Snack Coordinators.

Dual Meet Volunteering

Invitational Meets

1-3 day meets approximately monthly during season

Some invitational meets may have time standards (minimum or maximum qualifying times)

Optional – swimmer chooses events

Warm-up time will be posted on website – swimmer should be ready to swim, not arriving at warm-up time.

Invitational Meets – Timing Assignments

Prior to Meet Host Team will send out team timing assignments Barbara Cromie will divide timing assignments between parents of swimmers

attending the meet SHY Parent Timing assignments will be emailed and posted on website Notify Barbara immediately if cannot time or find your own replacement

At the Meet Timers check-in and get stopwatch First shift timers attend Timer Meeting Time until replacement arrives

Invitational Meets – Timing Assignments

Timing assignments will be rotated throughout the season so all families take their turn. A Volunteer Matrix is maintained for the season.

Those whose swimmers attend many meets or who have multiple swimmers will be called on to time more frequently

SHY Officials will normally not be asked to time

Team timing assignment is till the end of the meet session. While we try to avoid requiring a parent to time after their child is done, sometimes it is unavoidable. Please understand.

SHY Hosted Meets

October 27th Halloween Meet SHY

December 8th Candy Cane SHY

December 14-15 SHY Eastfields TBA

January ?? Distance Meet SHY

February 8-9 NJ YMCA 8 & Unders SHY

June ?? PVP Long Course Meet PVP

SHY Hosted Meets - Volunteering

At least one parent should volunteer to work any SHY Hosted Meet that your swimmer(s) attend plus the 8 & Under Championships

Volunteer Coordinator, Lynn Alexy, will send out volunteer requirements and ask for volunteers. Please respond promptly

Volunteer jobs include: Set-up, Clean-up, Timers, Marshalers, Runners, Awards, Parking, Hospitality, Security, Concessions and Table Operators

SHY has a reputation of hosting well-run invitational meets thanks to our great volunteers. Let’s continue the tradition.

Other Volunteer Opportunities

Officials – Training needed

Table Operators – Training needed

National Team swimmers will be required to participate in additional fund raising to defray costs for the YMCA Nationals

SHY Swimmers (13 & Over) can volunteer at SHY hosted meets for volunteer service hours

Team Officials – Why we need them

Meets cannot be run without officials! Dual meets: When all 5 teams swim the same day, we need 21

officials to properly staff meets. SHY is hosting a number of invitational/championship meets this

year. Any one session requires up to 16 officials. Challenges: Officials are often distributed unevenly between teams

and age-groups. Training consists of four hour clinic and open book on-line test.

Clinic and registration fees to be paid by STPO. Mentorships with experienced officials. If interested contact Katie Straub at goodphotostudio@yahoo.com

Why Be An Official?

Support our team. Gain a better understanding of your child’s sport. Not only support your swimmer, but share a common bond

too! Be on deck and part of the action. It gives you a different

perspective. Have an opportunity to be involved at all different levels:

Time Trials, Dual Meets, Invitationals, States, and Nationals. Those who are interested may even seek national certifications.

Make lifelong friends in many places.

Table Operators

Colorado Operators – Run the electronic timing system at meets.

Meet Manager Operators – Interface with the electronic timing system to record times, score the meet and print out results

Both jobs are essential to the running of all dual and SHY-hosted meets

If interested contact Mary Bigini at mgbigini@hotmail.com or Martin Scheidl at mscheidl@gmail.com.

Be a Supportive Parent

Always love and support your swimmer unconditionally!Always… Make sure your swimmer gets to practice on time Make sure your swimmer has the necessary equipment Make sure your swimmer gets to competitions on time Make sure your swimmer is provided healthy choices for all meals Make sure your swimmer eats a balanced diet Make sure your swimmer gets enough sleep Make sure your swimmer receives proper medical attention Make sure your swimmer is involved in all activities Make sure to offer your swimmer encouragement Make sure your swimmer leads a balanced life

Be a Supportive Parent

Always be involved with the success of the team Always offer to volunteer

Become an official Become a timer Become a table operator Become a fundraiser Become a parent leader

Always speak positively concerning your swimmer, the team and the competitors

Always let the coaches coach Always be respectful of coaches, teammates and volunteers

Do Not be a Coach!

Remember to never… Offer rewards for performance Gossip or spread gossip about teammates or competitors Critique a swimmer’s performance Compare teammates, competitors or other programs Set goals for your swimmers Speak ill of other teammates, coaches, officials or competitors Assume that other people will volunteer Interrupt coaches while they are coaching