Frequently Asked Questions
Summer 2007

COACHES:   

Anita Dinwiddie, Head Coach 18th year

Robin Wells, Assistant Coach, 14th year

Cheryl Schoenberger, 3rd year VG Assistant Coach

Stephen Langdon (aka Boogie), 5th year Assistant

Ben Lawson, VG "alumni", 2nd year VG Assistant

Contact coaches with questions concerning your swimmer.

 

VG PARENT REPS:

Patty Zetterberg Parent Rep
Victoria Hermes Parent Rep
Anna Fowlkes Meet Director
Jackie Jacobs Meet Director
Amy Statham Meet Director
Nancy Embury Communications

Contact reps with questions concerning our organization. 

 

MORNING PRACTICES:

MONDAY THRU FRIDAY -
8:00am   -  9:00am             Ages 10 and under (at least 2nd year)
9:00am   - 10:00am            Ages 11 and 12
10:00am - 11:30am            Ages 13 and older

MONDAY THRU THURSDAY -  (No Practice on Fridays)
11:30am - 12:15pm             All New Swimmers, ages 10 and under

 

ROBIN’S ROOKIES:  Our first year/beginner swimmers have practice Monday through Thursday from 11:30 - 12:15 and are known as "Robin's Rookies".  These rookies are given a two-week trial period after which each swimmer should be able to complete one lap of the pool unassisted using any type or combination of strokes.  Those unable to do so are recommended to take more swimming lessons and come back next year.  Prorated fees will be refunded.  As the season progresses, we will integrate each swimmer from this group into the 8:00 am practice as he/she improves, with the rest of the group moving to the earlier practice for the remainder of the swim season.   ALL ROOKIES ARE ENCOURAGED TO SWIM IN THE GREEN & WHITE MEET.

SO WHAT ARE ALL THESE COLORED PAGES IN THIS PACKET?

Please complete the three colored pages in this packet and return to coaches by these specific dates or any time before the due date.  THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT!!!!

Green - Can/Can't Swim form.  One green form per swimmer!

Blue - Smoky Mountain Meet.  One form per family.

Yellow - GKAISA Championship Meet .  One form per family.

See forms for more details.  We will not accept forms which are more than two days late.

We must have all colored forms turned in!!  Please take care of this important task!

DUAL MEETS: VG swims 5 division dual meets (see dates on schedule).  A swimmer MUST swim in at least 2 dual meets to qualify to swim at the GKAISA City Championship Meet.  A meet typically lasts about 3½ hours, each swimmer may swim a maximum of 4 times, most swimmers will swim fewer events.  These meets can seem quite time-consuming, but that is swimming.  Come to dual meets prepared with team suit, cap, goggles, adequate clothing, towels, food, drinks, money, waterproof games, sleeping bags for the swimmers to lie on, and chairs for the spectators.  Always be prepared for rain.  Don’t forget to cheer for all swimmers! Swimmers receive ribbons at dual meets, which are handed out at practice the next day.

 

WEATHER THE DAY OF A MEET:    We will ALWAYS go to a meet and make any decisions at the meet concerning temporary delays or possible postponement of a meet.  Do not leave a dual meet until the coaches announce the meet has been cancelled.

 

How we get information from us to you:

1. Emails.  Please be sure the email address which we have for you is accurate.  We communicate often through emails and plus send weekly newsletters to the team.  See the Communications Rep (listed above) if your email address changes any time during the summer.

2. Family File.  This large plastic filing box will have one file for each family.  All handouts, maps, ribbons, or other paper communications are placed in your family file.  Please, it is your responsibility to check your file.  It is located at the table at the gate. 

 

DAY AFTER DUAL MEETS “LATE” PRACTICE SCHEDULE!  (See Calendar)

The days after dual meets, we will have "late" practice at the following times:

10:00 am - 11:00 am - All swimmers ages 10 and under and Rookies
11:00 am - 12:15pm - All swimmers ages 11 and older

In fact, we award meet ribbons the day after every dual meet.  It is special for the kids to receive their ribbons at this practice.  Please make every effort to attend practice the day after a meet. After that day, your swimmer’s ribbons will be in your family file.

 

DAY OF MEET PROTOCOL: Swim meets are important to us and we work hard to prepare for them.  What you do the day of the meet directly affects your performance that evening at the meet.   Swimmers should rest inside on meet days, and not outside running around in the heat or playing at the pool all day.  As Robin says, this is a great day to stay inside to read that summer book list, or clean your room!  Drinking adequate fluids is extremely important to avoid the fatigue which swimmers inevitably get by the end of a dual meet(sometime past their bedtimes!!).  The best diet for that day (and every day) should be complex carbohydrates like bagels, pasta, potatoes, rice, plus lots of fresh fruits and vegetables.  Also, lean meats or some source of protein (beans, rice, yogurt) are important.  Avoid greasy foods (such as fried foods) or foods high in fat.

 

“SWIMMING AGE”: A swimmer’s age for the entire summer is his/her age on May 31, 2005.  So, for example, if a swimmer turns 9 on June 1st, or any time during the summer, he/she will still swim as an 8 and under for the entire season.  Please remember this when filling out any forms to be returned to the coaches.

 

PARENTS AT MEETS:  All parents are asked to work at our dual meets.  We have over 60 positions to staff at each dual meet.  We would like to see one parent work two 1/2 sessions per meet for each child on the team.  Once you have signed up for a meet job (see Debbie Long, or Teresa Icenhour), it is your responsibility to do that job.  If you find that you cannot work, it is also your responsibility to find your own replacement to do that job.  Our reps simply are too busy on meet day to find a replacement for you!

 

CHILDREN AT MEETS:  Swim Team is a family affair, but please monitor your children, both swimmers and siblings, during the meet.  During a dual meet, swimmers should remain quietly in the team area, and not running around.  Siblings, especially younger children, are the parents' responsibility, and it is not the reps job, nor the coaches jobs to watch your children.  In the event you cannot attend the meet, please ask another parent to be responsible and watch out for your swimmer.

 

THOUGHTS ON PRACTICE: Swimming is a sport that must be practiced consistently to achieve improved results.  We encourage swimmers to attend a minimum of 3 practices a week when in town.  You simply cannot improve on less than 3 practices a week.  Swimmers are encouraged to practice  with their age groups unless it has been discussed otherwise with the coaches.  Some more advanced swimmers may be asked to swim with an older-aged practice, and in fact as the season progresses, and swimmers improve, we will move them up to the "next" practice.   We will practice on meet days.

 

WEATHER: VG DOES NOT PRACTICE IN LIGHTNING OR THUNDER!

VG will practice in light rain but not during heavy downpours!  (We might get WET!!)  In the event of lightning or thunder, we don’t want to be there (how about coffee at your house!), so if you hear thunder while your swimmer is at practice, please come pick him/her up if possible. On days that threaten bad weather, please arrange a plan for your swimmer to go to a friend's house should storms occur and you think you'll be detained.

 

COOL WEATHER DAYS: If Mr. Thermometer dips below 60 degrees we may not swim, but we will be active on deck with stretching, dry land exercises, general talking about swimming and maybe watching a video.  By the way, warm clothing is appropriate on all cool and/or rainy days!  It’s quite cold getting out of the pool, so bring CLOTHES!!

 

CONCERNING PARENTS AT PRACTICE: Parents are welcome to watch practice, but please observe the following rules:

  •       Do not talk to or give advice to your swimmer during practice.
  •       Do not allow siblings to talk to the swimmers during practice.
  •       Encouragement and support for your swimmer is more than welcomed, but please let the coaches do the coaching.
  •      The coaches are available during practice for brief questions concerning swimmers' progress or other parental concerns.  It is usually better for us to discuss your concerns at practice or through email conversations.
  •       Parents who are disruptive at practice will receive busy-work from the coaches! Beware!  Just ask any mom or dad from the 8 am practice - we'll get ya every time!

 

COMINGS AND GOINGS FROM PRACTICE: Because we run each practice time back to back, too many kids on deck around the pool is a distraction to those swimmers in the pool.  Please arrive no more than 10 minutes before your practice, and leave promptly after it is over.  Also, the coaches cannot be responsible for other kids who may be on deck or in the baby pool.

 

KIDS RIDING BIKES: It is great to see kids ride their bikes to practice, but SAFELY!!  Riding a bike in the rain is not safe.  Brakes do not perform well, and roads are slick.  Please don’t send your swimmer to practice on a bike in the rain – it is safer to walk.  Also, review the rules of the road before you send your kid out on a bike.  We all could use a few reminders about bike safety.  Stuff like: never ride without your helmet, always buckle your helmet, ride on the far right side of the road “with” traffic, yield behind when turning left, listening for cars, etc.

 

HELMETS FOR EVERYONE!!! SWIMMERS WHO RIDE THEIR BIKES TO PRACTICE ARE EXPECTED TO WEAR HELMETS!!!  We are looking!!  Every bike rider should wear a properly fitting helmet – this means KIDS AND ADULTS, TOO.  Please learn and stress the Four “S’s” in a properly fitting helmet: Size, Straps, Straight, and Sticker.  Bring your little cyclist and his/her helmet (hey bring your own too, you DO have a helmet, don't you?) to Coach Anita anytime before your practice and learn how to properly adjust each helmet. And hey, since kids grow so fast, their helmets should be readjusted every season anyway.