1. VALLEY SHORE YMCA MARLINS SHORT COURSE INFORMATION VALLEY SHORE YMCA September 12 th, 2016

2. PARENTS INFORMATION SESSION  New/veteran parents information  Practice schedule  Practice equipment  Meet schedule  YMCA and USA swim meets  Signing up for meets  Team Apparel  Volunteering 2| Parents Information Session | ©2015 YMCA of the USA

3. NEW PARENTS INFORMATION 3 TIPS FOR PARENTS:  THE MORE YOUR CHILD COMES TO PRACTICE, THE FASTER THEY WILL IMPROVE  WWW.VSYMARLINS.ORG  SIGN UP FOR SWIM MEETS IN ADVANCE  ALL MEETS HAVE A SIGN UP DEADLINE  VOLUNTEER TIMERS NEEDED AT EVERY MEET  DON’T BE LATE FOR SWIM MEETS  HEALTHY SNACKS ON DECK  NO PARENTS ON DECK AT PRACTICE OR MEETS  NO ELECTRONICS ON DECK  SWIMMERS MUST PARTICIPATE IN MEETS AND ALL EVENTS(NOT JUST THEIR FAVORITES)

4. PRACTICE SCHEDULE Practice Groups/Times: Mini Marlins: Tuesday & Thursday @ 4:45pm – 5:30pm Marlins: Monday, Wednesday, Friday @ 6:00pm – 7:15pm Age Group 1: Monday – Friday @ 5:30pm – 7:00pm Age Group 2: Monday – Friday @ 5:30pm – 7:00pm Seniors: Monday – Friday @ 4:00pm – 6:00pm Dry Land Schedule: Marlins: Monday & Wednesday @ 5:30pm – 6:00pm Age Group 1: Tuesday & Thursday @ 5:00pm – 5:30pm Age group 2: Monday & Wednesday @ 5:00pm – 5:30pm Seniors: Monday, Wednesday, Friday @ 6:00pm – 7:00pm Tips for practice:  Please be on deck ready to swim 5 minutes before practice starts.  Please wear proper shoes and clothing for dry land activities.  Please bring water to every practice.

5. PRACTICE EQUIPMENT Coach Teddy, Kaylin, Anne and Tim feel that your children would benefit from purchasing the following pieces of equipment for practice: TYR Flex Fins - $30 TYR UltraLight Snorkel - $30 TYR Mentor 2 Training Paddles - $15 Speedo Vanquisher Goggles - $30 TYR Mesh Bag (Put equipment in it) - $13 Swimmers can leave wet mesh bag at the Y in the back supply room on deck.

6. MEET SCHEDULE SUBJECT TO CHANGE October 7 th : Inner Squad Meet/Pot Luck Party @ Valley Shore Y October 22 nd : Dual Meet vs Branford Y @ Walsh Intermediate School October 29 th – 30 th : Branford USA Meet @ Walsh Intermediate School November 12 th – 13 th : VSYM Age Group Qualifier @ Valley Shore Y November 18 th – 20 th : Wilton YMCA Thanksgiving Meet @ Wilton Y December 3 rd : VSYM vs LEHY @ East Hartford H.S. December 9 th – 11 th : SOCO USA Meet @ SCSU December 14 th : Inner Squad Meet/Holiday Party @ Valley Shore Y December 17 th : CCAT USA Meet @ Wesleyan December 18 th : CCAT USA Distance Meet @ Wesleyan January 6 th – 8 th : NMEG USA 12/Under Meet @ East Lyme H.S. January 7 th – 8 th : 13/Over YMCA Championship @ Wilton Y January 21 st – 22 nd : WRAT USA Meet @ Westport/Weston YMCA January 28 th – 29 th : Ages 9-12 YMCA Championship @ TBA February 3 rd : Inner Squad Meet @ Valley Shore Y February 5 th : VSYM Pentathlon @ Valley Shore Y February 10 th – 12 th : SOCO USA Meet @ SCSU March 3 rd – 5 th : Regional Champs @ TBA March 9 th – 12 th : Senior champs @ Wesleyan March 16 th – 19 th : Age Group Champs @ Wesleyan *All meets underlined are mandatory for all swimmers*

7. YMCA MEETS All YMCA Meets are Mandatory for all swimmers. YMCA meets are FREE (except Y Championships) Swimmers who qualify for Y Nationals must participate in at least 2 dual meets and 1 sanctioned Y meet (Wilton Thanksgiving Meet). If you are late for the warm up your swimmer will be scratched from the meet and unable to swim. Please email coach teddy at vsymarlins@gmail.com if you are running late. Please bring 2 towels, two bathing suits, 2 goggles, healthy snacks and water to every meet. Each session can last anywhere from 2-4 hours long. Parents will be required to time at every meet so please be available to volunteer. Parents are not permitted to be on deck unless volunteering as a timer or official. No electronic for swimmers on deck. Bring a book to read or be social. Swimmers do not leave the deck unless they get permission from a coach to see a parent or use the bathroom.

8. USA MEETS USA requires its own registration of $70 which is valid for 1 year. Each event that your swimmers signs up for will cost on average $7. Most swimmers participate in 3 events per day at USA meets = about $42 in meet fees for a 2 day meet. If you are late for the warm up your swimmer will be scratched from the meet and unable to swim. Please email coach teddy at vsymarlins@gmail.com if you are running late. Please bring 2 towels, two bathing suits, 2 goggles, healthy snacks and water to every meet. Each USA session can last anywhere from 2-4 hours long. Parents will be required to time at every meet so please be available to volunteer. Parents are not permitted to be on deck unless volunteering as a timer or official. No electronic for swimmers on deck. Bring a book to read or be social. Swimmers do not leave the deck unless they get permission from a coach to see a parent or use the bathroom.

9. SIGNING UP FOR MEETS Sign into the team website www.vsymarlins.org CLICK: EVENTS CLICK: CLICK ON THE MEET YOU WISH TO SIGN UP FOR CLICK: ATTEND/DECLINE CLICK: YOUR SWIMMERS NAME CLICK: DECLARATION CLICK: THE EVENTS YOUR SWIMMER WANTS TO SWIM OR JUST CLICK “YES” and put what days in the notes section below. CLICK: SAVE CHANGES IN THE BOTTOM RIGHT HAND CORNER. NOTES: THERE IS AN OPTION TO PUT NOTES WHEN SIGNING UP FOR MEETS. IF YOU CAN ONLY SWIM ON A SATURDAY AND NOT SUNDAY, TYPE THAT INTO THE NOTES. Also, if you need to leave early the coach can put you swimmer in early events so you can leave the meet early. New Parents:  THE COACH CAN PICK THE EVENTS for you as long as you declare yes and place what days you can participate in the notes section. All parents: Coach Teddy has the ability to change the events you picked! So warn your children that coach Teddy might put them in events they are less comfortable with…

10. TEAM APPAREL Team Fitting: When: Monday, October 17 th Where: Valley Shore YMCA Time: 5:00pm – 7:00pm The metro swim shop will have room C for all swim team members to try on team suits, warm ups and other accessories. The team suit is also available on the team website if you wish to purchase another suit late in the short course season. You must log into the website to see the team suit option.

11. VOLUNTEERING  The Valley Shore Y Marlins swim team is a wonderful program due to our volunteers.  As a parent, there are many roles you can play to help this team grow.  The most important role is to be a timer and official at swim meets. At every swim meet we are required by the meet host to provide timers(hold stop watch and click it).  There are many other volunteering needs besides timing. Please volunteer to join or wonderful team on the parents organization.

12. VOLUNTEERING OPPORTUNITIES Volunteer Title Parents Organization Officer Official (Per Session) Timer (Per Session) Timer Coordinator(Per Session) Concession Coordinator Fundraising Coordinator Apparel Coordinator Volunteer Coordinator Volunteer Points Coordinator Bulletin Board Coordinator Public Relations Coordinator Social Activity Coordinator Performance Coordinator Timing System Coordinator Home Meet Volunteer(Per Session) Treasurer Meet Director Entry Chair Grill Master Swim A Thon Coordinator Meet Fee Coordinator Safety Chair Water and Food/Donations Parents Club Meeting Attendee The Valley Shore Y swim coaches and swim team would like to thank the parents who take time out of their lives to help this swim team. If you feel you are qualified for one of the positions listed please email coach Teddy! We always need help! Thank you for your time.

13. THANK YOU Valley Shore YMCA Marlins Swim Team YMCA OF THE USA vsymarlins@gmail.com