Somerset Hills YMCA Swim Team

1. Somerset Hills YMCASwim Team Swim Team Parents Organization 2014- 2015 Season

2. Successful Programs Require… • Strong coaching staff • Top facility • Support of YMCA • Adequate resources • Committed swimmers • Involved & supportive parents • Volunteers

3. 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

4. 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

5. STPO Officers • President: Joanne Wachenfeld joannewach@verizon.net(908-542-0446) • Vice President: : Martin Scheidl mscheidl@gmail.com (973-543-1726) • Treasurer: Kendra Russano grussano@hotmail.com(732-369-3372) • Meet Director: Mary Bigini mgbigini@hotmail.com(908-221-0454) • Secretary: Lynn Alexy lynnalexy@aol.com (908-451-3939) • Officials Coordinator: Katie Straub goodphotostudio@yahoo.com(908-766-0846) • 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

6. 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 • Check out Facebook site for interesting posts from Head Coach Peter Barry

7. Registration Fees • September – March Swim Team Fees • Paid 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 season • Regardless 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) - $58 • STPO Dues - $75 per family. $50 if one swimmer in family • STPO Invoices for the above will be emailed to Swim Team families

8. Team Clothing • Team Suit/Equipment Sales • Vendor – California Beach Hut • Online, in-store & phone orders accepted through 9/20 • Ask for SHY Team Discount for all in-store purchases • Team Coordinator – Karen Morel morelnj@verizon.net • SHY Sportswear • Vendor – SneakerPlus • Online Store dates TBA • Team Coordinator – Tess Buckley buckley.theresa@gmail.com

9. 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 • Volunteering can be fun – get to know more people, learn more about the sport, support your swimmer.

10. Committees • Banquet Committee Chris Corrigan cpcorrigan@verizon.net • Vedrena Baxter vedranag@msn.com • Plan annual team 11 & Over Banquet & 10 & Under team party in March • Handle RSVP’s • Select team, coach and volunteer gifts • Set-up and Clean-up • Dual Team VP’s Mary Biginimgbigini@hotmail.com • Communicate with Dual Meet Team • Check-in volunteers • Bring supplies to Dual Meets • 2 per team

11. Committees • Fall Picnic Maryann Sardis mysixpack@verizon.net Katie Straub goodphotostudio@yahoo.com • Coordinate set-up, food, activities and clean-up for Fall Picnic • Fundraising Andrea Adams lajastmom@yahoo.com Jen Crewe (Scrip) jencrewe@att.net • Research, plan and implement fundraisers • Monies raised go towards operation of team • Current programs: Scrip, Frozen Falls, Holiday Pie Sales • Hospitality Beth Sargen basargen@verizon.net • Purchase refreshments for coaching and officials at SHY hosted meets • Staff Hospitality Room

12. Committees • Invitational Meet Head Timers Barbara Miller miller.barbara@att.net • Check in Timers at Invitational Meets • Bring Watches • National Team Chris Glockenmeier caglock@gmail.com Mary Bigini mgbigini@hotmail.com • Research and make travel arrangements • Coordinate team meals • Assist in Fundraising for National Team • PhotographyAnne 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

13. Committees • Practice Group Leaders • Coordinate practice group parties • Assist practice coaches • Communicate with practice groups • 2 per practice group • 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 hotel reservations for overnight meets • Coordinate Team Dinner at State Championship Meets

14. Dual Meet Teams • Girls A Team • Girls B Team • Girls C Team • Boys A Team • Boys B Team • Dates/ Times ( Saturdays, October – December) • Specific dates TBA • Usually 2 hour meet

15. Dual Meet Volunteering • Each family should volunteer for 2-3 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.

16. 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.

17. 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

18. 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.

19. SHY Hosted Meets • October 26th Halloween Meet SHY • December 7th Candy Cane SHY • December 12-14 SHY Eastfields TBA • January 17-18 Distance Meet SHY • February 7-8 NJ YMCA 8 & Unders RVCC • June ?? PVP Long Course Meet PVP

20. 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.

21. 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

22. 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

23. 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.

24. 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.comor Martin Scheidl at mscheidl@gmail.com.

25. 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

26. 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

27. 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