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Trails of Algonquin Swim Team |
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Freestyle is usually the front crawl with the flutter kick. But any stroke or combination of strokes is legal as long as you never touch the bottom of the pool and touch the walls on turns.
Backstroke is done on your back. The head is back, the back is arched, and a flutter kick is used while the arms alternate (one then the other). Swimmers cannot roll past 90 degrees from their back as they stroke and cannot roll onto their sides or stomach when approaching the finish wall. (Many younger swimmers have a tendency to do this to see how close they are to the wall; they should learn to count the number of strokes they need to take after they pass under the flags.)
The breaststroke uses the whip kick (or frog kick is acceptable), while arms pull underwater simultaneously. Feet must stay below water and ankles must be turned out. The two hands must touch on the turn and finish level simultaneously.
In the butterfly the feet and knees are together on the kick (dolphin kick), while arms move simultaneously. The two hands must touch on the turn and finish level and simultaneously.
An event where the swimmer swims each stroke in a specific order: fly, back, breast, and free.
It is a four-swimmer event in which each swimmer on the relay team swims one of the four strokes: back, breast, fly, and free.
It is a four-swimmer race in which each swimmer on the relay team swims the freestyle stroke.
When a swimmer has an improper stroke, turn or start. A judge, referee, or starter issues a disqualification. If one person in a relay has a "DQ" it eliminates the whole relay team. The swimmer will not "place" in the event; no points or awards are earned even if the person(s) finish the event in first place.
When there are more swimmers for an event than there are lanes in the pool, there are multiple "heats" for the event. The best times from all the heats for an event determine the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place finishers. A swimmer can win their heat and still not place overall in the event. This format is used primarily at Invitational and Championship meets.
Individual swim cards are labeled for each swimmer and event. Parents hand out the cards to each swimmer before each event. There are usually two swim card people assigned to each meet, one for girls and one for boys. At home meets we do not usually use cards.
What is Positive Check-in?
Some large meets may require all swimmers to check-in prior to the meet. This is designed to prevent empty lanes from missing swimmers and allow speeding up of the meet. Check-in usually closes 15 minutes after the start of warm-ups. If you do not check-in, you will be scratched (eliminated) from the meet. Coaches will inform the swimmers if a meet requires positive check-in.
A bullpen is a location that has been designated within a pool area for swimmers to check-in prior to their event. An announcement will be made calling the event that should report to the bullpen. It is a swimmer's responsibility to be in the bullpen at this time. They will then be taken in order of the events.
A dual Conference meet is between two teams within the conference.
This is a Saturday (Sunday is the rain date) meet we started and have hosted for many years. Several teams are invited to swim an invitational type format. The meet is split into a morning and afternoon session depending on age groups. This meet attracts over 400 swimmers and their families. It is one of our major fundraisers.
We annually attend a special Saturday meet called the Woodstock Relays. All events at this meet are relays, including some fun ones like 100 year, coaches, and parent-child. For this meet, the line-up (who is swimming) is submitted well in advance of the meet. There are additional fees to participate in this meet, which are non-refundable. This meet is a lot of fun. Plan on an early morning to mid-afternoon outing.
This is the last meet of the season and involves other conference teams. This meet determines the order of finish for each of the teams, as well as champions in individual events and relays. Each team is also allowed one medley relay and one free relay in each age group.
It's a newsletter that comes out once a week and contains upcoming meet information and other useful team information. Make sure your swimmers brings it home or you pick it up after practice and read it.
Swimmers and their families have the opportunity to experience a meet in a controlled setting. It's the time to learn what is expected of the swimmers and their families to run a meet and participate in one. It gives everyone the opportunity to experience what a meet will be like and allows parents a chance to learn about the various jobs that must be cared for in order to run a meet. This is the perfect time to ask questions, learn, and have fun! Age group pictures for the Invitational are taken at this time.
The coaching staff attempts to give every swimmer the maximum opportunity to swim all strokes regardless of ability as this serves to develop the swimmer's overall performance. As swimmers grow their "best stroke" often changes. By having them swim all strokes, they have an opportunity to improve. They will practice all strokes.
Swimmers sometimes "swim up" to help fill team requirements. Also, as swimmer improves, he/she may be moved up for better competition and more challenge. Coaches may also move a swimmer up to give them the opportunity of swimming more events.
If there are lanes open in an event, by agreement of the coaches, a swimmer, regardless of age or sex, can fill a lane as an exhibition swimmer. They do not score points for the team, but the swimmer may get an exhibition ribbon, and more importantly, he/she will get a time for that event. It is also good practice for the swimmer.
Some swimmers swim exhibition to swim more races, to practice on a stroke they have difficulty with, to compete against older and better swimmers, to compete against the opposite sex, to practice starts and turns, or just because their coach requests it.
This is determined by our conference. Currently, a swimmer is allowed to swim up to 4 events this season, combination of individual events and relays.