SPAR SWIM TEAM

HANDBOOK

The purpose of this handbook is to provide an overall guide of procedures and practices to members of the SPAR Swim Team. It is, by design, an incomplete document, which is updated and revised frequently. The current copy is available on our website at www.sparswimteam.com. Additional information will be distributed during the season as needed. For more specific information regarding the SAIL organization and its operations, you may go to the SAIL website at https://sail.swimtopia.com/ and review their handbook and website.

The SPAR Swim Team is managed by the Swim Team Executive Board. Should you have any additional questions, please feel free to contact us through the website or by emailing [email protected]. Questions for our SAIL Rep can go to [email protected]. Coaching questions can be sent to [email protected].

Practices

PRACTICE TIMES TBA based on registration numbers. See most current practice schedule under Team Info tab. 

There is no afternoon practice the day of a meet.

Donuts & Ribbons are at 9am the morning following a meet at Sparrows Point Pool, generally on Friday, and only after school is out for the year. No practice on Fridays. (Donuts and drinks will be provided by the swim team).

**This is the basic schedule. Due to events throughout the season, some minor changes to the practice schedule may be made. Those will be communicated by the coaches and through weekly communication. **

See website for practice times and meet times, dates and locations. 

Please also see our website for information on upcoming swim team events and deadlines! 

FROM THE COACHES DESK:

1. Please arrive to practice on time!
2. Sunscreen is recommended for practices and meets.
3. Drink plenty of fluids before and after practice.
4. Wear goggles to every practice.
5. Swimmers ear tip – Drops can be found at any pharmacy and should be used as directed.
6. Long hair must be tied back for practice & meets.
7. All swimmers who choose to wear a swim cap must wear one that is either a SPAR swim cap or a solid color.
8. Directions to all pools can be found at https://sail.swimtopia.com/ or on our team website.

   9. What to bring to the meet: 2 towels, extra clothes, water, snacks, goggles, cap, chair, and anything else you might need or want.

10. When your child arrives at the meet, have them immediately check in with the tent parent. Remind them to listen to instructions from clerk of course and be respectful at the meet along with practicing good sportsmanship.

A few other things:

1. There is an award called the Ironman that is given at the end of the year. In order to receive this, a swimmer must complete all individual events without being disqualified. You will be able to sign up your swimmer if you'd like them to be placed in all events throughout the summer (5 total regular season swim meets) to try for this award. More details at a later date. 
2. Swim practice WILL be held in the rain. Only thunder and lightning will delay or stop practice. We have a remind text app you may download to receive on the spot information as weather comes and goes.

Do’s and Don’ts for swimmers:

DO eat a high-carbohydrate supper the night before a meet (spaghetti, lasagna, macaroni and cheese, etc)

DO eat lunch on Thursdays before the meets; the best time is around 2 p.m., but not later than 3 p.m.

DO bring snacks such as trail mix, fruit, sports drinks, and granola bars.

DO NOT bring carbonated drinks, candy, or anything in glass containers.

Some Tips about the Strokes:

In General: Swimmers must not push forward off the bottom or pull on the lane ropes at any time.

Backstroke: Swimmers must remain on their backs at all times. When doing a backstroke turn they must keep their body in continuous motion. They may not glide to the wall.

Breaststroke: Hands and feet must always move simultaneously. Feet must kick out together in a frog kick. Both hands MUST touch the wall simultaneously at the finish. Elbows do not come out of the water.

Butterfly: Both hands and feet must move simultaneously. Feet must move together at all times. Elbows must come out of the water for each pull. Both hands MUST touch the wall at the finish simultaneously.

Registration

All members must complete the online registration which now includes:

1. SPAR Code of Ethics Agreement
2. SPAR Swim Team Registration Form (1 per family)
3. SAIL Registration and Medical Release Form (included in online registration)
4. SAIL Waiver and Release Liability/Code of Ethics Form (included in online registration)

Registration Fees: $130 first child; $115 each additional child.

Read, sign and understand the Parent Volunteer agreement.

Copy of birth certificate.

There is no Guarantee a swimmer will receive a team T-shirt if they register after April 27th.

SAIL Intent to Swim Form

1. EVERY swimmer must declare their intent to swim in Championships and Classics IN ADVANCE of their Divisional swim meet in accordance with SAIL policy. The form is due approximately 3 weeks prior to Divisionals.
2. A $50 penalty fine per event will be charged to a swimmer that does not properly declare their intentions or that scratches from Championships or Classics after the start of the Divisional meet.

Additional requirements for outside members.

• HOA Membership- Must have a full family membership to the Sparrows Point Pool prior to registering for the swim team. The fee is made payable to the Sparrows Point HOA. See registration information for specific pricing.

Volunteering

During A Meet:

Our swim meets are completely run by volunteers. When registering your child, you agreed to work the full duration of each home meet and at least one half of each away meet. You also agreed to be certified and trained by SAIL. The following is a list of the volunteer positions that need to be filled during a meet:

• Timer 
• Head Timer 
• Stroke & Turn Judge 
• Ribbons
• Starter 
• Deck Referee 
• Asst Referee 
• Records
• Runner
• Clerk of Course 
• Asst Clerk of Course
• Tent Parent
• Meet set-up
• Meet breakdown
• Concession
• Computer 
• Computer Asst

For those positions that are in bold, volunteers must attend a SAIL training class.

For all other positions, training will be provided by the head timer or an experienced volunteer. SAIL requires our team to have volunteers certified in all areas in order to host a meet, so it’s important we have as many trained as possible.This year's education schedule will be communicated by email once available from SAIL.

****If this is your first year on a swim team, it is highly recommended that you at least be TRAINED AS A TIMER AND/OR RUNNER AND/OR TENT PARENT.  But please also consider training for other positions. 

****Even though you may be trained in other areas, all parents should be trained as a timer. Timer training will be done online with more information given at the pool by the head timer.

We have an online sign-up procedure to sign up to volunteer. Prior to the meet, please do the following:

• On the team website (www.sparswimteam.com), choose to “Attend” or “Decline” each meet for each of your swimmers. The deadline for attending or declining a meet will be communicated throughout the season weekly.
• If you have a swimmer swimming in the meet, you must also sign up for your volunteer role on our team website. Every swimmer must have a parent volunteer at the meet.

During the Season:

To have a successful season we need help in lots of other areas. The following is a list of some of the volunteer committee opportunities available. Let us know what area you would like to help with!

• Fundraising
  • Corporate Sponsors
  • Attendance at Spirit Nights
• Social Committee
  
  • Fun activities
  • Divisional Meet Week activities
  • Pasta Pump-up
  • End-of-the-Season Awards Night
• Divisonals Committee-Coordinates generators, fans,coolers, tents etc.
• Awards Committee-helps to choose and distribute trophies and medals. Helps coordinate coaches' gifts

Concessions- We always have Chik-Fil-A available as well as Tropical smoothie or Houni’s Italian Ice. We alost have candy, drinks, nachos, etc. All proceeds from the concession stand support the swim team. We appreciate your support!

Corporate Sponsors- If you have a business or know of someone who does and would like to support the swim team, please print out our Corporate Sponsor Form which can be found on the swim team website. There will be discounts on registration for bringing in corporate sponsors (in the form of a partial refund once the season has started.)

SAIL SWIM MEET INFORMATION:

The following link has a great overview of a meet. It is strongly encouraged that all parents go to the SAIL website and review this area to become familiar with the site. It can help pull it all together before and after you have been to a meet.

https://sail.swimtopia.com/swim-meet-primer

Authority at Meet

The referee has full authority over all officials at the meet and shall decide all questions relating to the actual conduct of the meet. The referee shall assign and instruct all officials prior to the meet. The referee will assign additional officials for the relays.

Meet Behavior

The use of profanity, smoking and the sale or use of alcoholic beverages during the meet is not permitted and will not be tolerated. The referee will suspend swimmers from participating in the meet and may bar any spectator from the meet venue who is guilty of these acts. The Executive Committee may take disciplinary action against these swimmers by preventing them from swimming in future meets. All participants, swimmers, coaches, and parents shall abide by the SAIL Code of Ethics as outlined in the Bylaws Article III Section 12 and the SPAR Code of Ethics.

Publicity

The Greenville Journal has agreed to publish results of the meets on their website. The Team Computer Operator (TCO) will provide the meet results.

Special Eligibility

Swimmer must swim in designated age group unless a special eligibility form has been completed and approved. Exceptions are allowed as specified in US swimming rules for relays.

DUAL-TRI MEETS

Purpose

The purpose of the dual/tri meets is to provide competition, enable swimmers to establish times in different events, prepare them for the Divisionals and hopefully for Championships and Classics, the SAIL finale of meets.

Awards

For dual/tri meets, SAIL provides ribbons for the first heat of each individual event. Ribbons supplied for other heats and for relays is a TEAM responsibility.

Facilities

Pools shall preferably be a minimum 5 lane, 25 yard pool. SAIL Reps and coaches are responsible for notifying visiting teams of a depth less than the USS recommendation of 4 feet. Host pools shall have the proper equipment to conduct a dual meet. This shall include, but not be limited to starting blocks, lane ropes, backstroke flags, recall

rope, and proper pool and bulkhead markings as outlined in the US Swimming handbook. There shall be roped off areas provided for the use of records personnel, clerk of course, starter and coaches. Coaches are expected to coach within their designated roped area. The pool deck should be roped off on both ends a minimum of 10 feet wide by the width of the pool for the use of swimmers and officials only. The pool shall be roped off on both sides a minimum of 4 feet wide by the length of the pool for the use of stroke judges. Spectators should not be permitted to view the meet from the roped off areas.

Meet Data Management

Coaches /swimmers choose events for the swim meet. Team Computer Operator (TCO) enters the swimmer data for the dual/tri meet into the computer.

Two days before the dual meet: the visiting team TCO exports the swimmer data into a file and e-mails it to the host team TCO who then merges it.

One day before the dual meet: Heat sheets (minimum of 20 for officials and clerk of course) are printed. Labels are printed.

Day before meet: All entries after this process are deck entries. Coaches should take new entries directly to clerk of course, not the referee or records. Clerk of course will enter the swimmer if there is an empty lane. It is the coach’s

responsibility to notify tent parents of these entries and all scratches. Deck entries are not to be overused. There should be no more than 5 deck entries in a meet. The clerk of course has the right to refuse deck entries if the process is being abused.

DIVISION CHAMPIONSHIPS (Divisionals)

Requirements: Details and Standards:

1. The Divisional swim meets are held after the scheduled dual meets by each SAIL division on a date agreed on by the Board of Directors. The meet determines the total point winner and the quality point winner of each division and is the qualifying meet for the SAIL CHAMPIONSHIPS and CLASSICS.

2. Divisionals shall be held in a 25 meter pool with 6 or more lanes and shall meet all other requirements for competitive meets. (Bylaws Article XII section 2. All SAIL meets must be conducted within the framework of the current USS Rules and Regulations for Short Course Meets except where specifically addressed by the SAIL bylaws or handbook.)

3. Selection of the host pool shall be made by the division SAIL Reps. using a bidding process if necessary.

4. The events to be swum are delineated in the SAIL bylaws. (Article XV)

5. Quality point winners are decided by dividing the high point total by the # of swimmers entered in the meet.

Converting Times

The following factors must be used to convert from yard time to meter time:

25 meter time = 25 yard time x 1.11

Examples: Convert a time of 36.82 seconds in a 25 yard pool.

36.82 x 1.11= 40.87

Convert a time of 1 minute, 12.35 seconds in a 25 yard pool.

1:12.35 = 72.35 seconds; 72.35 x 1.11 = 80.31 = 1:20.31

Eligibility

A swimmer must meet the qualifications outlined in article XII section 8 of the bylaws which states that a swimmer has to have swum in 2 dual/tri meets in order to be eligible. Swimmer must also be a member of the pool for which he is swimming - article XIII section 8. The swimmer's best time from the dual/tri meets in the SAIL current season shall be his/her entry time for the division championship. If the swimmer was disqualified during a dual meet and does not have a time to enter, the swimmer will be seeded with a "NO TIME" (NT) in the divisional.

Seeding

Unlike dual/tri meets, the Divisional Meets seed swimmers from slowest to fastest.

What to Bring

Sunscreen, bug spray, 2 towels, extra clothes, water, snacks, goggles, cap, chair, games, and anything else you might need or want to keep you happy during that time! Bring money if you will be purchasing lunch or snacks at the concession stand.

CHAMPIONSHIPS and CLASSICS

Definition and Qualifications

The Championships and Classics meets are separate events and held on separate days with the dates of the meets determined by the Board of Directors. Qualifications for participation in the meets are determined from the times achieved in the Divisional Meet held within each division the previous weekend. The twelve (12) best times recorded

from all the Division Championships qualify for competition in the CLASSICS if the CLASSICS are held in a six (6) lane pool; sixteen (16) best if held in an eight(8) lane pool. The 13th through 30th fastest swimmers from the Division Championships will compete in the CHAMPIONSHIPS meet if CHAMPIONSHIPS are held in a six (6) lane

pool; seventeenth (17) through fortieth (40) if held in an eight (8) lane pool. The next two fastest times in each event are the alternates for those events in the CHAMPIONSHIPS. There are no alternates for the CLASSIC. A swimmer may swim a maximum of 3 individual events. Championships and Classics will typically take place at Westside Aquatic Center unless otherwise notified. Westside Aquatic Center is located at 2700 West Blue Ridge Drive in Greenville, SC 29611.

Timing

Timing will be electronic. The executive committee will determine final selection of the timing company.

Records

Prior records for both Championships and Classics shall be printed in the program of events.

Awards

Unless the swimmer was disqualified, all finishers will receive a SAIL award for Championships/ Classics, usually a medal. High point awards for individual swimmers are also given. High Point awards are not given in every age group. The swimmer who scores the most points in the meet will be awarded a high point award. There can be

multiple high point winners, if more than one swimmer scores an equivalent amount of total high points. According to USS swim rules, if a swimmer ties for 1st place, the points are split between the swimmers.

Seeding

Seeding is decided by the swimmers finish times in the Divisional Meet. Should the last swimmer in Championships or Classics be a tie, an extra heat may be added.

Alternates at Championships

It is the responsibility of the swimmer to report to the clerk of course on time. The coaches, SAIL Reps and parents must emphasize this to their swimmers. It is also the responsibility of each pool to provide parents for their tent area to insure that the swimmers report to the meet clerk of course. Swimmers will not be hunted down by the clerk of course. Alternates are available to swim in the place of a swimmer who does not show. Once the heat has made it into the building onto the 6th bench (there should only be 6 benches inside the building), the alternate will replace the no show swimmer and will not be removed. If a swimmer has a quick turn around for a race, he may designate a place holder until he can get there. Coaches who swim should make the coach liaison aware 2 days BEFORE THE MEET that they may need to be late to clerk of course because they are coaching. The Coach Liaison will notify the Clerk.

SAIL RULE EXCEPTIONS FROM USA SWIMMING

These exceptions, clarifications and interpretations are made from the USA Swimming Rules and Regulations. Reference to the USA Swimming Rules and Regulations is provided. For a complete list of the SAIL 2024 Technical Rules go to the SAIL website under Administration tab then Technical Rules.

Butterfly (101.2.2)

In USA Swimming, the arms must be brought forward over the water. In SAIL, both arms must break the surface of the water while being brought forward. The arm is defined from the shoulder to the wrist.

Age Group Competition (102.1.2)

Unlike US Swimming, SAIL recognizes an 8 and under age group.

Relays (102.4)

No swimmer may swim more than one medley relay and one freestyle relay in any meet. Relays must consist of at least three swimmers in the designated age group and no more than one swimmer may be "aged up" from the immediate prior age group. Under no circumstances may:

1. a relay consists of more than one swimmer from another age group;

2. a swimmer "age down" for a relay (or any other reason);

3. a swimmer swim in more than one medley relay and one freestyle relay in any meet;

4. a swimmer "age up" more than one age group.

5. a swimmer "age up" unless all eligible swimmers in the older age group are exhausted prior to aging-up of a swimmer to complete a relay team. The names of the four relay participants must be listed on the relay card. The order in which the participants will swim in the relay must be clearly designated.

Water Depth (103.2)

Applicable except for racing starts shall be a water depth of 3.5 ft. It is recommended that teaching racing starts should conform to the stated rule.

Scoring (102.7.3)

Dual/Tri meets are not scored. Divisionals are scored as follows:

12 places – 13, 11, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1. Relay scores are not doubled.

For next season’s division determination, all division results are combined and scored 60 places with a value of 60 through 1.

Disqualifications (102.10)

It is customary during the first dual/tri meet of the season for the stroke judges to be lenient on the children in the 8 and under age group.

General Policy & Information Review

1.Parental involvement is a prerequisite for a successful team! The Swim Team Board solicits your help and attendance at each swim meet.

2.Age group classification is determined by the swimmer’s age at the end of the day on May 31^st.

3.Swimmer’s attendance and participation at the practices and swim meets are essential.

4.The coaches have the authority to dismiss children from practice and/or swim meets as a disciplinary measure.

5.Parents must choose if their swimmer will attend or decline each swim meet on the team website by the deadline given. If a swimmer does not choose to attend or decline, they will not be placed in the swim meet. If your swimmer chooses to attend and then does not attend the meet for any reason other than an emergency or medical issue, that swimmer will not be entered in the next swim meet.

6.To qualify for Championships and Classics, a swimmer must participate in Divisionals. To qualify for Divisionals, a swimmer must swim in at least TWO dual meets. If a meet is cancelled or stopped due to inclement weather the swimmer gets the credit as long as they were seeded in the meet. A swimmer may choose to participate in divisionals ONLY, but that must be declared on the Intent to swim form.

7.Glass containers of any type are prohibited on the pool deck, tent area, or anywhere swimmers may need to walk. Please check that swimmers, family, and guests are not carrying any with them prior to leaving your vehicle to enter the pool area.

8.The PARENTS must tell the coach 3 weeks prior to the Divisional meet if their child will not be able to swim in Championships or Classics. An Intent To Swim Form must be filled out for EVERY swimmer and handed in 3 weeks prior to the Divisional meet. If we do not have a form, the swimmer will not be swimming in the Divisional meet. A swimmer can only qualify for Championships & Classics by swimming in the Divisional meet. The form can be found on the SPAR Swim Team website with the registration forms. At Championships & Classics, there is a $50 fine per event on the swimmer for a scratch without a valid excuse (medical, death in the family, etc). The swimmer will not be allowed to participate in SAIL as a competitor or coach from the point of infraction until the fine is paid. Family members will not be allowed to swim or coach in subsequent years until all family fines are paid in full. This is a SAIL rule.

9.Swimmers are responsible for reporting to their events on time.

10.Swimmers must stay with the team in the designated team area during the meet.

11.Please do not leave a meet without checking with the coach first. There is always the chance your child may be needed for a relay event to replace another swimmer who did not come to the meet, or may be ill.

12.No swimmer may scratch themselves from any event without permission from a coach. Doing so will result in the swimmer not competing in the next meet.

13.After morning practice on the day of the meet, swimmers are expected to stay away from the pool and out of the sun until after the meet.

14.Alcoholic beverages are not allowed at swim meets.

15.Any writing on bodies must be done in a positive, team spirit way.

16.A lot of time and work go into putting a meet together. A last-minute scratch is very disruptive and creates additional work for several volunteers. As a result, we have a policy regarding scratches. 

17.Every year SAIL awards a $1,000.00 scholarship to two graduating high school seniors (usually one female and one male) with funds donated by a local business. 

18.Home Swim Meet Parking

• If possible please walk to the meets or carpool
• Drive to pool and drop off prior to parking
• Park as you are leaving so your car is facing away from the pool
• Do not block homeowner driveways

SPAR HANDBOOK

I/We have received and read the SPAR HANDBOOK and will communicate the necessary information to our registered swimmer(s) and all other family members or volunteers that may represent our family.

Furthermore, I/We will keep our family up-to-date on the happenings of SPAR and will help insure that our family adheres to all SPAR Swim Team and SAIL rules and regulations.

Parent/Guardian Signature_____________________

Swimmer #1____________________________________

Swimmer #2____________________________________

Swimmer #3____________________________________

Swimmer #4____________________________________

Date_____________

This form must be completed and turned in to the SAIL Rep prior to the first practice!