Click Here to download the our detailed Swim Team Handbook.
Click Here to download the Parents' Association BY-LAWS.
PARENT CLUB MEETING MINUTES
10-19-11 Parent Meeting Minutes
11-14-11 Parent Meeting Minutes
01-04-12 Parent Meeting Minutes
The "Y" invites all swimmers ages 5-18 years who can swim the length of the pool to join the YMCA Swim Team. Previous team experience is not required. Workouts and stroke instruction will build strength, endurance, strong stroke skills, starts and turns. All swimmers must have a current YMCA membership.
Goals of the Program
- To provide swimmers, parents and coaches an outlet for fun and enjoyment
- To promote important values such as respect, fairness, sportsmanship and cooperation
- To provide a form of organized recreation for youngsters of our community
- To teach youngsters the rules, format and fundamentals of competitive swimming
- To teach youngsters the importance of teamwork, fitness and discipline
General Operation of the Stingray Swim Team
The Stingray Swim Team is operated under the guidance of the Greater Scranton YMCA through the direction of the YMCA swim coaches who are employees of the YMCA. The Parents' Club, all of whom volunteer their time and effort, assist in the operation of the team through volunteer hours during home meets and several fundraisers held during the year.
Funding
Funding is from several sources:
- Team Fees (used to pay coaches salaries and league fees)
- Fundraisers
- Sponsors
All fundraisers and/or sponsor monies are used to meet the many expenses incurred during the year that are necessary for the successful operation of our team.
Major Expenses
- Payroll (coaches salaries) - paid through team fees
- League Fees - paid through team fees
- Awards (trophies, ribbons, etc) - paid through fundraising efforts
- Special events (Halloween and Christmas parties, pizza parties, End of season banquet) - paid through fundraising efforts
- Away Meet coaches expenses, ie., Championships/Districts/States/Nationals - paid by parents club fundraising efforts
FACILITIES
The facilities and equipment are the property of the Greater Scranton YMCA and are provided without charge. All league officials, parents and swimmers must abide by rules and policies of the YMCA with regard to behavior, property and parking. Diana Dempsey is the Aquatic Director of the Greater Scranton YMCA, and serves as a liaison between the YMCA and the swim team.
LEAGUES
The YMCA participates in the Penn Del YMCA Swim League, "Monroe" Division during the fall/winter seasons. This league has age group competition for the following groups: 8 & under, 10 & under, 12 & under, 14 & under and 15-19 years of age. Meets are held on Saturday afternoons. All fall/winter league meets are mandatory for swimmers in these age categories. A league schedule will be posted as early in the season as possible.
During the summer, our team participates in a local "Invitational" Style league. Each team hosts 1-2 meets. All events are seeded by mixed ages & genders so that swimmers are swimming against those with times closest to their own, no matter the age. These meets will be held on weekday evenings. Summer League meets while recommended, are optional
OTHER MEETS
The YMCA participates in several other (optional) invitational style meets during the season, and during the summer season. More information about these meets will be posted on the website during the season. The YMCA also participates in YMCA Districts, States and Nationals.
Each Swimmer Should:
- Attempt to attend a minimum of two(2) to three(3) practices per week
- Be on deck fifteen minutes before practice is scheduled to start in order to begin stretching exercises
- Wear bathing suit, goggles, and cap at all practices
- Always wear a hat when leaving practice during the cold weather months
- Never bring food items into the pool area
- Remember that the pool telephone is for use by lifeguards and/or coaches and are off limits to all swimmers
- Save their team suits for meets
- Contact their coach as soon as possible if they are unable to attend a meet due to illness
Team Information
The team is divided into White, Blue, Blue "PLUS" and Gold practice sessions. All swimmers are placed in a practice session by the coaches bases on their ability and dedication levels. In the event of low enrollment, practice sessions will be combined. In the event of high enrollment, additional practice sessions will be created if possible. All high school swimmers who take advantage of the high school payment option during the fall/winter season should attend the Gold team practice session.
Parents' Requirements
- Kindly treat League Officials and Referees with the utmost of respect. We must strive to set good examples for our swimmers at all times
- Please help us avoid accidents. Young children should not be left unattended at the meets
- Kindly do not bring food or drinks of any kind into pool or spectator areas
- All parents are required to volunteer at meets. It is unfair to expect a few parents to perform all of the tasks required to run our program. Don't wait to be asked, please volunteer!
ALL PRACTICE SESSIONS ARE CLOSED This means that only swimmers, coaches & lifeguards will be permitted on the pool deck or spectator area during practice sessions. The presence of parents on the pool deck and spectator area is very distracting to both swimmers & coaches. All parents are asked to limit discussions with coaches to before or after practice sessions. Parents are welcome to call/e-mail Diana Dempsey, Aquatic Director with any inquiries/questions.
YMCA Stingray Parents' Club
An active Parents' organization supports the team with volunteer hours. Fundraising revenues are used to defray the cost associated with providing each swimmer with a ribbon for each event they swim at every scheduled fall/winter league meet, holiday parties, and a banquet, complete with a DJ at the end of the fall/winter swim season where each swimmer receives a recognition award, and graduating swimmers are honored and given a team gift. A End of Summer picnic or outing is held at the conclusion of the summer season. Additional financial support is realized through several sources including a Swim Team Lottery held once per swim season and proceeds from a food stand at each home meet.
A large number of volunteers are needed for each meet (especially home meets) that our team participates in. In order to be fair to all parents, each family will be assigned the dates and "job" that they have been scheduled to volunteer by our meet committee. A team contact list will be distributed with the contact information for each family included. If you cannot work as scheduled, you may switch with another parent, but please remember to notify the meet committee chairperson so that they have an accurate list of "who" will be performing each job.
There will be two Parent Training Nights (during practice) so that new parents can learn how to perform the duties for which they have been assigned. Experienced parents may also wish to attend in order to learn a new job if they wish...The "jobs" will include:
- How to be a Timer
- How to be a Runner
- How to be a Back-up or Head Timer
- How to be an Announcer
- How to be a Console Operator
- How to be a Finish Judge
Each family is also assessed a $30.00 per family Parents' Club fee at the beginning of the fall/winter season. We ask that this fee be paid by the first Parents' Club Meeting of the season. Several other fundraising events may also be held if deemed necessary by the Parents' Club. Again, the Parents' Club exists solely to benefit the team. All positions are strictly volunteer. We welcome any and all help. If you have suggestions or skills you feel would benefit our organization, or would like to become more involved, we would love to hear from you!
Age Group Meet Information
How are swimmers placed in age groups???
Swimmers are placed in the various age groups according to their birthdays. The cutoff for any particular age group is December 1st for all fall/winter league meets. For example, a swimmer who is 12 years old when practice starts in October, but turns 13 on December 2nd, will swim in the 12 & under age group for all league meets, Districts, States and Nationals. Swimmers are allowed to "swim up" to the next age group, but may not "swim down" to a younger group.
Swimmers who qualify to participate in YMCA Districts, States, or Spring Nationals will swim in the age group for their age as of December 1st.
The cutoff date for the summer league is for those participating in Summer Nationals.
Looking for swim suits, goggles, caps, fins, or other swimming apparel, but don't have the time to go store to store, or can't find what you're looking for? Try these suggested web sites:
(Team suits)http://lane4swim.com/scrantonymca.html
http://www.toadhollowathletics.com/phpsupercart/