Greater Scranton YMCA Stingray Swim Team

We Build Strong Kids, Strong Families and Strong Communities

Parent Information

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 fundraiser 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

· Equipment – 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

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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 the 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.

 

League

The YMCA participates in the Penn Del YMCA Swim League, “B North” Division during the fall/winter season.  This league has age group competition for the following groups:  8 & under, 10 & under, 12 & under and 14 & under and 15-19 years of age.  Meets are held on Saturday afternoons.  All league meets are mandatory for swimmers in these age categories.

 A league schedule will be posted as early in the season as possible.

 

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 given during the season.  The YMCA also participates in YMCA Districts, States and Nationals.

Each Swimmer Should:

Attempt to attend a minimum of three 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 suit 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 Blue and White practice sessions.  All swimmers are placed in a practice session by the coaches based on their age and/or ability level.  In the event of low enrollment, practice sessions will be combined.  In the event of high enrollment, a third practice session will be created.    All high school swimmers who take advantage of the high school payment option during the fall/winter season should attend white team practice sessions.

 

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 the 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 during practice sessions.  The presence of parents on the pool deck 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 also.

 

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 league meet, holiday parties at Halloween and Christmas, and a banquet, complete with a D.J. 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 Team Picnic 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.

 

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 officers.

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, the officers would love to hear from you!

 

2008/2009 Parent’s Club Officers:

· President:  Fran Neville

· Vice President:  Tammi Lalli

· Treasurer:  Cindy Wasilchak (tentative)

· Recording Secretary:   Jim Dempsey (tentative)

· Corresponding Secretary:  Christine Neville

 

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 1^st  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 Nationals will swim in the age group for their age as of December 1^st.

 

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