Mission statement

The Upper Moreland Swim Club Gators Swimming and Diving Team, under the auspices of the Upper Moreland Swim Club Board of Directors, is a membership based organization that is dedicated to promoting Sportsmanship, Athleticism, and responsibility, while balancing competitive spirit with the enjoyment of participation for each of our members. The Upper Moreland Swim Club philosophy is to provide swimmers and divers with a safe and fun environment, promoting the ongoing development and mastery of cumulative technical skill for each swimmer and diver through practice and competitive opportunities.

1) Each swimmer and diver is viewed as a winner and encouraged to strive for excellence as measured by his or her individual capabilities.

2) Team members are expected to exhibit good sportsmanship at all times and to portray a positive attitude toward themselves, their teammates, their fellow competitors and league officials.

3) The coaching team will work with swimmers and divers individually to maximize their potential.

4) Because improvement is our goal, each swimmer and diver is expected to participate in practice.

5) Coaches and parents will serve as positive role models for our children.

6) Our coaches will work with each team member to help him or her reach his or her maximum potential.

Communication

• For questions, please consult this handbook then email any other questions to [email protected].
• Missing Practice: Please email [email protected] if you will be missing practice for an extended period. Single day absences need not be reported.
• Missing a Meet: Meet RSVP’s should be completed as early as possible via SwimTopia. In the case of a last minute absence for a meet please email [email protected].

Team eligibility:

• During the first week of practice (starting the Tuesday after Memorial Day), new swimmers will be assessed by the coaching staff to determine their practice group placement. Swimmers will be reassessed throughout the season and may be moved to a more advanced group as they progress.
• Mini-Gators:

Benchmarks for eligibility:

Mini-Gators:

• Ability to swim, in any manner, 10 yards (a little less than half a pool length) unassisted
• Comfortable in the water, including with their face in the water
• Can understand and take direction

It has been shown that the ability to swim 10 meters independently indicates a comfort level in the water critical to learning the foundational techniques of freestyle and backstroke. Safety is also a major factor when setting this requirement. The ultimate goal for Mini-Gators is to complete 25 meters by the end of the season. Once a Mini-Gator achieves this goal they can swim in meets at the discretion of the coaching staff. There is also a 6 & Under age group at “B” Champs that Mini-Gators can participate in.

Gators:

In order to be on the competitive team, swimmers must be able to complete one full length of the pool unassisted and be comfortable swimming on their backs.

Full fledged Gators will be assigned to one of three practice groups based on ability.

Parent Responsibilities/Rules:

• KEEP SWIMMERS IN TEAM AREA DURING MEETS!
• NO ALCOHOL AT ANY MEETS
• *RSVP for meets via SwimTopia as early as possible. Meet lineups are prepared days in advance and cannot be done properly without accurate attendance.
• Fulfill 3 *Volunteer jobs per family at meets.
• Promote and embody Team Spirit & Sportsmanship.
• Donate to our concession stand for home meets.

(*video tutorials for these processes are on the HOME page of the team website)

Items to Bring to a Meet

• Cap (plus spares just in case)
• Goggles (plus spares just in case)
• Suit
• Towels
• Dry clothes
• Water bottle
• Entertainment (waterproof)
• Snacks
• Sandals/Flip-flops
• Sunscreen
• Positive attitude
• Blanket/chair
• Cash for snack bar
• Bug Spray
• Umbrellas/ponchos in the car in case of need

Practice Groups, Rules & Info

• Swimmers will be assessed during the first week of practice and placed into practice groups based on ability.
• The following items should be brought to all practices:
  • Suit
  • Goggles/Cap
  • Towel(s)
  • Sneakers & Socks (for dry land exercises)
• Only Swimmers and coaches are allowed on the pool deck during practice.
• Practice Times (the following is approximate and may change based on enrollment)

• PM Practices are available for those who cannot attend morning practices. The exact schedule will vary based on need. There is no PM Mini-Gator practice.

Swim Meet Rules/Regulations

• Show up as early as possible
• Escort your swimmer to the team area and have them check in with a coach. Help them set up their “spot”. This is where they should stay for the duration of the meet.
• Swimmers are expected to stay within the team area unless they are using the bathroom or quickly getting a snack.
  • If swimmers need to leave the team area, they are expected to check out with the Team Area parent (Swimmers have missed events because they were wandering around, away from the team area and could not be found)
  • Parents, please help the coaches and volunteers impress upon the swimmers the importance of knowing when they are expected to swim and that they need to stay with the team.
• Swimmers must stay until the end of the meet to cheer for teammates and shake hands with the other team.
• Swimmers should make sure to keep the team area neat and clean up after themselves.
• Parents must clean up after themselves in the spectator area.

Volunteer Jobs

• Volunteers make meets possible. Without parent volunteers, meets can not happen. During registration each family will be required to sign up for 3 job slots. Not only is it important for the team, it is a great way to pass the time during a long swim meet.
• Timers - The best way to be close to the action!
  • Timers are given 2 stopwatches and assigned a lane. When the starter starts the race, the timer starts the stopwatch. When the swimmer touches the wall, the timer stops the stopwatch and reports the time to the writer. There are always three timers per lane and a head timer who acts as a backup, so there’s never a need to worry about doing it wrong. Wear waterproof shoes!
• Team Area - For the parent who likes to support the swimmers.
  • Team area parents ensure that swimmers stay in the team area and get to the ready bench in time for their event. Often, the team area parent will help younger swimmers remember their caps and goggles and help them know when they will swim next.
• Ready Bench - For the parent who wants to get swimmers pumped for their event and likes to know what’s happening at the meet. Great for getting to know the kids on the team!
  • These parents get swimmers lined up to head to the blocks. Using the event sheet, the Ready Bench parent ensures that swimmers know which lane they will be walking to and often ensures that caps and goggles are ready to go.
• Bench to block - For the parent who wants to get swimmers pumped for their event and likes to know what’s happening at the meet. Great for getting to know the kids on the team!
  • These parents walk each group of swimmers from the Ready Bench area to their lane spots, ensuring that they are in the correct lane and order for their event using the event sheet as a reference.
• Lane parent - For the parent who likes to be close to the action or whose swimmer might like to see them before their event. Great for getting to know the kids on the team!
  • These parents ensure that swimmers get to the correct lane during the correct event/heat using the event sheet as a reference. Waterproof shoes recommended.
• Runner - For the parent who wants to be close to the action and get some exercise, but maybe not get wet.
  • The runner will collect and organize time sheets from the writers and DQ slips from the Official and Stroke & Turn judges and bring them to the scoring table.
• Writer - for the parent who wants to be in on the action and get an idea how the swimmers are doing.
  • The writer will write the times from each timer and circle the middle time. Good communication skills and neat writing are a bonus! Waterproof shoes recommended.
• Scoring table/Computer - For the organized parent who likes being in the shade.
  • The scoring table parents will collect and organize the papers brought to the table from the writer, ensuring that events and lanes are in order, middle times are circled, and DQ sheets are with the correct event sheets. The computer parent works the computer, entering times for each event. At home meets and some other clubs, scoring table/computer gives you a front row seat to the action!
• Concessions - For the parent who is great with numbers and likes to be social.
  • Concessions volunteers are in charge of the concessions table, selling snacks and drinks throughout the meet.
• Stroke and Turn judge - For the rule follower who likes details.
  • This is a position you will need to be trained for at the beginning of the season at the league run Stroke and Turn Clinic. Some prior knowledge of swim strokes and how they are to be performed is a big bonus.
• Announcer - For the parent who likes public speaking.
  • The announcer is responsible for announcing all events at the meet.
• Place Judge - For the parent who wants to see all the finishes.
  • The place judge takes notes of the order in which swimmers touch the wall. This helps ensure that the times written match the
• 50/50 Raffle - For the loud parent who likes to mingle!
  • The 50/50 person sells tickets and makes $ for the team!
• Diving Judge - For the parent with an eye for details.
  • Diving Judges score each dive based on established criteria. Judges must first attend a training clinic.
• Diving announcer - For the parent who likes public speaking.
  • The diving announcer announces the dives that each diver will do as well as the scores awarded by the judges.

Scoring:

• Points in individual events (including diving) are awarded as follows (only the first heat scores, all other heats are unofficial).
  • 1st place: 6 points
  • 2nd place: 4 points
  • 3rd place: 3 points
  • 4th place: 2 points
  • 5th place: 1 point
• Points in relays are awarded as follows:
  • 1st place: 7 points

League Age Requirements:

• Age by June 1 determines groups
• Diving age groups:
  • Youth: 11 & Under
  • Junior: 12-14
  • Senior: 15 - 18

Meet Mobile:

• Meet mobile will be used by CSL teams starting in 2023. With the app on your phone you will be able to see swimmers’ times once they are recorded at the scoring table. The cost of the app is $5/month or $10/year.
• Beware! According to league rules, placements are decided by the place judges, NOT by times. Please do not accost the scoring table workers if placements and times disagree.

Championship Schedule/Eligibility/Selection process

“A” swimming Champs is on the last Saturday of July in the morning.

• To qualify for A Champs, Swimmers need to be amongst the top performers in an event across the league.
• The top 18 times in each individual event automatically qualify.
• If swimmers in the top 18 cannot make it or choose to swim different events, the 19th, 20th (and so on) fastest times become eligible.
• A child can participate in 4 events maximum at A Champs with a maximum of 3 individual events (Diving counts as an event).
• Swimmers who do not qualify as individuals may be used to fill RELAYS at A Champs. This DOES NOT eliminate them from B Champs participation. This decision is made by the coaches. Medley and Free Relays are BOTH contested at A Champs.

“B” Champs is the Wednesday before “A” Champs in the late afternoon/evening.

• Children who do not qualify for A Champs can swim 3 events in B Champs (there are no relays at B Champs).
• A swimmer who qualifies for ONLY ONE event at A Champs can still swim 2 events at B Champs (but not the event in which they qualified for A Champs).
• Swimmers who qualify for multiple events at A Champs are ineligible for B Champs.
• B Champs includes a 6 & Under age group.

Diving Champs is the Friday before “A” Champs from 7am to 2pm (ish).

• The top 18 diver averages (average of each diver’s top 2 scores) qualify for “A” Diving Champs.
• If divers in the top 18 are unavailable, number 19, 20… become eligible.
• All other divers may participate in “B” Champs.
• A and B Champs are on the same day but at different times (TBD).

List of Meet events (note: Freestyle relays are swam on the first four dates of the league schedule; Medley relays on the last three)

DIVING

1. Youth girls (11 & under)

2. Youth boys(11 & under)

3. Junior girls(12 -14)

4. Junior boys(12 -14)

5. Senior girls(15 & over)

6. Senior boys (15 & over)

1. no event
2. no event
3. no event
4. no event

BACKSTROKE

11. 8 & U girls25 meters

12. 8 & U boys25 meters

13. 10 & U girls 25 meters

14. 10 & U boys25 meters

15. 12 & U girls 50 meters

16. 12 & U boys50 meters

17. 14 & U girls50 meters

18. 14 & U boys50 meters

19. 15 & O girls50 meters

20. 15 & O boys50 meters

BREASTROKE

21. 8 & U girls 25 meters

22. 8 & U boys25 meters

23. 10 & U girls25 meters

24. 10 & U boys25 meters

25. 12 & U girls50 meters

26. 12 & U boys50 meters

27. 14 & U girls50 meters

28. 14 & U boys50 meters

29. 15 & O girls50 meters

30. 15 & O boys50 meters

BUTTERFLY

31. 8 & U girls25 meters

32. 8 & U boys25 meters

33. 10 & U girls25 meters

34. 10 & U boys 25 meters

35. 12 & U girls50 meters

36. 12 & U boys50 meters

37. 14 & U girls50 meters

38. 14 & U boys50 meters

39. 15 & O girls50 meters

40. 15 & O boys50 meters

FREESTYLE

41. 8 & U girls25 meters

42. 8 & U boys25 meters

43. 10 & U girls25 meters

44. 10 & U boys25 meters

45. 12 & U girls50 meters

46. 12 & U boys50 meters

47. 14 & U girls50 meters

48. 14 & U boys50 meters

49. 15 & O girls100 meters

50. 15 & O boys100 meters

INDIVIDUAL MEDLEY

51. no event

52. no event

53. 10 & U girls100 meters IM

54. 10 & U boys100 meters IM

55. 12 & U girls100 meters IM

56. 12 & U boys100 meters IM

57. 14 & U girls 100 meters IM

58. 14 & U boys100 meters IM

59. 15 & O girls100 meters IM

60. 15 & O boys100 meters IM

*FREE RELAYS

61. 8 & U girls100 meters

62. 8 & U boys100 meters

63. 10 & U girls100 meters

64. 10 & U boys100 meters

65. 12 & U girls200 meters

66. 12 & U boys200 meters

67. 14 & U girls200 meters

68. 14 & U boys200 meters

69. 15 & O girls200 meters

70. 15 & O boys200 meters

*MEDLEY RELAYS

71. 8 & U girls100 meters

72. 8 & U boys100 meters

73. 10 & U girls100 meters

74. 10 & U boys100 meters

75. 12 & U girls200 meters

76. 12 & U boys200 meters

77. 14 & U girls200 meters

78. 14 & U boys200 meters

79. 15 & O girls200 meters

80. 15 & O boys200 meters

(*note: Freestyle relays are swam on the first four dates of the league schedule; Medley relays on the last three)

League Pool addresses

• Hideaway Swim Club: 333 W County Line Rd, Hatboro, PA 19040
• Maplewood: 1100 Rozel Ave, Southampton, PA 18966
• Sunny Willow: 40 School Ln, Willow Grove, PA 19090
• Manorlu: 850 Twining Rd, Dresher, PA 19025
• Fort Washington: 1003 Farm Ln, Ambler, PA 19002
• Maple Manor:1552 Dillon Rd, Maple Glen, PA 19002

Swimming terminology:

Anchor: The final swimmer in a relay.

Backstroke: One of the four competitive racing strokes, basically any style of swimming on your back. Backstroke is swum as the first stroke in the Medley Relay and second stroke in the I.M.

Blocks: The starting platforms located behind each lane.

Breaststroke: One of the four competitive racing strokes. Breaststroke is swam as the second stroke in the Medley Relay and the third stroke in the I.M.

Butterfly: One of the four competitive racing strokes. Butterfly (nicknamed FLY) is swam as -the third stroke in the Medley Relay and first stroke in the I.M.

Distance: How far a swimmer swims. Distances are: 25 meters (1 length), 50 meters (2 lengths), 100 meters (4 lengths), 200 meters (8 lengths).

Disqualified or DQ'd: A swimmer's performance is not counted because of a rules infraction.

Dropped Time: When a swimmer goes faster than the previous performance they have "dropped their time."

False Start:When a swimmer leaves the starting block too early.

Flags:These are suspended over the width of each end of the pool approximately 5 meters from the wall, they allow backstroke swimmers to determine where the end of the pool is.

Freestyle: One of the four competitive racing strokes. Freestyle (nicknamed Free) is swum as the fourth stroke in the Medley Relay and fourth stroke in the I.M.

Heats: A division of an event when there are too many swimmers to compete all atthe same time. If a pool has 6 lanes and 36 swimmers in an event, there will be 6 heats.

Individual Medley (IM): A swimming event using all four of the competitive strokes on consecutive lengths of the race. The order must be: Butterfly, Backstroke, Breaststroke, Freestyle.

Lap: One length of the course. Sometimes may also mean down and back (2 lengths) of the course.

Leg: The part of a relay event swam by a single team member. A single stroke in the IM.

Line-up:This is the master list of swimmers and their events. Every swimmer on the roster will be included unless signed-out prior to the meet.

Personal Best:The best time a swimmer has done so far in a particular stroke/event.

Relays: A swimming event in which four swimmers participate as a team. Each swimmer completes an equal distance of the race. There are two types of relays: 1.) Medley relay - Four swimmers swim Backstroke, Breaststroke, Butterfly and Freestyle, in that order. 2.) Freestyle relay - Each swimmer swims freestyle.

Stroke: There are 4 competitive strokes: Butterfly, Backstroke, Breaststroke, Freestyle.

Time Trials: An event before the first swim meet in which swimmers are timed on all four strokes. The coaches use this information to determine the seeding for the first meet.