Medfield Sharks

PARENT VOLUNTEERING

There are two basic kinds of volunteer positions.

Positions required to be fulfilled during meets, and positions where the obligations are fulfilled outside of the meets.

This is why there is an expectation that each family will contribute in some volunteer capacity.

Volunteer Jobs:

Announcer: Will announce swim events, scores and other announcement throughout the meet. Will be given a script to follow. This job last the entire meet.  (Home meets only)

Clean-up Crew: Puts the pool deck back to pre-meet arrangement. Moving deck furniture, putting up backstroke flags, poles and other items. This is not about picking up OTHER'S PEOPLES TRASH. ( Home meets only)

Clerk of Course: Lines up swimmers behind the blocks in the order they will swim an event. This job is split into two shifts. First half meet is Medley Relay through Backstroke. Second half of meet is Breaststroke through Free Relay. ( Home and Away Meets)

Concessions: Helps in the Hut to sell food items. You can step out while your swimmers is swimming :) (Home meets only)

Heat Judge: Determines 1st place winner in heats and hands out a HEAT WINNER participant ribbon (NOT MAIN EVENT) ( Home Meets Only)

Kid Pusher: Gets assigned swimmers to Clerk of Course in time for their events. Will have a piece of paper with kids names and events. ( Home and Away Meets)

Lead Timer: Timer who is not assigned to a specific lane and is available to fill in when another timer has missed a time or if a Medfield swimmer is put into one of the other team's lane. ( Home and Away Meets)

Parking Attendant: Set-up of cones on Baker Road. Arrive by 4:30 to guide visiting teams into our parking lots and park correctly on Baker Road. This job is DONE BEFORE MEET EVEN STARTS! ( Home Meets only)

Place Judge: Identifies the lane number of the swimmer in the assigned position. ( Home and Away Meets)

Recorder: Record official results for each main event for scorer. ( Home meets only)

Runner: Takes recorder sheet, heat sheets and DQ slips to the scorers table. (Home and Away meets)

Scorer: Enters times into Meet Maestro and keeps track of the score throughout the meet. ( Home and Away Meets)

Set-up Crew: Must arrive by 4:30 and move deck furniture and set up meet equipment. Instructions provided ( Home Meets only)

Starter: Start each event in the prescribed order using the Starter System. Must have training ( Home Meets Only)

Stroke and Turn Judges: Judge correct strokes and turns in assigned three lanes. Only judging the Main Event. Training Required http://www.strokeandturn.com/ (Home and Away meets)

Timer: Records times for all swimmers in heats. Timers meeting is at 5:30 on meet day (Home and Away Meets)

While the steering committee organizes the operation of the swim team and meets, many volunteers are needed to carry out a successful season.

SWIM MEETS AND WHAT THAT MEANS…

MEET ATTENDANCE If a swimmer must miss a meet the coaches must be notified by the preceding Friday of the meet. You can do this by “scratching” from a meet in 2 ways: a) sign up on the scratch sheets at the pool and/or b) emailing the head coach [email protected].The coaches must know who will be participating in the meet in order to prepare all of the events.

The TSA has 6 meets (3 home and 3 away) each consist of individual races (events) and relays.

Six and under swimmers swim 15 yards to a rope stretched across the pool. [A six-and-under swimmer is limited to swimming in two individual main events, but may swim the third stroke in a heat. Six-and-unders do not swim relay events (unless they are swimmingas a move-up in a higher age group which is permitted for relays only) and they do not swim butterfly.]

7-8 and 9-10 age groups swim one pool length, or 25 yards/meters (depending on the pool)

• 11-12, 13-14, and 15-18 age groups swim 50 yards [Swimmers are limited to three individual main events, but may swim their fourth stroke in a heat.]

A maximum of 514 points will be split between the two competing team:

Points are awarded in the first heat only, also referred to as the Main Event. Only swimmers in the Main Event are judged for infractions (can be disqualified – DQ’d). Coaches put the fastest three swimmers available in the main event.

Swimmers should always remember that they are being timed and that they should do their best in their race to record the best possible time. In swimming you always compete to improve your own time.

ORDER OF EVENTS

Meets always follow a standard order of events, starting with 6 & Unders and progressing through each age group to the 15-18’s. The sequence of events is: medley relay, freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke, butterfly, and freestyle relay. In each of the events, the boys swim first.

Home meets: arrive at the pool at 4:30* Away meets: arrive at the pool at 5:00

Home meet warm-ups run from 5:00 - 5:30 pm. [Away meet warm-ups start at 5:30 pm.]

Meets usually last until after 9:00 pm. Typically, the meet’s end time depends on the size of the other team. The larger the team, the later the end time. It’s possible some meets won’t end until 10:00 pm or later.

CANCELLATIONS

If a meet is cancelled due to weather, it will usually be rescheduled for the next evening. This is at the discretion of each of the two TSA representatives. Look for announcements on Facebook/Twitter if it happens before Meet start time.

NUTRITION ON MEET DAYS

A nutritional diet consists of: a balanced breakfast and lunch plus a light meal a couple of hours before the meet. During a meet, swimmers should eat lightlyand nutritionallyuntil they have completed events, which means they should not consume junk food during the meet. Sugar creates a short feeling of energy- but is not substantial to provide proper energy. Doing so can cause stomachaches and discomfort, which may result in a swimmer not being able to compete. Some appropriate snacks are: water, popcorn, Gatorade, cheese and crackers, yogurt.

SUGGESTIONS FOR MEET DAYS

Swimmers should stay indoors, especially on extremely hot days. Indoor activities like games, etc. are best. It is recommended they do NOT practice on meet days. Rest is best!

NECESSITIES TO TAKE TO THE MEET

1.While team apparel is not required it is strongly suggested- Your team swimsuit, goggles and your MARC Sharks swim cap.

2.Dry clothes to put on during and after the meet (i.e., sweats). When you are wet and cold, these items are a must.

3.Sunscreen

4.Several towels.

5.Healthysnacks

6.Folding chair(s)- for the whole family.

7.Cards or small games to play between events. We do not recommend electronic devices and games unless parents are responsible for them.

8.Your Team Spirit!

AWAY MEETS

Parentsmay want to bring their own folding chairs, since most pools have limited seating. Following an away meet the team may gather at a restaurant for a late dinner/dessert, hopefully to celebrate a victory (the site will be announced during the meet and on facebook).

CONCESSIONS AT MEETS

The Medfield Hut offers a variety of “food court” food, drinks, chips, and other goodies during home meets. Other clubhouses have similar menus. Food with nuts and other allergans may be served. So swimmers/parents should plan accordingly.