Metro North YMCA Tritons Swim Team Overview

Mission Statement: The Metro North YMCA Swimming and Diving Team is dedicated to help athletes improve their skills and achieve their goals while instilling in them the core values of the YMCA.  The Team teaches that swimming or diving can not only help you physically, but will also help give you the motivation and dedication to tackle any obstacle.

When a child joins our team, the whole family joins the team. The time and energy required by the athlete and family is considerable. However, the lessons and rewards can be priceless and lifelong. This page is designed to familiarize athletes and their families with the expectations that are associated with being on the team.

Metro North Swimming and Diving Team is a competitive program offered by the YMCA of Metro North at the Lynn YMCA, Melrose YMCA, and Torigian YMCA facilities. The team incorporates all of the YMCA philosophies promoting Honesty, Responsibility, Caring, and Respect while developing a healthy spirit, mind, and body. The program is offered to children ages 6-18. Eligible swimmers must be able to swim front crawl and back crawl for the length of a 25 yards pool without stopping.

The coaching staff strive to provide opportunities for young athletes to learn life skills, to develop character and to learn as much about their sport as they wish. On the Metro North Swimming and Diving Team, we strive to:

• Provide a fun and enjoyable environment for all athletes
• Demonstrate that competition and being part of a team is fun
• Provide an opportunity for personal and social development
• Teach responsible aquatic and team-based behavior
• Teach athletes to be respectful of coaches, club mates, competitors as well as themselves
• Model good leadership skills and encourage healthy leadership opportunities
• Meet each child’s level of commitment and ability
• Provide tools to all athletes to excel in the sport
• Introduce and foster young people in competitive environments
• Encourage lifetime involvement in physical activity and healthy living

BEHAVIOR EXPECTATIONS 

Athletes are expected to show respectful and responsible behavior while representing the Metro North Swimming and Diving Team. This includes practices, meets and all team related functions. The following behavior will NOT be tolerated:

• Inappropriate language during any Team sponsored events
• Excessive horseplay or noise in locker room and/or other areas of the YMCA
• Disrespectful and unsportsmanlike behavior toward coaches, teammates, competitors, meet officials, YMCA staff or other YMCA members
• Intentional damage of facility or equipment
• Theft
• Violent behavior of ANY kind
• Cell phone use in the locker room

PRACTICE EXPECTATIONS

Practices are the most important part of being on a team. The purpose of practice is to improve the athlete’s technique, endurance and speed. Attendance is critical to ensure athlete success. During the practice time athletes should:

• Be on deck, dressed and ready five minutes before practice
• Be on time as not to disrupt other athlete’s training time
• NOT get in the water prior to practice starting
• Stay for the entire practice session ~ If a athlete needs to leave early they must notify the coach before practice and preferably an email from parent for safety reasons.
• Attend the required number of practices for their assigned group
• Not leave anything in the locker room.
• Use the Boys and Girls locker rooms for changing purposes.
• Swimmers should bring a swim cap, goggles, swimsuit, towel, and a water bottle to each practice
• Diver should bring a suit, towel and a water bottle to each practice.

PRACTICE SCHEDULE

The coaching staff feels strongly that practice attendance demonstrates commitment to the program and is absolutely vital to an athlete’s success. Athletes who do not attend practice regularly will experience less achievement. Athletes will be placed into practice groups based on ability. Other factors such as age, emotional and physical development will also be considered. Groupings are not reflective of status or achievement but represent the best learning environment for your athlete. The decision to place an athlete in a specific practice group is solely that of the coaching staff.

SWIM TEAM PRACTICE GROUPS

Polliwogs

For swimmers who can swim one length of freestyle and backstroke without stopping. Swimmers must also be able to kick one length of the pool with a kickboard in under 50 seconds. Practice will focus on head position and the kick used in all four of the competitive strokes.

• Practice twice a week for 45min 

Guppies

For swimmers who can perform all four competitive strokes. Practices will focus heavily on stroke technique, breathing, alignment, kicking, head position and turns.

• Practice: twice a week for an hour

Minnows

For swimmers who can perform all four competitive strokes with the appropriate turns with correct breath and hip timing. Practices will focus on developing race strategies (breakouts, turns, starts, and finishes).

• Practice: Three times a week for an hour

Fish

For swimmers who have a competent understanding of race strategy as well as a high level of stroke technique for all four of the competitive strokes. Practices will focus on developing a commitment to endurance training and speed training.

• Practice: Four times a week for an hour & half

Flying Fish

For swimmers who must have made a commitment to endurance training. Practices will focus on preparing swimmers for the achieving National goals.  Swimmers will be expected to be a positive role model in and out of the pool for other Metro North swimmers.

• Practice: Five times a week for an hour & half
• Dry Land: strongly encouraged, signups are by session

 High School Swimmers

Will be placed in either the Fish or Flying fish group during their time off from their high school season. These swimmers return to team after their high school swim team commences.

MEETS AND EVENTS

Meet Expectations for Athletes and Parents

• Athletes are expected to be on time for meets
• Athletes are expected to encourage and support all other athletes regardless of team
• Athletes are expected to be prepared with all necessary equipment and water
• Please inform coaches of illness/emergencies as soon as they occur
• Parents are NOT allowed on deck unless they are volunteering
• Parents should refrain from speaking to on deck officials. Please find a Metro North Coach if you have any questions.

Before Meets

• Register for meets BEFORE the entry deadline.
• Athletes who are not signed up on time will not be allowed to compete

During Meets Please bring the following:

• Team swim suit
• Towels (more than one)
• Dry clothing
• Foot wear
• Water bottle
• Swimmers need swim cap (at least 2) and goggles (at least 2 pairs)

BANQUET AND SEASON EVENTS

The team hosts a banquet at the conclusion of the fall/winter season in April. The banquet is a chance to celebrate and reflect on the accomplishments made by our entire team including our parents, coaches and most importantly the athletes. All athletes and their family members are invited to attend the event. A fee is charged to cover the cost of food. Other social events will be scheduled throughout the season. The club has a Holiday party where we participate in games and bond with one another. Dates for these events will be announced throughout the season.

PARENT VOLUNTEERS

Volunteering is a great way to understand how a meet and the Metro North Tritons team function. All parents are required to volunteer at our YMCA meets. If your child participates in AAU or USA competitions, parents are expected to volunteer at these meets as well. Other opportunities also exist for parents to help with the team. Please let the coaches know if you are interested in any of the following:

• Timing or officiating at meets (training is provided)
• Record keeping
• Special event planning

Periodically we will hold parents’ meetings to keep everyone involved and informed about the club.

COMMUNICATION

Coaching Staff will primarily correspond with parents and athletes club via email. Deadline oriented information will be posted on Team Unify and sent in an email.

MEMBERSHIP AND ADDITIONAL FEES

All team participants MUST be full members throughout the duration of the session.  Participation Fee is based on the group assigned.   Athletes will purchase required team equipment. Date and time to purchase team gear will be announced during the season.

COMPETITIVE SEASON

The team will compete in leagues: YMCA, AAU, and USA meets.  At YMCA invitations, athletes will have a chance to gain points for their team. Meets are typically held on weekends last about 4 hours, and are divided by age group. AAU and USA athletes on the Metro North Tritons can participate in these leagues by registering to be a part of the league and paying a registration fee.

Championships typically require a qualifying time. If an athlete qualifies they should try to attend the championship meet. An athlete’s age determines the age group that the athlete will compete in for the meet.