Welcome to the Packanack Lake Swim Club. The primary purpose of the Swim Club is to support the non-profit Swim Team. The Packanack Lake Swim Team is a competitive summer swim team celebrating its 53rd year in 2001. The team swims at the west beach where a 50-meter, eight-lane long course swimming facility is available for the team’s use. Practice sessions are held on a daily basis except weekends. Swim meets are held Wednesday evenings and some Saturdays.

Before the season really gets underway, please take the time to read this handbook. It provides information and answer the most common questions that parents raise during the course of the season. New swim team parents, and even seasoned pros, will find this information useful.

The Swim Club does not provide day-long supervision for your children. Parents, guardians or caregivers are responsible for seeing that swimmers are ready to practice on time, and are picked up or supervised after the practice sessions. The primary responsibility for all coaches is to improve your child’s swimming ability and ensure his/her safety while in the water during practice sessions. Lifeguards also watch over your children during practice. The coaches and lifeguards are not babysitters.

If your child has never swum competitively before, you will have to help prepare her/him for the mental and physical conditioning that competition demands. It is not unusual for children to want to hang up their suits and flippers after the first few practices. No one knows better than you how to motivate your child. Encourage your swimmer to stay with it, and in a few weeks the conditioning techniques used by the coaches will begin to work. The water also will warm up.

The children have a lot to gain from being on the swim team. They will be involved and active, meet new people and have lots of water fun and go to new places. Swimming recognizes the value of individual achievement as part of an overall team accomplishment. Swimming builds self esteem and discipline which carry over to school work and other areas. Swimming develops sportsmanship and time management skills in a team environment. Swimming is one of the safest sports and provides great cardiovascular exercise.

Being on the swim team also will help your child develop social skills with adult coaches and swimmers of all ages, learn respect for others, how to be a good sport and manage their achievements as well as their disappointments. Parents play a critical role in the values their children learn through sports. Swim team parents are encouraged to demonstrate interest and enthusiasm for their children whatever the outcome of the event, to help out when asked to by a coach or official, and cheer for all swimmers on the team.

We need to remember that our children are the swimmers, and they want to have fun. They also need to establish their own goals and make their own way toward them. Your role is to support your swimmer. Putting an emphasis on having fun while working to increasing their skills, instilling a will to win and heaping tons of positive reinforcement on them will go a long way in ensuring a happy and dedicated swimmer.

The success of the swim season depends on the participation of parents. There are plenty of opportunities for parents to be actively involved including timing, scoring, set-up/take-down, snack stand, fund raising, membership, awards and event planning.

(adapted from Ed Clendaniel’s 10 Commandments for Little League Parents)

Reprinted from the USA Swimming Swim Parent Survival Guide and USA Swimming Parents’ Handbook

1. Thou shalt not impose your ambitions on your children.

This is your child’s activity, and every swimmer can strive to do his/her personal best. Whether they come in first, second or last, they can always improve.

2. Thou shalt be supportive no matter what.

The question to ask is, "Did you have fun?"

3. Thou shalt not coach you child.

The coach is responsible for the technical part of training your child. Your job is to provide support.

4. Thou shalt have positive things to say at a swimming meet.

Cheer and applaud at swim meets and events. Never criticize your child, coach or official.

5. Thou shalt acknowledge your child’s fears.

50 meters is a long way to swim if any of you have braved it during the family beach parties. Whether it’s your child’s first time swimming competitively or first time swimming a new stroke, it can be stressful. Assure your child that the coach would have not suggested the event if your child was not ready to compete.

6. Thou shalt not criticize the officials.

Be respectful of those who are doing the best they can.

7. Honor thy child’s coach.

The coach is key to your child’s success.

8. Thou shalt not jump from team to team.

If you see an area that needs improvement, get involved. The water isn’t necessarily less algae-free in another team’s lake, and every team has its own internal problems.

9. Thou shalt have goals besides winning.

Achieving a personal best is much more important than winning.

10. Thou shalt not expect your child to become an Olympian.

There are 250,000 athletes in United State Swimming. There are only 52 spots available for the Olympic Team every four years. Your child’s odds of becoming an Olympian are about .0002%. Swimming is much more than just the Olympics. Swimming teaches self discipline and sportsmanship; it builds self esteem and fitness and provides lifelong friendships and more. Be happy your child wants to participate.

1. Have fun and work hard.

2. Come to practice with a desire to learn and improve. Be on time, sign up for stroke and listen to the coach.

3. Set challenging but realistic performance goals.

4. Challenge yourself even when you’re tired or cold or don’t feel like it.

5. Eat smart before and during a meet. Carbohydrates provide an excellent energy source. The sugar rush from a candy bar will be long gone by the time you reach the starting blocks; in fact, it can slow you down.

6. Act smart. Don’t blow all your training and hard work by staying up all night at a sleep-over before a meet.

7. If you say you’re going to be at an event, show up.

8. Be a good sport.

9. Cheer for your teammates.

10. Work hard and have fun.

Try to avoid bombarding the coaches with questions, technical or philosophical discussions. While they are approachable, their time is dedicated to training the swimmers and preparing them for competition.

Equally important, your swimmer should be encouraged to deal directly with the coaches in matters such as stroke technique and event selection. It is more efficient and sometimes helps a shy child become more outspoken and self-assured.

The Swim Club officers also can answer any questions you may have.

The swimmers are separated into practice groups based on ability, experience, competitiveness and age. The practice sessions run continuously throughout the season. All swimmers should be on the dock with the appropriate gear ten minutes before practice starts. Attendance and participation in all practice sessions is encouraged.

Practice is held rain or shine unless the coach activates the phone chain. In the event of severe weather, dry land practice will be held in the Trophy Room in the Clubhouse. Videos of swimming techniques also may be shown. In the event of thunder and/or lightning, everyone will come out of the water and off the beach. Neither a practice nor a swim meet can continue until 20 minutes after the last roll of thunder is heard.

There are no stroke workouts Wednesday afternoons. Swimmers are strongly encouraged to stay inside out of the sun and relax during the afternoon so they will be rested and refreshed for the evening meet. Wednesday afternoons might be a good time for them to keep up with their summer reading.

Friday afternoons are dedicated to team fun and camaraderie. In that regard, you may want to encourage your older children to be a ‘big brother’ or ‘big sister’ to a younger member of the team. They can help them during stroke practice and cheer for them at meets.

Please tell your swimmers to STAY OFF THE LANELINES AND DON’T GRAB THE TIMING POLES. Your child easily can swim to the ladders by lanes 1and 8 or can build upper body strength by pulling her/himself up onto the dock.

Over the years, we have purchased kickboards and other equipment for your swimmers to use. We also purchase skimmers, nets and other devices to keep the water clean and the docks in good repair. All swim apparatus should be returned to the shed at the end of practice. Also, teach your child pride in their swim team beach by praising them for the appropriate use of waste cans. No one wants to visit a littered beach.

The coaches spent a great deal of time making the lineup for each swim meet. In the Saturday Invitational meets, we have to pay an entry fee for each event that our swimmers enter. If your child is going to miss a swim meet, notify the head coach as soon as possible. This allows the coach to change the lineup and may open up a spot for another swimmer. Plan your vacation for after the swim season. If that’s not possible, give a copy of your vacation schedule to the head coach and as soon as possible.

The Packanack Lake Swim Club belongs to the Lakeland Swim Conference. Members come from Morris, Passaic and Sussex Counties. The Lakeland Conference swim meets are held Wednesday evenings at 7 p.m., and Invitational swim meets are held Saturdays. The exception is the Fayson Invitational, which is held on a Thursday evening. During the Lakeland Conference meets, all swimmers swim in the 50 meter lanes. No awards are given at the Wednesday evening meets.

There are basically two kinds of swim meets -- dual, and invitational or championship meets.

A dual meet involves only two teams which compete against each other. All Wednesday night meets are dual meets. In general, four swimmers from each team will swim in alternate lanes. The fastest swimmers will be in the center lanes 4 and 5, the next fastest in lanes 3 and 6, etc. Occasionally, one or more swimmers will be swimming unofficially -- their time counts for a personal record but not for team points. Points are awarded for the first five places in the individual races but only to the first and second places in the relay events. At the end of the meet, the team with the most points wins.

An Invitational or Championship meet involves many different teams competing simultaneously. In some invitationals, there are team points and team trophies but usually the competition is on an individual basis. Awards may vary, but usually trophies, medals or ribbons are awarded.

Boys swim against boys and girls swim against girls. The swimmers are divided into two-year age groups. This is called "age group swimming."

In the Lakeland Conference the age groups are

8 & under

9 & 10

11 & 12

13 & 14

15 & 18

The age cutoff is June 1. If your child turns 9 on or before June 1, she/he will swim in the age 9 & 10 group. If your child turns 9 on or after June 2, he/she will swim in the 8 & under age group.

There are both individual and relay races. In the individual events, a swimmer will swim one of the four competitive strokes for a given distance. In the relay events, four swimmers swim as a group. There are two types of relays, a free relay in which all four swimmers swim freestyle, and a medley relay in which each swimmer swims a different stroke. The stroke order for the medley relay is backstroke, breaststroke, butterfly and freestyle.

There are a few other occasional relay events: A step-up relay in which each team member is from a different age group, and a mixed relay in which the relay team is comprised of both boys and girls. Another event, the Individual Medley (IM) is where one swimmer swims all four strokes. IMs generally are not swum in the summer leagues. The stroke order for the IM is butterfly, backstroke, breaststroke and freestyle.

A DQ is a disqualification from a race because the swimmer did not swim the stroke correctly. DQs are given by stroke officials who watch the swimmers and walk alongside the swim lanes during a race. There are usually several stroke officials at a swim meet. Swimming competitively on a summer swim team is challenging. While it is disappointing to be DQ’d in a meet, help your swimmer view it as a learning experience, not a penalty.

COMPETITIVE STROKES AND DQs

This is basically the front crawl, although technically any stroke can be used. A younger swimmer (7& under) may use the backstroke in a 50 meter freestyle event.

Generally, a swimmer cannot be disqualified in the freestyle. However, a swimmer can be DQ’d if he/she pulls on the lane lines, which sometimes happens with younger swimmers. Also, in the 100 meter freestyle event, a swimmer can be DQ’d for failing to touch the wall during the turn. Any part of the swimmer can touch the wall; it doesn’t necessarily have to be the feet. Also, swimmers must finish the race in the same lane they started.

This stroke is the back crawl, and swimmers must stay on their backs. DQs can occur if the swimmer does not stay on his/her back. This usually occurs at the end of the race if a swimmer mistakenly turns over on his/her side to see the wall. Swimmers cannot pull on the lanelines in order to advance.

The rules for swimming the breaststroke are complex. Basically, the arms must move simultaneously in the same horizontal plane, the kick must have simultaneous vertical and lateral movements (a frog kick) and the head must break the surface of the water between strokes.

DQs usually occur for an illegal kick. Typically a swimmer puts in a extra flutter at the end of the frog kick. Also, a swimmer is allowed one arm stroke while underwater at the start of the race. DQs occur when the swimmer takes more than one underwater arm stroke. Finally, a swimmer must touch the wall with two hands simultaneously at end of the race. DQs are called for failing to do this.

This stroke involves simultaneous arm movements over the surface of the water and a dolphin kick. The kick requires that both legs move in the same position relative to one another.

DQs usually occur for an illegal kick. Typically a swimmer does not move the legs together making the kick look like a flutter kick. Also, a DQ can occur if the swimmer takes an arm stroke while underwater at the start of the race or fails to touch the wall simultaneously with both hands at the end of the race.

United States Swimming is the governing body for amateur swimming in the United States. There are a few minor differences in these rules to make them a bit more lenient for less experienced swimmers, such as the ‘false start’ rule. US Swimming requires that one false start disqualifies a swimmer for that event. This rule has been modified so that the first two false starts in an event by anyone don’t count. Any subsequent false start will then disqualify a swimmer from that event.

In the Lakeland Conference, all events are 50 meters. The Lakeland Conference also has a 100 meter freestyle event for the 15-18 age group.

In Long Course Meters (LCM), the swim lane is 50 meters. Packanack’s swim course is 50 meters long. Most long courses are 50 meters in length. There is no recognized 50 yard course in swimming.

In Short Course Meters (SCM), the swim lane is 25 meters. Twenty-five meters is a little more than 27 yards.

In Short Course Yards (SCY), the swim lane is 25 yards which is the type used in most indoor pools.

In the Lakeland Conference, a swimmer must make a qualifying time in order to participate in the championship meet (The As). These times are known as "A" times. The conference publishes each "A" time by sex, age group and stroke. Toward the end of the season, the "A" times may be raised with the intent of increasing the number of swimmers in the championship meet. The goal is 32 swimmers, or four heats per event.

A swimmer can obtain an "A" time during any Wednesday night meet or any of the invitationals. The last opportunity to obtain an "A" time is during the last Wednesday night meet, which is just three days before the championship meet.

It takes a great many people to organize and run a swim meet. Many require special training and certification, while others are volunteer parents and spectators.

The certified officials include the referee, who is the chief official at the meet, the starter and usually two or more stroke judges. The certified officials will wear white uniforms.

Other meet officials include the scorer, who runs the electronic timing system and tabulates the results, and the meet announcer, who calls swimmers for events, announces the placings, etc. Finally, there are the timers who actually time the races. For dual meets, there are two times per lane; for invitationals and championship meets, there are three timers per lane.

In the 50 meter swim lanes, the races are timed by an electronic button timing system known as the Daktronic.Ô When using the Daktronic system, stopwatches are used as a backup. Also, most swimmers want to know their time right after a race. Feel free to tell them the stopwatch time.

Sometimes when stopwatches are used, there are instances where the judges will determine the placing of an event. The principle is that the eye is faster than the hand. For example, if the judges agree that the swimmer in lane 6 came in first, followed by the swimmer in lane 5, then lane 3, that placing will become the official results regardless of stopwatch times. Although it rarely occurs, it is possible for a swimmer with a faster time to place behind a swimmer with a slower time.

At the start of each event, the meet referee will instruct the timers to "Clear your watches," and then hands the event over to the starter. When this happens, reset your stopwatch and check to make sure the time is cleared. The starter will instruct the swimmers to "Step Up," "Take Your Mark," and then the race starts with a horn blast. With the Daktronic system, a strobe light flashes when the horn sounds. Start your stopwatch when you see the strobe light, not when you hear the horn.

Also, you do not have to press the Daktronic electronic timing button at the start of the race -- only at the end. You should pick up the electronic stop button when the swimmer is about halfway down the lane. Hang the electronic stop button on the overhead wires to prevent anyone from accidentally pressing the button at the start of the race.

When any part of the swimmer touches the wall, simultaneously press the electronic stop button and the stopwatch stop button. Do not be concerned with a legal or illegal touch -- that’s the stroke official’s job. Do not clear your stopwatch until the referee says so in the event stopwatch times are needed.

Never discuss your child’s times or performance with another swimmer. It may ‘psyche-out’ the other child or may be seen as an attempt to do so. The Swim Club will provide a log sheet for your swimmers to keep track of their times.

With the exception of the Fayson Lakes Invitational, these meets are long and last a good part of the day. The day will be what you make of it. If you plan ahead and treat it like a big picnic, you’ll have a good time.

The Swim Club has a 10 foot by 20 foot tent to provide the swimmers with shade at meets. Parents also can gather nearby to socialize during the day. Swimmers should come prepared with caps, goggles, extra dry towels, sweat pants, sweat shirts and T shirts. Listen to the weather forecast. This will allow you to dress appropriately and bring along the things you will need to be comfortable during the day, such as sunscreen, foul weather gear, etc. Remember to bring a chair.

All Invitational entries must be made the Saturday prior to the meet. We will try to post the event schedule in advance so parents can help their swimmers determine what events to compete in. During the week prior to entries being due, Coach Gurka will ask the swimmers if they want to swim and what events.

Each entry costs our club between $2.50 and $3.00. Deck entries, those made after the original entries were due, cost an additional $1-2.00. Having swimmers deck enter the day of the meet or enter a meet and not show up costs additional money. It is very important that all swimmers register at the right time and show up for the meet.

Also, remember to bring an ink or felt-tip pen to each meet so your swimmers can write their event numbers, lane numbers and strokes on their arms. The announcers will call the events by number, and swimmers should report to the marshaling area. The coaches will be walking alongside the lanes during the meet, so it is the swimmer’s (and parents) responsibility to pay attention to the events during a meet and make sure he/she is in the right place at the right time.

The host clubs use the Invitational meets as fundraisers. You will probably pay $3.00 for admission and another $2 to 3.00 for a program. Food, beverages, patches, hats and other items are generally available for purchase. Bring a cooler with snacks and drinks to keep your family happy.

While your child’s name will be listed in the seeding portion of the program for individual events, the relay teams will be listed only as Packanack or Packanack A or B. Find out from the coach if your child is on a relay team. Typically, championship meets have relay events while invitational meets do not.

In most cases, the meets are held at swim clubs that are on private property. Do not be offended by restricted access to some facilities such as clubhouses and beaches. Remember, while the swim team would love to have you enjoy all of their facilities, the other club members want their privacy.

Invitational meets are run slightly differently than dual meets. There are prelims and finals. In this format, everyone swims in a preliminary heat. Then the top eight swimmers compete in a final heat and the next eight swimmers compete in a consolation heat. A swimmer competing in the consoles cannot place higher than ninth place in the event, even if his/her time is faster that a swimmer competing in the finals. That’s just the way it is. The Lakeland Conference Championship uses this format.

In this format, everyone swims in a given heat and final placing is determined by the time swum in the heats. Most invitationals use this format.

In this format, there is only one heat consisting of the fastest swimmers from each team. The swimmers are selected by the coach. In some competitions, the number of events a swimmer may swim is limited. The Fayson Lakes Invitational uses this format.

Like other sports, there is a code of behavior in swimming for both spectators and participants. For the most part, these are unwritten rules and have evolved as a kind of tradition. Please keep the following points in mind so that meets may run with the spirit of good sportsmanship.

You can do this to your heart’s content only AFTER the race has begun. From the time the referee blows the whistle until the starter horn sounds, there should be silence.

This prevents the starter from having to shout above the crowd and also ensures that the swimmers can hear the starter’s instructions. The last thing you want is for your child to miss the start of the race because he/she is looking for you on the sidelines.

No spectator has the right to interfere with an official, timer or any other person working the swim meet. Any and all protests will be made by the coaching staff. Any questions should be addressed to the coach. A swim meet is not the proper time or place to discuss coaching decisions. Remember, the coach has the final say on what event your child swims and who swims in the relays.

This is an odd-age group meet. All teams from the Lakeland Conference and occasionally some teams outside the conference are invited. In an odd-age meet, the conventional age groups are reversed -- the age groups become 7 & under, 8&9, 10&11, 12&13. 14 & up. Obviously, this gives the swimmers who are ordinarily at the bottom of their age group a better chance to place. Medals are given to swimmers for first through third place, and ribbons for fourth through eighth. Trophies are given to the top three teams.

The Packanack Invitational is July 14, 2001 and is the first inivitational meet of the summer season. Besides being a well run meet, thanks to the involvement of our team parents, there also are events for parents, coaches and even a family relay event. Remember to bring hats, sunscreen and plenty of water to drink.

This meet is held in Pequannock and is designed to give swimmers a chance to compete solely in their own age group, i.e., 8-year olds swim against other 8-year olds; 9s against 9s, etc. Again, this gives the swimmers who are ordinarily at the bottom of their age group a better chance to place. This meet also may include open events for swimmers 13 and up. Swimmers are encouraged to gather in the shade of the Packanack tent.

Swimmers with two or more "A" times are not eligible for this meet. A swimmer with one "A" time cannot swim that stroke in the meet but is eligible to swim any other stroke. This meet is occasionally referred to as the "B" invitational or "B" championships. Traditionally medals are awarded to the first three or four places and ribbons for the next few placed. There are also open events for older swimmers, 100 & 200 meter freestyle and a 200 meter IM.

If a swimmer achieves an "A" time at this meet, the swimmer becomes eligible for the Lakeland Conference Championships. A swimmer who does not place in this meet and does not have an "A" time is then eligible to swim at the Erskine Lakes Invitational.

The facilities are good and parking is adequate, although late comers may park a block or two away. There is a refreshment stand and some shaded areas.

This is sometimes called the "C" invitational. A swimmer with an "A" time or a swimmer who places in the Highland Lakes Invitational is not eligible to swim in this meet. Therefore, this is the least competitive of the summer invitationals and gives the kids who haven’t won an award a chance. Typically, small trophies are given to the first three places and there are ribbons for the winners of each heat.

Because of the generous number of awards given out, rumors have circulated that "everyone gets something" at Erskine. NOT TRUE! A swimmer who goes to this meet with the idea that he/she will win something may come home disappointed. Always encourage your swimmers to do their very best in each event.

Parking by the swim lanes is limited. You will have to park on the streets around the lakes. There is a good refreshment stand. This is one of the best shaded lakes in the conference.

This meet traditionally is held on a Thursday evening and run with only a championship final heat. Unlike other invitationals, this is strictly coach’s choice. Since it is held in the evening, there is only time for one heat in each event. The coach will be depending on every swimmer chosen to swim. Every swimmer selected is strongly encouraged to attend.

This meet is rotated around the conference so it is hosted by a different team each year. This year Wayne Waves are hosting the "A " Championship on August 11.

This meet is the "A" championship and participation is limited to swimmers who have achieved "A" times. A swimmer is limited to two events, even if the swimmer has three or four "A" times. The coach will select the event that the swimmers will compete in.

Preliminary heats are held in the morning and final and consolation heats in the afternoon. The relay events are timed finals and held in the afternoon. If your child makes it to the finals, it will be a long, long day so plan accordingly.

If your child has become so interested and involved in swimming that he/she would like to continue to swim year-round, there are several options open to you.

Swim/stroke clinics and lessons are offered several times during the winter months and run in 8-10- week sessions at local Ys, Spa 23, and William Paterson University. For more information, you can contact:

Ed Gurka Pioneer Aquatic Club SPA 23

William Paterson University Route 23

Wayne, NJ Pequannock, NJ

(O) 720-3267 839-8823

(H) 831-5993

Lakeland YMCA YM-YMHA

Fanny Road 1 Pike Drive

Mountain Lakes, NJ Wayne, NJ

334-2820 595-0100

Fluid Mechanics Montclair YMCA

P.O. Box 343 Coach Kit Ashenfelter

Middletown, NJ 07748 744-3400

1-800-266-5179

The decision to have your child join a winter swim team should be made after honest consideration of your child’s level of ability and commitment as well as your financial situation and availability to take her/him to meets and practices. Winter swimming demands a lot of time from both you and your child.

Winter swim teams (the Ys) may require a try-out, which your child will have to pass in order to make the team. The Pioneer Aquatic Club and Spa 23 programs do not. Training programs vary in degree of difficulty, and you should shop around by talking to other parents, team members and coaches before you make any decisions.

Thank you for being a member of the Packanack Lake Swim Club and supporting the team.

Let’s have a great season!

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