Philosophy & Rules

CLUB PHILOSOPHY; EXPECTATIONS; POLICIES AND RULES
 
The Nanton Marlin Swim Club is a non-profit organization that meets its annual budget through fees and fund raising activities.
 
The Nanton Marlin Swim Club Philosophy reads:
                          
To promote the sport of competitive swimming through regularly scheduled practices and competitions, thereby developing team spirit, sportsmanship and self-confidence.
 
 
 
 
The Nanton Marlin Swim Club offers five programs:  The Minnow Marlins, two Middle Groups, the Seniors and the Masters.
a)      A Minnow Marlin is a swimmer of any age who is not quite ready either mentally or physically to participate in the swim club to the same extent as our middle or senior swimmers.  These swimmers must be comfortable putting their face into the water, float on front and back unassisted, have a basic flutter kick on front and back with or without a flutter board, can tread water, paddle or swim 20 meters unassisted above water at the end of our trail period, listen well to instruction and have a willingness to learn (at the discretion of the head coach).  The Minnow Marlins are expected to participate in the Nanton Marlin Swim Club home meet or one alternate meet and attend the Regional Meet.  At the discretion of the head coach, these swimmers have approximately half an hour practices Monday through Thursday throughout the summer which should be attended as much as possible.  The purpose of the Minnow Marlin program is to develop the younger swimmer’s skills and strengths thus giving him/her the capabilities to become a middle or senior swimmer. If the head coaches feel that a swimmer is not ready to join the club, they will ask them to try some swimming lessons through the summer and try again later in the season or next year.  THIS IS NOT TO BE SUBSTITUTED FOR SWIM LESSONS.
b)     A Middle Group 1 Marlin is a swimmer of any age who is not quite ready either mentally or physically to participate in the swim club to the same extent as our Middle Group 2 or Senior swimmers.  These swimmers must be able to swim 25m of nonstop recognizable freestyle and backstroke, be comfortable jumping into deep water, listen well to instruction and have a willingness to learn (at the discretion of the head coach).  The Middle Group 1 Marlins are expected to participate in the Nanton Marlin Swim Club home meet, 2 other regular season meets and the Regional Meet.  At the discretion of the head coach, the Middle Group 1 Marlins have approximately 1 hour practices Monday through Thursday throughout the summer which should be attended as much as possible.  The purpose of the Middle Group 1 Marlin program is to further develop the swimmer’s skills and strengths thus giving him/her the capabilities to become a Middle Group 2 or Senior swimmer.  THIS IS NOT TO BE SUBSTITUTED FOR SWIM LESSONS.
c)     A Middle Group 2 Marlin is a swimmer of any age who must be able to swim 50m of recognizable freestyle and backstroke and 25m breaststroke, can do a well-executed turn, listen well to instruction and have a willingness to learn (at the discretion of the head coach).  The Middle Group 2 Marlins will be expected to participate in at least the Nanton Marlin Swim Club home meet, 4 other regular season meets and the Regional Meet.  At the discretion of the head coach, these swimmers have approximately 1.5 hour daily practices Monday through Thursday throughout the summer which should be attended as much as possible.  The purpose of the Middle Group 2 Marlin program is to further develop the swimmer’s skills and strengths thus giving him/her the capabilities to become a Senior swimmer.  THIS IS NOT TO BE SUBSTITUTED FOR SWIM LESSONS. 
d)     A Senior Marlin is a swimmer of any age who must be able to swim all 4 strokes without being disqualified, have a solid technical foundation, do dives and turns complete with underwater recovery, take a workout and complete it without constant supervision, listen well to instruction and have a willingness to learn (at the discretion of the head coach).  Senior swimmers will be expected to participate in the Nanton Marlin Swim Club home meet, 4 other regular season meets and the Regional Meet.  At the discretion of the head coach, the Senior Marlins have approximately 1.5 hour daily practices Monday through Thursday throughout the summer which should be attended as much as possible.
e)     A Master Marlin is a swimmer 18 years of age or older who must be able to swim 100m continuously with a basic familiarity of various strokes and training methods.  At the discretion of the head coach, the Master Marlins have approximately 1 hour daily practices Monday through Thursday throughout the summer. 
 
There are many levels of ability; swimmers are divided by ability for practices and their practices will be structured accordingly.  The purpose of this is to enable the individual swimmer to obtain the utmost from his/her practice.  At swim meets, they compete in their age group but are put into “heats” with swimmers with similar ability and times, called “senior seeding”.
There will be a trial period for new swimmers at the beginning of each season.  This period is for children to try out swim club to see if they like it and give the coaches a chance to see if:
a)       The kids in the Minnow Marlin group or NEW swimmers meet the requirements to join the club.
b)       Which group to place other new swimmers into. 
DRYLAND TRAINING will be offered to each swimmer, mandatory for the middle 2 group swimmers and senior swimmers; this training will begin once we are swimming in Nanton and will be one hour 2 times per week.
 
1.           EXPECTATIONS OF SWIMMERS
 
1.1         To obey all rules and regulations of the Club, Coaches, ASSA, Swim Alberta and all Pools.
1.2         To listen to and respect their coach(es) during practices, meets and other club functions.
1.3         To be on time for practices and meets.
1.4         To participate as a team member in meets.
1.5         To notify the Coach which swim meets they wish to attend.
1.6         To attend practices.
1.7         To attend as many meets as possible, the Nanton Marlin Swim Club Meet is mandatory as well as one other meet for the minnow Marlins and two other meets for the Spearfish and Swordfish Marlins.  The Regional meet is also mandatory for all swimmers to attend.
1.8         To represent the Club in an honorable manner when attending practices, meets and other club activities.
1.9         To make sure the deck and other areas the club is utilizing at meets is kept clean and tidy.
 
2.           EXPECTATIONS OF PARENTS
2.1         To participate in fund raising activities.
2.2         To attend official’s clinics when offered to be able to help at all meets attended.
2.3         To provide transportation for swimmers to meets.
2.4         To officiate at meets.
2.5         To encourage their children to participate in all Club activities.
2.6         To allow the Coach(es) to do the coaching.  Comments and complaints are welcome only after practice or meets through the Coach or Coach Liaison.
2.7         To not take concerns to those not directly involved.  A negative effect from talk behind the scenes is harmful to the Marlins morale and unity.
 
3.           EXPECTATIONS OF COACHES
3.1         To take into consideration the directives of the Club Executive.
3.2         To provide a training program outline to the Club Executive.
3.3         To carry out the program or arrange for a competent and qualified substitute as per ASSA and Swim Alberta coaching guidelines.
3.4         To communicate with the Club Executive regarding comments or complaints.
3.5         To encourage full participation of swimmers in practices and meets.
3.6         To prepare entries for swim meets.
3.7         To be attentive to all swimmers at practices and meets.
3.8         To attend all swim meets OR arrange for a competent and qualified substitute as per ASSA and Swim Alberta coaching guidelines.
3.9         To keep the swimmers Best Times Sheets up-to-date or delegate to a Club Executive member.
3.10      To implement pool side discipline.
3.11      To represent the Club in an honorable manner always.
 
 
 
4.             CLUB POLICIES
4.1           All swimmers will begin training on or around May 1st of each season.  These practices will be four days a week (days to be determined each season) and held in another pool, either in Claresholm or High River.  Length of practices will be determined by how much pool time is available to the Marlins.  Our regular schedule will begin once the Nanton pool opens, normally the Tuesday after the May long weekend each season.
4.2           There will be a trial period for new swimmers at the very beginning of the season.  All registration fees are to be paid in full or arrangements made at the end of this period if the swimmer wishes to continue with the club. 
4.3           Registration fees are non-refundable once the season has commenced without a note from a doctor.
4.4           The Club will offer five programs:  the Minnow Marlins, Middle group 1 Marlins, Middle group 2 Marlins, Senior Marlins and Master Marlins.  The Master Marlins (18+) group will be offered if there are a minimum of 5 who would like to register, the coach(es) are willing to run the group and there is available pool time.
4.5           Swimmers will be kept up to date of proposed activities, meets, etc. throughout the year on our club bulletin board, via email and through the club Facebook page. Information outlining meet details, etc., will be posted on the bulletin board at the pool.  Swimmers are expected to confirm their participation in the meets via sign-up sheet posted on bulletin board or with the Head Coach prior to the date specified for each meet.
4.6           Regarding relay events – if a swimmer misses a relay and causes the team to be scratched, this swimmer stands the possibility of not being selected for future relay teams.
4.7           At the Regional Meet, each member may swim their four individual events.  Swimmers are chosen to swim “A” relays according to their recorded times.  Every effort will be made to include all other swimmers on the other relay teams.
4.8           All members are encouraged to attend all practices and meets.  Swimmers are to notify the Coach in writing (via email) of holiday plans and known extended absences.  Also, it is expected that a swimmer will notify the Coach via telephone if s/he is entered for a meet but must withdraw.
4.9           If a swimmer is withdrawing from a meet for which an individual entry fee is paid, it will be the responsibility of that swimmer to reimburse the Club for this expense before s/he can swim in the next meet.
4.10        Swimmers and their families are expected to participate in all fund-raising activities, including but not limited to, the Casino. 
4.11        Parents are expected to help at all swim meets.  Official certification clinics are offered online so that parents may be qualified to work on deck at swim meets.  One parent from each family must take the timer’s course (level 1).
4.12        At the beginning of the season the executive requires a $100 cheque per family, made payable for August 31 of that year, for volunteering.  This cheque will be returned to each family if volunteer commitments are fulfilled.  Duties include, but are not limited to:
·         Executive Positions
·         Fundraising coordinator
·         Club Reporter
·         Year-end wind up – set up, take down, etc.
·         Trophies and gifts
·         Our home swim meet duties – set up, take down, food chairperson, food helpers, runners, office people, marshals, safety marshals, timers, announcers, raffle tables, 50/50, etc.
IN ADDITION TO THE ABOVE VOLUNTEER DUTIES ALL FAMILIES MUST SEND FOOD OR MONEY TO HELP WITH OUR HOME SWIM MEET AND THE REGIONAL SWIM MEET!
4.13        The Club t-shirts are provided to all swimmers as part of the registration fee and must be worn at all times (outside of the pool) at every swim meet.  Club swim suits and caps are available to purchase at the beginning of the season and it is mandatory for the club caps to be worn at all meets, encouraged to wear club suits.  It is recommended for the swimmers to have one piece training suits for practices.
4.14        Fundraising pays a large portion of coaching, pool rental, equipment and other expenses.  All Marlin Swim Club Families are required to support fundraising efforts by participating in each fundraising event or paying the $250 opt-out fee.
4.15        Parents are welcome to watch daily workouts quietly from the observation area, leaving the coaching to the coaches.  Disruptive parents will be asked to leave.  Repeated disruption could mean a lengthy leave from the observation area and or a behavioral discussion with the Head Coach and the Swim Club Executive.
4.16        Training and practices will end for all swimmers, except for those who will be participating in Provincials, at the end of the last practice prior to the Regional Meet each season.
4.17        The Coach/Swimmer relationship is one of trust, and any inappropriate behavior and/or relationship between a coach and a swimmer will be reported to the authorities and may lead to immediate dismissal.
4.18        The Coach and Coach Liaison are available to address all coaching concerns – if the problem(s) persist a letter to the Club Executive is required and will be handled with the upmost confidentiality and concern.
4.19        The meet schedule will be decided upon by the Coaches and Executive prior to the start of each season.  Swimmers are not permitted to attend any meets outside of this schedule, unless a swimmer makes the ASSA All Star team or qualifies for Alberta Summer Games.
4.20        In regards to the Swim Club Executive, if a member with an executive position fails to attend three consecutive meetings another executive member will contact the individual to give them the option to begin attending meetings or step down from the executive.  If the member steps down their position becomes vacant to fill at the next scheduled executive meeting.
 
5.             RULES
5.1           Pushing or throwing a member in the pool at a practice or meet could result in automatic suspension for that practice or meet.
5.2           Swimmers will be disciplined by the Coach(es) at their discretion if constantly fooling around in the pool or not training as per the Coach(es) instructions.
5.3           Each swimmer is required to have a pair of swim goggles, a cap and proper one piece suit for all practices.  For swimmers participating in dry land (12+), proper dry land attire (comfortable clothing – t-shirt and stretchy pants or shorts, socks and running shoes) is required.
5.4           Swimmers are responsible for making sure they are adequately stretched or warmed up at a meet.
5.5           All swimmers will obey all instructions from the Coach(es).  A 3-strike rule will be implemented for disruptive swimmers.  1st strike = warning, 2nd strike = warning and a time out, 3rd strike the swimmer will be asked to leave the practice or meet for the day.  If disruptive or inappropriate behavior continues possible suspension or expulsion may occur.
5.6           Swimmers and Parent’s complaints or questions may be taken up with either the Coach or the Coach Liaison AFTER the practice or meet.
5.7           Swimmers are responsible for deck tidiness and for looking after their own belongings.
5.8           Swimmers must inform the Coach as to their whereabouts if they leave the Club area at a meet.
5.9           Swimmers are required to wear the club t-shirts and caps at all swim meets, encouraged to wear team suits.
5.10        A swimmer cannot be entered a meet unless they can swim 25m (one length) of the pool unassisted and above water.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Revised March 2017