Corvallis Aquatic Team

Cohesion: one team that is supported by all members; all members support each other to create one team.
Adaptation:  learning new techniques and adding new ideas to obtain new goals.
Teaching:  educating coaches, athletes, and parents.

Table of Contents ……………………………………….…………………….
Part 1:  The Corvallis Aquatic Team... 3
Description.. 3
Goals. 4
Criteria for Joining Corvallis Aquatic Team... 5
Structure.. 6
Novice.. 6
    Training Schedule.. 6
    Meet Schedule.. 6
Junior I 6
    Training Schedule.. 6
    Meet Schedule.. 6
Junior 2. 6
    Training Schedule.. 6
    Meet Schedule.. 6
Senior Prep.. 6
    Training Schedule.. 6
    Meet Schedule.. 6
Senior 1. 7
    Training Schedule.. 7
    Meet Schedule.. 7
Senior 2. 7
    Training Schedule.. 7
    Meet Schedule.. 7
Coaching Staff 8
    Rick Guenther – Head Coach.. 8
    Greg Bostrom – Age Group Coach.. 8
    Assistant Coaches. 8
Practice Schedule
.. 9
Part 2:  Competitive Swimming.. 10
United States Swimming.. 10
Oregon Swimming, Inc. 11
Swim Meets. 12
Meet Location and Directions. 15
Best Times Chart. 17

Part 3:  CAT Parents. 18
Basic Information.. 18
Financial Information.. 19
Time Contributions. 19
Getting Together 20
Training and Service.. 21
Guidelines for Parents. 21
Parent Agreement. 22
 
Part 4:  CAT’s Management 23
Board of Directors. 23
Bylaws. 24
Board Policies. 31

Part 5:  CAT Swimmers. 35
Rules for Swimmers. 35
Athlete Code of Conduct. 36
Swimmer Responsibilities. 37

Part 6:  CAT Extras. 38
Communications. 38
Nutrition.. 39
Notes (blank page) 43
CAT Glossary. 44
Typical Questions and Answers. 47
Additional Sources of Information.. 48
 


Part 1:  The Corvallis Aquatic Team ………………………………………………….
 
Description
The Corvallis Aquatic Team (CAT) is a competitive swimming team offering year-round instruction, training, and opportunities for competition to Willamette Valley athletes of all ages, abilities and interest levels.  CAT belongs to Oregon Swimming, Inc. (OSI), an affiliate of USA Swimming (USA).  CAT’s program continues to develop under the guidance of a professional coaching staff who believes that competitive sports form good citizens as well as strong athletes.  The Corvallis Aquatic Team aims to:
o   Empower each team member to attain athletic and personal success by teaching effective swim techniques; introducing the concept of positive mental imagery; emphasizing the principles of goal setting; and promoting the ideals of honesty, commitment, self-discipline, good sportsmanship and team unity.
o   Provide quality instruction and training to all team members, from the novice swimmer to the international competitor.
o   Participate in local, state, regional, national and international events sponsored by Oregon Swimming, Inc., USA Swimming, or the United States Olympic Committee.
o   Foster family unity by encouraging parental involvement in the planning, coordination and implementation of various team activities.
 
Moreover, the Corvallis Aquatic Team intends to provide a positive atmosphere with a strong sense of team unity while emphasizing individual success.
CAT consists of swimmers, coaches, and parents; none could exist without support from the others.  We want to assist our swimmers to develop with fun, challenging and growing experiences; we want to encourage professional satisfaction and growth for our coaches, and we want to help our parents enjoy their volunteer efforts and cope with the details of competitive swimming.
Suggestions for improvement of our program can be directed to the coaches or CAT’s Board of Directors.
 
Goals
The Corvallis Aquatic Team believes these ideals to be important goals:
o   To provide a competitive swimming program with quality coaching at all levels so that each athlete who desires to participate can achieve his or her fullest potential.
o   To develop a cohesive organization of swimmers, coaches and parents where swimmers’ accomplishments at all levels are recognized within the team and community.
o   To establish and maintain a broad, stable financial base that will:
o    Support all levels of swimming competition.
o    Provide salary and equipment necessary for quality training.
o    Not be solely dependent upon parents of the swimmers.
 
Working toward these goals, parents, swimmers, and coaches of the Corvallis Aquatic Team offer athletes quality training and opportunities to participate to the extent that they desire.
Coaches intend to foster an atmosphere of unity and support throughout the team; both of these are essential to meeting our goals.  Informing parents, promoting volunteerism and involving the team in other group activities, are some ways parents and coaches will help meet the team’s goals.
The team continues to seek increased funding through sources other than dues, parents, or swimmer-intensive fund raising.  Such support can come from donations by individuals or businesses to this non-profit organization in the form of cash, in-kind gifts, and services. 


Criteria for Joining Corvallis Aquatic Team

Novice:
1.       Entry level swimmers must be between the ages of 5 years and 10 years old.
2.       Placement depends on coach’s recommendation.
3.       Swimmers must be deep water-safe and able to follow instructions.
4.       Swimmers must have a basic ability to swim freestyle and backstroke for 25 yards.
5.       Level 7 of the Swim America program or equivalent is recommended.
 
Junior I:
1.       Entry level swimmers age 11 years and older will enter the team here (Junior 1A).
2.       Junior 1A swimmers must meet Novice entry requirements.
3.       Placement depends on coach’s recommendation.
4.       10 & under swimmers advancing from Novice must have the ability to perform all four strokes legally and be at least 7 years old (Junior 1B).
5.       Swimmers must be able to streamline.
6.       Swimmers must be able to perform basic starts, flip turns, and drills.
7.       Swimmers must have meet experience.
8.       Swimmers advancing from Novice must be able to swim a continuous 200 yards freestyle swim and a 100 IM.
 
Junior II:
1.       Swimmers must be at least 9 years of age.
2.       Placement depends on coach’s recommendation.
3.       Swimmers must be efficient in all four stokes and consistent at streamlining.
4.       Swimmers must be able to perform legal turns.
5.       Swimmers must be able to perform efficient flip turns at all times.
6.       Swimmers must have attained a “Go for the Gold” red cap in the 50 freestyle and the 100 IM.
7.       Swimmers must have meet experience.
8.       Swimmers must be able to swim a continuous 500 yards freestyle swim and a 200 IM.
 
Senior Prep:
1.       Swimmers must be at least 11 years of age.
2.       Placement depends on coach’s recommendation.
3.       Swimmers must be able to write down all personal best times.
4.       Swimmers must attend practice and participate in meets consistently.
5.       Swimmers must attend occasional Saturday morning practices.
6.       Swimmers must perform efficient starts and turns.
7.       Swimmers must be willing to train and race.
8.       Swimmers must have attained a “Go for the Gold” blue cap in the 100 freestyle and the 200 IM.
9.       Swimmers must be able to complete 10x100 IM @1:45 – rest 2:00 – 10x100 free @1:35.
 
Senior I:
1.       High School entry level and seniors who are unable to swim Senior II will train here.
2.       Placement depends on coach’s recommendation.
3.       Swimmers must have past swim team experience.
4.       Swimmers must have the ability to swim all four strokes.
5.       Swimmers must be able to complete legal turns and a freestyle flip turn.
 
Senior II:
1.       Swimmers must be at least 13 years old.
2.       Placement depends on coach’s recommendation.
3.       Swimmers must be willing to train and complete at the elite level.
4.       Swimmers must attend a minimum of 6 practices during the week and designated Saturday practices.
5.       Swimmers must meet set standard to enter the group.
6.       Swimmers must be able to complete 10x100 IM @ 1:35 – rest 2:00 – 10x100 free @1:25.


Structure
The Corvallis Aquatic Team is divided into 5 primary training levels in order to provide a structured and comprehensive program.

Novice
At the Novice level, the young athlete is introduced to the sport of competitive swimming.  The primary objective of the novice program is to teach the swimmer four basic competitive strokes: butterfly, backstroke, breaststroke and freestyle.  Novice swimmers also learn and practice starts, turns, drills, and games to develop additional skills needed for competition.
Training Schedule: Three, 1-hour sessions per week
Meet Schedule: Participation in dual meets and invitational meets is optional

Junior I
The Junior I swimmer can perform the 4 competitive swim strokes and is ready to learn more sophisticated techniques.  At this level, advanced drills are implemented, starts and turns are emphasized, and interval training is introduced.  The group is subdivided into 2 categories:
Junior 1A –11-13 year old new swimmers
Junior 1B –10 year old and under swimmers
Training Schedule: Up to five days per week, 1-¼ hours per day
Meet Schedule: Participation in dual meets and invitational meets is encouraged.  Approximately 10 meets are scheduled during the winter short course season, 10 during the summer long course season.

Junior 2
The Junior 2 program is designed for young athletes at least 9 years of age whom have decided they are ready for a commitment to the sport of swimming.  Competitive training, in its true sense, begins at this level; stoke techniques are refined continuously.
Training Schedule: Five days per week, 1-½ hours per day
Meet Schedule: Participation in dual meets, championship meets and invitational meets is encouraged.  Approximately 10 meets are scheduled during the winter short course season, 10 during the summer long course season.

Senior Prep
The senior prep program moves swimmers toward more rigorous training – conditioning in anticipation of Senior/High School swim team participation.  It is designed for athletes who are between 10 and 14 years of age and who meet specified time requirements.
Training Schedule: Five to six days per week, 2 hours per day
Meet Schedule: Participation in dual meets, invitational and championship meets (if qualified) is expected.  The number of meets per season varies depending upon the performance of the individual.

Senior 1
Senior 1 is designed for high school students who wish to train when high school competitive swimming is off-season from April 1st to October 31st.  The Senior 1 training program strongly emphasizes conditioning as well as techniques, and it provides the individual with opportunities to progress rapidly.  Senior level swimmers who are involved in other high school sports may choose to train with this group.  Attendance at daily training sessions is strongly encouraged.
Training Schedule: Five days per week, 1-½ hours per day.
Meet Schedule: Participation in dual meets, invitational and championship meets (if qualified) is expected.  The number of meets per season varies depending upon the performance of the individual.

Senior 2
Swimmers in Senior 2 experience the highest caliber of training and competition offered by the Corvallis Aquatic Team.  At this level, daily workouts are highly individualized.  Each athlete encounters daily opportunities to develop skills and endurance necessary to compete at state, regional, and national levels.
Training Schedule