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Welcome to the Derby Swim Club

This information is intended to provide swimmers and their parents with information about a number of important items which have to do with competitive swimming and our swim team. We want everyone to have a sense of belonging to this spirited and dedicated organization.

Mission Statement

The Derby Swim Club provides an opportunity for all children of the Derby Community (USD 260 residents) and surrounding area and their parents/or family to participate in a competitive swimming program. The children are provided a choice of programs over a variety of intensity and age levels.

United States Swimming

Each member of the swim team must submit an application with fees to United States Swimming, the national organization governing amateur competitive swimming in the United States. Only swimmers with USS may compete in sanctioned meets.

Missouri Valley LSC / Great Plains League

United States Swimming is divided into LSC's (local swimming committees) which are smaller geographic boundaries for administration. The Kansas area USS clubs are all members of the Missouri Valley LSC. The Derby Swim Club is also a member of the Great Plains Swim League. The league is currently formed by eight teams from the following towns: Derby, El Dorado, Hutchinson, Haysville, McPherson, Valley Center, Wellington, and Winfield.

Age Group Swimming Levels

Swimmers compete by AGE Group levels in USS sanctioned meets ranging from "10 and Under" to "Open Class" (15 and older); however, any swimmer may enter the "Open Class".

Note: In addition to these categories, Missouri Valley Swimming has an "8 and Under" age group. They also presently limit the "Open Class" to a maximum of 18 years of age.

"Aging-up" is a term used when a swimmer moves into the next higher age group as a result of turning nine, eleven, thirteen, or fifteen. Be aware that there is a certain level of anxiety and frustration involved with "aging-up" since, in many instances, it means starting at the bottom and working back up the ladder.

Derby Swim Club Organization

The Derby Swim Club is organized into four daily practice times, 7:20-8:45a.m. (older advanced), 7:20 - 8:30a.m.(younger advanced), 8:30-9:30a.m.(intermediate) and 8:45-9:30a.m.(beginners) at the Derby Pool. The coach will place your child in the correct practice for their ability. If there is a conflict or the coach would rather have the swimmer practice at the other practice time, parents and coaches need to communicate this. Practice times may change so always listen to the coaches in practice when they are talking to you.

The 10 and under swimmers will concentrate on basic stroke improvement and conditioning. The 11 and above swimmers will work on stroke technique, conditioning, endurance, individual time improvement, and competitive swimming techniques.

Derby Swim Club Executive Committee

The purpose of the Derby Swim Club Executive Committee is to manage the activities, affairs and property of the swim club. The Committee consists of four members and the Head Coach. The parent members are elected in August at the Summer Awards Banquet and General Meeting. The officers and their duties are outlined in the club's by-laws.

Though the Executive Committee manages the organization of the club, it is all of the parents together who make the team function. Parents are invited to attend Executive Committee meetings whenever they want to or have something they would like to share with the Committee.

Dues and Membership Fees

Registration night is held early in April or May. This is the time to pay your annual dues, renew USS registration, order swim suits, meet the Executive Committee and coaches, ask questions, volunteer, and learn more about competitive swimming. It is very important to attend this activity so that we can get the swimming year off to a great start.

The Derby Swim Club Annual Dues are established and available on the web site. This money is used to pay postage and printing, the web site, coaches salaries, club membership dues and other expenses that our club incurs as the season progresses. Each swimmer will be also be expected to raise $25.00 for our Swim-a-thon or may pay the $25.00 up front if they do not participate.

Every Derby Swim Club member must purchase insurance through U.S.A. Swimming. The fees are set and may be paid online. This registration not only allows swimmers to participate in all Missouri Valley and US Swimming activities, but provides liability insurance for every member at swim practices, to and from meets when traveling in a team sponsored transportation, and during all meets.

How You Can Help

"When your child becomes a Dolphin, you become a Dolphin!"

This important motto reflects the need for "parent support" in helping with a variety of special tasks that enable the Derby Swim Club to provide a super, competitive, yet "fun" season of swimming!

Home meets present the most challenging part of our season. We want to run a meet properly since these meets are sanctioned by the Missouri Valley and USS. How you run a meet reflects the image of the club to whomever is watching the meet as well as those swimming in the meet.

To run off a meet well, it takes a lot of people working together to achieve this. We have further created an Advisory Board to help prepare for Home Meets and functions that are important to our club. Areas YOU as a parent can help us with are:

1. Working at Home Meets as a:

a) Clerk of the Course
b) Starter
c) Stroke Judge
d) Timer
e) Scoring the Meet
f) Set Up and Take Down
g) Preparing Event Cards for Meets

2. Daily maintenance, repair, and installation of swim meet equipment.
3. Planning for Awards Banquets and post-meet parties.
4. Our Swim-a-Thon and other money raising endeavors for the club.
5. Helping out by driving swimmers to meets if you have room in your vehicle.

When everyone helps, it gives everyone an opportunity to watch their children compete. When the same few people continue to do most of the work, it gets old and you can't enjoy the meets as well.

Types of Swim Meets

1. LEAGUE DUAL MEETS --These meets are hosted by members of the Great Plains Swim League. The meets are generally held on Tuesday evenings at 6:00 p.m. There is no cost to the swimmer to participate in these meets. Selection of swimmers for dual meets will be made by the coach, using times and attendance for the criteria. This year, the league decided to allow a team eight entries in every event except relays (six entries will be allowed for pools with fewer than eight lanes). This should allow everyone an opportunity to swim at the dual meets. The most any swimmer can swim is three open events and two relays.

2. GREAT PLAINS SWIM LEAGUE FINALS --Combines all nine teams in our league at the end of the season for an all day meet. This meet determines the best swimmers in each event and age division as well as the best club. Entry procedures are the same as those for Invitational Meets and fees must be paid to the Derby Swim Club Treasurer before attending the meet. There is no limit to the number of swimmers who may enter each event for this meet.

3. DIVISION II AND DIVISION I --As explained earlier in this handbook, the Great Plains League, to which the Derby Swim Club belongs, is part of the larger Missouri Valley LCS (local swim committee) which covers all the swim clubs in the Kansas Region. This Missouri Valley LCS is one of seven geographic boundaries making up the United States Swimming.

The Missouri Valley LCS sponsors two Division meets at the end of the dual meet season. To qualify for an event at these meets, swimmers must meet certain time standards in at least one meet during the regular season in one or more events. The Division II meet comes first and swimmers that meet the even faster qualifying times for Division I may attend this meet in early August. The Division I and II meets are all part of the stepping stones on the road to Zone meets, Junior National Meets and even the Olympics.

For the Swimmer

BE ON TIME: Whether arriving in a car pool or individually, it is your responsibility to be on time. Be ready to warm up at the scheduled time.

ABSENCES: Be courteous to let the coach know of commitments during practice times. Regular attendance is important for continued improvement. Attendance records will be kept by the coach.

MEET ELIGIBILITY: To be eligible for selection to participate in dual meets is up to the discretion of the coach(es). If the coach feels you are ready to swim, he will let you know. If you miss practice and need to make up practice time, talk to your coach.

TEAMMATES: Team spirit is an essential part of swimming. Do your part by helping and encouraging other swimmers during practice. Pay attention to your teammates efforts at swim meets by cheering them along during their event and congratulating them after they swim. We would like to have every one of our older swimmers select a younger swimmer that they can adopt for the season/ Cheer on and help that swimmer every opportunity you can!

ATTITUDE: A positive attitude is the key to your success and enjoyment. Always demonstrate a willingness to listen and work your hardest at practices. It will make a difference at the meets!

DISCIPLINE: Discipline is at the discretion of the coach. There will be no use of foul language, unnecessary horseplay, or behavior unbecoming a swim team member. The Head Coach has the right to remove any swimmer for disciplinary reasons for up to five (5) days by submitting a written report to be reviewed by the Executive Committee and saved in a permanent file. The coach has the right to begin suspension measures on any swimmer after three disciplinary measures or on any swimmer at any time for valid reason by submitting a written report. All reports will be viewed by the Executive Committee for approval of actions.

At the Swim Meets

Get plenty of rest before the meet.

Bring lawn chairs, towels, ice coolers with unbreakable drink containers and plenty of high energy snack foods.

Be on time for warn-ups. Allow yourself time to stretch and check in with the coach and the Clerk of the Course.

Check the "heat sheet" (list of events and participating swimmers) to make sure you know what events you are in.

Listen carefully for announcements of events -- IT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO GET TO THE CLERK OF THE COURSE ON TIME!!

Go to the coach immediately after your race. He/she will discuss your swim with you and may give you suggestions on improving your skills.

Rest between your events. If you spend time running and playing, your swimming performance will suffer. On all-day meets, try to stay out of the sun as much as possible and stay cool. Again, your performance will be better.

Always show respect to the people working and officiating at the meet. Let the coach handle any problems that might arise.

Support yourself and your teammates at the meets. Spirit, cooperation, determination, and enthusiasm make for a successful and enjoyable meet.

NOTE: USS Rules prohibit smoking on the pool deck, spectator seating areas, and all areas used by swimmers during the meet and warm-up period.