Week of August 29, 2016

Welcome to the Baylor Swim Club Weekly Update Newsletter

A warm welcome to both new and returning members to the Baylor Swim Club for the 2016-2017 season. This is the first edition of the Baylor Swim Club Weekly Update for the 2016-2017 season. It is an informational weekly newsletter dedicated to the entire Baylor Swim Club membership. Here all parents and swimmers should be informed on a weekly basis as to what is going on with the club. Each week a link to the newsletter will be sent out via email, and posted in the newsletter section of www.baylorswimming.org. Information such as meets, scratch deadlines, practice schedule changes and much more will be included in the newsletter. Please be sure to get in the habit of checking the website and email for the link each week.

Practices Begin for the 2016-2017 Season on Monday, August 29th

Baylor Swim Club practices for the 2016-2017 season begins for all new and returning swimmers Monday, August 29th. Please be sure to follow the practice schedule below, and take note of some of the practice schedule changes due to the holiday on Monday, Sept. 5th.

Practice Schedule for Monday, August 29th

Senior/Varsity: 3:45-6:15 PM
Senior 2: 5:00-7:00 PM
Developmental (Red, White, & Grey): 6:15-7:15 PM**
Age Group: 6:15-7:45 PM
Juniors: 6:15-8:15 PM

Age Group @ the Hamilton YMCA: 4:15-5:30 PM
Developmental (Red, White, & Grey) @ the Hamilton YMCA: 4:30-5:30 PM

note: all practices are at the Baylor School Natatorium unless indicated.

2016-2017 Baylor Swim Club Practice Schedule

Please note the following practice information for the next two weeks

• In addition to swimming equipment, all swimmers in Senior/Varsity, Senior 2, Juniors, and, Age Group need to bring appropriate dry land clothing to practice (running shoes, shorts, t-shirt)
• Any swimmer that is not registered by the start of practice on August 29th will not be allowed in the pool, until they have completed the online registration.
• **Due to the holiday on Monday, Sept. 5th, Developmental group swimmers will practice Tuesday (9/6), Wednesday (9/7) (Wed. is for 3 day a week developmental only), and Thursday (9/8). Those Developmental (3 day/week) swimmers that practice at the Hamilton YMCA will have the option of attending practice at Baylor on Wed., Sept. 7th. There will be NO PRACTICE at the Hamilton YMCA on Wed., Sept. 7th.

The coaching staff is looking forward to a great season, and we will see everyone on Monday, August 29th.

Fall Parents Meeting Set for Thursday, September 1st

The beginning of the year Baylor Swim Club fall parent meeting has been scheduled for Thursday, September 1st at 6:00 PM in the Field House film room.

All Senior/Varsity, Senior 2, Junior, Age Group, Developmental, and Hamilton YMCA (AG & Developmental) group parents should plan on attending this meeting. (This includes all Baylor Middle School and Varsity parents who also have swimmers on the swim club)

Due to the meeting there will be NO PRACTICE at the Hamilton YMCA on Thursday, Sept. 1st. All Hamilton YMCA AG and Developmental swimmers will practice at the Baylor School Natatorium (Developmental- 6:15-7:15 PM & AG- 6:30-7:45 PM).

The coaching staff will discuss club policies, meets, and practice group expectations for the entire season. PARENTS, PLEASE MAKE EVERY EFFORT TO ATTEND THE MEETING!

Please email if you have any questions.

Locker Room Use

This is a reminder to all Baylor Swim Club members, that the only locker rooms that should be used are the lower school boys and girls locker rooms. The upper school locker rooms and lockers are reserved only for Baylor School Varsity swimmers. Please remember not to leave any personal belongings in the locker rooms or lockers. All equipment and belongs need to be taken home each night after practices. If any personal belongings or equipment are left in the locker rooms, it will be collected and placed in the lost and found area in the equipment room / endless pool room. Thank you for your cooperation with this matter.

Policy Regarding Parents Watching Practice

The Baylor Swim Club coaching staff encourages parents to watch their swimmers practice occasionally. It is not best for parents to watch practice everyday nor is it healthy to never come to the pool. The reality of transporting young athletes is that many parents are present everyday. However, parents do not need to watch each practice. Here are some important guidelines to keep in mind when observing a practice.

First, young swimmers want their parents’ approval. If a swimmer is aware of a parent watching practice, it is natural for some of their attention to be directed toward the parent. However, for the swimmers to learn as much as possible, it is imperative that the coaches maintain the swimmers’ attention during practice. We ask that parents never communicate with their children during practice or compete with the coach for his/her attention.

Second, we insist that parents do not interrupt the coaches on deck while they are coaching.  Please watch practice from the stands, not on the deck.  If you need to communicate with a coach, please do so by contacting them by phone, email, or in person before or after practice.

Third, Baylor Swim Club coaches spend a considerable amount of time planning weekly training sessions for each of the practice groups. Each training set or instructional drill has a purpose and one practice and/or practice set often builds on another throughout the week. If a swimmer has not attended the recommended number of  practice sessions, he or she may not understand the purpose or progression of what the group is doing on a given day.

Finally, please do not try to coach your child. Many times when teaching stroke skills, the coaches ask swimmers to do things that might not look correct or might actually be illegal according to the rules, but does have an important purpose in teaching skills (ie. swimming one-arm fly or breaststroke with a flutter kick). We need to progress through these drills to achieve an improved total stroke.

Swim Meet Parent Volunteer Trainings- Sept. 8 & 12

Swim Meet Parent Volunteer Trainings will be held September 8th and September 12th at 6:00 PM. It is important that all NEW parents attend one of these trainings. Both meetings are not required, but if you feel you need more info/time then please attend both trainings. If you attended one of the trainings last year then there is no need to attend. We will be training in ALL areas, yes even lane timer. The club needs to make sure that each volunteer in the different areas is on the same page as how the club wants to have each job performed. Thank you for your cooperation. Please contact Laura Pitman with any questions.

Policy on Behavior at Swim Practice

It is the goal of Baylor Swim Club and the coaching staff, to provide instruction and training during the entire practice session. Baylor Swim Club coaches create lesson plans for each day and week of the short and long course seasons to teach the swimmers proper technique, prepare them for competitive swimming and meet the needs of each swimmer in the practice group.  If time is spent disciplining children rather than coaching, the goals of that session are not being achieved. Therefore, Baylor Swim Club expects swimmers to adhere to the following behavior guidelines:

1. All swimmers must encourage and support their teammates at practice as well as in competition. Swimmers may not conduct themselves in any manner that is disruptive to others.

2. Swimmers are expected, at all times, to follow the coach's instructions. At no time will disrespectful attitudes or back-talk be tolerated from any swimmer.

3. All swimmers using the locker-room should exhibit proper behavior. Rough-housing, yelling and touching items that belong to other swimmers is not acceptable.

4. Abusive language, lying or stealing are intolerable and grounds for immediate expulsion from the team.

5. Vandalism will not be tolerated. Any property that is vandalized by a Baylor swimmer will be repaired or replaced by the swimmer's family.

Violation of the above mentioned behaviors will be disciplined as follows:

First violation will receive a warning.

Second violation will result in expulsion for the rest of that practice session and a phone call/meeting with the parents of the swimmer.

Third violation will result in suspension from practice for 1 week.

Fourth and final violation will result in expulsion from the team.

Monthly dues will not be adjusted for suspended swimmers.

The coaching staff has been posting some important information that you will need to know so please take the time to get a login and begin checking the MEMBER NEWS section on a consistent basis. Below you will find directions on how to get a member login.

Directions for Member Login

• Go to the main menu on the www.baylorswimming.org homepage and click LOGIN
• On the login screen click REGISTER in the bottom left hand corner of the login box
• On the REQUEST LOGIN page please fill out all of the required information.
• Once this is completed the administrator of the website will verify that you are a member of Baylor Swim Club.
• Following this you will receive an email giving you further login directions with a username and password

After you have logged in for the first time, please take the time to fill out the brief family information form. We are trying to collect as much info electronically as possible. You can find the family info form under the members tab on the main menu.

If for some reason you are having issues logging in or you need your password reset please email Coach Brian.

Below are links to the two sections that are now blocked without a member login
MEMBER NEWS
FUNDRAISING

Please let us know if you have any further questions.

Parents, I just want to review some billing items with you. The TeamUnify system will bill accounts to you on the 1st of every month. The statements will contain your monthly dues and any other charges such as caps meet fees hospitality fees, etc. and a late fee will be assessed on the 21st of each month. Any payments that are unable to be processed on the 1st will accrue processing fees in addition to the charges. This fee comes from our processing merchant. Any accounts that are 30 days past due will result in your child being held out of the water.

Our developmental sessions are 8 week sessions so you will receive statements bi-monthly with the monthly dues. As long as you are registered before the first day of the session you will be ready to participate in that session. Once you have registered the first time you will no longer be charged the USA and Club registration fees. Those fees are only charged at the beginning of each new swim year. Through TeamUnify you will automatically be billed for the next developmental session unless you have emailed the club by the 5th day of the month preceding the next session. So if you do not want to participate in session 2 you must email the club no later the October 5th. Telling your coach that you are not doing the next session will not keep you from being billed. Be sure to send the email to the club.

We will not allow children to practice until the online registration has been completed.

If you are planning on taking a break and your child is in AG, Junior, or Senior, remember in order not to be billed for the next month I need to have written notification at least 30 days in advance. So for example, if you know you are not going to swim in December I must receive an email from you stating that no later than Nov.1. If the written statement is not received by that date you will be charged. Please understand that telling the coach does not count as proper notification. Notifications must be sent to Laura Pitman.

If you have any further questions please email Laura Pitman

Freeman & Greene to Race at Junior Pan Pacific Championships

TRI - MASTERS Swimming Program

The Baylor Swim Club is excited to announce the re-branding of its' Masters program to the new TRI-MASTERS Swimming program.  Beginning, Tuesday, April 5th the Baylor Swim Club will be offering practices in the morning led by Coach Jenny Smith.  Jenny Smith has an athletic career rooted in swimming with multiple Full-Distance (Ironman), Half-Distance, Sprint, Olympic triathlons under her belt racing across the country, and four "Swim the Suck" finishes (a competitive 10 mile open water swim down the TN river).  Jenny offers a unique and holistic approach to her swimming and coaching.

Baylor TRI-Masters Swimming is dedicated to helping adults 18 years of age and older to incorporate healthier lifestyles through the sport of swimming. Any level of swimming is welcome!

Click here! for Complete Info & Online Registration

All-American Swim Supply Online TEAM Store & Contact Info

Below you will find login information for Baylor Swim Club's online TEAM STORE on www.allamericanswim.com and the most up to date contact information for our team vendor, All-American Swim Supply. If you need to order team suits or practice equipment please order from the TEAM STORE or contact their Roswell, GA location.

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Baylor Named as USA Swimming Club Excellence Bronze Medal Team

What exciting news! The Baylor Swim Club has been awarded by United States Swimming the distinction of being a nationally ranked Bronze Medal swim club in the USA Swimming Club of Excellence program for the 2016 swimming season!

What exactly does this mean? This means that Baylor Swim Club is recognized as one of the top clubs in the country based on organizational professionalism and athletic performance. To qualify for this award, Baylor had to submit an extensive report to United States Swimming, documenting club professionalism as well as both national and world-class performance.

Baylor Swim Club had a great performance scoring 3,775 points. The Baylor Swim Club is the only one in the Greater Chattanooga Area to earn this honor, and has been a Silver or Bronze medal club for eight out of the last ten years.

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Follow Baylor Swimming on Social Media

While our website continues to be our central source of information, now you can keep up with all the latest Baylor Swimming news on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube Channel. Simply use this page as your portal for easy access to Baylor Swimming's social media pages.

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Baylor Swimming
171 Baylor School Road
Chattanooga, TN   37405
Office phone:  423-267-8506 x267

Director of Competitive Swimming / Head Coach / Aquatics Director: Dan Flack
Director of Operations / Assistant Coach: Laura Pitman
Head Age Group Coach / Swim School Director: Brian Gill
Asst. Sr. & Varsity Coach / Site Director at the Hamilton YMCA / Jr. Group Coach: Ed Dailey