Dayton
Raiders Club Handbook
click here for
club By-Laws (in new window)
INTRODUCTION
The purpose
of this handbook is two-fold: to explain to new members
just what the Dayton Raiders Swim Team is and to outline
various policies that affect all swimmers, year after
year. It should be read by all families so that they may
become familiar with important facts and rules of the
club.
WHY
SWIM?
The United
States Swimming (USS) age group swimming program is
America's largest program of guided fitness activity for
children. Age group swimming builds a strong foundation
for a lifetime of good health, by teaching healthy fitness
habits.
PHYSICAL
DEVELOPMENT
Swimming is
considered the ideal activity for developing muscular and
skeletal growth by many physicians and pediatricians. Why
do doctors like it so much?
- Swimming
develops high quality aerobic endurance, the
most important key to physical fitness. In other
sports an hour of practice may yield as little as 10
minutes of meaningful exercise. Age group swimming
teams use every precious minute of practice time
developing fitness and teaching skills.
- Swimming
does a better job in proportional muscular
development by using all the body's major muscle
groups. No other sport does this as well.
- Swimming
enhances children's natural flexibility (at a
time when they ordinarily begin to lose it) by
exercising all of their major joints through a full
range of motion.
- Swimming
helps develop superior coordination because it
requires combinations of complex movements of all
parts of the body, enhancing harmonious muscle
function, grace, and fluidity of movement.
- Swimming
is the most injury-free of all children's
sports.
- Swimming
is a sport that will bring kids fitness and
enjoyment for life. Participants in Master's
Swimming programs are still training and racing well
into their 80's.
INTELLECTUAL
COMPETENCE
In addition
to physical development, children can develop greater intellectual
competence by participating in a guided program of
physical activity. Learning and using swimming skills
engages the thinking process. As they learn new
techniques, children must develop and plan movement
sequences. They improve by exploring new ideas. They learn
that greater progress results from using their creative
talents. Self-expression can be just as much physical as
intellectual. Finally their accomplishments in learning
and using new skills contribute to a stronger self
image.
"PREPARATION
FOR LIFE"
by
Phil Hansel
Reprinted from:
Swimming World Magazine
February 1988
Not
everything we do in life is a pleasant experience. Not
everything we do is beneficial. Not everything is
productive. Not everything is a nurturing, loving
experience. Life is full of negative, destructive
experiences. Rejection, defeat and failure surround all of
us. The trick is to be prepared to deal with this side of
life and learn to overcome discouragement.
I have
always felt that the great value of swimming as a sport is
that it prepares one for life. The total swimming
experience is made up of people, attitudes, beliefs, work
habits, fitness, health, winning and losing, and so much
more. Swimming is a cross section of lifetime experiences.
It can provide so many learning situations. A swimmer
learns to deal with pressure and stress, sometimes
self-imposed, sometimes applied by others. One learns to
deal with success and failure. One learns teamwork and
discipline.
Swimming
becomes a self-achievement activity. There is only one
person in the water in a given lane in any race. The
responsibility for performance ultimately lies with the
individual. How well the individual has prepared
physically and mentally to a large degree will determine
the performance level.
Many
swimming experiences can be of the disruptive,
discouraging type. But at least a young swimmer learns
that this is part of life, and the swimmer must learn to
cope. By learning how to handle frustration and
disappointment, the young swimmer gains confidence. The
swimmer learns dedication and commitment. Through
perseverance, a swimmer learns to overcome adversity. All
of these experiences tend to develop an individual who is
better able to handle life's hardships and face problems.
As coaches
and parents, we tend to preach that hard work will lead to
victory. We preach that clean living and proper training
such as diet, sleep and regular attendance at workouts
will lead to winning. Through in the long run for a
productive successful life, these are probably truthful
concepts that don't always work in short term situations.
We have all
been in situations where a bigger, more gifted person with
poor work habits is the victor in race after race. Or
we've known others who never seen to study, yet get good
grades. We've known business people who never seem to lift
a finger, yet for one reason or another, they close deal
after deal.
These
things just are not fair. Yet this is one of the valuable
lessons that swimmers learn: "Life is not
fair." We don't all start out in life with the
same physical, mental, emotional and financial resources.
In that respect, "Life is not fair.?
A swimmer
must learn what is fair for one is not necessarily fair
for another. A swimmer learns we are all different and
each individual controls his or her own destiny. A swimmer
learns to emphasize given talents and skills. A swimmer
learns to improve on a regular basis. By not setting
limits and restrictions, this improvement will surely lead
to success. A swimmer learns if her or she does their
best, then there are no failures. A swimmer learns to set
realistic goals. Once a goal is reached, then new goals
must be established. A swimmer learns that effort becomes
an individual crusade. If the ultimate goal is an Olympic
gold medal, them with the proper talent, dedication,
belief and support, all swimmers believe it can be done.
This is the
positive achievement side of swimming that I life so much.
Through experience in swimming, our young people learn
attitudes and habits that will remain with them throughout
the rest of their life. Most swimmers learn to be
"can do" people.
Generally,
these positive attitudes, belief in self and solid work
habits will produce a terrific adult. Out society and our
world is enriched by these former swimmers as they become
adults. Because of their training, they handle life with a
smile. They contribute time and energy to others in every
way imaginable.
We can be
proud of what swimming contributes to this world. Though
"life is not fair," a swimmer knows how to deal
with that and can achieve balance. For the most part,
former swimmers grow up to be ordinary people, but they
always have that extra plus from the swimming experience.
We are
different and can be proud of it. It's a pity and truly
"unfair" that thousand and thousand of young
people are missing the swimming experience. We must find
ways to share our fantastic sport.
HISTORY
OF THE DAYTON RAIDERS
The present
day Raider program is a merger of the great competitive
tradition of the Dayton Dolphins, founded in 1958, and the
young enthusiastic spirit of the Wright State Raiders,
founded in 1978. This merger took place in 1981 with the
new team carrying the name DAYTON RAIDERS as a
symbol of the best of both programs and a new drive toward
national prominence and recognition.
From its
inception, the Dayton Raider program has established
itself as a premier United States Swimming (USS) club in
the greater Miami Valley. Since 1990 on six occasions, its
coaches have been awarded "Senior Coach of the
Year" and "Age Group Coach of the Year."
The team consistently places in the top five at State
Championships, six times held the title of Ohio Senior
State Team Champion, is regularly represented at Junior
and Senior National Championships and has had hundreds of
swimmers competing at the Ohio High School State
Championships.
Past and
present Dayton Raider swimmers have achieved significant
honors in the sport of swimming, including:
- Breaking
the American Record in the 200 backstroke (short
course meters)
- Placing
8th in the 1996 U.S. Olympic Trials in the 100 meter
backstroke
- Two
swimmers placing 1st at U.S. Senior Nationals, 1992
(1500 meter free) , 1995 (100 meter backstroke)
- Two
swimmers earned births on U.S. National Terms to swim
abroad in 1990 and 1994
- Won the
50 free at 1995 U.S. Olympic Sport Festival
- Three
swimmers represented the raiders at various U.S.
Olympic Sport Festivals
- Two
swimmers won U.S. Junior National Championships (long
course meters)
- Set a
U.S. National Age-Group Record 1994
- Six
different swimmers have achieved multiple Olympic
Trial Qualifying Time Standards since 1990
- Numerous
swimmers have achieved Junior and Senior National Time
Standards
- Numerous
swimmers broke numerous Ohio Swimming Records both
short and long course
- Over 175
swimmers have represented the Raiders at the Ohio High
School State Championships from 1990-present
- Raiders
consistently send numerous swimmers to the Central
Zone Championship
- Raiders have established
5 Central Zone records since 1998
Many
swimmers have continued their careers on the
intercollegiate level (many on swimming and academic
scholarships) at such schools as Michigan, Purdue, U
Connecticut, Clemson, UNLV, Tennessee, Miami, Ohio
University, Florida, Atlantic, UNC Wilmington, Georgia,
Indiana, University of Cincinnati, John Carroll
University, Wooster, Charleston (SC), Akron, Wright State
University, Toledo, Wittenberg, and many others.
Today, the
Dayton Raider Swim Team has over 130 swimmers, ranging in
ability from beginners to Senior National level athletes.
These swimmers hail from more than twenty area cities in
the Greater Dayton Area, reaching as far south as
Wilmington and Middletown, as far north as Troy and as far
east as Springfield. Over a third of these swimmers
represent their high schools at the Ohio Sectional,
District and State level.
The Dayton
Raiders Swim Club is dedicated to providing the area youth
with a year-round opportunity to train and to participate
in the sport of swimming. This nonprofit organization is
designed to allow its swimmers to achieve their full
potential, by providing swimmers with high quality
coaching in a structured setting. The Raider program
insures that this instruction is provided through the
employment of full-time Senior and Age Group Coaches, and
several assistant coaches with extensive competitive
swimming and coaching backgrounds. Once our coaching
staff is in place, they continue to further their
education by attending World Swim Clinics, seminars,
camps, and earning coaching credits from the American Swim
Coaches Association and USA-Swimming headquarters at the
Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs. We make
sure our staff is on the forefront of knowledge in the
sport of swimming.
When a
young person becomes a member of the Dayton Raider Swim
Club he/she learns the values of sportsmanship and team
work. Swimming for the Dayton Raiders Swim Club provides
physical, emotional and intellectual skills that will last
a lifetime.
MISSION
STATEMENT
The mission
of the Dayton Raider Swim Club is:
To
develop the character traits, technical skills and
intense desire necessary for maximum realization of each
individual's potential.
TEAM
PHILOSOPHY
The team
philosophy is encompassed in the words COURAGE and PERSEVERANCE.
COURAGE is
the willingness to accept risk(s) and endure failings.
Courage does not exist unless there is a situation that
presents the opportunity for success. We encourage our
athletes to embrace these opportunities and not fear the
outcome.
PERSEVERANCE
is the backbone of success in any endeavor in life.
One cannot succeed at the highest levels without enduring
some set-backs. These difficult times can create a lack of
faith, low self-esteem, and an obvious drop in enthusiasm.
Perseverance is the quality that transcends these
difficult times. It allows the individual to find the true
strength of their character.
The Dayton
Raider Swim Club believes that COURAGE and PERSEVERANCE
developed by swimming will prepare the individual for
the challenges they will face in life.
PRACTICE
GROUPS
The
Dayton Raider practice groups vary by the type of workout,
average age, and swimming proficiency. Admission to a
particular group is dependent upon the individual's
ability relative to the ability of the other swimmers in
that group. The Group Criteria
has been developed by the coaching staff to eliminate
confusion about the group assignments and practice
routines. Parents, keep in mind that there will be slight
overlap in abilities and skills between the groups. It
is not acceptable to bring a swimmer to the wrong group at
Raiders practice. The Raiders are committed to
providing professional coaches at all levels. Coaches
recommend swimmer advancement to the head coach for
approval. ** PLEASE REMEMBER THAT THE ADVANCEMENT INTO
ANOTHER GROUP IS UP TO THE COACH!**
MINI
Novice
group for 6-10 year olds who have little or no
competitive experience. Primary emphasis on mastering
skills in four competitive strokes and in starts and
turns. Basic fundamentals, stroke patterns, social
interaction, and the introduction to a competitive
format are the focus of this group. They must also
possess listening skills and be able to take instruction
in a group setting.
WHITE
Competitive
group for experienced swimmers 7-11. Group will stress
mechanics of all four competitive strokes and train
swimmers for competing in USS meets. Swimmers will be
developing strength and endurance while maintaining good
stroke technique during practice. Attention/retention,
listening skills, and concept attainment are encouraged
and expected at all times. Stroke and coordination
drills are emphasized.
RED
Competitive
group for experienced 8-12 year olds. Group will stress
mechanics of all four competitive strokes and train
swimmers for competing in USS meets. Swimmers will be
developing strength and endurance while maintaining good
stroke technique during practice. Attention/retention,
listening skills, and concept attainment are encouraged
and expected at all times. Stroke and coordination
drills are emphasized. Aerobic capacity is introduced,
as well as the use of pace clock and interval training.
Rhythm, dexterity/agility, and sculling patterns
increase in focus, as well as use of regularly scheduled
dryland.
BLUE
Competitive
group for 9-13 year olds emphasizing competition in USS
meets, strokes, starts and turns with increased
attention to aerobic training and speed work as well as
continued mastery of correct stroke technique. Swimmers
must have mastery of using the pace clock. Dry land
training will be used as part of practice. Video tape
analysis may be performed and scheduled swimmer/coach
conferences held to discuss goal setting, motivation,
improvement, etc.
BRONZE
This is
the top level of the Age Group program. This is a
competitive group for 10-13 year olds. This group
combines stroke work with a strong conditioning program.
Swimmers expected to attend at least four workouts per
week. This group includes dry land training as part of
program. Video tape analysis may be performed and scheduled
swimmer/coach conferences held to discuss goal setting,
motivation, improvement, etc.
SILVER
The
Silver group is for the serious pre-senior athlete who
has begun to choose swimming over other athletic
choices. This group remains an integral part of the
Senior program and still requires a high commitment,
intense training and a pursuit of "national"
level standards. The primary objective will still be to
achieve the standards of the Gold Group in order to move
up once they are physically and mentally ready.
Final
Decision: Even with
group criteria there will undoubtedly come a time when a
decision will have to be rendered due to extenuating
circumstances. Therefore, the coach will have the opt
ion to make a final decision for group placement if such
an event would occur.
Please note: Even if a swimmer would make all the
listed criteria there would not be an automatic move up
unless room was available.
GOLD
This is a
highly specialized, strongly committed and physically
specific training group. The primary objective of this
training group should be to pursue "national"
level standards such as Junior and Senior National times
from which college grant in aid may be possible if one
should so desire.
LONG
COURSE MEMBERSHIP POLICY
Any swimmer
may join the Dayton Raider Swim Team at any time during
the year. If a swimmer joins for the summer or long course
training and does not continue in the fall, he/she may not
rejoin for another summer session. For the purpose of this
amendment the long course season begins the Monday after
the last Ohio Short Course Championship.
CREDITS FOR MEDICAL EXCUSE
Credits for monthly fees for
medical excuse absences in excess of one (1) calendar month may be granted
with the approval of the President/Treasurer if the swimmer provides a
written doctor's order indicating that the swimmer should not train with the
team for a period greater than one (1) calendar month. Credits for meet
entry fees will not be allowed as the team must pay the host team for the
entries whether the swimmer actually competes or not.
RETURNING
COLLEGE SWIMMERS
Since many
of the past Dayton Raider swimmers swim in college and
want to continue training over their breaks, holidays, and
summer, the head coach and board has set up guidelines for
this training.
- Prior to
long course season, each swimmer will be contacted by
the head coach to set up a mutual contractual
agreement based on work schedules or class schedules.
Once that schedule is in place, it will be the
swimmers responsibility to follow it completely. If
for any reason it changes, please contact the head
coach. If you fail to adhere to the schedule agreed
upon, or are constantly late for practice, you will be
asked to not return.
- Each
returning swimmer will be required to possess a
current USS card or register in the fall with our
athletes. A $30.00 registration fee must be paid to
the club bookkeeper.
- Each
returning swimmer will be required to represent the
Raiders at the Ohio Senior Meet or Junior/Senior
National Meet and are encouraged to participate in any
or all other meets offered to the Senior group.
- It will
be every college swimmer's responsibility to adjust to
the clubs training schedule which includes being on
time to meets, morning and afternoon practices. Every
returning swimmer will be treated with the same
attention and respect as any other swimmer on the
team.
- Every
swimmer will be asked to sign and abide by the Dayton
Raider Honor Code before they begin training.
We enjoy
having our "old" Raider swimmers return! College
swimmers are looked upon as role models for all our
younger swimmers and we expect them to conduct themselves
appropriately.
COMMUNICATION
Each year
the Raiders strive for open and informative communication
among swimmers, parents and coaching staff. Established
channels of communication are the monthly newsletter,
family mailboxes, via e-mail, and the bulletin board
outside the pool at WSU. The following is a list of quick
reference numbers. Personal phone numbers of families are
not included on this web site, but you can e-mail the
coaches, on the page titles "Meet the Coaches"
if you are interested in getting hold of someone. You can
also E-Mail swimmers who have supplied their E-Mail
addresses to the team roster.
- Board
Members
- Dayton
Boys and Girls Club 222-6442
- Moraine
Natatorium
- KAST-A-WAY
1-800-543-2763 If you call Kast-A-Way ask for Barb
and identify yourself with the Raiders. Before calling
Kast-A-Way, check with your group's Equipment
Checklist or check with your group coach to see
what your swimmer will need.
WORKING
HOME MEETS
During each calendar year,
the Dayton Raiders host several meets which require
assistance from the club membership. At the
beginning of each year, the Meet Worker Chair will divide
the number of working hours among the total membership and
recommend to the Parents Board how many session each
family should work. Working these sessions are in
addition to the Fundraising assessment. To read more
about the Meet Worker Sessions, click
here!
PROBLEMS
WITH THE COACH?
One of the
traditional swim team communication gaps is that some
parents seem to feel more comfortable in discussing their
disagreements over coaching philosophy with other parents
rather than taking them directly to the coach. Not only is
the problem never resolved that way, but in fact this
approach often results in new problems being created.
Listed below are some guidelines for a parent raising some
difficult issues with a coach:
- Try to
keep foremost in your mind that you and the
coach have the best interests of your child at heart.
If you trust that the coach's goals match yours, even
though his/her approach may be different, you are more
likely to enjoy good rapport and a constructive
dialogue.
- Keep in
mind that the coach must balance your perspective of
what is best for your child with the needs of the team
or a training group. On occasion, an individual
child's interest may need to be subordinate to the
interests of the group, but in the long run the
benefits of membership in the group compensate for
occasional short term inconvenience.
- If you
child swims for an assistant coach, always discuss the
matter first with that coach, following the same
guidelines and preconceptions noted above. If the
assistant coach cannot satisfactorily resolve your
concern, then ask that the head age group coach or
head senior coach join the dialogue as a third party.
- If
another parent uses you as a sounding board for
complaints about the coach's performance or policies,
listen, but encourage the other parent to speak
directly to the coach. He/she is the only one who can
resolve the problem.
HONOR
CODE
The
following code is in effect throughout the year. Some of
the items refer specifically to team travel. Additionally,
anyone who, in the opinion of the coach or coaches, acts
in a manner that would interfere with the travel
objectives listed below, will be subject to immediate
return home (at the expense of the parent and/or
swimmer) and other punishments including barring from
future travel meets or other competition or dismissal from
the team.
The Dayton
Raider Swim Club will seek out-of-town swimming
competition for the following reasons:
- Different
individual competitions
- A higher
quality of competition
- Experience
in trial/finals competition
- Conditions
conducive to exceptional performances.
- DR may
travel as a team to these meets and everyone is
expected to behave in an exemplary manner. The
reputation of the DR, as well as the other athletes
with you, is dependant on your behavior.
- The
coaching staff holds the final word on any rules,
regulations, or disciplinary action.
- The
consumption or purchase of alcohol, smoking or chewing
tobacco, or use of any other illegal drug or substance
of any kind will not be allowed. In addition, any team
member found or suspected to be in the presence of
others (regardless of team affiliation) partaking
in any of the above activities will be subject to the
same punishments and probable expulsion from the DR.
Any swimmer suspected of such activity will appear
before a review committee composed of the senior team
coach, the head age group coach, the club president,
and two other DR board members.
- At no
times will male and female athletes be in the same
room together with the door closed. This applies to DR
members or members of any other team.
- No team
meeting may be missed. Be punctual to all meetings and
warm-up times.
- No team
member may be out of their room after the assigned bed
time. Permission must be obtained from the coach to
leave the room past this time.
- Any
damages or thievery incurred at a motel will be at the
expense of the swimmers assigned to that room, and
further disciplinary action will be taken. No loud or
boisterous behavior will be tolerated in the hallways
or public areas, and such behavior should be kept to a
minimum in your rooms. Make all long distance calls on
a credit card or collect.
- All team
members will be polite in restaurants. Leave a 15%
tip. If there has been a problem with the service, see
the coach.
- Stealing
will not be tolerated!
- Agree to
follow the rules about practice and meet behavior in
the team handbook.
I recognize
my responsibility to abide by the rules and requirements
of the Dayton Raider Swim Club I am representing and I
acknowledge that I have received and read such.
SIGNATURE:
_________________________________________
DATE:___________
NOTE: This
Honor Code must be signed and turned in to the your coach
before the first meet.
Copyright © 2007 Dayton
Raiders
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