Handbook - Daleview Feet Swim Team

Feet Handbook: About the Team

Introduction

The Daleview Swim Team is a summer recreation activity sponsored by Daleview Pool for its member families. Swim Team is inclusive and fun. The season includes about 10 weeks of swimming practices, swim meets, pep rallies and social events for children who are team members. The team was formed in 1959 and is one of the original charter members of the Montgomery County Swim League. The swim team has approximately 100 members raging in age from 5 to 18 years old. The older swim team members can often be seen at the pool helping the younger ones. The Swim Team name - is the "Feet"!

Eligibility

Any boy or girl of a Daleview member family (including summer members) can join the Swim Team if he or she meets the age eligibility requirements (not older than 18 years old on June 1) and has at least minimal swimming skills.

The coaches will evaluate new team members during the first week of practices of the season. The coaches then decide whether a child is ready for regular practices or should start the season on the Developmental Pre-team. The coaches may recommend that the child take more swimming lessons before joining the team. Swimmers who may not initially qualify can ask the coaches to re-evaluate them at any time during the season. Generally, if a swimmer can swim one length of the pool without touching the bottom or grabbing the side or lane ropes, he or she should be able to participate in swim team practices.

Although swimmers may be organized into different practice groups by age group and swim ability or experience, Daleview is one team and all swimmers are full fledge members who are encouraged to participate in and attend all team events. If possible, swimmers should come to every meet, whether or not they are swimming. They are needed by the team to support their teammates.

Swimteam Mission and Philosophy

The Swim Team mission is to:

Provide an enjoyable and safe recreational experience for children. Swim Team is, first and foremost, fun;
Encourage and facilitate maximum participation in swimming for all Team members, regardless of swimming skill
Demonstrate the benefits of work, practice and self discipline to improve swimming skills; and
Promote teamwork and the principles of good sportsmanship.

The Daleview Swim Team philosophy is that although there are formal, competitive swim meets that involve trying to win races and score points than the opposing team, each swimmer should take pride in personal development and improvement. A swimmer is always swimming against him/herself, vying to improve his/her times. That effort is always more important than winning or losing.

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