Tsunami Swimming - Resources for Swim Team Parents

What is Tsunami Swimming?

Tsunami Swimming was formed in 2001 by a volunteer advisory committee as a non-profit 501(C)(3) swimming outreach program. Outreach programs are designed to pull individuals into the sport of swimming who might not otherwise have the opportunity to participate. Tsunami Swimming does this by:
   * Offering programs for all skill levels, from non-swimmers to national competitors
   * Offering programs for both youth and adults, so the entire family can participate
   * Offering shorter, seasonal swim training programs, so that individuals who cannot commit to a year-round team will still have the opportunity to train and compete through the year.
   * Offering need-based financial assistance to individuals whose families meet the federal poverty level guidelines for the free and reduced price school lunch program.

Scholarship / Financial Assistance Program

As part of its outreach effort, Tsunami Swimming offers need-based financial assistance for all of its programs. The US Federal Poverty Level Guidelines for the National School Lunch Program are used to establish need. Currently, this amount is a 50% reduction in fees for families at 185% of the federal poverty level (reduced price school lunch criteria) and a 75% reduction in fees for families at 130% of the federal poverty level (free school lunch criteria).

If you know of any families who do not participate in swim programs because of the cost, please share this information with them. And if you are interested in contributing to the scholarship program, all donations are tax-deductible.

To date, Tsunami Swimming has provided financial assistance scholarships to over 15 individuals.

Board of Directors:

Board Members are volunteers who serve a two-year term, and can be re-elected. Current board members approve new members. Any individual in the community who supports Tsunami Swimming's programs and outreach efforts is eligible to serve on the board. If you or someone you know in our community would be willing to serve on the board, please let Coach Peter know.

2005 - 2006 Board Members
Jeannie Dahnk
Elizabeth Payne
Cristin Koch
Kandy Hilliard
Peter Maloney

Recommended number of practices per week

Swimmers may attend ANY practice time, day or location for their practice group.

Novice 3-5
Junior 5-7
Senior 6-8

Swim Meet Information

Coach Pete passes out "meet invitations" for each meet 3-4 weeks before that meet. These have information on who qualifies to attend, location, times, dates, directions and other specifics. Swimmers and their parents choose which meets, if any, they will attend. The coaches can guide you in these decisions, and will recommend meets that would be best for your swimmer. There are no required meets, although all swimmers are encouraged to attend meets.

Swimmers are encouraged to swim a wide variety of events at meets. This is one of the great things about age group swimming. If your swimmer swims in summer league, high school and maybe college, they will probably have a "best" stroke or event, and will swim just this stroke or event all of the time. Age group swimming allows swimmers to try out all the strokes and events. Many swimmers find that the stroke they hate when they are 8 becomes their favorite at age 12.

USA Swimming Registration
All swimmers who wish to compete at meets must be registered with VA Swimming and USA Swimming. Your $100 registration fee covers this cost and gives you a $40 credit to offset the cost of meet entry fees for swim meets throughout the year. When your meet fee account balance falls below $0, you will be notified.

Meet Fees:
Each host team charges $3-6 per swimmer per event. These fees will be charged to your meet fee account. After each meet, Peter will have a sheet with meet fee charges for that meet, so you can help him keep track of your balance. If you sign up for a meet but don't attend, you must still pay meet fees, as the team must pay these up front when entries are submitted.

Equipment

You can purchase most of the items that you will need from Tsunami. Non-team items may also be purchased at sporting goods stores. Special order items are not kept in stock, and must be prepaid and ordered from the supply company. Click here to visit Tsunami's Online Store. Most items may be purchased online.

Tsunami prices as of September 2006 (subject to change):

For practice:
Suit, $25 male / $28 female
Goggles $5 - 15
Cap (not required unless hair is a problem) $1 latex / $6 silicone
Fins $23
Pull buoy $10
Mesh equipment bag (optional) $6

For meets:
Team suit (usually 1-2 sizes smaller than practice suit) $38 male, $52 female
Team cap (Required) $4 latex / $15 silicone

Other optional equipment:
Team sweats (special order)
Team duffle bag (special order)
Team t-shirts $18

We will arrange for a representative from Suit-UP, the team's Speedo supplier, to be at the pool one evening within the first month of practice. You will be able to try on and order all "team logo" equipment.

Parent polo shirts are also available in Red, Black and White. Not all sizes are in all colors. These are $20 each.

We can also order other items, like prescription goggles. See Coach Pete.

"SCRIP" FUNDRAISING PROGRAM

To help offset the cost of pool rental, team families commit to "raising" $200 in scrip profit each year. The program works like this: Non-profit organizations purchase gift cards or gift certificates from a wide variety of merchants (grocery stores, restaurants, retail stores etc). The merchants make a donation to the non-profit organization based on the amount of "scrip" purchased. This usually ranges from $4-12 per $100 purchased (4-12%.) Anyone can purchase these certificates at face value and use them just like cash. Tsunami usually has several popular cards in stock, and hundreds of others may be special ordered. Families pay for the in-stock scrip when they receive it and for the "special order" scrip when it is ordered.

Coach Pete usually has a folder with scrip with him at practice, and you can purchase it at that time. There should always be a yellow sheet in the folder for you to record your purchase. Please write checks for scrip purchases separate from other items. A parent volunteer keeps track of how much scrip each family purchases, and how much "profit" has been raised by their purchases. You can combine dues, meet fees and equipment purchases in one check, but it helps the person tracking your scrip credit if scrip payments are separate.

Scrip coupons usually in stock:
Giant
Food Lion
Shoppers
Kohl's (If you use your Kohl's credit card, you can use these to pay your bill at any register)
Darden (good at Red Lobster, Smokey Bones and Olive Garden)
Outback (good at Carabbas, Cheeseburger in Paradise and Bonefish Grill)
KFC
Burger King
Wendy's

If you will regularly purchase other scrip, let Coach Pete know, and he can keep some other cards in stock as well. To see a list of all participating retailers, please click here.

Surf's Up

Swim Meet Survival Guide
Compiled by Rose Ann Lynch (former Tsunami Parent)

Welcome to Tsunami Swimming. Your child is about to embark on an exciting year, and you will be right there with them. Your first meet will be confusing, but remember, you are not alone! We've all been there and we are all happy to help. You will experience a 1/2 day of wall-to-wall children...enjoy it. It is great family time and there are a lot of fun people attached to the Virginia Swimming programs.

Directions/Hotels
Directions are usually included in meet announcements. If they are not, ask Coach Pete or one of the other parents. Another good source is the hosting team's web site. Some hosting teams will also suggest local hotels. Decide if you need a room for the evening and make your reservations accordingly. Remember, you may be in for some early mornings or late nights.

What should swimmers wear?
At the beginning of the season, swimmers may not all have team suits yet. The key to identifying your child to the coach will be the team cap. Male or female, young or old, encourage your child to wear their cap.

What should parents wear?
Dress comfortably with rubber soled shoes. Think layers. It tends to be rather warm in the pool area and you will be there for a while. It may be cool in other areas.

Heat Sheets
Heat sheets tell you what is going on during the meet. They give the breakdown of the events and list the swimmers for each event. The heat sheets usually give your swimmer's heat and lane for each event. Heat sheets will be sold by the hosting team. Prices vary from $2- $10 depending on the size of the meet.

No Times
New swimmers may be listed on the heat sheet with "no time" for an event. This means having no official time. After swimming an event, your swimmer will have an official time in that event for their next meet.

Warm Ups
There are usually two warm up times, one for the older children and one for the younger children. The younger children usually swim in the morning, but the coach should be able to tell you the exact warm up time. Warm ups are important to acclimatize your child to the pool and to prepare their bodies to swim competition. They also give your swimmer a chance to practice starts and turns in an unfamiliar pool. Don't skip them.

Before and After Each Event
Your child needs last minute coaching just prior to swimming an event. They also need to face constructive criticism immediately following each event. Send the children to their coach prior to and after each event. He will give them a quick rundown of their events, explaining what they have done or are about to do. This is key to your child's improvement.

Parents on Deck - Where do I go?
Most pools have a "spectator" area in the pool, and a second area for swimmers and parents to hang out while they're waiting for their events (usually a gym). Some pools do not have gym, and swimmers and families are in the pool area the whole time. If you are not familiar with the pool, ask Coach Pete about the setup. Most families bring blankets and chairs for the waiting area, and just go to the pool spectator area when their child swims. The host team usually posts and/or announces event numbers, so be sure you find out what the system is for that meet. You'll need to remind your swimmer when their event is coming up. Feel free to cheer from the stands - your child will forever be grateful for your support. Be aware that the coach is in charge on deck. Most pools do not even allow parents in the immediate pool area.

Volunteers Needed
At meets, each team will be required to provide a specific number of timers to help with the meet. Before each session starts, Tsunami parents need to make up a schedule for 1-2 hours timing shifts for that session. There is always a timer's meeting before the start of each session. (Listen for the announcement.) All timers (first one scheduled and relief timers also) should attend. The head timer will go over everything you need to know. Timing is easy and will help out the team and your child. You also get a great view of the events, and you won't get bored!! If everyone does their share, each timer will only work for approximately one hour per day. Please help out and do your part!

There is always a need for parent volunteers to who are willing to learn how to work as meet officials: Head Timers, Stroke & Turn Officials and Starters. Speak to Coach Pete about these opportunities.

What to bring
There are definitely some necessities that go with the sport of swimming. You will need:
Child
Swimsuit
Team cap
Goggles
Towel

You may also consider packing:

Older blanket	Folding Chairs (these are a must for the "waiting" area)
Sweats	Jackets
Food	Extra Towels
Pool Shoes	Maps
Warm-up suits	Spare suits, caps, and goggles
Cash for concessions	Medication (asthma pumps)
Homework	Books, games, etc
Food

Most host teams have a concession table. Food choices vary greatly from meet to meet. You may want to pack basics in a cooler, especially water and Gatorade.

From a parent manual compiled by the Mid-Atlantic LSC:

Stages of Athletic Development

Under 14: Focus on skill development and endurance.
14 to 17: Begin serious training that includes speed and high volume water training.
18 & up: Enhance sprint systems and full dry land strength training

The Role of the Parent

Provide a stable, loving environment
Have a working automobile
Ensure swimmer gets proper nutrition and rest
Provide financial Support
Let the coach do the coaching
Encourage goal setting - their goals, not yours
Keep balance in their lives
Have realistic expectations about performance
Remember good sprinters are usually terrible in practice and distance swimmers often swim the same speed in meets as in practice
This is supposed to be fun. Make sure your child enjoys it- and enjoy it yourself!
Positive reinforcement. If you can't say anything nice, keep quiet
Allow your child to fail. Successful people fail more often than those who are not successful.

Swimmer's State of Mind On The Block:
Will I false start?
Will I swim the right stroke?
Will I swim the right distance? Will I be legal? Will I hit my turn right? Will I do a best time?
Will I be last/win/beat my best friend/beat my worst enemy?
What will my coach think?
What will my teammates/boyfriend/ girlfriend/parents think?
Will I lose my goggles?
Will my cap come off?
Will my suit split when I bend over?
I really have to go to the bathroom!!!!
(With all this, they really don't need pressure from you.)

Fluid Replacement
It is important for the swimmer to realize drinking water is important. In fact, one-half cup of water every 10-15 minutes helps replace body fluids lost as the swimmer sweats. Many swimmers are unaware that they are sweating as they swim. Sports drinks can be beneficial especially if swimmers are training longer than 60 minutes. The rule of thumb is 6-8% carbohydrate fluids: 1/2 strength fruit juice and full strength sports drinks.

Before exercise: Drink 10-14 oz, 1-2 hours before practice.
During Exercise: Drink 3-4 oz every 15 mins.
After Exercise: Drink 2 cups for every pound lost during exercise

From USA Swimming "Catch the Spirit" LSC Camps Team Meetings Manual

Competition Cuisine Swimming fast is a result of hard training, dedication and making wise food choices. The type of food a swimmer eats may influence how they compete in the water. The key to nutrition and swimming is to make sure that you have eaten enough carbohydrates before the competition starts, not the day before the meet. It may take 24-72 hours to fully reload the muscles with energy (glycogen). It is important for swimmers to consume meals high in carbohydrates at least 2-3 DAYS before the start of a meet, or performance will deteriorate and even an easy workout or race may cause fatigue. It is often difficult for swimmers who are traveling to find nutritious meals that are high in carbohydrates. Fast-food restaurants are often chosen because they are convenient and affordable. To ensure that swimmers make wise food choices while on the road, a coach or swimmer can decide where to eat before mealtime, making sure the restaurant offers choices from all four food groups, while concentrating on high carbohydrate meals. Use the following guidelines in choosing meals while traveling:

BREAKFAST: Order pancakes, waffles, french toast, bagels, cereal, english muffins, fruit or juice. These foods are all high in carbohydrates. Avoid high-fat choices such as bacon, sausage or biscuits and gravy. Pack containers of dry cereal, crackers, juice or dried fruit such as raisins and apricots; or pack fresh fruits such as apples or oranges in case the restaurant does not provide these items. If you eat breakfast at a fast food restaurant choose foods like cereal, fruit juice and muffins or pancakes. Avoid breakfast sandwiches, sausage and bacon.

LUNCH AND DINNER: Try restaurants that offer pastas, breads and salads. Order thick crust rather than thin crust pizza for more carbohydrates. Order vegetables such as mushrooms and green peppers on the pizza. Avoid high fat toppings such as pepperoni and sausage. Order vegetable soups accompanied by crackers, bread, or muffins. Emphasize the bread in sandwiches, not the filling, mayonnaise or potato chips. Avoid deep fat fried foods such as french fries, fried fish and fried chicken. Choose low-fat milk or fruit juices rather than soda

For swimmers who compete at all-day swimming meets choosing nutritious food throughout the day may be a problem. The swimmer should consider the amount of time between eating and racing when choosing foods to eat. The hot dogs, nachos, potato chips or candy bars found at most concession stands are extremely high in fat, and usually will not be digested quickly. When these foods are eaten as a pre-event meal they may impair performance. Suggested pre-racing menus include the following:

ONE HOUR OR LESS BEFORE COMPETITION
Fruit and vegetable juice such as orange, tomato or V-8 AND/OR Fresh fruit such as apples, watermelon, peaches, grapes or oranges AND/OR 1-1/2 cups of a sport drink like Gatorade

TWO TO THREE HOURS BEFORE COMPETITION
Fresh fruit and fruit and vegetable juices AND Breads, bagels, english muffins with limited amounts of butter, margarine, cream cheese, or peanut butter AND/OR 4 cups of a sport drink like Gatorade

THREE TO FOUR HOURS BEFORE COMPETITION
Fresh fruit and fruit and vegetable juices AND Breads, bagels, baked potatoes, cereal with low-fat or skim milk, low-fat yogurt, sandwiches with a small amount of peanut butter or lean meats and cheese AND/OR 7 1/2 cups of a sport drink like Gatorade

Useful Links

USA Swimming - Info for Parents

Virginia Swimming - Info for Parents

Swimming World Magazine

About.Com - General Swimming Information

International Swimming Hall of Fame

Virginia High School Swimming

College Swimming