Parent Handbook
GENERAL
All team members are expected to be orderly, courteous, and show sportsmanship during practices, meets, and at any team-related function. In other words, team members are asked to be living examples of the YMCA character development traits of Caring, Honesty, Respect, and Responsibility. Any inappropriate behavior, as outlined in the Blue Waves Code of Conduct, may constitute cause for dismissing a swimmer from practice or a meet, or be sent home from a team function. All violations of the Code of Conduct will be reviewed by the Blue Waves coaching staff and may lead to suspension of dismissal from the team.
CODE OF CONDUCT
In order for the team and individual swimmers to achieve their goals and maintain a constructive, safe, and positive environment for everyone, it is necessary for all participants to adhere to the following guidelines:
Swimmers should always:
- Act in a manner that reflects the YMCA core values
- Make an effort to show good sportsmanship
- Show respect for coaches and teammates as well as lifeguards in the pool area
- Represent their team with pride
- Come to practice and meets prepared with appropriate attire and equipment
- Disrespectful, aggressive, or destructive behavior, including excessive volume in pool areas
- Profanity, lewd gestures, or vulgarisms
- The use of tobacco, alcohol, narcotics, or performance enhancing drugs
- Lying or cheating
- Maintain good grades and strong family relationships (these take priority!)
- Be conscious of their diet and fluid intake
- Report any injuries or discomfort immediately
- Give their best effort at practice and during meets
- Ask questions and express concerns to coaches
Swimmers’ Etiquette at Practice
- Be punctual
- Be prepared - suit, goggles, cap, kickboard, equipment bags, etc.
- Actively participate
- Do what the group is doing
- Focus on the task at hand
- The best attitude is a “can do” attitude
- Be willing to try new and difficult things
- Arguing and “bargaining” with coaches is a waste of time!
- Clean up after yourself
- Avoid being on the deck during practice
- Be available in case of an emergency
- Someone in the building should be responsible for each athlete
- Swimmers should know who is responsible for them and where they are
- Leaving early? Let coaches know at the beginning of practice.
- Be at the pool, in uniform, and settled before warm-up time
- Cheer for our team and always be positive
- Stay until the end of the meet…we’re all part of the team!
- Always show good sportsmanship - “Good luck”…”Good race”…etc.
- Stay in the pool until everyone’s done
- Stay out of the water if it’s not your event…that includes at the end of the meet!
- Stay to participate in a Team Cheer after the meet
- Stay seated with the team…coaches should know where all swimmers are
- Do not bring cell phones, video games, magic cards, or anything valuable, breakable,
or distracting!
- Help out! Give everyone a chance to see their kids swim
- Stay in the spectator area to limit the clutter and chaos
- Be supportive and positive at competitions
- Constructive criticism is best at practice.
PHYSICAL HEALTH & NUTRITION
Hydration
Young athletes should drink 6-8 8 ounce glasses of water a day.
- Teens should drink 8-10 8 ounce glasses.
- Bring a Nalgene bottle everywhere!
- Avoid sugar loaded, caffeinated, & carbonated drinks.
- Gatorade/sports drinks are a good source of replenishment.
A balanced diet is best!
- Trendy, restrictive diets can limit an athlete’s performance.
- Athletes should eat a variety of foods including meats, fruits & vegetables, whole grains, pasta, and nutritional snacks (sweets are okay if moderated and not used in place of meals).
- Not all fats are bad! In fact, they’re a necessary part of a balanced diet. Unsaturated fats can be especially beneficial during training. They can be found in foods such as nuts, avocados and olive oil.
- Picky eater? Take a multi-vitamin.
- Proteins (especially meats) help muscles recover/rebuild during heavy training.
- Try to eat extra carbohydrates (pasta) the night before a competition.
- Don’t skip meals. Breakfast should be the most important.
- It helps to plan ahead for snacks and meals so you don’t have to resort to less nutritional options for convenience.
- If you don’t keep junk food around the house, the kids can’t eat it!
- Lead by example. A good diet is beneficial to everyone!
The following is a list of healthy snacks for young athletes found on www.momsteam.com, a website for parents with kids involved in sports.
| Crunchy | Chewy | Creamy | Juicy |
| Popcorn | Dried Fruit | Pudding | Juice Packs |
| Pretzels | Rasins | Cheese Cubes | Jello Packs |
| Rice Cakes | Bagels | Milk | Applesauce |
| Animal Crackers | Breakfast Bars | Yogurt | Canned Fruit |
| Trail Mix | Rice Krispie Treats | Peanut Butter | Cherry Tomatoes |
| Granola Bars | Graham Treats | Banana | Tangerines |
| Baked Chips | Granola Bars | Oranges | |
| Graham Crackers | Grapes | ||
| Cereal | |||
| Air Crisps | |||
| Apples | |||
| Baby Carrots |
It may also be beneficial for a young athlete to see a nutritionist. Developing good eating habits will be beneficial to them for the rest of their life. If you are interested in setting up an appointment with the West Suburban YMCA's nutritionist, contact Jen Sandeman at jennifers@ymcainnewton.org.
Muscles & Bones
- Always report pain or discomfort!
- Use proper equipment (i.e. training suits, goggles, etc.) to prevent injuries.
- A regular warm-up is necessary to keep muscles working properly during practices and competitions. Since we warm up at the beginning of practice and meets, it is important that the swimmers be punctual.
- Good technique is essential to an athlete’s competitive performance, but is also important in preventing injuries. It is our main focus and should be re-enforced by parents.
- Use ice to treat joint pain and use Ibuprofen if athletes complain of muscle pain after a hard workout. De-hydration may also contribute to aches and pains as well as fatigue. If pain and/or fatigue persists, check with coaches or a doctor.
Eight hours a night are recommended for young athletes.
- Proper rest and recovery are a necessary element of the training process.
- Sluggishness or a lack of interest are signs of fatigue.
- www.momsteam.com - a website for parents of young athletes
- www.usaswimming.org – tips on technique as well as nutrition and health tips for swimmers.
- www.bam.gov - a fun, instructional website on physical health.
Don’t forget to keep coaches informed and up-to-date on your child’s physical health.
