Freshman Swimming Unit
Rules & Procedures
“Safety Is Our Motto”
You are responsible for adhering to the following guidelines:
1. ALWAYS have your gym suit and gym shoes available at school because if the pool
is down, or I am absent, you will not swim but will dress for another activity such as
co-ed volleyball, basketball, weight room etc.
2. We will be swimming for approximately 20 days. Each day could include skill and/or
participation points.
3. DO NOT leave your wet swimsuit in your PE locker on top of your gym suit…it will
eventually lead to a mildew problem. Bring a plastic bag. Take your swimsuit home
every night, hang it up to dry, and bring it back in the morning.
4. TIME FOR DRESSING at the end of class will be REDUCED for failing to pick up
towels and /or other acts of irresponsibility on your part. Keep the locker room as
dry and neat as possible…DRY OFF in the shower area and put your used towels in
the appropriate bin after you are finished with them.
5. You MUST have a DOCTOR’S MEDICAL EXCUSE to be out of the water for more
than 2 days.
6. A PARENT NOTE will only excuse you for 2 days and can be used for such things as
a cold, sore throat, earache, etc. Even if you don’t swim, you will remain with the
class. You will dress in your gym suit and sit in the pool bleachers. You are
responsible for paying attention to the lesson plan being taught to your group.
7. If you are absent during the swim unit or are sitting out for short- term
medical/personal reasons, you will be deducted 10 points from your participation
grade for each day you sit out. You can make up the lost participation points by
swimming 4 laps or 8 widths of the pool during the last 10 minutes of class. If you
miss skills tests in the water, you must make every effort to make them up during
the last 10 minutes of class or in the morning before school. YOU ARE
RESPONSIBLE FOR LETTING ME KNOW THAT YOU NEED TO STAY AT THE END
OF CLASS TO SWIM LAPS OR MAKE-UP A SKILLS TEST.
8. Parent notes will excuse you for two days of participation each nine weeks. You
must have the note that day. Menstruation parent excuses can be used once during
the unit. They will only be accepted as five consecutive days (weekends count
towards the five days).
9. I will unlock both locker rooms from the pool deck at 20 past the hour. You are not
allowed in the pool area unless I am present on the deck. Once class begins, you
are not allowed to leave the pool deck until class is dismissed.
10. You must be in your SWIM SUIT or PE UNIFORM SEATED IN ALPHABETICAL
ORDER at the beginning of class. You will then shower and return to the pool deck
to your assigned group.
11. You may NOT enter the water until signaled by the teacher. When you hear a long
whistle, immediately stop swimming/talking and listen for the teacher’s instructions.
If you are injured during class, tell the teacher immediately.
12. HORSEPLAY; including running, pushing, grabbing, dunking, spitting, splashing,
etc. is NOT AN OPTION! Actions that do not adhere to our “SAFETY FIRST” motto
will result in termination for the day, points deducted from your participation grade,
and a detention and/or referral. Severe cases may result in a Dean’s “E” from the
class (you fail the semester). Teasing, laughing and bullying are also not acceptable
and will be dealt with in the same manner as rule infractions.
13. No one is allowed to dive off the starting blocks unless instructed to do so by the
teacher.
14. During recreational swim time, you may use the diving board only if I have cleared
you to do so. Obviously if you are unable to swim in the deep end of the pool, you
will not be allowed to use the diving board.
15. NO GUM, FOOD, BEVERAGE, PURSE, PHONE, IPOD are allowed in the pool or on
the deck.
16. Only swimming suits are allowed to be worn in the water…no shorts, cut-offs, Tshirts, etc. One-piece swimsuits are encouraged. Two-piece suits are allowed for
girls, but should be appropriate for a school setting. Boy’s swimwear also must be
school appropriate.
17. NEED GOGGLES? You must provide them yourself.
18. You will be working on proper breathing techniques, endurance, learning new
strokes, and/or perfecting the ones you already have. If you are on the Swim Team,
you still will swim in class. You may also be called upon to demonstrate and/or
assist non-swimmers.
19. IT IS CRITICAL THAT YOU EXHIBIT SELF-DISCIPLINE AND SELF-CONTROL DURING
THIS SWIMMING UNIT. I AM RESPONSIBLE FOR ENSURING EVERYONE’S SAFETY,
BUT I CANNOT DO THAT IF YOU FAIL TO ABIDE BY THE RULES LISTED ABOVE.
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WE HAVE READ THE ABOVE SWIMMING GUIDELINES TOGETHER AND
UNDERSTAND THE RULES:
STUDENT SIGNATURE______________________________DATE_________
PARENT SIGNATURE________________________________DATE_________