TEAM HANDBOOK 2014 – 2015
Table of Contents
Mission Statement and History ......................................................................................... 2
Team Structure .................................................................................................................. 3
Pools .................................................................................................................................. 5
Coaches ............................................................................................................................. 6
Practice .............................................................................................................................. 8
Communication ............................................................................................................... 10
Annual Team Events* ...................................................................................................... 11
Member Fees ................................................................................................................... 12
Equipment ....................................................................................................................... 13
Swim Meets ..................................................................................................................... 14
Attending Your First Meet ............................................................................................... 15
Fundraising ...................................................................................................................... 16
Service Commitment ....................................................................................................... 17
Parent and Swimmer Code of Conduct ........................................................................... 20
Using the LAMVAC Website............................................................................................. 21
F.A.Q. ............................................................................................................................... 23
Los Altos Mountain View Aquatic Club
P.O. Box 1269, Los Altos, CA 94023
Jose Bonpua, Head Coach (408) 732-3432
www.lamvac.org email: [email protected]
2014-2014 Team Handbook
Mission Statement and History
Who are we?
Los Altos Mountain View Aquatic Club (LAMVAC) is a year-round swim club
affiliated with USA Swimming based in the cities of Mountain View and Los Altos
in Northern California. We are an entirely parent-run club. We are known for an
individualized approach to every swimmer, easy access to coaches and board
members, as well as camaraderie among swimmers and parents. We offer yearround swim training with the added bonus of conditioning.
Our Mission:
We understand that swimmers swim for different reasons: some want to swim
fast, others want conditioning, and still others want to join a friend.
Our mission is to foster in every swimmer a life-long love of swimming. We do
this by focusing on each swimmer’s abilities and objectives.
History
1960: Nort Thornton, who later became the head coach at UC Berkeley, started
the Foothill Aquatic Club. It later produced swimmers who won a string of major
championships and, by the 1970s, the club boasted four Olympians.
1974: The merchants of Los Altos co-sponsored the growing club, which was
renamed Los Altos Aquatic Club. The club trained at Covington Pool, and by
1979 LAAC swimmers ranked in the nation's top 20.
1984: Under the leadership of Head Coach Kevin Perry, the team moved to the
pool at Foothill College.
1990: LAAC expanded to serve the community of Mountain View through its
Eagle Park pool and became known as Los Altos Mountain View Aquatic Club
(LAMVAC).
LAMVAC National and Olympic Swimmers
George Watson - 1968 Nationals & Olympic Trials
Rick Skarbo - 1968 Nationals & Olympic Trials
Greg Hind - 1980, 1984 National & Olympic Water Polo Team
Gary Shearer - 1980, 1984 National & Olympic Water Polo Team, Team Captain
Bob Jackson - 1976 Nationals & Olympic Team
Ricky Gould - 1984, 88 Nationals & Olympic Trials
Catherine Caprilles - 1984 Nationals & Olympic Trials
Ryan Hanni - 2010 Nationals
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2014-2015 Team Handbook
Team Structure
LAMVAC offers training groups for qualified swimmers ages 5 and up. It is the
goal of LAMVAC to offer age specific training for all of our athletes, challenging
and developing each individual to the best of their abilities.
We have the following swim groups: Pre-competitive, Team Level (age group
swimmers and seniors) and Masters. We also offer a three-month training
program for high school swimmers and a program for team level swimmers
during the summer months.
Pre-Competitive Lessons
Tadpoles
Our introductory pre-competitive program is designed to prepare swimmers ages
5 to 14 to graduate to our first team level, Piranhas. The focus is on developing a
strong foundation in stroke techniques: freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke, and
butterfly kick.
Prerequisites: Swimmer must be able to enter the water independently, float on
back, and do basic freestyle with big arms partially or fully across a 25-yard pool.
Some advanced Tadpoles may enter meets at the coach’s discretion.
Class: Tadpole lessons are held in 45 minute classes, with 11 or 12 classes per
session run year-round. Classes are limited to 15 swimmers per instructor.
Classes are typically divided into beginning and advanced groups. Swimmers are
not required to attend all classes in a session but frequent attendance does result
in faster progress.
Team Level – Age Group
Piranhas
The Piranha group is for the 8 and under age group as well as the novice 9-11
year olds, and older swimmers who need more conditioning and stroke
development in order to enter the Tiger Shark group.
Prerequisites: Swimmers must be able to complete 25 yards of freestyle,
backstroke, and breaststroke in good form and have a working knowledge of
butterfly kick. Piranhas may attend swim meets as soon as their coach
recommends. Fins are required for swimming at this level.
Practice: Piranha practices are available Monday through Friday for 45 minutes,
and we recommend at least 3 practices per week. Piranhas are grouped in 25
swimmers per coach.
Tiger Sharks
The Tiger Shark group is for ages 9-10 and 11-14 year olds who need more
stroke development before entering the Junior group.
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2014-2014 Team Handbook
Prerequisites: Swimmers must use the proper stroke technique for all four
competitive strokes to qualify for this level. Tiger Sharks are encouraged to
attend all swim meets for which they qualify.
Practice: Tiger Shark practices are available Monday through Friday for 75
minutes, with some Saturday practices for 2 hours. We recommend at least 4
practices per week. Tiger Sharks are grouped in 25 swimmers per coach.
Team Level – Senior
Juniors
This is the first phase of the senior development program.
Prerequisites: Swimmers must be at least 11 years old and ready to train for 2hour workout sessions. Juniors must be proficient in all strokes, starts, and turns
to qualify for this group. Swimmers in this group should attend scheduled meets
in order to achieve Junior Olympic qualifying times. High School age swimmers
may also qualify for Senior meets.
Practice: Junior practices are available Monday through Friday and most
Saturdays for 2 hours. We recommend a minimum of 5 practices per week.
Juniors are grouped in 25 swimmers per coach.
Seniors
This group is for swimmers who are ready for elite training and may compete on
a regional or national level.
Prerequisites: Approval of Head coach.
Practice: Senior practices are available Monday through Saturday for 2 hours,
plus additional 90 minutes early morning practices on Monday, Wednesday, and
Friday. Seniors are expected to attend all workout sessions offered. It is also
required that Seniors sign-up for the strength training program at Foothill
College.
Other Programs
High School Training Program is intended for swimmers on a high school team
who would like to train with LAMVAC for a three-consecutive-month period,
typically during the off season. These swimmers practice with the Juniors.
Summer Program is for swimmers new to LAMVAC starting in June, who qualify
for team level swimming. Swimmers practice with the group they qualify for. It is
a chance to try out competitive swimming with LAMVAC, or for swimmers who
wish to work out in the summer months only.
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2014-2015 Team Handbook
Masters
LAMVAC offers a masters swimming program for swimmers older than 18.
Masters may enter US Master events throughout the year. The amount of
practice will be determined by the swimmer’s goals. There is no set requirement.
All swimmers must be registered with US Masters Swimming (USMS). Master
swimmers do not need to try-out before sign up.
Try-outs
We have open try-outs for new members four times a year at the beginning of
each quarter in September, December, March, and June. Watch the calendar on
our website for the exact days and location. To try-out, the swimmer needs to
show up at the pool prepared to swim and be accompanied by a parent.
In between open try-outs, you may schedule a tryout for skills assessment. For
more information, please contact us at [email protected].
Swimmers will be assigned a practice group after being evaluated by a member
of our coaching staff. Our coaches consider both the physical and mental
readiness of the swimmer.
Pools
Foothill College Pool – 50 meter/25 yard
12345 El Monte Road, Los Altos Hills, CA 94022
Please don't forget to buy a $3 parking ticket and put it on your
dashboard. Guest parking permits are available at a discount through
the De Anza College Website.
Eagle Park Pool – 25 meter/25 yard
650 Franklin St., Mountain View, CA 94041
Free parking in small lot, and along city streets
Rengstorff Park Pool – 25 meter
201 S. Rengstorff Ave., Mountain View, CA 94041
Free parking in small lot, and along city streets
All pools are heated to 78 to 80 degrees F.
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2014-2014 Team Handbook
Coaches
All our coaches are member coaches with USA Swimming. They have
Lifeguard, CPR, First Aid, and Safety Training for Swim Coaches
certification. The have completed USA Swimming Athlete Protection Training
and Fundamentals of Coaching and have had a background check. Our Head
Coach and Senior Coach also have ASCA membership.
Jose Bonpua – Head Coach
Jose joined LAMVAC in 1998 to coach the Advanced Age
Group and Senior swimmers at Foothill pool, and was
promoted to Head Coach in 2000. Jose began swimming
competitively in 1978 for the YMCA in Cebu,
Philippines. Wanting to share his love of swimming, Jose
became an instructor for the Northeast YMCA in 1985. From
1986 through 1989 he coached age-group swimmers for
Tiger Aquatics, and served as Head Coach for the Blue Dolphin Swim Club, a
summer league team. Jose continued to work for Tiger Aquatics serving as their
Assistant Head coach for two years, working with the senior swimmers and
assuming primary responsibility for the 13 to 16 year old age group. Jose has
introduced a Masters swim program at Foothill pool, and is active as a Masters
swimmer himself.
Ed Toatley – Senior Coach
Ed joined LAMVAC in 2010 to become the Senior Coach for
the Piranha and Tiger Shark (ages 5 through 14) age group
swimmers. Graduating in 1974 from UC Santa Barbara with a
degree in Political Science, and a minor in Math and Athletic
Coaching (emphasis in swimming, water polo, volleyball and
tennis), Ed comes to us as a swim coach with nearly 40
years’ experience. Most recently, he was the Senior Coach
for the Daly City Dolphins (2005 - 2009), and Head Coach of the Morgan Hill
Swim Club (2002 - 2005). He has also been employed as a Head, Interim, or
Assistant Coach in clubs in New Mexico, Missouri, Illinois, Colorado, and
Nebraska. Ed has coached 134 US Swimming Age Group National Top 16
Swimmers from 1973 to present. He has also coached 58 National (Junior and
Senior) Qualifiers.
Jonathan Lo – Assistant Coach, Tadpole Coach
Jonathan Lo is a returning coach as of 2013, having coached
with LAMVAC in 2009 and 2010, and is assisting our Senior
Coach with the Piranha group, as well as working with the
Advanced Tadpoles. Jonathan started with LAMVAC as a
Piranha at age 8 and swam through his senior year in high
school. He is currently studying engineering at San Jose
State University. His favorite events are the 100 and the 200 meter breaststroke.
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2014-2015 Team Handbook
Ryan Carey – Assistant Coach
Ryan Carey started with us in 2014, assisting with both the
Piranha and Advanced Tadpole group. Ryan previously
coached for PCA (Peninsula Covenant Aquatics) in Redwood
City. He learned competitive swimming from Coach Jose
with the Foothill College team. Currently, Ryan is a business
major at San Jose State. His favorite events are the 50 meter
freestyle and the 100 meter butterfly.
Carolyn Ho – Tadpole Coach
Carolyn joined LAMVAC as a coach in 2013. She completed
her Red Cross certification to be a Water Safety Instructor in
the spring of the same year. Starting as a Piranha in 2006,
Carolyn swam with LAMVAC until graduating high school in
2013. Currently, she is a student at Foothill College. Her
favorite events are the 200 meter and the 500 yard freestyle.
Anna Lee – Tadpole Coach and Assistant Master Coach
Anna Lee is our Tadpole Coach at Foothill Pool, and is also
assisting with the Masters in the mornings. Anna swam with
LAMVAC through her high school years. Recently
graduated from UC Santa Barbara with a major in history,
Anna is continuing her studies in education at Santa Clara
University. Her favorite events are the 500 and the 1650
yard freestyle.
Laura Lee – Tadpole Coach (summer and substitute)
Laura Lee is a Tadpole Coach during our busy summer
months. Laura is a long-time LAMVAC swimmer. She
started with us as a Tadpole at age 9, and swam with
LAMVAC through high school. During the school year, she
is a student at Knox College, where she is studying creative
writing. Her favorite events are the 500 and the 1650 yard
freestyle.
Hope Moseley – Tadpole Coach (summer and substitute)
Hope joined our coaching staff in June of 2014, and works
with the Tadpole group for the summer. Hope started
swimming with LAMVAC in 2005 as a Tadpole, and
graduated in the Junior group in 2013. Hope will be majoring
in graphic design at Cal Poly in the fall, and will coach during
the summer months. Her favorite events are the 500 yd
freestyle and the 100 meter backstroke.
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2014-2014 Team Handbook
Eddie Barnes – Tadpole Assistant Coach
Eddie is returning for the summer months and fall quarter to
help with the Tadpole group. He started with LAMVAC as a
Tadpole in 2003, and is now in the Junior Group. An
accomplished vocalist as well as swimmer, watch for him at
our swim meets when he sings the national anthem. His
favorite events are the 50 meter freestyle and the 100 meter
breaststroke.
Practice
Pre-Competitive
Eagle/Rengstorff
Foothill Pool
Lesson Days/Hours/Location
Lesson Days/Hours/Location
Tadpoles
3-week sessions
Tadpoles (New!)
6-week sessions
Beginning:
Mon – Thu 3:45 – 4:30 p.m. Eagle
Due to the pool depth, there are no
Beginning Tadpole lessons offered at
Foothill College Pool.
Mid-Jun to mid-Aug, we move to
Rengstorff Pool, 5:15 to 6:00 p.m.
Advanced:
Mon – Thu 4:30 – 5:15 p.m. Eagle
Advanced:
Tue/Thu 4:15 – 5:00 p.m. Foothilll
Mid-Jun to mid-Aug, we move to
Rengstorff Pool, 6:00 to 6:45 p.m.
Weather - Practice is held in any weather unless a threat of thunder or lightning
is present. In such weather swimmers will be cleared from the pool and the
remainder of practice will be canceled.
Schedule Changes - Practice schedules are subject to change due to swim
meets, holidays, pool closures, etc. To keep up to date on the most current
information, please check your email, as the team calendar may not have the
latest updates. We will email all members of schedule changes known in
advance.
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2014-2015 Team Handbook
Eagle / Rengstorff Park Pool Practice Groups
Recommended Attendance
Training Days/Hours/Location
Piranhas
2 to 3 practice sessions
per week.
Mon – Thur
Friday
3:45-4:30 p.m.
4:00–4:45 p.m.
Eagle
Foothill
Mid-Jun to Mid August, we move to Rengstorff Pool, 5:15 to 6:00 p.m.
Tiger Sharks
3 to 4 practice sessions per
week
Mon – Thur
Friday
Some Sat
4:30-5:45 p.m.
4:45–6:00 p.m.
7:00–9:00 p.m.
Eagle
Foothill
Foothill
Mid-Jun to Mid August, we move to Rengstorff Pool, 6:00 to 7:15 p.m.
Foothill College Pool Practice Groups
Recommended Attendance
Training Days/Hours/Location
Piranhas (New!)
2 to 3 practice sessions per
week
Mon - Fri
4:00-4:45 p.m.
Foothill
Tiger Sharks (New!)
3 to 4 practice session per
week
Mon – Fri
Some Sat
4:45 – 6:00 p.m.
7:00 – 9:00 p.m.
Foothill
Foothill
4:00-6:00 p.m.
7:00-9:00 a.m.
Foothill
Foothill
6:00-7:30 a.m.
4:00-6:00 p.m.
7:00-9:00 a.m.
Foothill
Foothill
Foothill
6:00-7:30 a.m.
4:00-6:00 p.m.
7:00-9:00 a.m.
Foothill
Foothill
Foothill
Juniors
5 to 6 session per week
Mon - Fri
Some Sat
Seniors
90%+ of sessions
Mon - Fri
Mon - Fri
Some Sat
Masters
Based on individual goals
Mon - Fri
Mon - Fri
Some Sat
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2014-2014 Team Handbook
Communication
Communication with members is done through our website and through email.
Each member family receives an account on our website. Coaches will send
information regularly via email, so it is important that you give us your correct
email account in order to receive timely information. All our billing is also done
by email.
LAMVAC is a volunteer board-managed non-profit club, run mainly by parent
volunteers. Coaches and Board members may be reached at the following email
addresses:
Coaches
 Head Coach: Jose Bonpua
[email protected]
 Age Group Coach: Ed Toatley
[email protected]
 Assistant Coach: Jonathan Lo
[email protected]
 Assistant Coach: Ryan Carey
[email protected]
 Tadpole Coach: Carolyn Ho
[email protected]
 Tadpole/Master Coach: Anna Lee
[email protected]
 Tadpole Coach: Laura Lee (summer only)
[email protected]
 Tadpole Coach: Hope Moseley (summer only)
[email protected]
 Assistant Tadpole Coach: Eddie Barnes
[email protected]
 Assistant Tadpole Coach: Meredith Soward
[email protected]
Board Members
 President: Dick Thomas
[email protected]
 Meet Director: Lisa Aronivitz
[email protected]
 Membership: Erika Retana
[email protected]
 Marketing Director: Anna Dahan
[email protected]
 Service Coordinator: Isabel Vallejo
[email protected]
 Member at Large: Roy Gilbert
[email protected]
 Treasurer: Barbara Ho
[email protected]
 Secretary: Marie Claude Theriault
[email protected]
Administrator
Lynn Hartlaub
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[email protected]
2014-2015 Team Handbook
Annual Team Events*
September 2 – New season begins, start of fall quarter
Aug. 18 through Sep. 4 – Fall Tryouts Monday through Thursdays at Eagle Pool
September 26 – LAMV Red and Black Intra-squad Meet at Foothill College Pool
September 27 - Annual Team Awards Picnic at Shoup Park, Los Altos
October 15 – Parent Information Meeting at Rengstorff
October 30 – Halloween Splash Party at Eagle Pool
Nov. 24 – Dec. 4 – Winter Try-outs Monday through Wednesday at Eagle Pool
December 1 – Start of winter quarter, Polar Bear Club begins
January 9 – New Year’s Party and Swimathon Kickoff at Shoup Park Garden House
February 12 – Valentine Splash Party at Eagle Pool
February 25 – Annual Swimathon at Eagle Pool and Foothill Pool
February 28 – Polar Bear Club ends – awards announced March 4
Feb 23 - March 5 – Spring Try-outs Monday through Thursdays at Eagle Pool
March 2 – Start of spring quarter
March (TBD) – Swimathon Awards Party and swim games at Eagle Pool
March 28-29 – LAMV March Madness Meet Short Course JO- at Eagle Pool
April 25 – Mountain View spring parade participation
May 9-10 – LAMV Mayhem C/B/A+ Long Course Meet at Foothill College Pool
May 26 – June 4 – Summer Try-outs Monday through Thursdays at Eagle Pool
June 1 – Start summer quarter and Summer Swim Program (for new swimmers)
June or July (date TBD) – Annual Membership Meeting
August (date TBD) – Fall Try-outs for next season location TBD
August 28 – Season ends
*Dates and locations subject to change. Please watch our website for further
information.
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2014-2014 Team Handbook
Member Fees
Two Options:
Monthly or Quarterly
Monthly or
Session
Fees
Quarterly Fees
Fall: Sep – Nov
Winter: Dec – Feb
Spring: Mar – May
Summer: Jun - Aug
Annual
Membership
Fee/Service
Requirement
Annual USA
Swimming
Registration
Fee
$100
per session
-
Adv.Tadpoles
10 hours
service*
$73
Piranhas
$110
$300
$73
Tiger Sharks
$130
$360
$73
Juniors
$155
$435
$73
Seniors
$200
$570
$73
-$15
-$45
-$35
-$105
-$45
-$135
-
-
$150 per
family plus 20
hours service*
-
$255
(Jun – Aug only)
Not required
$45
(summer
only)
-
$347
(3 consecutive
months only)
Not required
$73
Group/Team
Precompetitive:
Tadpoles
Team Level:
nd
2 Child
discount
3rd Child
discount
4th Child
discount
Annual Family
Obligations
Other:
Summer
Program
(New swimmers
only)
High School
Training
(non-team
swimmers only)
$80
http://www.us
ms.org
(Drop-ins:
$240
Not required
to register
$10)
* If joining in March to May, prorated to $85 per family/10 hours service. Families with
Advanced Tadpoles will be expected to volunteer up to10 hours per year.
Masters
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2014-2015 Team Handbook
PAYMENTS
Pay online at https://my.check.me/pay/lamvac
Checks can be mailed to LAMVAC P.O. Box 1269, Los Altos, CA 94023-1269.
No credit card option is available; please do not use the LAMVAC website to
make payments. Team level swimmers, upon payment of the membership fee,
will receive a team cap and a T-shirt. Swim fees are due no later than the
th
10 day of each month or quarter. To receive the quarterly discount rate,
th
payment must be received by the 10 of the month; otherwise it will revert to the
th
monthly rate. Any payment not received by the 15 day of the month results in an
automatic $10 late charge. Questions about billing may be directed to
[email protected].
Need-based scholarships are available, so please ask our coaching staff or the
treasurer for a scholarship application.
All LAMVAC families with swimmers in our competitive program have a minimum
service hour requirement of 20 hours per year (prorated to 10 hours if starting in
March through May) and we reserve the right to charge $25 for each service
hour not fulfilled.
Equipment
All Swimmers

Goggles

Swim caps (latex or silicon)

Competitive swim suits or jammers – may be ordered online, see website
under resources. Polyester suits will better endure the chlorine exposure of
lots of practices (so you can save your team suit for meets).
Tadpoles

Shorty wetsuits – recommended for young Tadpole swimmers during winter
months (especially if your child gets cold easily) – may be ordered online.

Fins are optional – Some extras are available to borrow at the pool.
Team Swimmers

Team T-shirt – included with membership. Extras may be purchased for $10

Team swim cap – included with membership. Extras may be purchased for
$5

Fins may be purchased at a sporting goods store or online. Some extras are
available to borrow at the pool.
Optional but recommended:

Team sweatshirt – Orders taken in the fall, watch for team notice.

Team swim suit – Vender sales in the fall, watch for team notice.

Team parka – Vender sales in the fall, watch for team notice.
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2014-2014 Team Handbook


Pull buoys and swim paddles may be purchased at a sporting goods store or
online. Some extras are available to borrow at the pool. See your coach for
size recommendations.
Equipment bags are useful to toting your equipment, and may be found at
most sporting goods stores or online.
Swim Meets
As swimmers develop their strokes and gain endurance, coaches will encourage
them to begin entering meets. Attending meets is not mandatory, but swimmers
improve when they challenge themselves and try new events.
LAMVAC (club code LAMV) is a member club of USA Swimming, the national
governing body for the sport of swimming in the United States. USA swimming is
divided into 59 Local Swim Committees (LCSs), and LAMV is part of the Pacific
Swimming (PC) LCS. Pacific Swimming LCS is further broken down into five
zones, LAMV being in Zone 1 North (Z1N). There are 20 clubs in this zone,
which covers San Mateo and north Santa Clara counties. Typically, there are
about one or two meets per month in Zone 1 North that LAMV swimmers may
enter.
Meets that are labeled C/B/A+ are open to all swimmers, as are JO- (meaning
not achieving JO times). Other meets include JO+ (Junior Olympic), FW (Far
Westerns) and SR (Senior), where the swimmer must have qualifying times to
enter. High school-aged and elite swimmers in the Junior or Senior group may
enter Senior meets at the coach’s discretion. All courses are either Short Course
(25) Yards (SCY) or Long Course (50) Meters (LCM).
How it works for Tiger Sharks and Piranhas:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Coaches will let swimmers know when they are ready to enter upcoming
meets and encourage them to enter. If you are not sure if your swimmer is
ready or not, ask the coach before or after practice.
The coach will send out a flyer of upcoming meets. These will be sent in an
email as an attachment from the coach or they may be handed out at
practice. The parent and swimmer indicate the desired meets and return this
to the coach. The coach will know which meets the swimmer is eligible for.
The coach then determines which events (such as the 50 yard breaststroke
or the 100 meter butterfly) are best suited to challenge the swimmer, and he
then enters the swimmers in the meet as soon as registration opens. Many
meets fill quickly, so it is important to let the coach know early which meets
you can attend. This will help ensure that the swimmer will get into the meet.
Invoices will come from the team through email. Each meet is about $30 per
swimmer to enter, depending on how many events are entered, and what
kind of meet it is. Once entered, you are responsible for payment, even if
you cannot make it to the meet.
How it works for Juniors and Seniors:
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2014-2015 Team Handbook
1.
2.
The Head Coach will prepare a list of meets that LAMV will attend and will
announce by email or at the pool the meets as they open up for registration.
He will advise that the swimmer enter the meet through swim connection as
soon as possible.
Swimmer (and parent if necessary) will go online to swim connection. Select
the correct meet. You will be asked to log on as a member or a guest (either
is fine). Swimmer decides what events he or she would like to enter, as
suggested by the coach. Payment is made by credit card to swim
connection. Once entered, there is no refund, even if you cannot make it to
the meet.
Intra-squad Meets – Once or twice a year we have intra-squad meets, called
Red and Black meets. These are short, two hour meets held during practice
hours at Foothill pool. Only LAMVAC swimmers and their parents may attend,
and they are a great way to learn how meets work in a low pressure
environment. We encourage all swimmers to come, including any Tadpole ready
to swim 25 yards over deep water. There is a minimal fee to participate.
Attending Your First Meet
To help your swimmer have a good experience at his or her first swim meet, ask
the coach to match you with a parent who is experienced with meets and whose
swimmer can guide yours.
What to bring. Unless the weather is very warm each swimmer will need:








A towel for each event plus one for warm-up
Team suit (recommended), team cap (mandatory)
Sunscreen
Team parka (recommended, and extremely cozy for outdoor meets)
Warm clothes to wear between events
Plenty to eat and drink, although most meets will have a snack bar
Lots to do while waiting for the next event.
Folding chairs
When to arrive. Your coach will tell your swimmer when warm-up starts. The
information will also be sent by email for the Piranhas and Tiger Shark group,
and can also be found on the meet sheet. (Meet sheets are comprehensive
information about the meet and are posted on the Pacific Swimming website).
This is a good time to arrive and familiarize yourself with the layout.
Check in. This is ALWAYS the FIRST thing you do at a meet. Even though your
swimmer has a meet entry, he or she will be removed from that event if not
signed in at least 30 minutes before the event starts. The swimmer, not the
parent, does the check in by circling his events and initialing next to his or her
name. Most swimmers (and parents!) write the event numbers on their hands so
they do not forget. If circumstances do not allow you to attend all the events you
are entered in, the swimmer may scratch at check-in up to 30 minutes before the
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2014-2014 Team Handbook
event is to begin without penalty. Always get permission from the coach
before scratching.
Warming up. After checking in, the swimmer should report to his or her coach
and be prepared to get in the pool for warm-up. The warm-up process is very
important. It allows swimmers to prepare their muscles for swimming and to
review things they need to remember for their races.
Heat and Lane Assignments. About 20 minutes before an event starts the heat
and lane assignments will be posted. When you arrive at the meet find out where
these postings will be. Swimmers will be listed in alphabetical order. Swimmers
often write this information on their hands as well. The swimmer then goes to the
coach for a pre-race briefing and must give the coach the heat and lane
information. Heats are usually ordered from slowest (including swimmers without
a time for that event) to fastest, the last heat having the top seeded swimmers.
Scratches. Keep track of which event is in progress. If a swimmer misses a race
he or she will automatically be scratched from the next event, even if the event is
the next day. If for some reason your swimmer wants to skip an event, and it is
too late to scratch officially, he or she simply goes to the block when his or her
heat is called – but does not swim. There is no penalty for doing this
The race. The swimmer should be ready, cap and goggles on, behind the
appropriate lane with plenty of time. Parents should watch from the observation
areas, as it can become very crowded behind the blocks. At some meets,
parents will be asked to stay away from this area.
Post race. Check with the coach before racing – does he or she want the
swimmer to warm down after racing or go straight to the coach? In any event,
swimmers must see the coach after each race for a debriefing. We ask that
parents not attempt to criticize the swimmer’s effort. The parent’s job is to
support the swimmer and keep a record of his or her official times.
Disqualification. It happens to everyone at every level. The coach will review
errors with the swimmer after the race. This is all part of the learning process.
Results and Awards. Results will be posted at the event. The coach will collect
the awards (ribbons and medals) for the event and distribute them at the next
practice session.
Fundraising
LAMVAC is a 501(c)(3) organization, non-profit tax ID 94-2676096. Our fees
and meets do not fully cover all the expenses for our team. Each year, we have
additional events to meet the financial needs of our team. All members are
expected to assist with fundraising events.
Team Sponsorship. We look to local businesses in our community to sponsor
us. If your company has a matching program, please consider sponsoring our
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team. Many companies also offer donations for volunteer hours. Or if you are a
business owner, sponsoring us will show your support to the community at the
meets we host two times a year. Please contact a board member for more
information.
Swimathon. Once a year, we have a Swim-a-thon. Each swimmer gets pledges
for laps swum (or a flat rate). Prizes go to swimmers that raise the most funds.
eScrip. Please sign up with eScrip to help contributions to our team. Group
name: Los Altos Mountain View Aquatics Club, eScrip Group ID –
150919048.
Fundraiser Family Dinners. About every two months, the team meets at
restaurants that offer a percentage of the receipts to the team. Flyers are sent to
all members. This is a great way to help the team, get dinner, and meet other
members.
Hot Cocoa Fund. In November through February, we sell hot drinks to
swimmers (and parents) – bring some pocket change and support the team.
If you have other ideas for fundraising please see a board member. We
appreciate new ideas!
Service Commitment
All families are required to work up to 20 hours of service each year. Families
with Advanced Tadpoles entering meets will be expected to volunteer at least 10
hours per year. Each family is expected to volunteer some of this time at our
home meets in March and May.
This is a great way to participate in your child’s swimming life and is good swim
parent citizenship. We train and support our parents so taking on any job should
be a fun experience. Other service opportunities are published via email and
website. Please contact the Service Coordinator at [email protected] to
apply for specific jobs.
Any service hours not completed will be charged to your account at a rate of $25
per hour.
Year Round Jobs
Bookkeeping. Help treasurer, if you enjoy working with numbers.
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Publicity. Are you good with a camera? Know how to do local papers press
releases? This is for you.
Board Member. There are board positions that open up yearly, and are elected
at the annual membership meeting in June or July. Openings can vary, but can
include: President, Secretary, Treasurer, First Vice-President (Meet Director),
Second Vice-President (Membership Campaigns), Service Coordinator
(Volunteers), Marketing Director, and Member-at-Large. This requires attending
regular monthly meetings, as well as additional meetings that may be called by
the president. See a current board member about opportunities.
Special Committee Member. When the board needs to form special
committees, such as the Board Nominating Committee or Budget Committee,
members may be contacted to assist.
Meet One-Time Tasks
Timer. All teams attending an event do meet event timing. LAMV will generally
be assigned a specific lane to staff. This is as simple as pushing the button when
the swimmer touches the wall. Hopefully everyone who has a swimmer at a meet
helps.
LAMVAC Sponsored Swim Meets
We host one meet in March and one in May. These are major fund-raisers for our
team. You may sign up for more than one job. More detailed descriptions of the
jobs may be obtained from the Service Coordinator.
Hospitality. Serve snacks and beverages to the officials, timers and other meet
workers.
Announcer. Read the names of swimmers during the events. Announce
upcoming activities.
Facilities Set-up and Tear Down. Handy? Help with canopies assembling
before the meet starts, and tear down when completed.
Marshall. Ensure safety on the deck for the meet. A great "official” way of seeing
your child swim from the deck.
Clerk. Close events at check-in, bring list to person running the computer.
Computer Operator. Operate computer for the meet. You will receive training
prior to the meet.
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Runner. Distribute and collect paperwork such as heat and lane assignment,
timing sheets, and results posting.
Desk. Assist computer operator with sorting and distributing paperwork.
Check-in. Upon arrival, sign in each swimmer. You will be trained and will share
the job with other people.
Parking Attendant. Make sure officials receive parking pass and guide
incoming swimmers to proper parking lot.
Awards. Sort and distribute awards for all teams.
Concession Stand. Donate items for sale, or sell snacks at the March meet.
Other Opportunities
LAMVAC Annual Awards Picnic. September or October. May act as
coordinator, assist in planning, set-up, and clean-up.
Special Event Fundraising. Work as a coordinator for intra-team relays and
meets, dual meets, clinics, team functions and other events that will be
announced.
Fundraising Dinner Coordinator. Contact local restaurants that offer
fundraising, schedule dates and create flyers to be distributed to members.
Annual Swim-a-Thon. Help with publicity and website, get awards, get
sponsors, help set-up, arrange for snacks, and collect pledges.
To sign up, watch for emails from the Service Coordinator. The emails will
provide a link to the event. Alternately, you may go to the website and look on
the home page for Team Functions/Swim Meet Tabs under the pictures. Select
“Job Sign Up”, log in, and select a job.
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Parent and Swimmer Code of Conduct
PARENTS:
Drop Off/Pick Up - At Eagle or Rengstorff Pool, please use the gate while
entering or exiting the pool area, not the glass doors. Swimmers should arrive to
practice no more than 15 minutes before the scheduled start and be picked up no
more than 15 minutes after the end of the session. Swimmers need to be picked
up within the gated area of the pool
Parents Wait Area - You are welcome to watch your child swim. The City of
Mountain View and USA Swimming require all spectators to stay away from the
pool; only the coaches and swimmers are allowed on the surrounding deck. At
Eagle or Rengstorff Pool, spectators should stay at or behind the wall, on the
grass, or at picnic tables. At Foothill Pool, you can watch from the bleachers.
Please do not come on deck during practice.
Coach Contact - Do not interrupt coaches during practice. Please contact the
coaches as follows:




Tadpoles – before first class or after second class
Piranhas - before practice
Tiger Sharks - before practice
Juniors/Seniors - before or after practice
You may also email Head Coach Jose Bonpua at [email protected]. The
coaches need to hear from you if you have any questions regarding the swim
program or your swimmer’s progress.
SWIMMERS:
To improve performance, attending practice on a regular basis is crucial. By
following the attendance guidelines outlined below you or your swimmer can
maximize his/her potential.
1.
Be on time. Swimmers may arrive 15 minutes before the start of their
workout in order to get ready. It is especially important to arrive on time so
you can complete the assigned warm-up. A proper warm-up gives your
muscles a chance to get ready for the harder work to come.
2.
Listen to and watch your coach. When the coach is speaking, give
him/her your full attention so that you understand what is expected. The
better you attend to what the coach is demonstrating the faster your
progress will be. Socializing while the coach is speaking is not acceptable –
you miss valuable information and distract others.
3.
Attend practice consistently. Coaches are often asked what a swimmer
can do in order to make the most improvement. Regular attendance is the
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key. Talk to your coach and set an attendance goal for yourself. The more
you attend practice the better you’ll swim.
4.
Remember your equipment. You should always have a cap and goggles.
Goggles can keep the chemicals out of your eyes and allow you to see much
better. Caps help to hold your goggles in place, keep your hair out of the
way, and keep you much warmer when the weather is cold. Bring fins if your
group is using them. It’s a good idea to keep a spare cap and goggles in
your swim bag.
5.
Respect your teammates. Swimmers need to treat each other with respect
and consideration. Put-downs are not acceptable. If you have a conflict you
cannot resolve, talk to your coach. Swimmers who do not treat others with
respect may be asked to leave the pool. Further incidents might result in a
suspension from the club.
6.
Bring your best attitude to swimming each day. Swimming is a great way
to pull you out of a funk after a rotten day at school. If you’ve had a bad day
try to put it aside and focus on your workout, and soon you’ll be feeling
better.
7.
Do not compare yourself to the other swimmers. We are all different.
Concentrate on giving 100% effort in your workout and don’t worry about
what others are doing.
8.
Pick up your equipment after practice. Gather all your equipment and put
it away before you head to the showers. If you borrowed equipment from the
pool, put it back in the right place.
9. No horseplay in the locker rooms! Using the locker room is a privilege that
you may lose if you are too noisy, destructive, or inconsiderate of others.
Fighting (including water fights), running, screaming, and throwing objects
are not allowed. No food is allowed in the locker rooms or on deck.
Using the LAMVAC Website
Accounts. Once you become a member, your family will receive an account on
the www.lamvac.org website. The email entered on the registration form is your
login email. We send a welcome email with instructions for getting your
password. You will be able to access this account as long as you are an active
member. If you request a leave of absence, you will not be able to access it and
will need to contact our administrator at [email protected] to reactivate it when
you return.
Email addresses for notices. Once you are logged in, you may select “My
Account” then “My Account” again, then you may add more email addresses to
receive notices (such as you swimmer’s email address). You may also edit the
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emails. Please let the treasurer know if you need to change the email the
invoices are sent to.
Account Balance. We are not currently using the billing features on the website.
Please do not go to the website for your account balance. Please email the
administrator to find your current balance. Although we are not using the website
for our billing, if you select “Account”, and the “Membership Dues Schedule”, it
should show how much you are expected to pay monthly or quarterly, and any
annual dues.
Events. On the home page of the website, you will find below the pictures an
“Events” bar under which are tabs for “Swim Meets” and “Team Functions”.
Swim Meets. If you select the event, you should find a link to the “Meet Sheet”,
as well as the link to swim connection for Junior and Senior sign up. Do not use
our website to sign up for meets if you are in Coach Ed’s group (see section on
Swim Meets). If you have signed up through Coach Ed, your swimmer should
show up on the Attend/Decline as a committed athlete once Ed has entered him
or her in the meet.
Job Signup. When jobs are posted and available, you may sign up through the
website. Select “Job Signup” and a window will open with the job opportunities. It
will also list those already signed up.
Service Hours Balance. You will not be able to access your hours balance from
the website. However, you can always contact the Service Coordinator at
[email protected] or the administrator at [email protected] to find the
balance entered in the website. Your invoices will also indicate the balance at
the date of the invoice.
Fundraiser Donations. We will post on the website when a fundraising event
(such as the swim-a-thon) is open for sponsorship donations. Sponsors may
donate through the website using their credit cards or sending a check .
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F.A.Q.
Do any of the coaches offer private swim classes?
This depends on the availability of both pool and coach. Ask your swimmer’s
coach if s/he, or one of the other coaches, might be able to work with your child.
However, the best way for your swimmer to improve is to come regularly, listen
well and work hard!
I’ve joined up, but I am not receiving emails. What should I do?
Please send an email to [email protected] immediately and let the treasurer
know. It is possible that there was a typo when entering your email into the
website account, or there was difficulty in reading the email address given on the
registration form. If you would like to have notices sent to more than one email
address, you may add them to your account on the website.
I can’t find the email notice in my inbox - how can I found out what’s going
on?
Information for events and notices can be found on our website under calendar,
events (team functions tab or swim meet tab) and news. You may also email
your coach.
How do swimmer promotions work?
The coach knows best when a swimmer is ready for the next level. He or she will
take into consideration skills, strength and endurance, and maturity as well as
age. The coach will let you know as your child’s ability is approaching the next
level, as it will involve a higher level of commitment from the parent and the
swimmer. This will help prepare you and the swimmer for the change. You may
also contact the coaches by email or before or after practice to find out more
about your swimmer’s progress.
How can I fulfill my twenty service hours?
All Team level families and families with Advanced Tadpoles entering meets are
required to serve up to 20 hours per year. We expect each family to serve some
time during our home meets. Please see the section on Service Commitment.
Any service hours not completed will be charged to your account at a rate of $25
per hour.
Another way to get hours is to become a Stroke and Turn Official. After the initial
training, you may officiate at meets where your child is swimming. You get
service hours, and your child swims the meet for free. It’s a great way to get
involved in the sport. See the Head Coach for more details.
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I can’t login to sign up for a job. Why not?
Only one email address is used for login for a given account, but more than one
may be used for notices. So for job sign up, you must login using the login email
address. If you are not sure what address is the correct login email address, you
may contact the administrator at [email protected].
How does quarterly or monthly billing option work?
This applies to team level swimming. You have a choice of paying either monthly
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or quarterly To receive quarterly rate, payment must be received by the 10 of
the month. If payment is not received, it will revert to the monthly billing, with the
higher rates ($10 more at all team levels).
Can I change mid-quarter to monthly?
No. The quarterly payment is not refundable, nor can it be prorated.
When do the quarters start? Can I go to monthly after I finish a quarter?
Quarters will be: Sep 1 – Nov 30, Dec 1 – Feb 28, Mar 1 – May 31, Jun 1 – Aug
31. You can go to monthly after finishing a quarter. Notify the Treasurer by
email.
What if I start mid-quarter?
You will pay monthly rates until the next quarter begins.
How will leave of absences work?
If you are paying monthly, you notify the Treasurer by email before the end of the
month to let her know you will not be swimming the next month and you will not
be invoiced. If you are paying quarterly, let the Treasurer by email know before
the end of the quarter.
What if I fall behind on my payments?
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If payment is not received by the 15 of the month, a finance charge of $10 will
be added to your statement. You will receive a statement via email or regular
mail. Each month you are behind will result in a $10 finance charge. If you fall
behind by more than 90 days, we will send your account balance to a collection
agency, which can affect your credit rating. Please pay promptly to avoid finance
charges and collections.
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What if I have a medical emergency or move away from the area and cannot
complete a quarter?
Contact your coach and the treasurer, and we will work with you if this should
occur.
Do Tadpoles get a quarterly discount?
Tadpoles are by 3-week sessions only, no quarterly rates are available.
Payment must be received the first day attended of the session. New Tadpoles
may be prorated (but not continuing) if starting mid-session.
What are annual membership fees and when are they due?
Regular dues do not cover all our expenses. Annual fees help cover T-shirt and
cap, team registrations, awards, swim meets and other expenses. An annual fee
of $150 is charged per family of team swimmers only (this does not include
Tadpoles, Masters, High School Training, or Summer Swimmers). It is billed at
the beginning of the season or when you first register. If you start in September
through Feb, it is the $150. If you start in March through May, it is $85. There is
no fee if you start in June through Aug.
What is USA Swimming registration? What about transfers?
All swimmers (except masters) in USA Swimming affiliated teams must register
with USA Swimming. USA Swimming registration covers our liability insurance at
swim meets and practices. It is not included in the quarterly or monthly fees. It is
typically renewed in October for the coming year if the swimmer is currently
registered. New swimmers must register when they sign up. A swimmer with
current USA Swimming registration that transfers from another USA Swimming
team does not need to pay, but must submit a transfer form to the treasurer. The
amount for the new season is posted on the Pacific Swimming web site in midAugust. The fee is not refundable.
Can I pay online?
YES! We would prefer that you use the link provided on the invoice instead of
sending a check – it saves time and postage for you (or the risk of a lost check if
sent by snail mail or if brought to the pool) and trips to the post office and bank
for the treasurer.
Can I pay by credit card?
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No. We do not have a credit card option at this time. Please do not use the
website to make payments! We are not using the Team Unify billing system (it is
disabled).
How can I indicate which fee schedule I prefer?
For new swimmers, you will indicate when you register. For continuing
swimmers, once you have indicated to the treasurer which schedule you prefer
(monthly or quarterly), you will be billed automatically that way until you give
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notice by email otherwise. If you change your mind before the 5 of the month,
please let the Treasurer know immediately so the billing may be revised.
What if my child gets promoted mid-quarter to a higher level?
You will pay the difference for the months swam at a higher level. For example,
if you started as a Piranha in March, and are promoted April 1, the difference
between the Piranha rate ($100) and the Tiger Shark rate ($120) would be $20
per month, or $40 for the rest of the quarter. Promotions made mid-month have
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a “grace” period; billing for the higher level begins on the 1 of the month
following the promotion.
What if my child has a scholarship?
Please contact the Treasurer to determine your payment schedule and rates.
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Los Altos Mountain View Aquatic Club
P.O. Box 1269, Los Altos, CA 94023
Jose Bonpua, Head Coach (408) 732-3432
www.lamvac.org email: [email protected]
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