2015 St. Albans Sharks Swim Team
Information
Welcome! Here’s some info on great new changes in
Swim Team for 2015:
COACH : Tom Koldys
Welcome to the St. Albans Sharks swim team. Being a
member of the sharks will be fun, challenging &
rewarding. Your swimmer will make new friends, participate in meets, learn and improve swim skills
and spend a healthy, active summer outdoors! Swim team will provide many memories and
friendships for years to come.
NEW LEVELS FOR 2015 SWIM TEAM!
Many swimmers have different expectations and levels of commitment regarding their swim team
experience. To meet those needs, we’re giving each swimmer options to choose what works best for
them and their families.
Great White Sharks: (Ages 11 to 18 years) Swimmers practice from 7:30-9:30am daily Monday
through Friday. Fee includes all practices and league meets. Focus is on building endurance, power
and speed through technique refinement, IM swimming and training tailored to sprint or distance
events.
Tiger Sharks: (Ages 11 to 18 years) Swimmers practice from 8:30-9:30am daily Monday through
Friday. Fee includes all practices and league meets. Focus is on building endurance and
strengthening technique in order to develop balanced IM swimmers.
Reef Sharks: (Ages 10 and under) Swimmers practice from 9:30-10:30am daily Monday through
Friday. Fee includes all practices and league meets. Focus is on building endurance and strengthening
technique in order to develop balanced IM swimmers.
Cat Sharks: (Formerly "Mini Sharks"- ages 3-6 years) Cat Sharks is an introduction to Swim Team.
Swimmers practice from 9:30-10:00am on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. This is practice only,
no meets. Focus is on building endurance, learning to swim laps, using the diving blocks and learning
about swim team in a relaxed, fun atmosphere. Option to move up to Reef Sharks if desire and ability
to do so are there.
Also new for 2015 is a Pre-Season Tune Up Clinic. As soon as conditions allow, the city pool will be
open for Pre-Season Tune Up for Great White Sharks, Tiger Sharks and Reef Sharks. It's a daily one
hour clinic devoting 30 minutes to stroke work, and 30 minutes to water play developing transferable
skills through water games, and getting to know their team mates. Dates, times and cost will be
announced as the season gets closer.
RESIDENT/NON-RESIDENT FEES & REIMBURSEMENTS : In past years both St. Albans City and St.
Albans Town residents were considered “residents” under the St. Albans City Recreation
Department’s fee structure. This is because the town of St. Albans had participated in a fee
stabilization agreement by contributing funds to the recreation department so town residents would
pay the same fee as city residents. As of July 1, 2013 the town select board decided to discontinue
that practice. It was decided instead that town residents could apply for reimbursement for
recreation programming after they register. What does this mean? If you are a town resident, you
register and pay for programming, then complete a reimbursement form and send it and a copy of
your payment receipt to the town clerk’s office. The town will then reimburse the difference
between the resident/non-resident fee for accepted programming. The reimbursement form is
available on our website – www.stalbansrec.com go to dept. info, then click on forms. The form is
also available at the Recreation Office at Barlow Street and the pool house as well as the Town Clerk’s
office. This applies to all recreation programming, not just swim team.
PARENT VOLUNTEERS As you may have noticed when you registered, families have a choice to either
volunteer during meets – home & away – or pay the $200 opt out charge. For a lot of you this means
you won’t have to volunteer as often because everyone will be helping out. And, for some of you this
means you will need to begin to volunteer to help share the load. For those of you who don’t have the
time to volunteer or choose not to, you pay the $200 opt out fee and recreation staff members will
work those spots. This year volunteer sign-up will be online at www.volunteerspot.com shortly after
June 1st (the sign up deadline) For security reasons you must be “invited” to the spot. That invitation
will be sent out to all registered swim team families after June 1st. If you’ve registered after that,
either contact the office and we’ll email the link to you, or go to the St. Albans Recreation facebook
page and click on the link. If you’ve chosen to supply food for the concession, you must register for
the food you are supplying in advance. You are required to volunteer 6 times this season. That
means you will have to fill out six slots for your family on volunteerspot.com You can sign up for the
entire summer. Once you sign up- you are responsible for that spot. If something comes up and you
are unable to fulfill your responsibilities, you must find your replacement. There are also team
responsibilities for the state and league meets. Separate tasks will be required for those meets when
we are notified as to what the Sharks duties are.
CERTIFIED OFFICIALS: Some of the volunteer positions (Stroke & Turn Judges, Starters & Meet
Referee) require certification. Officiating is a great way to help support your child’s activity and get
the best seat in the house during meets! The certification is free and we desperately need some of
you to step up and agree to attend the certification. Why is it so hard to get people to fill these
positions? Sometimes they feel they aren’t “qualified”. Not to worry- that’s what the certification
clinic is for. Anyone can fill these positions. You don’t need swim or race experience. They’ll teach
you everything you need to know. And your kids NEED your participation to make this work. The first
clinic is being held on Saturday, May 16, 2015. Stroke & Turn at 9:00am – 11:00am, Starters at
11:00am – 1:00pm at The Middlebury College Natatorium Classroom at Middlebury College. Please
RSVP to the Recreation office so we can let clinic organizers know how many people to expect. 5241500 X266
UNIFORMS & APPAREL: There are some great new apparel options for St. Albans Sharks and
their families! This year The St. Albans Sharks will have an online store through Kevin Smith Sports.
Uniforms can be ordered through this site as well as great Sharks apparel for swimmers as well as
supporters. Check it out! Go online to view and place orders at
http://www.kevinsmithteamsports.com/TeamPages.aspx from June 1 thru June 15.
Promotion Name: St. Albans Sharks
Access Code: sharks
Store will be open 6/1-6/15
STA Swim caps and googles will still be available for purchase at the pool house.
PARKING & DRIVING: Please park in the parking lot across the street from the pool. There is no
parking allowed in the driveway circle, island, or lawn in front of the pool (regardless of the time of
day) for numerous safety and liability reasons. And, PLEASE heed the stop sign at the entrance to the
parking lot. We’re all in a hurry, but set a good example for many of our young drivers. (They pay a
lot more attention to your habits than you might think)
WEATHER POLICY: There will be no practice in the event of thunder or lightning. Cancellations and
schedule changes will be at the discretion of the coaches. If you are in question, check the website at
www.stalbansrec.com, facebook or contact the pool 524-6796.
All practices are for swim team members only. The pool deck & area are closed to parents during
practice. Your kids stay on task much better on their own with their teammates. Practice times are
subject to change depending on the number of swimmers in each age group. Please be on time for
practice and be ready to work.
I WANT MY CHILD TO BE A FASTER, STRONGER, BETTER SWIMMER! First of all, your child has to want
to be a faster, stronger, better swimmer. Given that you’re both on the same page, in addition to
being at all practices and working hard, we have some great programming to help your child achieve
their goals – swimming lessons being the most important. Great technique makes fast swimmers!
Swimming Lessons: Being a member of the swim team does not mean that your swim lessons should
stop. Perfecting strokes makes a much more efficient swimmer. The coaches cannot work with every
child on strokes to the degree necessary at practice to make the same progress that smaller class size
lessons offer.
Stroke Isolation: Week long clinics addressing each stroke separately. Maybe they’ve completed
lessons, but are focusing on perfecting or gaining strength on one stroke. SI classes are intended to
perfect and strengthen – not teach strokes. Stroke Isolation is a perfect choice and only a 4 day
commitment.
MEET INFO & EXPECTATIONS:
Both the heats (races) and lanes are organized fastest to slowest (except at Championship meets).
Relay teams are 4 swimmers that make up the fastest relay swim in an age group. Relay teams are
“about the team” Coaches make decisions and create relay teams based on their judgment as to what
will be most beneficial for the “team”. Please do not question combinations the coaches have made
or offer opinions/suggestions as to the make-up of teams, or the events your child should be
swimming. Support your child in their efforts by supporting the coaching staff. They work with your
kids every day and make decisions based that experience.
Shaking hands- all swimmers are expected to shake the hands of the swimmers in adjacent lanes at
the end of heat. Swimmers are expected to display good sportsmanship at all times. All swimmers
(and their families) are expected to treat every facility –including ours- with respect – follow pool
rules, leave no trash behind, use appropriate language. Failure to do so may result in suspension
from competition and in extreme or continued behavior from the team. There will be no refunds
issued if your child is suspended or removed from the team.
CAN’T MAKE A MEET? The expectation is that each swimmer will attend as many practices and meets
as possible. We understand that families have commitments and vacation plans. If your swimmer
will be missing a meet, you must sign out of the meet in the sign out book located at the front desk
at the pool house. The sooner you can notify us that you won’t be attending, the better. It allows the
coach to plan accordingly. A verbal notification does not work- you must sign out in the book.
MEET DAYS: Home Meets: Make sure your swimmer is at the pool and ready to warm up at 5pm.
Away Meets: Be ready for warm ups at 5:30. That means suited up and ready to be in the pool at
those times.
OTHER INFO: Directions to area pools are available at the following websites:
www.cvslvt.com or www.vtswim.org
Facebook: “Like” us on facebook to get up to the minute info – both St. Albans Sharks and St. Albans
Recreation Department. Also check the website at www.stalbansrec.com
Need to Contact us?
Recreation Office 524-1500 X266 Kelly, or X268 Joe
St. Albans City Pool 524-6796
Recreation Cell Phone 802-309-1810
[email protected]
2015 St. Albans Sharks Swim Team Meet Schedule
Meets start at 6:00pm. Home (host) team warm up time is at 5:00pm. Visiting team warm ups are at 5:30pm.
Depending on location (home or away) swimmers must be ready and in the pool at the appropriate warm up time.
Thursday
June 18
6pm
Mock Meet@ St. Albans City Pool – Mandatory
Tuesday
June 23
6pm
@ BTC
Thursday
June 25
6pm
@ St. Albans City Pool vs. TEST
Tuesday
June 30
6pm
@ WIN (COTS night – see below)
Thursday
July 2
6pm
@ St. Albans City Pool vs. Vergennes
Tuesday
July 7
6pm
@ BBC (Food Shelf night – see below)
Thursday
July 9
No Meet
Tuesday
July 14
6pm
@ St. Albans City Pool vs. Edge
Thursday
July 16
6pm
@ Middlebury
Tuesday
July 21
Rain date
Thursday
July 23
Rain date
Friday
July 24
CVSL League Championship @ TEST
Saturday
July 25
CVSL League Championship @ TEST
Saturday
August 1
VSA Championship @UVAC
Sunday
August 2
VSA Championship @ UVAC
On COTS & Food Shelf nights swimmers are asked to bring items to be donated to shelters and food shelves. It is
requested that the following age categories bring the items listed below. Each hosting pool will have a box for
donations.
Age Group
8&U
9-10
11-12
13-14
15-18
COTS Night:
Toothpaste
Toothpaste
Shampoo/Conditioner
Deodorant
Soap
Food Shelf Night:
Peanut Butter or Jelly
Cereal
Soup/Canned goods
Boxed Pasta/Mac n’ Cheese
Tomato Sauce
St. Albans Recreation Department
39 Barlow Street St. Albans, VT 05478 802-524-1500 X266 Kelly or X268 Joe - [email protected]
St. Albans City Pool 524-6796 – St. Albans Recreation Cell 802-309-1810