Triton Swim Team Policies, 2023-2024

General

1. All are welcome regardless of ability so long as you are willing to be taught and learn.
2. While we are a no-cut sport, coaches reserve the right to determine whether an athlete is water-safe during practice, including the ability to complete 50 yards of freestyle without stopping.  
3. Enter the YWCA through the front door for practices and/or meets. The building closes at 7:45, so please exit through the side door. Those attending 2nd practice will need to enter through the rear door as well.

Equipment and Attire

1. Swimmers are required to purchase a team suit and wear it for meets. 
2. One team cap and a team t-shirt will be provided free of charge. 
3. An alternate suit is suggested for practice.  
4. Bring a water bottle labeled with your name to each practice.
5. Kickboards and pull buoys are available at the YWCA. Swimmers must supply their own goggles. 
6. Optional equipment: Fins, paddles, snorkel, tempo trainer. [If you own them, feel free to use them when appropriate. If not, no need to purchase them]

Attendance

1. Practices are held Monday-Friday and all swimmers are expected to attend at least 60 minutes of practice Varsity swimmers (A-B-C relay swimmers) are expected to practice for the full 90 minutes. A “Swimmer’s Choice” option is available Monday/Wednesday or Tuesday/Thursday, in which the athlete will complete either 60/90 minutes+ of Triton practice or a PROFESSIONALLY SUPERVISED alternate workout. Alternate workouts must be approved in advance and attendance verified. Swimmers Choice workouts are optional for 8th Graders. Dive schedule is separate. See Practice Schedule for full details. 
2. Illness: If you’re sick, send Coach a message and stay home. For Covid, you may return to practice once you are permitted to return to school and have been symptom free for at least 24 hours. You should wear a mask at practice until Day 11 whenever you are not in the water.     
3. Academics: This is always your first priority. However, an important part of being a student-athlete is learning to manage your time. If despite your best efforts, things have gotten away from you, please don’t hesitate to talk to Coach about practice accommodations.
4. Attendance at all meets is required (unless otherwise noted). Our meet schedule is published well ahead of time, so you should be able to plan ahead for tests and projects. If you become sick or have a conflict that cannot be avoided, let Coach know as soon as possible to avoid the scramble of last minute lineup changes. 
5. Club swimmers/divers: Due to MIAA’s ‘Bona Fide’ rule, you may not miss any mandatory Triton workout or meet to attend a club event. I can obtain one waiver for you per season, for which I need ~1 month notice. (Most swimmers use this for Seniors). While special accommodations are not permitted, information about your team’s meet schedule is appreciated and will be taken into account whenever possible. 
6. If you’re absent from school on a particular day, you may not practice or swim at a meet.
7. If you suspect (or know) that you’re injured, let the coaches know ASAP. In the case of concussion, medical clearance is required to return to practice. 

Practices

1. Be on deck and ready to swim at the start of practice. This means cap and goggles on with your water bottle, kickboard, and pull buoy. It’s good to arrive 10-15 minutes early to change, socialize, and stretch. 
2. Practice lanes are grouped by ability. 
3. Those attending second practice may arrive in the middle of a set. The best thing to do is jump in so you don’t lose time, but approach it as your warmup – don’t start sprinting right off. Coaches will help adjust any intervals as needed.
4. Be your best self at practice at all times. This includes your level of effort, kindness and respect towards teammates and coaches, and willingness to learn and improve. 
5. The reality of your “best self” on any given day will vary and that’s okay. If you’re struggling, having an off day, etc, talk to your coaches – whether you need space, a hug, or a pep talk, we want to know and will do our best to help. 
6. Listen quietly while sets are explained. Talking mid-explanation makes things more difficult for everyone. If you’re still confused after that, that’s the time to ask questions. 
7. If you find yourself lost at the start of a set: a) “fake it until you make it” (i.e. follow whoever is in front of you) or b) climb out and ask Coach. Don’t hold up your entire lane. 
8. Any swimmer repeatedly engaging in disruptive behavior may be asked to sit out or leave practice. 
9. If you have ideas for a set, game, or team activity, please let the coaches know! We may not be able to do it in the moment, but we’ll look for opportunities at a later time. 

Meets

1. Expect to swim a variety of events over the season. Unfamiliar ones may seem daunting, but your limits are often far beyond where you think they are, so keep an open mind and a willing attitude. Swimming seems like an individual sport, but meets are all about strategy and sometimes come down to filling a lane. The point or two you can pick up in that scary event could be what ends up winning the meet!
2. Be present and engaged. Taking pictures or vids with your phone is fine, but otherwise, it’s time to get off Snap, IG, TikTok (etc). Whether it’s cheering at the end of the lane, celebrating a victory, or coming together after a loss, support your teammates! 
3. Model good sportsmanship at all times. Never show disrespect to an official or a member of the opposing team. 
4. Follow the “5 minute rule” – whether you have a great race or a lousy one, you get 5 minutes to obsess about it tops. After that, let it float away and focus on what’s next. 
5. For away meets, swimmers are expected to ride the team bus both ways, as this is an important part of team bonding. Parents wishing to transport their swimmer home from a meet are required to let the coaching staff know ahead of time so that we can ensure accurate head counts on the bus. 
6. Most meets now allow spectators. For home meets, we will need timers and scorers and volunteers are greatly appreciated.  
7. To be eligible for a team record, swims must be completed at any MIAA sanctioned meet. Swims completed at official Intersquad meets are eligible so long as at least two stopwatches were used to record the time. 

Other

1. Take care of your body.
   1. Don’t skip meals, because you can’t swim without fuel.
   2. Stay hydrated – water-starved muscles are weaker.
   3. Get enough sleep – training is a process of breaking down and rebuilding muscle, and without adequate rest, your body can’t do so efficiently.
   4. Be proactive about potential injuries. Learn the difference between muscle soreness and when pain signals a problem. 
2. Alcohol, tobacco (including vaping) and drug use is strictly prohibited per MIAA’s Chemical Health policy. See also rule #1. 
3. Head injury is a risk in swimming. Concussion protocols will be strictly followed and any swimmer experiencing a potential concussion event will require a doctor’s note to return to practice. 
4. While a certain amount of light-hearted teasing is normal, mean-spirited trashtalking or gossiping about teammates will not be tolerated. Be willing to extend grace to teammates who may be having an off day or experiencing a rough patch. You never know what someone else is going through.
5. Words matter. We have teammates of many ethnic and racial backgrounds, personal identities/orientations, and beliefs, and are stronger and better for it. Be mindful of the language you choose. 
6. Don’t let small problems become big ones – coaches and captains always want to know if something’s bothering you, and you have a right to have it handled sensitively and confidentially. Where a situation involves potential harm or abuse, we are mandatory reporters. The coaching staff take your safety and well-being seriously and will provide support to the greatest extent possible in such cases.  

Captains

2024-2025 Captains: Jacob Hoffman, Isabella Morgese, Josh Adler, Sam Hartford, Sam Whitaker, Leah Smullin   

As team leaders, a captain’s job is to help practices and meets run smoothly, keep morale and team spirit high and bring issues to me before they become problems. Whether you have an idea, a question, or a concern, let them know!

The number of captains each year may vary with team size. Eligible swimmers must have completed 2 seasons, be in good academic standing, and have no disciplinary or substance violations. Elections for captains are held at the end of each season. Interested swimmers should strive to show good sportsmanship, leadership, and commitment to the team. Coaches have final say on both eligibility and selection of captains.

Varsity Letters

To earn a varsity letter, a swimmer must attend at least 80% of practices and all meets for which they are eligible. There are no requirements for time or point achievements.