2018 Swim Team

Head Coach: Stefanie Harrison

Assistant Coach: Peter Wilson
Tadpoles Coach: Renee Gardener

2018 Swim Team Information

Welcome! The coaches are so excited to kick off the Trenton Country Club season with you! Please don’t hesitate to ask a coach if you have any questions at all throughout the season – we are always available and happy to help.

As the season progresses, we will have more specific information about both the Mini Meet, and the PASDA Championships. Since all the information is not yet available to us, please keep your eyes and ears open throughout the season for additional information.

About The Team

We love swimming! For the upcoming season, we have a few goals we would like to accomplish. For starters, we want everyone to have fun! We hope, within that, we will be able to develop some great stroke technique, and progress as swimmers. There are so many ways we can learn from one another and work together, and we hope to accomplish that and much more this upcoming season.

Every swimmer is different. Good thing there are three of us! Depending on level, swimmers will learn how to master all four strokes – freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke, and butterfly. Beyond that, for swimmers who are already advanced, we will work on endurance, streamlines, starts, turns, race mentality, and beyond. We hope to create a competitive and committed team, and have a wonderful time!

If you have any doubt about the ability of your children, the coaches can spend a minute or two reviewing their swimming ability and make a recommendation. Also, if you have any doubt about your child's ability to swim with the Bullfrogs, put them in the Tadpole program and the coaches will move them to Bullfrogs if their ability warrants the move.

We have two groups of swim team members at TCC : Bullfrogs and Tadpoles:

Bullfrogs - must at MINIMUM be able to swim at least one length of the 25 meter pool without any assistance or grabbing the walls.

Tadpoles – must at MINIMUM be able to swim across the middle pool without any assistance including water wings, floaties, belts, etc. This program is for those kids that can float and be in the water unassisted – but have yet to learn strokes.

News And Information

Fees – In order to not collect money throughout the season for team gifts, awards, the team party and end of year banquets, etc., each family will be responsible for paying a small fee. This summer the fee is $75 per swimmer and includes PASDA Championships, opening brunch, end of year banquet and gift.
Meet Attendance – As coaches, our goal is to have as many swimmers participate in meets as possible. However, we realize that the summer is a busy time, and it may not be possible to attend all meets. Please let us know if you have prior commitments that would make you unable to attend a meet by completing the Meet Commitment Form. Making line-ups and ensuring that team members are able to swim in the proper events and relays requires a great deal of preparation and planning. Therefore, it will be assumed that swimmers will be attending any meets that are not indicated on the meet commitment form. In case of circumstances unforeseen by June 19, prior notice of absences is greatly appreciated for the meet line-up and relay preparation. Coaches will use the turned in meet commitment forms to create meet line-ups.
Helping at Meets – Each family’s participation in meets and team activities is crucial to a smooth and successful swim season. The more parents that volunteer to work meets, the easier the jobs will be and the more enjoyable they will be for our swimmers. We are asking that each family sign up to work at least two swim meets this summer. You can sign-up to help at the team brunch, or see a coach anytime after.
Officials Clinics – PASDA (Princeton Area Swimming and Diving Association) offers clinics to inform parents on the role and responsibilities of swimming officials during meets. They will cover rules and regulations as well as meet procedures. Clinics are a good idea for any parent who wants to become an official, or for anyone who just wants to learn more about the sport. If you are interested in attending this clinic, please tell a coach or visit the PASDA website at www.pasda.org as information will be posted there. This site also contains helpful information as well as directions to any clinics and each swim club.
Emergencies – As coaches, we go to great lengths to make sure that meet line-ups are put together carefully and that everyone has a chance to swim. For this reason, we ask that everyone try to attend meets unless an absentee form has been filled out. However, we understand that emergencies and unforeseen circumstances come about. If you are unable to attend a meet on short notice, please e-mail Coach Stef at [email protected] prior to 3:00 p.m. on meet days, call the Club and leave a message, or in emergencies, call Coach Stef at 215-260-0296. Your cooperation is greatly appreciated.
Inclement Weather – In case of cancellation of practice or a meet, an e-mail will be sent as soon as the decision has been reached. If you have questions or have not heard anything, please call the Club to check the status.
Mailboxes – We will continue with last year’s file folder system. Each family will have a folder to dispense information, ribbons, etc.
PASDA Website – This is a very informative tool with a wealth of information including directions to all away meets and championship meets. Take a look at www.pasda.org.
Clothing - This year we will be selling tons of gear. Please see Beth Kearns or Leigh Curry for more information.

Let’s have a great summer. Go Bullfrogs!!!

Parent Participation

Description Of Swim Meet Responsibilities

Timer – Timers are needed for both home and away swim meets. Timers will be given a stopwatch and trained prior to the start of the meet. They time each swim in a given lane and record the time on the provided card for scoring purposes.

Runner – The runner collects the time cards from each lane at the end of each race and takes them to the scorekeeper’s table.

Scorekeeper – The scorekeeper records the official time onto the meet sheet and keeps a running score of the points earned by each time.

Starter/Referee – The starter/referee has control over the entire swim meet. They prepare the swimmers and timers before each race as well as signaling the start of each race.

Official (stroke and turn judge) – This official watches the swimmers in each race to be sure that all strokes and turns are being performed legally. Training for officials can be gained at sessions conducted by PASDA (mentioned prior in packet).

Place Judge – Records the order of finish for each race for scoring purposes.

Awards Table – Using the results obtained from each event, this person is responsible for distributing the proper ribbons to each time. This position is only needed at home meets and instructions will be provided prior to the meet.

Marshall – Gathers and organizes the swimmers (especially the younger ones) prior to the race.

Head Family – Responsible for organizing and recruiting the parent workers for the assigned swim meet.

All swim meets (home or away) begin at 6:00 p.m. It is very important that swimmers arrive between 5:00 and 5:15 p.m. so that attendance can be taken, and we can as a team be properly warmed up and prepared.

If necessary, rain date(s) will be determined by agreement of coaches.

Swim Team Calendar

2020 Tentative Schedule

May 31- Swim Team Brunch and Swim Suit Fitting

June 30 - First Meet

July 7 - Second Meet

July 9 - Third Meet

July 14 - Fourth Meet

July 16 - Final Meet

July 21 - Rain Date

July 23 - Rain Date

July 27-28 - PASDA Championships

July 30- Swim Team Banquet!