Elkins Otters

Elkins Otters Swim Team

Elkins Otters is a recreational swimming team based out of Davis and Elkins College. Our goal is to provide local youth an opportunity to enjoy the sport of swimming and the environment of both individual and team sport. The benefits of youth swimming are many:

• Swimming promotes fitness and teaches a child to strive for physical achievement
• Swimming is a healthy lifetime activity
• Swimming teaches life lessons of competition and sportsmanship
• Swimming motivates participants to strive for self-improvement and teaches goal orientation
• Swimming is an exciting individual AND team sport
• Swimming cultivates a positive mental attitude and high self-esteem

Please review this entire handbook with your child or children to ensure that we are all aware of the guidelines and expectations of the team.

Board of Directors

The Elkins Otters Board of Directors is a group of elected volunteers who oversee the general administration of the organization and support the coaching staff in facilitating programs that maintain a team philosophy. The board consists of the offices listed below. If you are interested in joining the board, please contact the team at [email protected].

Current Board Members

Cara Maxson, President

Shane Halle, Vice-President

Debbi Swiger, Treasurer

Brittany McCray, Secretary

Jessica Perkins, Member-at-Large

Amanda Taylor, Member-at-Large

Rachel Anger, North Central WV Swim League Liaison

Contact Information

Elkins Otters Swim Team

PO Box 2654

Elkins, WV 264241

elkinsotters.swimtopia.com (Registration, directions, schedules, merchandise)

[email protected]

www.facebook.com/elkinsotters

We are one of many teams of the North Central West Virginia Swimming Association. The NCWV Swimming Association follows USA Swimming rules and regulations.

Swim Team Fees and Obligations

Elkins Otters is a non-profit organization. The coaches and lifeguards are paid staff employed by the organization. Primary expenses of the club are coaching salaries, insurance, lifeguards, and facility rental.

Registration is online at our website, elkinsotters.swimtopia.com. Swimmers must be registered before they attend the first practice. During registration, parents will also sign a liability waiver and acknowledge that they have reviewed this handbook.

Registration fees will be based on the costs we accrue each year and are subject to change from year to year. The registration fee must be paid when you register your child.

In addition to the registration fees, many families choose to purchase the team suit that we use for meets. These are purchased through a link on our website. We try hard to keep the cost of team suits reasonable, and they are NOT required for participation. We also sell team swim caps each season, which are optional as well.

In order to help keep the cost reasonable, families may be asked to participate in fundraisers. We also ask local businesses to sponsor our team each season. If you know any businesses that would be interested in supporting youth swimming, please contact us via our email address, [email protected] and we will supply a sponsorship letter.

NCWV Championship Meet

Meet information for the NCWV Swim Championships will be given to families prior to the meet. This meet is a two-day event held the third weekend in July (Friday and Saturday). Team relays are also held on Saturday morning (there are no preliminary events for relays).

In order to participate in the championship meet, your swimmer must participate in 3 regular season meets, no exceptions.

Swimmers choose their events for this meet (up to four for 8 and under; up to 5 for 9 and over) and each family pays $5 per individual event. If your child is chosen to swim in a relay, the team will pay for the relay event. This price may be subject to change, depending on league rules.

Parent and Swimmer Conduct

Last, but certainly not least, we want our families’ experience with swimming to be an opportunity for personal achievement, growth as an athlete, and FUN! In order to provide that experience for all swimmers, we ask that all parents and swimmers follow our code of conduct. This code of expectations for behavior provides important growth and developmental support of each swimmer and our program.

Please review the code of conduct for parents and swimmers with your athletes. Failure to adhere to these guidelines may result in disciplinary action and/or removal from the team.

Parents:

• I will set the right example for our children by demonstrating sportsmanship and showing respect and common courtesy at all times to the team members, coaches, competitors, officials, parents, and all facilities.
• I will get involved by volunteering, cheering at meets, and talking with my child about their progress, and being faithful to practices.
• I will refrain from coaching my child from the stands during practices or meets.
• I understand that criticizing, name-calling, use of abusive language or gestures directed toward coaches, officials, volunteers, and/or any participating swimmer will not be tolerated and may result in removal from the team.
• I will respect the integrity of the officials.
• I understand that the coaches will do their best at each meet by placing my child in as many events as possible.
• If I do have an issue I would like to address with a coach or board member I will not contact them personally but will use the team email address to do so. I will not address any issues during a practice or a meet.
• I understand that I am responsible for arranging transportation for my child to and from practice and/or meets, and understand this is not the coaches’ or board members’ responsibility.
• I will be on time to practices and meets, and also agree to be at pickup on time.
• My child will use the front (chapel) entrance to the pool, fully clothed per D&E policy. (The rear entrance may be used on occasion if we have been directed to do so by D&E.)
• I will ensure that my child is able to swim the length a 25 yard pool independently prior to registration.
• I will show respect for all facilities and other property (including locker rooms) used during practices, competitions, and team activities. I will pick up trash and maintain cleanliness in all facilities.

Swimmers:

• I will respect and show courtesy to my teammates and coaches at all times.
• I will demonstrate good sportsmanship at all practices and meets.
• I will set a good example of behavior and work ethic for my younger teammates.
• I will be respectful of my teammates’ feelings and personal space. Swimmers who exhibit sexist, racist, homophobic, or otherwise inappropriate behavior will be faced with consequences.
• I will keep my hands to myself whether on deck, in the pool, or in the locker rooms.
• I will not have cell phones and/or cameras in use in the locker room or changing facilities.
• I will show respect for all facilities and other property (including locker rooms) used during practices, competitions, and team activities. I will pick up trash and maintain cleanliness in all facilities.
• I will refrain from foul language, violence, and behavior deemed dishonest, offensive, or illegal.
• If I disagree with an official’s call, I will talk with my coach and not approach the official directly.
• I am able to swim the length of a 25 yard pool independently prior to registration.

Disciplinary Actions

Otters coaches, lifeguards, and board members may have reason to take disciplinary action for not adhering to the above policy and conduct standards.

Level 1: 15 minutes sitting out of practice (examples: foul language, approaching an official, arguing with coach, etc), Board of Directors advised of the problem.

Level 2: Removal from a practice or meet (examples: 3 level 1 complaints)

Level 3: Automatic removal from team after board meeting: (example: violence, assault, 6 level 1 complaints)