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Does my child have to be a good swimmer to be on the team?
Swimmers must be able to do is swim 25 yards of freestyle and backstroke (one length of the pool
each). If you can not swim a full 25 yards, the Indian Creek Recreation Club (REC Club) has swim lesson programs available. Swimmers who meet this basic requirement are taken on a priority
basis. Returning Indian Creek team members are accepted first, siblings of returning team members second, REC Club members third, Indian Creek residents fourth, and all others after that.
When will my children have swim practice?
Practice for all swimmers begins on the Tuesday after Memorial Day. Practice will be held
after school, Monday through Friday, at the Indian Creek pool. Once school is out, practice will be held in the morning, Monday through Friday at the Indian Creek pool. Additional information
including specific practice times will be sent to team members by the coach closer
What do swimmers need to bring to practice?
For all practices, but especially for early season practices, all swimmers should bring running
shoes, shorts and t-shirts for dry land training in addition to their swim equipment (suit, cap, goggles and towel). For early season practices when the water and air may still be cool, it is also a good
idea to have a sweatshirt or jacket for after practice. A water bottle or sports drink is also important to have at each practice.
What happens if my child has to miss practice for other sports, camps or if we go on a vacation?
We have many athletes in our program that participate in other activities. The morning
practice schedule usually does not conflict with other sports practices, but this is not always the case. Like any sport or activity, the more you practice, the better you become. The coaches recommend
younger swimmers attend practice at least 2-3 times per week and that older swimmers attend 4-5 times per week. If you will miss practices for vacation, sports camp or for some other reason, let the coach
know in advance. It is most important to let the coach know if you will miss a meet so that the line up can be adjusted as needed.
What are the spring clinics about? Are they required?
Although not required, the spring clinic provided by the West Shore YMCA (WSY) exclusively for the
Indian Creek Aquatic Club is a great way to be better prepared for the summer season. This 5-week, 10 session clinic is held prior to the start of team practices at the WSY's indoor pool on Trindle
Road. These clinics focus on technique development for all four strokes plus starts and turns. For newer swimmers, it is also a good introduction to how a swim practice is run, including how to read
a pace clock and other basic skills. For more advanced swimmers, the WSY offers clinics with more sessions per week for more pool time prior to the season. These are the best spring swim clinics
available in the central Pennsylvania area and are highly recommended. More information is available on this web site via the "Spring Clinics" link on the home page or on the WSY web site at www.wsyswim.org.
Is it required that my child have the team suit?
Team suits are available but are not required. Whether or not you purchase a team suit, it is
recommended that all swimmers have a competition suit for all practices and meets. Boys baggy suits and board shorts are restrictive and provide excessive drag. Girls two piece suits are
inappropriate.
If you are not sure what size suit to order there will be a sizing kit available at the on site
registration. You may also go to a local sporting goods store and try some on to see what will work. Swim suits do not come in the standard child sizes such as 8,10,12 or s,m.l. Swim suits come in
sizes such as 22,24,26.
Swim caps are also not required but are recommended for those swimmers with long hair. If you
do choose to wear a cap, you are required to wear an Indian Creek team cap during the meets.
What are the Time Trials?
The Indian Creek team time trials are run prior to the first meet of the season and serve many
purposes. It is an opportunity for the coaches to see how each swimmer is progressing and to measure them against the clock under real meet conditions. The pool is set up with all of the competition
equipment such as lane lines, backstroke flags, starting blocks and timing equipment. Swimmers are asked to swim one or more events (freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke, butterfly) against others on the
team in their age group. For new swimmers, this is an opportunity to race under meet conditions, with competitors, starters and officials, for the first time. The time trials also serve as an
opportunity for the team to set up and test all of the computers and timing equipment needed to run a meet. Finally, the time trials provides a chance for new swim parents to sample volunteer jobs such as
"timer", "finish judge", "runner" or "ribbon writer" in a more casual environment.
I see on the schedule that there are events with Indian
Creek versus another team. I also see events called Invitationals, Divisionals, All Stars and Mid-Caps. What are these things and are they required?
Beginning in early-June, there will be five (5) Saturday morning "dual meets" each summer
season. At these meets, Indian Creek will compete against one other team.
On the Saturday following the last dual meet, those swimmers who have participated in 3 or more
dual meets are eligible to compete in the Division Championship meet – also called "Divisionals". There are four (4) division in our league, the Capital Area Swim League (CASL).
Following Divisionals, the top 16 swimmers from the combined results of the four Divisional meets
advance to the CASL All-Star Championship Meet the very next day on Sunday.
On the Saturday following All-Stars, the top swimmers from our Capital Area Swim League All-Star
meet and the top swimmers from the east shore's Mid-Penn Swim League compete in what is called the "Mid-Cap Championship Meet". This meet is usually held on the last Saturday in July.
Invitationals are meets which are hosted by local swim clubs. They provide swimmers a chance
to swim in additional meets, against new and different competitors, and in events which they might not normally swim.
None of these meets are required although to advance to All-Stars and Mid-Caps is considered a
significant accomplishment and is often an important goal for many of our swimmers.
Do all swimmers get to swim at the swim meet?
It is team policy to enter all eligible swimmers up to the maximum number of individual events
allowed. At the coaches' discretion, a swimmer may swim less than the maximum number of events if, for example, they are not sufficiently proficient in a particular stroke.
In a swim meet, the first heat is the heat that counts for team points, the other heats are called
exhibition. Exhibition heats are important for all swimmers as they are a record of their official time, hopefully, showing improvement from race to race. Every swimmer is important to a team and
should attend as many meets as possible. Even if a swimmer swims exhibition heats, many swimmers are needed, especially for relays, which count for many team points.
What is the process for entering swim meets?
A positive "Check-In" is required for each dual meet meaning that only those swimmers in good
standing who indicate that they will be in attendance at a meet will be eligible to swim. Prior to each meet, there will be a link on this web site that will allow you to "Check In" for a meet. Check in is
due by Wednesday prior to each meet.
What is the communication process between parents and the team?
The two primary modes of communication are through this web site and via e-mail. During the
season, most of the e-mail communication will be from the coach. Between seasons, most of this e-mail will be from the board President. The coaches' and board members' contact information is listed
on this web site and you are encouraged to contact any of them at any time with any questions you may have.
What role do parents play on the team?
As in all of our children's activities, parents play many important roles on
the Indian Creek swim team. In addition to making sure that your swimmer arrives at practices and meets on time with all of the necessary equipment, parents are needed as volunteers to run the swim
meets. Jobs include timers, officials, concessions stand help, and setup and clean up. None of these jobs are difficult or time consuming when everyone volunteers. Finally, parents provide the
support our children need as they challenge themselves to improve. Cheer when they succeed and encourage them to keep trying when they don't.
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