Mission Statement
It is the mission of the Polo Fields Piranhas to build self-esteem and instill a love of swimming and good sportsmanship while working to obtain both personal and team goals.
Team Goals
- Improve swimmers’ skills
- Develop good sportsmanship
- Encourage and develop teamwork
- Enable swimmers to accomplish their dreams
- Have fun while developing a love for swimming
Prerequisites
To join the Polo Fields Swim Team, your child must:
- be no older than 18 as of June 1
- be able to swim one length of the pool (any stroke)
**Children who are not able to swim the length of the pool at the start of the season are eligible for the Peewee Program.**
Swimmers’ Responsibilities
Commitment – being part of the team
- Be at practice on time
- Keep a positive attitude
- Remind your parents to inform the coaches if you will be absent from a meet
Behavior
As a member of the Polo Fields Swim Team, you represent not only yourself, but your family, and your community. Therefore, every team member is expected at all times to conduct him/herself with exemplary behavior.
Practices
Swim practice is a very important aspect of the success of our swim team. Proper stroke technique will be stressed for all swimmers but swim practice is no time for swim lessons. The practices are to build endurance and teach the basics of the strokes to the overall team. The coaches may be available for private lessons outside of practice if you feel your child needs extra help.
Parents' Responsibilities
Swim Team Volunteers
Swimming is a family sport and parents and other capable volunteers are essential for running the meets. The SFL is a parent-run organization that counts on your support to put on high-quality swim meets. The Polo Fields Swim Team is also an organization that can survive only with your support. Keep in mind that it takes at least 40 volunteers to run each dual meet and the finals require at least 30 volunteers to staff the required positions. Each family will be required to volunteer during four slots in which your child(ren) swim and the championship meet. Your support for this essential aspect of our swim team is greatly appreciated. To sign up for your slots - go the Volunteer Links.
Stay Informed
Each family has a folder in the ribbon box in which all of your swimmer's ribbons will be placed after each of the dual meets. Our primary way of communciatng will be through email and when necessary through the phone tree. The board will make every effort to cancel practice with at least 1 hour notice and these cancellations will be done by both email and through use of the phone tree system.
Keep the Coaches Informed
The coaches will prepare meet entries on Saturday prior to the meets. We must know who will or will not be present by Friday night (as stipulated in the meet declaration email) in order to properly seed the meets. Please use the "Meet Declaration in Swimmingly" to let us know if your child will be or will not be at the meet. Swimmingly Login. Please sign your children out in advance if you know of vacations, etc. that will affect their attendance in meets. This greatly affects the way our relay teams are seeded. Therefore, you can help prevent confusion and excessive work by letting us know as soon as possible of any changes.
Arrange Supervision
If you cannot attend a swim meet yourself, Polo Fields policy is that children under 12 are not to be left without adult supervision. It is your responsibility to arrange supervision at a swim meet with another adult who is familiar with your child’s needs (including medical). The coaching staff is responsible for you child at practice but they cannot be a babysitting service before and after practice and swim meets.
Supervise your children during the meets. Make sure they are not in the Clerk of Course area unless they have been called for their event. Also make sure that your children are not in the way of timers and meet workers. Unless your child is swimming in an event, they should not be in the water (no sitting on steps, dangling feet in water, etc.)
Cooperating With the Coaches
- Parents play an important role in the success of any age swimmer. With the right kind of support and encouragement, your swimmer will progress steadily and enjoy a rewarding experience.
- Be a supporter and stabilizer through the ups and downs of victory and defeat. Encourage swimmers to take their swimming related problems to the coaches on staff. They have the training, experience, and perspective to deal with these problems.
- Leave the coaching to the coaches. Do not pressure or offer swimming advice. It is the parents’ job to supply the love and encouragement necessary to help their swimmers feel good about themselves.
- Parents are welcome to attend swim practice, but should not interfere or interrupt the coach. A two-way relationship exists daily at practice, and it is imperative that the coaches have the swimmer’s full attention.
- If you have any coaching concerns, please address them promptly with the coach. Arrange a meeting and work it out. Never let a disagreement with a coach be known to the swimmer. This may destroy a positive coach-athlete relationship. If unsuccessful or unsatisfied, please bring your concerns to one of the Board members.
- During competition, the deck attitude of parents and family members should be positive and sportsmanlike.
- Understand that the coaches are not perfect but will always try to do what they feel is fair and right. Their job is to think of all swimmers, not just one or a few.
- If you have a problem with a coach or something at practice or a swim meet, contact a board member immediately.