Summer 2013
Parent Packet
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2013 CONTACT INFORMATION
Head Coach
Pete Wagner
petewagnerconstruction@gmail.com
President
Scott Kososki
skososki@cinci.rr.com
Vice President
PJ Hofferberth
hofferberthpj@gmail.com
Volunteers
Beth Chopra
Elizabeth@chopras.com
Hospitality/Social
Nicole Stanford
skososki@cinci.rr.com
Spirit wear
Lauren McKearin
lmckearin@cinci.rr.com
Head Timer
Barbara Hummel
Manny Chopra
bhummel@fuse.net
many@chopras.com
Head Official
Gary Willis
garyw17@yahoo.com
Kurt Alexander
knaalex@gmail.com
Data Board
Vince Hall
udalls6@fuse.net
Ribbons/Awards
Glenda Fries
gcfries@aol.com
Computer
Dan Worobetz
worobetz@earthlink.net
Photos
Jason Shaw
Website
Charity Event Chair
Darla Higgins
PJ Hofferberth
bobdarhig@cinci.rr.com
hofferberthpj@gmail.com
8 and Under coordinator
Traci Hummer
tehummer@hotmail.com
CONNECT WITH THE FLASH ONLINE:
Facebook: Four Bridges FLASH
Twitter: FBCCFlash
Website: http://www.fbccflash.com
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Welcome to another great year of Four Bridges Flash Swimming!
This is our team’s 14th season, and we are building on a tradition of creating a fun and competitive
swim environment. The purpose of the following information is to answer as many questions as
possible about the swim team and how it operates.
MISSION STATEMENT
The Four Bridges Swim Team Mission is to provide a fun, competitive and safe swim environment to
develop sound stroke technique, build team unity and achieve personal goals.
COMMUNICATION
Our main form of communication will be electronically (mainly through e-mail and our website,
fbccflash.com). All information and meet cancellations will first be announced electronically. It is
imperative we have your most commonly used e-mail address so that you can receive
communications. Other forms of communication will be the bulletin board in the hallway to the pool
and your family mailbox. These file boxes which have your family name in alphabetical order are
usually placed on the pool deck. Meet ribbons, permission forms, picture day info are all types of
communication are found in the file boxes.
HOW ARE YOUR FEES SPENT?
The registration fee is used to pay the coaches, insurance, and defray the cost of the computer
system. The funds also support materials and ribbons. We use the Fun Fund money to add to the
Fun for the kids. From this fund, we pay for the Thursday treats (after practices on Thurs), theme
night decorations, the coaches’ and volunteer gifts. Both of these were billed directly to your FBCC
Account.
PRACTICE PROCEDURES
Afternoon practice begins the week of May 20th. Please see Practice information on the web site for
specific times. Morning practices begin the week of June 2nd for anyone out of school. Practice will
be five days a week, rain or shine. Thunder and lightning will typically cancel a practice, but if a storm
passes and it is safe, we will practice. If in question, check your email, twitter or Facebook before
coming to practice. Emails will only be sent out if practice is cancelled. The fastest and most
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reliable way to find out instantly once practices are cancelled would be to check the team
twitter page. (If you would like to get the team’s twitter updates sent directly to your phone via SMS,
check the website under the Social Media tab on step-by-step instructions of how to enable this
feature).
Our swimmers are expected to practice every day.
On cool days and for every practice in the
afternoons before mornings start, have your swimmer bring socks, tennis shoes and workout clothes
as the practice may be held outside the pool.
Swimmers are expected to practice in the correct age
group unless discussed prior with the coach. Our 6 and under will be assessed and most will be
placed in the “Lightning Bug” program (see below). Assessments will be on Thursday, May 23rd and
Thursday, May 30th from 4pm to 6pm (come to either session anytime in this timeframe).
Parents need to remain on the top of the deck during practice and allow the coaches to do
their job. Coaches will be available before or after practice to answer any questions you may have.
LIGHTNING BUG PROGRAM
The Lightning Bug Program is designed for our youngest swimmers ages 4 to 6 to teach sound stroke
technique and confidence swimmer competitively. There will be assessments(tryouts) held for all
Lightning Bugs on our team on Thursday, May 23th and May 30th from 4pm to 6pm (come anytime in
this timeframe). At the assessment the coaches will determine which category your swimmer will be
in. Please remember swim team IS NOT swim lessons. All Lightning Bugs will swim at home meets
whether in the regular meet or prior to the beginning of the meet. If needed, those swimming prior to
the meet can have a coach or older swimmer in the water assisting them.
The Groups of Lightning Bugs are as follows:
Travel Bugs: swimmers that will swim at the home and away meets with team.
Home Bugs: swimmers that will swim at the home meets only. However if they want, they are
encouraged to come to the away meets and cheer for their team, but this is not mandatory.
Lesson Bugs: swimmers who are able to swim at home meets before the meet begins. These are
the Bugs that are not able to swim a length of the pool unassisted.
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These groups are not concrete—a swimmer may be moved up as the coaches see fit throughout the
summer. The list of the Lightning Bugs swimming at the away meets will be sent out about 2 days
prior to the away meet.
SWIM MEETS
Four Bridges FLASH is part of Division I in the Tri County Swim League. A swim meet can be
expected to last slightly more than 3 hours. At HOME MEETS swimmers need to arrive at the pool by
5:10 for warm-ups which will start promptly at 5:30. (Yes, that is 20 minutes before warm ups begin
allowing swimmers to unpack their things, get undressed, look at events they will swim and GET
READY!) All meets begin at 6:30 pm. For AWAY MEETS, please arrive by 5:40, warm ups begin at
6:00pm. (Please plan to arrive 20 minutes before the start of warm ups for both home and away
meets!) The coaches determine which events each athlete will swim. Please understand there are
limited numbers of events and lanes. We have over 180 swimmers and trying to get them all in a
meet may mean your child does not get as many events as you would anticipate. Also, at our home
meets, all individual swims will receive a ribbon. Unfortunately, most away meets will only provide
ribbons to the top 3 finishers. If your child is disqualified (dq’d), they may not get a ribbon.
Weather is the biggest problem with summer swimming, thunder and lightning will delay or cancel a
meet. If volatile weather is in the area and will affect the meet, we will act as quickly as possible to
communicate delays, postponement, or cancellation of the meet to prevent you from traveling to the
meet site. If bad weather approaches during the meet and the meet is delayed, PLEASE DO NOT
LEAVE THE MEET SITE. Seek safety for your family and await a decision from the meet officials. At
Four Bridges, the safest place is in your car. Officials will study the weather radar and try to make a
decision within 30 minutes. If safety allows, we will try to finish all meets.
VOLUNTEERS
The swim team is a parent run organization. It takes a lot of parent volunteers to run a meet. All the
jobs are easy but essential. We have established a point system to allow swim families to volunteer
when they can. A description of the volunteer jobs with point values are listed on the web site under
the volunteer tab. This summer we are asking that all families meet a 4 point total. If you ONLY have
a Lightning Bug on the team, your requirement is only 2 points.
Please understand we need
volunteers at both Home AND Away meets! All job sign-ups will be on-line with our website. Penalty
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for not meeting your required 4 points will be a fine to your FBCC account at the end of the season.
You’ll be fined $25 for each point you are lacking. Please check the website frequently and monitor
your points to avoid the fine. If you sign up for a job, it is imperative you are there on time. Please
check time requirements for all jobs you sign up for as some jobs require you be at the meet 30
minutes early.
WHEN YOUR SWIMMER HAS TO MISS A MEET
We understand there are conflicts with summer swimming such as family vacations and other sports.
You will need to ‘declare’ your swimmer for ALL meets. Go to the Home Page on the website after
you sign in and you’ll see a list of the swim meets in the Events Page. Click “Attend this event” and
you can declare you swimmer to attend or not attend. Deadlines for all Tuesday meets are the
Thursday before the meet by 5pm. Everyone must declare either “yes” or “no” for ALL meets – no
declaration we be determined to be a “no” and your swimmer will not be registered for the meet. If
you fail to declare “yes” by Thursday at 5pm, your child will not be registered for the meet.
For illness the day of a meet, please e-mail our Head Coach as soon as possible. Thanks!
ADULT BEVERAGES
We are a member of the Tri-County swim league. The league policy prohibits alcoholic beverages
at its swim meets on the main pool deck. Four Bridges is a private club that serves adult beverages.
The compromise is that we keep adult beverages on the upper deck only, the same level as the
snack window. Please do not take your adult beverages to the pool deck level. Also, if you will be
volunteering for the meet (as a timer, official, etc.) it is against League policy to consume alcoholic
beverages at that meet. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation with this policy!
CHAMPIONSHIPS
Championships will be held at Miami University in Oxford on July 26th and 27th. It is a great end of the
year experience for our swimmers. We would like to ask all families to make every effort to attend
Championships this year. Swimmers over the age of 8 are eligible and some under 6 will be asked
by Coach Pete to attend. Even though it is a 2 day meet, your child would only attend ½ of a day for
their age groups’ competition. Your swimmer will love swimming in this world class facility…it is
awesome! It is an indoor facility and travel time from Four Bridges is only about 35 minutes. If your
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child fails to scratch or contact the coach prior to the meet and does not show up, a $25.00 fee per
swimmer will be assessed. Schedule for 2013 will be:
FRIDAY AM
13 & overs
SAT AM
9/10
FRIDAY PM
11 /12
SAT PM
8 & UNDERS
FLASH STROKE CLINICS
Since 2010 we have been thrilled to offer Stroke Clinics. The coaches will be hosting stroke clinics
on Monday nights from 7-8 p.m. and on Saturday mornings from 9:30-10:30 a.m. Each week will
feature a different stroke or technique.
Coaches will break the kids into age groups and work
separately with the kids, going through the basics of good technique.
Coaches will be giving
instructions in and out of the water using different drills and demos. The price is only $5 per swimmer
per clinic (cash only please!) There will be no sign ups necessary, just have your swimmer show up
during the designated time. Please see website with specific date info for which strokes will be
offered which weeks.
FLASH MAKES A SPLASH!!
Since 2010 the FLASH Swim Team has been hosting charity events we call FLASH MAKES A
SPLASH. We have two events: The FLASH LUAU is an adult event held at the club and includes a
dinner, cash bar and live music for the evening. The FLASH FAMILY EVENT will consist of pool
games and family relays as well as dinner, a silent auction and ticketed raffles.
In addition to these
events, the kids will raise money by collecting from neighbors, family and friends. Proceeds from
spiritwear sales also contribute to the funds raised. Please mark your calendars to be part of the fun
this year and help raise money for a great cause! Please check our website www.fbccflash.com for
additional information. Thanks!
We are looking forward to a great season! Our STRONG coaching staff is back and will make this an
awesome summer of swimming for your child! Please don’t hesitate to ask questions!
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PARENTS’ CODE OF ETHICS FOR THE TRI-COUNTRY SWIM LEAGUE
TO PROMOTE BETTER SPORTSMANSHIP:
 I will not force my child to participate in swimming.
 I will remember that my child swims for his/her enjoyment, not mine.
 I will place the emotional and physical well being of my child ahead of a personal desire to win.
 I will teach my child that doing one’s best is as important as winning, so that my child will never
feel defeated by the outcome of an event.
 I will make my child feel like a winner every time by offering praise for competing fairly and
trying hard.
 I will never harass, ridicule or yell at my child, his/her teammates, or opponents for any reason
or for making mistakes or losing a competition.
 I will remember that children learn best by example.
 I will applaud good performances by my child, his/her teammates and their opponents.
 I will never question or approach an official or any call. All questions are to be directed to the
meet referee BY THE COACH.
 I will respect and show appreciation for the many volunteers who give their time to provide
sport opportunities for my child, understanding that I have a responsibility to be a part of my
child’s development.
 I will get involved with my child’s team in a positive way.
 I will refrain from drinking alcohol and from using tobacco products within the swimming venue.
 I hereby pledge to provide positive support, care, and encouragement for my child(ren)
participating in competitive swimming by following the Parents’ Code of Ethics Pledge.