West Coast Aquatics
Annual Parent Meeting 2014
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Governance
 USA swimming
 Western Zone
 Pacific Swimming: Local
LSC
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One of the Fastest LSC in the country
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One of the largest: over 17, 000
swimmers
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Oregon border to Monterey
What does
WEST mean to
you?
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Fitness/Health?
Fun times?
Family
Safety?
Preparation?
College Resume?
Character Building?
What is
West Coast
Aquatics
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Established in the late 70’s
501c3 Non-profit,
community based
organization
Governed by a community
based board (Community
members, alumni, masters,
water polo, masters swim
rep.)
Professionally run
organization
Mission Statement
S Our Mission: To offer the highest quality aquatic program
to the community and to provide the opportunity for an
individual to become an elite athlete in a safe and enjoyable
environment.
S Slogan:
S Become part of something bigger than yourself.
Our Vision
West Coast Aquatics has a rich history of being a
community based organization that is a top
progressive competitive swimming program, which
inspires team performance through individual
excellence by engaging mind, body, and spirit. Our
model of excellence is built upon collaboration,
innovation, and implementation and is embraced by
our athletes, coaches, parents, alumni, and our
community. We believe there is a place for everyone
within our program.
To build better people, not just better
swimmers
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To nurture the whole child at every age and, realizing that each one is
different, allow young people to develop as far as their dreams, talents, and
efforts take them.
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To teach young people the process of achieving.
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To encourage them to dream, help them set worthy goals, promote a strong
work ethic, provide support when they struggle, and inspire them to
persevere until they succeed.
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To provide a level of coaching that will lead to the development of nationallevel swimmers, should they so aspire, while at the same time allowing
beginning swimmers to develop character, self-confidence, and the love for
the sport in an atmosphere of caring and consideration.
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To encourage parents to actively support both their child and the program
as a whole, realizing that their personal investment is a key ingredient to a
young person’s success in any endeavor.
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To provide the community and the swimming world with young people
who are becoming the best they can be—as individuals, students, citizens,
and athletes.
CORE VALUES
Govern the operation of business and our relationships with our members,
staff, alumni and the community. We instill these same ideals in our
athletes
Teamwork
Perseverance
Commitment
Excellence
West
Coast
Aquatics
Integrity
Development
Leadership
Building the Foundation
Build and maintain a premiere
competitive swimming program
With emphasis on fiscal
responsibility & stability, develop
and maximize revenue channel
West’s
Vision
Develop a positive member
experience that encourages
participation.
Raise level of community
involvement and awareness.
Support the community by
building a strong, successful youth
and future community leaders.
Why WEST is BEST for Your
Swimmer?
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West provides a professional
championship coaching staff
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All American Swim Coach
certified staff
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All have college and national
level competitive experience
West program delivers;
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Consistent technique teaching
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Consistent coaching
West implements our core values in
our daily teaching (Teamwork,
Excellence, Leadership, Commitment,
Integrity, & Perseverance)
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West provides structure & a wellrounded curriculum for swimmers
at all levels allowing them to reach
their full potential.
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West provides elite level training
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West teaches goal setting & what it
takes to achieve his or her goals
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West provides a team environment
where an individual can be
successful.
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Best facility around!!!
We Couldn’t Do it without YOU!
S Our STARS are our
PARENTS.
S Staff
S Swim Meet
Committee
S All of our volunteers
S Our officials
A Year in Review
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USA Swimming Scholastic AllAmerican
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Successfully raised funds to
support West’s mission
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Graduate a top class of Seniors that
went on to swim at top Universities
(NYU, U. of Wash St. Louis, UC
Irvine, Pomona)
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Continued our successful Learn-toSwim program & continued our
Make a Splash Foundation
partnership
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West swimmers placed top 8 at CCS
Champs, Far Westerns, Husky Invite,
10 & under champs, SBSLs and JO’s
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Successful summer programs for
community members.
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Continued a strong relationship
with the city of San Jose
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Grew Water Polo program and
added Splash Ball
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West swimmers competed at the
National level
Safety Policies
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USA SWIMMING RULE : Parents are no longer allowed on deck during
practice
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Email coaches to schedule meetings with the coach before or after practice.
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Swimmers can only be dropped off 20 minutes prior to practice and stay for only
20 minutes after practice.
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Swimmers can not get into practice if they are later than 15 minutes after the
start of practice.
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Swimmers MUST stay inside the pool deck until their parent(s) arrive to pick up
the swimmer.
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All parents (or legal guardian) MUST walk their swimmer into the pool facility
the first day of practice and introduce themselves to the coach. Coaches will
stand where parents can greet them.
Who to talk to?
Membership Dues
Things to remember regarding your account.
Danielle Montgomery
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When do I need to call the
bookkeeper:
If you have problems or questions
regarding your account/billing.
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Your child needs to go inactive
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Quitting the team
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Things to remember:
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Invoices go out on or about the
10th of each month.
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New dues structure (effective November
1st, 2014)
USA swimming registration fee (going
up $5)
Payments are due on the 1st of each
month
Late fees are assessed after the 10th of
each month
All payments should be made with
automatic payments by credit card or
ACH
30 day notice required for any with
drawl. Going to 3 months notice as of
January 1, 2015.
Contact Information:
Danielle Montgomery
Westbookkeeper@att.net
408-972-0723
Helping Out!
We all need to chip in!
S How can you help
the team?
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Committees
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Computer
operator
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S Volunteering
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S Buy in/support the
organization
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Clean-up/Set-up
committee for
meets
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Helping at swim
meets
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Crab Feed
committee
Team
photographer
Website
management/de
sign
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Clean-up days
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Delivering
Flyers
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Do you have a
trade that would
help out WEST?
Become an
Official!!!!
Why be an Official
• Any swim meet needs officials so your kid’s time counts.
• You have unblocked view to see your kid’s swimming
• You have a better understanding of your kid’s technique
• You will have priority parking at many swimming meets
• Your kids are proud of you as you are the one who can tell right
from wrong in the meet
• You make friends with other officials to discuss and share parenting
experience.
More Reasons to be an Official!
• WEST needs you.
– If we don’t provide enough officials in the Championship
meet, the club and your kids will be penalized.
• You only need to officiate a minimum of 6 sections in a year.
Of course, more is better as you will be seasoned.
• Your volunteer hours count DOUBLE.
Foundation Relationships
What Does it Mean to be part of
WEST as a Parent?
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How can you make your
swimmers swim team experience
better?
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GET Involved!
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You get out, what you put in.
What can you do to help make
this team the best team around?
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You have to be around.
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Come team events
S The team banquet and BBQs
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Team building activities are
important for both swimmers
and parents.
What do you want to get out of
this program for you and your
child?
Whole family commitment.
Parent Responsibilities
“Prepare the child for the path, not the path for the
child.”
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ASK QUESTIONS
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Support your swimmer
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Loyalty
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Stay informed/Ask questions
By coming to practice, team
events and meets
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Use our open lines of communication
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Arrive at practice & meets on time.
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Use our website
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Make sure you send your swimmer
to practice and meets prepared (i.e.
goggles, swim cap, suit, towel,
water, etc.)
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Know and understand the philosophy
of WEST and our programs
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Volunteer to help the swim teamSupport the team, support your child!
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Enter your swimmer in meets and
support them during meets
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We encourage you to watch
practice.
Let the coaches coach.
What does it take for YOUR
swimmer to be successful?
S Consistency
S Within the program (In the water and on deck)
S From the swimmer
S From the parents
S Supportive Family
S Good technique
S A program that allows a child to grow and reach their full potential
S Passionate about the sport and have fun!
Swimmers Responsibilities
Success=Improving one’s own best-self.
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Be coachable
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Listen
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Swimmers should want to come to
practice
Be consistent in practice
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Swimmers should follow practice
etiquette
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Give 100% each day (Be your bestself!)
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Be willing to work hard
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Manage his/her time (homework,
school, faith, family, swimming)
Swimmers should experience an
environment of discipline, where
respecting coaches and following
directions are expected.
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Swimmers should make friends with
teammates and understand what
being part of a team is about.
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Keep a log book of times,
information, practices, etc.
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Participate in team building
activities
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Age group swimmers need to try to
swim every event.
GOALS
A Dream is a Goal without Direction
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Process vs. Outcome
S Process driven goals
S Its about the journey
S Work on the journey and goal will
be achievable
S It’s a marathon, not a sprint
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Matching goals and participation
S Honest sport
S Piggy Bank
S Hurdles (growth, maturation,
technique correction, etc.)
S Platto
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Ask yourself if your child’s
goals and your goals for your
child match.
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Do you know what your child’s goals
are?
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Where do you see your child taking
swimming?
S Life skill, college, fitness, resume,
etc?
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Does your child participate in practice
enough to achieve the goals he/she has
set.
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What are you doing as a parent to
support those goals?
What’s Missing???
Team Uniform
How Does this all work?
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Age Group vs. Senior programs
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Two Seasons
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Short Course (Sept-March)
Long Course (April-Aug.
Consistency-You only get better if you show up
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Age Group (divided by age groups)
Senior (high school age and up, men's and women's)
Staying with the program through high school (Water Polo and High school
swimming)
Other sports
When is the best time to take a vacation/break? (Spring Break/After Champs meet
during the summer)
Rewarding Your Swimmer
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IMX points (diverse swimming)
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Straight “A” t-shirts
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Swimmer of the month towels
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Black cap awards
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Annual team banquet
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Awards during meets
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Scholarships
S College scholarship from WEST
S Attaining a college scholarship for
swimming
S “IM Tough”
S 10 & unders
S 50 of each stroke & 100 IM
S 11-13 year olds
S 100 of each stroke & 200
IM
S 15 and up
S 200 of each stroke and 400
IM
TouchPad & Meet Entry
Tools
See You on Deck!