2022 Team Handbook
Welcome to the Millbridge Marlins
The Millbridge Marlins are a 501(c)(3) non-profit neighborhood swim team for the Millbridge Community in Waxhaw, NC. The Marlins were founded in 2014 and are a member of the Greater Charlotte Swim League and compete against other neighborhood swim teams in the area.
Dear Swimmers and Parents,
Welcome to the Marlins!!! The Millbridge Marlins is a fun recreational summer swim team. As of 2022, The Marlins will compete in Division 3 of the Greater Charlotte Swim League. We swim against 7 other area summer teams. Our season runs from approximately the middle of May until the second week in July.
The GCSL makes the division schedules for all 6 divisions, provides teams with ribbons, devises the scoring system and makes sure our teams in our league follow bylaws. The bylaws are created by members of the league and voted on by all league members. The GCSL abides by the USA swimming guidelines to maintain a safe and fun competition for everyone.
Parents volunteer their time to manage our team; please keep this in mind as the season progresses. These volunteers coordinate the team, registrations, maintain team equipment, order apparel, and help to secure sponsorships and other funds for the team.
Our coaches’ job is to lead and supervise the Millbridge Marlins. We aim to provide a fun, competitive and family friendly atmosphere. We hope to inspire swimmers to challenge themselves and find the passion and love for the sport of swimming. Our coaches’ instill teamwork and sportsmanship. We are excited to have your family join the Marlins’ family.
Go Marlins!!
Basic Practice Info
The coaching staff expects swimmers to be pool ready and seated on the stairs by the clubhouse 5 minutes prior to the the start of practice to learn lane assignments. Practice is a time to learn and improve, it is not a time to goof off, do handstands and remain underwater while the coach is talking. We have a strict behavior policy:
1st incident: Warning issued to swimmer and parent
2nd incident: Parent will be required to stay for the duration of practice
3rd incident: Swimmer sits out next meet
4th incident: Off the team
The coaching staff expects any parent, babysitter, family member that attends practice to sit in any of the pool deck chairs available. Please refrain from interrupting practice by speaking to your child or coach during practice. Our coaches will be available briefly between practices to address any concerns.
The entire pool is closed during meets and most practices. The pool will be open during practices after Memorial Day however the lap pool area will remain closed until the conclusion of our practices.
WEATHER
We live in the south and know how the summer weather is and how it can change in an instant. Make sure you download the SwimTopia app to receive push notifications about weather delays or cancellations. Practices may be cancelled while they are going on due to thunder and lightning. Meets maybe delayed due to weather. Please note it is up the Team League Reps from BOTH teams to determine if a meet is cancelled while in progress due to weather. Do NOT leave the meet during a weather delay until it is officially declared as cancelled.
Make sure your swimmer knows the plan if practice is cancelled while he or she is at practice. We have asked parents to communicate such plans for all swimmers as part of the online registration process. We will also provide the guardhouse phone number for parents to call or swimmers to use.
PARENT TIPS
If you have never been a part of a swim team the following information may help you:
Swim Team is not swim lessons. Practices are for the coaches to teach proper technique to help swimmers improve. Practice is not mandatory, but the more your swimmer attends, the more they will benefit. You do NOT need to communicate if your swimmer will miss practice. Attendance will be taken at every practice for the purpose of end of the year recognition.
It is important to have your swimmer arrive at meets on time and with their events "sharpied" on them. A swim meet can appear chaotic at times. Coaches may need to make final adjustments during meets to relay teams and if your swimmer is not at the meet on time we have to assume you are not attending and did not let us know. As a result a late swimmer may be cut from a relay team. The head coach has the final say on who swims what events and relays. Please honor and respect their decisions.
It is helpful to your swimmer, especially younger swimmers, to encourage them. Cheer them on and congratulate them when they get out of the pool. Do not coach your kids. What you are telling them may be different than what their coach is telling them. Let our coaches do their job. Trust them!! The coaching staff are your child’s biggest cheerleaders and only want your child to do the best he or she can do.
Parents that are not participating in a meet are allowed at the end of the pool only during their swimmer’s event but have to remain a safe distance away from the end as to not interfere with the timers (aka the BLACK LINE).
Parents are NOT allowed to approach any meet official or judge during the meet. Coaches are happy to chat with parents briefly during meets, but if there is an emergency and or any concerns and you cannot talk to a coach during a meet, please find the Team Manager or send an email any time to [email protected].
Meets are fun! Please note: there is NO ALCOHOL permitted at any Greater Charlotte Swim League event.
AWARDS
We do present awards to swimmers at the end of the year. Not every swimmer receives an award. We do not hand out participation awards. Awards are presented at the end of season party. The date of the party will be communicated but is normally the Monday or Tuesday after the All Star meet.
SWIM SUITS AND APPAREL
All swimmers are required to purchase a team swimsuit. Team suits are approved by the GCSL. Each year we will have a suit fitting with the chosen swim suit vendor. If you cannot attend the suit fitting, you will be able to visit the company’s location for a fitting. Swimsuits are final purchases. The MillBridge Marlins supply a team shirt and swim cap. Team swim caps are mandatory for meets. GCSL prohibits any other swim team's cap to be worn at meets. Team shirts and extra caps will be available for sale for swimmers and non-swim team members.
LOST AND FOUND
We will have a lost and found bin. This is separate from the MillBridge Pool lost and found. It is important to put your swimmers name on ALL items: cap, shirt, suit, water bottle, towel, goggles.
PARENT PARTICIPATION
Parent Participation is a requirement to join the MillBridge Marlins. We need a lot of help during all swim meets. Families must participate at a minimum of 3 half meets per swimmer on the team (with a 5 half meet maximum per family). Working the entire meet counts as 2 shifts. Any family member can participate (Mom, Dad, Grandparent, Aunt, Uncle, any non-swimmer over the age of 14).
If you have not signed up or fulfilled your participation responsibility by the 2nd to last meet, your swimmer may not be eligible to participate in the MillBridge Marlins Swim Team in future years.
All parents participating in a home or away meet must arrive at the meets by 5:15pm and check in with the Parent Coordinator. Timers and Stroke/Turn Judges will be required to attend a brief meeting prior to the start of the meet.
We will announce when the Sign Up is Open.
Participating in the meets may sound scary, but it is really easy and a great way to learn the sport and meet other parents. In most cases you also have the best seats in the house.
We will train and explain all positions. See Below the Parent Participation Tab in this section of the website.
WHAT HAPPENS DURING A SWIM MEET
Swim meets last approximately 3-4 hours. There are 70 events. There are 20 relay events and 50 individual events. The teams compete for points. The team with the most points wins the meet. For individual events swimmers earn points for coming in 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th place based on time:
1st – 5 points
2nd – 3 points
3rd – 2 points
4th – 1 point
Swimmers are assigned events by the coach. Swimmers are able to compete 3 individual events and 2 relay events.
For Relay event scoring: Each team can submit up to 3 relay teams (A, B and C). The 'A' relay team is composed of the swimmers with the fastest times in their age group. The 'A' relay team from both teams is the only relay team that is able to score. 1st place is worth 10 points and 2nd place is worth 6 points.
Shrimps compete in events 1 and 2 and do not earn any points. Every Shrimp swimmer receives an “I Did My Best Ribbon" and the winner of each Heat receives a “Heat Ribbon”. This year 1-4th place ribbons will be awarded to Shrimps.
HOW WILL I KNOW WHAT EVENTS MY SWIMMER IS SWIMMING?
The coaching staff determines what events your swimmer enters. The coaches take into account each swimmer’s strengths and weaknesses. The goal is for swimmers to challenge themselves and gain confidence in all four strokes. All relay events are based on top times of swimmers in each age group and each stroke. We send out HEAT SHEETS the night before or day of the meet. A heat sheet is the program that shows every event and who is competing in the event. Each event is broken down into HEATS based on how many swimmers are competing in an event. The GCSL is formatted so the fastest heat goes first. It is all based on times. It is recommended that everyone print out a copy of the heat sheets. This is how you will follow along with the meets. We will not have heat sheets available at the meets. Each host team is responsible for displaying one set of heat sheets. This is normally taped on a wall somewhere around the pool deck. It is best to have a sharpie and write the events on your swimmers arm or leg. SWIMMERS NEED TO ARRIVE AT THE MEET WITH THEIR LIST OF EVENTS ALREADY ON THEIR PERSON.
The Announcer/Starter announces each event and it is the responsibility of the swimmer (and with younger swimmers, the parent) to know when your swimmers’ event is coming up. We try to have the next 6 heats lined up at a time. Your swimmer will go to the lane they are assigned to and sit on the provided seats/ benches to wait their turn to swim. The Clerk of Course and Assistant Clerk of Course will make sure all swimmers are in the right order behind the start block. Clerks do NOT track down swimmers. If you're not behind your block, you risk missing your event and being scratched (a no-show) for that event.
Once your swimmer is completely done competing you may leave (unless you are a parent participant in the meet). We encourage you to stay and cheer for your teammates.
Glossary of Swimming Terms :
25: One length of the pool (yards or meters depending on the venue. Millbridge is yards).
50: Two lengths of the pool.
100: Four lengths of the pool.
Alternate: If a swimmer cannot participate in a relay, alternates are designated to step in. Alternates are also assigned to the All Star meet.
Backstroke: One of the four competitive strokes. The swimmer’s arm travels one at a time in a windmill style from the swimmer’s side, up over the swimmer’s head and then into the water. The swimmer is on their back and legs are flutter kicking. This stroke starts in the water. The Backstroke is the first stroke in the medley relay and the second stroke in the Individual Medley.
Breaststroke: One of the four competitive strokes. Swimmer’s hands begin near the upper chest and push sideways then back, but they may not travel beyond the hips, except when the swimmer is starting or turning. The elbows remain underwater, the head comes above the water during each stroke, and the legs execute a propulsive kick with feet pointed outward. Breaststroke is swum as the second stroke in the Medley Relay and the third stroke in the Individual Medley.
Butterfly: One of the four competitive strokes. Swimmers keep their shoulders level with the water’s surface while simultaneously moving their arms and legs. The arms move together in an overhand stroke breaking the water’s surface while the legs do a dolphin kick, moving up and down together, rather than fluttering up and down individually. Butterfly is swum as the third stroke in the medley Relay and the first stroke in the Individual Medley.
Best Time/Personal Best: A best time is achieved when a swimmer beats their previous “best time” in an event. Regardless of how swimmers finish in the race, swimmers always try to improve their time by swimming faster, thus beating their previous time in an event.
Clerk of Course: The person designated to line up swimmers. This is usually done 6 heats ahead of time in a specially designated location on the pool deck (normally behind the blocks). There are usually 2 or more Assistants to help the head clerk.
Disqualification (DQ): When a Stroke and Turn judge determines the swimmer has committed a stroke infraction.
Event: Meets are broken down into 70 Events. This is defined by the age group, gender and swimming stroke. Girls’ events are odd-numbered and boys are even-numbered.
False Start: When a swimmer leaves the starting block before the starter horn signal.
Flags: Backstroke flags are placed at both ends of the pool 15 feet from the end to serve as a warning to backstroke swimmers that they are nearing the wall for a turn or a finish.
Freestyle: One of the four competitive strokes performed on the stomach consisting of alternating overarm strokes and a flutter kick. Freestyle is the 4th stroke in the Medley Relay and the Individual Medley.
Freestyle Relay: Relay event consisting of 4 legs of freestyle swam by 4 different swimmers.
Heat: Events that have more swimmers entered than available lanes. In most cases there are multiple heats in events. If a pool has six lanes, a heat usually consists of six swimmers (but sometimes less). In summer swim league the fastest swimmers are in heat one.
Heat Sheets: This is the official schedule of swimmers in their assigned events. Also known as the meet program. The meet management software creates heats and assigns lanes.
Heat Winner:The swimmer that touches the wall first in a heat. This does not mean this swimmer is the winner of the event. The winner of the event is the best time achieved in the entire event.
Heat Ribbons: Heat Ribbons are given to the Heat Winner in all 10 and under individual events - but not relay events.
Individual Medley (IM): Event that consists of all four competitive strokes performed by an individual swimmer. The order of the IM is Butterfly, Backstroke, Breaststroke and Freestyle.
Lane: Pools are divided into lanes (normally 6) by a floating line. Lane Lines are used to make sure individuals do not interfere with other swimmers.
Medley Relay: Event that consists of all four competitive strokes performed by four individual swimmers. Order of the Medley Relay is Backstroke, Breaststroke, Butterfly and Freestyle.
No Time/NT: On a heat sheet a swimmer will have NT next to their name if they do not have an official time in our Meet Manager software; meaning they have never swam that stroke in one of our meets using this particular software.
Seeding/Seed Time: Swimmers that have times in Meet Manager are arranged into heats based on their times for that particular event. Seed Time (usually a swimmer's best time in our league) is the time used to determine where a swimmer is placed in an event.
Starter: The official in charge of signaling the beginning of a race.
Starting Block: The raised platform swimmers use to dive from when a race begins.
Stroke and Turn Judge: The trained official at meets that determines if a swimmer is swimming a particular stroke accurately. If a swimmer is not swimming a particular stroke accurately the Stroke and Turn Judge may issue a disqualification slip. If a swimmer is DQ’ed their time and finish is not recorded and their swim does not count.
Timer: An official that stands at the finish end of a race with a stopwatch to record a swimmer’s time. The Timer starts the stopwatch when the starter signals the beginning of the race and stops the stopwatch when any part of the swimmer's body (or the last swimmer in a relay) touches the wall.
