MAAC Handbook
Welcome to the Menomonie Area Aquatic Club (MAAC). MAAC is a member supported competitive swim association. It relies on swim fees and fundraising to cover expenses. These expenses include but are not limited to coaches’ salaries, equipment, insurance and general business expenses. The objective of this handbook is to inform parents and swimmers of MAAC’s mission, policies and procedures.
Mission Statement
The mission of our club is to provide educational opportunities at various levels of competitive swimming for school age children by providing a safe learning environment where swimmers can set goals and work to realize their goals.
Team Structure
MAAC’s training program can meet the needs of just about any swimmer. We ask that swimmers complete Level IV Red Cross or Minnow-level YMCA instruction. Our program is separated into three training groups. Flyer, Junior and Senior groups can swim nearly year round. MAAC has divided the spring/summer and fall/winter seasons into two sessions for the purpose of registration. The fall/winter season also called the short course season runs from September to March. Spring/summer also known as the long course season, runs April to August.
MINI
The Mini Group is designed to give the swimmer a positive introduction to the sport of swimming while focusing on the FUN of competitive swimming. The Mini Group is for swimmers 8 years old and under.
Attendance: 1-2 practices per week, 60 minutes each
At least one competition is recommended
Requirements: Swimmers must be able to kick 25 yards without assistance. Swimmers must be able to swim 15 yards of the pool using any stroke without assistance. They must be comfortable in deep water and be able to perform a front and back float. They must also be comfortable jumping off the side of the pool as well as submerging their head under water.
Goals: Swimmers will learn the basics of all four competitive strokes. They will also learn the skills necessary to compete in the sport of swimming such as working with teammates, listening to their coaches, learning, and of course having fun!
FLYERS
The Flyers group is a continuation of the Mini group with a focus on stroke technique, starts, turns, and the rules of competition. While the focus is still on having fun, new skills will be introduced. The Flyer group is for swimmers 8-10 years old.
Attendance: 2-4 practices per week, 90 minutes each
2-3 competitions are recommended
Requirements: Swimmers must be able to kick 50 yards without assistance. Swimmers must be able to swim 50 yards and be able to correctly swim three competitive strokes. They must be comfortable jumping from the starting blocks. They need to be able to perform rhythmic breathing and feel comfortable holding their breath under water.
Goals: Swimmers will learn the basics of all four competitive strokes. They will also learn the skills necessary to compete in the sport of swimming such as working with teammates, listening to their coaches, learning, and of course having fun! In addition, Flyers will learn more advanced skills, drills, and endurance swimming to prepare them for the Junior Group.
JUNIORS
The Junior Group is intended to provide instructional and competitive experience to 9-12 year olds. The focus is on stroke technique, kicking and efficiency. Time is spent on technique, endurance, and race strategy.
Attendance: 3-4 practice per week, 90 minutes each
3-4 competitions are recommended
At least one championship meet is encouraged
Requirements: Swimmers must be able to kick 100 yards without fins. Swimmers must be able to legally swim 50 yards of each of the competitive strokes. They must be able to dive from the starting blocks, perform a legal flip turn, and legal two hand touch turn. Swimmers will begin to learn and practice more endurance swimming so it is recommend that the swimmer be comfortable with swimming at least 200 yards continuously.
Goals: The goal of the Junior Group is to develop a more versatile swimmer who is skilled in all strokes at various distances. They will also be introduced to racing strategy and racing techniques.
SENIORS
The Senior Group is for more serious swimmers who want to compete at the high school, regional, or state level competition. The emphasis is on stroke efficiency, endurance with a significant increase in yardage, dry land, and mental preparedness. The Senior Group is for swimmers 13 and older.
Attendance: 4-5 practice per week, 90 minutes each
4-6 competitions are recommended
At least one championship meet is highly encouraged
Requirements: Participate on a high school team or at a state/zone level.
Goals: The focus of the Senior Group is to improve in all four strokes and develop the skills necessary to achieve motivational standards such as state times and beyond. Swimmers will encompass a total training program including endurance training, nutrition, psychology, dry land, goal setting, race strategy, and fine tuning stroke technique.
Practice Behavior
While on school grounds, the swimmers are the responsibility of the coaching staff.
- It is expected that you will arrive on time and be ready to swim. (caps on, goggles ready).
- Be respectful to coaches, teammates, opponents, officials, the facility, and to yourself.
- During practice, swimmers are never to leave the pool area without the coach’s permission.
Swimmers behaving contrary to these criteria may be asked to leave.
Practice Equipment
- Goggles: Goggles are a must. The chlorine will irritate the swimmers’ eyes without goggles.
- Swim Caps: Longer hair necessitates wearing swim caps. Those with very short hair may choose not to wear a swim cap.
- Towels: Swimmers should bring their own towels to meets and practices.
- Suits:
- Girls: One-piece suits. No one is allowed to compete in a two-piece suit.
- Boys: Jammers or racers are recommended. Trunks can be used for practice.
- Most swimmers have a separate practice suit and competition suit as the chlorine quickly fades and degrades the suit.
- Suits and accessories can often be purchased for discount prices at meets.
- Catalogs are available with other merchandise (duffle bags, robes, fins, etc).
Team Apparel (to be worn at swim meets)
- Team suit: Black or Maroon suit preferred but not required.
- Swim cap (optional)
- Swim goggles
Orders for team suits, caps, and additional apparel are submitted throughout the season. Please see the designated apparel volunteer for details and an order form.
Swim Meet Information
Philosophy of Competition
MAAC engages in a multi-level competition program within USA Swimming – primarily in the Twin Cities Metro Area. Like our training program it attempts to provide challenging, yet success-orientated situations for swimmers of all ages and abilities.
Meet Schedule
The coaches decide on the swim meets with which the team will participate. Each season’s meet schedule is distributed with the registration materials. Please review this schedule to determine which meets your swimmer should attend. If you have any questions as to which meets are appropriate for your swimmer, please contact the coach.
Classification and Types of Meets
C/PRE-C—for swimmers who have not previously participated in a meet, as well as those individuals who have events in which their established times are at the C level or below. These meets are an excellent learning experience for novice swimmers. There generally are no awards given except possibly Best Time ribbons.
C Meets—are for relatively inexperienced swimmers who have achieved C level times. This level is usually combined with B level to create a meet in which there are both C and B events. These meets are most often held in the metro area. Awards are typically given for the top 6-8 swimmers in each level within each Age group.
B Meets—an intermediate level of competition for swimmers who have attained B level times. This level is usually combined with C level meets. These meets are most often held in the metro area. Awards are typically given for the top 6-8 swimmers in each level within each Age group.
A Meets—this level of competition is for exceptional swimmers who have accomplished A level times. Team scores are kept and team awards are given. These meets are most often held in the metro area, but may involve travel outside the Metro area. A meets may be combines with B/C meets or designated for swimmers with A or better times. Awards are typically given for the top 6-8 swimmers within each Age group.
State Championship—swimmers at this level achieved CHAMP time standards. This meet is held twice a year in March and August. The team state champion is decided at this meet. The Location is usually at the University of Minnesota, but could be anywhere in the state.
Zone* Meet—Swimmers at this level have attained the ZONE qualifying time. This is an all-star competition in which MAAC swimmers represent Team Minnesota. This meet is held in the summer after that state meet. It is sometimes held in Minnesota, but often located elsewhere. Other teams in our zone include Indiana, Iowa, Midwestern, Missouri Valley, Ohio, Michigan, Lake Erie and Illinois.
*Zone also refers to the fact that Twin Cities meets are divided into 2-4 regions on any given weekend.
Sectional Meet—the sectional meet has replaced the long standing Junior Nationals. There are to age groups and time standards are difficult to achieve. This meet will be held in a midwestern location and will help to determine a National Team Champion.
Senior Nationals—the best swimmers from the United States and around the world compete at this meet. There are no age limitations and the time cuts are extremely difficult. Every four years this meet becomes the Olympic Trials.
Attendance at Meets
Meets are essential to the philosophy of Menomonie Area Aquatic Club as a competitive swimming organization. Set aside the fact that swimming is the best aerobic activity in the world, it is the only true “total-body workout,” and every parent loves having a strong swimmer around when playing in a back-yard pool, lake, river, etc. The life lessons learned in a competitive youth sport will stay with a child for the rest of his or her life, proving to be extremely valuable when more important competitions are faced such as college entrance exams, job interviews, promotion opportunities, etc. Meets are scheduled on weekends throughout the season. The coach determines to which meets the team will attend (based on the MSI schedule and procedures). The schedule is posted on the MAAC calendar.
How to Enter Meets
Here is a step-by-step tutorial for entering a swim-meet:
- Review the meet MAAC meet schedule and determine if you wish to participate.
- A meet information email will be distributed about 2-3 weeks prior to the meet giving all the meet details. You can also monitor the MSI website for meet information: http://www.mnswim.org/
- Print off a copy of the Meet Entry Form or pick one up at the pool. Fill out the form for your swimmer and bring to practice along with a check for the meet fees. A typical meet costs $2.50 per swimmer with an additional $3.50 per “splash” or event and a $10.00 coaching fee per family attending the meet.
- You can give your meet registration to Melissa Kraft.
- A meet confirmation will be emailed out to everyone participating in case you wish to arrange car pooling etc.
We will be putting together relays depending on participation in a meet. If we have four swimmers at the meet in an age group, we will put together a relay. MAAC will pay the “splash” fees associated with Relay entries. In an otherwise individual sport, relays are very valuable in teaching young competitors to trust and depend on others to get a job done well. That aside, they are really fun to participate in.
Swim Meet Procedures
- Arrive at the pool 10-15 minutes prior to the warm-up time. Report to your coach on deck with your suit, cap, and goggles on. Warm-up will start immediately.
- A member of MAAC’s coaching staff will always conduct warm-ups.
- A team suit is recommended, but not necessary.
- Each swimmer is responsible for knowing which events he/she is swimming and for being present in the team area prior to each race.
- Report to the coach before and after each race.
- At most meets, electronic timing is used. The official time is generally the one recorded in the computer by the swimmer touching the touch pad and appearing on the scoreboard. If a swimmer misses the touch pad or there is a mechanical failure, various back up times may be used. The timing and score-keeping personnel analyze all times to determine the official times that are then posted as final results.
- In between races, swimmers are asked to rest and stay warm. They can remain on the pool deck and sit near their coach and teammates or they may sit with their parents.
- Hunger and dehydration can lead to poor performance. Drink and eat healthy throughout the meet.
- WHAT TO BRING:
- Team suit (if you have one)
- MAAC swim cap
- Two pairs of goggles
- Two towels
- Quiet games or books
- Water bottle and healthy snacks
Behavior at Meets
The same behavior is expected at meets as is expected during practices.
Communication
- MAAC will primarily be using e-mail, rather than phone trees for bad weather cancellation, meet reminders, etc. **Remember: If Menomonie Schools are closed and activities canceled, MAAC practice will also be canceled. If you do not have access to e-mail, please state that on the registration so that we can be sure you are getting the same information.
- MAAC also has a new web site under construction which can be found at www.MAACswimming.com. We will keep you posted on progress.
- And, of course, you can always contact the coach or board members directly. Before or after practice is the best time to discuss things with the coach.
- When there are problems or a question regarding practice, stroke instruction, meets, team rules or the training programs please bring them to the Coaches attention. If you need further assistance please contact any member of the MAAC board.
- When there are problems or questions concerning any other area of the club please contact any member of the MAAC board.
Volunteerism
A club of any kind cannot survive without the helping hands of parent volunteers. There are many ways you, as a parent, can get involved to make this a wonderful experience for your family. Participating in fundraisers, attending parent meetings regularly, becoming a committee member, running for elective position on the Board of Directors, organizing social functions, advertising and merchandising, posting items on the Team Bulletin Board, and becoming a meet official are just a few of the opportunities available.
Fundraising
MAAC uses fundraising to offset our registration fees. Each family is expected to participate in the fundraisers to help defray these costs. If a family cannot participate there will always be a buy-out option to the fundraisers. If you have ideas or suggestions, please contact a member of the MAAC board.
Thank you for supporting MAAC!