Swimming and diving are dangerous sports. While participating in these sports you may be injured. To reduce the risk of injury you will train using proper technique, and are to never practice unsupervised. Through proper conditioning and proper technique your chances of being injured are lessoned but not guaranteed.

STUDENT Athlete

As a student athlete you need to find a way to balance your team commitment with your academic responsibility. Practice is never an excuse to not do homework and homework is never an excuse to miss practice. Your time is valuable. Learn to manage your time wisely. Never be late. Never be late to school, class or practice. Be a reliable person that your team and coaches can count on to be where you are supposed to be when you need to be there.

 

As a member of the Western Swim Team

°         Be at practice every day, on time, and ready to improve yourself and team.

°         Remain academically eligible.

°         Do not participate in activities that will jeopardize your athletic eligibility.

°         Be positive towards your teammates, coaches, and officials.

°         Always practice good sportsmanship.

°         Take care of both your equipment and the schools equipment.

°         Give 100% effort in every race from start to finish.

°         Communicate with your coaches if something is bothering you or you are injured.

°         Do not practice any other sport or with any other team until you are released by the coaches.

°         Your loyalty is with WESTERN SWIMMING until the conclusion of the season.

 

Varsity Letter Criteria.

 

In order to earn a varsity letter in swimming an athlete must…

°         Score in at least ½ of all regular scheduled swim meets.

°         Attend no less than 90% of all practices.

°         Complete the season.

°         Be in good standing with the coaches.

Anyone who completes the season but does not meet all of the criteria will be awarded as jr. varsity.  

If your attendance is less than 80% you will be given a participation award.

 

Being a member of the TEAM.

Your loyalty is to WESTERN SWIMMING until the conclusion of the season.

 As a team you will experience both wins and losses. No one person has the ability to win or lose a meet. Each swim meet consists of twelve events. The difference between winning and losing may come down to one event, but the performance of the team in the prior eleven events is what will get us in this situation. Our ability to perform as a team in each event will decide the outcome of the meet.

You are expected to do things for the benefit of the team. This means, sometimes you may be asked to participate in an event or race that you do not particularly like or want to do. For the sake of the team you are expected to do it and give a 100% effort.

Practice to win

 You will compete like you practice. If you swim the practices just to get in the yards and make the intervals you will improve. However, if you swim practices with intensity, push yourself hard in practice and treat it like a race your improvement will be much greater. You will also be able to approach meets with much more confidence knowing that you have been working hard with competition and racing in mind. Dominate in practice to dominate the meet.

Injuries

If you are injured let the coaches know so we can take steps towards your recovery. Get to the trainer or doctor. Take your meds, do your therapy exercises, get back in the water.

Attendance

This is not a club. If you are going to be a member of the team you are expected to be at practice.  History has proven that the people who are here the most and working the hardest are the fastest and most valuable people to the team. Make the conscience decision to be one of those people.  Leaving early or coming late 3 times is the same as missing a practice. If your attendance is less than 80% you will not swim in any meet until it is above 80%.

Work and Swimming….. You have a practice schedule. Make sure your work does not interfere with your swimming commitment.

Every person on the team is counting on you to do your part to make this team the best it can be.

 Absence 

There is no excuse that makes up for not being here. If you are absent you will be counted as absent. Be at practice, in the water, swimming to get better.

BE HERE!!!! WE ARE ALL COUNTING ON YOU.

Team web page http://western.k12.in.us/whs/bbennett/