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Team Handbook

Goals: Our goal this summer is create a positive and supportive team environment, develop skills and confidence in our swimmers, and enjoy summer!

Basic Requirements: There is no minimum age limit for the swim team; however, each swimmer must be able to complete 25 yards of the pool freestyle in under 55 seconds. This is for safety reasons! Please keep in mind that swim team doesn’t take the place of swimming lessons. Swimmers should be able to keep themselves safe in the water while swimming age/skill level appropriate laps.

The first two days of practice will be “try it days.” During these days, coaches will assess each swimmer and ensure that we feel safe and confident in each one’s abilities to swim 25 yards with no rest. It is also a time for you and your kid to figure out if this is something they’d like to continue through the summer. If you decide swim team is not for the best this summer, please know that you can drop it and be reimbursed - as long as it is within the two try it days!

Fees: Payment is due at the time of registration (registration is due before entering the water. If a swimmer is joining late, registration will need to be completed as soon as possible. Registration is necessary to begin practicing).

Participation Cost/Swimmer:  https://splashpoolservices.com/product/swim-team-ridgewood-hills/

Equipment Fee

Equipment Fee: $20 CASH or Venmo @Jenny-Pitmon by the end of the first week of practice.

What this covers and why it’s important:

  1. 1 team cap per swimmer
  2. Replacements for stop watches, lane lines, clipboards, megaphone, ribbons, containers for storage
  3. Fun activities for kids including a season-end party!

Each swimmer will get 1 team cap, and if they lose it or break it, we have some replacements available at cost.

Fundraising and Volunteer Expectations for Swim Team:

1. City meet - each team will need to provide a given amount of parent volunteers to be heat seaters and timers. Information will be sent out as it gets closer.

2. 4th of July Barbecue - We will need volunteers to donate food to sell, as well as run the stand!

3. Friday Funday Donuts - We take one volunteer a week to bring in donuts for our team on Friday morning. It is usually about 2 dozen donuts, and Kings Soopers donuts work great.

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Coach/Team Expectations at a Glance

Expectations of Swimmers:

✔Swimmers should show up on time to practice, ready to go. We understand that conflicts may arise, but do your best to inform coaches of these ahead of time if possible.

✔Swimmers should be respectful and listen to instructions from the coach, as well as meet officials and pool staff.

✔Swimmers should expect to get out what they put in. Coaches are there to support and guide swimmers, but it is up to your swimmer to see how much they get out of practice and meets.

Expectations for Practice:

—Swimmers:

✔Swimmers must have goggles that will stay on their face (a back-up pair is recommended)

✔It is recommended that swimmers with long hair wear a cap – a purple and black cap will be provided to each swimmer for meets (swimmers must wear these on race days).

✔Swimmers must wear a suit that allows them to practice appropriately

✔Swimmers should bring a towel to every practice

—Parents:

✔During practice, parents should stay off the main deck area, and away from the pool. Coaches will be keeping our focus on the kids during practice, but if you have any questions feel free to ask them after practice is done (or via email).

✔Please don’t hesitate to contact coaches with any questions or concerns.

Expectations for Meets:

—Swimmers:

✔Be on time for warm up! Warm ups are vital for a good and safe race, so we need everyone there to get in the water before the start of our warm up time (warm up times vary with every meet, ask a coach if you are unsure of the warm up time for an upcoming meet).

✔Swimmers should have goggles, a cap (or two), proper suits, and towels.

✔Swimmers need to bring water bottles and snacks to help stay hydrated and filled for meets.

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Practice Details and Expectations:

  • If the temperature is below 50 degrees, we will be having dry land practice (come prepared with running shoes and water).
  • If the temperature is below 40 degrees, practice will be cancelled.
  • If there is a thunderstorm (unlikely, but possible) we will not have practice.
  • IF ANY OF THE ABOVE OCCURS, 

    a swimtopia notification email will be sent out to each of the swimmer’s contacts. So please check your email if you are unsure. Also, if a coach is not present at the pool and it is locked, DO NOT LEAVE YOUR CHILD!

  • Swimmers are expected to be 5 minutes early before practice so that we can enter the water on time.
  • Swimmers should be respectful of coaches (as well as teammates) and listen to all instructions.
  • Swimmers will not use foul language or inappropriate actions.
  • Swimmers must wear a proper bathing suit to practice.
  • Swimmers are encouraged to complete the sets to the best of their ability.
  • Parents should plan to stay away from the main deck during practices.
  • Have fun and work hard!
    • What to bring to practice:
  • Suit, goggles, cap, water bottle, and a towel (running shoes if it is a dryland workout)
  • A good attitude!
    • Additional Information about Swim Meets:

    Meets: We will participate in several dual/tri meets throughout the season, in addition to the City and State Meets at the end of the season. We are also HOSTING ONE TEAM THIS SEASON. We will need parent volunteers to make this work.

    **Out of consideration for others on your team, please let a coach know if you will not be able to attend any of these as soon as possible. It is very important for relays and heating!!! Entries are due two days prior to the meet. You will sign your athlete up via swimtopia (https://ridgewoodhills.swimtopia.com/) for the individual events they would like to swim. Coaches will put together relays. Each athlete can be entered up to 3 individual events per meet.

    Meet Sign Ups: There are specific directions under swim meet sign up in our swimtopia account. If you have trouble accessing this, or questions please contact Mikayla. All decisions for relay placements will be at the coach’s discretion; however, please let the coaches know if your athlete does not want to swim relays in the notes while registering them for individual events. Swimmers are encouraged to try each event.

    Meet Expectations:

  • Swimmers are to be respectful of the host team and any other team we will be swimming against, since we cannot host more than one meet, we will be at someone else’s pool. (Meet etiquette requires swimmers to stay in the pool until everyone in their heat has finished)
  • No foul language or inappropriate actions.
  • Keep the Ridgewood Hills area clean --Swimmers should leave the pool in the same or better condition than they found it. (Clean up trash, stuff, and make sure nothing was forgotten).
  • Good sportsmanship — after a race shake the hands of the swimmers next to you and tell them good race (even if they are on your team), no bad mouthing other teams during heating, etc.
  • Swimmers must wear their team racing suit and cap, as well as goggles that will stay on their face.

    • What to bring to meets:

  • Sunscreen - we will be outside of most of our meets, so proper sun protection is a must. I recommend products with zinc in them as they tend to stay on best in the water.
  • Healthy snacks — if you would like some good meet snack ideas, there are some posted on swimtopia in the Swim Meet 101 tab.
  • Water, and plenty of it — keeping swimmers hydrated is always a good thing. Carbonated drinks don’t feel very well when you are swimming so try to stay away from soda or carbonated water.
  • Multiple towels — more than one towel is nice for multiple races or when it is cold out. No one likes to dry off with a cold wet towel.
  • A blanket to sit on, or lawn chairs — sometimes, early in the morning the grass can be wet so it is nice to have something to sit on.
  • Extra goggles and caps — just in case of emergency

    • Meet Schedule:
    • June 11th - Intrasquad meet
    • June 15th @ Maple Hills
    • June 19th @ Stetson Creek vs. Stoneridge
    • June 29th @ Observatory vs. Collindale
    • July 6th @ Bucking Horse vs. Maple Hill
    • July 12-13 City Meet @ Village Green
    • July 19-21 State Meet


    We are going with SOLID black suits again this year; we suggest going to MI Sports in North Loveland to pick up suits, as they have good quality suits in a wide selection, and many at reasonable prices that beat many online prices. MI Sports also gives our team a discount, so make sure you are part of the Ridgewood Hills Dolphins.


    If you want to order Ridgewood Hills Swim Team gear (shirts, hoodies, and/or sweatpants), please place your order online by May 31st! (these are not required, but they are fun to have!)

    Here is the link: https://www.swimmisports.com/collections/ridgewood-hills-swim-team

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    Our goal is to create a positive and supportive team environment, develop skills and confidence in our swimmers, and enjoy summer!

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