STROKES AND EVENTS:

The four individual competitive strokes are:

Freestyle is characterized by an alternate overhand motion of the arms and an alternating up and down flutter kick. (ALL AGES/200 yard Free is open event - at coaches descretion) 

Backstroke consists of an alternating motion of the arm while on the back using a flutter kick. (ALL AGES) 

Breaststroke requires simultaneous movements of the arms on the same horizontal plane. The hands are pulled from the breast in a heart-shaped pattern and recovered under the surface of the water except at the finish. The kick is a simultaneous somewhat circular motion similar to the action of a frog. On turns and at the finish, the swimmer must touch with both hands. (Ages 8&U -25 yds; ages 9-14 50 yds; 15-18 100yd)

Butterfly consists of a simultaneous overhand stroke of the arms combined with an undulating dolphin kick. In the kick, the simmer must keep both legs together and may NOT use any other kick. (Ages 8&U -25 yds; ages 9-14 50 yds; 15-18 100yd)

The following events are in addition to the above strokes:

Individual Medley (I.M.) features all four strokes. The swimmer begins with the butterfly, then changes to the backstroke, then breaststroke and finally freestyle. This event is only for swimmers ages 9 -14 in 100 yards and 15 and up 200 yards.  

Medley Relay consists of 4 team members swimming one leg each of the four strokes. The first swimmer swims the backstroke, the second swimmer swims breaststroke, and third swimmer swims butterfly and the last swimmer swims freestyle.

Freestyle Relay consists of 4 team members swimming freestyle for each leg.

CLEAR CREEK CHAMP SERIES

All swimmers who compete in two dual meets and meet the qualifying time in an event will earn a place at the CCSL Championship Series Meet held at the end of the swim season. This series consists of the Reserve Meet and Champ Meet.   Swimmers may achieve times in either of these events.  If a swimmer achieves times for reserve meet - and achieves a Champ Time they may swim in the Champ Meet.  An excellent goal for the season is to improve on time at each meet and strive to qualify for the CCSL Championship meet. While a swimmer may qualify in some or all events, the swimmers are event limited for both. (If swimmers do not make their Champ Times in the regular season meet - don't worry they will have one LAST CHANCE at the Last Chance meet - the week prior to Champ Meet) 

GENERAL NUTRITION GUIDELINES

1. Fluids and hydration are critical to maintaining the body in top training and competition shape.

a. Drink plenty of water, before during and after practice.

b. Sports drinks are good for carbohydrates, while water is good for hydration.

c. Drinks that contain sugar and caffeine, like sodas, cause dehydration.

2. A daily nutritional plan to enhance healthy growth and top performance is optimal.

a. When planning nutrition for a meet, realize that the food that is consumed 24-72 hours prior to a meet are the substances that will provide primary energy for performance. Emphasize carbohydrate-type foods and items that contain complex carbohydrates.

b. The meals eaten the day of the meet should contain lots of fluids and foods high in carbohydrates. Breakfast and lunch should be of good nutritional value and dinner should be normal.

EQUIPMENT

Swimsuit: The swim team selects a new style of suit every two years for families to purchase if desired. Swimmers are encouraged to wear the official team suit, although this is NOT required. We suggest you have a swimsuit for practice and use your team suite (if offered/available/purchased) for only for meets, not for practice or recreational swimming. TECH SUITS are not allowed for meets.   Please see rules in Handbook for regular season meet and Champ Invite for rules for suits for this event.

Practice Suit: Swimmers should have a suit that is only used for practices and recreational swimming. Girls should have a one piece with a cross back; boys should wear a jammer or drag suit.

Caps: A swim cap is worn during a race or practice to cut down on resistance and to protect the swimmer’s hair from the effects of chlorine. It is recommended that all swimmers wear a cap. Team caps also are available for purchase.  

Goggles: Swimmers wear goggles during practice and competition to enhance visibility and protection from the effects of chemicals in the water.

Towel: Large beach towels work best.

Sweats: Swimmers are encouraged to bring/wear sweat suits during meets, and before/after practice.

IT IS A GOOD IDEA TO LABEL ALL PERSONAL BELONGINGS WITH A SWIMMER’S NAME BECAUSE SO MUCH OF THEIR EQUIPMENT LOOKS ALIKE.

SPIRITWEAR

Each year during Registration the team has a variety of items with the New Mark Stingrays logo to purchase for swimmers, family and friends. This is the only time these items are available for order for the year. Most items are ready for pickup at the beginning of the season.

Heat Sheets

The Heat Sheet is a paper packet/program that shows all the participating swimmers and what events they will participate in as well as the heat number and lane number. The announcer will say the event and heat number. Sometimes there is also an electronic board with this information.

How to read heat sheet: 

Seed Time is the fastest time a swimmer has swum an event.

The event number

NT means "No Time" has been recorded previously

The Heat number

The lane number (fastest swimmers are in the middle lanes)

How to mark your child

In order to help you and your child keep track of their specific events at the meet, most families mark the events on the child similarly to the example below. First, highlight all places in the Heat Sheet where your child's name is found. Then, use that Event, Heat and Lane information to create a grid/list on your child's arm in permanent marker.

Make four (4) column headings - E, H, L, S. These stand for Event, Heat, Lane and Stroke. Go through the heat sheet and find your swimmer's name which you highlighted. For each event, write the event number, heat number, lane number and stroke in the corresponding column.

Helpful Hint: For younger swimmers, write your swimmer's name in big letters on his/her arm or back. This helps the volunteers who are lining up the swimmers in the ready area and at the starting blocks.

In this example, the child is swimming:

Event #11, Heat 4, Lane 4, 25M Freestyle

Event #31, Heat 1, Lane 6, 25M Backstroke

Event #41, Heat 2, Lane 3, 25M Breaststroke

Event #59, Heat 2, Lane 4, Free Relay

Each swimmer is responsible for their own event schedule. Listen carefully as the events are called so that you do not miss your event.

At the conclusion of the meet, the Sharpie can be removed with alcohol-containing hairspray, hand sanitizer or rubbing alcohol.

Disqualification (DQ- Your Athlete needs Dairy Queen)

Occasionally, a judge will disqualify (or "DQ") a swimmer during their event. Typically, the judge will inform the swimmer of this at the end of their race. There are official stroke rules listed on the Clear Creek Swim League website in the Handbook (under resources).  CCSL does follow USA Swimming Technical Rules.   Please visit those websites for more exact rules on each stroke. Below is a list of common reasons a swimmer is disqualified.

Freestyle: Pulling on the lane line; pushing off from the bottom of the pool

Breaststroke: Improper kick; arm pull below the hips; failure to perform two-handed touch at turn or finish

Butterfly: Flutter kick instead of dolphin kick (swimmer must keep both legs together); failure to perform two-handed touch at turn or finish

Backstroke: Rolling over to stomach as the swimmer touches the wall; improper flip turn

Relays: Leaving the starting block too soon

Once a swimmer gets disqualified, they are not eligible to place in that event no matter what their time is.

Every swimmer has been DQ'd at one point or another! Please reassure your swimmer that it is okay and that you are proud of them and take them to Dairy Queen.  The coaches will have tips for them to improve and will go over these with the swimmer in practice.

Diving

During practices, your child will receive instruction on diving off a starting block. If they are unable to do this, they are permitted to dive off the side of the pool. A swimmer is also allowed to be in the water and push off the side of the wall to begin the event.