SWIM & DIVE. A proud past and a promising future.

SWIM & DIVE A proud past and a promising future.

History: Alexandria Girls Varsity Swimming -12 Central Lakes Conference Titles -10 Section Titles Alexandria Boys Varsity Swimming -2 True Team Section Titles -13 Central Lakes Conference Titles -10 Section Titles -2 MN State AA Team Titles -1 Runner-Up MN State AA Team Titles -1997-98 NISCA Class 2 National Dual Meet Champs

Hello Cardinal Families, Welcome to the 2015 Girls Swim and Dive Season! I am excited for team to have fun, learn, and push each other and themselves this year. One question that I have of you is to please ask your daughter regularly: How were you a good teammate today? when you speak of the season. We have an excellent group of developing leaders, a rounded squad of returners, and a host of happy faces that I aim to start and finish the season with a sense of pride and accomplishment. In the packet below, you will read about the high school coaching staff, goals, expectations, etiquette, policies, and much more. I encourage you to ask questions, let me know of comments or concerns, and to take a great engaged role with your daughter s season. You can expect weekly emails from me and to always be more than willing and happy to speak with you and your family. Go Cards! Coach Smith

Present: Richard Smith, Alexandria Public School District, #206 Head Swim and Dive Coach -Member of Bismarck YMCA Golden Seals Swim Club (1992-1998) Multiple event state qualifier and finalist 1994-1998 -Member and Two-Time Captain of Bismarck Century High Swim and Dive Team (1992-1998) Multiple State Qualifier in the 200 Free and 100 Fly Top 16 in ND State 100 Butterfly -Bismarck YMCA Golden Seals Assistant Swim Coach (1998-1999) Head Age Group Coach with multiple state champions -St. Cloud State University Swim Team Member and Captain (1999-2003) Presidential Leadership Award North Central Conference Finalist in 100 & 200 Butterfly Two Time Husky Award Winner -St. Cloud YMCA Swim Club Assistant Swim Coach (2000-2003) Multiple state champions, Zone Qualifiers, Junior National Qualifier

-Cathedral St. John Prep Assistant Swim Coach (2002-2003) Section and Conference Champions, 4 th Place State Finish in 2003 Class A MN HS Championships 4 NISCA All-Americans -Peak Performance Swim Camp (2008-2009) Nick Baker, Canadian Olympic Coach -Stanford International Swim Camp Coach (2004-2010) Skip Kenney, Richard Quick, Lea Mauer, Ted Knapp- USA Olympians 2004 and 2008 USA Olympic Camp Assistant -Thunder Mountain Aquatic Club Head Swim Coach (2004-2007) 3 Far Western Qualifiers -Buena High School Head Swim Coach (2004-2009) 2008 Top Ten Southern Arizona Coach Award 1 st NISCA School All-American -St. Cloud State University Assistant Swim Coach (2009-2011) 18 NCAA Division II All-Americans 12 NCAA Division II Academic All-Americans 4 Time Conference Champions Top 10 National Finish in 2009 -Mayville State University SEALS Swim Club Advisor (2011-2014) Co-Founder Advisor for Student Athlete Advisory Council -Alexandria High School Head Swim Coach (2014-present)

Best prep program because of the history, district, and community. - Special Education Teacher at Transition Tech Steve Kluver, Alexandria Public School District #206 Boys Varsity Coach -2009 Willmar HS Graduate -Member and Senior Capitan of Willmar Boys Swim Team(2003-2009) -MN State Meet Qualifier(2006-2009) -Multiple year All State Backstroker and Sprint Freestyler -MN True Team Participant(2008 &2009) -3rd place finish both years -Alexandria Swim Club Coach(2015-Present) -Alexandria High School Boys Assistant Coach(2014-Present) -PE Teacher at DMS Molly Comer, Alexandria Public School District #206 Girls Varsity Coach -2008 graduate of Jefferson High School -USA club swimmer from 1996-2006 -Cardinal swimmer from 2004-2008 -Section 8AAA Swim Team Member -NCAA Division II golfer for Augustana College -NCAA All American Scholar Golf Team 2010-2011 -NCAA Degree Completion Award Winner -7th Grade Math Teacher at Discovery Middle School

Anthony Olivero, Alexandria Public School District #206 Dive Coach -2009 Graduate of Northfield High School -2010-2012 Northfield Dive Coach -6 year Diving Member -Captain of Prep Team Expectations: 1. Have Fun. 2. Contribute Positively. 3. Be a good teammate. 4. Respect and Accountability. Two of the harder life lessons that we will work daily to identify, exhibit, progress, and reward. 5. Rules and Records were written for the same reason: To be broken. 6. Hold the team and oneself to the values, goals, and challenges set by the squad at the beginning of the year. 7. Pride, Collective Responsibility, Caring, Trust, Communication. 8. Serve. Be an open-minded leader for this year and years to come. Build yourself as well as the team. Bring your teammates up, fill their bucket, be in the top twenty. 9. The team is here for the greater good. No one is above the team, and the team is not greater than any member. 10. You are with the team at any and all meet, regardless of entry or participation. We will post the Section Team before the CLC Meet. We would like all teammates come to Finals with the team and all Section Team Members are expected to be at the meet. 11. Have a pair of swim meet tennis shoes to wear on deck. Be prepared as an athlete to compete. A well-

rounded approach to the work you put in during the offseason, in-season, and balance of diet, nutrition, academics, family, and lifestyle is obvious to how you prepare. Attention to the details. ABSENCES: 1. Unexcused absences: If in doubt, ask the coach. Expect negotiation and compromise, however. a. Being in school for the day but not at practice, (even if you don t feel 100%, come in to explain, for warm-up, or for dry land training, at least), b. Going on non-school time trips (fan buses, rec. skiing, shopping with friends), c. Parties at a friends place, (make sure you are at the whole practice first) d. Jobs, (Schedule around practices; you know when we swim) e. Hunting, (you ve got the weekend - after Sat. AM practice) f. In general, if it s not school related, if you are not going with your parents, it is unexcusable to be gone from all or part of a practice. 2. Excusable absences: Coaches appreciate communication on these matters a. Staying after school to catch up on work jeopardizing your grade (bring a note), b. Being ill and staying at home for the day, c. Emergencies or family trips (plan ahead when possible, however)

GOALS: 1. Have fun. 2. We spend the first two weeks defining our goals and values as a team. 3. Our first away trip we will write down our individual goals. 4. Talk with family about team and individual goals. A common question around the dinner table: How were you a good teammate today? 5. To compete with a full line-up. 6. Train with a specific purpose. MSHSL RULES: 1. Smoking, drugs and alcohol use violations are governed by the MSHSL rules. This is a 24-7-365 policy. a. Any athlete in violation of the MSHSL rules or 206 policy may also forfeit their lettering potential for the present or upcoming season. b. A captain will also forfeit their title as captain for the present or upcoming season. Etiquette

1. Be at practice 15 min. early to dress and stretch. Tardiness shows a lack of respect to the team. 2. Arrange for a ride home 15 min. after practice. 3. If getting to practice is a problem, call around to others living nearby. 4. All athletes will ride the bus home from meets unless your parents are taking you home. 5. Do your school work in a timely fashion so you can sleep 8 hours. 6. We do a team warm-up and team cool-down as a team. Individualized preparation comes after team, and visitation with family/friends occurs afterward when meet is in intermittence or concluded. 7. Character defines you. Reputation precedes you. Make good choices and be a good teammate. 8. Keep cell phones, other personal media devices, and other things of value LOCKED in lockers during practice. Cell phones are to be used appropriately and not distract from being a positive member of the team. 9. Home Meets. You must be in the pool area and prepared to help host for our facility. Come to deck immediately after school to snack, homework, stretch, work turns, talk to teammates, coaches, and just be a positive teammate in general. We will sit together and encourage teammates at all meets (home and away). We ask that high schoolers help junior high meets with timing and we ask that boys help during girls season and girls help during boys season for timing. After home meets, the team will help put the meet away: chairs/laneguides/touchpads/bleachers/etc. Everyone must stay and help, as we all want to go home as soon as possible. During

meets, we ask that the student-athletes have footwear on and stay warm/hydrated in-between warm-up and their respective events. Mental preparedness will have direct positive results come the postseason. 10. Away Meets. Departure will be from AAHS to DMS. We will have a brief stop at DMS to leave for the away city. If the meet falls on a day without school or before school, we would leave immediately from DMS. Please have homework to work on with the ride to the site of the contest. A more calming approach to away contests is appreciated and expected. The bus will always come back to DMS in the evening and if a student has their vehicle at AAHS, they are responsible to pick-up as the bus will head straight back to the bus barn when we are done talking and cleaning. Lettering: 1) Acquire 25 individual swim varsity meet points + make a time standard in a competition. 2) Acquire 50 individual swim varsity meet team points 3) Advance to the top 16 at CLC/Sections/State. 4) Coach's discretion, esp. for a senior after 4 years on the team 5) Score above one hundred and fifty points on the board twice for diving.

Note: The points for diving shall be obtained twice because of subjective judging. 6) Only Varsity members are only considered for lettering. It is plausible to begin a season on jv and finish varsity. 7) Lettering points reset at the beginning of the season. Entries: CLC : 4 indiv. per event 3 relays per relay race Section: 4 indiv. per event 1 relay per event Girls Section Cut Time Standards: 200 Free- 2:25.00 500 Free- 6:30.00 200 IM- 2:45.00 100 Fly- 1:18.00 100 Back- 1:18.0 50 Free- 29.00 100 Free- 1:05.00 100 Breast-1:23.00 Boys Section Cut Time Standards: 200 Free-2:12 200 IM-2:34 50 Free-25.5 100 Fly-1:12 100 Free-57.5 500 Free-6:10 100 Back-1:12 100 Breast-1:20

State: Only state qualifiers are able to compete. Alternates in relays will be considered on case-by-case and annual basis. Consideration on state placement, experience, team/school ability, and team contribution. (Girls) Top 2 in each event; 3 for diving. Time Standard. (Boys) Top 3 in each event; 4 for diving. Time Standard. CLC: Alexandria Brainerd Fergus Falls Sartell Sauk Rapids-Rice Stc Apollo Stc Cathedral (girls only) Stc Tech Rocori Willmar Section 6A: (Girls) Albany Alexandria Little Falls Melrose Rocori Apollo Sartell Sauk Ctr Hold'nford Morris Ws Cathedral Section 5A: (Boys) Alexandria Bemidji Detroit Lakes Fergus Falls Melrose/Sauk Ctr Morris Perham Thief River Falls Sartell ROLE OF CAPTAINS: 1. To schedule, host, and supervise team gatherings and functions. 2. To solve conflicts and problems involving teammates. 3. To act as liaison between the athletes and coach. 4. To be a leader and positive role model for the others. 5. Recognize and report to the coach athletes who are not behaving or who are breaking MSHSL rules. 6. Attend Team Leaders functions.

ROLE OF CLASS REPRESENTATIVES/LEADERSHIP COUNCIL: 1. Ensure team cohesiveness is smooth. 2. Assist with conflict resolution when appropriate. 3. Assist Bubble Buddies or Big Sibling/Little Sibling 4. Special assignments and projects. *Class Representative/Leadership Council used typically when team size is above 40. ADDITIONAL COMMENTS AND POLICIES FOR THE SPORT: 1. Emphasis will be equally divided between winning and participation. There will also be some tough decisions to be made during the season. 2. Situational consequences involving team results will usually be considered first before the impact on an individual. The meet line-up for: a) individual events will be made by the coach with team place as the first priority. i) a team member's talent and versatility are considered. b) relay events will be made by the coach with relay place and team place as the priority. 3. Relay participation is based on time, experience at that race, seniority and versatility. At 50 yards, 0.5 sec. faster then others is an easy decision; at 100 yards, 1.0 sec.

Less than those time differences is coach's discretion. 4. Relay membership may be subject to change from meet to meet, prelims to finals, And from CLC to Sections and to State depending on previous personal performance, which relay(s) have the best chance to qualify, and which relay(s) have a chance to place (putting in our best and most appropriate kids just like in the dual meet season). 5. These circumstances create touchy situations. Every effort will be made to provide information about the changes well in advance so that there is an understanding of the issues and the reasoning behind the options being considered. Example: Let's say we are fortunate enough to be able to "download" the 200 F.R. and bolster the 400 F.R. for CLC or Sections. Does the team not have the option to upgrade the 200 F.R. again for the Section or State meet? 6. Relay alternates will be appropriately selected based on times, experience, dedication, and versatility. Alternates will be expected to behave as if they were an actual participant. 7. Diving will be considered one of the eleven events in a meet. The diving specialists will be under the supervision of the diving coach but receive no special privileges. They will be expected to attend the same length and number of practices, swim if requested by the head coach and agreed to by the student-athlete, and be treated as any other specialist on the team (fliers, breast strokers, etc...) 8. All team members will play an active and enthusiastic team role. All varsity members will play a competitive and wellrepresented role.

9. Acceleration of 7 th or 8 th graders will be considered on a case-by-case basis. General considerations are for those student-athletes that have the previous season s section time cut considerations. Other considerations are based on a varsity need to fill four competitive varsity spots for each event. Lastly, coach s discretion will be used in the best interest of the team and program. A family meeting will be set up by the coach to initiate the process. 10. Students who are on suspension, whether in school or out of school, will not be eligible for participation (practice or meet) on those days of suspension. 11. A definite "Do" or "DON'T" policy for senior high extracurricular activities on days of inclement weather has not been established. Decisions about meets and optional practices may be made during the day. Personal safety must, however, be the first consideration. If school is called off during the day optional practice will begin right after dismissal with no Junior High practices or meets. Junior High students who are a part of the varsity can participate. When athletes are ready to go home after a practice a call ought to be given home to alert the parents that they are on their way. For weather related announcements call the Activities Line at 763-1850 or listen to the radio stations. For additional information, see the district website at: www.alexandria.k12.mn.us and click on "High School Activities".