Fall Aquatics Information
Swim Lesson Schedule
Group Swim Lessons
Cost $54 YMCA Members | $87 Non-Members
September 6-30 | October 4-28 | November 1-18* | November 29-December 16
* Private Lessons Only
Monday & Wednesday or Tuesday & Thursday
Weekday Classes (Monday-Thursday)
Preschool Program
Pike, Eel, Ray, Starfish 9:30 a.m. | 10:15 a.m.
Youth Program (6 & older)
1 p.m. Home School swim lessons
1:45 p.m. Special Needs Swim Lessons
6 p.m. Polliwog, Guppy, Minnow, Fish & up
Saturday Classes
September 4, 11, 18, 25
Aqua Babies | 10-10:45 a.m.
Cost $22 YMCA Members | $44 Non-Members
Private & Semi-Private Lessons
PRIVATE SWIM LESSONS
Want to learn how to swim but not in a group setting? Want to work on your technique? Private Swim Lessons is just what you are looking for. You will receive 6/ 30 minutes sessions with a certified swim lesson instructor. Classes are Monday & Wednesday or Tuesday & Thursday. Please fill out registration form and return it with your payment to the front desk and the Aquatics Department will contact you the Friday before the session to start to set up your times.
Cost $90 YMCA Members (per child)| $108 Non-Members (per child)
SEMI-PRIVATE SWIM LESSONS
Semi-private swim lessons must have 2 swimmers that are between the ages of 3-5 or 6 and older at time of registration. You will receive 6/ 30 minutes sessions with a certified swim lesson instructor. Classes are Monday & Wednesday or Tuesday & Thursday. Please fill out registration form and return it with your payment to the front desk and the Aquatics Department will contact you the Friday before the session to start to set up your times.
Cost $70 YMCA Members (per child)| $90 Non-Members (per child)
Make-Up lessons
Make-up lessons will be done on Fridays of the week that they are canceled.
The YMCA reserves the right to cancel a class due to weather or pool issues.
Make-up lessons will not be rescheduled due to participant absence.
YMCA Swim Lesson Levels
YMCA Parent/Child program
Shrimp, Kipper, Ina, Perch | 6-36 Months | No Skills Required. Parent assisted program designed to increase comfort in the water. Provide positive learning environment for aquatics.
YMCA Preschool Program
Almost 3 | This is a transitional class from the Parent/Child class to Pike/w Parents and/or Pike class. These lessons are specially designed for 2 year olds only. Parent’s must be in the water for all class sessions.
Pikes with Parents NEW for 2010 | 3-5years | Parent/Child class. Designed to bridge between Parent/Child and independent swimming lessons. Pikes w/ Parents cover all the same skills as the Pike level with parental supervision in the water. The goal is to prepare the preschool swimmer to independently and comfortably participate in the Pike level. It is recommended that children ages 3-5 participate in Pikes w/parents and/or receive approval from instructor to register for the independent Pike level. Must complete Pikes w/ Parents before you can register for any Preschool Level class. Please see Aquatics Director if you feel that your child doesn’t need this class.
Pike | 3-5 Years | No Skills Required. In Class: Will learn to blow bubbles, put face in water, proper kicking, paddling, and front and back floats with use of flotation devices.
Eel | 3-5 Years | Skills Required: Put face in water, float on front and back with assistance, swim 5 feet without flotation device. In Class: Will learn to bob, kick on back and front, and back float, swim without assistance for 15 feet, wet ball and synchronized swimming skills.
Ray | 3-5 Years | Skills Required: Swim without flotation device for 15 feet, float on front and back, jump into water without help. In Class: Will learn front crawl, elementary backstroke, treading water, synchronized swimming skills and wet ball activities.
Starfish | 3-5 Years | Skills Required: Tread water, swim 25 feet using a modified crawl stroke, and swim on back. In Class: Will learn survival float, kneeling and sitting dives, boating safety, to coordinate front crawl with rotary breathing and back crawl 25 yards.
YMCA Youth Program
Polliwog | 6-12 Years | No Skills Required. In Class: Will be introduced to front crawl, front and back floats, putting face in water and personal water safety skills.
Guppy | MUST COMPLETE Polliwog | 6-12 Years | Skills Required: Blow bubbles, put face in water, float on front and back and paddle 15 feet without assistance. In Class: Will learn to tread water, rudimentary 25 yards front and back crawl, jump into deep end, kneeling dive.
Minnow | MUST COMPLETE Guppy | 6-12 Years | Skills Required: Rudimentary 25 yards front and back crawl, jump into deep end, and tread water for 30 seconds. In Class: Will build endurance swimming, reinforce fundamentals of front crawl, elementary backstroke, and diving. Introduction to breaststroke. Emphasize rescue and safety skills.
Fish | MUST COMPLETE Minnow| 6-12 Years | Skills Required: Swim 2 lengths each of front crawl and backstroke in good form. Can dive in water. In Class: Will learn to perform 50 yards of each: backstroke, sidestroke, and open turns.
Flying Fish | MUST COMPLETE Fish | 6-12 Years | Skills Required: Swim 2 lengths of front crawl, back crawl and breaststroke in succession, survival float 7 minutes, and tread water for 3 minutes. In Class: Will learn bilateral breathing, inverted scissors on side, introduction to butterfly and flip turns.
Shark | MUST COMPLETE Flying Fish | 6-12 Years | Skills Required: Excellent front and back crawl. Demonstrate coordination in breaststroke and butterfly, swim under water 15 yards. In Class: Will learn first aid techniques, swim 2 lengths of each; front and back crawl, breaststroke, and butterfly nonstop, lifesaving strokes, and surface dives.
YMCA Adult Program
Adult | 13 and older | No Skills Require: Tailored to individual. In Class: Will learn floating, front crawl and back crawl, rhythmic breathing, safety, stroke development and endurance.
Swim Birmingham YMCA
Swim Birmingham YMCA (SBY)
Swim Birmingham YMCA is a year round swim team offering training for beginners though national level competitive. SBY’s certified coaches will dramatically improve your child’s swimming ability, while maintaining the YMCA’s focus on positive character values; caring, honesty, respect, and responsibility. SBY is also the most convenient and economical swim team in town. To participate with SBY your child must be evaluated by a Swim Birmingham YMCA Coach. Please note that Group placement will be done by a Swim Birmingham YMCA Coach.
Practice Times Practice resumes Monday, August 23, 2010*
*First week of practice will include evaluations.
SuperSquad - Tuesday & Thursday 3:45-4:45 p.m.
Bronze Group - Monday, Wednesday, & Friday (option) 3:45-4:45 p.m.
Silver Group - Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, & Friday 3:45-5:15 p.m.
Gold Group - Monday-Friday 3:45-5:15 p.m.
All practice times subject to change
Cost
$95 Registration fee (USA Swimming Registration, shirt, cap, and tattoos)
SuperSquad $175 YMCA Members - $227 Non-Members
$45 monthly YMCA Members - $57 monthly Non-Members
Bronze $200 YMCA Members - $260 Non-Members
$50 monthly YMCA Members - $65 monthly Non-Members
Silver $250 YMCA Members - $325 Non-Members
$63 monthly YMCA Members - $82 monthly Non-Members
Gold $280 YMCA Members | $340 Non-Members
$70 monthly YMCA Members - $85 monthly Non-Members
Prices are based on how much your child is in the water.
Financial Assistance is always available.
* Monthly payments only available by bank draft only.
Evaluation Week
August 23-27 | 3:45-5:15 p.m.
Ice Cream Social
August 26 | 5-7 p.m.
Lifeguarding
Show the world what you are made of.
Being a lifeguard is a very challenging and rewarding job. This class will certify participants in the American Red Cross Lifeguarding, CPR for the Professional Rescuer/AED, First-Aid as well as Oxygen Administration. Participants must attend all classes as well as pass a written and water test.
Class Prerequisites
• Must be 15 years of age or older on or before the last scheduled day of class.
• Swim 300 yards of the pool continuously (using freestyle and breast stroke)
• Retrieve 10 pound brick from the bottom of the pool and swim it back to
the other side of the pool using only your legs in a 1 minute and 40 seconds
Class Dates
October 25-30
Monday-Friday 6-10 p.m. | Saturday 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
If you need to get your lifeguard training recertified you must attend the Friday-Sunday of any of the classes listed above. The cost is $100
Cost
$70 non refundable deposit | $150 due on the 2nd day of class.
Blended Learning
Online CPR/AED Adult, Child,
Infant and First Aid
In the continuing collaboration between our association and the American Red Cross, an online-experiential “Blended Learning First Aid/CPR/AED” certification program is now available. The program is designed to prepare individuals to respond to life-threatening emergencies through a combination of online (web-based) lessons and traditional instructor-led training. Blended Learning participants complete the knowledge portion online at home and at their own pace, and then demonstrate those learned -skills in a special class at the Shelby County Branch, conducted by association Aquatics Quality Assurance Administrator, Jennifer Dick.
The traditional class “Time Saver,” is four-five hours. “Blended” learning is self-paced, to remove the pressure of learning or relearning the information in a short period of time. You control how long it will take you to go through the information. After you complete the online portion, you will then come into a skill session class and perform your learned-skills. Depending on class size, this is about one hour.
How do you register for this great class?
Step 1: Contact Jennifer Dick at jdick@ymcabham.org
Step 2: Jennifer will send you an ID number to enter online
Step 3: Take the class at your own pace, go through the review questions,
and then take the test.
Step 4: Once you have passed the class you will be able to print a CERTIFICATE OF COMPLETION (This certificate is your entry into the on-site skills session class; it does not mean that you are certified.) Bring it to the skills session. You have 15 days to complete the online test. You have two weeks after you pass the online test to attend a skills session.
Step 5: Go to skill session class and perform your learned-skills.
Step 6: YOU ARE CERTIFIED!
Skills sessions September 25 | October 30 | November 20 | December 4
All classes 9-11 .m.
Cost $30 Adult CPR/AED | $60 Adult, Child, Infant CPR/AED and First Aid
Babysitting Training
The American Red Cross Babysitter’s Training course gives
11 to 15 year olds the skills and confidence to be great babysitters.
Through hands-on activities, interactive video and lively discussions,
the course teaches young people how to
• Care for children and infants.
• Be good leaders and role models.
• Make good decisions, solve problems and stay safe.
• Handle emergencies such as injuries, illnesses and accidents.
• Write resumes and interview for jobs.
Schedule October 16
Cost $55
Swim Team Parent Handbook
The Swim Birmingham YMCA swim team is encompasses all ages and levels of ability, from beginners through high school competitors. The program is structured to provide careful development and steady progression through the stages of competitive swimming. SBY swimmers will have the opportunity to compete in YMCA and USA Swimming sanctioned swim meets as well as seasonal instructional clinics for aspiring competitive athletes.
The mission of Swim Birmingham YMCA is to provide the best coaching and mentoring in swimming in an environment that respects individual differences but emphasizes team spirit. SBY will develop our athletes through physical, mental, and character training to create a love of friendly competition and a drive for excellence. Our swimmers will be the youth leaders of Birmingham today and the role models for Birmingham youth in the future.
The vision of Swim Birmingham YMCA is to instill a passion for excellence in young people through swimming.
SBY practice sites and Head Coaches:
Greystone Family Branch - Frank Myers, 205.981.0144
Shelby County Family Branch - Wendy Chapman, 205.664.9622
Shades Valley Family Branch –Paige Tatarek, 205.870.9622
Trussville Family Branch - Missy Gooden, 205.655.2224
Vestavia Family Branch - Chaz Carter, 205.823.0144
Parent - Coach Communication
The primary means of communication between parent and coach occurs by email. Notifications about meets, parent meetings, practice schedule changes and pool closings are all communicated by email. It is very important that your coach has your most current email address. If you would like to have a conference with your swimmer's coach it is recommended that you email them to set up a time that is convenient to you both. Please refrain from talking to the coaches during practice.
Practice Groups
Swim Birmingham YMCA offers different levels of swimming based on your child's age and ability to better prepare your child for competition. The different levels are as follows:
Super Squad - This is an entry level non-competitive group with emphasis on proper technique in the four competitive strokes.
Bronze Level - In this level, swimmers are ready for a small amount of competition. Bronze swimmers are still working on all four competitive strokes, while learning the basics of swim team. Competition is encouraged along with good sportsmanship, team work, self-esteem, and respect.
Silver Level - This level is a more advanced level with emphasis on training principles. This group will enable the swimmers to meet new challenges and set new goals. Swimmers in this group compete on both the local and regional levels.
Gold Level - This level is an environment for committed and motivated young swimmers who desire to set goals and work toward the highest National Age Levels Standards. The training in this level is advanced. Swimmers must meet time standards and practice requirements to be promoted and remain in this group.
Senior Level - Swimmers in this level have the ability to train consistently in a highly intense training environment. The objective of this group is to reach the National and International levels of swimming. Swimmers must meet time standards and practice requirements to remain in this group.
Home School - A multi-age/multi-ability group for home schoolers. Swimmers in this group attend morning practices that include a dry-land component and a pool workout. This group includes swimmers from each of the above practice levels.
Registration Fees and Program Fees
There is a $95 annual registration fee. This fee includes USA Swimming membership and the team cap and t-shirt. The USA Swimming membership provides secondary accidental insurance in case of injury during swim team practice and swim meets. The SBY swim team is responsible for paying all costs associated with the program which include coaches salaries, financial assistance and operating expenses. Our program fees are charged to cover these budget items. The fees are dependent upon the group in which your swimmer is placed and will change as they move from group to group. Program fees are payable at the beginning of each session. For a list of the current year dues please refer to the registration form.
Consequences of Non-Payment of Program Fees
Every effort will be made to collect outstanding balances, however, continued non-payment of fees will result in dismissal from the team.
Swim Meet Entries and Fees
Approximately two weeks prior to the entry deadline, an email will be sent out to the team with the meet details, the deadline for entry and cost. The entry deadline is very important. These deadlines are set to ensure that the head coach has time to select the events your swimmer will be entered in and submit them prior to the meet host's deadline. Late entries are charged and additional fee.
Fees are charged to enter any swim meet. These fees vary depending on the type of meet and the events offered in that meet. The team must pay the meet host in advance of the meet. Therefore, any swimmer who enters a meet and does not cancel before the entry deadline must pay for his or her entry whether or not he or she ultimately attends the meet.
Practice Attendance
Swimmers will benefit greatly through regular attendance at practice sessions. At practices, they will receive instruction and coaching in the proper competitive swim stroke techniques and will be given the opportunity to build physical endurance. Regular attendance at practice will also help the swimmers and their families keep up with what is going on and get to know fellow team members. Swimmers should be at the pool and ready to swim at the time their practice session is scheduled to begin.
Drop off and Pick up
You or your designated caregiver must sign your swimmers in and out from swim practice. There is a new YMCA policy stating that all swimmers must stay on the pool deck under coach supervision until they are signed out by a parent or guardian.
Supervision
Only registered swimmers are allowed in the pool during practice. Parents may attend practices to watch their children; however, parents should refrain from talking with coaches or swimmers while practice is underway. If you need to talk to a coach, please do so before or after practice. Please direct coaching issues to the coach and other swim team issues to the parent committees.
Weather
Practice will be held rain or shine. Practice will be cancelled only in the event of lightning, thunder or pool contamination. Please bring your child to practice even if the weather is questionable, the coaches will be there as long as the YMCA is open.
Closed Pool
Practice will never be cancelled due to weather or pool maintenance. Swimmers should always come to practice with tennis shoes in the chance practice moves indoors. Practice will be a little shorter on these days. Supersquad will meet for 30 minutes, Bronze 45-50 minutes, and Silver and up one hour. Land practices are designed to improve strength and flexibility needed for fast swimming. If your child practices without an adult, discuss this with your swimmer and devise a plan for changes in practice schedule. It is the swimmer’s responsibility to approach the coach if they need assistance. Practice may also be cancelled or rescheduled due to school holidays. These days will be communicated through email from the coach.
Meet Attendance
Plan to arrive at the meet 15 minutes prior to Warm-ups. Warm-ups generally begin 1 hour prior to the starting time of the meet your coach will notify of the team's assigned warm up time. Swimmers should report to their coaches when warm-ups are announced. Warm-ups are a time for swimmers to get acclimated to the pool, practice starts and turns and get loose for the meet. Swimmers are encouraged to stay for the ENTIRE meet. If you must leave before the end of the meet, please notify the coach. Relays are often swum at the end of the meet. These are some of the most fun races for swimmers and fans alike. It takes 4 swimmers to field each relay team. If one swimmer does not show up for a relay, 3 other swimmers are disappointed!
Required Equipment
We would like everyone to have a team suit. You may purchase team apparel from All American Swim Supply at http://www.allamericanswim.com/american-team-pages-sbyswim-birmingham-ymca-c-469_907.html
For Practice: For Meets:
Practice suit Team suit
Swim cap Team cap
Goggles Goggles
Towel Towel
Silver & Up: Paddles & Fins
Code of Conduct
For each swimmer to have a rewarding and successful experience it is important to have clearly defined roles and standards of behavior. As guidance for proper conduct we look to the YMCA Character Values: Honesty, Caring, Respect and Responsibility.
Honesty:
I will tell the truth.
I will admit and apologize for my mistakes.
Caring:
I will be supportive of my teammates and celebrate their successes.
I will do my best to be a role model for my peers.
Respect:
I will demonstrate good sportsmanship at all times and will show respect by winning with class and losing with dignity.
I will be respectful of teammates, competitors from other teams, officials, coaches and parents.
I will use respectful language and refrain from abusive or profane language.
Responsibility:
I will be responsible for my own actions.
I will help set up, clean up and put equipment back where it belongs.
I will be responsible in my use of facilities.
I will take responsibility for my swimming performance, recognizing that my efforts in practice lead to my results in meets.
I will base my success on my own performance, not comparing myself to others.
I will come to practice ready to do my best and not be disruptive to others.
I will represent SBY in a manner that honors the YMCA Character Values.
Supporting Your Swimmer:
Be positive.
You are your swimmer’s number one fan. The single most important thing that you can do for your swimmer is to help
them develop a strong sense of sportsmanship and a positive self-image.
Be patient.
Swimmers develop at different paces. Children are born with different abilities and the true measure is not how they compare to others, but how they compare to their absolute best effort.
Be a follower, not a leader.
Allow the Coaches to do what they do best, instruct, correct and encourage your swimmer.
Be prompt.
Make sure that your swimmer arrives to all practices and meets on time. If your child is late, he/she will not benefit from a proper warm-up or may not receive an important message from the coaches.
Be a team player.
Although swimming has a strong individual element, your child is, most of all, part of a team. At meets we encourage families to stay until the meet is over and show team spirit and pride.
Be a role model.
Model good behavior by showing respect for the sport and those involved, including Coaches, other swimmers, spectators and officials.
Parent Participation:
Active Parent Participation is critical to Success of the Swim Team!
It takes over 40 volunteers to run a swim meet and many hours behind the scenes to run the team. It is our desire to have all parents participate in some capacity. Not only is volunteering to help a rewarding experience, it is also a way of getting to know other parents and your coaches. Working side by side for a common goal builds team spirit and relationships. Volunteering also shows your swimmer that you are invested in their success. Parent volunteers free up the coaches to do the most important job, coaching your swimmer. No experience is needed for most jobs. There are committees who oversee many tasks associated with running the team. If you are interested in volunteering please contact your coach.
Swim Birmingham 2010 - 2011 Meet Schedule
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September 25 - at Greystone (All age groups)
October 22-24 - HBT "Halloween Happening" meet at Hoover Rec Center (all groups above Supersquad)
November 6 - "B" Meet at Shelby County (All swimmers B times and slower)
November 19-21 - BSL "Cranberry Classic" meet at Wald Park (all groups above supersquad)
December 11-12 - YMCA Southeastern Regional Championship at Montgomery
January 14-16 - Auburn Prelim/Final for Highest Caliber swimmers only
January 22 - Trussville Meet for swimmers not attending Auburn Prelim/Final
February 4-6 - HSA Groundhog Invitational Meet at Huntsville (all groups above Supersquad)
February 19-20 - District Championships at CTA in Tuscaloosa
February 24-27 - Southeastern Championships at NAC in Nashville
March TBA - Annual Red/Black Meet at Trussville
April TBA - Baylor Long Course Meet
April TBA - Novice Meet at Shelby County
May TBA - Greystone May Meet
May TBA - Long Course Meet
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CONTACTING THE AQUATIC DEPARTMENT
Please contact the Aquatics Director, India Baker Gold , anytime if you have any questions regarding employment, registration or our programming.(205) 823-0144 or email igold@YMCABHAM.org
