The Berlin Barracuda Swim Club Coaching staff is dedicated to providing a program for youngsters that will enable them to learn the value of striving to improve oneself -- “to be the best you can be.” Therefore, the coaches must be in total control in matters affecting training and competition.

1. The coaches are responsible for placing youngsters in practice groups. This is based on the age and ability level of each individual. When it is in the best interest of a swimmer, he/she will be placed in a more challenging training group by the coach.
2. Sole responsibility for stroke instruction and the training regimen rests with the Berlin Barracuda Swim Club coaching staff. Each group practices are based on sound scientific principles and are geared to the specific goals of that group.
3. The coaching staff will make the final decision concerning which meets Berlin Barracuda Swim Club swimmers will participate in. The coaching staff also makes the final decision concerning which events a swimmer is entered into.
4. At meets, the coaching staff will conduct and supervise warm-up procedures for the team. After each race, the coaches will offer constructive criticism regarding the swimmers performance. (It is the parent’s job to offer love and understanding regardless of their youngster’s performance.)
5. The building of a relay team is the sole responsibility of the coaching staff.

The coaching staff is constantly updating and improving the Berlin Barracuda Swim Club program. It is the swimmer’s and parent’s responsibility to make the most out of the excellent opportunity this program provides for success in swimming.

Team Levels
In addition to emphasizing long-term rather than short-term results, it is also important that the coaching staff establish training groups of swimmers who are compatible in respect to abilities, commitment levels and goals. Unfortunately, this is not always the most convenient approach to take, but it is always the most productive.

Training Sessions
Training sessions are the most important aspect of competitive swimming. Consistent training is needed to progress through the classes of swimmers. Training schedules are designed to provide only slightly more time than is required for a swimmer to accomplish this. Therefore it is important that each swimmer attends as many practices as possible in order to derive the full benefits of the program. Pool availability is our most limiting factor. Don’t waste it.

Practice & Attendance Policies
The following guidelines are to inform parents and swimmers of the coaches’ policies regarding practice. These policies have been developed over many years and are designed to provide the best possible practice environment for all.

1. Each training group has specific attendance requirements appropriate for the objectives of that group. As a general rule, the least possible interruption in the training schedule will produce the greatest amount of success. The Club does, however, encourage younger swimmers to participate in other activities in addition to swimming. The expectation level of the coaches to attend practices increases as swimmers move to higher groups.
2. For the swimmer’s protection, he/she should not arrive on the school grounds no earlier than 15 minutes prior to their workout time. They should also be picked up no later than 15 minutes after their practice is over. Coaches will not be responsible for swimmers beyond the practice times at the pool. Swimmers should be ready to swim 5 minutes prior to the start of their practice.
3. In case a swimmer will not be able to attend practice or be late, it is our hope that the parents will send a note explaining the reason for absence or tardiness.
4. Plan to stay the entire practice. The last part of practice is very often the most important. Usually, there are also announcements made at the end of each practice. In the event that your child needs to be dismissed early from practice, a note from the parent for each dismissal is required.
5. If a swimmer will be out of the water over a long period of time with an injury or illness, please notify the coaching staff as soon as possible.
6. Swimmers are to enter the building at the doors on the east side by the Natorium and go directly to the pool area.
7. While on school grounds, the swimmers are the responsibility of the coaching staff.
   During practice sessions, swimmers are never to leave the pool area without coach’s permission.
   If any swimmer needs to complete homework before practice or leave practice early to do homework, he/she must do their homework on the pool deck so the coaches will know where he/she is located.
   Coaches are NOT responsible for actions outside the pool area.
8. The club has an obligation to act as guests while in the school (both swimmers and parents). Every member of the club needs to do everything possible to respect this privilege. Any damages to school property may result in financial liability of the swimmer’s parents. Any damage may also result in the swimmer being asked to leave the team permanently.
9. Parents are not allowed on the pool deck during practice unless it is an emergency.

Illness and Injury
Berlin Barracuda Swim Club requires each swimmer to have a signed medical information card on file. This is a medical consent form signed by the parents in case of injury or medical emergencies.

Insurance
All Berlin Barracuda Swim Club swimmers are required to have a current USS membership. This membership not only supports swimming throughout the country, it also provides very important accident and medical insurance for every swimmer and every club.

Code of Conduct
Berlin Barracuda Swim Club requires all parents and swimmers to sign the Code of Conduct.

Team Uniform
The team colors are navy, red and white.

There are two required items to wear in any meet:

1. Team Swim Cap The reason for this requirement is that each coach is responsible to 30-60 swimmers at each meet and as the Barracuda cap is a unique design, it is easily spotted by both coaches and parents alike. Most swimmers should have at least two on hand for each meet.
2. Team Swimsuit The team suit is a solid navy suit or with a Berlin Barracuda Swim Club logo. All team members who have a team suit are encouraged to wear it competition.

To have a successful swimming program there must be understanding and cooperation among parents, swimmers, and coaches. The progress your youngster makes depends to a great extent on this triangular relationship. It is with this in mind that we ask you to consider the following information as you join the Berlin Barracuda Swim Club and reacquaint yourself if you are a returning Berlin Barracuda Swim Club parent.

The coach is the Coach!
We want your swimmer to relate to his/her coach as soon as possible concerning swimming matters. This relationship between coach and swimmer produces the best results. When parents interfere with opinions as to how the swimmer should swim or train, it causes considerable, and oftentimes insurmountable, confusion as to whom the swimmer should listen to. If you have a problem, concern or complaint, please contact the coach.

Best Kind of Parent
The coach’s job is to motivate and constructively criticize the swimmer’s performance. It is the parent’s job to supply the love, recognition, and encouragement necessary to make the child work harder in practice, which in turn gives him/her the confidence to perform well in competition.

Ten and Under
Ten and Under are the most inconsistent swimmers and this can be frustrating for parents, coaches and the swimmer alike! Parents and coaches must be patient and permit these youngsters to learn to love the sport. When a young swimmer first joins Berlin Barraduda Swim Club, there may be a brief period in which he/she appears to slow down. This is a result of the added concentration on stroke technique, but this will soon lead to much faster swims for the individual.

Not Every Time
Even the very best swimmer will have meets where they do not do their best times. These “plateaus” are a normal part of swimming. Over the course of a season, times should improve. Please be supportive of these “poor” meets. The older swimmers may have only two or three meets a year for which they will be rested and tapered. Please make every effort to have your swimmer at practice on time. Realize that your child is working hard and give all the support you can. Encourage good diet and sleeping habits. They will serve your child well.

The Ten Commandments for Parents of Athletic Children

1. Make sure your child knows that - win or lose, scared or heroic - you love him/her, appreciate their efforts, and are not disappointed in them. This will allow them to do their best without a fear of failure. Be the person in their life they can look to for constant positive reinforcement.
2. Try your best to be completely honest about your child’s athletic ability, his/hers competitive attitude, their sportsmanship, and their actual skill level.
3. Be helpful, but don’t coach him/her on the way to the pool or on the way back, or at breakfast, and so on. It’s tough not to, but it’s a lot tougher for the child to be inundated with advice, pep talks and often critical instruction.
4. Teach them to enjoy the thrill of competition, to be “out there trying,” to be working to improve his/her swimming skills and attitudes. Help him/her to develop the feel for competing, for trying hard, for having fun.
5. Try not to re-live your athletic life through your child in a way that creates pressure; you lost as well as won. You were frightened, you backed off at times, you were not always heroic. Don’t pressure your child because of your pride. Athletic children need their parents so you must not withdraw. Just remember there is a thinking, feeling, sensitive free spirit out there in that uniform who needs a lot of understanding, especially when his/her world turns bad. If he/she is comfortable with you - win or lose - he/she is on their way to maximum achievement and enjoyment.
6. Don’t compete with the coach. If the coach becomes an authority figure, it will run from enchantment to disenchantment, etc., with your athlete.
7. Don’t compare the skill, courage, or attitudes of your child with other members of the team, at least within his/her hearing.
8. Get to know the coach so that you can be assured this his/her philosophy, attitudes, ethics, and knowledge are such that you are happy to have your child under his/her leadership.
9. Always remember that children tend to exaggerate, both when praised and when criticized. Temper your reaction and investigate before over-reacting.
10. Make a point of understanding courage, and the fact that it is relative. Some of us can climb mountains, and are afraid to fight. Some of us will fight, but turn to jelly if a bee approaches. Everyone is frightened in certain areas. Explain that courage is not the absence of fear, but a means of doing something in spite of fear or discomfort.