Yes! The NHS Swim and Dive Team is a
“no cut” team. All students are welcomed to
participate and learn the sport. New athletes will be introduced to
the fundamentals of competitive swimming and diving.
How often does the team practice?
Team practices are everyday after school on
non-meet days. On Saturdays, there is either a meet or practice. No practices on Sundays. Varsity members will have "double" practices, which adds an additional morning practice, on Mondays and Thursday starting in September.
How do I know which events my child will swim and how do the meets work?
- Each athlete can compete in up to 4 events per meet. They can be in 2 individual and 2 relay events OR 3 relay and 1 individual event.
- The events that an athlete swims at each meet is chosen by the coaches and is based on a variety of factors, including where the team needs athletes to score points for the team score.
- Dual meets are held on Tuesdays and we compete against another team in our conference. Teams typically swim in odd or even lanes with the fastest swimmers in the heat placed in lanes four or five. Scoring is 6-4-3-2-1-0 in individual events and relays are 8-4-2.
- If you are accustomed to club swim meets, you will find the pace of the high school meets to be much faster. There is a 15-minute break after the 50 Free.
- The diving portion of the meet occurs near the middle of the swimming events or at the beginning of the meet depending on the location of the meet.
- At dual meets, you may find copies of the meet line-up placed at the end of the bleachers. (Exhibition events do not count for points for the team, but are a great way for swimmers to “get their feet wet” in a competition setting.)
How does my swimmer get to/from meets?
Bus transportation is provided to and from all “away” meets, and swimmers are expected to ride the bus with their teammates. In special circumstances, an athlete can ride home from a meet with a parent. However, for safety reasons, a written note must be given to a coach, stating that an athlete will be riding home with a parent and is signed by the parent and dated.
What additional costs are involved?
The team suit is selected each
year by the seniors and coaches. Cost of
the suit is typically around $60-65, and it should only be worn at
meets during the season.
Other expenses involve the purchase of
all practice gear and special team t-shirts. The team captains
typically design shirts for special meets such as conference,
sectionals and state. The purchase of the shirts is optional, and the
cost is typically $8-10 per shirt.
Membership and participation in GAIN
(Girls' Athletics in Neenah) is $5 (with the option to contribute
more, if desired) and is collected in August at the team potluck.
GAIN helps with team expenses such as
warm-up suits and jackets, towels, gear bags, and expensive timing
equipment.
There is also a sports activity fee in the amount of $50/sport or activity, with a maximum of $100/year per student, paid during school registration.
What about
fundraising?
There are several fundraising opportunities available to
the girls, including car washes and assorted product sales.
Participation in these events is a great team building experience,
and the money goes toward team activities or equipment.
As a parent, what do I need to bring
to a meet?
Seating in the pool is typically hot and humid. Dress in layers. Bring a seat cushion for added
bleacher comfort. Wear your Neenah pride with red shirts. Some parents find it helpful to have a
highlighter or pen/pencil to make notes and highlight events of
interest. There is no entry fee charged for dual meets, except at Oshkosh duals.
I volunteered to make a meal for the team. What is involved?
Feeding your active swimmer/diver can sometimes be a challenge! With early morning practices and away meet departures immediately after school, we work together to provide meals for our swimmers and divers. Meals are provided immediately after school on the day of a meet.
If I'm asked to be a “timer,”
what does this mean? Do I need special training?
- It's fun! You're right on deck with the action of the meet and you enjoy comfy seats. In addition to the electronic touch pads used at the wall, each lane requires two to three additional timers.
- One timer operates a stop watch and “plunger”, one timer operates a stop watch, and one additional person records the times on a sheet of paper.
- In some instances, only two timers are used, and the non-plunger operator records the times.
- A brief timers' meeting takes place prior to the start of the meet, and the meet official provides complete training.
- Less experienced timers may feel more comfortable in lanes 1, 2, 7, and 8, as the outside lanes tend to have fewer swimmers.
How do the meet
concessions work?
GAIN (Girls' Athletics in Neenah) is
responsible for managing the concessions during swim/dive events.
Your GAIN representative will be in need of your assistance with
serving only a few times during the season. The swim/dive team
benefits each time you serve in this capacity.
What is a “swim sister” and what
is expected?
At the beginning of the season, swim
sisters are assigned. Your swim sister will be there to give you that
extra boost of encouragement at meets or answer any questions. Posters are
made for your swim sister for each home meet and are a fun way to
express your creativity and support.
Equipment
Issued (needs to be returned to team after season):
Issued (needs to be returned to team after season):
Team Backpack
Parka
Warm-ups
Team towel
Lock
Meet swim cap (yours to keep)
Provide for yourself:
Warm-ups
Team towel
Lock
Meet swim cap (yours to keep)
Provide for yourself:
Goggles and practice caps
Towels
Tennis Shoes
Workout clothes
Bike and helmet (for day of triathlon)
Snacks to eat after practice for muscle recovery
Workout clothes
Bike and helmet (for day of triathlon)
Snacks to eat after practice for muscle recovery
Links for Equipment:
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