BHS Swimming 2008

 

From the Coach

          Welcome to BHS Swimming 2008. This is the year we venture into AAAA competition and the new challenges that will bring!  Through personal goal setting, hard work, dedication and positive attitudes, we will rise to those challenges and improve our performances while continuing to build the program. We will have help this year from Coach Kim Gould, who will be assisting Coach Bunting. We look forward to having a great time and a great season, fueled by our Bengal team spirit!

          As athletes, our team represents the best of Blythewood High School to the community and around the state.  We focus not only on wins and losses, but also on character, personal responsibility, academics, sportsmanship, and teamwork. All athletes have a responsibility to and are expected to hold themselves to high standards of behavior both in the pool and out of it. We are proud to be among the best of the Bengals!

 

SPIRIT + EFFORT + DETERMINATION = SUCCESS!

 

Team Philosophy

Members of a team should practice together, support one another, have fun, and achieve the challenges set before them together as a team. Every swimmer is an important part of our team. Swimmers set personal goals as well as working towards team goals, and are held accountable for attendance, work ethic, team spirit, supporting each other, and sportsmanship.

 

Requirements to participate

Physical form, signed and dated after 4/1/08

Birth certificate

Academically eligible

$25 try-out fee paid; $25 participation fee after try-out

 

Making the Team   

The following skills and characteristics will be taken into account by the coaches as they select the team for 2008:

  • Times
  • Stroke versatility
  • Ability to follow directions
  • Work ethic displayed
  • Commitment to team
  • Effort displayed
  • Positive, attentive, and respectful attitude
  • Stamina

 

Tryouts will consist of the first 2 weeks of practice with observations of performance by the coaches, and time trials. All swimmers selected will need to pay the second $25 at this time.

 

Pre-Season

It is recommended that all prospective swimmers either participate in a summer swim program or condition  on their own with activities of their choice to develop stamina.

 

Attendance

Attendance at every meet is mandatory, except in extraordinary circumstances. Practice is mandatory and may only be excused with an e-mail or call from a parent to Coach Bunting. Unexcused absences incur a Spirit Point penalty. Year round swimmers are required to participate with the team a minimum of 2 days per week, including meets, plus any additional days they are not attending year-round practice. Athletes wishing to participate in 2 sports need to request special permission from both coaches. Swimmers with jobs may request an adjustment to the attendance policy, which will also be awarded at the coach’s discretion.

 

Facility Use

We will be using the facility at Columbia Country Club again this year for practice and home meets. The support given to us by CCC enables us to have a team. All swimmers are required to treat the facility in a respectful way, including keeping deck area, pool, and locker rooms clean and free of trash, and returning any furniture used to it’s proper location and position. The equipment we borrow from CCC should also be used correctly and cared for properly. At season’s end, we will assist by putting away furniture and doing some general cleaning.

 

Uniforms

All swimmers will be required to purchase a team swimsuit for competition. Any appropriate personal swimwear may be worn for practices. Team caps will be issued. Team T-shirts will also be provided. Warm-up suits may be purchased and monogrammed with individual names. Team warm-ups without individual names will be issued to those who do not wish to purchase them. These must be returned at the end of the season. Hooded sweatshirts and drag suits will also be available for purchase. Swimmers are responsible for keeping track of their team issued equipment, and are required to wear only team wear at meets.

 

Personal Equipment

It is mandatory to bring personal supplies to practices and meets. Shoes and shorts for running are required daily, whether or not they are used on any given day. Towels, goggles, and water bottles are extremely important.

 

Transportation

Each swimmer is responsible for his or her own ride to and from practice. Please see Coach Bunting if you have transportation issues. Transportation will be provided to away meets. All swimmers must ride the bus from BHS to away meets. It is preferable for the purpose of team building for swimmers to stay with the group and ride the bus home. If you have circumstances that would interfere with a swimmer riding the bus home, please see me to discuss.

 

Meets

Be on time. Eat a snack before, but not too much. See the coach before and after your races. Drink plenty of water. Do your best. Cheer for your teammates. Do your best even if you don’t like that stroke or distance. Get into the spirit – cheer! Have fun. Pay attention to the races, cheer each other on, get loud, dance and sing. Offer to count laps. Make sure opponents see your sportsmanship and team spirit. Stay on the deck for the entire meet. Cheer for the last relay. Change clothes only after the entire meet is over.  Stay to the end and help clean up.

 

Captains

Male and female captains will be chosen after fall practices start. Only swimmers who will be able to attend practice regularly will be eligible. The captains will be chosen based on leadership skills as well as experience and initiative. A good captain will show character, strength, team spirit, and will respect him/her self as well as others. Captains will lead the way in encouraging every person on the team and in taking responsibility at practices and meets. Captains lead by example and are respected by team members.

 

Fundraising

Fundraisers are a fact of educational and sports life these days. Team members are expected to participate in team fundraisers. We are also required to participate in Athletic Department fundraisers. Fundraisers are the means by which we obtain equipment, pay meet fees and transportation costs, provide awards and cover banquet costs.

 

Service Learning Project

All BHS athletic teams are required to conduct a service learning project. The team Leadership Council and coaches will plan this project. Giving back to the community is important and everyone is expected to participate.

 

Study Hall

All athletes at BHS are required to participate in 2 hours weekly team study hall. Swimmers who had A/B report cards for 07/08 may show me their report card to be exempted. Study hall will be offered 7:20 – 8:20 am T/Th, and in August only, 3:45 – 5:45 pm Wed.

 

Holly Bunting           

Swim Coach  

Blythewood High School                                                               

803-691-4090 x28703         h- 788-1883   c- 237-0519     

hbunting@bh.richland2.org