Lansdowne Lightning

Welcome to the Lansdowne Lightning summer swim team! Having fun is the most important thing we can do. Most of the kids don’t care if we are in a top division or a bottom division. We’d all like to be division champions, which usually means going undefeated, but only one team out of five can usually claim this honor. Personal development is what is most important and for a swimmer that means improving your times. Our goals are to establish a healthy environment that encourages the kids to do their best, recognize the swimmers’ contributions and provide a memorable experience for the entire family.

We’ve all taken our kids to soccer, baseball, or other sports and probably stood by as two or three parents ran the team. Swimming is not like that. We can’t run a swim program without parental help! In fact, it takes over 50 parents to time, officiate and score a typical swim meet…not including the manpower needed for pool set up and tear down, running the concessions area or non-swimming team activities.

Swimming is unique in that there’s a place on the team for anyone eighteen or younger who can swim across the pool without assistance. How many other sports have kids five years old to eighteen years old and their parents on the same team participating in the same competition? It’s wonderful!

Expectations

Although swimming is considered an individual sport, our summer league is structured with an emphasis on the team. Any team is only as good as the people on it; therefore, our expectations are simple:

• Have fun!!!
• Do your best – it’s a lot more important than being the best.
• Pay attention to the coaches: With over 100 swimmers, disruptions aren’t fair to the other swimmers.
• Keep your commitments! We plan on your being available for all swim meets unless you tell us you’re not available.

During the first week of the Clinic, coaches may require swimmers to demonstrate this minimum requirement. Those swimmers unable to complete the task will be given a partial refund.

Swim Team Policies

The Lansdowne Lightning is a recreational swim team. We are part of the Old Dominion Swim League (ODSL). Our team seeks to develop individual swimmers physically. We also teach the kids about sportsmanship and what it is to be a part of a team. We hope this experience with the Lansdowne Lightning will help all swimmers to grow both in the sport of swimming and within themselves.

Membership

Membership on the Lansdowne Lightning is open to all Lansdowne residents from age 4 - 18. We may not accept outside swimmers, as the Lansdowne HOA requires that all families swimming with the Lansdowne Lightning be residents of Lansdowne. Families must be current with Lansdowne HOA dues in order to swim with the team!

Coaching Staff

The Lansdowne Lightning board hires the coaching staff. The coaches are responsible for all training and instruction of the swimmers. Coaches will be available for questions from parents. However, if you need to speak with a coach this must be done through email or conversations after practice. During practice it is very important for the coaches to stay focused solely on the swimmers. Also, when your child’s practice is over, another one may be starting. Please be aware of this before approaching the Coaches. The Coaches are responsible for the swimmers during practice and cannot be distracted. This is very important for everyone’s safety!

Communication

The Lansdowne Lightning uses the website to post all messages regarding meets, practice times, etc. See Coaches button on Lansdowne Lightning website for Board Members and Coaches contact information. Please make sure that the information in your on-line account is accurate. This is our best way of communicating with our 200+ swimmers. Be sure to check the website daily for the latest changes and information.

Parent Meeting

Parents of all new and returning team members are required to attend the Parent Meeting. The purpose of this meeting is to review any changes that have come up over the winter, meet the coaches, meet the board, familiarize yourself with plans for the season, and answer questions that you may have.

Equipment

All swimmers should have a good pair of goggles. Speedo makes a good pair of goggles (Jr. Hydrospec), which can be found at any local sporting goods store or Ida Lee. Goggles can be found at your local Kohl’s, Target etc. Swim Caps are required for girls and boys with long hair past ears at practices and meets. Caps with team logo are available for purchase from the team. Contact our Spirit Wear Coordinator, for more information.

Our team suit can be purchased on-line.

Items needed for practice:

• 2 pairs of goggles
• Towel(s) 1 or 2
• Practice suit, PLEASE DO NOT wear your team suit to practice if possible as the color can fade due to the chlorine in the pool.
• Possibly a sweatshirt/jacket especially for the first several practices where the water is still cool and the air as well.
• Swim cap if applicable

Items needed for meets:

• 2 towels 1 to sit on in your age group section on the deck and 1 to dry off with.
• Bathing suit (team suit preferred)
• A sweatshirt/jacket for those early morning meets
• Sunscreen
• Team Swim cap if applicable
• 2 pairs of goggles, bring extra goggles just in case one breaks
• Possibly a sweatshirt/jacket especially for the first several practices where the water is still cool and the air as well.

Please write your child’s name on everything!

Non-Swimmer Supervision

The Lansdowne Lightning requires that a parent or other designated adult supervise all children. The coaching staff is not responsible for non-swimmers. Non-swimmers will not be allowed into the pool during meets. Meets are very busy times. It is for the safety of your younger children that we ask you to arrange for their supervision while you are working at the meets. Exchanging childcare with another parent may work well.

Old Dominion Swim League

Old Dominion Swim League (ODSL) is comprised of approximately 25 teams, from all over Loudoun County. They are as follows: Belmont Sharks, Brambleton Bettas, Broadlands Piranhas, Courts & Ridges Lightning, Eagles at Exeter, Evergreen Meadows Makos, Franklin Park Stingrays, Greenway Gators, Ida Lee Eeliminators, Kincaid Forest Stingrays, Lansdowne Lightning, Lenah Run Froggers, Loudoun Valley Torpedos, Lovettsville Dolphins, Loudoun Valley Viperfish, Potomac Crossing Barracudas, Potomac Station Sailfish, Red Rock Rockets, Rivercrest Riptide, South Riding Stingrays, Spring Lakes Dolphins, Stoneleigh, Stone Ridge Sharks, Tavistock Tsumanis, Woodlea Manor Watermocs.

Swim Team Schedule

The schedule is posted under Events.

Practice Schedule is part of the Lightning Schedule.

Practices need to start on time and be uninterrupted. If parents want to talk to any of the coaches, please email them or wait until after ALL practices have finished. Also, remember that our practices are back-to-back. When your child’s session is over, the coach may be starting the next group’s practice, and not be available for personal discussions.

Practice

The coaches will be working on the basics at first (kicking, stroke drills, etc.), slowly moving toward full swim strokes. The coaches will talk with the swimmers in each age group and let them know what they need to work on. Swimmers will be broken up into different lanes depending on their stroke ability.

Swimmers need to attend weekly practices to be considered to swim in a meet. If you have conflicts with your time please email the coaches as soon as you can so another time can be worked out.

Discipline: If a swimmer becomes a problem and disrupts other swimmers during practice, a coach may dismiss him or her from the rest of that practice. The coach will contact the parents to discuss any ongoing discipline problems.

Social Calendar

Dates and events are subject to change and are managed and produced by the social committee.

Times Trials

At the beginning of each swim season, Time Trials gives the swimmers the opportunity to participate in a mock meet setting and establish their initial times for the season. At time trials, your swimmer’s time for each race will be important in seeding the meets throughout the season, and can also be used as a motivating tool to encourage improvement. For returning swimmers and their families, it is a good time to refresh themselves with how a meet runs, and new swimmers and their families will get a taste of what a meet is like. Parent helpers will be required for this meet, as well as all meets. If you are a parent and new to the team, time trials will give you a good feel for how a meet is run, where you need to be and how exciting it is to cheer on your swimmer.

Ribbon Policy

Ribbons are awarded to swimmers for every meet and race they compete in. No ribbons will be given out at the meets. Ribbons will be handed out at the next practice after the meet whenever possible.

Ribbons can be found in the Ribbon Box, filed in a folder under the first letter of the last name of the swimmer. The box is out at every practice.

All questions about ribbons should be directed to the Board Chairman. Please let them know your swimmer’s name, the race, meet and what the problem is. Any information will be helpful in tracking down and correcting the problem.

Distribution

All ages are eligible for placement ribbons 1st – 6th place as well as participant ribbons for swimmers who participated in the swim meet. If a swimmer places after 6th place, they will get a participation ribbon only. This is for individual events and relays. If a swimmer is disqualified (DQ) they will receive a participation ribbon only. Heat winner ribbons are given out for each heat at the end of that heat. The heat winner volunteer will distribute them to the swimmers.