GUPPIES SWIM TEAM
The guppies swim team is a program for youngsters under the age of eight who either do not wish to compete on a weekly basis or need some help developing their strokes, strength or endurance. This program practices 5 days a week for the first 30 minutes of SWIM TEAM. Primarily in the baby end of the pool, the guppies will work on swimming laps the width of the pool. Over the course of the summer, we will most likely be invited to at least one guppies "meet". Details of these meets will be announced as soon as they are made available. The guppies program is a super introduction to the swim team and always a lot of fun- your child will never have an unhappy face in the water.

COMPETITIVE SWIM TEAM
This program is typically for athletes 6 years and up. Here, the swimmers will practice 5 times a week for either 1 hour or 1 hour and a half at a time depending on the age group. The swim team prepares athletes for competition by focusing on stroke correction and racing strategies. Our primary focus is to ensure that all participants have fun while, at the same time, gain a sense of competitive discipline. Time commitment is an important factor in this program. The summer swimming season consists of 5 league meets, a divisional time trial, and a league championship. The league meets are held on 5 consecutive Wednesday nights, commencing the first week of July. The competitions begin about 5:30 pm and usually end up finishing by 9:00pm. The divisional time trial and championship meet are scheduled early in August.

Throughout the regular season all participants will have a chance to swim. The NAA swim team rules restrict the number of participants in each event so depending on the number of participants in any one category, swimmers may not swim each session.

Time Trials and the NAA Championship Big Meet
Every year, once the dual meet season is complete, the swim team shifts from the dual meet phase of the summer competition to the Finals Phase. This changes how the swim team function for the last 10 days of the season. In the dual meet phase, each meet is against only one other pool in the division in which Elm Park competes. These meets are organized to allow for the maximum participation possible. In the Finals Phase Elm Park participate a division Time Trials. In this event, we try to qualify our swimmers against not only the other 5 pools in our division but against all 17 NAA association pools who will be simultaneously doing the other two division Time Trials with their own sections. These Time Trials are organized so we can determine the fastest 12 swimmers for each event across the entire NAA. These 12 swimmers compete in the NAA Championship Big Meet which is held one week after the Time Trials.

For our coaches, strategy for this phase of the summer competition starts before the first week of the Dual meet season even begins. During the Time Trials, each pool can put a maximum of only 2 swimmers per age-category event and, with the exception of the 15 and over "Open" category, each swimmer can swim a maximum of 2 events each plus 1 relay. Organizing our team to put the optimum swimmers into the optimum events is a challenging task. To do this, the coaches must consider a variety of factors including the swimmer's best times so far during the summer, the speed of swimmers at other pools and the number of swimmers who can fit into a particular category. As you migh imagine, unfortunately, with a team as large as Elm Park's not everyone will be able to swim in the Time Trials.

If a swimmer is part of the Time Trials, the coaches will know during the next couple of days if they have been fast enough to qualify in the top 12 swimmers for that event in their age group from across the entire NAA. Only once the results have been compiled from all 3 divisions this information is made available to each pool. The coaches typically announce who has qualified during the Swim Team dinner on the Wednesday between Time Trials and the Big Meet.. We encourage all swimmers who are part of Time Trials to attend the extra swim team practices that are typically scheduled during this week.

Whether a swimmer is part of the Time Trials or the Big Meet or not, it is important to attend the Big Meet. Swim Team is a team event and the participation of every member and the swimmers who will be in the water will be greatly encouraged by the cheering and well-wishing of the entire team.

There are no direct costs for the swim team program , however, optional extra events such as "spaghetti night" and "movie night" may involve some costs.

WINTER SWIMMERS PROGRAM
Given at the same time as swim team, this program is designed for swimmers that want something a little more challenging than traditional summer swimming, but not as intense as winter swimming. This program is reserved for swimmers 11 & up (strong 9 & 10's that are able to keep up are welcome to join) with practices Monday to Friday for 1 hour and a half. In each practice there will be 30 minutes reserved for cardio and strength training (not weights), while the remaining hour will be training in the water. There is no extra cost for this program. Swimmers may inquire about alternate training times.

THE TRIATHLON CLUB
The DDO triathlon club trains regularly at Elm Park. It is coached by one of the top coaches in the country, Alex Sereno. The club is open to all that wish to participate, whether it be on a competitive basis or not. Inquiries can be made by contacting Alex Sereno at the Dollard Civic Center at 684-0070 ext 258.

Should you have any further questions or concerns, please don't hesitate to ask any of the coaching staff.

DIVING LESSONS
As an introduction to the sport, we offer 5 different lesson times to chose from. At the beginning of the summer you will be asked to sign up your child for ONE of the following lesson times: Mon 1:15 to 1:45
Wed 1:15 to 1:45
Thur 1:15 to 1:45
Fri 9:00 to 9:30
Fri 9:30 to 10:00

In diving lessons, your child will first learn how to perform a proper hurdle. Then, depending on individual ability, one will be introduced to the basic front and back dives. For those who feel ready, more complex dives will also be taught. Diving lessons are a great way to have fun and to improve your diving skills at the same time!

In order to avoid overcrowding, we ask that you refrain from changing your lesson day. We will not allow children to "make up" for a missed lesson by coming to another one later in the week. Having too many kids in one lesson shortens the time available for each participant. For safety reasons, it is important that individuals be in at least AQUAQUEST LEVEL 5 in order to participate in diving lessons.

1. Skill and athletic ability
2. Time available for synchro/ dedication
3. Experience
4. If the individual is a winter or summer swimmer

At the beginning of the summer all girls interested in joining either the JUNIOR or SENIOR teams will be asked to meet on a particular day in order for the above criteria to be evaluated. An impartial judge will be present in order to decide the correct division of teams. Unless other arrangements have been made, it is assumed that those who do not attend the "try out" are those who do not wish to be placed on either the junior or senior team. The following is a description of each of the offered teams.

PRE-JUNIOR TEAM(S)
There is no age restriction for this category nor will there be any official "try outs". In order to participate however, individuals must be in at least aquaquest level 5 and be able to tread water in the deep end for a minimum of 2 minutes without coming to the side. The pre-junior team is for girls who are new to the sport of synchronized swimming and who wish to get a feel for competition and commitment. They will be required to purchase a bathing suit, which in the past has cost about forty dollars. Practices are held twice a week on Tuesdays and Fridays from 1:15 to 1:45pm. There is one competition held towards the end of the summer of which the date is to be determined by the NAA at the beginning of the summer. Due to the popularity of this team, it is asked that children unable to attend the competition and/or several of the practices, refrain from joining the team. It is difficult for the coach to teach the routine with frequent absences. It is also unfair for the girls who regularly attend practices. Those unable to meet the time commitment required for pre-junior synchro will be asked to attend synchro lessons of which there is no commitment. Held Friday mornings at 10:00, lessons will introduce the swimmer to the basic skills of synchronized swimming. Synchro lessons are open to anyone with the swimming ability of at least aquaquest level 5 and are designed to introduce basic synchronized swimming techniques.

JUNIOR TEAM(S)
This team is typically for girls with previous synchronized swimming experience. Being on the junior team requires about a 5 hour time commitment per week plus extra practices around competition time. Participants are expected at all practices and will be required to inform the coach of any absence. Participants will be required to purchase a team bathing suit which in the past has cost about fifty dollars. The preliminary competition is usually held at the end of July or the very beginning of August while the final competition is usually held around mid August. The date and time of these events will be announced by the appropriate coach as soon as they are made available. The 1999 NAA constitution stipulated that a junior swimmer is one who is no older than the age of 13 as of June 30th. This requirement is expected to remain in effect for the 2000 synchronized swimming season. In the past, younger girls with advanced synchro skills have been moved up to the senior level. Ideally, there are 8 individuals on the team. The NAA requires that each junior team perform specific elements. Individuals wishing to be on the junior team will be taught and evaluated on the following elements:

1. Layout-tub-ballet leg-back tuck
2. Kick pull kick switch
3. Circle pattern
4. Layout-sailboat-ballet leg-flamingo
5. Inverted tuck position-heron
6. Side flutter
7. Splits

SENIOR TEAM(S)
This swimmer is the more experienced and mature swimmer, one who has done synchro in the past. At this level, the swimming is more intricate, elaborate, and complicated. It is physically more demanding and requires about a 5 hour per week time commitment plus additional practices around competition time. Participants are expected at every practice and will be required to notify the coach of any absence. Typically, but not without exception, these individuals are 14 years of age and over. Individuals wishing to be on the senior team will be taught and then evaluated on the following elements:

1. Double arm boost
2. Front pike pull in
3. Line position
4. Layout-sailboat-ballet leg-tuck-crane
5. Kick pull kick sequence
6. Split walkout
7. Front pike lift to heron
8. Ballet leg combination
9. Vertical leg boost
10. Rise to heron-join to vertical
11. Double arm egg beater

The duet and solo will be chosen based on the same criteria. Naturally, partaking in a second routine requires an additional time commitment on behalf of the swimmer.

The preliminary competition will be against other pools in the same division (i.e. Elm Park is in the "A" division). The final competition will be divided according to junior and senior in which all three divisions of the NAA will compete against one another on two different days.

Lessons

SWIMMING LESSONS - LESSONS DE NATATION
Elm Park uses the Red Cross Lesson levels to teach our children to swim. Swimming lessons are available for all levels of swimmers including adults.
The following list of swimming levels is designed to help you figure out in which class to register your child. If your child has taken lessons in the past, find the column of the pool where he or she last took those lessons. Once you have found the last level they have successfully passed, you will find the correct level to register them in the "Red Cross Program" column. You can bring their last swim lesson report card to registration if you have any doubts or questions.

Pointe Claire	Y.M.C.A.	Red Cross/Croix Rouge (DDO)
White	Otter	Aquaquest 1, 2
White Advanced	Seal	Aquaquest 3
Green	Dolphin/Swimmer	Aquaquest 4
Blue	Star 1	Aquaquest 5
Blue	Star 2	Aquaquest 6, 7
Bronze	Star 3	Aquaquest 8, 9
Silver	Star 4	Aquaquest 10
Gold	Star 5	Aquaquest 10
Gold	Star 6	Aquaquest 11, 12

Rubber Ducky Swim

RUBBER DUCKY SWIM
Every Saturday and Sunday from 11:00 am to 1:15pm is Rubber Ducky Swim. During this time, you are invited to bring your rubber duck or any other flotation pool device you like to the pool. Pool noodles, flutter boards, inflatable mattresses, pool toys, rubber rafts and so on. You can also use this time to enjoy snorkeling in the pool and other types of just plain wet fun!