How organized is your high school swim team?

[Anonymous]

Did have team suits - but often not by the first meet

Did have club (school owned) parkas

Kids often didn't know what they were swimming till day of the meet

Parents never got the meet schedule for the season. Just every week got an email saying the time/location. (this was PITA since some were at 4pm and we needed to make work arrangements.)

Never received results from the meets

Request for timers typically went out the night before/day of the meet - resulting is not having enough timers since people hadn't been able to arrange their work schedules.

No team dinners or other events.

Banquet was organized by a couple of parents with no budget (potluck.)

DH and I have been involved with swimming at multiple levels for years and really tried to work with the coach to communicate more effectively and be 'team parents.' She pretty much stonewalled us telling us she would take care of it (and didn't) and said that as parents we weren't allowed to organize events for students (team dinners, etc.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Did have team suits - but often not by the first meet

Did have club (school owned) parkas

Kids often didn't know what they were swimming till day of the meet

Parents never got the meet schedule for the season. Just every week got an email saying the time/location. (this was PITA since some were at 4pm and we needed to make work arrangements.)

Never received results from the meets

Request for timers typically went out the night before/day of the meet - resulting is not having enough timers since people hadn't been able to arrange their work schedules.

No team dinners or other events.

Banquet was organized by a couple of parents with no budget (potluck.)

DH and I have been involved with swimming at multiple levels for years and really tried to work with the coach to communicate more effectively and be 'team parents.' She pretty much stonewalled us telling us she would take care of it (and didn't) and said that as parents we weren't allowed to organize events for students (team dinners, etc.)

Wow I wonder if we’re on the same team lol

Except I know we’re not bc our coach is male and the worst coach on the face of the earth.

[Anonymous]

DD swims year round club, summer league and HS swim. Both she and I love her HS swim the most. Team is very well organized by coach and the parents volunteers. We have team gathering at captains' house every Friday night through out season and also weekly breakfast at school. Swimmers cheer each other hard and the team spirit is always the best. No problem filling in volunteer spot and we have season ending banquet dinner at a nice country club.

[Anonymous]

Very organized.

* always had parkas and warm ups by winter sports photo day, team suits and swag were distributed at the dinner the week of the first meet
* meet sheets were distributed no later than the morning of the meet (no real need to know exactly what anyone was swimming any earlier than that)
* there was a team dinner of some sort every week
* the coach sent a weekly email with updates and, if applicable, results from the last meet attached
* parent liaisons regularly shared information and sent out volunteer signups for the entire season prior to the first meet)
* not only was there a nice, catered end of season banquet, the team also hosts a senior banquet and senior breakfast
* the swimmers themselves coordinate weekly buddy gifts for those interested, senior night gifts, and hair dying for Districts among other traditions

Of club, summer, and HS swim, HS was by far DCs favorite.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ours is organized well, but it’s also run by the same coaches who coach club, so it feels like an extension of club. I’m an official and I also help out with sending out parent signups for timers, organizing team dinners, breakfasts, etc. The team has team suits, hoodies and t shirts, and the swimmers who qualify for state will receive additional team gear. The coaches and captains organize the end of season banquet.

If your team isn’t well organized and you have the bandwidth, consider at least organizing a team dinner or two. My kid’s high school swim team is having a lot of fun, and the extra get togethers take some work, but they translate into noticeable camaraderie on the pool deck.

We don't do team dinners. I think that they go out though.

Can someone tell me what is involved or how you run your team dinners? I would love to organize.

Sure - we have 3-4 official team dinners during the season. We sent an email out at the beginning of the season and asked for volunteers to host dinners at their homes. It’s not a small undertaking given that there are about 50 swimmers and 5 coaches, but we make it work. The host typically covers the entire meal cost, but sometimes families will split the hosting cost. The dinners occur the night before big meets - regionals, state, etc, and it always consists of pasta for carb loading. The kids go to practice, and then come over for dinner. It’s nice to have the kids in a house as opposed to a restaurant. They play cards, board games, etc.

The swimmers will organize their own dinner out after home meets.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ours is organized well, but it’s also run by the same coaches who coach club, so it feels like an extension of club. I’m an official and I also help out with sending out parent signups for timers, organizing team dinners, breakfasts, etc. The team has team suits, hoodies and t shirts, and the swimmers who qualify for state will receive additional team gear. The coaches and captains organize the end of season banquet.

If your team isn’t well organized and you have the bandwidth, consider at least organizing a team dinner or two. My kid’s high school swim team is having a lot of fun, and the extra get togethers take some work, but they translate into noticeable camaraderie on the pool deck.

We don't do team dinners. I think that they go out though.

Can someone tell me what is involved or how you run your team dinners? I would love to organize.

Our team dinners are held at the HS. Usually catered from a local restaurant that supports the team. These are on Thursday nights. The team also goes out after meets to local restaurants.

[Anonymous]

Our team does pasta dinners weekly. One family hosts and provides he pasta and the swimmers bring the rest. It is a lot of people but pretty easy. The hosts signup with signup genius.

Our banquet is a potluck at our local pool clubhouse. Families are welcome. We collect for senior gifts and coach”s gift.

Getting people to volunteer is always a bit of a hassle. It’s like they forget we always need 12 timers.

[Anonymous]

Our team dinners are also held at the HS. Dates go out in advance, and parents sign up (signup genius) to bring different meal components. A few parents come and organize/serve the food.