Guidelines

An Introduction to High School Competitive Swimming

Welcome to the Defiance High School Swimming & Diving team! We are excited you are a part of the team. For some people, new things can be very intimidating and overwhelming. The purpose of this publication is to help you better understand our sport and also to be prepared in order to have our season run smoothly. Please feel free to ask the coach or an assistant coach any questions you may have.

Order of Events

Each swim meet during the high school season will have the same order of events. It is the responsibility of the swimmers to know what events they are swimming and when that event starts. The entries are always posted ahead of time at the deck. The order of events is below. Girls swim odd events, and the boys swim even events. In addition, at some meets, there will be JV events.

Events #1 and #2: 200-yard medley relay

Events #3 and #4: 200-yard freestyle

Events #5 and #6: 200-yard individual medley (IM)

Events #7 and #8: 50-yard freestyle

JV Events #107 and #108: 50-yard freestyle

Swimmers will have to prepare the pool for the diving now. If there is no diving, there will be a 10 to 15-minute break. It is mandatory that all swimmers stay at the deck, support the divers, and pay attention in order to be ready to resume the swimming events.

Events #9 and #10: One-meter Diving

Events #11 and #12: 100-yard butterfly

Events #13 and #14: 100-yard freestyle

JV Events #113 and #114: 100-yard freestyle

Events #15 and #16: 500-yard freestyle

Events #17 and #18: 200-yard freestyle relay

Events #19 and #20: 100-yard backstroke

Events #21 and #22: 100-yard breaststroke

Events #23 and #24: 400-yard freestyle relay

Scores

Entries

Every swimmer can be entered into maximum of four (4) events, where a maximum of two (2) can be individual. The coaches make the final decision about participants in each event and the order in a relay.

Basic Stroke Rules

Each stroke in swimming has specific rules for start to finish, including the turns and proper technique. Those rules will be taught during the practice.

Freestyle

Start: From the starting block

Turn: Flip turn (similar to a somersault)

Finish: One hand touch on the final wall

Backstroke

Start: From the water (on back)

Turn: Roll from back to front, flip, and push off on your back. Or turn that stays on the back.

Finish: One hand touch. MUST be on your back.

Breaststroke

Start: From the starting block

Simultaneous kick

Turn: Simultaneous two hand touch

Finish: Simultaneous two hand touch

Butterfly

Start: From the starting block

Turn: Simultaneous two hand touch

Finish: Simultaneous two hand touch

Please notice those are just the basic rules. During every meet there will be officials who will make sure those rules are not violated. If a swimmer infringes the rules, the result will be a disqualification. (DQ)

WBL

(Western Buckeye League)

Teams participating in WBL are Celina, Defiance, Elida, Kenton, Lima-Bath, Ottawa-Glandorf, St. Mary’s, Shawnee, Van Wert, and Wapakoneta.

The diving part of WBL is on Thursday and the swimming part is on Saturday. All swimmers will be entered in order to participate in the WBL meet. They will swim their assigned events. All swimmers are expected to be in attendance to cheer on their fellow swimmers during the whole meet.

Sectionals, Districts, and States

Each school in the state of Ohio is placed into One of those Districts.

• Central/East/Southeast Ohio District at Columbus (Columbus, Columbus Academy, Upper Arlington, and Worthington)

• Northeast Ohio District at Cleveland (Akron, Canton, Hawken, SPIRE)

• Northwest Ohio District at Bowling Green (Ayersville, Fremont, Lakewood, Oak Harbor, Mansfield, Napoleon)

• Southwest Ohio District at Oxford (Centerville, Cincinnati, Mason, Trotwood)

Sectionals

All swimmers will be allowed to participate in the Sectional meet. They will swim their assigned events. All swimmers are expected to be in attendance to cheer on their fellow swimmers during the whole meet.

There are 6 sectionals in our Northwest Ohio District. The times from the 6 sectionals (Ayersville, Fremont, Lakewood, Oak Harbor, Mansfield, Napoleon) will be put together to determine who qualifies for Districts at Bowling Green. The top thirty-two individual times from those six sectionals will qualify to the District. There will be also the top twenty-four relay times that will qualify for the District

Districts

Swimmers who qualify for Districts will compete in those events only. The top two individuals/relays in each swimming event and the top three divers qualify to the State Tournament at Branin Natatorium, Canton. Sixteen at-large swimming qualifiers will be selected on the basis of times recorded in all District Tournaments statewide.

State Competition

This is the final step in a swimmer’s season. He or she will compete only in the events he or she qualified for. It is a great honor and a wonderful experience to qualify for state. It also is very difficult and requires a lot of hard work.

For parents of first year or new swimmers, do not feel discouraged if your child does not qualify for any of the above meets. They should focus on improving their strokes and times during this first year of swimming.

How to make a varsity letter

• In order to be considered for a varsity letter swimmer MUST complete at least 5 different individual events by the end of the season and have at least 90% attendance.

• Meet the time requirement up to four times. 5 points each. Total 20 points.

• Attendance at practice. 2 points each practice. If excused 1 point. (In order to be excused, I will have to have a note from parent(s) prior the absence.

• Attendance at meets. 5 points each meet.

• Individual varsity points. (The varsity points you get during a meet.) Up to 30 points.

• Paperwork 15 points.

• Missed event during meet. -10 points. (You really don’t want to go there…)

Times to make varsity letter

You must collect at least 210 points in order to get a varsity letter.

If a practice is canceled, you will receive full points (2) for that practice.

I am also reserving the right to make the final decision on every varsity letter given.

1. Follow the DHS rules.

2. Follow the YMCA rules.

3. Follow the rules about sports conduct.

4. Be polite and respectful to others.

5. Be on time.

6. No one in water before a coach is present.

7. Everyone in the group that is assigned to set up the pool for that day must participate in setting the pool up.

8. Absolutely no diving from long sides and shallow side of the pool!!!

9. Always enter the pool feet first unless it is said otherwise.

10. Everyone’s best effort is EXPECTED during each event regardless of your experience with or fondness of the event. Entries are made in order to best utilize each member of the TEAM and in order to best compete as a TEAM.

11. Always *shake hands with the other competitors in the pool. Remember - without someone to compete against, you wouldn't be here. Good sportsmanship is non-negotiable. (*Air high five is acceptable as well)

12. After home meets, no one leaves until the pool deck is picked up. Don’t change too early into dry clothes - you might get wet during clean up!

13. Everyone stays on deck cheering until the last swimmer exits the pool. You may not leave early unless there is an extreme circumstance and a note.

14. If we have an away meet, everyone will ride back on the bus.

15. Dress up on the day of meet. Nice pants and the warm-up top is acceptable.

16. In order to have an excused absence I need a note from parents IN ADVANCE.

17. If you miss any practice 48 hours prior meet, you might not be entered into the meet.

18. Christmas break is NOT automatically excused. You still need a note from parents. Points during Christmas break will be: Excused = 2pts. Attended practice 3pts.

19. Unexcused missed practice = suspension from team.

20. If it is an emergency, such as an illness, it can be solved the next day. (Going to Grandma’s birthday party is NOT an emergency…)

21. In addition, follow Covid - 19 recommendations issued by the DHS.

End of Practice Notice

Practice ends at 4:30 PM. That said, if a student is a member of the YMCA, (*he or she can stay), but coaches’ responsibilities for swimmers end at the end of the practice. (*Follow YMCA rules)

For Rules and Expectation google form click here.