Frequently Asked Questions:

What if I've never been on a swim team in the past? Can I still participate?
Yes!  Anyone is  welcome to participate and learn the sport. New swimmers will be introduced to the fundamentals of each stroke as well as flip turns and entry dives. 

How often does the team practice?
You can plan on having 6 days a week filled with swim practices, meets, or activities. The schedule is attached. 

Are there any additional costs involved?
Yes. The team suit is selected each year and will be required for all meets. Cost of the suit is typically around $70, and it will be worn only at meets during the entire season. Once the season is complete, the suit can be worn for practices. The team suit is purchased through the Elsmore team store. 

Other expenses involve the purchase of practice gear and special team t-shirts. The team typically designs shirts for special meets such as conference, sectionals and state. The purchase of the shirts is optional. Practice gear includes cap, goggles and practice suits. (Flippers, buoys, paddles and kickboards can be provided by the team. It is preferred that swimmers have their own fins that can be found on the Elsmore team store website.

What about fundraising?
In order to keep costs low for team families and support the Booster Club, 2 - 3 fundraising opportunities are available to the girls. Participation in these events is a great team-building experience.  Our largest fundraiser of the year will be a donation campaign through Leading Edge Fundraising and coincide with the start of the season.  The swimmers will call and text close friends and family to seek donations over 2 weeks.  The money raised will go back to the swimmers to pay for extra pool time, purchase equipment for the team, provide bus upgrades and food for away meets, and support team-building activities!

How do I know which events my child will swim and how do the meets work?
Meet lineups are typically emailed prior to the meet. Events are decided by the coaching staff.  Upon your arrival at the pool, heat sheets may be available. Most meets consist of Varsity, JV and Exhibition events. (Exhibition events do not count for points for the team and are a great way for swimmers to "get their feet wet" in a competition setting.) At dual meets (two opposing teams within our conference), teams typically swim in odd or even lanes with the fastest swimmers in the heat placed in center lanes.

If a competing school has a diving program, the diving portion of the meet can occur at the beginning of the meet or near the middle of the swimming portion. For some invitational meets, entries are limited and some swimmers may not participate.

Order of events:
200 Medley Relay
200 Freestyle
200 IM
50 Freestyle
100 Butterfly
100 Freestyle
500 Freestyle
200 Free Relay
100 Backstroke
100 Breaststroke
400 Free Relay

FREESTYLE

In freestyle events, the competitor may swim any stroke, but the fastest is what is often called the crawl, which is characterized by the alternate stroking of the arms over the water surface and an alternating (up-and-down) flutter kick. On turns and finishes, some part of the swimmer must touch the wall. Most swimmers do a flip turn.

BACKSTROKE

Backstroke consists of an alternating motion of the arms with a flutter kick while on the back. On turns, swimmers may turn onto the stomach and do a flip turn (they cannot glide into the wall and then turn). Some part of the swimmer must touch the wall at the turn. The swimmer must finish on the back.

BREASTSTROKE

The breaststroke requires simultaneous movements of the arms on the same horizontal plane. The hands are pushed forward from the breast. In the return of the arms, the hand cannot go past the waist. The kick is a simultaneous somewhat circular motion similar to the action of a frog. On turns and at the finish, the swimmer must touch the wall with both hands simultaneously.

BUTTERFLY

Some consider the butterfly to be the most beautiful of the strokes. It features a simultaneous movement of the arms over the water combined with an undulating dolphin kick. In the kick, the swimmer must keep both legs together and may not flutter, scissor or breaststroke kick. Both hands must touch the wall simultaneously on the turns and the finish.

INDIVIDUAL MEDLEY (I.M.)

The individual medley, commonly referred to as the I.M., features all four strokes. In the IM, the swimmer begins with the butterfly, then changes after one fourth of the race to backstroke, then breaststroke and finally freestyle. The rules of each stroke apply to that leg of the IM.

MEDLEY RELAY

In the medley relay, all four strokes are swum. The first swimmer swims backstroke, the second breaststroke, the third butterfly, and the final swimmer anchors the relay with freestyle.

FREESTYLE RELAY

The freestyle relay events consist of four swimmers, each swimming one quarter of the total distance of the event.

How is the meet run and scored?
To start each event, swimmers are called to the starting position by the starter (usually a whistle) who visually checks that all swimmers are motionless. When all swimmers are set, the starting horn or gun is sounded to start the race. If the starter feels that one of the swimmers has moved, left early or gotten an unfair advantage, the guilty swimmer may be disqualified after the race for a false start. Should a swimmer inadvertently enter the water before the starting signal, they may be disqualified at the discretion of the officials.

Scoring is for the team with points awarded by finish place in each event. Point values are:

Individual events scoring:

• 1st: 6

• 2nd: 4

• 3rd: 3

• 4th: 2

• 5th: 1

Relay events scoring:

• 1st: 8

• 2nd: 4

• 3rd: 2

In dual meets (two teams head-to-head) there are 14 points available for each of the three relays for 42 points. Each of the eight individual events has 16 points available for 128 points. The total meet has 170 points available.

Invites are usually scored to 16 places: 20, 17, 16, 15, 14, 13, 12, 11, 9, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1.

As a parent, what do I need to bring to a meet?
Dress in layers. Spectator seating in the pool is typically hot and humid. Bring a seat cushion for added bleacher comfort. Wear your DPW shirts and your lanyard provided by the team. The shirts will be available to order before the season begins. Lanyards will be made by the swimmers before the first meet. 

If I'm asked to be a "timer," what does this mean? Do I need special training?
Volunteering for this task can be great fun! You're right on deck with the action and excitement of the meet and enjoy comfy seats. Don't hesitate to help your team in this capacity. In addition to the electronic touch pads used at the finish wall, each lane also requires two to three additional timers. One timer operates a stopwatch and "plunger", one additional person records the times on a sheet of paper. In some instances, only two timers are used, and the non-plunger operator records the times. A timers' meeting takes place prior to the start of the meet, and the meet official provides complete training. Less experienced timers may feel more comfortable in lanes 2 and 7, as the outside lanes tend to have fewer swimmers.  Please note that timing does NOT count for the West De Pere Booster Club volunteer requirement.  It does, however, generate income for the booster club.

How does my swimmer get to/from meets?
Bus transportation is provided to and from all away meets, and swimmers must ride the bus each way. For safety reasons, swimmers are not permitted to leave an away meet with a parent or friend group.

What are team dinners?
Several pasta parties are scheduled throughout the season with parent volunteers as the host. Information is communicated through the coaches. Other impromptu team meal gatherings may occur after practice. Due to our schedule, we are looking forward to Saturday Brunches instead of pasta parties

Booster Clubs

There are two booster clubs that donate money to the De Pere Swim Team

1. West De Pere Booster Club - West De Pere has one booster club for all of their sports.  West De Pere parents are expected to sign up for two concession shifts per athlete, per sport each school year.  In turn, the West De Pere Booster Club will give $40 per athlete to the coach to use at their discretion.  The WDP Booster Club also gives the Head Coach money to use for senior banners.  Further questions can be directed to their website (https://www.wdpsd.com/schools/high/athletics/booster-club.cfm) or the parent rep (Sharon Schmoll)

2. De Pere Swimming Booster Club, Inc. - Open to all parents in both De Pere and West De Pere.  Parents are encouraged to join a committee and get involved!  Committees include: (1) Social, (2) Meets, and (3) Fundraising.