Swim Team - The Turtles

If you are 4-18 years old and love swimming, the FFC Turtles of Newark, Delaware are looking for you!

We have daily swim practices at Fairfield Pool each weekday beginning the day after Memorial Day that are held after school while school is still in session, and in the morning after school is out. You will practice with other swimmers of your age or ability level.

To join the swim team your family must be a member of the pool. Swim meets are held on Wednesday evenings and Saturday mornings, from mid-June through mid-July.

Parents of swim team members are required to volunteer at a minimum of two swim meets, performing such jobs as place judge, timer, ribbon writer, or snack bar attendant, among many others. Swimmers are encouraged to wear team swim suits.

Quick Links

• Purpose - What is the purpose of the swim team?
• Coaches - Who are the coaches this year? Can I read their manual?
• Swim Team Handbook - What do I need to know?
• Practices - When is my practice?
• Meet Schedule - When and where are the swim meets? What are the directions for getting there?
• Team Event Schedule - What other swim team events are there?
• SSL Event Schedule - When and where are time-trials, championships, and other Suburban Swim League events?
• SSL Officials Clinics - What clinics are available for officials?
• Team Records - What are the team and pool records?
• Other Information - How can my kids join the team, how do I get to other pools, what is the order of events in a meet, who can I email with questions, and what other useful information is available?

Swim Team Purpose

In accordance with the SSL Official League Rules, Section 1, Purpose, the Fairfield-Fairfield Crest Swim Team strives to provide the opportunity for competitive swimming among all of its members of all abilities. Good sportsmanship, fair play, team spirit, and participation by all swimmers in all meets is FFC's goal throughout the entire swim season. Fairfield encourages swimmers to develop and improve their competitive swimming skills in a fun, safe, and healthy environment.

Coaches for 2010

• Head coach: Letty Krueger
• Assistant Coach: Jimmy Grimes
• Development Coaches: Emma Way, Jill Gillespie, Matt Brinton and Mike Czerwinski
• Coaches Manual (pdf) - goals, themes, practices and tons of helpful information for FFC swim team coaches

Swim Team Handbook

In addition to the team web site, the Swim Team Handbook is an important source of information for you and your swimmer. It contains information about:

• Suburban Swim League - teams, divisions and eligibility
• Practice Groups - age and skill ranges, times of practices
• Swim Meets - scoring, events and other general info
• Officials & Workers - determine how you can help
• Responsibilities - important swim team family involvement
• Awards - descriptions of meet and team awards
• SSL Time Trials & Championships - a brief overview

View the Swim Team Handbook here.

Practices

The definitive source for information about practices and practice groups is the Swim Team Handbook. This summary is provided for quick reference.

Meet Schedule

• For Saturday morning meets, swimmers should report by 7:45am. Meet starts at 9:00am.
• For Wednesday evening meets, swimmers should report to FFC by 4:45pm for home meets or 4:30pm for away meets to allow time to caravan to the meet. Meet starts at 6:00pm.
• Maps and directions - addresses, phone numbers and online maps.

Fairfield Team & Family Event Schedule

In addition to regular swim meets, there are many events for the whole team, concluding with the annual team banquet.  Unless otherwise noted, these events take place at Fairfield Pool.

• Swim Team Registration - Sat. April 17, 2010 from 10am to noon

• Swim Team Registration - Sun. April 18, 2010 from noon to 2pm

• Pool Prep Party #1 - Sat. April 24, 2010 from 9am to 1pm
       (food and drink at 1pm)

• Pool Prep Party #2 - Sat. May 1, 2010 from 9am to 1pm
       (food and drink at 1pm)

• Pool Prep Party #3 - Sat. May 15, 2010 from 9am to 1pm
       (food and drink at 1pm)

• Parent & Swimmer Meeting with Coaches - Sun. May 23, 2010 at 6pm

• Afternoon practices begin - Tues. June 1, 2010

• Newark Nite, stop by FFC booth - Sat. June 5, 2010

• Morning practices begin - Mon. June 14, 2010

• Hershey Park Trip - Mon. June 28, 2010

• Team Pictures - Wed. June 30, 2010

• FFC-only Blue & Gold Meet, Team Picnic & BBQ following - data tba

• Ice Cream Pep Rally - date tba

• Fairfield Mini Meet - date tba

• Team Banquet - date tba

• Raft Nights – Thursdays, June 17 through August 26
• Hot Diggity Dad Day – Sunday, June 20
• Full Moon Madness – Sat., June 26, Mon., July 26, Tues., Aug. 24
• Day After the Fourth of July BBQ – Monday, July 5
• Weaver Memorial Picnic & Family Fun Night – Friday, August 20

• Teen Party – Saturday, June 19
• Tot Party – Tuesday, July 19
• Tween Party – Friday, August 6
• Last Splash Kids’ Bash – Monday, August 23

• Happy Hours – Fridays, June 11, July 16, August 13
• Guys’ Night – Tuesday, June 29
• Crab Feast – Saturday, July 10
• Ladies’ Night – Tuesday, July 13

Suburban Swim League Event Schedule

There are a number of Suburban Swim League swim meets and events during the season.  The "Season Events at a Glance" posted on the Suburban Swim League web site is the definitive schedule for dates and times of the optional, mini, time trial, championship and other miscellaneous events.

SSL Officials Clinics

Training for working at swim meets is provided by SSL clinics. The schedule for these clinics is listed below, but be sure to check the Officials web page of the SSL web site for confirmation of dates and times.

Officials Clinics - 2010

Thursday, May 27th     6:30 PM     Referees & Starters Only
Shue Middle School, Christina School District
Referee clinics require at least 2 years experience as an SSL official, or an alternate certification, such as USA or YMCA.

Saturday, June 5th       8:00 AM     Stroke & Turn, Referees, & Starters
Western YMCA Youth Development Center
Participants will be split into 2 or 3 groups of different experience levels.

Monday, June 7th        6:30 PM     Stroke & Turn, Referees, & Starters
Western YMCA Youth Development Center
Participants will be split into 2 or 3 groups of different experience levels.

Scorers Clinic - 2010

Thursday, June 10th     6:30 PM
Shue Middle School, Christina School District
All planning to serve as a scorer at 2010 dual meets should attend - particularly important for those with less experience.

Swim Team Records

• Records All-in-one - compare the latest records (as of the end of the 2007 season) for team, pool and yards.
• Boy's Records - fastest FFC boy swimmers for all age groups and events.
• Girl's Records - fastest FFC girl swimmers for all age groups and events.

Other Information

• Swim Team Handbook - a collection of valuable details for swim team members and parents, practice groups and times, officials and workers, descriptions of awards, and family responsibilities.
• Swim Team Registration Form 2010 - fill out this form and return it to , or .
• Suburban Swim League Dual Meet Event Order - list of swim meet events by number as a printable and laminate-able PDF.
• Suburban Swim League Pools - addresses, phone numbers, maps and directions to pools.
• Suburban Swim League - Competitive summer swim teams in Northern Delaware and Eastern Pennsylvania, league web site.
• Swim Suits & Apparel - Purchase official team swim suits and other items customized with the FFC logo, including shorts, bags, hats and sweats, from The Swim Shop in Wilmington on Concord Pike (map).
• Questions?  You can email , or , or phone Steve or Kathleen at (302) 454-7545, or Maribeth at (302) 584-8437.

06/01/10