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 three 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?
• 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?
• TimeTrials & 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 2011

• Head coach: Melissa Kiser
• Assistant Coach: Matt Brinton
• Developmental Coaches: Mike Czerwinski, Amanda Kelly, Emma Way
• Full-time Lifeguards: Jordan Deshon, Jimmy Grimes, Amanda Kelly
• Part-time Lifeguards: Caroline Beston, Matt Brinton, Jay Czerwinski, Victoria Nystrom
• Substitute Lifeguards: Mike Czerwinski, J.P. Fossler, Chet Greene, Jill Gillespie, Joe Lynch, Harry McGovern, Weston Schlack, Emma Way

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 16 from 10am to noon

• Swim Team Registration - Sun. April 17 from noon to 2pm

• Pool Prep Party #1 - Sat. April 23 from 9am to 1pm
       (food and drink at 1pm)

• Pool Prep Party #2 - Sat. May 7 from 9am to 1pm
       (food and drink at 1pm)

• Pool Prep Party #3 - Sat. May 14 from 9am to 1pm
       (food and drink at 1pm)

• Parent & Swimmer Meeting with Coaches - Sun. May 22 at 6pm

• Roller Skating Party - Thur. May 5

• Afternoon practices begin - Tues. May 31

• FFC-only Blue & Gold Meet, Team Picnic & BBQ following - Sat. June 11

• School Year End Bash - Thur. June 16, first raft/dinner on deck night

• Ice Cream Pep Rally - Fri. June 17

• Morning practices begin - Mon. June 20

• Team Pictures - Tues. June 21

• Hershey Park Trip - Thur. June 30 (tentative)

• FFC Mini Meet & Ice Cream Pep Rally - Fri. July 15

• SSL Time Trials 9-10 - Tues. July 19

• Team Banquet - Sat. July 23

• Hot Diggity Dad Day – Sunday, June 19
• Raft Nights – Thursdays, June 23 through August 25
• Full Moon Madness – Sat., June 26, Mon., July 26, Tues., Aug. 24
• Fourth of July BBQ – Monday, July 4
• Family Fun Night – Friday, August 19

• Tot Party – Tuesday, June 27
• Teen Party – Saturday, July 9
• Tween Party – Friday, July 29
• Last Splash Kids’ Bash – Monday, August 22

• Happy Hours – Fridays, June 24, July 8, July 22, August 5, August 26
• Guys’ Night – Tuesday, June 28
• Crab Feast – Saturday, July 16
• Ladies’ Night – Tuesday, July 12

Time Trials & 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.

Some useful, helpful and important info:

• Time Trials Parking Map - see where to drop off swimmers and where to park for the July 19, 2011 SSL time trials
• SSL Time Trials Sign-up Form - Check sign-up deadline on form, which is typically at the end of the first week of July.
• 2011 Fairfield Time Trials Advertising Sheet - Find out about advertising in the program for the 2011 9&10 boys and girls time trials to be held at FFC on July 19, 2011.
• 2011 Time Trials Donation Cover Letter - The cover letter that explains the "2011 Fairfield Time Trials Advertising Sheet" above.
• Shout Out Ads - Info sheet on buying an inexpensive "Shout Out" to your favorite swimmers in the 2011 Fairfield Time Trials program.

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 - 2011

Thursday, May 26th     6:30 PM     Experienced Referees & Starters Only
Shue Middle School, Christina School District

Thursday, June 2th       6:30 PM     Referees, & Starters
Western YMCA Youth Development Center

Thursday, June 9th        6:30 PM     Starters & Coaches
Shue Middle School, Christina School District

Saturday, June 11th        6:30 PM    Referees & Starters
Greater Newark Boys and Girls Club

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 2011 - 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.

07/13/11