|
Q. What is the Ventura County Swim
Conference (VCSC)
A. The Ventura County Swim Conference is an organization that serves
beginning and predominantly “summer-only” swimmers
in the Ventura County area. VCSC provides an introduction to
competitive swimming in a relaxed, safe and fun environment. VCSC
swimmers improve their swimming skills, obtain valuable individual and
team competition experience, gain self-confidence, make new friends,
and generally, have a great time!
Q. When does the Summer League begin and
end?
A. The summer league begins June 18th and runs through August 4th,
2006.
Q. How do I register my child for the
Summer League?
A. There are several ways to register:
-
On-line – you can go to the VCSC website at www.vcscswim.org
and click on Register Online or Download Registration forms. Simply fill them out and send them in.
Q. My child has never competed before. Can
he/she still participate?
A. Absolutely. The VCSC Summer Novice League is designed to be a fun,
safe and educational swimming experience for novice swimmers. Swimmers
need not know all four strokes, nor do they need to have previous
experience with swim competition.
Q. What is Conejo Simi Aquatics (CSA) and
what is its involvement in VCSC summer league?
A. CSA is one of the premier swim teams in Southern California,
offering year-round, competitive youth swim programs in the Conejo and
Simi Valley areas. CSA manages and provides coaching staff for the VCSC
summer league to help promote the sport of swimming in Ventura County
and to get kids involved in a safe, fun and active summer sporting
experience.
Q. How do I know which team to choose for
my child?
A. Most parents will select a team based on the practice location,
dates and times that are most convenient for them. You can research the
different teams in the VCSC by clicking on the “VCSC
Teams” link in the menu to the right.
Q. What are the practice dates and times?
A. The practice dates and times for each of the teams are listed on the HOME page.
Q. Can I choose a team other than the one
representing the area where I live? For example, if I live in Westlake,
but the practice dates/times at Thousand Oaks are more convenient for
me, can my child swim on the Thousand Oaks team?
A. Yes, as long as the maximum number of participants for that team has
not yet been reached, your child may swim on any team you wish.
Q. Who are the coaches?
A. We are fortunate to have a stellar coaching staff, all of whom coach
for year-round swim programs and are qualified and certified coaches.
Q. How do I know my children will be
coached professionally in a safe environment?
A. VCSC teams and coaches maintain membership in USA Swimming
– the national governing body of swimming – and are
certified through the Local Swimming Committee (LSC) of Southern
California Swimming (SCS). The reason for this link is two-fold: First,
swimming and coaching members of USA Swimming are covered by the
organization’s insurance at practices and competitions.
Second, a coach’s membership in USA Swimming automatically
ensures a high standard of excellence and safety-consciousness in any
swimming program. VCSC coaches are all professionals with many years of
coaching experience, who can be counted on to guide and care for your
children.
Q. How much does the Summer League cost?
A. The cost is $225 (early registration) for the entire summer session and includes a Team
T-shirt, swim cap, Entry into all meets and the VCSC Championship meet, and USA
Swimming membership and insurance for your child. Registration after June 11 increases $20.
Q. What if my child decides he/she
doesn't like the program or our summer plans change? Can we get a full
or partial refund?
A. There are no FULL refunds. Cost of team shirt, cap, and USA swimming
registration cannot be refunded (approx. $55.00). Refunds will be
offered at the discretion of the league. VCSC will take into account,
but will not be bound to the following refund criteria: Session fees
MAY be refunded for registrants who have not participated in ANY VCSC
activity. Refunds MAY be offered on a pro-rated basis for those who
have participated in a VCSC activity. Percentage of refund MAY be based
on the 7-week VCSC season from the June 18th start date until the date
of notification. No refunds will be offered after July 8, 2006.
Q. What if we join the team late? Do we
still have to pay full price or will the session be pro-rated?
A. The VCSC policy on joining a team late is as follows: if you join a
team after July 6, 2007 (4 weeks into the season), you will pay 80% of
the session fee ($196). Lab fees (approximately $55.00) are full price, ie
cap, shirt, insurance, championship meet fees. There are no other
discounts for late joiners.
Q. When are the swim
meets?
A. The meets are scheduled for June 30th, July 7th, and
July 28th. The VCSC
Championship Meet will be held on Saturday, August 4th. All
meets will take place at the Samuelson Aquatics Center on the
California Lutheran University campus.
Q. Do we have to attend
all the meets on the schedule?
A No, but participation is encouraged.
Q. What time do the meets
start? How long do they last?
A. The start time for meets varies depending on location.Click here
for the full meet schedule with individual start times. Meets typically
last two and one-half hours.
Q. Do parents need to
participate in the swim meets?
A. Parents are very important partners in any successful swim program
whether summer novice or year-round competitive. For swimmers to
receive the full attention of their coaches, and the best possible
competitive and learning experience, the parents are asked to
participate in meet operations. With just a little bit of proper
training, experience and a positive attitude, all VCSC parents can
easily help run a VCSC meet, take time to enjoy watching their
swimmer(s) race, and ensure that their swimmers are prepared for the
competition.
Q. How do we know where
to go and what to do at our first meet?
A. Maps for each of the pools are located here at vcscswim.org. Your
coach will provide you with all the information and preparation you
need before a meet, but there are some general tips to keep in mind:
-
Arrive at the pool early. In addition to making sure you are there in
plenty of time for the warm-up and check-in, getting to the pool early
allows your swimmer to become comfortable with his/her surroundings and
relax before the competition.
-
Swimmers should sit in and stay close to their team’s
specified area. This allows both parents and coaches to find their
swimmers easily and helps ensure that no one misses a race.
-
Only swimmers and coaches should stand behind the starting end of the
pool. This helps ensure that swimmers get to their assigned lanes on
time and keeps the area clear and quiet for the swimmers.
-
Bring plenty of water, sports drinks and healthy snacks. Swimming takes
a lot of energy!
-
Bring plenty of towels and warm clothing. Even in the summer, swimmers
can get chilled jumping in and out of the pool. And don’t
forget the sunscreen even on cloudy days!
Q. We will be on vacation
part of the summer and won’t be able to make all the
practices and meets. Can we still participate?
A. Yes. The emphasis of the Summer Novice League is on fun and learning
and all practices and meets are optional. Of course, the more practices
and meets your child can attend, the more beneficial the experience
will be for him or her.
Q. If my child wants to
continue with competitive swimming after the summer league is over,
what can I do?
A. Many children enjoy the experience of Summer League so much that
they decide to transition to a year-round competitive swim program. CSA
offers year-round youth swim programs for children ages 6-18 years,
with practice locations at California Lutheran University Pool and Rancho-Simi Community Pool. If you are interested in
having your child join CSA, more information and registration documents
are available on the CSA website at www.csaswim.com or you can call the
CSA Hotline at (805) 379-2378, #2, to have a parent representative
answer your questions. You can also speak to your Summer League coach
for assistance in determining the next step for your swimmer.
Q. Where can I get swim
equipment and swim wear? How much will this cost?
A. Your child will need the following items:
- practice suit (one-piece
tank or maillot-style for girls; jammers or speedos for boys)
- dark blue team racing suit (same suit
can be worn for practice and can be ordered from Conejo Swimworks)
- practice cap
- goggles
The price range for these items can vary greatly depending on style and
brand. VCSC Summer Novice League swimmers receive a discount at Conejo
Swimworks in Thousand Oaks, located at 688 North Moorpark Road,
805-379-4734 (the corner of Moorpark and Wilbur near the Whole Foods
store). Barbara and Mindy will be happy to assist you in finding
the right gear for your child and your budget.
Q. The information I
received says the league is for kids between the ages of 6-14. Will my
child be swimming and competing with children that are his/her own age?
A. Yes. For practice purposes, your coach will divide your children
according to both age and ability. For competition, the meets follow
USA age-group swimming regulations, dividing children by both gender
and age, into the following groups:
- 6 and under
- 7-8
- 9-10
- 11-12
- 13-18
Q. My child is nervous
about competing. What will the coaches do to ensure that he/she can
successfully participate in a meet?
A. The Summer Novice League is designed for the beginning swimmer and
as an introduction to competition. VCSC coaches are experienced in
teaching novice swimmers everything they need to know to have the most
enjoyable and successful swimming experience possible. Aspects of
swimming competition that will be covered by the coaches include:
- stroke technique
- starts and finishes
- turns
- pacing
- dry-land exercise
Q. What events will my
child be swimming in competition? I don’t know if my child
has the endurance for a distance event or knows how to do the
backstroke, for example.
A. The coaches will handle meet entries and will enter your swimmer in
those events that he/she has been prepared for in practice.
Q.
I’m all ready to mail in my registration packet, but I am
confused about who to make the check out to and where to send
everything.
A. If you are mailing in your registration, please send it to the
following address:
VCSC
P.O. Box 1819
Thousand Oaks, CA 91358
All
checks should be made out to VCSC – desired team name (Simi AM or PM, Westlake,
Foxmoor, Thousand Oaks, Newbury Park, Westoaks, Triunfo, Sunset Hills, etc) to indicate your team of choice.
|
