Excellence in swimming requires excellence in coaching. The coaches’ job is to supervise the swim program.

The coaching staff is dedicated to providing a program that enables swimmers to learn the value of striving to improve oneself.

For this purpose, the coaches are responsible for all matters affecting training and competition, including:

• Placing athletes in practice groups based on the age and ability level of each swimmer

• Stroke instruction and the training regimen based on sound scientific principles and geared to the goals of the group.

• Decisions concerning which meets swimmers attend and which events a swimmer competes in.

• Conducting and supervising the warm-up procedures for the team during meets - after each race, the coaches will offer constructive criticism regarding the swimmer's performance (it is the parents’ job to offer love and understanding regardless of their swimmer’s performance).

• The building of a relay team during meets.

• Coordination and liaison of swim meet entries and associated data between swim club and Swim BC.

  The coaches are constantly updating and improving the program. It is the responsibility of swimmers and parents to make the most out of the excellent opportunity this program provides for success in swimming.

Swim Team communication gaps can occur when parents feel more comfortable discussing their disagreements over coaching philosophy with other parents rather than taking them directly to the coach. This approach will never solve the problem and may lead to new problems being created. Try to keep foremost in your mind that you and the coach have the best interest of your child at heart. If you trust that the coach's goals match yours, even though his or her approach may be different, you are more likely to enjoy good rapport and a constructive dialogue. Listed below are some guidelines for a parent raising some difficult issues with a coach.

• Schedule a conference with the coach. Do not approach the coach on deck at a swim meet or during scheduled practice. Remember, the coach is responsible for other swimmers as well as your child and cannot possibly give you the attention you deserve or the swimmers the attention they require at the same time.

• Keep in mind that the coach must balance your perspective with what is best for your child and with the needs of the team or training group with which he is training. On occasion an individual child's interest may need to be subordinate to the interests of the group; however, benefits of membership in the group will eventually compensate for any occasional short-term inconvenience.

• If your child swims for an assistant coach, always discuss the matter first with that coach, following the same guidelines listed above. If the assistant coach cannot satisfactorily resolve your concern, then ask that the Head Coach join the dialogue as a third party.

• If another parent uses you as a sounding board for complaints about the coach's performance or policies, encourage the parent to speak directly to the coach.

• If your discussion with the Head Coach or Assistant Coach has not been resolved to either party's satisfaction, it may be necessary to discuss the matter with the Board of Directors. Submit your issue, in writing, to the Board and a meeting may be set up with you, the Coach, and the Board. This should only be used as a last step procedure.