About the Club

Welcome to the page with a little bit of everything! Scroll down to find our 2007/08 Handbook, which contains a good overview of the club, its mandate and structure, and expectations of swimmers and parents.

To find out more about where we're going as a club, please read our President's Message from the 2007 AGM. For more indepth information about our plans for 2007/08, please download the overview from our Spring 2007 Planning Retreat.

Handbook • 2007/2008

Mission Statement

Synchro 411

FAQs

Equipment Requirements

Club Events

Travel and Club Conduct

Synchro Lingo

Canadian Amateur Synchronized Swimming Association Rule Book Nov. 2006 (PDF download)

Withdrawing from the Club

Mission Statement

To develop Synchronized Swimming as a high quality sport at all levels throughout the interior region by providing effective programs for coaches, athletes and volunteers

Club History

Our club was established in 1985 as the Kamloops Bravura Club.  The name changed to Sunrays: the “sun” indicating our climate, the “rays” for one of the most graceful and powerful fish.  The club logo was designed by Vicki Dunn, Coach, Master swimmer and  major synchro cheerleader!

SYNCHRO 411

How our club is structured

Swimmers are required to do regular STAR TESTING. These tests are conducted at least once a year to determine each swimmers level of ability.  The Tier System is an approach to dividing the athletes into categories based on the level of skills attained, rather than just dividing them by age.

Recreational swimmers are:

Star levels 1-3

Competitive swimmers are:

Tier 1 star level 3

Tier 2 star level 5

Tier 3 star level 7

Tier 4 star level 9

Tier 5 Superstar 1

Tier 6 Superstar 3

Tier 7 Superstar 5

Masters Swimmers are over 18 years of age; may be recreational or competitive.

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FAQ’S

Q. How do athletes and parents stay informed?

A. Coaches strive to do their best to communicate any news to the athletes.  If this is verbal, athletes need to take time to relay it to the parent.  The athletes have a mail slot for any pertinent information and it is up to the athlete to make sure this gets home.  Parents can easily access the slots.  With Canada Games Pool under construction, they will be on the pool deck beside the synchro office, until further notice.  Westsyde will get theirs direct from their coach.

Club information about upcoming meets, fundraising efforts, meet results etc. will be presented in our SYNCHRO CLUB NEWSLETTER.  In an effort to reduce club costs, the Newsletter will be sent electronically.  For anyone needing a “hard” copy please contact Linda. If you have any questions, contributions or suggestions for the newsletter please direct them to: info@sunrays.kamloops.net

The newsletter can be found on the website: http://www.sunrays.kamloops.net/events.html

Q. What is expected of the athletes through out the year?

A. Critical to a teams’ success is regular attendance.  Like any team sport, when one member is away, the entire team suffers.  Coaches must be informed as soon as possible if a swimmer is going to be absent from any practice.  Attendance will be kept.  The swimmers are allowed 5 “free” days during the season.  A “free” day is any day that the swimmer takes part in another activity such a school dance/event but does not include illness. Free days are not allowed the week prior to a competition.

Q. What is expected of the parents throughout the year?

A. During the year please ensure your swimmer is at the pool with enough time to change and be ready to go at the posted time, as  pool time is limited.  At meets we hope you will be able to come and cheer everyone on and have fun with helping out with easily learned tasks, such as scorekeeping, time keeping, etc.  Learning to “gel” your swimmer’s hair will assist the club as it frees up coaches for any last minute details in preparing the swimmers for their event.

All parents of swimmers Rec to Tier 7 are required to fill their teams allocation of volunteer spots at Synchro Meets.  If unable to attend, it is the parents’ responsibility to find a replacement firstly from within the team, secondly from other club parents.

It is expected that parents help guide their swimmers to make their fundraising quotas as set out in your registration package.  Details of the different fundraising efforts will be available throughout the season. 

Fundraising Deposit

In order to keep monthly costs down and to maintain equipment and help pay operating costs such as pool rental and coaching salaries, club fundraising is a necessity. Swimmers are assigned the following quotas:

·     Recreational swimmers (Star 1,2,3) $10

·     Tier 1  $100

·     Tiers 2-5  $125

·     Tiers 6-7  $200

Tiered swimmers with fundraising quotas are required to provide two post-dated cheques dated December 31^st and May 31^st. The deposits will be refunded if and when the amount of monies fundraised equals the amount of the deposit.

After a swimmer’s fundraising commitment is met, 50% of any additional proceeds from fundraising will go into the swimmer’s account and 50% will remain with the club.

Although the rates have increased this year we would like to make you aware that they are below and inline with fees around the province.  We try to keep them low by applying for various grants and sponsorships.  Enterprise Entertainment has committed to a substantial amount for the next year.  In return, we as a club are expected to be present at their site to represent our club.  There are 4 dates each for 2 hours.  Parent volunteers are needed to fill these spots and the dates will be posted. You don’t have to sell/do anything but be present. To call to arrange your time please call Susan Helgason 578-2676 or by e-mail: helgi@shaw.ca

Parents will also be expected to volunteer for various jobs during swim meets.  These positions will be posted before the meets.

Q. How and where do I direct any concerns?

A. Please feel free to approach your swimmer’s coach before or after a session.  If more information is needed please seek out the Head Coach.  Feel free to contact any of the parents on the executive as they also have a lot of experience with the club.  You will get a phone/e-mail list with all the club members/coaches etc. once the registration process is done and the season is underway.

Q. What is the role of the Executive?

A. This is a non-profit club run solely by the volunteer efforts of our executive and parent volunteers.  Executive meets once a month for about an hour,  please see the web site for dates. There are many roles to keep the club running such as: grant applications, planning special events, communications, fundraising organization, deciding all financial matters, co-ordination of special funds for athletes to attend workshops, extra training etc.   You may have the skill to enhance the operation of the club – the parent volunteer is the biggest resource the club has, we need the help of all the members.  If there are no parent volunteers, there is no club. Please see our volunteer page for more details.

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Equipment Requirements

Practice Equipment:

* Bathing suit-any colour one piece for practice

* Bathing caps: a team cap provided with registration, a white cap is required for meets

* Nose clips: a clip is provided with registration, -a spare is always a good idea

* Goggles-hole punch the strap ends for easy i.d.

* Optional- Water bottle, Deck sandals (health reasons)

* Journal

* Swimmers are expected to attend practice in club shirt, shorts or track pants, runners may be required for dryland warm-ups.

Club Events/Competition:

Depending on the event e.g. Fundraising, Community participation or for a Competition - your coach will advise you what to wear or bring. A basic list for competition looks like this:

* Bathing suits, black for “figures”, routine suits, practice suit

* Bathing cap, white for “figures”, club cap for practice sessions

* Nose clips-preferably two, if one falls you have a back up

* Club T-Shirt-to be worn for any on deck appearance/awards

* Club Track Suit

* Gelatin-Knox powder, pastry brush, plastic container

* Bobby & Bun pins, small & big elastics, small tooth comb, brush

* Make-up: waterproof and personal, as sharing of eye products is not encouraged

* At any competitive meet, each Sunray should be wearing the Club Track Suit.  Track suits are mandatory for Tier 1 to 7 swimmers.  Optional for recreational swimmers. 

* Additional equipment is available on a cash basis at the CGP synchro office or through your W/S coach

Caps – yellow $5, white $3

T-shirts – To be determined

* MOST IMPORTANT….YOUR BIG SMILES !!

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Club Events

WATERSHOW  a showcase for family, friends and the general public to see what the gang is up to. Along with the routines that they work on for the year, special combinations of all levels are put together to give it more of a “show” atmosphere as opposed to a competitive one.  Lots of fun for all usually held twice a year. December/June

MINI MEETS a practice meet for recreational swimmers and lower Tier swimmers that also benefit volunteers as parents learn to time keep, score keep, be a “figures referee” (don’t worry it is all really easy).  The upper Tier swimmers also benefit by being pre-swimmers, runners, and judges.  It helps them to see the athletes from a judge’s point of view. Held once or twice a year.

STAR TESTING  Coaches will inform the athletes as to when this will take place.  Our coaches may do some star level testing and regional judges who are brought in for specific dates may do other testing.  Times to be advised by coaches.

TRAINING MEETS  Generally attended by competitive athletes to gain extra experience before a major meet. The Interior Regional Training Meet is for Tiers 1-5. Tier 6 & 7 swimmers attend training meets in the lower mainland.

BC Sectional Meet. This is a provincial meet that is a wonderful team building event.  Recreational & Tiers 1-5 attend.  It is an entry-level competition that is a great way to see how it all works.  Judges, ref’s and everyone are very supportive. Parents and coaches usually organize a communal supper and some fun games.

REGIONAL, SECTIONAL, PROVINCIAL, WESTERN, NATIONAL MEETS for our various Tier swimmers, participation is by qualifying; some are invitational.  Coaches will have the information as it comes available and together with their teams decide on which competitions to attend.

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Travel and Club Conduct

* Head Coach/Coach to post a schedule of events for the trip at least two days before departure, i.e.… Departure/Arrival time, dry land practice times, special team outings, club meals, room assignments, bed check times etc.

* Misconduct by any member of the team will result in a return home at the member’s own expense.

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Synchro ”Lingo”

ARTISTIC IMPRESSION- one part of a routine score that addresses choreography, music interpretation, and manner of presentation

CHAMPIONSHIP SCORE- any combined routine and figure scores. Solo championship-solo routine plus the figures score.  Duet Championship-duet routine plus the average of the two figures scores. Team championship-team routine score plus the average of all the team members’ figure scores.

DEGREE OF DIFFICULTY (DD)- this refers to a number value placed on each figure.  The higher the number the more difficult the figure.

FIGURE- a succession of movements which are a combinations of positions and transitions, done as a prescribed in the current syllabus, i.e.  Ballet leg.  The “entrance” to the figure is also taken into consideration when being judged.

FINA-Federations International Nation Amateur.  The governing body that sets the policies for synchro.

GEL-  a gelatin mixture (Knox powder is best) applied to the swimmers hair to hold the hair in place during a routine competition.  Everyone has their tricks to avoid clumps, for new members and their parents it is good to practice this at one of the mini-meets.  It washes out and is good for their hair but it is messy!

JUDGE-an individual appointed to evaluate the performances and assigns marks according to the criteria laid out in the rules.

MARKS FOR FIGURES-  each judge assigns one mark for each figure between 0 and 10.  The judge considers from the standpoint of perfection :”slow, high, and controlled with each section of the figure clearly defined and in uniform motion”

MARKS FOR ROUTINES- each judge assigns two marks for each routine from 0 to 10.  A mark is for technical merit(worth 60% of the total) and the other mark is for artistic impression(worth 40% of the total)

MEET-the synchro word for a competition

ROUTINE- a timed program performed to music containing parts of figures, strokes and body movements.  Routines are choreographed to synchronize the swimmers’ movements to music and each other.  Within a routine, the simmer tries to demonstrate maximum skill, ease of execution, and musical interpretation.  A routine may be swum as a solo, duet, or a team, or a combo team ( elements of each within a team)  The times for routines vary from Solo to Team and  Recreational to the National swimmers.  They start at 2 minutes and can be as long as 4 with a 15 second over/under grace time.  If a routine is too short or runs long a penalty is given. 

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Withdrawing from the club

While we expect all swimmers and their parents to realize that membership in our club should always be viewed as a total commitment for the whole synchro season, we do realize that occasionally, it may be necessary for a swimmer to withdraw. If this situation is unavoidable, it is required for that swimmer to submit written notification, a minimum of one month before the date of withdrawal to the club’s executive, to have fees and post-dated cheques returned.

Registration Fee is non-refundable.

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