INTRODUCTION

 The Ocean City C-Cerpant’s Swim Team is a year-round competitive team of approximately 125 athletes ranging in age from 5 to 18.  Team members are from Ocean City and the surrounding communities.  The team trains at the Aquatic and Fitness Center in Ocean City on 18^th Street and Simpson Avenue.  The facility houses a six-lane, 25 meter pool.

The team competes in local as well as United States Swimming (U.S.S.) meets.  Swimmers compete in short course pools, long course pools and open water swims depending on their ability.
 

MISSION STATEMENT

The Ocean City C-Cerpant’s Swim Team desires to instill dedication, motivation, self-discipline, self-esteem and responsibility into its team members.  The coaches and parents will strive to make swimming an enjoyable experience for participants while instilling the values of hard work, good sportsmanship, leadership and a competitive spirit into the swimmers.

COMMUNICATION

O.C.C.C. is connected.  The team uses their website and e-mail to disseminate information regarding the latest events and happenings.  Visit the website occcswimteam@yahoo.com frequently.

Each family will also have a mail box at the far end of the pool underneath the bulletin boards.  The boards contain information regarding upcoming meets as well as meet results and general team information.  The mail boxes are used for reminders to parents and for distribution of swimmer’s awards.  Please check all of these frequently for important team information.

TEAM STRUCTURE

Swimmers are evaluated by either the head coach or the developmental coach.  In order to be considered for placement on the team, a swimmer must be able to complete a 25 meter lap of legal freestyle and a 25 meter lap of legal backstroke.  They should have rudimentary knowledge of at least one other stroke.  Group placement is done at the coach’s discretion.  Swimmers are assessed four times per year during the session for placement into groups.  The O.C.C.C coaches reserve the right to move swimmers among groups based on the swimmer’s age, level of maturity, training ability, stroke and skill development and level of commitment, among other factors.

Developmental 1

This group is the beginning level of the team.  Training focuses on proper technique for all four competitive strokes

Developmental 2

This group progresses from Developmental 1.  This group will be introduced to interval training. 

Intermediate 1

This group progresses from Developmental 2 and begins an emphasis on consistent training along with intervals and specific stroke mechanics.    

 
Intermediate 2 

Following Intermediate 1, these athletes are prepped for advancement to the junior/senior level.  Intermediate 2 swimmers must be able to sustain an hour and a half practice.

 
Junior 

Junior swimmers are expected to complete 2 hour training sessions.  Quality technique and stroke mechanics are emphasized.  Dry land training will be introduced at this level.  Athletes continue to progress toward the senior level.

Senior 

This is the advanced level for the team which provides a training schedule to pursue swimming excellence.   

SWIM MEETS

U.S.S. Sanctioned

The Ocean City C-Cerpants compete year round.  United States swimming divides itself into two competitive seasons, short course and long course.  Short Course Meets (25 meter/yard pools) are held September through March, while Long Course Meets (50 meter pools) run April to August.

The Ocean City C-Cerpants compete in U.S.S. meets for the following reasons:

§         different individual competitions

§         a higher quality of competition

§         experience in trial/final competition

Meets which the team will attend are picked at the beginning of the season.  Each swimmer may choose the events they want to swim within the general guidelines of the meet.  There may be a limitation imposed on the number of events a swimmer may compete in on a given day.  Notice about these meets will be on the Ocean City C-Cerpant website as well as on the bulletin board.  Follow the directions on the packet for registration information.

Make sure to note when the cutoff date is for signups.  Many of these meets fill up quickly and to ensure that the team is entered, registration must be done weeks in advance.  Once you register for the meet, you are obligated to pay the necessary fees associated with it.  Place all payments into the mail slot underneath the trophy case at the far end of the pool.  Checks are preferable and should be made payable to OCCC.

Note that part of the requirement for the team involves participation in U.S.S. meets.  Please review the meet offerings at the beginning of the season and plan accordingly.

Local Meets

In addition to larger meets held under the auspices of U.S.S. swimming, the C-Cerpants compete among local teams in the area.  Most are during the summer season on Wednesday evenings.  Swimmers must be signed up by the Monday preceding the meet.  Coaches pick the events and the relays for the swimmers.  It is extremely important that if you sign up for the meet that you honor the commitment.  Numerous hours are spent getting the line-up together.  Please be respectful of the hours the coaches put in outside of the pool and be aware of how your actions can affect the entire team if you fail to come to the meet.

During meets, swimmers are expected to stay with the team.  If a swimmer must leave the team area, they must notify a coach.  This ensures that no swimmer misses their assigned event.

For all meets, swimmers should bring the following:

• team suit, clothing (sweats, t-shirts, shorts) and a minimum of two towels
• goggles and cap
• healthy snacks