X-Cel Parents' Page

Welcome, Parents' of X-Cel swimmers (prospective members too)!  This is your page.
Last Updated 3/29/08

This page has basic information from the team for parents, answers to questions that parents are asking, and other random interest items.

If you are new, start here with the Basics.
For frequently asked questions, try our FAQ.
For terms you don't recognize, try our Dictionary.

Something Not here? If there's something you'd like to see here, let us know at parents@xcelswimming.org!

New and Interesting?

I came across this article on "eating for swimmers" which i thought was interesting - the author makes some specific suggestions before and after meets.  This article talks about an 11 year old swimming a 29 second 50m free - OK, but hey, no fair: Cade's parents are both famous Australian swimmers!

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Start Here with The Basics

Swimming is a great sport - it's got aerobic exercise and no "contact sport injury" downside.  My kids have always loved pools.

Want to join our team?  Here are some things we want you to know:

What we need from parents

1. Parent Participation is Required for Team Members - There are many needs that parents fill.  When you fill out the application to join the team, you agree to participate.  We need you to do your part.
   
   What can you do?  There are a variety of ways to participate:
   
   * all parents may be called on to Time Races during meets (if your child participates in Long Course or Short Course swimming).  The Timing Assignments committee will contact you with your assignments over the season.
   
   * outside of meets, there are a variety of Roles you could play.  What fits your talents best?  Look over the committees below to see if any fit your interests (see also the X-Cel Swimming page for more details about these opportunities).
   
    - Meet Entry management
    - Publicity
    - Social Functions and Hospitality
    - Team meet Volunteer organizing
   
   Want to get started?  Contact xcelswim@xcelswimming.org !
   
    
2. Parents Need to Model Good Swim Behavior - respect for coaches and each other, supporting the kids no matter what - find it all spelled out for you in this article, 10 Commandments for Swimming Parents.

What we offer swimmers

• We classify swimmers into five levels (level 1-5), level 5 being the highest skill level.
   
• We offer two competitive "core programs" that your swimmer can sign up for (Long Course and Short Course).  (See X-Cell Swimming for details.)
   
• We offer three supplemental programs - a Fall warm-up for High School swimmers, a Fall Stroke and Turn swim program, and a spring pre-PASDA program.
   

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Dictionary

Long Course - One of the two "core programs" of competitive swimming.  A swimmer participating in the Long Course core program joins the X-Cel swim team from April to July.  "Long Course" means swimmers compete in a 50-meter long pool.  For more details see X-Cel Swimming.

Short Course - One of the two "core programs" of competitive swimming.  A swimmer participating in the Short Course core program joins the X-Cel swim team from September to March.  "Short Course" means swimmers compete in a 25-yard long pool.  For more details see X-Cel Swimming.

Program (Swim) Fee - Paid to X-Cel to be a member of the team and attend swim practice. The Program Fee charged for each swim level varies and is determined to ensure that the team can meet its operating budget for the season. Current X-Cel Programs are: Long Course, Short Course, Pre-PASDA, Pre-Competition Stroke & Turn, and HS Warm-Up.

US Swimming Registration Fee - Paid to US Swimming annually, every September, by X-Cel for each swimmer to be a member of US Swimming. All X-Cel swimmers must be members of US Swimming, regardless of the program they attend. If a USS registered swimmers transfers to X-Cel from another team after September, they must pay the USS transfer fee. Any swimmer new to USS that joins X-Cel must pay the full registration fee when they join the team.

Meet Escrow Account - Established for each swimmer to pay the US Swimming meet entry fees for which the swimmer is registered to swim at US swim meets. Each swimmer who is age 9 or over should begin each season with $100 in his or her meet escrow account; $50 for each swimmer under 9. Depending on how many meets and events each swimmer competes; additional funds might be needed as the season progresses. Any balance is refunded when the swimmer leaves the team.

Family Work Bond - Assessed by the team to help ensure that each family performs its obligations to volunteer to help run X-Cel-sponsored swim meets and such other duties and responsibilities as requested from time to time; including participation on one or more team committees. Any balance is simply rolled over to the following season and is refunded when the swimmer leaves the team.

FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)

This is the place to get your Parent questions answered.

Questions:

Q: Is there an online conversion tool to convert your Long Course times to Short Course and vice versa?
A: Great question! Here's a tool that my swimmer likes, at the swimmingworldmagazine website. [3/28/8]

Q: How can I find out more about Health Issues, Growth & Development and other topics?
A: Try the USA Swimming Website page, "Parent's" tab

Q: What can parents do - what are the roles?
A: Take a look at Start with the Basics - this explains, with links to more information.

Q: Who do I contact when I have questions?
A: You can start with me at parents@xcelswimming.org, and we'll try to get you an answer.
For a detailed list of contacts go to the Team Contact Information page.

Q: I want to get meet results; I need a downloading password.  How do I get that information?
A: Start by getting on the mailing list (see Join Address List to get announcements).  If you still have trouble or questions contact xcelswim@xcelswimming.org.

The meet results access password is sent to new parents by email, and to all parents by email when the password changes (about once each season).

Q: I want my swimmer to swim in a coming meet; how do we pick events?
A: This is the "meet entries" procedure.
 1) Each "level coach" will choose events for his/her swimmers for meets
 2) These initial "Meet Entries" will be posted to the Team Website
 3) The team will then send an Email Notice to parents letting them know that the Meet Entries have been selected by the coaches and posted
 
If parents and swimmers are satisfied, no further action is necessary.
If there are questions or concerns, parents and swimmers may speak with the coaches or send email to meetentries@xcelswimming.org to change or remove the entries.

Don't See The Answer You Need? Send us your question at parents@xcelswimming.org!

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