The purpose of Viking Aquatic Club (VAC) is to develop motivated athletes who are driven to succeed in a competitive environment. A committed staff of coaches and parent volunteers supports the growth of the team and swimmers by developing a safe, supportive, and educational environment for all athletes.
Vision : VAC aspires to develop a premiere swim club inspiring a commitment to team through a competitive and fun environment that builds on hard work and dedication both in and out of the pool.
Description: The club makes demands on parents, swimmers and the coaching staff. The demands on the parents are very important. For the parents there is a time commitment between practice and meets, a financial commitment, as well as the commitments as a volunteer (i.e. working at meets, fund-raisers, annual dinners, etc.).
For the athletes, the commitments can be very demanding. Practice demands hard work and a commitment to improve. The athlete must take on responsibilities for her/himself as well as the whole team.
The coaching staff feels that the demands made by the club will help develop the athlete into a well-rounded young person. The following are some ways we believe you will help us achieve our goals:
Get to know the coaches. They are always available after practice. Feel free to communicate any problems or suggestions.
Understand that competition can be a thrill that our athletes will enjoy. Although it means hard work, it can be fun. It does not always mean winning. Improving skills, times and attitudes are equally important goals.
Understand the courage required when an athlete competes. When a swimmer competes, they are taking a risk. Therefore competition and risk taking require courage and develop strength and character.
Remember that coaches and parents cannot compete. When this occurs, the all-important communication system can fall apart.
We believe the Viking Aquatic Club can be advantageous for the athletic swimmer, the coaching staff, and the parents of the athletes
The Viking Aquatic Club (VAC) participates in the US Swim League (Metropolitan Zone). USA Swimming is the national governing body for competitive swimming in the United States. You can find more information on their website provided below:
USA Swimming - www.usaswimming.org
Our USA Swim League ( Metropolitan Zone) - www.metroswimming.org
Our website - Viking Aquatic Club - vacswim.com
Payments can mailed to
VAC
P.O. Box 321
Montgomery, NY 12549
OR Placed in Jen Thompson’s folder in the VAC Filing Cabinet
Contact Info
For coaching questions, please use remind to contact Coach Jen Hand at coach@vacswim.com
For billing questions, email Jen Thompson at billing@vacswim.com or message her on remind
Meets
This year we are attending USA Swimming League meets
US Meets
It is MANDATORY for Parents to sign up to work the required number of sessions for the VAC Classic; regardless if their child is swimming in this US meet. (please see Fundraising section for further info)
Depending on the meet, can vary in size from 3-12+ clubs from all over
You may choose the swimmer’s events (if you are not sure please check with your coach to see if your child is ready to swim that event or distance)
Requires additional entry fees per race, per child (individual events only – the club covers the fee for the relay races) (Fees vary by meet)
The fee is on average $8 per individual event and a $10 swimmer surcharge/facility fee for the meet. (the specific price is stated in the meet announcements which will be available on our events page for each meet we attend)
This is to be submitted to VAC the Wednesday BEFORE the meet
If your child does NOT show up to the meet (scratches), you are still required to pay the entry fee.
Example
A few examples based on the above rate:
your child signs up for the 50 free, 100 IM, 50 back and 500 free
You owe $42.
Your child signs up for 6 events at the VAC classic – however only shows up for 3; You owe $58
There is an entrance fee for any spectator which varies depending on which facility is hosting (ie: $10 per session or $15 for an all day pass)
You would put a check in Jen Thompson’s folder OR mail it to the PO Box for the fees required and make the check out to VAC with a note of what it is for (child(ren) and number of races). Failure to pay the meet fees in a timely manner may impact your child's ability to attend future meets.
For all meets sign-up is handled through our website (TeamUnify software and or the ONDECK app for your smartphone). Training for this will be held separately after the orientation meeting if you need help. Live meet results can be found on Meet Mobile (subscription is about $10 a year for the phone app)
You must log into our website and declare if your child is attending or not. Even if they are not attending, it is extremely helpful to the coaches to declare your intent so they can properly plan coverage for the meet. If you decline the meet for your child you must also state the reason why as well as speak to your child’s coach. This declaration also assists you in calculating what additional fees you must submit to the treasurer for the US meets. Warmup arrival times are sent out by the coach using the Remind App.
The Filing Cabinet
Each family has a folder (by last name) inside the filing cabinet. The filing cabinet is located in the VAC office adjacent to the girl’s locker room and can be accessed via the pool deck. The folders are in the drawer located second from the top. All ribbons and medals won from swim meets as well as important club information will be placed in these folders throughout the season, so it’s important to check the folder weekly.
Fundraising
We will co-host 4 US meets with the NYSA this year. Traditionally, the VAC Classic is our biggest fundraiser of the year. Our hosted meets in which we require parents to volunteer are:
There is a MANDATORY number of volunteer sessions (minimum of 6 but we usually need as much extra help as possible) required to successfully host these fundraiser meets; if you don’t do these – you will forfeit your $250 work bond deposit.
You may get other family members to help out – however they must be high school aged or older. When signing up please state who is signing up in the comments. Sign up will be done through Sign Up Genius. Please note, at least 5 of your 6 volunteer sessions need to be as timers.
For concessions, we ask for donations to help keep our costs down. Emails and a sign up genius will be sent out with more information closer to the meet dates.
The Viking Aquatic Club offers training and practice groups for swimmers of all ages and abilities. It is the goal of the Viking Aquatic Club to offer age specific training for all of our athletes. This training is geared towards challenging and developing each individual to the best of THEIR abilities.
This is our entry level group. An athlete needs to be able to complete 25 yards to enter this group. Expectation is to have competition-level 25s of two strokes by end of season.
Coach: Eileen Ryan
Workout Days/Times: M-F 5:30-6:30
Summer: 7-8am
Athletes in this group focus mainly on learning four legal competitive strokes, having fun, and perfecting start and turn technique. Expectation is to learn all strokes and do competition-level 50s of at least three strokes by end of season.
Coach: Eileen Ryan
Workout Days/Times: M-F 6:30-7:30
Summer: 8-9am
Athletes in this group are usually at least 9 years old and can legally complete 25 yards of all four competitive strokes. Expectations are to perfect all the strokes with an emphasis on aerobic capacity (lots of moderate long swimming, little rest) and some, but little anaerobic power. Should have competition-level 100s.
Coaches: Jenna Prodromides, Carol Colton
Workout Days/Times: M-F 5:30-7:30
Summer: 7-9am
Junior level athletes are near “perfect” in all four strokes, and are able to take on more and harder challenges. The expectation is to further perfect all strokes while adding in training for all energy systems. This group will follow a periodization schedule.
Coaches: Jen Hand, Jenna Prodromides
Workout Days/Times: M-F 5:30-7:30
Summer: 7-9am
Athletes entering the Senior group must display a desire/ ability to train at a higher level. Athletes are expected to be “perfect” and performant in all strokes. This group is the same as Junior, but at a higher capacity. There will be hard work in all energy systems at a high level while following a periodization plan. Test sets will be implemented and used frequently.
Coach: Jen Hand
Workout Days/Times: M-F 5:30-7:30
Summer: 7-9am
Group placement and advancement is based coach's discretion
Swim meets are a great family experience! It’s a place where the entire family can spend time together. Listed below are some guidelines geared to help you through your first few swim meets…
Arrive at the pool at least 20 minutes before the scheduled warm-up time begins. Warm up times will be sent on the Remind App.
Upon arrival find a place to put your belongings. The team usually sits together, so look for some familiar faces and our banner.
Check in with your coach!
If your child wakes up ill – Please message Jen Hand on remind (or for a US meet the coach that will be there for your child’s session) as soon as you know they will not be making it.
If you need to put your swimsuit on, go to the locker room and change.
When events become available (usually from the coach) swimmers will write their event numbers on the back of their hand in ink. This helps them remember what events they are swimming and what event numbers to listen for when they are called out. There will always be a coach or parent volunteer to help the swimmers with this.
Swimmers now gather their cap, goggles, and flip-flops and report to the pool for warm-up instructions.
After warm-ups swimmers will return to the area where their team is sitting and wait for their events to be called. The meet usually starts about 10-15 minutes after warm-ups have concluded.
According to US Swimming regulations (insurance purposes) parents ARE NOT allowed on deck unless they are serving in an official capacity. Similarly, all questions concerning meet results, an officiating call, or the conduct of a meet should be referred to a coach. The coach will then pursue the matter through the proper channels.
A program (or heat sheet) is usually available for sale in the lobby/concession stand at US meets. It lists all the swimmers in each event in order of seed time. Seed time is the fastest time the swimmer has obtained in the past for that particular event. This time determines who the swimmer competes against, which heat they will compete in, and which lane the officials assign them to. If the swimmer is swimming the event for the first time they will be entered as “NT” or “no time”.
A swimmer usually reports directly to their lane for competition a number of heats before they actually swim.
Swimmer’s events will be called out by coaches and/or parent volunteers in the area where the swimmers are being held.
When your swimmer’s events have been called, they report to the line-up area with their goggles, swim cap, and flip flops. Parent volunteers usually help to line up all swimmers and take them to the pool area in the order in which they will swim.
You can expect 4-8 heats for each event. Some “big” US meets have been known to have 10+ heats per event.
Swimmers line up behind the diving blocks. They will be told by the officials when to step up on the block or enter the water to begin their race. Again, Coaches and Parent Volunteers are there to help.
The swimmer swims their race.
After each swim event, your swimmer can ask the timer for their time, if they wish. If they know what lane they are swimming in, they can also look up at the scoreboard to see their time.
Depending on the coach's instructions, swimmers may be told to do some recovery swimming in a “warm-down” pool or lanes, if they are available.
When time allows, coaches will speak to swimmers following their race to congratulate them on a “great swim”. In addition, coaches will also offer advice and discuss technique with our older competitive swimmers.
As a parent/family member remember to encourage your swimmer to do their best and when the race is over congratulate them and tell them how proud you are of them!
After their event is over, swimmers report back to the team area, relax, drink fluids (water) and maybe have a small healthy snack.
When a swimmer has completed all of their events, for US meets - they should check with the coach before leaving for the day to see if they are swimming in a relay. Relays are usually the last events of the session.
Results for the events are usually posted somewhere in the pool facility. Awards are often gathered for a team and given to the coach at the conclusion of the meet. These awards can be retrieved in your swimmers VAC folder located in the file cabinet at Valley Central.
Most important: team swim suit, team swim cap, goggles, and flip-flops.
Towels. Pack at least two (2).
Something to sit on. The swimmer area is usually located in a gym, cafeteria, classroom, or pool deck. Example: a sleeping bag, an old blanket/comforter, or anything that will be comfy to sit on for the day.
Clothing: Team warm-up suits, sweat suits, long sleeve shirt, pajama pants, or equivalent to put on after you swim to keep you warm. Most swimmers bring one to wear and a spare just in case something gets wet.
Entertainment: Card/board games, books, coloring books, puzzle books, or anything to pass the time and have fun with your swim friends. If you choose to bring electronics, please make sure everything is labeled.
VAC is NOT responsible for lost or stolen items.
Food: Each swimmer is allowed to bring snacks. Of course, healthy snacks and water are encouraged. There are usually concession stands at swim meets and you are welcome to purchase from these as well.
At most US meets, there are vendors selling swim items or event t-shirts.
Please remember to wear something on your feet when walking around the building (i.e. going to the restroom, locker room, or spectator area). NOTE – Most, if not all facilities will NOT allow the children to walk around without shoes on for insurance reasons. Flip-flops or slides work best as they can be worn all over and can tolerate getting wet.
Once you have attended one or two meets this will all become very routine. Do not hesitate to ask a board member, parent volunteer, another swim parent, coach, or even an older swimmer for help or information at a swim meet.
Swim meets are a lot of fun for swimmers! They get to visit with friends, play games, and meet kids from other teams. And finally, they get to race! They get to see how much they have improved from all the hard work they have put in at practice.
GO VAC!
USS – United States Swimming. Governing body of the swimming league.
ESSL – Empire State Swim League
LSC – Local Swim Committee of the USS. VAC belongs to the Metropolitan Swimming LSC.
Stroke – There are 4 competitive strokes:
Butterfly (“fly”) - Butterfly (nicknamed FLY) is swam as the third stroke in the Medley Relay and first stroke in the I.M. Racing distances are 50 yards/meter, 100 yards/meter, and 200yards/meter (LSCs with 8-under divisions offer the 25 yard fly).
Backstroke (“back”) - Backstroke is swum as the first stroke in the Medley Relay and second stroke in the I.M. Racing distances are 50 yards/meter, 100 yards/meter, and 200 yards/meter (LSCs with 8-under divisions offer the 25 yd back).
Breaststroke (“breast”) - Breaststroke is swam as the second stroke in the Medley Relay and the third stroke in the I.M. Racing distances are 50 yards/meter, 100 yards/meter, and 200 yards/meter. (LSCs with 8-under divisions offer the 25 yd breast)
Freestyle (“free”) - Freestyle (nicknamed Free) is swum as the fourth stroke in the Medley Relay and fourth stroke in the I.M. Racing distances are 50 yards/meter, 100 yards/meter, 200 yards/meter, 400 meter/500, yd 800 mtr/1000 yds, 1500 mtr/1650 yds (LSCs with 8under divisions offer the 25 yd free).
IM - Individual Medley. A swimming event using all four of the competitive strokes on consecutive lengths of the race. The order must be: Butterfly, Backstroke, Breaststroke, Freestyle. Equal distances must be swam of each stroke. Distances offered: 100 yards, 200 yards/meters, 400 yards/meter.
Medley – a swimming event using all 4 strokes
Relay – A swimming event in which 4 swimmers participate as a team, each swimming an equal distance of the race.
Age Group - Division of swimmers according to age. The National Age Group divisions are: 10-under,11-12, 13-14, 15-16, 17-18. Some LSCs have divided the swimmers into more convenient divisions specific to their situations: (i.e.) 8-under, 13-Over, 15-Over, Junior, Senior.
Alternate - In a Prelims/Finals meet, after the finalists are decided, the next two fastest swimmers other than the finalists are designated as alternates. The faster of the two being the first alternate and the next being second alternate. If a finalist cannot participate, the alternates are called to take their place.
Anchor - The final swimmer in a relay. Also a term coaches use for the beginning of all four strokes indicating the “high elbow”, “catch,” or “early vertical forearm.”
Approved Meet - A meet conducted with sufficient USA Swimming officials to certify conformance to USA Swimming rules. The meet may include competitors who are not USA Swimming members. The meet may be a competition sanctioned at the LSC level with the added approval of USA Swimming because both member and nonmember athletes will be competing.
Deck - The area around the swimming pool reserved for swimmers, officials, and coaches. No one but an "authorized" USA Swimming member may be on the deck during a swim competition.
Distance - How far a swimmer swims. Distances for short course are: 25 yards (1 length), 50 yards (2 lengths), 100 yards (4 lengths), 200 yards (8 lengths), 400 yards (16 lengths), 500 yards (20 lengths), 1000 yards (40 lengths), 1650 yards (66 lengths).
Distances for long course are: 50 meters (1 length), 100 meters (2 lengths), 200 meters (4 lengths), 400 meters (8 lengths), 800 meters (16 lengths), 1500 meters (30 lengths).
DQ/Disqualified - A swimmer's performance is not counted because of a rules infraction. A disqualification is shown by an official raising one arm with an open hand above their head. Swimmer’s time is not counted for that event.
Entry Fees - The amount per event a swimmer is charged. This varies depending on the LSC and type of meet.
Dual Meet – Only two (2) teams compete against each other.
Invitational Meet – Multiple teams are invited to participate in a meet.
Tri Meet – Three (3) teams compete against each other.
USS Invitational – VAC hosted USS meets and other major team fundraisers.
Silvers – An age group championship meet with time qualifiers. (Swimmers whose times exceed the upper limit may qualify for JOs.)
JOs – Junior Olympics. An age group championship meet with time qualifiers.
Short Course – A 25 yard/meter pool. Valley Central is a short course pool.
Long Course – A 50 meter pool.
Seeding – Swimming order based on each swimmer’s time; slowest times are in the first heat to fastest times in the last heat.
Heat – a group of 6-8 swimmers with similar times. Winning a heat does not mean you win the event.
The Block/Starting Block – The platform at the deep end of the pool used for diving at the start of a race.
Exhibition – Swimming an event that does not contribute to team points. The purpose is for personal achievement.
Officials/Judges – Volunteers that help to run the meet and ensure fair competition. (multiple roles: Stroke & Turn, Starter, Referee)
Kick Board - A flotation device used by swimmers during practice.
Lane - The specific area in which a swimmer is assigned to swim. (ie) Lane 1 or Lane 2.
Lane Lines - Continuous floating markers attached to a cable stretched from the starting end to the turning end for the purpose of separating each lane and quieting the waves caused by racing swimmers.
Timer - The volunteers sitting behind the starting blocks/finish end of pool, who are responsible for getting Watch times on events and activating the backup buttons for the timing system.
***PLEASE NOTE You are NOT allowed to take pictures or Video of the swimmers from behind the block - NO EXCEPTIONS – this is a USA Swimming Policy ***
