WELCOME TO WORKSOP DOLPHINS

Worksop Dolphins is a competitive swimming club and our aim is to produce swimmers who represent Worksop at inter-
club galas, in the Nottinghamshire leagues, County Galas and hopefully in the Midland District Competitions.  We are also
keen to provide a healthy social side to the club and arrange a number of events during the year.  This introductory
booklet hopes to explain the way the club operates and some of the activities which take place.  Any member of the
Committee or the coaching staff will always be prepared to answer any further questions which you may have.

TRAINING TIMES/LOCATIONS

We currently use three pools, Worksop Sports Centre on Wednesday and Sundays and Worksop College on Mondays. 
Wednesday night is traditionally the main club night offering three sessions, it is also the night you will find most of
the committee and parent organisers present.  Your child is welcome to attend on any of these days, the coaches
will advise you which sessions and lane are appropriate.

TRIALS

Anyone wishing to join Worksop Dolphins should first attend a trial session.  These are currently held on the 1st
Wednesday each month at 6.00pm. There may be a waiting list depending on membership level.

MEMBERSHIP CRITERIA

All Dolphin members are required to train with the club once a month as a minimum.  However, this level of commitment is
unlikely to produce swimmers able to compete at even the most junior level.  Twice weekly attendance would be expected
at the younger age increasing as the swimmer progresses with the club.  If the minimum requirement is not achieved,
membership will cease, unless there are exceptional circumstances. e.g. temporary illness or serious injury.  Anyone who
is not able to comply with this criteria should advise a committee member as to their reasons.  Sessions with the
Bassettlaw Squad are counted as club sessions for this criteria.

TADPOLES

Tadpoles was originally set up to fill a 'gap' in the local authority's lessons.  These sessions have continued in the small
pool, even though the local authority do offer a comprehensive learn to swim scheme.  Entry into Tadpoles is open to
anyone who can swim 10m and we do operate a waiting list.  Please contact the Dolphin's Secretary / Membership
Secretary for more information.

Tadpoles sessions are for half an hour.  Session times are Sunday: 6.30-7.00pm, 7.00-7.30pm.  Tadpole membership does
not guarantee a place in Dolphins.  The Dolphins 'trial' system is limited by the number of places available in the
appropriate lane.  If there are more swimmers attending the trial evening than available places, decisions will be based on
swimming ability, rather than current tadpole membership.  As swimmers improve, they will move lanes and eventually may
be asked to change sessions.  When they are moved depends on the rate they are improving but is not automatic, the whole
process is overseen by the Head Coach.

SWIMMING COACHES

Most of our coaches are parents or ex-swimmers and all possess a level of professional swimming and/or lifesaving
qualification.  All of the coaching staff are unpaid volunteers.  The day-to-day organisation of training programs and
lane supervision is the responsibility of the Head Coach.

COMMUNICATION & THE NOTICE BOARD

All information about what is happening in the club is on the notice board at the top of the stairs at Worksop Sports
Centre and on the notice board at Worksop College.  We would ask that all swimmers and parents check the notice
board regularly.  Any problems, or queries about club activities can be put to any member of the committee, but
preferably the Public Relations Officer or in her absence, the Welfare Officer.  If necessary, the committee member
will bring any serious matters to the attention of the full committee for discussion.

COMMITTEE MEMBERS

The Chairman and committee members are elected from the membership at the AGM, usually in November each year. 
Details of the Committee are on the notice board and also on the "Who's who?" page of this website.

ASA INSURANCE

All members of Dolphins are insured through the ASA for accidents during training or whilst representing the club at
galas.  If however, you wish to take part in Open Meets, County Championships or Midland District (where you are not
directly representing the club) you will need to be registered with ASA as an individual swimmer.  When travelling
abroad with the club, e.g. Garbsen Germany, swimmers need full ASA registration. For more information regarding cover
and fees please see the Membership Secretary.

PARENTS ASSOCIATION

The main aims of the Parents Association are to promote a social aspect to the club and to raise funds - specifically for
the exchange visits and more generally for the club.  Regular social events are organised and most are open to family
and friends.  All parents of club members are automatically associate members of the club and hence part of the Parents
Association.  Meetings are held on a regular basis, usually in the Sports Centre, and everyone is welcome to attend. 
Details of Parents Association activities are also displayed on the notice boards.

 

SWIM SHOP

The Parents Association also run  a swimshop.  All equipment and swimwear for training sessions and galas, including
club T-shirts and sweatshirts, are available.  The swimshop is open on Sunday 7-8pm and Wednesday 6.30-8.30pm.

EXCHANGE VISITS

Each year we take part in an exchange visit with Dundee.  Each exchange alternates on an annual basis as hosts/visitors. 
The exchanges centre around competitive swimming galas but in addition, entertainment and social activities are
organised by the host club.  These exchange visits are open to all full members, subject to criteria that are set by the
committee prior to the visit.  Swimmers stay with host families, hopefully with a view to reciprocating the hospitality the
following year.  The Dundee exchange is for a long weekend and we always go at Easter.  The Dundee swimmers usually
visit us the weekend before our Easter break as the Scottish and English bank holidays rarely coincide.

CLUB CHAMPIONSHIPS

Our club championships are held between September and November of each year and all full members, including tadpoles,
are entitled to and are encouraged to enter.  There is no age restriction as long as they can comfortably swim 25 metres. 
Trophies are awarded to the winners of each age group (boy and girl) with medals for the first six places.  All swimmers
who enter receive a certificate detailing their performance times etc. 

Medals are presented at a presentation evening, usually held at the end of November or beginning of December.  It is
important to try and enter this gala, as it is an excellent introduction to competitive swimming in a safe and supportive
structure.

VOLUNTEERS REQUIRED

Volunteer helpers run the club.  The committee and coaches run the club on a day-to-day basis, the parents association
support the club by fund raising through the swim shop etc. and organizing the social calendar.  You do not need to be
part of the organizing team to help with any of the jobs, if you would like to help then please volunteer.  In order to run
inter-club galas, the club needs to be able to provide ASA qualified officials and parents are actively encouraged to
take the ASA official’s courses and examinations that are held each year.  For internal galas the requirements are not so
strict and we encourage parents to try some of the jobs and learn how it is done before moving on to the inter-club galas.
A typical gala needs a Referee, Starter, Chief timekeeper, 12 timekeepers, 6 judges, an announcer, 2 recorders and at
least 2 team managers.  In addition, we need help with drinks, the door (if we charge admission), selling raffle tickets
etc.  As you can see, easily 30, and probably nearer 40 people are required.  If you feel you can assist at galas in any
way the club would be very grateful.

For more information please contact the volunteer co-ordinator or any committee member.

The Club has very high financial overheads as can be seen in the figures below.  Annual membership fees are due in
January.  The membership fees plus training fees do not always cover the total cost of running the club, if necessary
the difference is made up by fundraising, the major contributor being our annual open meet (see section on galas).

Typical overheads (Budget for 2006)

Pool hire for training and galas                                 £12,800
Buses to galas                                                           £ 3,800
Coaching staff teaching/training qualifications         £400
ASA Affiliation fees/Registration fees                     £1100

SPONSORSHIP

As you can see from the annual costs, fund raising is essential if we are to keep the costs to members down.  If we did
not fundraise through such events as the Open Meet, then membership costs would have to be much higher.  Support given
to us by sponsors is always welcome and much needed.  In previous years we have had support from McDonalds, NatWest
Bank, Pandrol and Friskies Pet Care and many more local firms have helped with small donations, mainly as part of our
annual Open Meet.  If you know someone who might sponsor us, please let us know, or better still, make the approach
on our behalf.

BUSES

These are provided by the club to take swimmers to other swimming pools (except Retford Swimming Pool) to compete in
inter-club galas and parents are requested to bring their child to the sports centre, and pick up the child when the bus
returns.  Parents are welcome to travel with the swimmers on the bus, subject to sufficient space being available.  The
bus pick up times are on the notice board with the names of the swimmers selected for the team.

A BEGINNER'S GUIDE TO GALAS

Age Groups

The swimming year is a calendar year not a school year.  The easiest way to think about it is to simply ignore the month
the child was born in and concentrate on the year, e.g. if a child was born on 22/11/96, then they would normally swim as
a ten year old throughout 2006.  However, there are ongoing changes to age group swimming and many galas are now
‘age as at date of swim’ or age at the end of a series of league galas.

Confused?? Ask a coach to explain !!!

Internal Galas/Fun Galas/Time Trials

All swimmers who can swim 25 metres are entitled to swim these galas which are usually held on three or four occasions
during the year.  These are to help swimmers gain experience of a gala situation and to help the coaches keep up to date
swimming time records.

Team Galas:- Swimmers are split into three teams, with names such as 'Killer Whales', 'Sharks' or 'Stingrays'.  These are
swum for fun but believe us, they are also competitive!

Inter Club Galas – Leagues,General

Nine year olds can swim in inter-club galas but they only swim in relays.  Ten/eleven year olds normally swim in 50 metre 
individual races and relays, twelve and above usually swim in 100 metre individual races and relays.  We are affiliated
to Notts ASA and Midlands ASA and the competitions listed below are overseen by them.

Minor Galas League: A spring league of three galas and a similar Autumn league.  Spring Age groups 10, 11, 12, & 13. 
Autumn Age groups  9, 10, 11 & 12.  One division of twenty four teams from Nottinghamshire.  “Age” is set as the age on
the date of the third gala.

Novice Gala League: Two special galas in June and July for inexperienced swimmers.  Although it is a league, our
approach is primarily one of participation and enjoyment.  Age groups 9, 10, 11 and 12.

Sports Centre League: There are three divisions and six galas during the year.  The clubs have to be affiliated to a
Sports Centre.  Age groups 9, 11, 13, 15 and Open.  We usually swim both an A and B team in this competition.

Spring Competition: Twenty-four teams in one division.  Three galas between January and July.  Age Groups 9, 10, 12,
14 and Open.

Derby And Notts Junior League: Two divisions, a higher standard than in Nottinghamshire alone (these galas can be
swum anywhere at a pool in Derbyshire or Nottinghamshire) Age groups 9, 10, 11 and 12.  We compete in the first division
but are not currently title contenders.

Speedo League: This is the premier club competition in British swimming.  All the top international swimmers compete. 
The Country is divided into geographical area and split into two divisions in each area.  We compete in the second
division of the East Midlands League so we do not swim against the very best, thankfully!  The galas are in the Autumn,
age groups 11 and under, 13, 15 and open.

Dundee Galas:

These take place bi-annually, usually the weekend before Easter as the Dundee holiday weekend is different to ours. 
teams are selected but we can use up to three lanes, giving the opportunity for B and C teams.  The events are 50 and
100 metre swims and are held on Saturday and Sunday nights.

Notts County & Midland District:

Annual championships are held at both County and District levels, these galas are subject to achieving qualifying times. 
County Championships are held between February and April and entry information is issued in the Autumn of the previous
year.  District and National competitions take place over the remainder of the year. To enter the Midland District
Championships, qualifying times must be achieved in a designated competition, e.g. the County Championships.  The Head
Coach will advise you if you think you are eligible to compete in these competitions.  To compete at this level, swimmers
must be registered individually with the ASA (see membership secretary for full details).

Dolphins Open Meet:

Our own meet, arranged by us.  All swimmers aged 10 & over can compete but again you need to be individually registered
with the ASA (see membership secretary).  A great opportunity to swim at PONDS FORGE INTERNATIONAL POOL in
Sheffield.  The event attracts high calibre swimmers from all over Britain and runs for a whole day, usually in September.  

It Is Our Biggest Fund-Raiser

Selection Policy:

In most leagues we have only an 'A' team competing.  Selection is based on one major criteria, i.e. the fastest swimmers
according to recent club records, though sometimes this is complicated because we swim all four strokes.

Where possible we swim 'B' teams, i.e. the Sports Centre League, which gives more swimmers a chance to compete.  We
also enter some friendly B team galas for the same reason.

Gala Swimming:

Swimmers representing the club at League galas are expected to wear the club swimming hats and the “A” team preferably
club costumes and T-shirts (available from our swim shop).  Our own club tracksuits are also available if swimmers wish
to purchase these.

Ranking System:

All times swum at galas are entered into a computer database to create ranking lists for all ASA recognised events.  These
ranking lists are used by the Head Coach to form the basis for team selection using the criteria outlined above.  If you
wish a time achieved at a non-Dolphin gala to be recorded, then proof of the time achieved should be given to the ranking
co-ordinator whos name is listed under "Who's who?" on this website.

NOTICE TO PARENTS & GUARDIANS

Parents / Coaches Responsibilities:

The club or coaches can only be responsible for swimmers during their training sessions and not either before or after
this time.  The club cannot be responsible for your child away from the poolside.  This includes the changing rooms, other
areas of the buildings and outside any swimming pool used by the club.  The conduct and behaviour of your child remains
your responsibility at all times.

Video, zoom or close range photography:

In line with the recommendations in the ASA Child Protection Policy, the club request that any person wishing to engage
in any video, zoom or close range photography on poolside or balcony during galas or training should register their details
with a committee member before carrying out such photography.  (Excluding coaches for training purposes.)

General Gala Health and Safety Procedures:

During any gala, swimmers should remain on the poolside until they have finished their last swim and even then they must
report to their team manager prior to leaving.  If there is a genuine need to leave the poolside they must then inform
their team manager.  Swimmers must not wander off to visit family or friends.

Exit from the poolside should always be through the changing rooms and suitable footwear must be worn when elsewhere
in the buildings.  Swimmers must not paddle around with wet feet.  For obvious health reasons outdoor shoes should not
be worn on the poolside.  At Worksop Leisure Centre, swimmers must not use the wooden stairs near the small pool to
access the balcony, these are extremely dangerous with wet feet.  If it is necessary to visit the balcony, then exit must
be through the changing rooms and suitable footwear must be put on before proceeding to the balcony through the
reception area.