Welcome to the Tarpon Swim team. Navigating the practice schedule, activities schedule and that first meet can be hard for newbie's. We would like to make it easier for you and give you a place to come if you have questions. Because, if you have them chances are someone else does too.
A term you might find helpful is RMSL= Rocky Mountain Swim League. There are a number of swim leagues in the Denver metro and surrounding areas organizing swimmers. RMSL is the one we belong to. It consist of 18 teams divided into 3 divisions based on the size of the team and how well they did during the previous season and finals points count towards placement in the league.
We are in the smallest division. of the C league ( it is based on size and points earned at finals)
For more information on the Teams in this League, Our Rules and interesting info
Click Here
We are a self-funded team and only kids physically living in a house in the neighborhood can be on the team. The Homestead Farm Homeowners Association does not subsidize the neighborhood team other than providing the pool facility. All of the costs of supporting the team come from the fees team members pay and fund raising the team does during the season and at various times throughout the year. Some of the fund raising activities are: the concessions sales at the home swim meets, a community garage sale, holiday luminaries and Wine tasting . Included in your registration fee is money for insurance the league must carry on each swimmer, end of the year trophies, meet ribbons, fees for swimming in prelims, coaches salaries and funds to cover activities and materials.
The Tarpons Swim Team is comprised of kids 5-18 years of age. Children participating on the swim team must be able to independently swim a length of the pool (25 yards) and be emotionally ready to participate in meets.
The Swim season starts in Late May and runs till Mid July. We have 5 dual meets. All meets start after Memorial day.
There are many activities during the season some are fundraisers and some are just for fun. Unless otherwise stated these events are for all the kids (Mini-Tarps included) You will need to check the
Calendar each season for dates and times as these can and will change. There is a file box down at the pool with each families name on it. We will place information about activates and you can place things in this for team members or to notify coaches. The Homestead Farm WEB site has all the information too. HSF swim team WEB site
Mini-Tarps is our junior team.
This is for kids who are 5-7 years old that are comfortable in the water and know some basic of how to swim. In this program they can expand their skills and conditioning in this fun group setting.
Mini-tarps have two meets a season they happen on Friday evening. Usually the first one has a dinner after it and the second an ice cream social. At these meets the mini-tarps use noodles and team members may help them race across the pool. After the second meet they have a short award program where each swimmer gets a special small gift. This really marks the end of their season. It stops before Prelims for the swim team. Prelims is a very intense time for everyone ,swimmers, parents and coaches.
Some mini-tarps do move up to the team during the season. It is this reason we have everyone fill out the insurance forms for RMSL and Pay for the insurance so if you do want to move up we can easily accommodate.
Tarpon practice usually starts in late May. Min-tarps will have a later start closer to June.
This is how practice usually goes.
Practice starts at 7 am -8am Tuesday through Thursday for 9-10
They get stuck with this time because as parents we still can make them go.
On Friday they get a break and have practice at 9:45-10:30
8-9am is for our older group11&12-- 13-14 they get a later start because as we all know they may stay up late
9-10 am 15-18 because they do stay up late
8 and under get a nice time of 9-10 because hopefully it is a little warmer by this time.
Mini-tarps get the last spot 10-10:30 they only go Monday- Thursday.
This way the coaches have time to prepare for Saturdays meet and
four days is about enough for this age group.
Swim Meets:
Swim meets can seem overwhelming to the swimmer and parents. A parent from each family on the team must fill 3 jobs per child sometime over 5 meets. If you have 3 kids you need to do 9 shifts at swim meets. These are a must.
Unlike any other sport without the parents there would be no meet. To run a home meet it takes 55 volunteers( plus), away meets take 35 so if you do the math for 3 home meets and two away it takes minimum of 235 volunteers just to run the meets.
There are many jobs to fill some of them like Starter/ Referee, Stroke Judges and Meet Manager require certification by the league to do. These aren't hard jobs but they do require a bit of instruction. Most of the others can be learned quickly and on the spot. Many people find after awhile there are jobs they like, concessions keeps you out of the sun, heating keeps you busy and always on the look out for kids, timers like to be on deck with the action, scoring is a very important job that allows you to sit and be in the shade plus see your kids swim and cheer for them. If you feel you can't commit to a day job there are always a need for Burrito cooks the night before a home meet. Set up and take down are also not done during the meets but are important. Try on different jobs and eventually you will find a couple that fit your personality. Link to
JOB DESCRIPTION
The swim meet itself starts with a warm up. The coaches will tell the kids when to be there . At home meets we get the early warm up away is later.. All meets start at 8:00 am on Saturday morning. The first event is the 6 and under free relay. The kids need to find the other 3 kids they are swimming with get their card from the blue board then proceed to heating. There are 90 events at each meet, each event has a number for example 6 and under free relay is event 1. There will be a sheet at the meets listing boys and girls by last name and what events they swim that day. The first meet is always confusing for both swimmers and parents. Try to find a neighbor or friend who has been through it many times to help you the first few times.
The coaches do need to know if your child is swimming in Saturdays meet by the Tuesday before the meet. They need this info to strategies about who will swim what and how to make up the various relays.
By the Tuesday before the meet please e/m one of the coaches . Please try not to have the kids tell the coaches at practice or you telling them just after practice. It is very hard when a number of parents and kids are talking to the coaches for them to remember. Please be considerate and let them know in writing via
an e/m note
Finally for those who haven't gotten enough in 5 meets there are Prelims. This is the last week of swim season. Starting on a Monday all kids in one age group swim against all the other kids in their age group in the RMSL. All 17 teams are there. This is a long but often rewarding day as the top 16 swimmers in each age group in each event get to swim at Finals. Finals are on Saturday of that week and marks the end of our season. The night after Final we have an award ceremony for the Swim Team members, Cake, and Slide show that features all age groups.
This is a brief explanation of what we are about.
Your best source of information is ,Homestead Farm Swim Team Home page,
RMSL home page, Ask Coaches, other swimmers and those experienced parent
If we have left out a question or concern please e/m the
Team parents and they will find it for you and add to this.