SWIMMER AND PARENT ELIGIBILTY, REQUIREMENTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Q: Am I required to volunteer?

A: While not required, it is strongly encouraged. Like everything else, the swim team does not run itself. There are many opportunities to help, such as timing, marshalling, picnic and banquet help, and Mutant wear sales. These are just a few ways to volunteer. Check out the volunteer postion descriptions link on the home page.

Q: Can I be on the pool deck during a meet?

A: Every park is different. At Windmill Pointe Park, spectators must watch from behind the fence, but a great way to watch the meet up close, and be by the swimmers is to volunteer to time or marshall.

Q: Are parents/swimmers allowed to use an away meet park after a meet?

A: Every park is different, you’ll find out when you’re there.

Q: Why do I have to write two checks?

A: One check is written to the “City of GPP” this is to cover payroll for the coaching staff. The other check is written to “GPP Mutants” this covers picnics after home meets, the end of the year banquet and awards ceremony, donuts at Thursday a.m. practices and other costs.

Q: Are team suits, caps and goggles required?

A: Team suits, caps and goggles are not required though cap and goggles are encouraged.

Q: What if we have a family vacation planned or my child is going away to camp during the swim season. Do I let the coaches know?

A: Yes, let them know. It’s especially helpful to put it in writing with dates included.

PRACTICE:

Q: If my child attends every practice will he/she swim in the meet?

A: The GPP Mutants are part of the Lakefront Swimming Association, which is a competitive league. The coaching staff sets the line-up with a goal of being as competitive as we can be. The way the meet is scored allows them to place any child into the third swimmers slot. Some parks have exhibition lanes where additional swimmers can swim, our park does not. Last year two events were added to accommodate more swimmers.

Q: How many practices is my child required to attend to swim in a dual meet?

A: Swimmers are required to attend 50% of available practices before a dual meet.

Q: Will my child learn how to swim the butterfly, for example, by joining the Mutants or should they take lessons?

A: Last year the team was made up of 280 kids. With an eight week season our six coaches would be hard pressed to teach a new stroke, however, coaches will instruct and offer improvement suggestions. Private lessons are always an option.

Q: What are the practice times?

A: Practice times for the 2009 season are posted on our website.

Q: What is Mutants week?

A: Mutant Week is a celebration of the Mutant swim team; usually a theme is involved, harder practices help the swimmers to gear up for finals, getting up even earlier for morning practice, etc.

D- TEAM:

Q: My child is on the D team.  Where do they practice?

A: D team practices in the shallow end, along the steps leading into the pool, as well some time in the deep end.

 Q: Do swimmers on D team participate in the Wednesday night dual meets?

 A: Not usually. The youngest age group at the Wednesday dual meets is eight and under, those children in that age group come from the C or B teams.  D teamers and the families are encouraged and welcomed to attend and support your Mutant team.

Q: Should swimmers from the D team attend the end of the season banquet?

A: While children from the D team are more than welcome to come, the D team has its own banquet at the end of the season. In addition to the D team coaches, the other coaches also attend. It is a fun yet smaller picnic where the kids get to enjoy all the coaches.

MINI-MEETS:

Q: Who swims in the mini-meet?

A: Traditionally the mini-meets are geared towards our younger swimmers (C/D Team), because of the size of our team some older children are encouraged to participate.

Q: How many events can my child swim in a mini-meet?

A: Swimmers are able to swim in as many events as they choose; ribbons are given out at the end of every heat. Times are kept and recorded.

WEDNESDAY NIGHT DUAL MEETS:

Q: What is this difference between a home and an away meet?

A: Home meets take place at Windmill Pointe Park. Away meets will be at another lakefront park, please see calendar or season schedule on our home page.

Q: What happens at a home meet?

A: Meets start promptly at 5:30 p.m. (swimmers need to be at the park at 4:30 p.m.)  There are 56 events to swim. Parents and spectators are not allowed on the pool deck. They view the meet from the outside of the black fence. After the meet is over the team sponsors a potluck picnic, with each member of the A, B, C and D teams responsible for a salad, dessert or chips.  (See picnic/parties link on our home page).

Q: Is the picnic only for the kids who swim in the meet?

A: No, all Mutants and their families are welcome.

Q: When is the line up announced and how do I know if my child is swimming?

A: The line up is announced to the swimmers starting Monday with changes being made through Wednesday afternoon. It is the responsibility of the child to let their parents know.

Q:  Will the coaches ever change this line up after it has been announced?

A:  Coaches from both teams have what is called a “scratch meeting “ before the meet begins, that is when any changes will be made. Event vacancies are filled with swimmers in attendance and ready to swim.

Q: At a meet, how will my child know when it is their turn to swim?

A: The coaching staff along with the parent volunteer marshals’ writes the swimmer’s event numbers on their hands. It is the responsibility of the swimmer to know when their event is near.

Q: My child really wants to swim a certain event, what should he do?

A: Express an interest to his/her coach. Sometimes it’s easier for the coaches if you put that request in writing.

Q: How many events can my child swim at each meet?

A: A child cannot swim more than three individual events and one relay at a dual meet.

Q: How long is a typical dual meet? Mini-meet?

A: Dual meets start at 5:30 p.m. and end after 8:00 p.m. Mini-meets start at 10 a.m. and end around noon.

PRELIMS AND FINALS:

Q: What happens during prelims and finals?

A: The Mutants celebrate finals week with a poster party at the Windmill Pointe Park, pasta and head shaving party at Patterson Park and dinner for prelim and finals swimmers  at the Pancake House.

Q: Who goes to prelims and finals and when is it announced?

A: Every park sends two swimmers and one alternate for each event. In addition each park sends one relay team with two alternates. The announcement is made after Thursday afternoon’s practice.

Once at prelims all swimmers compete against each other with the top six times moving onto finals.