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The Mission of MSA
To
develop the character traits, technical skills, and intense desire
necessary for maximum realization of each individual's potential.
Organization of MSA
MSA
exists through a contractual arrangement between the Head Coach of
the Missouri State collegiate swimming and diving team and Missouri
State University. Like many organizations affiliated with a
university, MSA pays a small amount per family per month in the form
of rent and support to the collegiate team. MSA's Head Coach is the
Associate Head Coach of the MSU's team. Other MSA coaches often come
from the "on deck" MSU coaching staff or from the collegiate team,
as in the case of swim lessons instructors.
Additionally, like many organizations, MSA
has a set of operating Bylaws the control how the affairs of the
organization are conducted. Finally, MSA would not function without
volunteers. Don't know anything about swimming? Don't worry, many of
us don't. When it comes to hosting a meet or the day-to-day
comings-and-goings of the club, we have a constant need for swim
moms and dads to step up and help with all sorts of things. So, join
in!
Swimmer
Code of Conduct
- Any under-age
swimmer who is known to use alcohol, illegal drugs, or tobacco
at a club function is subject to suspension from the team.
- Never interfere
with the progress of another swimmer, during practice or
otherwise.
- At all club
functions, whether in practice, meets, or social gatherings,
swimmers are expected to behave in such a way that their actions
reflect positively on the team.
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Parent
Responsibilities
- Parents are
welcome to observe the practice from the bleachers, but NOT ON
DECK due to liability concerns.
- Please do not
approach coaches during practice unless it is an emergency. The
coaches need to have their full attention on the swimmers.
Coaches are available to parents 15 minutes before or after
practice. You may also correspond with the coaches by e-mail or
phone.
- Parents should
pick up your swimmers promptly after practice.
- MSA is an
organization that counts on parent volunteers. Parents are
strongly encouraged to assist with fundraisers and club-hosted
meets.
- Monthly dues must
be paid by the 15th of the month to avoid late fee. Meet fees
must be paid before the meet. When paying your fees, please
write the month paying for, or name of meet on your check and
place it in the black box next to the bulletin board.
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Membership
Application
Membership
Application Form
To apply for
membership, contact Head Coach Dave Collins at
417-836-6479 or e-mail
DavidCollins@MissouriState.edu.
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Swimming Information
Competitive
Swimming Seasons
The swim year is divided into two seasons:
- USAS "Short
Course" - Runs from mid-September to mid-March. These
meets are held in a 25-yard or meter pool.
- USAS "Long
Course" - Runs from early April to mid-August. These
meets are held in a 50-meter pool and are generally outdoors.
- Tri-State
Meets - These meets are not officiated with the USAS.
They are summer meets held in the tri-state region and start the
first of June and end with the Tri-State Championship the first
weekend of August. Most of these meets are held in outdoor
community pools of differing lengths. The swim meet held by MSA
in the summer is this type of meet and is usually held at the
Foster Natatorium or Missouri State University Pool.
2007 Tri-State event list and time standards
Competitive Strokes
There are four competitive strokes: freestyle, backstroke,
breaststroke, and butterfly. Events are held in all of the
competitive strokes at varying distances depending on the age-group
of the swimmer. In addition, there is individual medley (I.M.),
consisting of all four strokes being swum by an individual swimmer.
Other swimming events include free relay, with four swimmers all
swimming freestyle; and medley relay, with each swimmer swim one of
the competitive strokes in the order of backstroke, breaststroke,
butterfly, and freestyle.
Age Groups
All MSA swimmers must register with USS to be covered by USAS
insurance. This is a once a year fee due when you become a
member of MSA. The fee will come due every October and will
cover the swimmer for the full year. If you have previously
been a member of a USAS swim club, you should provide MSA with your
registration number.
There are seven different age group classifications recognized by
United States Swimming (USAS), the governing body of the sport: 8 &
under, 9 -10, 11 - 12, 13 -14, 15 -16, 17 - 18, and Senior.
The Senior classification includes any age registered swimmer who
has achieved the prescribed qualifying time for the event. Not
all age group classifications are offered at every swim meet.
The swimmers age on the first day of a meet will govern the swimmers
age for the entire meet. With the exception of TRI-STATE meets
where the age of swimmer on the first meet is the age they will swim
for the entire TRI-STATE season.
Within each age group, there are different nationally recognized
levels of achievement based on times. All swimmers begin as “C”
swimmers. As they improve, they advance to “BB”, “B”, “A”,
“AA”, “AAA” and “AAAA”. The time standards for each level are
published every year by USAS. This publication is sent to each
family with a registered USAS swimmer.
Some swim meets set certain qualification standards. In order to
swim in a certain classification, a swimmer must have achieved the
qualifying time for that particular classification.
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Guide
For
First Swim Meet
- Upon arrival, find
the team crash area. This is an area where the team usually sits
together. During the summer season, find the area where the team
tents are set up. All of the swimming equipment, blankets,
games, and snack food if allowed by the sponsoring team is
stored for the duration of the meet.
- The swimmer now
gets his/her cap and goggles and reports to the pool or coach
for warm-up instructions. This is very important for the
swimmer's body.
- This is a good
time for the parents to buy a heat sheet. A heat sheet is
usually available for sale in the lobby or concession area of
the pool. It lists all swimmers in each event in order of their
"seed time" (their previous best time). If the swimmer is
swimming for the first time, they will be listed as a no time
"NT."
- After warm-up, the
swimmer returns to the crash area. This is a good time to write
each event number, heat number, and lane number on the swimmers
hand with a permanent marker. This helps the swimmer remember
what event he/she is swimming and to listen for his/her events
to be called.
- The meet starts
approximately 10-15 minuets after warm-ups are over. At this
time, a swimmer's event number will be called, usually over a
loudspeaker. He/she should report to the coach (with cap and
goggles in hand) at the first call of their event. Then report
directly to the "clerk of course." This is usually a designated
area (referred to as "bull pan") where the swimmer is given a
card, stating the event, heat, and lane. Swimmers swimming the
same event are lined up in their heats and taken to the pool
area. Once they arrive at the blocks for their event they should
give the timer the card.
- If no "bull pan"
is set up, after reporting to the coach for instructions, the
swimmer should find the lane he/she is assigned and stay behind
the starting block to wait for his/her heat.
- After each race
the swimmer should ask the timer their time and then report to
the coach so he/she may discuss the swim. Then the swimmer may
return to the crash area to wait for the next event.
- When the swimmer
has completed all of the events, he/she is free to leave the
meet. Make sure, however, that the coach has not entered the
swimmer in a relay.
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Hierarchy of Championship
Meets
Missouri Valley Division 2
Championships (DII)
-
Championship meet that
requires
qualifying times to participate
-
Swimmers compete against
other swimmers of same age group from east section of Missouri
Valley
-
Swimmers may not compete
in events if overqualified (DI)
-
Swimmers may swim 2
bonus events
-
Usually takes place
during the last weekend of February in Springfield for short
course season and during the third weekend of July in Kansas for
long course season.
Missouri
Valley Division 1 Championships (DI)
-
Championship meet that
requires
qualifying times to participate.
-
Swimmers compete against
other swimmers of same age group from Missouri Valley
-
No bonus events allowed
-
Usually takes place
during the second weekend of March at Wichita Swim Club,
Wichita, Kansas for short course season and during the fourth
weekend in July in Lenexa, Kansas for long course season.
Region
VIII Sectional Championships (R-8)
-
Championship meet that
requires
qualifying times to participate.
-
Swimmers compete against
swimmers of all ages from Missouri Valley, Northwest, Arkansas,
Oklahoma, and Ozark Swimming Associations.
-
Usually takes place
during the first weekend of March in Topeka, Kansas for short
course season and during the third weekend of July in Oklahoma
City, Oklahoma for long course season.
Junior
National Championships
-
Championship meet that
requires qualifying times to participate.
-
National Level
Competition
-
Age limit is 18
-
Usually takes place in
late March for short course season, and in early August for long
course season.
United
States Senior National Championships
-
Championship meet that
requires qualifying times to participate.
-
Highest National Level
Competition
-
No age criteria
-
Usually takes place in
early April for short course season, and in early August for
long course season.
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