Expectations of head coach, coaches, board

The purposes of these expectations are:

•  To assist the club in being the best club it can be by being clear with coaches on what they are expected to do for which they are paid to do

•  To assist the coaches in becoming the best coaches they can be

•  To use as a tool for identifying continued improvement opportunities for the club

•  To set the tone for a cheerful, happy, learning and fun swimming environment for coaches, athletes and parents.

Parent Board Expectations of the Head Coach

Set the example for professionalism amongst the coaches

•  Be early, start on time and end on time

-  If not, provide explanation of what happened and how this will be improved

•  Smile, smile, smile

•  Be cheerful, positive, and encouraging

•  When looking for improvement, start with a positive statement of what has been done well and then indicate what needs to be improved and how

•  Be focused on the athletes and assistant coaches at all times

•  Be prepared - know what the athletes are going to do every minute that they are in the pool or on deck before you come to swim session

Provide technical expertise

•  Lead the technical expertise of the club by having the most technical qualifications and experience

•  Review FINA manual and incorporate some technical elements into routines for watershow

•  Provide a list of any additional tools, for example manuals and sound systems, for the Orca Club to purchase

Plan each SynchroStars swim session and swim term and provide guidance for planning of each SynchroKids swim session and swim term

Term equals the fall/winter 12 week period and spring 12-week period.

•  The goal is to give each swimmer/athlete the opportunity to pass a star level in each fall or winter term.

•  Plan each SynchroStar swim session before the swim session day

•  Communicate each plan to the assistant coaches before the swim session day

•  Plan the swim term regarding the technical development of all of the athletes and the water show

•  Prepare a table that includes the different swim programs, YMCA, Red Cross, etc., which can be used to help parents know what swim level program to put their child into when synchro is over for the season and when planning where to put brand new swimmers when they start a synchro session

Mentor the assistant coaches

•  Indicate that at the end of the season assistant coaches will be evaluated on these expectations

•  When an assistant coach is not meeting the expectations, address that situation. Start with a positive statement and then move on to what can be improved and ask how they will improve on it

•  Fill out the Coaches Table below and keep it up to date.

Liaise with Parent Board Coach Liaison

•  Provide monthly written feedback via email to the Parent Board Liaison on how the coaches are doing.

•  Address any athlete concerns that need to be brought to the Parent Board Coach Liaison either the same day or the following day with a phone call or face-to-face at the pool.

•  At the end of the season provide written feedback on each of the coaches and assessment on whether or not they ought to be rehired.

Head Coach Development

•  At the beginning of the year indicates to the Parent Board what your development plans are for the year, including but not limited to:

-  Coach Certification Level

-  Dance Skills

-  Choreography Skills

-  Stretching Skills

-  Creative Expression

•  Apply for the Synchro Alberta Coaches Development Assistance to subsidize continued coaching development.

•  Works with the Parent Board to create a development plan for the athletes which could be submitted to Synchro Alberta Synchro Outreach Program grant, which is up to a $1000 maximum per club.

Water Show

•  Plan two water shows

-  December water show just for club parents

-  April water show that invites all Synchro clubs in Edmonton to participate

•  Limit of 15 routines

•  Incorporate some technical elements from FINA manual into routines. www.synchro.ca/tier system.html

•  Dress rehersal is performed on the Sunday and Thursday prior to watershow which includes review of how to get into and out of the pool and deck behaviour.

•  Invite all Synchro Clubs in Edmonton to participate in April water show and coordinate with their Head Coaches what they are going to do and provide those particulars to the President. The President will then use this information to develop the water show agenda.

Individual Athlete Feedback

•  Give positive comments to each athlete after each session

•  Provide written feedback to each athlete on strengths in December and April as per schedule

Talk to each athletes parents at a parent/athlete feedback session in December and in April.

Athlete Issues

•  Follow the code of conduct process.

Administrative

•  After summer camp provide a written report of what went well and what could be improved for the following year.

•  After each term host or chair a meeting with the coaches for coach team development and to provide term report to the board.

•  After each term, fall and winter, provide a written report to the board of what went well and what could be improved on for that term.

•  Purchase $10 gift certificates for judges who provide their services for star testing.

•  Review the website schedule with the coaches so they know when star testing is, when to provide comments for certificates, rehearsal and water show.

•  Encourage coaches to submit hours to treasurer at treasurer@orcasynchro.org on time, as per website schedule.

•  Encourage coaches to submit any items for the website schedule to the webmaster, webmaster@orcasynchro.org.

•  Review code of conduct with coaches and ask that they review and have their swimmers sign the code of conduct. Keep code of conduct with each coachÕs binder that includes the attendance sheets.

•  Ensure that each coach keep a binder with attendance sheet and signed code of conduct. Participant forms that hold parent contact information in case of emergency will be in a separate binder and kept at the pool. All coaches must know where that binder is in case of emergency.

•  Review the list of expectations with all assistant coaches

Support from the Parent Board to Head Coach

Salary

•  Treasurer will send pay cheque within 7 days of receiving an email of the hours worked in a month. Salary will include pool deck time and preparation of swim session plan and water show time. (Need to determine what is a reasonable amount of planning time to pay for)

•  Each year review the salary as per the Pay Scale Salary Grid.

Coach Training Development

•  Coaches apply for the Alberta Synchro Coaches Development Assistance Grant before requesting any reimbursement from the Orca Club.

•  Parent Board will review the head and assistant coaches Orca Synchronized Swimming Coaches Information and Development Table* and inform the coaches how much of the training costs can be covered by the club.* See last page for the table.

•  Depending on the club budget, the club will subsidize 100% of all fees for higher-level coach certification courses that have been passed.

Review expectations with Head Coach at beginning of year and then again at end of each winter and spring term.

Supply of tools

•  Parent board will reimburse Head Coach for the purchase of necessary technical manuals.

•  Parent board will ensure that the sound system is adequate.

•  Parent board reviews and any requests purchase of or reimbursement for additional tools in a timely manner.

Athlete Issues

•  Follow the code of conduct process

•  Parent Board Liaison or any Parent Board Member is available to talk over any athlete issues and help develop a course of action if required.

Parent Board Liaison or any Parent Board Member is available to talk with any parent with the coach regarding any particular athlete issue.

Athlete and Coach Development

•  Parent Board meet with Head Coach to specifically review and plan the coaches and athletes development needs.

•  Parent Board applies for the Synchro Alberta Synchro Outreach Program to subsidize the development plan.

Assistant Coach Issues

•  All parent board members are available to talk over issues regarding the assistant coaches and develop a plan of action.

Parent Board Expectations of Coaches

Be Professional

•  Be ready to start on time, start on time and end on time

-  If not, provide explanation of what happened and how this will be improved

-  Prepare any aids and equipment that is needed for the session, including the music system.

•  Smile, smile, smile

•  Be cheerful, positive and encouraging

•  SynchroKids Coaches must wear a bathing suit in order to be in the pool with the athletes. This is especially important with the younger swimmer/athletes.

•  Wear a bathing suit or work out styled clothing.

•  When looking for improvement start with a positive statement of what has been done well and then indicate what needs to be improved and how

•  Be focused on the athletes at all times,

-  No side discussions on anything non synchro related

•  Appear interested and professional.

-  Avoid slouching on a chair while the athletes are swimming their lengths or working on their routine

Know the plan for each SynchroKids or SynchroStars Swim session

•  The goal is to have each swimmer/athlete pass at least one star level in each winter or spring term.

•  Before swim session, prepare a lesson plan of what the athletes are going to do every minute that they are in the pool or on deck.

-  If assistance is required contact the Head Coach prior to the swim session.

-  Lessons plans need to include stretching, land drills, team meetings, warm-up and workout, figure work/drills, routine and games.

•  Assess all swimmers/athlete skill level and ensure each swimmer/athlete is challenged.

•  Review code of conduct with your swim team and ensure that each sign the form.

•  Keep a binder with the code of conduct forms and attendance sheets. Mark attendance for each class. If a swimmer is missing for more than 2 consecutive classes, contact parent and determine reason. Inform Head Coach of reason.

•  Know where the Participant Form Binder is in the storage unit in case of emergency and a parent needs to be contacted.

•  Ask for or provide a list of additional tools/equipment that you think the club could benefit from.

Water Show

•  Conduct a rehearsal water show the Sunday or Thursday prior to formal water show.

•  All athletes will participate in the December and April water show.

Individual Athlete Feedback

•  Give positive comments to each athlete after each session

•  Provide written feedback to each athlete on strengths in December and April

•  Talk to each athleteÕs parents at a parent/athlete feedback session in December and in April.

Athlete Issues

•  Follow code of conduct process.

Non Athlete Issues

The club wants to be the best it can and therefore bring forward any issues to the Head Coach.

Administrative

•  Submit a time sheet to the treasurer at treasurer@orcasynchro.org as per the schedule on the website.

•  Submit items for the website schedule as appropriate, to webmaster@orcasynchro.org.

Submitted by Janet Schwegel, Orca Synchro treasurer, September 2006

Updated November 10, 2006.
Please report errors and updates to webmaster@orcasynchro.org.