Lake Pointe Lazers Swim Team

OUR PURPOSE

We are a recreational swim team with the purpose of providing “a fun, positive, constructive, educational environment to teach the participants proper swimming stroke technique, sportsmanship, etiquette, responsibility and the importance of personal goal setting and achievement." We want our swimmers to have fun, work hard, swim fast, and be a team.

ABOUT OUR TEAM

We are a neighborhood swim team, open to the children of homeowners in the Lake Pointe subdivision and surrounding community. We include swimmers of all abilities from ages 5 to 17 (must be 5 by 8/31/23). Our team is a member of the Austin Hills Swim League, a group of swim teams all located in the West Austin area. Our team is staffed solely and completely by parent volunteers.

NEW SWIMMER EVALUATIONS & PARENT ORIENTATION

Evaluations for new Lazers swimmers age 8 and under are held in February and March. Returning swimmers under age 8 do not need an evaluation. New or returning swimmers over the age of 8 do not need an evaluation. A mandatory parent meeting is held in April.

TEAM SWIMSUITS

A team suit is not required, but is strongly encouraged. Girls should have their hair pulled back and in a swim cap. A Lazers swim cap is provided with registration! Most swimmers can use the same suit for two years, and feel free to swap old suits with other swim families!

PRACTICES

Practices are broken down into two “sessions,” during the school year and after the school year. Session I (during the school year) will run in April and May (prior to Memorial Day) and be held Monday-Thursday from 4:45-7:30pm. Session II (summer session) will run May (after Memorial Day) to June and will be held Monday-Thursday from 6:30-10:00am.

Practice times are divided by age group and are 30-45 minutes in length. During practice, swimmers will be instructed in proper stroke techniques. However, swim practice is not swimming lessons, and is not designed for individual instruction. If your swimmer wants more one-on-one instruction, please schedule a private lesson with one of our coaches, or another swim instructor.  

COMMUNICATION

We have several types of communication in place for our team, including:

Lazers Website: https://lakepointelazers.swimtopia.com/

This is our primary form of communication. All pertinent team information is on our website, including: practice schedules, meet times, meet directions, volunteer schedules, coach and board member contact information, meet results, weekly news and any updates or changes.

Lazers Text Messages: Please register for text updates by texting @2024laz to 81010.

Email: Feel free to email us at [email protected] with any questions, comments or concerns. One of our Board members will be in touch shortly.

Social Media: Follow us on Facebook and Instagram. 

WEATHER

The safety of our swimmers is our top priority and we carefully monitor the weather before, and during, every practice and swim meet. If lightning is detected within 15 miles of the pool, at practice or a meet, the pool will be cleared and there will be a 30-minute delay. Please sign-up for Lazers text messages for most up-to-date information on postponed or cancelled practices and meets. (Text @2024laz to 81010).

MEETS

Swim meets are organized into different Events based on the stroke, swimmer’s age, swimmer’s gender and whether it is an individual or relay event. The order for events is as follows: 

• Individual Medley (IM) Relays – ages 8 & up
• Freestyle Team Relays
• Freestyle Heats
• Backstroke Heats
• Breaststroke Heats
• Butterfly Heats
• Team Medley Relays

Each swimmer 10 years old or younger is allowed to compete in a maximum of three individual stroke events plus two relays. Eleven and older swimmers can swim five individual strokes plus two relays.

Our Coaches and Board Members determine events and relays for the swimmers. We try to place as many swimmers in as many events as possible, within their abilities and comfort levels. Relay swimmers must arrive at meets on time, or risk losing their spot in the relay. If a swimmer must leave a meet early, you MUST let the coaches know BEFORE the meet starts so that they will not be placed in a relay.

It is VITAL that every swimmer unable to attend a meet let the Coaches & Board know before that meet.

Swimmers should arrive 30 minutes before the scheduled warm-up and check in with their age group parent. They will remain with their age group throughout the meet. You may want to bring games, cards, etc. to occupy them between events (no iPads/electronics please!).

Concessions are usually available during meets, but we strongly advise bringing healthy snacks and water to drink. Junk foods and sugary drinks are terrible fuel for athletes, and are best enjoyed after swimmers have finished all their events. 

WHERE DOES THE MONEY GO?

Registration fees are the Team’s source of financial support. Those fees cover the following:

• Coaches’ Salaries
• AAU Swim Insurance (League mandate)
• HOA Fees
• Swimtopia & Time Drop Fees
• Ribbons and Medals
• Meet Pool Rental Fees
• Individual Trophies
• Swimmer T-Shirts and Swim caps
• Social Events for Swimmers
• Team Equipment Needs
• Miscellaneous Administrative Expenses

DONATIONS & SPONSORS

If your family can contribute items, or you know of a business that would like to sponsor our team, please contact [email protected].

RIBBONS & AWARDS

The goal for our summer swim program is to encourage each swimmer to have fun in the water, learn basic swimming strokes, and enjoy team membership. Swimmers who participate in a meet may receive ribbons each week. There are six place ribbons for each individual event, participation ribbons, and personal best time ribbons. Ribbons will be handed out by our coaches at Monday practices. If your swimmer does not get them at practice, they will be placed in their swimmer’s file and can be retrieved at the next practice.

VOLUNTEERING

All meets (including Timed Trials) are completely staffed by parent volunteers. Each family is required to earn 3 “Points” during the course of the season. Failure to complete a volunteer job properly may result in the loss of the point. Failure to achieve all 3 points during the season may forfeit your swimmers’ opportunity to register for Lazers in the future. We cannot stress enough the importance of parent volunteers. We provide between 40-50 volunteers for each of our meets, Home or Away.

If for some reason you are unable to fulfill a volunteer role that you have signed up for, you must email us at [email protected] and attempt to find a substitute. A no-show may result in an additional point being added to your family volunteer requirements.

Please take your volunteer assignments seriously. All volunteers are required to stay the entire meet, regardless of whether your child is finished. Do not schedule yourself during a vacation! As the season progresses, more volunteer opportunities will present themselves. Please know that we value your help and cannot do this without you!

SWIMMER’S CODE OF CONDUCT

• A swimmer must be courteous at all times, whether in or out of the pool. This means allowing faster swimmers behind you to pass during practice, and never interfering with the progress of another swimmer.
• At all functions (practice, meets, social events) swimmers should behave in a manner that reflects positively on our team, and follows the “Swimmer’s Responsibilities” below. Swimmers who behave in a disruptive, dangerous or disrespectful manner towards other swimmers or coaches will not be tolerated, and are subject to dismissal from that function or the team.
• Swimmers are to abide by pool rules at all times and at all functions.
• The use of alcohol, drugs or tobacco during team functions is prohibited
• Swimmers who violate the Code of Conduct consistently or more than three times during the season are subject to removal from the team for the duration of the season.

SWIMMER RESPONSIBILITIES

• Be on time.
• Let the coaches know when you cannot swim in a meet.
• Stay for the entire practice.
• No rough-housing.
• Keep up with and label your own gear (suits, goggles, fins, t-shirts, etc.).
• Stay off deck and out of the water until your designated swim time at both practices and meets.
• Stay out of the baby pool. All baby pools are strictly off limits during meets and practice.
• Remain with your age group during all meets. If you must leave your age group, you must let your age group parent know where you are going.
• Work Hard
• HAVE FUN!

PARENT RESPONSIBILITIES

• Bring swimmers to practices and meets on time. Swimmers who are late and/or miss warm-ups for meets can lose their relay spots.
• Do not coach your swimmer during practice or meets, that’s the coaches job. Parents are NOT allowed on the pool deck during practice.
• Get permission from coaches for swimmers to practice at times other than their designated age group time or camper swim.
• Notify coaches and board before meets of any absences. You may email us at [email protected].
• You can cheer for and photograph your swimmer, but must stay out of the way of the stroke judges and coaches during meets.
• Let the age group parent know how you will pick up your child at meets. Don’t leave them waiting or guessing.
• Confirm your swimmer has completed all events with their age group parent before leaving a meet. They might be in a new event or relay! All swimmers are encouraged to stay for the whole meet.
• Supervise siblings and keep them out of baby pools during meets. All baby pools are off limits during meets and practices
• Don’t use practice as free baby-sitting. Swimmers may be dropped off and left during their designated age group swim time. They must be supervised by an adult at all other times.
• Help age group parents with set-up and clean-up of their areas at meets. They really do an amazing job with your kids.
• Use of alcohol, drugs or tobacco during team functions and swim meets is prohibited.
• Profanity and unkind language or behavior towards a swimmer, opponent, Coach, Board member, opponent or anyone else present during swim practices and meets will not be tolerated.
• No glass or gum is allowed on the pool deck at any time.
• Engaging individual lessons outside of designated swim times is arranged between the Coaches and your family. The swim team and league is not responsible.
• Have fun and encourage your swimmers.
• EVERY SWIMMER IS A WINNER !!!

CHILD ABUSE POLICY AND PROCEDURES

The increasing incidence of reported child abuse is a special concern for The Austin Hills Swim League (AHSL) and the Lake Pointe Lazers swim team. It is all employees' duty to recognize and report child abuse and neglect. Child abuse is damage to a child for which there is no "reasonable" explanation. Child abuse includes nonaccidental physical injury, neglect, sexual molestation, and emotional abuse. The following guidelines have been adopted as the official policy.

Staff Recruitment, Training and Supervision

• Reference checks on all prospective employees will be conducted, documented, and filed prior to employment.
• Supervisors are encouraged to work with the Board of Directors to secure license checks, or otherwise conduct criminal record checks, of staff who work directly with youth and youth development education programs and their associated events. Youth employed in programs such as child care and camping are included in the employee screening process.
• All new employees will be required to participate in an orientation program including written materials explaining policies, procedures, and regulations on child abuse. They should be aware of legal requirements and, by their signature, acknowledge having received and read appropriate policies and procedures.
• Employees working directly with children will be provided training and information about identifying signs of possible child abuse. Staff training will include approved procedures for responding to the suspicion of child abuse.
• Administrative staff responsible for the supervision of programs involving the care of children will make unannounced visits to each program site to assure that standards, policies, program quality, and performance of staff are being maintained. 

Staff Relationships With Children

• In order to protect children, employees and volunteers are encouraged to avoid, where possible, being alone with a single child.
• Lake Pointe Lazers employees and volunteers are encouraged not to socialize with program participants under the age of 18 outside of organizational activities.
• Lake Pointe Lazers employees and volunteers will not, under any circumstances, discipline children by use of physical punishment or by failing to provide the necessities of care such as food or shelter.
• Lake Pointe Lazers employees and volunteers should be alert to the physical and emotional state of all children each time they report for a program. Signs of injury or suspected child abuse should be reported to the Lake Pointe Lazers Board of Directors.

Responsibilities To Parents

• Parents will be informed about their child's program participation and may visit programs at any time.

Reporting Procedures

• When there is suspicion of child abuse, employees or volunteers to whom it has been reported will immediately inform the Lake Pointe Lazers Board of Directors. The reporting of suspected child abuse situations is a personal obligation as well as a professional and legal one.
• The Lake Pointe Lazers board member who receives the initial report is responsible for investigating the facts reported and the condition of the child. This should be done as soon as the report is received.
• Volunteers who suspect any child abuse should report the information to the Lake Pointe Lazers Board of Directors.
• In the event the reported incident involves a Lake Pointe Lazers employee or volunteer, this individual will be relieved from all activities involving children until further notice.
• Regardless of where or under what circumstances the alleged incident takes place, if a Lake Pointe Lazers employee is involved, appropriate action will be taken according to the Lake Pointe Lazers Discipline Policy.
• Lake Pointe Lazers employees and volunteers should be sensitive to the need for confidentiality in the handling of information concerning child abuse. Employees will discuss matters pertaining to abuse and suspected abuse only with the Lake Pointe Lazers Board of Directors.