Welcome to the Hillgrove Swim Team!
COACHES: Nikki Bisesi and Mark Rogers
PRACTICES** Those swimmers that come to practice, that are on time, have a good attitude, and practice hard will be rewarded when the coaches make the meet line ups. **
All practices are held at the West Cobb Aquatic Center Mon – Thurs from 4-5pm
Be poolside ready to enter the water at our start time
Please check your calendar for exact times and dates of every practice and meets.
1. Transportation will NOT be provided by the school for practices. It is your responsibility to locate and secure a ride to the pool.
2. All team members who do not swim for a USA team are expected to attend ALL scheduled practices throughout the season. USA swimmers are encouraged to attend their USA practices in lieu of high school practices.
3. If school is canceled or dismissed early due to inclement weather (ice, snow, etc.) then there will be NO practice. Check our website and Remind for updates.
4. There may be conflicts in practice schedules if you are involved in a fall sport or other activity. Please discuss these conflicts with your coaches to avoid any problems. You will need to fulfill your Fall Activity commitments before participating in Swim activities. This courtesy will also be extended to your involvement in Spring sports or activities.
5. Do not stop during sets. If you have a cramp, etc… get out of the pool as soon as possible so that you are not slowing down your lane. Excessive cramps, illness, etc… during practice will require you to get a doctor’s note to continue to attend practices.
6. Adjust goggles, caps, etc before each set starts - not when it is your turn to go. All swimmers are to have at least 2 pairs of goggles on deck with them at the pool.
7. Use the restroom before practice begins. If you have an extreme emergency, you may ASK your coaches if you may use the restroom between sets only.
8. Behavior at Practice
- Since we practice at a Public Pool we must be on our best behavior at all times at the pool including but not limited to the locker rooms, common areas, pool deck, and parking lot.
- Swimmers are to follow all posted pool rules at all times.
- No food or drinks except for water are allowed in the locker room or on the pool deck. NO GLASS on pool deck or in locker room.
- Follow directions of the guards at all times.
- Do not enter the water unless there is a coach present.
- Respect all equipment. No sitting on lane ropes, banging kickboards against starting blocks, etc.
- West Cobb Aquatic and coaches are not responsible for your personal items while at the pool. We suggest bringing all blongings on deck.
- Be sure to lock your car and do not leave valuables in plain view.
Every member of the Hillgrove High School Swim Team has a duty to represent himself/herself, the team, and the school in the best manner possible. Because of the high visibility of all athletes in the school, when accepting a position on the team, every member must agree to abide by a higher standard of character, values, and behavior than an average student. This applies to your behavior both in school AND out. You are expected to avoid situations where you might be accused of wrongdoing. Being in the “wrong place at the wrong time” is not an excuse if you chose to be there in the first place.
In-school discipline problems resulting in ISS, Saturday School or Suspension can result in being benched for some meets or possibly dismissal from the team. The following violations may also result in suspension or dismissal from the team:
- Missing excessive practices (unless excused by Coach Bisesi).
- Skipping classes or school.
- Poor sportsmanship.
- Harassment (verbal/physical/sexual/etc.) of another student/team member
- Using any substance that you should not be using. For example but not limited to: vaping, smoking, drinking, or using drugs.
- Any act (either in school or away from school) which, in the opinion of the coaching staff and/or school administration, reflects in a negative manner on the swim team.
GRADES
In order to attend practices and meets, all students must be passing 3 out of 4 classes. If a swimmer is in danger of failing 2 or more classes, the swimmer will not be permitted to practice or go to meets until 3 out of 4 classes are being passed.
CRITERIA FOR EARNING A LETTER
To earn a letter, the swimmer must be an eligible and ACTIVE team member for the entire season and meet ALL four (4) of the following qualifications.
1. Meet attendance requirements for meets, practice, and meetings.
*Practice - all athletes must attend at least 90% of scheduled practices.
*Meets- Be on time and do not miss any events without talking to a coach first
2. Must participate in at least eight (8) meets (not counting State)
3. Must qualify for the County championships in at least one event.
4. If you qualified, you must participate in the State and/or County Championship meets. This means attending even if not swimming.
SWIM SUITS AND CAPS
1. All swimmers are required to purchase their own competition suit. These will be purchased through our BSN online store.
2. Team suits and authorized cap (if a cap is worn) will be required for participation at any school meet. You will receive a team cap.
3. Only Hillgrove Parkas, shirts, suits, caps, etc. will be allowed at school meets. No Swim Atlanta, Tidal Waves, Stingrays, or other USS swim accessories will be used at Hillgrove meets. Hillgrove parkas, jackets, and polos may be purchased though the Boathouse team store. These are all optional items.
MEETS
1. High school swimming is a TEAM sport. All scheduled swimmers are required to attend all meets for the duration of the meet. If you need to early you must check with a coach before leaving.
2. You are expected to attend all meets.
3. Swimmers who miss their assigned events or who chose not to swim (without the approval of the coach) can be suspended from participating in meets for a length of time to be determined by the coach.
4. You are placed in events for a reason not as punishment. All swimmers will be expected to compete in a variety of events throughout the season. We will place you in events based on your personal input as well as the needs of the team.
5. Relays – stay with your relay team until entire relay is completed. Do not leave your team.
6. Warm-ups at a meet are not optional.
7. Be sure to check the heat sheet, it is your responsibility to know when and where you are to be for a race. If you are a relay captain you are responsible for the rest of your relay team and making sure they are behind the block on time.
The biggest difference between high school swimming and summer league swimming is that there is no guarantee that everyone will get to swim in every meet. Since this is a high school varsity sport, we swim to win every meet. Therefore, everyone may not get to swim in every meet and many of those who do swim may only swim one event. However, the coaches will do their best to get everyone in the meet line up. We will attempt to place swimmers in the events they want to swim but the best interest of the team will take priority.
Since Hillgrove does not have a pool, we technically can not really have any “home” meets. However, we consider any meet which is held in a Cobb County Aquatic Center to be a “home” meet. For these meets, the coaches will provide a specific time for the swimmers to be at the pool and they are responsible for getting themselves there. The booster club can set up carpooling before each meet if parents are interested.
We can only enter 2 of each relay and 4 in each individual event into the County meet and 1 of each relay and 4 in each individual event in the State meet, no matter how many have qualified. It is possible to earn your way to one of the meets and not actually get to swim.
A swimmer may swim in no more than 4 events, which may be:
- Two individual events & two relays, or
- One individual event & three relays