HASA Handbook
Welcome to the Hudson Area Swim Association. HASA is a member supported competitive swim association. It relies on swim fees and fundraising to cover expenses. These expenses include but are not limited to coaches’ salaries, equipment, insurance and general business expenses. The objective of this handbook is to inform parents and swimmers of HASA’s mission, policies and procedures.
The mission of our club is to provide educational opportunities at various levels of competitive swimming for school age children by providing a safe learning environment where swimmers can set goals and work to realize their goals.
HASA’s training program can meet the needs of just about any swimmer. We ask that swimmers complete Level IV Red Cross or Minnow-level YMCA instruction. Our program is separated into five training groups.
A multi-week session designed to introduce swimmers to the four competitive strokes (freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke and butterfly). This group generally consists of 7 to 10-year-olds, however older swimmers may choose this level as well. Flip turns and dives off the starting blocks may also be introduced. Swimmers may repeat this level until they master the skills to move to Age Group. It is expected that most swimmers will repeat this session 2 or more times. Novice swimmers typically do not compete in meets. Swimmers may participate in meets in the events for which they are proficient.
Age Group Transition
A continuation of the Novice objectives with an emphasis on polishing stroke techniques and racing skills begun in the Novice group or in advanced swim lessons. The focus is on obtaining legal strokes, turns and starts in all four racing stroke disciplines as well as the individual medley with the intention of preparing the swimmer for sanctioned competitions, and the Age Group 2 level work-outs. This group consists of a wide variety of ages, about 7 to 11-year-olds. Swimmers are encouraged to participate in non-sanctioned Pre-C “practice” meets as the feel comfortable doing so and advance to sanctioned competitions as they feel more and more comfortable with their skill sets.
Age group, Senior and Nationals swim nearly year round. HASA has divided the spring/summer and fall/winter seasons into two sessions and for the purpose of registration. The fall/winter season also called the short course season runs from September to March. Spring/summer also known as the long course season runs April to August.
Focus is on drills and perfecting technique. This group has a wide range of skill levels and covers ages 8-12. Swimmers in this group can participate in meets. The type of meet is dependent on their skill level.
Focus is on perfecting technique and building endurance. This is for swimmers 13 and older or 10-12 year olds with strong motivation and swimming skills. Any swimmer under 13 should discuss with the coach before signing up for this level. Swimmers at this level participate in meets.
This is the most rigorous group. It is designed for swimmers ages 14 and older or 12 and older who are extremely competitive and motivated to improve beyond what the senior group can offer. When pool time is available (typically summer months) swimmers swim in the morning (2 hrs) and again in the evening (3 hrs). This program is similar to high school programs. Any swimmer who has not swam for the high school team should speak with coach before registering. Swimmers at this level participate in meets.
Placement and advancement of a swimmer is the responsibility of the coaching staff. This is based on the age and ability level of each individual. When it is in the best interest of a swimmer, he/she will be placed in a more challenging group by the coach.
The practice schedule is set up for the season and handed out at the beginning of each session. Occasionally there will be changes to our schedule due to unforeseen technical issues with the pool, weather and school closings. In this case the coaches and the board will make every effort to inform you of these changes as soon as they become known. Swimmers are expected to be on deck five minutes before start time. We encourage swimmers to stay for the full practice to receive the greatest benefit from the workout. We also understand that there will be times a swimmer will have to leave early. In this case please notify the coach prior to practice time.
While on school grounds, the swimmers are the responsibility of the coaching staff.
- It is expected that you will arrive on time and be ready to swim. (caps on, goggles ready).
- Be respectful to coaches, teammates, opponents, officials, the facility, and to yourself.
- During practice, swimmers are never to leave the pool area without the coach’s permission.
Swimmers behaving contrary to these criteria may be asked to leave.
- Goggles: Goggles are a must. The chlorine will irritate the swimmers’ eyes without goggles.
- Swim Caps: Longer hair necessitates wearing swim caps. Those with very short hair may choose not to wear a swim cap.
- Towels: Swimmers should bring their own towels to meets and practices.
- Girls: One-piece suits. No one is allowed to compete in a two-piece suit. Swimmers in the novice group do not need to purchase a one-piece suit until they move to age-group.
- Boys: Jammers or racers are recommended. Trunks can be used for practice.
- Most swimmers have a separate practice suit and competition suit as the chlorine quickly fades and degrades the suit.
- Suits and accessories can often be purchased for discount prices at meets.
- Catalogs are available with other merchandise (duffle bags, robes, fins, etc).
Team Apparel (to be worn at swim meets)
- Team suit
- Swim cap (optional)
- Swim goggles
Orders for team suits, caps, and additional apparel are submitted throughout the season. Please see the designated apparel volunteer for details and an order form.
The Hudson Area Swim Association engages in a multi-level competition program within USA Swimming – primarily in the Twin Cities Metro Area. Like our training program it attempts to provide challenging, yet success-orientated situations for swimmers of all ages and abilities.
The coaches decide on the swim meets with which the team will participate. Each season’s meet schedule is distributed with the team calendar. Please review this schedule to determine which meets your swimmer should attend. If you have any questions as to which meets are appropriate for your swimmer, please contact the coach.
Classification and Types of Meets
C/PRE-C—for swimmers who have not previously participated in a meet, as well as those individuals who have events in which their established times are at the C level or below. These meets are an excellent learning experience for novice swimmers.
C Meets—are for relatively inexperienced swimmers who have achieved C level times. This level is usually combined with B level to create a meet in which there are both C and B events. These meets are most often held in the metro area.
B Meets—an intermediate level of competition for swimmers who have attained B level times. This level is usually combined with C level meets. These meets are most often held in the metro area.
A Meets—this level of competition is for exceptional swimmers who have accomplished A level times. Team scores are kept and team awards are given. These meets are most often held in the metro area, but may involve travel outside the Metro area. A meets may be combines with B/C meets or designated for swimmers with A or better times.
State Championship—swimmers at this level achieved CHAMP time standards. This meet is held twice a year in March and August. The team state champion is decided at this meet. The Location is usually at the University of Minnesota, but could be anywhere in the state.
Zone* Meet—Swimmers at this level have attained the ZONE qualifying time. This is an all-star competition in which HASA swimmers represent Team Minnesota. This meet in held in the summer after that state meet. It is sometimes held in Minnesota, but often located elsewhere. Other teams in our zone include Indiana, Iowa, Midwestern, Missouri Valley, Ohio, Michigan, Lake Erie and Illinois.
*Zone also refers to the fact that Twin Cities meets are divided into 2-4 regions on any given weekend.
Sectional Meet—the sectional meet has replaced the long standing Junior Nationals. There are to age groups and time standards are difficult to achieve. This meet will be held in a midwestern location and will help to determine a National Team Champion.
Senior Nationals—the best swimmers from the United States and around the world compete at this meet. There are no age limitations and the time cuts are extremely difficult. Every four years this meet becomes the Olympic Trials.
Meets are essential to the philosophy of Hudson Area Swim Association as a competitive swimming organization. Set aside the fact that swimming is the best aerobic activity in the world, it is the only true “total-body workout,” and every parent loves having a strong swimmer around when playing in a back-yard pool, lake, river, etc. The life lessons learned in a competitive youth sport will stay with a child for the rest of his or her life, proving to be extremely valuable when more important competitions are faced such as college entrance exams, job interviews, promotion opportunities, etc. Meets are scheduled on weekends throughout the season. The coach determines to which meets the team will attend (based on the MSI schedule and procedures). The schedule is posted on the HASA calendar and as a meet date approaches, a Meet Information and Entry page is activated.
Here is a step-by-step tutorial for entering a swim-meet:
- Go to the Hudson Area Swim Association web site.
- Meet information is posted in posts the Meet Information Cagetory. Please make sure you review the dates, times, and other important details prior to submitting your entry.
- Click on the Meet Entry Form link at the top of the page. Select the meet you wish to enter from the dropdown list and enter the other required information. Be sure to indicate which days you wish to attend.
- When you have completed filling in the form, click on the submit button. This form will generate an email that goes directly to the coach with all of the information that we need to get you entered in the meet.
- Within minutes you should receive e-mail confirmation from HASA that your entry was sent. In addition, within 24 to 48 hours, you should get a confirmation email from the coach. IF YOU DO NOT RECEIVE the second confirmation e-mail from the coach, they may not have gotten your entry! If you find that something is incorrect, please contact your coach ASAP. Don’t count on somebody else to get it to the coaches, and don’t just tell the coaches. The pool-deck gets busy, and we’ve got a lot of work to do on any given night, we WILL forget any and all verbal requests within 10 minutes or less guaranteed.
Opting out of relays is no longer offered on the meet entry page. If you have some other commitment that you are worried about having to leave a meet early and thusly missing end-of-day relays, please let the coaches know in the comments section of the entry page, send us an email, or give us a hand-written note as soon as you find out about the conflict. We will be putting together relays depending on participation in a meet. If we have four swimmers at the meet in an age group, we will put together a relay. In an otherwise individual sport, relays are very valuable in teaching young competitors to trust and depend on others to get a job done well. That aside, they are really fun to participate in.
HASA maintains a splash-fee account for all swimmers. Deposits are made throughout the season and meet fees are deducted based on the level of participation. Fees may vary, but typically range from $2.50-$5.00 per swimmer and $1.50-$5.00 per event. Amount deducted depends on the actual fees charged and the number of events entered. You will receive a monthly statement detailing the meet fees charged to your account. Any remaining balance will carry over into the next session.
- Arrive at the pool 10-15 minutes prior to the warm-up time. Report to your coach on deck with your suit, cap, and goggles on. Warm-up will start immediately.
- A member of HASA’s coaching staff will always conduct warm-ups.
- A team suit is recommended, but not necessary.
- Each swimmer is responsible for knowing which events he/she is swimming and for being present in the team area prior to each race.
- Report to the coach before and after each race.
- At most meets, electronic timing is used. The official time is generally the one recorded in the computer by the swimmer touching the touch pad and appearing on the scoreboard. If a swimmer misses the touch pad or there is a mechanical failure, various back up times may be used. The timing and score-keeping personnel analyze all times to determine the official times that are then posted as final results.
- In between races, swimmers are asked to rest and stay warm.
- Hunger and dehydration can lead to poor performance. Drink and eat healthy throughout the meet.
- WHAT TO BRING:
- Team suit (if you have one)
- HASA swim cap
- Two pairs of goggles
- Two towels
- Quiet games or books
- Water bottle and healthy snacks
The same behavior is expected at meets as is expected during practices.
- HASA has a mailbox system in place. Each family has their own mail folder. There are also mail folders set up for each Board Member and all coaches. Most of the mail you will receive has a deadline, so please check your box nightly.
- HASA also has a new web site which can be found at www.hudsonswimteam.org. Here, you will find announcements, practice and meet schedule, meet details (including meet entry forms, entries, and results), registration forms, and contact information. Be sure to check back often to keep up to date.
- HASA will also be using e-mail, rather than phone trees for bad weather cancellation, meet reminders, etc. If you do not have access to e-mail, please state that on the registration so that we can be sure you are getting the same information.
- And, of course, you can always contact the coach or board members directly. Before or after practice is the best time to discuss things with the coach.
- When there are problems or a question regarding practice, stroke instruction, meets, team rules or the training programs please bring them to the Coaches attention. If you need further assistance please contact any member of the HASA board.
- When there are problems or questions concerning any other area of the club please contact any member of the HASA board.
A club of any kind cannot survive without the helping hands of parent volunteers. There are many ways you, as a parent, can get involved to make this a wonderful experience for you family. Participating in fundraisers, attending parent meetings regularly, becoming a committee member, running for elective position on the Board of Directors, organizing social functions, advertising and merchandising, work on a new web site, and becoming a meet official are just a few of the opportunities available.
HASA uses fundraising to off set our registration fees. Each family is expected to participate in the fundraisers to help defray these costs. If a family cannot participate there will always be a buy-out option to the fundraisers.
The largest fundraisers HASA conducts are to host swim meets. This requires a huge number of volunteers, but the financial payoff is substantial. Every parent is expected to volunteer for at least two 4-hour shifts.
