New Swimmers
Welcome to the Plumas Rapids Swim Team!
Team Structure & Groups
Plumas Rapids Swim Team is focused on development of skills appropriate for competitive swimming. We do not offer swim lessons. If your child appears unfamiliar with the water, has difficulty staying afloat, or cannot get across the pool on their own either with or without a kickboard or fins, then we suggest that your child enroll in swim lessons organized by Central Plumas Recreation and Parks Department.
Swimmers on the Plumas Rapids will learn the four strokes (breast, back, butterfly, and freestyle) and use these strokes to swim in competitions with other swimmers.
The swimmers are placed into groups that best suit their training needs and are separated primarily by skill level, and secondarily by peer group. All assessments are made by the Head Coach in consultation with Assistant Coaches.
The four swimming groups and skills needed for each of these groups are:
- Sea Turtles- First year competitive swimmers. Ability to complete one length of pool with or without kickboard/fins.
- Bat Rays- Has mastered the basic skills required for freestyle and backstroke. Swimmer can complete one length of the pool in both strokes without aid of kickboard or fins. Swimmer can complete a minimum distance of 1000 yards (20 laps) during a practice.
- Dolphins- Has mastered the basic skills required for all four competitive strokes and can successfully complete one length of the pool in all four strokes. Swimmer can execute block starts and flip turns. Swimmer can complete a minimum distance of 1500 yards (30 laps) during a practice.
- Great Whites- Swimmer has developed competency in all four strokes, starts, flip turns, and is able to swim a minimum distance of 2000 yards (40 laps) during practice.
Team Practice
Team practice sessions are the most important aspect of competitive swimming. Consistent training and practice is a crucial in order to make progress and improvement. This year's practice schedule is listed on the Practice Schedule page. We encourage our swimmers to attend as many practice sessions as possible in order to derive the full benefits of the program.
Suggested Equipment and a link to our team Swim Outlet page can be found on the Equipment page.
Swimming 101- THE FOUR STROKES
The four competitive swimming strokes are freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke and butterfly. The combination of all four strokes is called individual medley.
In freestyle events, the competitor may swim any stroke. The stroke most commonly used is sometimes called the crawl, which is characterized by the alternate stroking of the arms over the surface of the water surface and an alternating (up-and-down) flutter kick.
Backstroke consists of an alternating motion of the arms with a flutter kick while on the back. On turns, swimmers may rotate to the stomach and perform a flip turn and some part of the swimmer must touch the wall. The swimmer must finish on the back.
The breaststroke requires simultaneous movements of the arms on the same horizontal plane. The hands are pressed out from in front of the breast in a heart shaped pattern and recovered under or on the surface of the water. The kick is a simultaneous somewhat circular motion similar to the action of a frog. On turns and at the finish, the swimmer must touch the wall with both hands simultaneously at, above or below the water surface.
The butterfly features a simultaneous recovery of the arms over the water combined with an undulating dolphin kick. In the kick, the swimmer must keep both legs together and may not flutter, scissors or use the breaststroke kick. Both hands must touch the wall simultaneously on the turns and the finish.
The individual medley, commonly referred to as the I.M., features all four strokes. In the I.M. the swimmer begins with the butterfly, then changes after one-fourth of the race to backstroke, then breaststroke and finally freestyle.
Swimming 101- COMPETITIONS
Weekend Invitational Swim Meets- On many of the weekends during the summer other swim teams will host Invitational Swim Meets at which several local teams compete together. Medal and ribbons are awarded at these meets and swimmers receive official times for their events. The Plumas Rapids Swim Team requires each swimmer to compete in a minimum of two Invitational Meets. The most local meets are in Susanville and our home meet here in Quincy. Other meets commonly attended are: Durham and Orland.
North Valley Aquatic League Championships (NVALs) – The culmination of our swimming season happens at NVAL Championships, which is typically scheduled the last weekend of July or the first weekend of August. Teams throughout the North Valley meet in Redding for the biggest swim meet of the season!
RULES: The technical rules of swimming are designed to provide fair and equitable conditions of competition and to promote uniformity in the sport. Each swimming stroke has specific rules designed to ensure that no swimmer gets an unfair competitive advantage over another swimmer.
Trained officials observe the swimmers during each event to ensure compliance with these technical rules. If a swimmer commits an infraction of the rules that is observed by an officIal, a disqualification (DQ) will result. This means that the swimmer will not receive an official time and will not be eligible for an award in that event. A disqualification may result from actions such as not getting to the starting blocks on time, false starting, performing strokes in an illegal manner, or unsportsmanlike conduct.
DQs are also a result of technical rules violations. They include but are not limited to:
- Freestyle: Walking on the bottom, pulling on the lane rope, not touching the wall on a turn, or not completing the distance.
- Backstroke: Pulling or kicking into the wall once a swimmer has turned passed the vertical onto the breast. Turning onto the breast before touching the wall with the hand at the finish of the race.
- Breaststroke: An illegal kick such as flutter (freestyle), dolphin (butterfly), or scissors (side stroke); not on the breast; alternating movements of the arms; taking two arm strokes or two leg kicks while the head is under water; touching with only one hand at the turns or finish.
- Butterfly: Alternating movements of the arms or legs; pushing the arms forward under instead of over the water surface (underwater recovery); a breaststroke style of kick; touching with only one hand at the turns or finish.
For specific language on any technical rules consult the USA Swimming Rules and Regulations book. Violations of the rules are reported to the Referee. The rules require that every reasonable effort be made to notify the swimmer or his coach of the reason for the disqualification. If your child is disqualified in an event, be supportive rather than critical. For beginning swimmers, a disqualification should be treated as a learning experience, not as a punishment. A disqualification alerts the swimmer and coach to what portions of the swimmer's stroke need to be corrected. They should be considered in the same light as an incorrect answer in schoolwork-they point out areas that need further practice. Disqualifications are necessary to keep the competition fair and equitable for all competitors. A supportive attitude on the part of the official, coach, and parent can make a positive situation out of the disqualification.
COURSE: Competition pools may be short course (25 yards or 25 meters), or long course (50 meters). The international standard (as used in the Olympics) is 50 meters. World records are accomplished in 25 and 50 meter pools. USA Swimming maintains records for 25 yard, 25 meter and 50 meter pools.
COMPETITION: Participants compete in different age groups and meets depending on their achievement level and how old they are on the first day of the meet. Traditionally recognized age groups are 10 and under, 11-12, 13-14, 15-16, 17-18. Many local meets feature 8 and under, single age groups, or senior events. Team practice groups are usually determined by age and/or ability.
OFFICIALS: Officials are present at all competitions to enforce the technical rules of swimming so the competition is fair and equitable. Officials attend clinics, pass a written test and work meets before being certified. All parents are able to become involved with some form of officiating, speak to a board member to learn more information.