YMCA Information

Ann Arbor Swim Club has successfully combined with the Plymouth YMCA for several years to provide youngsters an opportunity to compete in YMCA competitive swimming. This includes not only the opportunity to participate in organized training sessions at various local area pools but also the chance to compete in swim meets at local, state, zone and national levels. In addition to being the starting point of the swimming careers of many athletes, AASC-Plymouth YMCA is always in contention for the State of Michigan YMCA Swimming title and has routinely placed in the top twenty in the United States at YMCA Nationals. In summary, YMCA swimming has proven to be a highly enjoyable and successful endeavor for all involved and at every level.

Plymouth YMCA is located at 248 South Union Street, Plymouth, Mi., 48170 (1-734-453-2904) in downtown Plymouth, MI. It is one of several branches of The YMCA of Metropolitan Detroit, all of which service a large area of southeastern Michigan. For further information, see http://www.ymcametrodetroit.org. Membership in the AASC-Plymouth YMCA swim team requires a full annual youth membership at the Plymouth YMCA. Typically, this fee is collected at fall registration or at any subsequent time when the swimmer joins the team. Membership in the swim team also provides access to all Plymouth YMCA programs typically at reduced youth rates, as well as access to other Metropolitan Detroit YMCA programs and facilities. Some restrictions may apply. For further information as to non- swimming activities contact the Plymouth YMCA.

It is important for all swim team members and parents to understand that although the swim club is full privileged YMCA swim team it is also what's referred to as a dually affiliated team. During the year the swim club participates in both YMCA swim meets and USA Swimming meets. The meet schedule is determined prior to the start of the short course season in September by the Board of Directors and the coaching staff. USA Swimming and YMCA Swimming are two different governing bodies each with its own rules, regulations and requirements for participation. While many of these requirements may overlap, each swimmer has to pay particular attention to fulfilling certain requirements for each entity especially if the swimmer wants to participate at the State, Zone and National levels (in addition to making the qualifying times for these meets). For information on USA Swimming visit http://www.usswim.org and http://www.uss-michigan.com and for YMCA Swimming http://www.ymca.net and http://www.ymcaswimminganddiving.org.

THE YMCA PHILOSOPHY OF COMPETITIVE SWIMMING

The YMCA involvement in sports has been one means by which the YMCA has inculcated ideals, values and behavior based on its purposes and goals. Sports in the YMCA has never been an end in itself, but rather a vehicle for achieving much more global purposes. Concern for sports involvement is at the broad participation level rather than in fine tuning the elite athlete. Teaching the fundamental skills, encouraging lifetime involvement in physical activity, strengthening the values of fitness, health and self respect and respect for others are central themes in the YMCA sports philosophy.

The essential elements of the YMCA competitive aquatic philosophy are 1) support and instruct every swimmer on the team 2) work on basic skills and teach good physical habits 3) teach fair play and mutual respect 4) help swimmers set and evaluate individual and team goals 5) foster a winning attitude in victory and defeat 6) encourage lifetime involvement in sports and physical activity and 7) work with the whole person-body, mind and spirit.

YMCA "MICHIGAN CLUSTER" GUIDELINES

1) All swimmers must be full privilege members of the YMCA they represent at least 30 days prior to Dual Meets and Cluster Meets; 60 days before the State Meet and 90 days before the Zone and National meets.

2) The current season is September 1 through April 30.

3) The age of a swimmer is determined by his/her age on December 1st of the current season. * Note: This is a significant departure from USA Swimming rules that determine the age of the swimmer as of the first day of the meet he/she is swimming in. Thus, for example, very often during the YMCA championship seasons in Feb./March/April, a 13- year- old swimmer is swimming as a 12- year- old (having turned 13 years old Dec 2 or after).

4) Age groups include 10 and under; 11-12; 13-14 and 15-19. For dual meets, there may be an 8 and under category. There is an 8 and under State Meet with no "cuts"- any 8 and under can swim. Absent a few exceptions dealing with relays at Championship level meets (i.e. State and Zones) each swimmer must swim in his or her own age group. For example, a twelve year old cannot be entered in 13-14 events.

5) SWIMMERS MUST HAVE COMPETED IN AT LEAST THREE YMCA MEETS FOR THE PLYMOUTH YMCA PRIOR TO COMPETING IN ANY CHAMPIONSHIP MEET- CLUSTER/STATE/ZONE OR NATIONAL. THE THREE MEETS MUST BE ON DIFFERENT DATES. This is an important rule for all swimmers to note. The meet schedule is designed so that swimmers can get their three qualifying meets accomplished as soon as possible so that they are eligible to compete in the YMCA Championship Meets (February/March/April). Swimmers are encouraged to swim three YMCA meets as soon as possible during the season.

MEET FORMATS

* Please note that qualifying times and order of events are subject to change yearly.

Dual Meets

Dual meets are competitions between AASC-Y and another YMCA at a site chosen and hosted by one of the teams. It is a relatively informal format as opposed to other types of meets. In the weeks before the meet, AASC-Y Coaches will send home a form with your swimmer that asks for a preference of events the swimmer would like to swim. The coaches will try to honor these requests if possible, however, the Coach ultimately determines the actual event your swimmer may be entered in. If you want your coach to choose your events for you, just write "coaches preference" on the form. Also, as a general rule, there are no swimmer entry fees to participate in these meets. Expenses for the meet (pool rental, officials, etc.) typically come from the host clubs general fund. If AASC-Y hosts the meet, parents are expected to volunteer for the various jobs it takes to run the meet. The host club provides all timers, marshals, etc. These meets can take three to five hours depending on the number of swimmers involved. For a list of Standardized Dual Meet Events, click here. There are no "cuts" involved in dual meets and typically the heats run from slowest to fastest. These meets take place throughout the season. AASCY usually participates in a few of these meets each season and occasionally hosts meets as well.

YMCA INVITATIONALS

YMCA Invitationals are meets that a particular YMCA hosts at a pool of their choice usually over a one, two or three day format offering a variety of events. There is an entry fee per event swum paid to the host club and your swimmer is free to pick and choose the events. There is an entry form that needs to be filled out and monies paid several weeks before the actual meet. It is suggested that you elicit the Coaches opinion as to what events your swimmer should be swimming. Also, choose events that may lead your swimmer to a State, Zone or National "cut" in that event. These meets take place throughout the season. There may or may not be cuts involved in order to participate. AASCY participates in a few of these meets each season.

YMCA CLUSTERS

YMCA Cluster meets within the State of Michigan can be slightly confusing. Within the YMCA "framework" the entire State is the "Michigan Cluster" of the Great Lakes Zone (comprised of several states in the great lakes area) of YMCA Swimming. For practical reasons, Michigan is then divided into the "Eastern" and "Western" cluster. AASC-Y is in the Eastern Cluster. To make matters slightly more confusing, there are two Cluster Meets - the "A" and "B" Clusters. However, due to the number of meets involved and other considerations, AASCY typically only attends the "A" Cluster Meet and then only a portion of the team swims.

The Cluster "A' Championship Meet is Open to all swimmers who are eligible. No cutoff times are required and the fact that you have made State (or higher) cuts does not prohibit you from entering this meet. However, AASCY suggests for our team that this is a meet to enter if you have not yet made a YMCA State Meet "cut". If your swimmer has made a State cut or higher, it is strongly suggested that you bypass this meet and enter the State Meet and other appropriate Championship meets. In other words, as a general rule, this is a meet for swimmers who have not yet made State cuts but strive to. This meet is typically on the schedule and all swimmers who desire to compete at higher level championship meets are encouraged to attend. The meet is usually held in early/mid February.

YMCA STATE MEET

The YMCA State Meet is a meet for swimmers that have advanced beyond "Clusters" and have made qualifying times in various events. There are two State Meets for YMCA swimmers - 8 and under and 9 and up. This meet is usually held in late February following the Cluster Meets.

The 8 and under State Meet is open to all 8 and unders who have been members of their YMCA for 60 Days. There are no cutoff times. All 8 and unders swim.

The 9 and up State Meet is held on a Saturday and Sunday. The girls swim on Saturday and the boys on Sunday. All swimmers that have qualified for this meet are encouraged to attend. For a typical order of events, click here. For the qualifying times click here.

YMCA ZONE MEET

This is a meet for swimmers that have excelled at the State level. The venue of the meet changes from year to year within the Zone, however, it is typically held at a major site such as the current Olympic Trials pool in Indianapolis or the pool at Cleveland State University. The meet is open to all YMCA swimmers who have met the requirements for entry including making the qualifying times. In essence, the top swimmers from the YMCA State meet move on to this meet. The meet is typically held in mid-March. All swimmers who have qualified for this meet are encouraged to attend. For qualifying times, click here. For a typical order of events, click here.

YMCA NATIONALS

This is a meet that many swimmers aspire to compete in. Simply, these are the "Nationals". This is a meet for swimmers that have excelled at the Zone level. The short course meet has historically been held at the International Hall of Fame swimming Pool in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. For general information about the complex see http://www.ishof.org. The meet is usually held in early April. The meet is open to all swimmers who have met the entry requirements. The basic rules to note are 1) the athlete must be a full member at the Plymouth YMCA for at least ninety days prior to the meet; 2) the athlete be at least 12 years of age and not over 21 as of the first day of the meet and has not represented a scholastic institution beyond grade 12; 3) the athlete has competed in at least three YMCA meets during the current season and at least one YMCA Championship Meet (Cluster/State/Zone); and (4) the athlete has made the qualifying time. For qualifying times, click here. For a typical order of events, click here. All swimmers who have qualified for this meet are encouraged to attend.