About

Our program is built on three pillars:

• Athlete-centric coaching: Practices are planned around teaching, not just yardage. We start with a clear technical focus, meet athletes where they are, and help them take ownership of their goals, habits, and progress.
• Parent partnership: Athletes succeed fastest when the relationship between coach, athlete, and parent is healthy and aligned. We’re transparent with our expectations, provide education for new families, and invite parents into meaningful roles.
• Long-term development: We care about who athletes become. We talk about respect, integrity, and resilience as often as we talk about pace, turns, and starts.

From here, you can dive deeper into each role in our community: Athletes, Coaches, Parents, Officials, and Volunteers.

What is a Vision Statement? A vision statement is a clear, inspiring declaration of an organization's long-term goals and desired future, guiding strategic decisions and motivating stakeholders toward a shared purpose and direction.

Our Vision Statement

• A. Our Long-Term Goals: To build a thriving community where athletes, parents, coaches, staff, and volunteers work together to create a fun, inclusive, and safe environment—one where individuals can learn, grow, and become their best selves through swimming.
• B. Our Guiding Principles: We uphold and promote values such as self-discipline, self-motivation, personal excellence, a strong work ethic, honesty, integrity, loyalty, and commitment.
• C. Our Shared Purpose: To provide every willing person—regardless of age, skill level, or background—with the opportunity to experience the lifelong joy of both competitive and recreational swimming.

Our Guiding Framework: “C.I.T.A.D.E.L.” — we use this acronym to teach and instill our Mission and Vision. It reflects the foundation of who we are, how we lead, and what we aspire to become: a place where all people of any ability can come and learn the lifelong joy of swimming.

What is a Mission Statement? A mission statement defines an organization's core purpose, values, and primary objectives. It communicates what the organization does, who it serves, and how it aims to achieve its goals.

Our Mission Statement

• A. Our Core Purpose: To create an environment where athletes, parents, coaches, staff, and volunteers can work together to provide a fun, educational, and safe learning environment for all who are interested in swimming.
• B. Our Values: We value and promote self-discipline, self-motivation, personal excellence, work ethic, honesty, integrity, loyalty, and commitment.
• C. Our Primary Objective: To be a world-class swim organization fostering excellence at every level—creating the best coaches who teach and provide a fun and safe learning environment, establish high standards, lifelong passion for learning, and a desire for personal growth.

In short: self-motivated athletes, learning from passionate coaches, supported by engaged families—all striving to become the best they can be.

Culture Statement

Our team culture consists of the shared values, attributes, and beliefs among and within our organization. As a potential future member, our mission statement and culture should matter to you— it is how we filter and make decisions that affect our team.

• Empowering each individual: We want athletes, parents, coaches, and volunteers to grow, thrive, and reach their full potential—both in and out of athletics.
• Athlete-centric: We prioritize athletes and families, rather than the bottom line. If we do right by our people, we believe everything else will work out.
• Fun and flexible: We train hard and help athletes learn to manage and optimize their time, but we never forget to enjoy the path.
• Inclusive and diverse: We make an effort to ensure all people feel welcome and accepted from day one. Respect, courtesy, and empathy are non-negotiable.
• Driven: We emphasize goal setting, strategy, metrics, honest feedback, and accountability in ways that create self-motivation—not fear.

We use our acronym “C.I.T.A.D.E.L.” to teach and instill our Mission & Culture. You’ll see it referenced in team meetings, practice themes, and leadership discussions.

President

The President leads the parent board and works closely with the Head Coach to keep the mission, vision, and culture aligned.

• Chairs board meetings and sets high-level priorities with the Head Coach.
• Ensures decisions support the team’s mission, Safe Sport requirements, and financial health.
• Represents the team with the LSC, facilities, and community partners.
• Supports clear communication between coaches, parents, and volunteers.

Secretary

The Secretary keeps the team organized through records, communication, and documentation.

• Prepares agendas and minutes for board and parent meetings.
• Maintains key policies, bylaws, and Safe Sport-related documentation.
• Supports outbound communications (emails, website updates, notices).
• Helps ensure parents can easily find the information they need.

Treasurer

Oversees the financial health of the team with transparency and accountability.

• Prepares and monitors the annual budget in coordination with the board.
• Tracks income and expenses, including dues, meet fees, and fundraising.
• Provides regular financial reports to the board and Head Coach.

Membership Director

Manages member onboarding, registrations, and USA Swimming compliance.

• Oversees seasonal registration and renewal processes.
• Ensures all swimmers and non-athlete members are properly registered with USA Swimming.
• Coordinates with the Registrar or admin systems to keep rosters accurate.

Officials Coordinator

Works with the Director of Officials to recruit, schedule, and support team officials.

• Communicates officials’ needs and training opportunities to parents.
• Maintains a list of certified officials and their roles.
• Helps ensure hosted meets are properly staffed with officials.

Volunteer Coordinator

Ensures that every meet and event has the volunteers needed to run smoothly.

• Manages volunteer sign-ups and role assignments for meets and events.
• Works with Social Chair, Meet Director, and officials to identify needs.
• Greets and checks in volunteers on event days.

Safety Coordinator

Partners with coaches and Safe Sport leaders to promote a safe training and competition environment.

• Helps track safety drills, emergency procedures, and incident responses.
• Coordinates with facilities on any safety-related concerns.
• Supports education around pool, deck, and dryland safety for families.

Communications Coordinator

Keeps families informed and connected.

• Drafts and sends regular newsletters, updates, and reminders.
• Helps maintain team website content in coordination with coaches.
• Supports social media presence in line with Safe Sport guidelines.

Team Manager

Handles many of the day-to-day administrative details so coaches can focus on coaching.

• Assists with meet entries, deadlines, and logistics.
• Helps track apparel, equipment orders, and team gear.
• Supports communication around practice changes, travel details, and special events.

Swimmer

Swimmers are responsible for representing the team with professionalism, effort, and good sportsmanship.

• Participate in practices, team meetings, and meets as scheduled.
• Maintain and improve fitness through daily training and smart recovery.
• Follow all safety protocols in and around the water.
• Arrive on time, prepared, and ready to give their best effort.
• Demonstrate positive sportsmanship in both victory and defeat.
• Respect facilities and teammates; clean up shared spaces.

Team Captain / Team Leader

Captains help set a positive tone and culture for the entire team every day.

• Lead by example with work ethic, attitude, and sportsmanship.
• Mentor teammates and help them understand expectations and team standards.
• Support new swimmers with onboarding and encouragement.
• Help resolve minor conflicts respectfully and bring bigger issues to coaches.
• Assist coaches with team meetings, relays, and group organization at meets.

Other athlete-facing roles may include Counselors (supporting struggling teammates) and Athlete Representatives who interface with the LSC or governing bodies.

15–18 Captain

Leads the senior athletes and models what it looks like to train and compete at a high level.

• Helps organize senior-only meetings, goal-setting sessions, and leadership discussions.
• Supports younger captains in mentoring the middle age groups.
• Acts as a key liaison between senior swimmers and the coaching staff.

13–14 Captain

Helps athletes navigate the transition into more serious training and racing.

• Encourages good study/training balance and time management.
• Leads age-group cheers and fosters a positive race-day environment.
• Helps new 13–14 swimmers adjust to higher expectations.

11–12 Captain

Keeps swimming fun and organized as kids start to compete more often and more seriously.

• Helps teammates line up for events and find their lanes at meets.
• Models listening, hustle, and good lane etiquette at practice.
• Encourages teammates after both great races and tough ones.

10 & Under Captain

A friendly helper for our youngest swimmers, making sure they feel welcome and safe.

• Helps teammates find their heat and lane with coach guidance.
• Encourages cheering for teammates and having fun at meets.
• Models simple habits: listening to coaches, staying with the group, taking care of gear.

Head Coach

The Head Coach is the overall leader of the program, responsible for its strategic vision, culture, and competitive success.

• Oversees all aspects of the competitive program.
• Develops and manages seasonal and yearly training plans for the entire team.
• Mentors and supervises assistant coaches and other staff.
• Sets team goals and performance benchmarks.
• Manages the meet schedule and key administrative tasks (communications, records, planning).
• Serves as the primary liaison between coaches, parents, and the board.
• Attends the highest-level competitions (e.g., Sectionals, Nationals) with qualifying swimmers.

Head Age Group Coach

Leads the age-group program (typically 12 & under), working closely with the Head Coach.

• Executes the Head Coach’s vision within the age group program.
• Designs and refines training plans appropriate for developmental stages.
• Ensures smooth progression from younger groups into senior-level training.
• Provides leadership and mentorship to assistant and junior coaches.

Assistant Coach

Works under the Head and Head Age Group Coaches, usually leading specific practice groups.

• Implements practice plans developed by the head staff.
• Provides direct, hands-on stroke instruction and feedback.
• Supervises practices and meets with safety and a positive environment in mind.
• Helps swimmers set goals and tracks their progress.
• Communicates with parents regarding swimmer development, as appropriate.

Junior Coach

Often a student-athlete, serving as a role model and mentor to younger swimmers under direct supervision.

• Assists with instruction and supervision of new or younger swimmers.
• Helps foster team spirit and a fun, engaging atmosphere.
• Develops coaching and leadership skills alongside senior staff.

Volunteer Coach

A qualified parent or community member who supports practices and meets in a limited, supervised capacity.

• Assists with lane supervision, equipment, and basic skill reinforcement.
• Follows direction from the Head and Assistant Coaches at all times.
• Completes required certifications and Safe Sport education.

Meet Safety Coach

Focuses on athlete and deck safety during meets and high-traffic practices.

• Coordinates with Safety Marshals and Meet Directors to ensure safe warm-ups.
• Monitors athlete behavior on deck and in team areas.
• Helps enforce facility, team, and Safe Sport safety expectations.

Stroke & Turn Coach

Specializes in refining technical skills in all four competitive strokes, starts, and turns.

• Runs dedicated stroke and turn clinics or focused sets.
• Collaborates with on-deck officials to stay current on rule interpretations.
• Provides video review and detailed feedback when possible.

Start Coach

Focuses on reaction time, block setup, relay exchanges, and underwater breakouts.

• Designs start-focused sets and drills with timed reaction components.
• Teaches consistent routines for race starts and relay takeoffs.
• Works closely with athletes at key meets on start execution.

Strength & Conditioning Coach

A certified specialist who designs and oversees dryland and weight-room training to complement water work.

• Builds age-appropriate strength, power, and endurance programs.
• Coordinates with the Head Coach to align loads with taper and peak meets.
• Emphasizes injury prevention and proper technique in all movements.

Mobility & Flexibility Coach

Focuses on range of motion, joint health, and flexibility specific to swimming.

• Designs warm-up and cool-down routines that support healthy shoulders, hips, and spine.
• Educates athletes on stretching, band work, and recovery tools.
• Works with Strength & Conditioning to balance mobility and stability.

Technical – Statistician

Manages data, splits, and trends to help coaches and athletes make informed decisions.

• Tracks best times, progressions, and key performance metrics.
• Helps identify trends (stroke counts, tempos, race strategies) for individuals and groups.
• Supports goal meetings with clear numbers and visualizations when possible.

Director of Officials

Coordinates the team’s officials and ensures we meet USA Swimming and LSC requirements.

• Recruits and mentors new officials from the parent base.
• Coordinates certification, recertification, and assignments for hosted meets.
• Works with the Meet Referee and Meet Director to ensure rule compliance.

Head: Stroke & Turn

Leads Stroke & Turn officials who monitor races for rule compliance.

• Assigns Stroke & Turn officials to positions on deck.
• Reviews disqualifications (DQ) with newer officials to support learning.
• Supports clear communication with coaches around rules and rulings.

Head: Timer

Oversees lane timers so we capture accurate and fair times for every swimmer.

• Trains new timers in stopwatch use and backup timing procedures.
• Ensures each lane has the required number of timers.
• Coordinates with the chief timekeeper and scoring table.

On-Deck Officials (from Parents)

On-deck officials include Stroke & Turn Judges, Starters, and Referees—often parents who have completed USA Swimming training.

• Referee: Chief official responsible for overall conduct and final decisions.
• Starter: Ensures fair starts and may disqualify for false starts.
• Stroke & Turn Judge: Patrols the pool to ensure legal strokes and turns.
• Relay Take-Off Judge: Watches for early take-offs on relays.

Meet Volunteers

Meet operations also rely on non-official volunteers—many of which are described in detail on our Volunteer page.

• Clerk of Course: Organizes swimmers into heats and lanes.
• Announcer: Calls events, relays information to spectators.
• Safety Marshal: Ensures warm-up safety and deck flow.
• Scorers & Data: Enter and verify times, team scores, and results.

Team Representative / Board Member

Provides leadership and oversight on behalf of the parent community.

• Supports overall operations and strategic direction of the team.
• Ensures adherence to legal, ethical, and Safe Sport standards.
• Serves as a connection between parents, coaches, and the broader community.
• Helps communicate key decisions, policies, and priorities.

New Parent Liaison

The friendly first point of contact for families who are new to swimming or new to the team.

• Helps new parents understand practice flow, meet sign-ups, and volunteer expectations.
• Connects new families with experienced mentors.
• Shares resources from the Parent page.

Fundraising / Administrative Support

Parent leaders support the team’s financial health and logistics through ongoing projects and behind-the-scenes work.

• Organize fundraising events and sponsorship outreach.
• Support registration, billing, and financial reporting as needed.
• Coordinate with Social and Volunteer leadership to align events with team culture.

Social Chair

Oversees the big picture of team fun, connection, and tradition.

• Plans and coordinates major team events (kick-off socials, awards banquet, etc.).
• Manages event calendars, budgets, and logistics.
• Works with coaches and captains to align events with training phases.

Typical events may include: season kick-off dinners, pasta feeds before big meets, pancake breakfasts after hard practices, and end-of-season celebrations.

Social Co-Chair

Supports the Social Chair and helps ensure events are well-staffed and well-communicated.

• Helps coordinate volunteers, potluck sign-ups, and supplies.
• Assists with communication (emails, social posts, fliers).
• Steps in to lead specific events or age-group activities as needed.

Spirit Committee

Focuses on day-to-day team energy—especially at meets and key practices.

• Plans theme nights for home meets and travel meets.
• Leads cheers, poster-making, and team banner projects.
• Coordinates spirit wear ideas with the team store.

Age Group Party Planner

Organizes age-group specific gatherings to build friendships and keep swimming fun.

• Plans age-group outings (bowling, pool float nights, lake days, etc.).
• Coordinates snacks, games, and chaperones with parents.
• Works with captains and coaches to schedule events around key meets.

For an extended list of volunteer roles and event ideas, see our Volunteer page.