Oxford Swimming and Diving Team

All involved in OSDT want to see the team win, but such success is a team effort and is achieved when all athletes, parents, coaches, and Board members strive to do their part with positive and supportive attitudes and actions. Parents bear a special responsibility to show understanding and support, not only for their swimmers and divers, but also for the coaches and the team.

Team unity is important to the OSDT. As a member of this team it is hoped that all swimmers and divers will be at all meets. If you have a conflict, please notify the coaches and update the “Meet Attendance Log” on the team bulletin board, when your child will miss a scheduled swim meet at least 72 hours in advance.

OSDT completes with 15 other teams in the TCSL.

• Regular season dual meets are held on mostly Tuesday but some Thursday evenings from mid-June through late-July.
• Swim Meets: Home team warm-up at 6:00 and visitors at 6:15; the meet starts at 6:30.
• Dive Meets:  TBD
• Home meets are at the Oxford Aquatic Center.
• During home meets, parents can expect to have a job helping run the meet. Be sure to sign up for at least 3 meets. If you do not meet your obligation, there may be a penalty.
• Please help clean up the team area before going home.
• Younger divers and swimmers may leave once they have completed all their events. Older swimmers are encouraged to stay and cheer on teammates

What to bring to a swimming/diving meet

• Team suit, cap, goggles and a minimum of 2 towels.
• Sweats and sweatshirts for cool evenings.
• Lawn chairs, blanket, sleeping bag or towels for kids to sit on.
• Cards, books or other toys to occupy kids while they wait.
• Plenty of healthy snacks and drinks. Swimmers get hungry during meets.
• Cash for concessions. At championships, there is an admission fee and heat sheets are sold.

Terminology and Tips

The Referee: blows the whistle in a series of short signals to indicate that the next event is ready to be announced. The Starter will announce the event. The referee will then give one long signal with the whistle. This indicates to the swimmers that they are to step up on the block and remain in a relaxed position or, if they are swimming backstroke, enter the water and remain relaxed. The starter will tell them to “take your mark” and the swimmers will get into the “ready” position, and hold steady. If all swimmers have positioned themselves and are still, the starter will sound the horn and off they go! If the swimmers are not still, the starter will ask them to stand and repeat the command to “take your mark”. The referee is also responsible for determining what place each swimmer finishes.

Meet Attendance:  Please utilizes the Green "Meet Entry" box on the schedule for each meet.

Heat Sheet: Program of events. Emailed before dual meets (when possible). Purchased at championships.

IM: Individual medley; one swimmer swims all the strokes: Fly, Back, Breast, Free.

Medley Relay: Each member of the relay team swims a different stroke in the following order: Back, Breast, Fly, Free.

D.Q.: Disqualified. The swimmer fails to make a proper touch or turn, uses an illegal stroke or had a false start. The swimmer’s time for the event does not count and no ribbon will be awarded. A DQ means the swimmer is still learning.  The coaches will work with the swimmer for future races.

Legal Touch:

Freestyle—any part of the body.

Backstroke—hand/head/arm before the body turns over at the finish.

Breaststroke—two hands at the same time.

Butterfly—Two hands at the same time.

Entries: Swimmers need to check the lists in the team area to see which events the coach has assigned them. Swimmers are responcible to get themselfes to the block. The entire relay team must report for the team to swim.

Age Groups: TCSL rules establish June 1 as the date on which a swimmer’s/diver’s age is determined for assignment to an age group. If a swimmer turns 13 on June 2, then they swim as a 12-year old in the 11-12 group.