The coaches are
responsible for everything in the pool; the practice schedules,
swimmer squad placement, the training program, swimmer discipline
and which swimmers attend which meets. They are all certified and
paid employees of the club.
The THSC Board of
directors is responsible for all the administrative,
business and operational activities of the club. They are
all volunteers who put in many, many hours
to ensure our swimmers have every opportunity to compete. All of
your dues, fees and time go toward what is needed to support the
swimmers and the club needs all parents to get involved. Coaches
are the only paid employees.
Thunderbolt Team
Structure
Olympic Way
Swimmers ages 6 – 10
Bronze Level
(OWB): Swimmers have achieved at least TPHRD Level F,
have been in Swim America, Splash or other swim programs where they
have learned the basic stokes and can handle a 30 minute
practice. Next step, Silver!
Silver Level
(OWS): Swimmers promoted from Bronze or are at least
at TPHRD Level H, have been in Swim America, Splash or some swim
program introducing them to competition.
Gold Level
(OWG): Promoted from Silver or are at TPHRD level I,
Swim America, Splash or CYO who can handle a one hour practice and
beginner swim meets. Next step, Thunder, JRD or
TAG
Age Group Squads
ages 7 - 12
All swimmers register
with USA Swimming
Team Thunder
(THU): Swimmers ages 7-10. Experienced competition
swimmers with OSI A times and striving for Age Group Sectional
times. They are preparing for the OSI State Meet and Pacific
North West Age Group Sectionals. We use a variety of teaching
methods to develop advanced stroke techniques for children with all
learning styles. Next step TAG or JRD!
Junior
Development Group (JRD) {Old JAG}: Swimmers ages
11-12. Experienced swimmers from OW Gold, Thunder or other
competitive programs who are working to improve stroke technique
and build endurance. They are striving for OSI A times, may be
competing on school teams or doing multiple sports. 4-5
practices a week 1-2 hours each with dry land exercises. Next
step for swimmers ages 10-12 TAG, ages 13-15 SRD or
SR1.
Top Age
Group (TAG}: Swimmers ages 10-12. Swimmers
with OSI A times who are striving for Age Group Sectional and
National Top 16 reportable times. Athletes must demonstrate
and maintain a high level of commitment toward their goals to
participate in this squad. The high level of commitment produces
close friendships and team building opportunities. Next
step SRD, SR1.
Senior
Squads - Swimmers ages 13 –
18
Senior
Development Group (SRD): Experienced swimmers from
JRD, JRE or other competitive programs who are working to improve
stroke technique and build endurance. They are striving for OSI A
times, may be competing on school teams or doing multiple
sports. 4-5 practices a week 1-2 hours each with dry land
exercises. Next step for fully committed swimmers
SR1.
Senior Group
(SR1): These swimmers have had consistent success at state
and age group sectional levels. They are looking to break into
the senior sectionals and beyond. Training is
intense. Muscles are sore. But smiles are broad even at
those 5:15 am sessions and long travel meets. Next goal for
those driven to be the best of the best, Senior
Elite.
Senior Elite
Group (SRE): Swimmers committed to being the
best they can be against the best in the nation and the
world. It takes great team mates, great coaches, great parents
and a great organization to support and develop a great swimmer.
The Thunderbolts have them all. Many go on to success in college
swim programs: Over 15 Thunderbolts have reached the U.S. Olympic
Trials and one brought home an Olympic Gold Medal. Next step,
NCAA college swim team!
Dues, Fees,
Fundraising (2010-2011 Season)
THSC
Monthly
Monthly
Annual
Annual
Annual
Annual
Annual
2010-2011
Membership
Meet
Fund
Swimmer
USA/OSI
Share
Bingo
Season
Commitment
Dues
Fees
Raising
Registration
Registration
Hours
1 Session
Non-USA Registered
(per
member)
Olympic Way Bronze/Silver
50
0
0
25
0
0
no
Olympic Way Gold
70
0
0
25
0
0
no
USA Registered Squads
(per
family)
Team Thunder
95
30
250
100
57
60
Yes
Junior Development (JAG)
115
30
350
100
57
60
Yes
Senior Development
125
30
350
100
57
60
Yes
Junior Elite (TAG)
125
40
450
100
57
60
Yes
Senior
150
40
500
100
57
60
Yes
Senior Elite
180
40
500
100
57
60
Yes
THPRD
Fees
Tualatin Hills Park and
Recreation District (THPRD) Frequent Use Passes are required for
THSC members to enter the pool and are paid directly to THPRD. They
are not collected by THSC or included in THSC dues and fees. NOTE:
These passes allow use of the facilities anytime, not just during
swim practice. The prices change and are different for in
district and out of district. Please contact THPRD for current
prices.
Each family will
be asked to sign a fund-raising contract at registration and commit
to raise this money through any of the following
options:
1. Direct
donation. Members can procure money from someone who would
like to support the team and will receive 100% credit on their
Fund-Raising commitment. Tualatin Hills Swim Club has been
designated as a 501(c)3 organization by the Internal Revenue
Service. For tax purposes all donors should consult their tax
advisor to determine the proper amount of the deduction and whether
the deduction is subject to limitations.
2.
Swim-a-Thon: Many children and families
participate in this special event and collect donations for
swimming lengths of the pool. This is a great fund-raiser since it
is fun for the kids and productive for the club. It gives us a
great return for the amount of volunteer time it entails plus we
feel it can grow and develop this year to include asking businesses
to sponsor our swimmers
3.
SCRIP: This is a weekly opportunity that allows
families to slowly fund-raise while buying groceries and other
products with gift certificates, plus allowing members to pay their
commitment at no extra cost. Most of you have seen the great gift
certificates you can purchase from our SCRIP program. We encourage
you to buy SCRIP to purchase all of your groceries, clothes, and
gifts at stores like The Gap, Old Navy, Godfather’s, Fred
Meyer, and Safeway. A weekly habit of buying SCRIP can pay your
entire fundraising bill AND if you continue to use it you can
donate painlessly to help with program development. All Scrip
purchases must be prepaid.
SCRIP is available at
the 50M pool lobby during practice hours. Times are announced in
the Courier newsletter
4. Heat
Sheet Ads: By selling Ad space in the HEAT SHEETS for our
3-4 big meets a year, you can help pay the costs of running these
meets. This takes a little initiative but gets easier after doing
it once or twice, and the benefit to you and the club is usually
high for the time spent. You get 100% credit for advertisers you
procure. For example, a full-page ad for one meet credits $250 to
your fundraising account.
Note: The programs listed above are not
’free.’ Many club members give above and beyond their
50 share point hours to keep these options available for all of us.
Help keep our costs down by continuing to give as freely as you
can. Buy SCRIP even if you don’t need to, sell an ad for
a HEAT SHEET. Give generously and keep contributing to the
stability of THSC.
5. Direct
Payment: For those who don’t want to seek Donations,
you can retire your Fund-Raising commitment by making a direct
payment to THSC.
Team Service
Hours
NOTE: Olympic Way
families do not have a team service hour commitment but are
encouraged to participate in volunteer activities as it is a great
way to get to know other swimming families while supporting our
swimmers.
The Tualatin Hills Swim Club is a non-profit
organization which counts on its members to volunteer their time to
promote unity and to enable the club to thrive. Earning team
service hours during the swimming calendar year of September
through August is required.
Service hours are
required to be earned during the swimming calendar year of
September through August. Each returning family, as well as
families transferring from another USA Swimming Club will be
required to volunteer sixty (60) hours. Families who have not had
any swimmer participating in a USA Swimming Club previously will be
required to volunteer fifty-five (55) hours. Families joining the
THSC after January 1st of the current swim season will
have their share points pro-rated. A minimum of fifteen (15) team
service hours must be earned in swim meet operations during the
year. Forty (40) hours of the sixty (60) hours must be earned
during the short course season October to April. Each family is
required to volunteer hours during the International Meet in
December. A minimum of twenty (20) service hours must be
earned during the long course (50 meter) portion for the season May
– August. If service hours are not met a charge of $10 per
hour will be assed for any shortfall.
USA competitive swimming is the most volunteer
intensive sport on the planet. It takes every single parent to
prepare, run and recover from a big meet. But just what is
that worth to the club? We ran some quick numbers and
calculated that if we had to pay minimum wage for every volunteer
hour spent to run our five home swim meets during a typical season
we would shell out close to $75,000. (That is not counting all
the hours needed to handle day to day club operations.) The
thing is, most us wouldn’t do what we do in a swim meet for
minimum wage, maybe for any wage. It just proves we do things,
without hesitation, for the love of our children that we would
never do for money.
It is important for
every parent to be involved with the club and their
children’s activities. That is why clubs require members
to meet team service hour quotas. We do not want anyone to
miss out on the fun! A lot of our first time parents
are a little nervous or confused about the many volunteer
opportunities there are in a swim club. There is no need for
either. We are all amateurs! Besides, everyone is
watching the swimmers, not the volunteers.
A minimum of 20 share hours must be earned in the
Long Course season (April through
August).
A minimum of 20 share hours must be earned in swim
meet operation.
Bingo is a major
source of funds for our team! Bingo is not a
fundraiser; it is a commitment of every family in the club. We
are required to have a Thunderbolt parent at all Friday night games
from 11pm-3am. Participation is expected of all
members. Part of each family’s responsibility is
to cover at least one Bingo game. If you choose not to cover your
game, you need to find a substitute. Our Bingo Director has a list
of families that are prepared to substitute for you. You need to
pay the substitute for covering your game. If you sign up for
a game and do not show, there is a fine of $250. The fine is
because we may risk losing our game if we do not cover it. If you
have any questions, feel free to contact our Bingo Director (see
the last page of the Courier newsletter for contact
information). Visit the ’Bingo’ page
under the Members tab for the current season’s bingo
schedules.
