How do I tryout and become a Sugarbear?
Click here to read the 2008 Information Tryout Packet provided by the City of Roseville.
Swimmers tryout to be on the swim team. Tryout times, swimmers requirements by age group, and registration information can also be found at the Roseville Parks and Recreation site www.rosevilleparks.com Open slots per age group and gender are determined by the number of returning swimmers from previous year’s team.
First and most important, welcome to our swim family!
Click here to read our New Family Primer page.
Also, please note that becoming involved with the team is one of the best
ways to ensure your family's enjoyment.
Sugarbears Swim Team has been part of the Roseville community since 1965. The team has had many successful championship years including League Champions from 1987 to 2000. The goals of the team and its philosophy can be found on the Sugarbear website.
The Roseville Sugarbears Swim Team is up to 250 swimmers between 4 and 18 years old. The size of the team is determined by the City of Roseville.
During practice and at each of the swim meets, you will find a file folder box usually near the coaches room/snack bar. These are family mailboxes and there is a file folder for each family. It is very important that you or your swimmer check this box each day before you leave the pool. The mailboxes are a critical means for getting information to you in a timely way. You will also find in the file, folders for Board Members and Coaches. If you need to communicate with them, feel free to leave a note in their folders. The bulletin board at the Oakmont Community pool is often used to post meet assignments, results and articles. Lots of good information can also be found on the sugarbears website. If you want to receive email notifications, subscribe to the Sugarbear email group accessible from our website.
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Our Sugarbear Family is more than just swim practices and Saturday competitive meets. We also have parents who help plan and coordinate age appropriate social events throughout the season. These are activities for swimmers as well as their families. See web calendar for details. We also believe in recognizing our outstanding, outgoing senior swimmers for their efforts and leaderships during their Sugarbear career. Feel free to contact any Parent Board member for more details.
Yes.
For high school and college swim teams there is no restrictions or limitations with VFCAL.
For year round swim clubs, to remain eligible for VFCAL, a swimmer must not workout with a year round swim club from January 16th till February 29th and not compete from January 16th to April 30th.
The following is the corresponding, official snippet from the VFCAL rules:
No participant of the League may compete with any organized group
during the period of January 16th to April 30th, with the exception being
on a high school or college swim team. League participants may
workout with any organized group prior to the official starting date (May
3), with a mandatory rest period January 16-February 29. Then they
must work out exclusively with their VFCAL team once the VFCAL
season begins. High School and College swimmers' are the only
exceptions to these rules.
Jordan Haley will be returning for his 4th year and is at the helm as our Head Coach. His staff includes returning coaches Allison Pieracci and Marytess Taylor. Joining us this year is Terry Swift, Rebecca Meeker and Allie Salatti. Check out their photos, background, interests and blog on the Sugarbear web site.
Coaches are available for parent and swimmers to discuss swimmers goals, performance. During practices and meets coaches are focused on the meet activities and swimmers. During a meet, swimmers are encouraged to check back with their coach right after the swimmer’s event for any coaches’ feedback. Jordan Haley is available via morondrummer@hotmail.com. Be sure and leave a phone number if you want him to call you back. Parents can also contact coaches by leaving a message in their file folder.
The Parent Board for the Sugarbears Parents Club consists of a President, Outgoing President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, Socials, and Ways and Means (fundraising) lead. The focus of the Parent Board is to enable parents, coaches and swimmers all collectively feel part of an organization providing fun and focus being a Roseville Sugarbear. The Parent Board works closely with the City of Roseville, VFCAL League officials and swim team officials. Their role also is to oversee assets and expenditures of our fundraising results.
The City of Roseville Parks and Recreation department manages the Oakmont Community pool. The Roseville Sugarbear coaches are employees of the City of Roseville.
The City of Roseville has been kind enough to allow the Sugarbear Parent Board participation in the interview process for coaches, but the actual responsibility and decisions on hiring, paying and any disciplinary action rests with the City of Roseville.
The registration and tryout process is also handled by the City of Roseville, along with year long administration support, league representation, advertising, ribbons and equipment assistance.
As an asset, the Oakmont Community pool is a joint investment and ownership between the City of Roseville and the Roseville Joint Union School District.
The pool, snackbar and pumphouse is 1/3 owned by the City and 2/3 owned by the District. The bath house is 2/3 owned by the City and 1/3 owned by the District.
Yes. The Sugarbears are a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization. None of the board members or parents are paid for their services. It is a voluntary support group. The Sugarbear Parents Club is part of the Roseville Aquatics Team Booster Club (RATBC) which is an umbrella organzation which oversees the Roseville Sugarbears, Woodcreek Seawolves and Roseville Aquabunnies.
One of the advantages for being part of the RATBC is sharing the cost and administration efforts on annual insurance and filing of taxes.
Page 1 of 501(c)(3) Letter
Page 2 of 501(c)(3) Letter
Point West Insurance. Louise Balga or Scott Gable are contacts for Point West Insurance and can be reached at 916 925-5155.
The Roseville Sugarbears are defined and recognized as a Standing Committee under the bylaws of the Roseville Aquatic Teams Booster Club (RATBC).
Click here to access a scanned copy of the original Bylaws of the RATBC signed by former Sugarbear President, Diane Dawson.
The Bylaws of the RATBC were created by former Roseville Sugarbear swim parent Marcus LoDuca.
The current officers of the Roseville Sugarbears are not aware of
any previous bylaws created specific to the Roseville Sugarbears Standing Committee. We are researching to see if previous ones had
ever been created, but may have been lost over time.
Yes. Donations to the Roseville Sugarbears, which includes sponsorships, are tax deductable. Donations are greatly appreciated. Our non-profit Tax ID is 68-0413329.
Valley Foothill Competitive Aquatics League is a recreational league made of swim teams from other area Parks and Recreation departments and communities.
Teams in VFCAL are Auburn Robalos, Granite Bay Gators, Placeville Dry Diggin Dolphins, Roseville Sugarbears and Wood Creek Sea Wolves.
Click here to access the VFCAL Rules in a pdf format file.
The Sugarbears are responsible for fundraising and the management of significant amount of team expenses associated with running a swim team. This includes most swim related equipment including computer meet tracking, stopwatches, popup tents, snack bar equipment, social events, rewards and recognition for swimmers.
Funds are raised through variety of efforts. Sugarbears currently are in the last year of their Roseville Fireworks Booth that has been our primary fundraiser for the past 14 years. Other funds raisers include local company sponsorships, the Swim-A-Thon, and specific activities during the season. Ideas and leadership for fund raising activities are always welcome. Feel free to contact any member of the Parent Board with your ideas.
A Sugarbear podcast is audio programming accessible from our website.
You can think of it as our very own radio show accessible
whenever you want to listen to a show. You do not need an iPod or
iTunes to listen to our podcasts. Email notifications
(for those subscribed) are sent out when new podcasts are made available.
Poscasts can be listened to by just clicking on the offered link
within the email notification or the corresponding Sugarbear Board blog entry
on our website. A broadband internet connection and speakers or headphones
for your computer are highly recommended.
Plans are to interview swimmers, coaches, parents, City
employees and special guests in an effort to increase the
communication and bring us closer together as a swim team.
Practice starts May 1st and will be held Monday through Friday. Starting June 12th, practices will be held Tuesday through Friday. Specific age group practices times can be found on the Sugarbears web site.
It is expected that swimmers of all ages learn the importance of commitments yet it is also understandable when conflicts come up. It is reasonable if swimmer is unable to make practice once in awhile and make up sessions will be available. It is not okay to consistently miss practices and only show up to swim at the competitive meets. Regular participation at both practices and competitive meets is an expectation of a Roseville Sugarbear.
Make up practice sessions for 2006 were held on Tuesdays and Thursday in the evening. For 2007 ad 2008 the City of Roseville has decided not to offer makeup practice times.
Practices will include time to focus on building endurance, focus on strokes, swim techniques, and team building. Parents are always welcome at practice. Keep in mind practice may not always be the best time to try and meet with coaches to discuss your child’s progress. If coaches are able to take time to chat, they will. If they seem busy with the swimmers, feel free to leave a note in the coaches folder and they will respond.
Dryland training is optional. It is an extra 45 minutes of practice time that will be offered to swimmers in the 13-18 age group. It is designed to increase strength, endurance and flexibility. Examples of activities can include running, plyometric jumping, jump roping, stretch cords, core strength (abdominal exercises), medicine balls, etc. Dryland training will take place only in the Spring when athletes are going through a conditioning phase.
Within the VFCAL, Roseville Sugarbears compete against the following swim teams:
Check in is 7am on meet days; usually swim meets are over by 2pm
Swimmers are seeded in particular events based upon a variety of considerations including Time Trials results ongoing times for that particular stroke (breast, back, butterfly, freestyle), participation at practices, and event times compared to competing team’s seeded swimmers in same event.
The purpose of time trials is to establish a baseline time (seed time) for each swimmer in each event. The coaches use this baseline to determine the placement order of individual swimmers during the first swim meet. The coaches also use this time to establish individual improvement goals for each swimmer. Time trials also serves as an excellent practice run to allow new families to see how a swim meet is run and to learn the specifics of whatever job they have signed up to help with. 2008 Time Trials will be held on Saturday May 31st at Oakmont Pool. Check in time will be 7:00am outside the pool gates. Between 7:30 and 9:00am will be individual and swim team pictures. Start time of the 2008 Time Trials will be 9am.
Swimmer events will normally be posted on the bulletin board at the Oakmont Community Board 2-3 days prior to an event. Team Parents are notified by email and will also keep track in their age group area a list of swimmers and their events (via white boards). It is always the swimmer’s (and parents helping with the younger swimmers!) responsibility to get to their event on time.
If a swimmer cannot attend a particular meet, they are required to sign out no later than one week prior to meet day (the previous Saturday). This ensures that coaches when they are seeding particular events for a meet that they have visibility to what swimmers will be available. It is not okay to sign out the day before an event. The reason is that swimmers have already been assigned earlier in the week and any changes made will cause delays for the start of a meet and when the swim meet will (ultimately) end.
Contact Head Coach Jordan Haley at morondrummer@hotmail.com as soon as possible and let him know so that swimmer can be replaced. Failure to do this can result in a swimmer being ineligible to swim in the next swim meet.
Directions for away meets are posted on the Sugarbears website.
It’s a good idea to bring comforts from home as the meet will generally last from 7am check in to around 2pm. Sugarbears provide Team Parents with popup tents for shade but parents can also bring their own popups or tents. Sleeping bags, pillows, chairs, games are also a good idea as well as snacks and drinks. Keeping swimmers comfortable and occupied is the goal.
Have swimmers CHECK IN WITH TEAM COACHES! Swimmers themselves must let coaches know they are at the meet. Swimmers who do not check in with coaches run the risk of being scratched from the events that they have been assigned to and will not be able to swim at the meet.
Please see related question "What is the big deal about being scratched?".
A scratch occurs when a swimmer does not show (fails to signout the vacation book) or arrives late for checkins on the morning of the swim meet.
The coaches were expecting the swimmer to swim, yet they become ineligible because the failure to arrive or checking in late.
Please note that a swimmer is expected to be at a swim meet unless they explicitly sign out.
If a swimmer is scratched, they are (hopefully, but not always) replaced with another swimmer who has not been assigned more than a total of 4 events (maximum number of events per swimmer per meet).
Being scratched is especially frustrating if the swimmer was part of a relay team. Without all of the swimmers being confirmed for a relay, there is the risk that the whole relay team can be scratched if an eligible replacement swimmer cannot be assigned. A scratched swimmer jeopardizing their entire team for a relay race.
A scratch also causes A LOT of extra work for the coaches, team parents and computer ops on the morning of the swim meet.
To ensure that your swimmer is not entered into a meet event, use the sign out book (aka Vacation book).\
The vacation book is normally kept next to the family folders at the Oakmont Community Pool.
It is assumed that all team members will be attending each meet unless they signout.
Alternately, you can use our on-line website sign-out feature.
Either method will do.
Swimmers need to signout for vacations or absences no later than 7 days before the meet.
There are several different events during a swim meet. Distance to swim (25 yard, 50 yard, 100 yard, 200 yard); relay team events, individual swimmers events, and which strokes are determined by age groups. The following is the order of the events.
Each meet requires a starter, head timer, 2 timers per lane, and multiple stroke and turn judges.
Check with our Vice President if you are interested in being an official. Note that Stroke and Turn judges and Meet Starters are required to attend a clinic hosted by the VFCAL.
Doing their best is always important. Emphasize improving their times; not necessarily just winning. It is important that swimmers of all ages learn to be responsible for being on time to each of their events. Team Parents can help provide a fun environment for age groups to hang out in. Team Parents can also help parents and swimmers get an assigned age group to the right swim lanes for particular event. It is ultimately however the swimmers (and parents of younger swimmers) responsibility to get to their events and be ready to swim their best.
Points are assigned for each place swimmer comes in during that event. Scoring is the following:
A swim event may be divided into multiple ‘heats’. Usually a meet will have two or three heats in each event with 2-8 swimmers depending upon how many swimmers the coaches want to swim in that particular event. Multiple heats provide accommodating for a large number of swimmers on a team who want to be able to compete.
Be proud! Make it a point when you get out of your swim lane to ask the lane timer to tell you what your time was. Regardless of what place you take in an event, it’s a good idea to keep track of these times and work to better the recorded times for each event the swimmer participates in.
Swimmers who compete in a swim event each get an event ribbon. Ribbons are generally placed in family folders at Oakmont Pool the Monday after a swim event. Swimmers who are disqualified (DQ'd) for an event will not receive a ribbon.
A swimmer’s performance in an event will not be counted (no time recorded, no ribbon) if the swimmer has been disqualified (DQ'd) during their event. A DQ can be for a variety of reasons including illegal strokes, turns, finishes.
DQ of a swimmer is determined by a qualified (trained) Stroke and Turn judge and are defined by league rules and requirements. Once a swimmer has been DQ’d, their results are provided to the coaches during that particular meet. DQ decisions are final. Coaches then work with swimmers during the next weeks of practice on getting the swimmers strokes ‘legal’. Being DQ’d during an event is no fun for swimmers. Focus on feeling good about trying and working with coaches to get strokes and techniques legal rather than frustration.
The coaches have requested that if you know ahead of time that you will need to leave a meet early, use the sign out sheet to let them know. If a last minute need arises that requires that you leave a meet before the last race, you must inform your Team Parent. If is critical that you DON'T LEAVE until all of the events your swimmer has been entered into are done. It is especially important to verify that you swimmer has not been entered into the Free Relay (which is the last event of the swim meet). Missing a relay leaves three other swimmers unable to compete and is grounds for being disqualified from the next swim meet. Any swimmer age 6 & Under can leave when backstroke is over. This is due to the fact that all 6 & Under events are over after backstroke.
Event results are posted ongoing during the event. Final results and individual events results are posted very quickly onto our website after completion of the meet. Swimmers/parents can sign up for an automatic email notification of when results have been posted. See website for details.
ALL Sugarbears are eligible for swimming in the VFCAL Championship meet, and are actually expected to attend and participate.
It is the Meet of Champions (MoC) which is optional and requires a swimmer to place within the top 10 of a VFCAL Championship event to be eligible to swim in the particular MoC event.
Swim meets on average need approximately 60 parents to help during a meet. (This allows for a morning and late morning shift change) Without parents, a fun, successful swim meet is not possible. Sugarbears currently require a minimum of 14 hours of service per family during the swim season. Volunteering is also a great way to meet other parents and your child will appreciate your commitment and enthusiasm.
Generally no. Older swimmers are encouraged to work with younger swimmers and if age appropriate, volunteering in our fundraising events such as fireworks booth (but must be 18 years old). Volunteer work is also a criteria for eligibility of Sugarbear Scholarships.
Each year, Sugarbears recognize our ‘retiring’ swimmers with a scholarship award. Guideline requirements for eligibility include:
There are lots of duties you can choose from. Timers, age group Team Parents, Swim judges (“Stroke and Turn”), Snack Bar, Cooks, and many more. Go to web site for details on each volunteer role and sign up. You can also contact our Vice President for more information.
Volunteers during meets are generally working either an am or mid morning to end of meet shift. This is typically is 3-4 hours for each shift and depends upon the job. There is also opportunities to volunteer outside of meet times themselves. Check with our Vice President for more information. Sugarbears currently require a minimum of 14 hours of service per family during the swim season.
Paul Clotfelter was a Sugarbear swimmer who tragically died in 1975 from a terminal disease. The Memorial Award was established in his name that same year and awarded every year thereafter. The Paul Clotfelter Memorial Award is presented at the end of each season to a Sugarbear swimmer meeting the following criteria as decided by the coaches:
The late Diane Dawson was a Sugarbear President and very supportive parent. She passed away in 2003 from a terminal disease. Diane was a very loving person who remains a source of inspiration for Sugarbear families. Sugarbears choosing to remain during the year of expansion to Granite Bay in 2005 may have asked themselves, “What would Diane Dawson do?” Ironically, Diane Dawson resided in Granite Bay, but considered both Roseville and Granite Bay her home. The Award was inspired by our loving memories of Diane Dawson.
The Diane Dawson Memorial Award is presented at the end of each season to a retiring Sugarbear scholarship recipient meeting the following additional criteria as decided by the Parent Board:
The Mr. and Ms. SUGARBEAR Awards are presented to two swimmers at the end of each season, one of each gender, meeting the following criteria as voted on by the team:
A brass bell is allowed to be rung by a swimmer, or their designated swim buddy or parent, when they achieve a new personal best for a particular event. It is a simple, but fun way to celebrate and gain the attention of the swim team on an achievement which is rightfully to be shared. The brass bell was an early Sugarbear tradition which discontinued briefly during the late 90s till 2006.
A Sugarbear tradition introduced by swim parent Julie Lawrence in 2005.
Swimmers keep track of their personal times and are encouraged to 'Do Your "Beary" Best'. After two personal bests are recorded, the swimmer earns a prize which can be collected at a practice following the meet. The improvements can be in different events in the same meet, or from events spanning meets. "Beary Best" Forms can be picked up from the family folders located on the pool deck.
Before every swim meet, the team will meet in a group around the coaches and do the following cheer led by the coaches:
6&Unders are you with us? (6&Unders shout) Yeah, Man
7/8s are you with us? (7/8s shout) Yeah, Man
9/10s are you with us? (9/10s shout) Yeah, Man
11/12s are you with us? (11/12s shout) Yeah, Man
13/14s are you with us? (13/14s shout) Yeah, Man
15/18s are you with us? (15/18s shout) Yeah, Man
Parents are you with us? (parents shout) Yeah, Man
Hit it!
R-O, R-O, R-O-S-E
V-I-L, V-I-L, V-I-L-L-E
R-O-S-E-V-I-L-L-E, R-O-S-E-V-I-L-L-E
Roseville, Roseville, Roooooseville!
(yell)
The swim-a-thon is a fundraiser where swimmers sign up sponsors for donations based on the number of laps that the Sugarbear swims. The swim-a-thon is held during normal swim practice times. Swim-a-thon donation sheets will be provided in the family folders about a week or two before the event. Check the schedule on our website for the date of this year’s swim-a-thon. Checks for the swim-a-thon can be made payable to "Roseville Sugarbears". We thank you for your support.
Each swimmer will be assigned a swim buddy by the coaches at the beginning of the season. Swim buddies share their particular goals with each other and are a source of support and encouragement. Younger swimmers benefit greatly by being able to see a more advanced swimmer demonstrate their starts, strokes and turns. Older swimmers benefit by having an added purpose for being involved with the team; sharing their skills and providing leadership and friendship to their younger buddies.
Year-end evaluations provide an opportunity for swim families to share what they enjoyed and potential areas that could be improved with the program. The Sugarbear board uses this information for reviewing with the City of Roseville and planning the following year.
All retiring swimmers are called to the blocks during the VFCAL league meet.
At the team’s award ceremony, retiring swimmers are introduced and those that have qualified for a scholarship are awarded. The retiring swimmers are also normally highlighted in the end of the season slide show, ideally picturing them when they swam as youngsters.
Awards night is traditionally performed on the Oakmont pool deck. Open swim is offered prior to the awards ceremony. During awards, each age group is called up, with each swimmer introduced and handed their trophy. Coaches announce the MVP, Most Improved and Coach’s Award for each age group. It is a tradition that the retiring swimmers read a poem they have written, perform a rap or whatever they care to do to express themselves from their experiences as a Sugarbear. The Paul Clotfelter Memorial Award and Diane Dawson Memorial Award are presented at the end of the ceremony. The slide show is performed outside on the south side pool area after the awards ceremony. Swimmers normally bring sleeping bags to lie down on during the show. Parents typically bring lounge chairs.
Coaches do not have a strict criteria for the awards, but the following are some shared attributes which coaches consider with their decision process.
MVP: Has scored the most points, has been a team player, contributes to relay wins in that age group, inspires other athletes, rises to the competition. Not necessarily all of these, but could be one or some of them.
Coaches award: Receptive to coaching and coaches' feedback, constantly strives to be his/her best. Has good attendance throughout the summer season. Shows a genuine interest and enthusiasm for the sport. Is a leader in the specific age group that he/she participates in.
Most Improved: Has shown the most improvement in their age group. This can be measured in the following ways: most improved stroke technique, most improved time (a child who has swam for 5 years and improves a time from 16 seconds to 13 seconds in a 25, could be more improved than a first year swimmer who improves their time from 36 seconds to 24 seconds in a 25). Most improved attitude (ex. the 6 & under won't get in the pool at the beginning of the season, or cries a lot, to racing by the end of the season).
The parents club makes a strong effort to make sure swimmers receive a trophy with the correct name, age and gender, but unfortunately accidents sometimes do occur. As a parent, you can greatly assist by checking our roster as soon as it becomes available and report any incorrect spelling or age noted for your swimmer(s). Our roster is what is used for submitting our order for the trophies. If an error does occur, since most swimmers like to take their trophies home with them on awards night, parents can take their trophy directly to Classic Impressions Awards Etc to have them corrected.
Classic Impressions Awards Etc.
8723 Auburn Folsom Rd.
Granite Bay, CA 95746
(916) 791-0710
ciawards@surewest.net
The Meet of Champions is an optional meet following our VFCAL championship meet. The meet is a gathering of the top swimmers from various leagues in the area. Sugarbears must place in the top 10 of an event at VFCAL league meet to qualify (8 and 2 alternates) to swim at the Meet of Champions. Meet of Champions is an opportunity for swimmers to gain a broader perspective and understanding on the sport outside of our league. There is an additional fee for each event that a swimmer enters. Swim families need to register and pay for their participation in the Meet of Champions.
