Non-Member Swimmer Policy

Any swimmer not registered with IN Swimming as a member of South Dearborn Swimming (SDS) is not considered a member of SDS. This would include unattached swimmers, non-USA Swimming athletes, or swimmers registered with other USA Swimming teams. There is one exception to the definition of an unattached swimmer. Any swimmer that transfers membership to SDS from another USA Swim Team is required by USA Swimming rules to remain unattached for a period of 120 days. Such swimmer will be considered a member of SDS. The swimmer will be able to enjoy the full benefits as a SDS swimmer except that USA swimming requires that the swimmer must enter USA meets only as unattached for the period of 120 days.

If a swimmer is not registered as a member of SDS with IN Swimming (except for swimmers transferring from another team as noted above) then they cannot practice with SDS during any team practice, participate in any SDS team function, enter meets as an SDS swimmer, or use any SDS coach except as noted below. Additionally, SDS will not provide the service of meet entries for any USA swim meet.

South Dearborn Swimming parent board encourages families to maintain a commitment to SDS from season to season but also recognizes that a family may leave the team temporarily and swim for another club for a variety of reasons while remaining unattached to a USA Swimming chartered club.  However, pursuant to USA Swimming rule 203.3.2, those unattached swimmers are required to be under the supervision of a USA Swimming certified coach with a current card at any USA Swimming sanctioned meet during warm up, competition, and warm down.  Therefore, SDS will permit swimmers who were dues-paying members registered with IN Swimming as SDS members the previous season and are currently in good standing with SDS to request the host team’s meet director or the meet referee to assign the unattached swimmer(s) to the SDS coach attending the meet, but only during sessions in which SDS swimmers are swimming.  It is understood by the family, the SDS parent board, and the SDS coach involved that the unattached swimmer(s)/parents

·         will notify the SDS head coach as to their plans to attend a particular meet.

·         are responsible for obtaining the meet information and for entering the meet.  Any entry or splash fees and/or missed cut fines are the responsibility of that family.

·         should report to the SDS coach at the beginning of the meet, may warm up/warm down with SDS swimmers, and will notify the SDS coach of their events before the beginning of the session so that he/she may observe them.

·         will not receive any direct coaching (warm up/warm down instructions; advice on starts, turns, or technique; splits; or any other suggestions for their improvement) that SDS’s dues paying members would receive. 

·         will check themselves in, take care of scratches, and deal with missed swims, disqualifications, and protests, if necessary.

·         are responsible for getting to the blocks on time for their races.

·         may not swim on SDS relays, in accordance with USA Swimming rule 102.4.1.

SDS is not liable for these swimmers missing races or being injured.

If a family is unwilling to accept these terms or violates any of them, they understand that unattached swimmers will have to be assigned a coach by the meet director or referee, as stated in rule 202.3.2.