Welcome to the team
Swimmer Parents 101
A quick guide to getting started with the Pictou County Mariners.
Welcome to the Pictou County Mariners
The Mariners is a not-for-profit competitive swim club serving swimmers and families throughout Pictou County. Our swimmers develop strong swimming skills while building confidence, resilience, teamwork and lasting friendships.
Our approach
- We celebrate effort, improvement and personal bests at every level.
- Swimmers learn to be supportive teammates and responsible young athletes.
- Parents, coaches, officials and volunteers work together to create a positive team environment.
The competitive swimming pathway
Swimmers train in groups based on their skills, development and readiness. Training-group placement is not based only on age or qualifying times. Coaches consider technique, training ability, attendance, maturity and what will best support each swimmer.
Nova Tech
The introductory competitive pathway. Swimmers develop legal strokes, starts, turns and race skills as they progress through the Nova Tech levels.
Learn about Nova TechAge Group
The next stage for swimmers who have completed Nova Tech and are ready for increased training and competition at AA, AAA and higher levels.
Learn about Age GroupWho to contact
| Your swimmer | Start with your swimmer's group coach for practices, attendance, development and meet questions. |
|---|---|
| Registration or fees | Contact the club registrar or treasurer at registrar.pcm@gmail.com. |
| Volunteering or officials | Contact the volunteer or officials coordinator at officials.pcm@gmail.com. |
| General club questions | Contact a member of the PCM executive through the club website or parent Facebook group. |
The best place to start
If you are unsure who to contact, ask your swimmer's coach or post in the parent Facebook group. Someone will point you in the right direction.
The weekly routine
Practices
- Arrive early enough for your swimmer to be changed and ready when practice begins.
- If you plan on staying, the YMCA requires you to show ID at reception if you do not have a Y membership.
- Bring a swimsuit, PCM cap, goggles and a filled water bottle. Your coach will explain any additional equipment needed for your swimmer's group.
- Let the coach know about extended absences or anything important that may affect your swimmer at practice.
- Coaches need to focus on the swimmers during practice. Please arrange a suitable time before or after practice if you need a longer conversation.
- Allow coaches to provide technical instruction. Parents help most by encouraging effort, attendance and enjoyment.
- Please pick swimmers up promptly and follow the pool's supervision and changing-room rules.
Declaring attendance for swim meets
Coaches will work with swimmers to decide which meets and events are appropriate for them. Meet information and deadlines will be sent by email, and coaches will also talk to swimmers at practice.
- Declare whether your swimmer will attend in PoolQ by the stated deadline.
- Most meet costs are included with your PCM registration.
- If you are unsure whether your swimmer should attend, ask their coach before the deadline.
Please respond even if your swimmer cannot attend
Recording a yes or no response in PoolQ helps coaches complete entries and plan relays. Late responses may not be accepted after the entry deadline.
A few swimming terms you will hear
| PB | Personal best: the swimmer's fastest official time in that event. |
|---|---|
| DQ | Disqualification: a swimming rule was broken, so the time does not count as an official result. |
| Heat / lane | The specific race grouping and lane assigned to a swimmer. |
| Short course | A meet held in a 25-metre pool. |
| Long course | A meet held in a 50-metre pool. |
The parent's role
Supporting your swimmer
- Celebrate effort, courage, consistency and being a good teammate.
- Avoid comparing your swimmer's times or progress with another swimmer's.
- After a race, give your swimmer space to speak with the coach before offering feedback.
- PBs do not happen at every meet. Plateaus, difficult swims and DQs are normal parts of learning.
- Keep the experience positive. The long-term goal is a confident, resilient swimmer who still enjoys the sport.
It takes a team
Volunteering and officials
Volunteering
The Mariners is a not-for-profit club run with the help of parent volunteers. Swim meets, fundraising and club activities cannot happen without families sharing the work.
- Watch club emails and the parent Facebook group for volunteer sign-ups.
- Help at hosted meets even if your swimmer is not competing in every session.
- Volunteer opportunities may include timing, hospitality, setup, cleanup, fundraising, communications and club events.
- Ask if you are new to a role. An experienced parent or official can help you get started.
Becoming an official
Every sanctioned swim meet needs trained officials. Officiating is one of the best ways to learn the sport, support the swimmers and get a close view of the racing.
- Timing is an easy first role for new swim parents.
- The introductory officiating clinic explains the basics and prepares parents to help on deck.
- Parents can continue through other roles, including turns, strokes, clerk of course, starter and referee.
- Contact PCM's officials coordinator to learn about upcoming clinics or shadow an experienced official.
Fundraising
Fundraising helps PCM keep swimming costs as affordable as possible. Families will receive information about each fundraiser, what help is needed and any important deadlines through the club's usual communication channels.
Staying informed
- Read club emails carefully. Meet declarations, volunteer needs and schedule changes may have firm deadlines.
- Check PoolQ regularly and make sure your contact information is current.
- Join the PCM parent Facebook group for reminders and practical updates from other families.
- Encourage older swimmers to listen to announcements and communicate directly with their coach when appropriate.
Design Blocks
Far far away, behind the word mountains, far from the countries Vokalia and Consonantia, there live the blind texts.
Far far away, behind the word mountains, far from the countries Vokalia and Consonantia, there live the blind texts. Separated they live in Bookmarksgrove right at the coast of the Semantics, a large language ocean.