When does The LHHS swim season start/When are tryouts for the team?

• The LHHS Swim Season begins when school starts in the Fall. 

• During the second week of school, we will conduct tryouts to determine whether athletes can display a certain fitness level* to remain eligible for the Swim athletic period/team.
  • Cuts are entirely up to the coach’s discretion.
  • Attitude and work ethic are also taken into consideration.. 
• It is always at the coach’s discretion during the season to cut an athlete who is not qualified to swim at the varsity level. 

When are the swim meets? 

• The season meet schedule is online. Most regular-season meets will be held on Fridays or Saturdays, accommodating other LHHS sports and activities.
• Be ready to SWIM IT STRONG!!!

How long does the high school swim season last?

The LHHS Swim Season lasts until the last qualified meet of the season.

• Championship Meets:
  
  • The District Meet 
  • Qualifiers from the District Meet will attend the Regional Meets.
  • Finally, State qualifiers from Regionals will attend the 5A State Meets.
  • We’ll also have an End-of-Season Banquet/Awards Dinner to celebrate the season’s accomplishments and our Seniors.
  • Athletes are expected to be enrolled in the 4th-period and 8th-period Athletics Swim Class all year. (Seniors who may want to change their schedule to have an off period upon school approval or become our team manager may be exempt.) 

Can an LHHS Swimmer participate in other sports and activities while still on the swim team?

• Absolutely! It is highly encouraged. Our swimmers are involved in various activities, including Choir, Band, Debate, DECA, FCA, PALS, TAFE, FFA, HOSA, Cheerleading, Tennis, Volleyball, Powerlifting, Wrestling, Cross Country, Track, Soccer, Dive, and Club Swimming, to name a few.
• Communication is the key. Coach Becker will work with you around your other interests/commitments; communicate often and early!

What forms are required to participate? 

• Before receiving the physical, a parent or guardian must complete and sign a Physical Evaluation and Medical History Form. 
  • Physical & Medical History Forms
• Athletic Participation forms must be completed ONLINE through Rank One. All forms must be signed by a parent and the student-athlete, which include:
  • Emergency Travel Form
  • UIL Forms Signature Page
  • Random Drug Testing

Where does the LHHS Swim Team Practice?

Athletic Period: 8th (B Days)

Time: 2:15 pm - 5:00 pm

B-Day, during the 8th Period, we will meet at the bus for the athletic period and then commute as a team to the pool we are using. After practice, we will return by bus to LHHS. There is no school transportation home from after-school athletics, so each athlete must arrange their own transportation home from LHHS.

Athletic Period: 4th (A Days)

Time: 2:15 pm - 3:45 pm

A-Day, during 4th Period, we will stay on campus for strength and conditioning. We will be lifting weights, improving cardio, and building core strength. 

After School Practice (A Days)

Time: 3:50 pm - 5:00 pm

B-Day, after school, any team members who can not have 4th period athletics can meet Coach Becker on the track for stretching and warm-ups, lifting weights, improving cardio, and building core strength. There is no school transportation home from after-school athletics, so each athlete must arrange their own transportation home from LHHS.

Where can a swimmer get extra practice?

• To improve their swimming times and techniques, practice is the most essential thing swimmers can do. Athletes are encouraged to practice on their own. Remember, races are won in the hours that no one is watching!
• Panther Swimmers Swim at any of the following (live links included):
  • Waterloo Swimming
  • Nitro Swimming
• You can also use the USA Swimming Find A Team resource.

Do swimmers need a special diet?

• No. Not unless they have a medical problem or a diet-related condition that a doctor or a nutrition professional has diagnosed.
• As a general rule, top swimmers follow: “4 MORE 4 LESS, 4 ME”:
  • More - Complex carbohydrates like rice, bread, pasta
  • More - Lean quality protein like chicken, meat, fish
  • More - Water, fresh juices
  • More - Fresh fruit, nuts, and vegetables
  • Less - Take-away food
  • Less - Saturated fats and oils
  • Less - Processed and pre-packaged foods
  • Less - Sodas

What are the events in high school swimming?

If you are new to high school swimming, you will find a few differences between club and summer league swimming. High school competition uses short-course pools, either 25 yards or 25 meters. 

Boys and girls events for district, regional, and state meets shall be as follows:

• 200 Yard Medley Relay
• 200 Yard Freestyle
• 200 Yard Individual Medley
• 50 Yard Freestyle
• 1 Meter Diving
• 100 Yard Butterfly
• 100 Yard Freestyle
• 500 Yard Freestyle
• 200 Yard Freestyle Relay
• 100 Yard Backstroke
• 100 Yard Breaststroke
• 400 Yard Freestyle Relay

How many events does a high school swimmer swim?

Each athlete is allowed to swim in a maximum of 2 individual and 2 relay events at each meet. Another option is to participate in 1 individual event and 3 relay races, totaling 4 events.

How will it be decided which events each swimmer will swim in?

Every coach has a different selection policy based on his/her coaching philosophy. However, I like to allow every swimmer to compete for as much as possible, regardless of their skill level. The size of our team and the strength of the school(s) we’re competing against are also significant factors that influence how often swimmers compete in individual and relay events. Most often, it depends on an athlete’s most recent times before a meet. Before each meet, swimmers will fill out their first and second choice for individual events on our Swimtopia Site for Coach Becker. Every effort will be made to place swimmers in the events they choose. However, sometimes, the coach feels the team would benefit more from a swimmer competing in certain events.

What if I am unable to swim in a meet?

Notify Coach Becker as soon as you know you cannot attend a swim meet. Although swimming is often considered an individual sport, it is also a team sport. If someone doesn't show up without notice, it causes a lot of stress and last-minute adjustments. If a last-minute emergency should arise, please text Coach Becker through the SportsYou app.

What are the Swim Team Meet/Travel Logistics?

• Two weeks before each swim meet, swimmers MUST verify with Coach Becker that they will attend the meet and which events they would like to swim. P
• All team members will ride to and from athletic contests via transportation provided by the school district. Only team members, coaches, and student assistants can ride team buses. Before leaving, the team will meet at the front of LHHS at the time provided by Coach Becker. Swimmers must be on time!
• Swimmers must stay during the meet to support and cheer on their team/teammates.

What equipment/gear does LHHS provide?

LHHS provides each swimmer with an embroidered swim parka and a backpack. Please use this gear only when participating in swim meets. These items are part of the team uniform and should not be worn otherwise.

What equipment/gear must the swimmer provide?

• Swimmers MUST wear LHHS Swim Team Caps when swimming in meets representing LHHS. It is against UIL rules for high school swimmers to wear non-school logos during high school swim meets.
• Swimmers are required to provide their goggles. It’s a good idea to have a backup pair in case they break, are lost, or are stolen.
  • Different faces need different goggles. Be sure to try on the goggles for comfort before buying them.
  • Recommended Goggles:
    • Speedo Vanquisher, Vanquisher 2.0, or Vanquisher Jr. (MOST recommended)
    • Speedo Speed Socket
    • Speedo Air Seal XR
    • TYR Velocity
    • Nike Remora
    • A goggle bungee strap is highly recommended but not required.
• Plain black competition-appropriate swimsuits (Girls must wear a one-piece fixed-back suit; tie-back suits are prohibited. Boys must wear a jammer or Speedo-style racing suit. Baggy shorts or cut-offs are not permitted.)

How should my child prepare the night before a swim meet?

Sleep, nutrition, hydration, and mental preparation are the “Hidden ingredients.” These factors significantly impact a swimmer's performance in the pool. Obviously, these are areas that are primarily done away from the pool deck where the coach cannot supervise. As parents, you have the ability to help your swimmers make healthy choices, which will help them to be the strongest competitors possible.

What should LHHS swimmers bring to swim meets?

• LHHS Swim cap (always have a backup swim cap)
• Goggles (always have a backup pair of goggles)
• LHHS Swimsuit, or solid black competition swimsuit
• LHHS Swim Parka
• LHHS Swim Bag
• Towel(s)
• Water bottle and or sports drinks (no sodas)
• Healthy snacks (sandwiches, fruit)
• A foldable lawn chair

How can parents and guardians volunteer?

• Join our SWIM TEAM BOOSTER CLUB!
  • Swim Team Tailgates at Panther Home Football Games
  • Swim Team Float for the Homecoming Parade
  • Swim Team Community Volunteer Opportunities
  • Swim Team Adopt a Family/Community Service 
  • Swim Team Fundraisers
  • Swim Team Merchandise & Sales
  • Swim Team End-of-Season Banquet/Awards Dinner
• Your help and support are greatly NEEDED & APPRECIATED throughout the season. Volunteering is a great way to show your athlete that you support their efforts.
  • At each meet, we will need volunteers to help serve as timers.
  • For meets hosted by LHHS, additional volunteers will be needed for District, Regional, and State events.
• Other ways to help our team: food, food, and more food. Swimmers like to eat so we always welcome healthy snacks, water, and sports drinks to share with the team. This season we are also looking for parents to host team dinners and team bonding/get-together opportunities such as:

If you are interested in any of these volunteer activities, please contact Coach Becker!

What can I do to be the best swimming parent I can be?

Give your child that which only you can give, unconditional love, support, compassion, and unwavering belief in them as human beings. In the long term, whether your child becomes a world-class swimmer, lawyer, doctor, teacher, or whatever profession they go into, it is not their talent that defines them or makes them successful. It’s who they are!

No one helps kids to develop values, virtues, and characteristics like their family. 6-foot-tall 12-year-old kids with large feet and strong muscles are great, but give me intelligent, honest, coachable, and hard-working kids with a real sense of self-belief, courage, and integrity any day! I believe in developing the child first, and swimming comes next!

If I have a question or concern, how can I bring it to the coach's attention?

Coach Becker prefers to hear from the athletes directly; this is how they learn to have a voice.

Coach Becker maintains an open-door policy. 

However, my time with our athletes is precious. Please refrain from engaging in lengthy discussions on the pool deck while I’m coaching at practice or meets. If you wish to speak with me, simply call, text, or email me to set up an appointment to speak freely.

ALWAYS bring any questions or concerns to Coach Becker first. If I don’t know there is an issue, I can’t help.

Follow the Athletics Chain of Command:

• 1st - Coach Becker, LHHS Head Swim Coach, [email protected]
• 2nd - Coach David Seaborn, LHHS Boys’ Athletic Coordinator, or Coach Marie Bruce, LHHS Girls’ Athletic Coordinator
• 3rd - Coach Justin Carrigan - LH ISD Athletic Director 

Swim Strokes

• Freestyle - In freestyle, you may swim any stroke, but the fastest is what is often called the crawl, which is characterized by the alternate stroking of the arms over the water surface and an alternating (up-and-down) flutter kick. On turns and finishes, some part of the swimmer must touch the wall. Most swimmers do a flip-turn.
• Backstroke - Backstroke consists of an alternating motion of the arms with a flutter kick while on the back. On turns, swimmers may turn onto their stomachs and do a flip turn (they cannot glide into the wall and then turn). Some part of the swimmer must touch the wall at the turn. The swimmer must finish on their back.
  • Backstroke Starts - Being in the water, holding onto the wall or the starting blocks. Toes must be underwater.
  • Backstroke Flags - The triangle flags at each end of the pool are primarily used for backstroke, indicating to the swimmer that the wall is near.
• Breaststroke - The breaststroke requires simultaneous movements of the arms on the same horizontal plane. The hands are pushed forward from the breast. In the return of the arms, the hand cannot go past the waist. The kick is a simultaneous, somewhat circular motion similar to the action of a frog. At the turns and at the finish, the swimmer must touch the wall with both hands simultaneously. One of the hardest parts of the breaststroke is the start. After the dive, while still underwater, the swimmer can (but doesn’t have to) do one arm pull where the hands can go past the waist, one dolphin kick, and then another arm pull with a breaststroke kick to bring them to the surface.
• Butterfly - The butterfly features a simultaneous movement of the arms over the water combined with an undulating dolphin kick. In the kick, the swimmer must keep both legs together and may not use a flutter, scissor, or breaststroke kick. Both hands must touch the wall simultaneously on the turns and the finish.
• IM (Individual Medley) - The individual medley, commonly referred to as the I.M., features all four strokes. In the IM, the swimmer begins with the butterfly, then changes after one-fourth of the race to backstroke, then breaststroke, and finally freestyle. The rules of each stroke apply to that leg of the IM.
  • IM Order - Fly, Back, Breast, Free. Ex. 100 IM is a 25-yard swim of Butterfly, 25-yard swim of Backstroke, 25-yard swim of Breaststroke, and a 25-yard swim of Freestyle, in that order.
• Medley Relay - The medley relay involves swimming all four strokes. The first swimmer swims backstroke, the second breaststroke, and the third butterfly, and the final swimmer anchors the relay with freestyle.
  • Medley Relay Order - Back, Breast, Fly, Free.
• Freestyle Relay - The freestyle relay events consist of four swimmers, each swimming one-quarter of the total distance of the event.

Swim Terminology & Rules

• Starting Blocks - Not to be confused with diving boards, starting blocks are stationary and do not spring. Races begin at the blocks.
• Starts - When the starting beep sounds, swimmers jump or back out as far as they can and assume a streamlined position in the air to begin the race.
• Deck - The area around the swimming pool is reserved for swimmers, officials, and coaches.
• Disqualified (D/Q) - A swimmer's performance is not counted because of a rule infraction. A disqualification is shown by an official raising one arm with an open hand above their head. Please don't get upset if your swimmer gets DQed. Coach Becker and the team captains will work with them to improve.

Typical rules that are broken and could result in a DQ

• Freestyle - Pushing yourself forward off the bottom of the pool
  • Propelling yourself forward off the lane line
  • You are free to swim the style you choose
• Backstroke - Rolling onto your stomach (other than if you are about to do a flip-turn at the wall)
  • Pushing or pulling on the lane line
  • Pushing off the bottom of the pool
• Breaststroke - Doing a butterfly, flutter, or scissor kick
  • Not getting your head out of the water every stroke
  • Keeping the 1/1/1 ratio, 1 pull with your arms, one breath (don’t actually have to breathe, but your head must come up), one breaststroke kick with toes out and feet flex for the majority of the kick
  • Arms going below or past the belly button
  • Not touching the wall with two hands for your finish
• Butterfly - Non-simultaneous arms (arms not moving together or in sync)
  • Feet coming apart (flutter kick or breaststroke kick)
  • Arms not coming out and going over the water after the pull
  • Not touching the wall with two hands for your finish
• All Strokes - Moving on the block after the starter says “Take your mark” and before the BEEP, will cause a false start, the first false start of every heat is strike one for the entire heat, and the next swimmer to false start will be DQ’ed
  • Not finishing a race
  • Stopping to fix goggles (excluding freestyle)
  • Pushing off the bottom of the pool
  • Pushing or pulling on the lane line
  • Swimming in another swimmer’s lane

What is a Heat Sheet? What does it say?

The Heat Sheet is a program that lists all participating swimmers, their assigned events, and the corresponding heat and lane numbers. The announcer will say the event and heat number, and there is also an electronic board with this information. Most meets print these out and tape them on the pool walls. Some even sell them at the door for a few dollars. Coach Becker typically prints them ahead of time and passes them out on the bus before traveling to a meet.

Changes to the Heat Sheet will be made just prior to the start of a meet based on swimmers who don't arrive on time or do not attend. Races might also be combined to speed up a meet. For example, if we have 3 girls swimming fly and 3 boys swimming fly the swimmers will be combined into one heat to save time.

The announcer will say if heats are combined. Please pay attention when it gets close to the time your swimmer's event is.

• Event Number - There are 24 events in each meet. (Unless the Diving events are done at a separate time, which is often the case.)
• Heat Number - In each of the 24 events, there are HEATS. Each heat has 6-8 swimmers - depending on the size of the pool and teams competing.
• Lane Number - This will tell you which lane your swimmer is scheduled to be in. Typically the fastest swimmers in each heat get assigned to the middle lanes.
• Seed Time - Once a swimmer participates legally in an event, they will have a "seed time" in that event for the next meet. Swimmers are placed in heats and relays according to their seed times*. The swimmer's fastest time prior to this meet.

Results

• Finals Time: The time swam at this meet
• Points: Points are awarded to the team for swimmers placing 1-8 in individual meets and 1-2 in relays. A winner is determined at the end of each meet. Please keep in mind some meets, especially championship meets are scored differently.

LHHS Swim Team Non-Negotiables

Click here for more information.

LHHS Swim Contacts & Social Media

Head Coach Dimitra Becker email

LHHS Varsity Swim Team Google Classroom (access will be given to swimmers and parents of the team)

Liberty Hill High School Varsity Swim Team Facebook Page

LHHS Swim Booster Club email