Swim Team Parents Association (STPA)
Structure and Function
The purpose of the STPA is to provide an organization through which team parents help the YMCA and its coaches to produce a successful swim team. The STPA Board of Directors, as elected representatives of the STPA membership, takes an advisory role in team operations and administration. The Board’s active role is to initiate fundraising projects that support the needs of the team; organize parents into an effective volunteer structure; organize and run home swim meets; help organize and conduct social activities; oversee swim team registration; and enhance team communication.
Every swimmer (Buc I – Senior II) who is registered for the Sea Dog Swim Club must also have a parent or guardian registered with the STPA for any season (short course or long course) in which they participate. The STPA registration fee must be paid at the time the swimmer is registered. This STPA fee only begins to support the many functions paid for by the STPA on the swimmers’ behalf. Some of the expenses covered by the STPA are:
- Travel expenses for coaches to away meets including Long Island, MIT, Condors, YNats etc.
- Team equipment purchases (video equipment, speaker system, touch pads, laptops, iPads, tempo trainers, fins, kick boards and other training aids)
- Team shirt and cap for new swimmers
- Contribution to coaches’ salaries and expenses.
- USA Registration fees for our coaches and officials
- Training Expenses for our officials and referees
- Website and communication costs
- Educational programs for our swimmers
- Pool fees and team apparel
- Reduced Admisssion to the team banquet (Buc I – Senior II)
- Awards and trophies
- Miscellaneous operational expenses (i.e. printers, computer supplies, postage), and
- Other team social events
Without every family’s cooperation and participation in these programs, our team would suffer extreme financial hardship.
Q. What rules govern the STPA (Swim Team Parents Association)?
The Swim Team Parents Association is governed by bylaws and conducts its activities according to these bylaws.
Click here to read a copy of these bylaws.
MEETINGS
All meetings of the STPA board are held on the first Tuesday of the month at the Cheshire YMCA. Confirm before attending as this is subject to change based on swim team activity.
Q: What do our STPA (Swim Team Parents Association) fees pay for?
A: It’s more than just the Swim Team banquet, a trophy, and a team shirt and cap for your swimmer. The STPA registration fee is paid at the time the swimmer is registered, for all swimmers BUC I and up. This STPA fee only begins to support the many functions paid for by the STPA on the swimmers’ behalf. Some of the other expenses covered by the STPA are:
- Travel expenses for coaches to away meets, including Long Island, MIT, Condors, YNats etc.
- Team equipment purchases (such as video equipment/iPads, coach laptops, touch pads, fins, tempo trainers, kick boards and other training aids)
- Contribution to coaches’ salaries
- USA Registration fees for our coaches and officials
- Training expenses for our officials and referees
- Website costs
- Educational programs for our swimmers
- Pool fees and team apparel
- Miscellaneous operational expenses (i.e. printers, computer supplies,meet laptops, postage, paper, labels, medals, storage)
- A new team shirt or cap for each new swimmer
- Awards and banquet cost (free admission for swimmers in BUC I and above)
- Other team social events
The monies to pay for these expenses come from STPA Membership Fees and a variety of fundraising programs administered the STPA Board. Without every family’s cooperation and participation in these programs, our team would suffer extreme financial hardship.
CONTACT
email any questions to stpa@seadogswim.org
