Handbook
Dear EPAP Swimmers and Parents
The El Paso Aqua Posse Swim Club (EPAP) provides the community with a full range aquatic programs from pre-competitive to national caliber swimmers based on the ideals of fun, fitness and the opportunity for individuals to reach his or her physical, intellectual, social and emotional potential. EPAP runs a state of the art swim program that groups its members based on age first, then ability so that the practices are taught at age-appropriate levels and that swimmer’s training and conditioning match both their age and ability.
El Paso Aqua Pose welcomes you into our family of competitive swimmers and parental volunteers. We are pleased you made the decision to join one of the finest and oldest USA Swimming clubs in the State of Texas.
Sincerely,
EPAP Coaches, Board Members and Volunteers
Who are we?
El Paso Aqua Posse (EPAP) was founded in 1957 as a non-profit professionally coached swimming organization. It has grown into El Paso’s largest and most active swim team drawing members from all geographic sections of the city and Ciudad Juarez. EPAP’s affiliation with the United States is though Boarder Swimming, the local USA governing body.
For more than 50 years EPAP has produced hundreds of champions, including many State and National champions has well as Olympic Trial qualifiers.
EPAP is proud that upon graduation from high school many of our athletes have continued their swimming career at the collegiate level at such places as Stanford, Harvard, Notre Dame, Texas, Texas A&M, West Point, Annapolis, TCU, UNM, NMSU, Williams and many others.
What do we believe in?
EPAP’s philosophy, formed by Hall of Fame Coach Leo Cancellare, is characterized by the principles of self-image psychology. Individuals are guided and directed toward maximum development of their talent and ability while always maintaining a positive self-image. The EPAP coaching staff endeavors train and motivate young people to achieve their ultimate potential in swimming with the belief that the experience will prove valuable to them as they grow and develop.
We believe that good sportsmanship; honesty, courage, commitment and perseverance developed through swimming will prepare our young people for the challenges they will face later in life. Our team follows three simple premises:
WORK HARD
SWIM FAST
HAVE FUN
Who will teach my child?
Head Coach: Jack White
Head Age-Group Coach: Todd Roberts
Senior Assistant Coaches: Jeff Elssworth
LeAnn Carr
Assistant Coaches: Gus Viveros
Cesar Sierra
Raul Palacios
Matt Villareal
Aaron Rodriguez
Crysta Grenier
Our coaches have over 100 years of combined experience in swimming. All were accomplished swimmers and they are USA certified members of the American Swimming Coaches Association.
What kind of training program will my child be in?
As swimmers develop they move though different group levels. As your swimmer moves through the groups their training will change. Swimmers are assigned to groups based on their age, ability and level of conditioning. Your child’s coach will decide when it is time to move to a new group. It is important that you let the coaches decide when to move your child. Sometimes a child starting late may be in a group with younger children. Swimmers improve at different rates depending on their natural ability, rate of physical growth, and how hard they work. It takes years to become a good swimmer, not months. Part of their training is swimming in meets; your child should swim as many events as he/she can. The coaches need to see your swimmer compete to measure their improvement and determine their needs. Becoming a good swimmer takes hard work over time, please give your swimmer encouragement even when they don’t have a good race. It is difficult to be at one’s peak performance all the time we all have down days. Like other sports there are those that seem to be a natural and drop time faster than others. Michael Jordan may be the best or one of the best basketball players of all time but he didn’t make it in baseball. No matter how good a swimmer your child becomes if they work hard they will have a rewarding experience.
How is the club organized?
EPAP is run buy the elected Board of Directors, volunteer parents and professional coaches. You are welcome to attend the monthly board meetings usually held on the 3rd Tuesday of the month at 7pm, the location varies.
The board is responsible for the financial operation of the club and appointing committee members while all parent volunteers run swim meets. We are required to provide timers and officials at all our local swim meets even when we are not the sponsoring club. When we are the sponsoring club all parents are needed to run a successful meet. New parents usually begin as a lane timer for regular meets and we encourage everyone to get more involved by becoming an official and/or equipment operator and board/committee member. In addition to providing timers, officials and equipment operators for regular meets we are responsible for hospitality and selling advertising for all EPAP sponsored meets. Only coaches are paid; volunteers perform all other functions. Let the pool representative, coach or board member know which job/jobs you are interested in learning. Many parents perform in multiple capacities in our club and USA Swimming. Once you are involved, you’ll really feel you are apart of the EPAP family. For over 50 years our parent volunteers have helped keep the cost of running a first rate swim club down and we are committed to do so in the future. Ask your EPAP pool manager, board member or coach how you can help your child’s team.
What is my financial commitment?
Monthly dues paid by bank draft: Age 12 and under…………………….$50
Age 13 and over………………………$70
($160 maximum dues per family)
Weight training for older swimmers: (Paid to the health club) …… …….$15
Swim meets: The costs of swim meets vary depending the sponsoring club’s charge but most clubs charge $3 to $4 per event.
USA Swimming registrations:
Each member of EPAP must be a registered member of USA Swimming. No swimmer may work out or compete unless their USA Swimming registration is current. You will be bill annually for the USA Swimming and Border Swimming registration fees.
Advertising: Each family is required to sell $50 of advertising for each of our sponsored meets. If a family sells $300 for a meet they get a $100 credit that can be used to pay meet entries. Many families choose to advertise with our “Stars” program, which is a photo of your child in the meet invitation if they do not wish to sell regular ads to businesses. Dues alone do not cover the team’s operating cost; we depend on all families to help raise money.
Where are meets held?
Most meets are held in various pools though out the city. We usually plan one out of town meet that all kids can attend for each of the two seasons each year. If your child puts forth the effort they may also qualify for out of town championship meets like TAGS, All-Stars, Zones, Sectionals and Nationals; qualifying times can be found on the web page: www.aquaposse.org
How to I register for meets?
To register for meets ask your coach or pool representative for your sign in and temporary pass word. Go to www.aquaposse.org, click on meets, then on the drop down menu click on “On Line Entries” and follow the instructions. (Before you register you child for a meet you should ask your coach which events to put them in). After you register on line send the required payment to the bookkeeper payable to:
EPAP
PO Box 971321
El Paso TX 79997
If payment is not received the registration may not be forwarded to the meet director and your child will not be registered for the meet. If the entries are sent in and your payment is not received before the club pays the fees, a $10 late fee will be added to your account. More detailed instructions are available in the appendix.
Where can I find a list of the up coming meets?
From www.aquaposse.org click on meets, then on the drop down menu click on the current season.
What are our team colors and where do I get equipment?
Our team colors are royal blue and gold. Suits, caps, goggles, equipment etc. can be ordered from D & J Sports (1-800-460 SWIM) EPAP has negotiated lower prices on some equipment so be sure to mention you are from El Paso Aqua Posse. The equipment list is in the appendix.
Where do I get more information?
The EPAP pool manager (a parent volunteer) can help you with information. More information is available at www.aquaposse.org and you may also ask your coach but please, do not interfere with his/her duties.
Armijo Pool Manager: Dora Ramos Home # (505) 589-4512
dramos@good-sam.com
Leo Pool Manager: Imelda Velez
Pilar Luna
SAC Pool Manager: Lucy Pinedo Home# 852-1685
Rpinedo2@hotmail.com