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Glacier Aquatic Club

Official Team Handbook

Your Complete Reference Guide to GAC

Version 2025-2026

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Welcome to the Club!

This handbook is your comprehensive guide to the Glacier Aquatic Club, covering everything from our mission and training groups to fees, policies, and meet information. Whether you are a new family or a returning veteran, we hope this resource answers your questions and helps you navigate the season.

Our Mission

To develop and promote competitive swimming for all ages and abilities. GAC encourages a lifestyle of health and fitness by developing athletes with high self-esteem, respect, and sportsmanship. The development of these assets enables our athletes to better serve our sport and the community of the Flathead valley.

Important Websites & Resources

GAC Official Website

Our website is your primary source for schedules, event sign-ups, billing, volunteer opportunities, and contacts. Please visit it regularly.

glacieraquaticclub.com

USA & Montana Swimming

Visit USA Swimming for national info and Montana Swimming for local news and events. Both are great resources for new swim families.

usaswimming.org | Montana Swimming

Joining the Team

Step 1: Evaluation

To join the club, swimmers must be able to swim 25 yards of freestyle and 25 yards of backstroke nonstop. If your child meets this requirement, please contact our Head Coach to schedule an evaluation. This allows us to place them in the appropriate training group.

Head Coach: Dave Dorak

Email: headcoach@glacieraquaticclub.com

Step 2: Registration & Memberships

Once your swimmer is assigned to a group, you'll complete our online registration. There are three required memberships for all GAC families:

  • Glacier Aquatic Club (GAC): Monthly dues paid through our website.
  • USA Swimming: An annual membership with the national governing body of our sport.
  • Home Facility: A membership at the facility where your swimmer practices (Logan Health Medical Fitness Center or The Wave).

Training Groups & Move-Up Requirements

GAC offers age-specific training geared towards challenging each individual and developing them to the best of THEIR abilities. Group placement is determined by the coaching staff based on the criteria below.

🥉 Bronze Group

Age: 6-10 years

Practice Attendance: 2-3 per week

Meet Participation: 1-3 per SC/LC season

Required Skills:

  • Streamline and side push offs
  • Consistently touches with two hands on Breaststroke and Butterfly
  • Continuous 25 yards of each stroke

🥈 Silver Group

Age: 9-12 years

Practice Attendance: 3 per week

Meet Participation: 3 per SC/LC season

Meet Times: 50 Free: 43.00, 100 Free: 1:45

Test Sets: 200 Free: 4:00, 200 Kick: 5:00, 5x50 Kick @ 1:30

Required Skills:

  • Shallow dive from block (USA Swimming certified)
  • Consistent flip turns in practice and races
  • Relay start with correct arm movement
  • Understands simple pace clock intervals
  • Legal Breaststroke kick

🥇 Gold Group

Age: 11-14 years

Practice Attendance: 4 per week

Meet Participation: 4 per SC/LC season

Meet Times: 50 Free: 38.00, 100 Free: 1:30

Test Sets: 500 Free: 7:00, 400 Kick: 7:30, 5 x 100 Free @ 2:00

Required Skills:

  • Legal Individual Medley turns
  • Performs flip turns with a snorkel
  • Five dolphin kicks off walls
  • Breaks out past the flags on starts
  • Understands all pace clock intervals

🏆 Senior Group

Age: 13+ years

Practice Attendance: 5 per week

Meet Participation: 5 per SC/LC season

Meet Times: 50 Free: 33.00, 100 Free: 1:15, 200 Free: 3:00

Test Sets: Nonstop 1000, 500 Kick: 10:00, 5 x 100 Free @ 1:40

Required Skills:

  • Legal 200 Individual Medley (3:15)
  • Breaks out past the flags on turns
  • Drylands training is required

Coach's Discretion: Please note that all group movements are ultimately dependent on the discretion of the coaching staff, considering a swimmer's overall development, maturity, and readiness.

Apparel, Equipment & Nutrition

Team Apparel & Required Equipment

Swimmers are expected to wear a GAC team cap at all meets to show team unity. A team suit is encouraged but not required. Practice suits can be any appropriate one-piece suit for girls or jammers/briefs for boys. Please see below for the required equipment for each training group.

  • Bronze: Swim suit, cap, goggles, water bottle.
  • Silver: Swim suit, cap, goggles, water bottle, snorkel, short fins, gear bag.
  • Gold: Swim suit, cap, goggles, water bottle, snorkel, short fins, gear bag, paddles, drag socks.
  • Senior: All of the above, plus dryland gear (shoes, athletic clothes).

Nutrition Philosophy

Proper nutrition is crucial for performance and recovery. We encourage swimmers to focus on whole foods and proper hydration.

  • Hydration is Key: Swimmers should bring a water bottle to every practice and sip throughout. Avoid sugary drinks.
  • Fueling for Practice: A light, carbohydrate-rich snack 30-60 minutes before practice can provide needed energy.
  • Meet Day Nutrition: Pack healthy, easily digestible snacks like fruit, granola bars, yogurt, and small sandwiches. Avoid heavy, greasy, or overly sugary foods.

Guide to Swim Meets

Swimmers are expected to participate in approximately three meets during the Short Course (Fall/Winter) season and three during the Long Course (Spring/Summer) season. Families choose which meets to attend via online registration.

Meet Procedures

  • Sign-ups: Register for meets on the team website before the deadline. Coaches will help swimmers choose appropriate events.
  • Psych Sheet: A few days before the meet, a list of all swimmers ranked by seed time is sent out. This is not the final schedule.
  • Meet Mobile App: This phone app is the best way to see heat sheets (the official timeline) and follow live, unofficial results. A small subscription fee may apply.
  • Check-in: Swimmers must check in with a coach upon arrival for warm-ups, and before and after every race for feedback.
  • Check-out: Swimmers MUST check out with a coach before leaving for the day.

Travel Policy

Glacier Aquatic Club does not organize team travel, lodging, or transportation for meets. Families are responsible for arranging and supervising their own swimmers for all away competitions. This includes transportation to and from the meet, hotel accommodations, and supervision of swimmers throughout the meet weekend.

Fees & Volunteering

Club Fees & Other Costs

  • GAC Dues: Fees depend on the swimmer's training group. Payments are processed monthly from the payment method on your online account.
  • Initial Registration: GAC provides a one-time break on the club registration fee for new swimmers joining for the first time.
  • USA Swimming: Annual membership fee paid directly to USA Swimming.
  • Facility Membership: Membership at Logan Health Medical Fitness Center (The Summit) or The Wave is required. Check with the facility for rates.
  • Meet Fees: Each meet has entry fees per event, which are billed to your GAC account.

Volunteering Requirement

For every month a swimmer is active, their family will accrue a two (2) hour service obligation. The maximum obligation is capped at 22 hours per family per year (Sept-Aug). Any unfulfilled hours will be billed at $50/hour at the end of the season.

Becoming an Official

Officiating is a fantastic way to fulfill volunteer hours and learn the sport. Volunteer Officials are a critical part of having a successful swim club and are needed for us to run home meets. GAC will pay for all training expenses, background checks, and your USA Swimming membership. Contact the GAC Board for more info.

Codes of Conduct & Communication

Parent Code of Conduct

  • Practice positive sportsmanship by cheering for all swimmers.
  • Leave coaching to the coaches. Do not interfere with coaches on the pool deck.
  • Show respect to all officials, volunteers, coaches, and swimmers.
  • Address concerns with a coach or board member at an appropriate time and place, not during a practice or meet.

Swimmer Code of Conduct

  • Always show respect for your teammates, coaches, opponents, and officials.
  • Come to practice prepared and ready to give your best effort.
  • Be a supportive and encouraging teammate. No bullying will be tolerated.
  • Represent GAC with pride and good sportsmanship at all times.

Communication Plan

Open communication is key to a successful team. For issues related to practices, events, or your swimmer's progress, please speak with your group's coach. For issues related to billing or policy, please contact the appropriate board member.

The 24-Hour Rule: We ask that parents wait 24 hours after a meet or practice to address an emotional or sensitive issue with a coach. This "cooling off" period allows for more productive and objective conversations.

USA Swimming Safe Sport

The Glacier Aquatic Club takes the protection of our athletes very seriously. We are committed to providing a safe, healthy, and positive environment for every athlete and fully support USA Swimming's Safe Sport program.

Key Policies at Meets & Practices

  • No visual recording (photo or video) is allowed behind the starting blocks.
  • Deck changing is strictly prohibited. All swimmers must use designated locker rooms or restrooms to change.
  • Cell phone use is prohibited in all changing areas and bathrooms to protect the privacy of all athletes.

Reporting a Concern

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact our Safe Sport Coordinator or report directly to USA Swimming or the U.S. Center for Safe Sport.

Swim Meet Lingo: A Quick Glossary

Event

A specific race, defined by age group, distance, and stroke (e.g., "Girls 10 & Under 50 Freestyle").

Heat

A single race within an event. Events with many swimmers are broken down into multiple heats.

Seed Time

The swimmer's best recorded time for an event. This time is used to place them in heats with swimmers of similar speed.

Heat Sheet

The program for the meet, listing all swimmers by event, heat, and lane. This is available on the Meet Mobile app before the meet starts.

SCY (Short Course Yards)

Refers to a 25-yard pool. This is the standard pool length for the fall/winter swim season in the USA.

LCM (Long Course Meters)

Refers to a 50-meter pool (Olympic size). This is the standard for the spring/summer season.

IM (Individual Medley)

An event where the swimmer performs all four strokes in the following order: Butterfly, Backstroke, Breaststroke, and Freestyle.

Deck

The area surrounding the swimming pool. Access to the deck is usually restricted to swimmers, coaches, officials, and volunteers.

NT (No Time)

"No Time." This means it's the swimmer's first time officially competing in that event.

Time Standards (B, BB, A, etc.)

USA Swimming sets "motivational time standards" to measure a swimmer's progress and to qualify for certain meets, like the State Championship.

Split

The time for a specific segment of a race. For example, a swimmer's time at the 50-yard mark of a 100-yard race is their "50 split."

Relay

An event where four swimmers compete as a team. Each swimmer swims one "leg" of the race before the next teammate dives in.

Scratch

To officially withdraw from an event after signing up for it. Coaches sometimes do this for strategic reasons.

Touchpad

The sensitive electronic pad at the end of each lane that stops the clock when a swimmer touches it to record their official time.

Coaches & Board of Directors

Coaching Staff

David Dorak, Head Coach

Angelique Dousis, Assistant Coach

Price Richardson, Assistant Coach

Karen Bouda, Assistant Coach

Bridgette Maltby, Assistant Coach

Suzanne DeVore, Assistant Coach

Tara Cannava, Assistant Coach

Board of Directors (2024-2025)

Shawn Hummer, President

Dianne Dotter, Vice President

Andrea Schroeder, Treasurer

Matthew Weber, Secretary

Jonnette Sibson, Board Member

Nolan McGaughy, Board Member

Jessica Beaulieu, Board Member

Eliana Juster, Board Member

Key Club Contacts