Long Distance Challenge (LDC) - Swim Team Fundraiser

• Date: Saturday, Nov. 29
• Location: Nazareth YMCA

Arrival Times & Group Assignments - see the attached list; it's NOT the same as practice groups

• Groups I & II: Arrive at 11:00 am 
• Group III: Arrive at 11:50 am 
• Group IV: Arrive at 12:50 pm

This is our primary fundraising event we do each season. As a team we don't sell candy, flowers, or tickets; we might have a team social at a restaurant but the focus is not on fundraising; come only if you like for social reasons and team bonding. Our philosophy is:

• Fundraising should directly benefit the team, not the businesses who often take between 50-90% of the money spent/raised.
• No one is obligated to raise funds; if it's an obligation, then it's a team fee, not a fundraiser. See FAQs for funding though.
• ALL athletes are required to participate even if they raise no funds.
• The focus should be on athlete's production, and not be overly burdensome for parents. After-all, we already require everyone to work 2-4 times each season at swim meets.

As a result, swimmers should ask family and friends to sponsor them per lap. At the risk of sounding uncouth, Thanksgiving is a great time to ask aunts, uncles, grandparents, and family friends, etc., to support your swimmer's efforts. :)

• We need parents to help count laps, so feel free to come onto the pool deck to help out when your athlete is swimming.
• ALL swimmers are required to swim their "Challenge" group's assigned distance. This is part of the training requirements, it is not "swim as far as you can."
• If a swimmer cannot make the Nov. 29, they will make it up during another day later in the season (TBD) or during regular practice time.

FAQs:

1. OK, Coach Drake..., I know you said it's not an obligation, but what should we use as a guide? Most raise around $40 per family, although we've had some families raise hundreds of dollars in some years; I think $700 is the record for one family :).
2. What if we raise no money, does my child still have to swim the distance? Yes, it's part of their required training regimen.
3. My swimmer is worried, he doesn't think he can swim that long non-stop. Does he really have to? Yes, no one has ever failed to finish, including 5 year olds who first joined the swim team. It's more a mental challenge than a physical one, and these distances are well within reach of every swimmer in their group. Plus, they can use a kickboard or swim any stroke they want, whenever they want. Additionally, it builds personal confidence and it's a shared rite of passage for each team member each year.
4. What if we can't make the LDC date? If a swimmer cannot make Nov. 29, they will make it up during another day later in the season (TBD) or during regular practice time.
5. What have we used the funds for previously? Team computer, team management software, lap counters, lane lines, lane line storage roller, fans, backstroke flags, fins, kickboards, fulcrum paddles, storage bins, swim meet printer/ink/supplies, stop watches, officials training reimbursements, painting pool walls, record boards, banners, team gifts to swimmers, various team social reimbursements, ribbons/brag tags/dog tags, labels, Nationals support program.
6. Hey Coach, it seems like a lot of the stuff above should be provided by the YMCA already, right? Yes, you're are right, and it is. Remember, a YMCA swim team fundraiser is still a YMCA fundraiser; we are not separate. Like when the YMCA holds fundraisers to renovate a side of the building, our annual swim team fundraiser is used to improve the pool, aquatics programming, and swim team functions.