GENERAL DESCRIPTION AND OBJECTIVE
The Swim Team of Placentia (STOP), a year round non-profit organization, offers guided youth programs for children ages 4 & up, from the most novice to the most competitive and skilled athlete. The team runs independently of the school district and the city but works with both to provide a quality program for the community. When a young person becomes a member of STOP he/she learns the values of competitiveness, self-reliance, sportsmanship, and team work, as well as, the physical skills for continuous success in the world of aquatics.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The administration of the affairs of STOP are vested in a Board of Directors composed of four Officers and five Directors at Large. The guiding mission of the Board is to focus on the needs of the swimmer. The Board exists to ensure the continuation and excellence of STOP by providing necessary business functions, assisting and supporting the coaching staff, and facilitating communication between the parent, team members, and coaches. Board positions are elected annually.
UNITED STATES SWIMMING (USA-S)
STOP is a registered team of USA Swimming which is the National Governing Body for amateur competitive swimming in the United States. From its headquarters located at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, CO, the USA Swimming staff interacts with over 300,000 athletes, over 20,000 non athletes personnel, and 2,800 swim clubs. As the National Governing Body of the sport, USA Swimming is charged with the responsibility to formulate rules, conduct national competitions, disseminate safety and sports medicine information, select competitors to represent this country in international competitions, and insure the development of its' member clubs and swimmers. USA Swimming meets are designed to protect the swimmer, provide fair and equitable conditions of competition, and promote uniformity in the sport so that no swimmer shall obtain an unfair advantage over another.
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA SWIMMING (SCS)
Southern California Swimming is the Local Swimming Committee that oversees this region of USA Swimming. It is one of 59 LSC's throughout the country. SCS is made up of 4 Sections. STOP is part of the Orange Committee which encompasses Orange County and some of it's surrounding areas.
TEAM PHILOSOPHY
The team philosophy is encompassed in the words Courage, Perseverance, and Integrity. Courage is the willingness to accept risks and endure failings. Courage does not exist unless there is a situation which presents the opportunity for success. We encourage our athletes to embrace these opportunities and not fear the outcome. Perseverance is the backbone of success in any endeavor of life. One cannot succeed at the highest levels without enduring set-backs. These difficult times can create a lack of faith, low self-esteem, and an obvious drop in enthusiasm. Perseverance is the quality that transcends these difficult times. It allows the individual to find the true strength of his/her character. Integrity is the commitment to one's personal goals and values. Without integrity one lacks the responsibility for accepting his/her role in the outcome of competition. We teach our swimmers to rely on themselves for determining their success and failure.
COACH'S PHILOSOPHY
To develop the character traits, technical skills
and intense desire necessary for maximum realization of each individual's
potential. Each swimmer has the potential to succeed. As STOP coaches,
it is our job to ensure that the values set forth by this premise and in
conjunction with the team's philosophy, are instilled into each and every
member of our team. Although all swimmers are different, they all have the
same opportunity and right to succeed. On this team, swimmers are not
compared to one another, they are compared to themselves. The most
successful are not the fastest, but those who strive to improve themselves.
Failure exists only when the participant determines that he/she can't or
won't continue to try. Failure is never the outcome of an attempt, it is a state of
mind that enables a participant to find excuses to quit.
HEAD COACH: DEVON AMES
As the Head Coach / Executive Director, Coach Devon provides the vision, direction, and goals for the team as well as the management of the day to day operations and the supervision of the supporting staff. Coach Devon has been the Head Coach of STOP since September, 1994. He coaches the Senior Groups and the upper level Age Group swimmers. Coach Devon also serves as the Orange Committee Chairman for SCS and is the Judicial Chairman for the Orange County Swim Conference.
Education:
Graduate of U.C. RiversideB.A.Child Psychology, Minor in Child Development
National University Teaching Credential Elementary Education
Athletic Experience (Aquatics)
Age Group Water Polo 4 years
High School Swimming & Water Polo 4 years
Collegiate Swimming & Water Polo 4 years
Coaching Experience
High School Swimming 2 years
College Water Polo - Women 2 years
Age Group Swimming 25 years
National Level - 8 years; National Select Coaching Staff 3 years
Coach of the Year: USA Swimming's 2001 National Development
Coach of the Year: Olympic Swimming Committee 2002
COACH CARA ZANG
Coach Cara started with the Swim Team of Placentia in
September of 2007. Cara is responsible for developing our 11 & Up Age Group
Swimmers. Cara graduated from Cal State Fullerton in 2011 with a degree in Kinesiology.
Athletic Experience
Age Group Swimming 4 years
High School Swimming & Water Polo 4 years
Collegiate Swimming & Water Polo 2 years
Coaching Experiencee
Age Group Swimming 7 years
COACH MARCO MUNOZ
Coach Marco started with the Swim Team of Placentia in
June of 2010. Marco is responsible for the development of our Novie & Non-Competitive
swimmers. Marco is currently attending Fullerton College.
Athletic Experience
High School Swimming & Water Polo 4 years
Collegiate Swimming & Water Polo 2 years
Coaching Experience
Age Group Swimming 3 years
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