Sycamore Stingrays Incentives Program The Sycamore Stingrays Incentives Program is intended to acknowledge each swimmer’s individual improvements. This program rewards the improvements swimmers make throughout the season. The Stingray Board and coaching staff hope the Incentives Program will encourage swimmers to work towards personal goals in each event.

This page is still under construction.  Thank you for your patience.

Popped Times Recognition

Swimmers will receive a "popped time" prize for each individual best time they achieve in a meet.  Relay times are not included.

Incentive Times Ribbons (on hold for 2021 season)

Specially selected Stingray ribbons are awarded when swimmers improve their swim time and achieve a new standard level for the first time in each individual event. Incentive Times by Age Group.  (ON HOLD for 2021 season)

County and Ruby Times

County Times (Gold Standard) are determined by LMYA, who run the Contra Costa County Meet in August of each year.  Swimmers who qualify in an individual event for the first time each year receive a Sycamore County Cap, and will be automatically entered into the prestigious County Meet, unless signed out in the system.  

Ruby Times are achieved by swimmers who are very close to County Times, and should be proud of the accomplishment, while continuing to strive for improvement.  Occasionally, ruby-level swimmers will be part of a relay that qualifies for County, and will also receive a County Cap just before the County Meet.  

Meet Ribbons

Swimmers age 10 and under receive ribbons for each event they successfully swim, 1st - 6th place in all heats.  

Individual and Relay Records

Special Record Breaker Ribbons are awarded to any swimmer or relay team who achieves the fastest time ever achieved by a Sycamore Swimmer in an event.  Young visual learners are encouraged to find the record holders that are still on the team and emulate their strokes.  These Sycamore girls and boys seriously fast.

8&U No-breather Club

When 8&U is able to complete a lap of freestyle with no breaths, they can sign the banner that will be hanging underneath the clubhouse deck.  Swimmers must qualify at meets, or at pre-determined practices, with a coach as a witness.  Butterfly no-breathers also count, and swimmers who accomplish this goal may sign the banner again.

Practice Attendance Raffle (on hold for 2021 season)

Coaches assign a raffle ticket number to swimmers who attended 3+ practices in a week, and swimmers who attended all 5 practices that week receive an additional raffle ticket number to enter into drawing for a free Snow Cone at home meets or a small gift certificate for a local treat. 

Raffle drawings begin at the start of the competition season at the end of May, and every two weeks thereafter.  Raffle ticket numbers are drawn at random by the coaches or spirit staff; the winners names are announced at the pre-meet cheer, and must be present to win.  Typically, 10 numbers are drawn.

Swimmer of the Week (on hold for 2021 season)

At the start of the competition season at the end of May, five swimmers are selected each week based on achieving practice goals, positive behavior and leadership at practice, and consistent team sportsmanship during competition.   We want to recognize swimmers who show up often and get in on time, help the practice environment by setting a good example (regardless of lane order), and is a positive presence for the team in and out of the water, including cheering on their teammates and embodying all of the good things about friendly competition.

Swimmers of the Week receive a special cap, handed out during a pre-meet cheer.  

End of Season Awards Banquet

Perfect Meet Attendance

Perfect Meet attendance includes all VSA league meets and the Championship meet.  Swimmers receive a recognition and an award in front of everyone at the end of season awards banquet.

Most Valuable Trophies

This is the trophy given to swimmers in each group that score the most points for the team for the season.  It is computer generated (invitationals are not included, only dual meets and the championship meet that everyone attends are included in the point tally)

Spirit Award

As the name would suggest, this trophy is given to kids that exemplify the Stingray Spirit at meets and at practices. 

Most Improved

This trophy is given to swimmers in each group that have either the highest percentage of time improvement or the most # of popped times in the season, or both.  This is also a stats driven award.  

Leadership Award

This trophy, previously called the coaches award, is given to a few swimmers each year who exhibit the qualities of a leader for their peers. 

Cane Award & Golden Goggle

The Golden Goggle Award is given to our graduating seniors.  The Cane Award is given to swimmers that have swam for Sycamore for 9+ years, including all four of their high school years.

Award Banquet Videos