Hello Swim Families!

Week 1 of Practices is in the books! We had a lot of swimmers in the *cold* water and it was exciting to kick off the 2023 swim season! There is a lot of important information we want to share in this week’s message, so please take a moment to read through it entirely.

🐬 SwimTopia is our resource for everything again this year. Please download the app if you haven’t already done so and be sure your notifications are turned on. This is our primary mode of communication with families (including weather alerts!)!

Please take a moment to do the following:

• Please turn on notifications.
• Please sign up for away/gone dates for meets.
  • Click on “Visit website.”
  • Scroll down to Upcoming Events.
  • Scroll to Time Trials.
  • Click on RSVP.
  • Click on “attending” or “not attending” for your children’s name(s).
  • Then go back to events, and click on the next meet.
  • Click on Meet Entry.
  • Click “edit.”
  • From the dropdown menu, choose “attending this meet” or “not attending this meet” and save.
  • Repeat for each meet on the schedule.
• Please do the same for Job Sign-ups (just click on Job Sign-Ups for each meet next to meet entry.)
  • If you would like to change a job that you signed up for during registration, you can do so here.
  • There are still A LOT of available jobs for Time Trials if you would like something different, or need to try to fill your 4-5 positions
  • We ask that all families sign up for 4-5 positions, but feel free to do MORE than that if you feel so inclined!
  • More information about each specific job can be found in the handbook. There is a link to the handbook on SwimTopia.
• To see what jobs/events you have signed up for:
  • On the app, you can simply scroll down on the main page to the events (you do not have to go to the website to see this) and click on the event. It should list your swimmer’s attendance and work shifts on this page.
  • On a computer, click on the upper right hand “Welcome, (your name)” and choose “my account.” Underneath the family names, it should list the jobs you have signed up for and dates.
• Please RSVP for all Social Events you plan on attending as well. They are listed on SwimTopia and you can sign up for each, just like you did for the meets.
  • PLEASE RSVP and signup for jobs/foods to bring (see sign-up instructions above–it’s similar to the job signup/rsvp for meets).
  • Our next event is Potluck and Picture Day on June 1st. Sign up on SwimTopia for a dish to bring! Practices that day will be condensed: 11 & Ups from 4-5pm, 10 & unders from 5-6pm. Be sure to have your child bring their new (free) Dolphin t-shirt that day! T-shirts will be arriving and distributed soon!
• If you haven’t already, please join our Facebook page: BBW Dolphins. Updates will be shared there as well.
• Please let Jill know if you have any specific SwimTopia questions or need a brief tutorial! Happy to help! ([email protected])

🐬The water is still quite chilly. It might be helpful to pack a sweatshirt or jacket for your swimmer to put on as soon as they get out of the water!

🐬Time Trials will run like a meet on Sunday, June 4th starting at 5:00pm. This is an opportunity for everyone to try volunteer positions and for swimmers (and parents) to get a feel for how a meet runs. We are still in need of volunteers–this counts as one of your 4-5 positions! Please RSVP on SwimTopia as soon as possible so we can get an idea of how many families are planning on attending.

🐬If you need to turn in a check for registration fees, you can give it to any one of the committee members during practices this week, or drop it off in the pink accordion folder on the middle porch at 11624 Pacesferry Dr. Please do so as soon as possible!

🐬Please ALWAYS keep an eye on your children in the pool, even when they are with the coaches. Any children under 14 MUST be accompanied by an adult. If you cannot attend, please make arrangements with another family to be your child’s “parent” for that day at practice. Please note, siblings under 16 years of age cannot be considered the “parent.”

🐬Coaching

• Coaches are focused on our swimmers at all times. The safety of our swimmers is of utmost importance! If you have any grievances about coaching, please see Kristen O., our Coach Manager, or Jill or Andrea, our Team Managers. Please do not interrupt practice to talk to a coach.
• The coaches were trained this past week in BLS (Basic Life Support) and are now certified for CPR and life-saving techniques. We extend our thanks to Scott McGowan for training our coaches!

🐬Junior Dolphins

• All Junior Dolphins are invited to ALL social events and meets! This includes the team picture on June 1st! Please mark your calendars!
• If you did not attend evaluations last Thursday, please meet Coach Mindy at the pool on Monday, May 22nd at 5pm. It is important for her to get an idea of your swimmer’s ability level. If you cannot make it tomorrow, please reach out to schedule an alternate time as soon as possible!
• Practices begin the week of May 29th. Be on the lookout for more information regarding practice times from Coach Mindy!

🐬Several volunteer positions require training (TSA, Meet Administrator, Starter, Stroke and Turn Judges). If you are interested in any of these positions, let us know and we can share the clinic schedule. Additionally, you can shadow any of our current standing volunteers during a meet to “learn the ropes” and get a feel for the position–just let us know if you are interested! We are always looking for folks to help fill these positions!

🐬Please note for your calendars, we are canceling practices on Monday, July 3rd and will instead offer practices the morning of Friday, June 30th. More information to follow about specific times/age groups. There will not be practices Monday, July 3rd or Tuesday, July 4th. We will see everyone back together for our home meet that week on Wednesday, July 5th vs. Planter’s Walk.

🐬Other important information can be found in the Handbook (linked on SwimTopia). Please take the time to review this information! If at any time you have a question, please do not hesitate to reach out. A committee member can be found at most practices (committee members are listed on SwimTopia) or you can email directly: [email protected].

Looking forward to a great season!

Jill McGowan and Andrea Smith