Hello Swim Families!

We have completed Week 1 of Practices! It’s amazing how swim season sneaks up on you and then before we know it, we are in full swing!

There is a lot of important information in this week’s message. Please take a moment to read through it entirely.

🐬Practice schedule this week:

Monday (Memorial Day): NO PRACTICES!

Tuesday: Condensed practices (see Potluck/Picture Day info below)

Wednesday & Thursday: Regular practice schedule

Saturday: Clinic from 9:30-10:30 am

🐬Potluck and Picture Day–Tuesday, May 27th at 6pm. Picture will be at 6:00pm! Potluck to follow–please plan to bring a dish (or two) to share! RSVP on Swimtopia (details on how to do that below). Practices will be condensed: 9 and Ups @ 4:00-5:00; 8 & Unders @ 5:00-5:45.

🐬Message from Coaches: Happy Memorial Day Weekend! Coach Ben advises that most families try to get their kids in the water this weekend, if possible! This week, swimmers will be working on starts and butterfly, along with a fun game Coach Ben has planned for Thursday. As of this week, the 6 and Unders have all moved out of the shallow end and into the lanes. Our coaches will work to relieve any concerns they may have with this transition, however, any time you are at the pool, please have them swim out to you from the wall where the lanes would be. The more they practice in the lanes, the easier it will be for them. The coaches hope everyone is doing well and enjoying a Happy Memorial Day Weekend!

🐬 Please take a moment to do the following on SwimTopia:

• Please turn on notifications if you haven’t already so you can get weather alerts as well as emails.
• Please begin to sign up for away/gone dates for meets. Look over your calendars and mark your swimmers “attending” or “not attending” for each meet.
  • On your phone, scroll down to Upcoming Events.
  • Scroll to Time Trials.
  • Click on Meet Signup.
  • Click on edit.
  • Click on “attending” or “not attending” for your children’s name(s).
  • Then go back to events, and click on the next meet.
  • Repeat for each meet on the schedule.
• 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.
  • In addition, you will soon receive an email with the master list of volunteer assignments for each meet. If you need to change one of your job shifts, please try to switch with another family. If you are unable to find someone to fill your position, please reach out to one of our volunteer coordinators as soon as possible (Elizabeth Dolby, Lee Ellen Harmer, and Casey Joseph or email [email protected]).
• RSVP for events while you are at it! Our next event is our Picture/Potluck! Please RSVP as soon as possible!
  • To do this, scroll down on the first screen on your app to Upcoming Events. Click on the Potluck and Team Picture event.
  • Click on RSVP. Choose the family members that will or will not be attending and click save.
  • Once back on the main screen, click on Job Signup under Work Shifts.
  • Click on Sign up for Jobs.
  • Choose what you will be bringing to the Potluck and click “save assignments.”
• Please let Jill know if you have any specific SwimTopia questions ([email protected]). She’d be happy to meet with you during practice to give a brief tutorial.

🐬 Saturday Swim Clinic: Our first Saturday swim clinic will take place this upcoming Saturday, May 31 at the BBW Pool from 9:30-10:30am. Coffee and donuts will be provided. This is a great opportunity for swimmers to work with coaches in a relaxed setting. Please RSVP on Swimtopia if you plan on attending so we can be sure to have enough refreshments!

🐬Team Swimsuits: We’ve had lots of great questions about team suits. These are not required and swimmers are welcome to wear whatever they are most comfortable in or a plain blue or black suit. If, however, your swimmer would like to be in the team swimsuit as a good portion of our swimmers will be, here are several links for what the team suit looks like and where it can be found:

Girls Team Suit: Amazon or Swim Outlet

Boys Team Suit: Amazon or Swim Outlet

Kiefer Aquatics in Cary, NC has also carried the team suit in the past.

Team Swim Caps: Swimmers are not required to wear the team swim cap either, but they cannot have the name of another team on the cap during a swim meet. We have Team swim caps available for purchase for $5/each. Let a committee member know if you would like to purchase one.

🐬Time Trials will run like a meet on Tuesday, June 3rd starting at 5:00pm. Mark your calendars! This is an opportunity for everyone to experience their volunteer positions and for swimmers (and parents) to get a feel for how a meet runs. Please RSVP on SwimTopia as soon as possible so we can get an idea of how many families are planning on attending. If you cannot attend, coaches will time your swimmer(s) during practices. We will have concessions options that evening so you do not have to worry about packing dinner! More information will be provided in next Sunday’s email regarding Time Trials! If you are new to the team, we recommend reading through the “Swim Meet 101” on the Swimtopia website.

🐬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.”

🐬Please remember our pool is always open to neighbors, even during swim practice. Some days it may get a little crowded, especially in the shallow end; so please, please keep an eye on your children! In addition, if your children use any of the pool toys while at the pool, please have them pick them up and put them away before leaving! We’ve had some trouble with children squirting our coaches with the water squirters during practices. Please emphasize with your children the importance of not distracting our coaches during practices.

🐬If at any time you have a question, please do not hesitate to reach out. A committee member can be found at all practices or you can email directly: [email protected]. 

Thank you for reading all the way to the end!! 

Looking forward to another great week at the pool!