Tuesday, November 11, 2008

Update 11/11/08

Hello

Another good practice Monday night. We are getting a better idea of the skill level of each swimmer, and I am anxious to see their improvement at our in house meet on Nov 24th.

A few updates:

Registrations
We will be accepting registrations up to next week. After that time, I will be closing out the roster (exceptions may be made, especially at the older age levels, where we still need additional swimmers). So, if you are included in this distribution and have not yet registered, please do so by Monday 11/17. If you do not plan on returning, please let me know as well.

Practices
Please be sure your swimmer checks in each week. I am making a slight change, and will keep the check in sheet with me. This way I see first hand who is at practice, which will help me to place a face with a name. It will also give me the opportunity to make lane assignment changes as necessary.

10U, 8U and 6U should be swimming at the 7pm session and 12U, 14U and 18U at the 8pm session. If you plan to swim at a session other than the assigned one on a regular basis, please let me know so I can make the appropriate lane assignments. If you swim earlier or later on occasion due to conflicts, that is fine. No need to contact me. We'll make the changes on the fly.

Swim Suits
Monday Nov 17th is the final day to order swim suits. To be eligible to compete in league meets and Championships, you must have a team suit or comparable colors. Otherwise the swimmer is at risk of being disqualified from the meet (this is an official's decision and is being enforced by CYONS this year).

For the younger swimmers, sizes do include 22 and 24. I have a size 24 (Female) that I will bring down on Monday. I am still looking for the smaller boy's sizes.

I should also have the swim caps in by next week, and have a supply of goggles for anyone who may need them. The order form is available on the website at www.holyfamilycyo.org.

If you placed your order last week, please check in with me to ensure I have the order correct.

Swim suits are not exchangeable, returnable or refundable.

Jewelry
Jewelry may not be worn during practice nor at meets. This is a league and pool rule. There are still a number of swimmers wearing jewelry (this includes earrings, medals, bracelets of any kind etc.). Please, remove all jewelry before your swimmer comes out onto the pool deck.

Turkey Challenge
Our first in-house meet will be Monday November 24th. Please be on time. This event will be run as a meet, and if you are late, your swimmer risks missing his/her event.

10U and 8U must swim at the 7pm session. We will make a decision on the 6U (and some 8U) next week. Most likely, we'll let them do one length with the kick boards with help, if needed, by our older swimmers.

12U, 14U and 18U must swim at the 8pm session.

If you cannot make the event, please let me know ahead of time.

Each swimmer will be assigned to either a blue or gold team. Gold will sit on the near side (by the fans) and blue on the far side. I will send out the schedule of events and the respective "teams" prior to the meet. I will try to keep siblings on the same side of the pool.

When the swimmers check in, I will remind them as to which team they are on.

The purpose of the in house meet is to get our less experienced swimmers used to competition, and for our parents and fans to see what a swim meet is all about. Please emphasize with your swimmer that there is no pressure to win, and that all swimmers will be awarded a ribbon based on their place of finish. I will do my best to line-up similar skilled swimmers with each other. This will also give us an idea of how much thy have improved during the first month. You will be surprised just how much they have improved.

The first 6 weeks of the season are always a bit hectic, as we get acclimated with newer swimmers, accept late registrations and order swim suits. As swimmers get used to what they should be accomplishing each week, practices will run much smoother and will seem to move along quickly.

Last - if you are reading this on the website, and are not receiving my e-mails, please check in with me again on Monday.

I hope you all have enjoyed your first month of the 2008-09 season. I anticipate it will be fun (as was last year) and very successful.

See you all on Monday

Coach Carroll (Kevin)

Saturday, November 8, 2008

UPdate 11/09/08

Hello All

I will have sample suits with me on Monday. If you plan to be sized, please get there early. I will be there at 6:30.

I have...

Male - size 26, 28, 30, 32, 34 & 36; I believe 22, 24, 38 & 40 are also available

Female - size 26, 28, 30, 32, 34, 36 & 38; I believe 22, 24 & 40 are also available.

The order form is available on the Swimming Home Page. Please print and bring with you.

We will size Monday 11/10 and 11/17, when orders will be due. This will give us sufficient time to have the suits in time for our first league meet, sometime in January.

I hope to have goggles with me ($15) as well. They are due in on Monday.

Also, we will have our first in-house meet, the Turkey Challenge, on 11/24. ALL swimmers should plan to be on the pool deck by 6:50, ready to start by 7:00pm. Although we typically ask that all swimmers remain until the end of the meet, we will let the younger swimmers leave after their final races.

All swimmers will be invited to swim freestyle, backstroke and breaststroke, and ribbons will be earned for all places 1-6.

Enjoy the rainy weekend, and I'll see you all on Monday night.

Coach Carroll (Kevin)