Welcome to our 2024 Season! Wow. It is here and we are ready to go. I realize we all receive many emails each day...please do your best to read these when you have a moment to stay as informed as possible. I'll try to send Poolshark emails on Sundays and then an occasional mid-week email.

In this email: (if you have 1 minute - here it is in brief)

1) Training Groups (HERE)

2) Cold Water (HERE)

3) Equipment (Day 1 have googles, fins, kickboard, suit)

4) Parking & Watching Practice (be safe, be patient, meet new parents)

5) Body Positive / Proactive Kindness - our expectations

6) Talking with Coaches (coaches are on deck to coach)

7) Safe Sport (keeping kids safe)

8) Buckle up - this season is a whirlwind of fun!

Go Poolsharks!

If you have more time - here is the long version.

Poolsharks & Starfish all begin on Wed May 1st - it is nice to start our season mid-week as the first week of swim team can feel like a big adjustment and a short 2 day practice week is a balanced way to begin this season.

All general info is posted on website (practice times, meet dates, etc). 

1) Coaching/Swimmer Groups - linked HERE - please confirm your child's name is on the list and in a group - even though I am triple checking, there is a very good chance i have left out 1 or 2 kids out of 275. Please do NOT request any changes, for example 'can Bobby be moved to Johnny's group because they are best friends.' We all want to be with our friends. This is an opportunity to make new friends and be outside of our comfort zones with intentional support.  Placement is based on age and 25/50 freestyle time in our database OR you are a new to Venetian swimmer and your parent completed the google form and shared info on your swimmers ability. The hardest training groups to be accurate on Day 1 is our 11-12's, as 95% of our 11 year olds do not have a 50 freestyle time in the system but in general the majority of our 11-12's will be placed in a group that is appropriate for their level.  There will be some adjustments throughout the season as swimmers each develop/grow at different rates. For the first few days - during our team meeting at beginning of practice, coaches will do a 'roll call' so kids know where to go. Please tell your swimmer who their assigned coach is so they are prepared for Day 1. 

2) Cold Water - the water and nighttime air temps (40's and 50's during night) and 70's daytime temps make for very cold water. The pool is not heated. If we swim 100% of practice, we will lose 50 kids the first week and they will never return. This is the opposite of what we want. We are investing in the full 9 week season - the water will be plenty warm soon enough, but for the first 2 weeks, we will spend practice time doing team building activities, dryland activities and some water time.  Swimmers should come to practice wearing their swimsuit and also their sneakers for dryland.  Most kids will get cold so dry towels post practice are important. Even though we are not in water for the whole time - showing up is still important because this is when your child will start to feel like a part of the team & their specific coaching group, along with allowing the coaches to see each swimmers personalities, leadership abilities & fitness strengths & weaknesses outside of the water. 

3) Equipment - for Day 1 all swimmers should have:

*goggles that fit (2 pairs is ideal - please check BEFORE your child arrives to practice)

*swim cap if hair is longer than eyes, the silver V cap is the only cap allowed for meets, but non V caps are welcome and fine for practice. Cap is $10 and will be available for purchase at the pool before our first meet.  If you ordered & prepaid for a regular (no name) V cap, we will have these available for pickup on Wed/Thurs this week.  If you ordered a custom cap with your name, these will be available in ~ 2 weeks, in time for our Time Trials on May 21st.  

*suit - swimmers can wear their team suit to practice, or just a regular suit.  It is good to have 2 suits, so you can rotate and let them dry out between practices.  

*fins - we will be working on underwater dolphin kick all season long for all ages. These are required for all Poolsharks (not Starfish).  For our newer & younger swimmers (ages 12U, the long fins like these Sporti are great options.  

*kickboard - the best swimmers are the best kickers and we always kick (often a part of our warmup). we have lots of hand me down boards in the shed - these don't really wear out and we are happy to loan out for the season (swimmers will pick one up on day 1, put their name on it, and bring back and forth to practice each day). If you prefer to purchase - here are a few options. Junior speedo kickboard (ages 8 and younger), Arena kickboard (ages 9+). It is hard to go wrong with a kickboard...so any style is usually fine.

4) Parking & Watching Practice - please be careful when bringing your child to practice - the parking lot and parking situation can be a doozy. Please be as patient as possible, especially when pulling in/out of parking lot. Parents are welcome & encouraged to stay on deck during your child's practice - this is not required but if you leave, please be on time to pick up your child. Coaches are NOT responsible for your children when they are not practicing. During practice if you stay, this is a chance to sit in sun, get to know your fellow parents, and enjoy watching your kid be a Poolshark. Parents - challenge yourself and set a goal to say hello and introduce yourself to at least 1 new person each practice. We have ~40 new families (out of ~160) to the team so there will be a handful of new faces to greet & make feel welcome.

5) Body Positive & Proactive Kindness - we will go over this every single practice the first two weeks. Kids need to know they are safe to be their best selves on our pool deck and that they will be loved & cared for exactly as they are. We will immediately address anything less than kindness towards teammates (or coaches) and also reinforce there will be zero comments about anyones body (including their own).

6) Talking to coaches on deck - coaches are on deck to coach. Unless your child's physical safety is immediate concern, please do not talk to coaches during the practice times other than a brief hello, thank you or goodbye. I will often walk around deck and If you have a concern about a coach or how something is being handled - please address this with me directly in person or send me a brief email. I enjoy talking to parents and will often say hello & check in with parents during practice if I'm not coaching/checking on a group. Most of our coaches are teenagers and we cannot have an adult talking to our coaches in an inappropriate manner - this coach is also someone else's child - we have an outstanding group of young people - but they are still teens and they are growing (just like us). We are bound to make mistakes but we will learn, reflect, and adjust.

7) Safe Sport - there are many rules thankfully that help protect children & coaches - USA Swimming refers to this as 'Safe Sport.' Some of the expectations that we have of coaches regarding this include:

*Never accompany a swimmer to the restroom

*Do not assist with bathing suit adjustments, etc. Should a swimmer need assistance with these things, find their parent.

*Follow the rule of 2:1. Never put yourself in a 1:1 situation with a swimmer.

*Safe touch with swimmers (shoulders, wrist, hand, head are best). Try to keep hands visible.

Because so many kids are kinesthetic learners - coaches will occasionally have to touch swimmers ankles and other moving joint parts to help with technique - but they should always do it in a manner with Safe Sport in mind while also communicating clearly out loud something such as 'Johnny, i am going to hold your ankle here so help you kick.' If you or your child ever experiences any discomfort in these situations - please let me know and we will address right away. 

8) It is going to be a whirlwind of a 9 week season - we know May is super super busy for everyone - come to practice as often as you can - the more kids attend, the more they will improve while increasing their connection to the team - but please do not stress if your child is missing a practice here and there - we know everyone is doing the best they can. We will make the most of each moment your child is at practice. We understand that on top of school, many kids are still doing several activities while parents are also at capacity with family & work responsibilities. When you have concerns, please reach out - we will work together to address things and work through them to best support your child. 

Have Fun, Race Hard, Do Your Best & Go Poolsharks!

- Coach Beth