Click here for 2009 Practice Calendar

Expectations for swim practices

· Please ensure your swimmer is on time for practices (on time for stretching as well) as it is a disruption to everyone (and not beneficial to your child) when they are late for/or miss warm-ups. Your swimmer may be asked to sit out the set she/he is interrupting.

· Equipment – goggles and caps (if your swimmer’s hair is long enough to be tied back) are mandatory.

· Proper swimsuits are also required. Boys should we wearing Speedo-style suits or jammers (please ask your child’s coach if you have any questions).

· All swimmers should have flippers. Intermediates and Seniors should have pullbouys.

See Marjorie Renholm (Osborne) about equipment.

· Parents of Senior, Intermediate, and Junior swimmers - Please ensure your swimmers are ALWAYS prepared for dry land training at Bear Creek and at all morning practices at Greenaway. They should be wearing runners/comfortable, flexible clothing and should have a water bottle.

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· Know that swimming is one of the few sports where young athletes can train a lot of hours with no negative consequences (provided it is done correctly). It takes a lot of time for children to learn to “feel the water” and this is the key to speed and efficiency in the water.

· For senior/intermediate level swimmers -Fatigue is a normal and necessary by-product of training and does not (by itself) indicate your swimmer needs time off. If he or she is healthy and enjoying the sport, let them swim, it will only make them faster and stronger in the long run.

· We realise that different swimmers have different goals and it is our job to try to help each individual achieve theirs. The amount of pool time allotted to each group (specifically the Senior group) is maximised to help the “competitive” swimmers achieve their goals of trying to qualify for Provincials. They need to be given the same opportunity for success as their competitors in order to be stand a chance against them and to achieve their goals. The number of hours our Senior swimmers train is comparable to (and less than, in most cases, due to our late starting season) other swim teams in and around our Region. This is why the morning practices are long and hard a lot of the time – they are a necessary evil if we are to be competitive with the other kids in our Region.

**There are options for swimmers who may not be as competitive as their counterparts. One of the nice things about summer swimming is the number or swim practices available to them to choose from. Your swimmers need to understand, however, that s/he will get out of swimming, exactly what she or he puts into it”.

· All coaches follow season plans which are designed to help your swimmer succeed and to be swimming their fastest by Regionals and Provincials. Your swimmers need to understand that to achieve this they must put the effort in and follow the planned training schedule.

Communication

· Please check the files and the notice board every practice and your email regularly for upcoming events, changes in schedules and other important information that you will need.

Parents on deck

· None, thank-youJ! If you have any questions or concerns, please see your child’s coach before or after the practice.

Special Concerns

· We do encourage parents to watch the lesson outside the pool fence. We also encourage parents to communicate with the coaches daily and Carmen is happy to share with you, how your child is doing.

· Please remember that all coaches and coaching styles are different and each will have their own strengths and weaknesses. We all have our own way of doing the best job we can with your swimmers and there is no one “right” way to get the job done:). Thank you, in advance, for appreciating the differences you may experience from one coach to another.

I am not anticipating any problems this summer, as we have great coaches and the Cloverdale Tritons are known for having great, laid-back parents. However, If you have any problems concerning your swimmer and his or her coach that may require more than a quick conversation to resolve, please inform me in writing (email is fine) ASAP and I will deal with the situation as quickly as possible.

My email address is: (awaiting new head coach info)

My cell (awaiting new head coach info)

And for emergencies or serious concerns only please; my home phone # is (awaiting new head coach info)