Happy Mothers Day to all the Moms out there who take their kids to swim practice, wash towels, give hugs after tough races, make trips to D&J sports for swimsuits, goggles, and caps, and volunteer to help with swim meets.  I had a Mom like you and I am truly grateful.

Great work on Friday with Time Trials by night.  Many thanks to the swimmers for sticking it out and finishing well even with mirrored goggles and to our parent volunteers, who power the machine that is our club with the aid of their phone flashlights and determination.  I love it when we work together.

This week at Stingrays we’re going to focus on best stroke—swimming smarter and faster—to be ready to STINGRAY the Copperfield Dolphins on Saturday.  Each day’s focus is:

Two hand touches and best stroke; Time Trial make-ups (Tuesday).

Catching more water for better propulsion and faster flip turns (Wednesday).

Sprint technique (Thursday).

Relays and kick some Fun Friday.

If you miss a day, you miss a lot! 

Time Trial Make-ups:  If you missed time trials on Friday, your best option to make them up and still be in the meet on Saturday is to do them during normal practice times on Tuesday, 5/10.  A parent will need to time you.  Please fill out a time trial form upon arrival at the pool, then go to one of the two lanes reserved for time trials.  Coach Elise has watches for you to use.  Parents, please time your swimmers in their best events first, and plan to spread them out over at least a half hour period so we can get “rested” times.  Forms need to be signed by the timer and turned in to Coach Dore or Coach Elise.

Copperfield Away Meet on Saturday.  You must either sign each swimmer up for 2 events for Saturday (their third event is my decision) or hit the RSVP button to declare the swimmer will not be there by Tuesday midnight (this is a hard deadline).  If you want to be nice to your coaches and the computer folks, you will do one of the two by midnight on Monday (soft deadline).  Please email me in a timely manner if you have a situation that makes it difficult to make a decision so we can determine together what to do.  I can’t tell the future any better than you can, but communication will help us both.  The new software is not friendly about us making last-minute decisions, so the earlier you can declare, the better.  Otherwise we will be at the mercy of the opposing team about whether additional swimmers can be added on Saturday morning.  The faster the swimmer, the more unlikely that will be.  Hint, hint.  Nudge, nudge.  Stomp, stomp.  There will be a test on this on Tuesday at midnight.  It is pass or fail. 

Goal Sheets:  I would love to get a goal sheet from every swimmer.  You can email me or bring it to practice.  Attached document has 3 blank goal sheets and one sample.  Please let the kids do their own and be more creative than my example in their thinking.  Please help me interpret their handwriting if applicable.

Equipment we’ll be using:  Fins (Tues through Thurs) and Paddles (11 & up on Tuesday).  It’s best to have all equipment every day, but that’s my current plan for this week.

Weather:  Thunderstorms are expected this week.  When necessary, we will halt practice for a minimum of 15 minutes following last thunder or lightening activity.  If we cancel a practice, you should get a text.  So far we have not canceled any practices, and I would like to keep it that way!

See you at the pool!

Coach Elise

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