Swim Team information and photos!
It was so great to see so many faces, new and returning, this morning! We gave a lot of information. For those of you brand new to swimming, we know it can be overwhelming! Please don't ever hesitate to email us with your questions! This email has a lot of information. Please read through to the end! (and then click on the link for the fabulous photos by our own team photographer, Marcus Chen!)
Swimtopia: please put this app on your phone and log in! Click on Meets and Events for dates of all events.
Declare availability: you can do this right now for the whole summer. Click on "Meets and Events" and then "Meet Entry." While you're at it, sign up to volunteer!!!! Just click on "Job Sign Up" (See separate Swim Meet 101 email if you're unsure about the jobs) But know that every single job is novice-friendly! We need you! (The family commitment is to volunteer a minimum of three times)
Practices: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday
- 4:15-5:15 for swimmers 11 and up.
- 5:15-6 pm for swimmers 10 and under.
If your family has multiple swimmers in different age groups, you can come to just one practice. Until June 17th, these afternoon practices are the only practices.
- Beginning on June 17th, there will also be a morning practice from 8:30-9:30 am (all ages).
- Beginning on June 12th there will not be a Wednesday practice because there will be a B Meet.
Time Trials: this event is run like a swim meet but there's no other team. The coaches use these times to set up their line-up for the first Saturday swim meet. Time Trials are on Saturday, June 8th, 8:30 am. (Swimmers will do warmups at 8 am)
A Meets: Saturday mornings, beginning on June 15th. Coach Caroline sets the line-up. Please make sure you have marked your availability by the previous Wednesday at 6 pm so that she can create the line-up. Even if your swimmer isn't racing, please come cheer us on! There is always a team lunch after the meet. When we host our meets, the team lunch is a family BBQ at Palisades. For away meets, we will always pick a lunch spot near the host pool.
B Meets: Wednesday evenings beginning on June 12th. See Swimtopia website for pool addresses. Swimmers can swim up to three events in which they are legal. Swimmers cannot swim any event in which they placed in the top three (or top 4 of freestyle) of the previous Saturday's A Meet. Not sure if your child is legal? Ask a coach! Coaches may remove a swimmer from an event if they know that that swimmer cannot swim it without being disqualified. Declare availability by the previous Monday at 7 pm.
Swag: Don't suffer from FOMO! Buy your Palisades swag now! Please place all orders by Saturday, June 1st, 5 pm. The Personalized Team Shirt is a good one for your whole family to have.
Practice gear: Coach Caroline is suggesting that swimmers have training fins and kickboards. These are not mandatory but they do help at practices. If your child already has fins and they aren't "training" fins, that is fine! If you would like to buy new, here are some suggestions:
Photos here of our opening weekend! Many thanks to Marcus Chen (dad to Ian and Kyle), who will produce amazing photographs all summer long.
See you on deck!
Coach Caroline
Patricia and Shelley (A Meet reps)
JP and Amanda (B Meet reps)
Kim (team rep to the Board)
