Dear Parents,

I promise that I tried to keep this email short and to the point this week, but it didn't quite happen!  Please do take a minute to read through this message, as there is important information included for this upcoming week.  I know I've sent quite a few emails, so if you ever need to reference a previous group email they can be found in the "news" section (under the "about" tab) on our team website!

Re-cap from last week:

Younger swimmers continued to work on freestyle technique.  We began working on backstroke and starts.

Older swimmers worked on starts, freestyle and breaststroke turns, breaststroke pullouts, and breaststroke technique.

Preview for this week:

Younger swimmers will continue to work on starts, and we will add in working on finishes.  We also plan to spend 2 days each on breaststroke and butterfly to being setting the foundations for those strokes.

Older swimmers will continue to work on turns (with instruction on backstroke, butterfly, and breaststroke turns).  We will continue to practice technique drills for free, back, and breast, but our main focus will be on butterfly this week.  

REQUESTS:

• PLEASE look at your calendars and sign your swimmers out of any meets that conflict with other summer plans https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSepvF3VSM... This is VERY IMPORTANT as the entry of 1 swimmer directly affects how a number of other swimmers are placed in relays. 

• During meets, please make sure that your child stays in or near the team area. This helps child gatherers and coaches!  Sometimes swimmers get sick and we have to make a last minute change to a relay, and we need to be able to go to the swimmer area and quickly locate whoever we might be looking for!

• During meets (and practices) we kindly request that parents cheer, motivate, double check that their child is drinking plenty of water, etc.  However, please try to refrain from coming behind the blocks or coaching from the side.  I know this can be hard, especially if your volunteer job puts you behind the blocks, but we ask that you do your best to honor this request. Sometimes there are lane and heat changes that only coaches and meet officials are aware of, and once swimmers are behind the blocks, they need to be listening to the coaches.  Thanks in advance for your help with this. 
• Goggles, caps, and suits....  Few things are more frustrating for swimmers than goggles that fall off or leak.  There are a few things that you can do to help your kids (and us!) improve this problem.  First--swim caps!  They really do help goggles stay in place, prevent hair from getting in eyes, and keep goggle straps from pulling on hair. Please make sure you bring a cap to practice tomorrow, as I am going to ask that swimmers wear them if they have them!  Second--goggle placement.  The goggle strap should go straight around the back of the head (or at a slightly upward angle), and should NOT be at the base of the head. This helps keep goggles in place when pushing off the wall and diving. Third-hair.  If your child has long hair, opt for a low pony tail or braid that can twisted up into the cap.  By avoiding a big pony tail bump at the back of head, swimmers should be able to more easily place their goggles in the correct position. Boys suits: I know many boys would prefer to wear their swim shorts to practice instead of a jammer (competition style suit), but when young swimmers are learning to find their balance in the water, getting their hips up is something we already struggle with. By wearing short-style swim trunks, they add weight and drag to the hip area, which makes it even more difficult for them to feel the water and get their hips up. So, if possible, encourage your boys to wear their jammers!  
  

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Announcements:

• Morning practices start this week!  We will also have afternoon practices on days that we do not have regular meets.  You may choose to attend either morning or afternoon practices, and may attend whichever practice works best for you. There is no need to let me know which practice you will attend. This week's schedule is as follows:
  • Monday: (Meet @ Winchester)
    • 9-10am: 11 & up practice
    • 10-11am: 10 & under practice
    • 5:00-5:15pm:  Arrive at Winchester pool to check-in with coaches, mark events, and set up swimmers in the team area.  The pool address is 3400 Armitage Drive, Charlotte, 28269.  Make sure to allow for a bit of traffic when planning on what time to leave!
    • 5:30- Wynfield swimmers in the pool for warm-ups
    • 6:00- ?   Swim Meet
  • Tuesday & Wednesday: 
    • 9-10am: 11 & up practice
    • 10-11am: 10 & under practice
    • 6:30-7:30pm: Evening practice-all ages welcome. 
  • Thursday: (Meet @ Highland Creek)
    • 9-10am: 11 & up practice
    • 10-11am: 10 & under practice
    • 5:00-5:15pm: Arrive at Highland Creek pool to check-in with coaches, mark events, and set up swimmers in the team area. The pool address is 6213 Bells Mill Drive, Charlotte, 28269 (*use intersection of Christenbury and Grandeur for overflow.)  Based on experience, make sure to go to this address, and not one of the other pools in the Highland Creek neighborhood!  Also,make sure to allow for a bit of traffic when planning on what time to leave!
    • 5:30- Wynfield swimmers in the pool for warm-ups
    • 6:00- ? Swim Meet
  • Friday:  FUN FRIDAY!!!!   
    • 9:00-10:30: Fun water "practice" at the Wynfield Pool!!!!
    • 1:00-3:00:  Spare Time Spirit Event.  The cost is $15 per person, which includes 1.5 hours of bowling( includes shoes), 1 game of laser tag and a $5 game card. Please see the included link to RSVP yes or no .
      https://goo.gl/forms/PQIx6IY238aV8hFV2
  • Saturday: Speedy meet!  River Run @ Wynfield.  Please arrive between 8-8:15 am. We will warm-up at 8:25. 
• Meet Entries:  Heat Sheets for each meet will be posted on the Wynfield Waves website under the "meet entries 2018" tab. If you want a copy for the meet, you should print these from home.  Tomorrow's heat sheet will be posted as soon as it becomes available.

• RELAYS:  In an effort to maximize the number of relays we have and to give all swimmers a chance to swim in a relay, I have opted to "swim up" some of our swimmers.  Thus, an 8 year old might find themselves on a relay with 9/10 year olds, or a 12 year old might be swimming with 13/14 or even 15/18 year old swimmers.  Please know that when I make these decisions I do my best to respect the level that each swimmer is at. I hope these relays offer a chance for swimmers to get to know each other a bit better.  Please know that I will not swim a 9/10 swimmer up (since that would mean swimming 50's instead of 25's) unless I have cleared such a change with the swimmer and parent(s).  If you ever have a question or concern about this, please let me know!

Final thoughts

Warm-ups:

Before each meet we do a warm-up.  There are numerous benefits to having kids warm-up.  It increases oxygen flow to muscles, helps decrease the resistance of muscles and joints, and gives swimmers a chance to get a feel for the water that day (and backstroke counts!).  Once warm-ups are over, we want to maximize the benefit of the warm-up.  Encourage your children to keep their muscles warm by putting on a shirt and/or shorts/pants, or at least wrapping up in a towel, especially after that sun goes down.