Swim Practice
Q: Do I have to attend every practice? You do not need to attend every practice, but we highly recommend attending as many as possible. The more you put into swimming, the more you get out of it. Consistent participation helps swimmers improve and bond with the team. Many younger swimmers compete in other sports, so they may occasionally miss a practice or take a season off to participate in another sport.
Q: What should I bring to practice? Every swimmer should come to practice with a one-piece swimsuit, swim cap, goggles and a refillable water bottle. For required equipment specific to each group, please visit our practice groups page.
Q: Can I stay and watch practice? Absolutely! Many of our parents, especially those of newer swimmers, stay and watch practice. You do not have to stay and watch, we just ask that you return to the facility in time to pick up your swimmer.
IMPORTANT: If you do decide to stay and watch practice, please do not interrupt practice by talking to your swimmer or the coaches. When swimmers are at practice, they are in a learning environment. Talking to them during practice is a distraction and can take them out of that head space. You wouldn't go into your child's classroom and interrupt class to talk to them. We ask that you treat swim team practice the same way.
If you have questions or need to talk to a coach, please come early to practice or wait until after practice. You can also email any questions or concerns to Coach Thomas, who can then approach your swimmer's primary coach.
Q: How can I support my swimmer during practice? Making sure your swimmer is ready on time is one of the best ways to support your swimmer. Swimmers should arrive for practice with all their equipment AT LEAST five minutes before the start of practice. We understand traffic can sometimes cause a delay, but tardiness should not be consistent. If school or another activity is preventing your swimmer from consistently arriving on time, please let the coaches know.
In addition, swimmers should not arrive to practice hungry. A snack or light meal is suggested at least 30-60 minutes prior to the start of practice. During practice, swimmers should be drinking water. Sports drinks are not necessary. We also suggest a protein bar or shake immediately after practice (within 15 minutes).
Q: It's raining... Is practice canceled? Practice will take place rain or shine. The pools will only close if there is lightning, thunder, or if it's raining so hard that the lifeguards are unable to see the bottom of the pool. If a storm is in the forecast and we need to cancel practice, an email will be sent out to families ASAP.
More Questions? Please don't hesitate to email Coach Thomas at [email protected]!
