Author: musingsf

Note to Swim Team Parents: To keep parents informed about West Howard Wahoos swim team happenings, new/updated information will be posted in three places:

• The West Howard Wahoos Shutterfly site — log in and password required.
• This site in the West Howard Swim Club’s Swim Team section.
• The swim team bulletin board by the check in desk.

Coach Justin held several parent meetings last week. Were you able to attend one? If not, here’s what you missed. By the way, keep checking back to this blog…the Wahoos blog…for information about swim team.

Coach Justin’s Information for Parents…and Swimmers

Coaches

Returning assistant coaches are Matt Byrd, Rebecca Kasda, and Michelle Skroupa.

Motivation/Team Spirit

• For the second year in a row, swimmers will track their personal improvement with a swim times chart. See large posters on the wall under the large pavilion roof.
• Swimmers should swim for themselves.
• At each practice the coaches will write goals on a white board posted on the pool deck. Swimmers should check the white board at each practice.
• Swimmers should also check the large, white interval clock for swim times.
• Every swimmer will receive a Wahoos t-shirt.
• This year the team will have cheers and themes for each meet. Stay tuned!
• Older swimmers should be prepared to mentor younger swimmers.

8-and-Unders

• This year we have 50 8-and-under swimmers. Wow!
• 8-and-unders are the future of the Wahoos swim team.
• Some young, inexperienced swimmers may be placed on a Pre Team where they can learn the flutter kick, breathing, scooping, and other skills necessary to swim in a meet. Bottom line: Kids must be safe in the water.
• Younger, inexperienced swimmers who gain skills may be able to move up to the Swim Team.

Registration

• If you haven’t turned in your registration (AAU number and registration form), you must do so soon as your child cannot swim without it.
• Some signed up for AAU using last year’s team number. If you signed up using “XTA,” please change your AAU registration to “XTE.” Let Mary Pat or Debbie know that you changed to the new number.

Volunteers/Food Contributions

• If you haven’t signed up to volunteer, please go to SignupGenius.com, create an account, and click on “Find a Signup.” In the “Enter the email of the Sign Up List’s creator” field use “whstvolunteers@gmail.com” to find the “2012 Volunteers” sign in.
• We need everyone on the team to volunteer. No exceptions! Our team only functions with willing volunteers. Questions about volunteering: email Kay c2swim@verizon.net
• A sign up will open soon for food contributions. Please send in only NAME BRAND sodas and bottled water.
• We will have a concession stand this year run by Jenn Milanosovich and Beth dePasquale.

Divisionals

• Wahoos will host Divisionals July 28. Every family will need to volunteer to make the meet a success!

Practices

• Practices will be after school until June 13. Morning practices will begin on June 14.
• Coaching staff may move swimmers from one practice to another based on the needs of the individual swimmer. The coaches will let you know if your swimmer will switch practices.
• Girls need to wear a swim cap. Boys with longer hair should also wear a swim cap.
• No bikinis for girls or baggy swim trunks for boys. Practice/team suits only.
• If you have a question for a coach, PLEASE wait until after practice is over.
• Fridays are fun practice days. Fridays will have team building activities for all swimmers. Fun practices will begin mid-June.
• Some Fridays there will be Pancake Pep Rallys and some Fridays there will be donuts. Check the schedule.
• July 4 is an optional fun practice from 9-11 a.m. In town? Stop by for fun relays and of course, the Watermelon event!

Got questions?

Questions for the coach: email Coach Justin Owen, jojo0718@msn.com

Questions for the team reps: email Mary Pat Jordan, jordan.marypat@gmail.com, or Debbie O’Byrne, debbieo2004@comcast.net

Questions about volunteers: email Kay Browning, c2swim@verizon.net

Questions about the Shutterfly site or West Howard Swim Club site: email Stacie Stolba, stacie.stolba@comcast.net or Jill Berry, jillanneberry@msn.com