News Splash May 7

Andrew Hasek

Good afternoon Aquajets,

Save the Date:

  • Start of the Summer BBQ in Chico: Tue June 10 (6/10/25) at 6:00pm
  • CAJ Winzenz Family Summer Splash in Durham: Fri June 13 – Sun June 15 (6/13/25-6/15/25) OME Link    
  • Bill Rose Classic: SNS LCM Champs in Roseville: Thu July 17 – Sun July 20 (7/17/25-7/20/25)
  • NVAL Championships in Redding: Fri July 25 – Sun July 27 (7/25/25-7/27/25)

Table of Contents

  • Coach Andrew’s Corner
    • CAJ Sponsorship Drive and competition extended by two weeks
    • Bring Water to Practice
    • CAJ Winzenz Family Summer Splash is open OME Link
    • No practice on Monday May 26 for Memorial Day
    • Lost and found items from the Kalsbeek Classic meet
    • Summer Schedule
    • Woodland Spring Classic is open (LCM) OME Link
    • RAD Rumble by the River is open (LCM, trials and finals) OME Link
    • USA Swim Registration
    • In Motion Locker Rooms
    • Requests from In Motion
  • Important Reminders
  • Upcoming Meets
  • New Aquajet Reminders
  • USA Swim Registration Link
  • Swimmer Account Reminder
  • Membership Cancellation Policy
  • Old Business
    • Safe swimmer pick-up
    • Swimmer safety at In Motion
    • Honor Code
    • Team Snap
    • CAJ Socials
    • Senior and Pre-Senior morning practices Mon & Fri
    • Officials Need
    • Fins
    • CAJ merch and water bottles
    • Goal meetings with Coach Andrew

Coach Andrew’s Corner

Our Spring Sponsorship Drive has been extended by two weeks! It is that time of year again to support your Chico Aquajets by going out and collecting sponsors for our upcoming summer season. If you did not receive the sponsorship email, I sent out last week, let me know so I can forward it to you. Attached to this news splash is the sponsorship form. For each sponsor brought in I will add 3 pom-poms to that swimmer’s group pom-pom jar. The group that brings in the most sponsors will win a BBQ Beach party down at the Forebay sometime in May. All sponsors now need to be turned in by May 15.

Bring Water to practice every day! It may not seem like it, but swimmers do sweat all the time during their practices. With the weather warming up, it means they will be sweating more. To help keep them healthy and comfortable they should bring water, or better yet an electrolyte drink, to practice every day. Going without sufficient fluids can lead to dehydration, irritability, and poor performance in the pool. Staying hydrated is essential.

The CAJ Winzenz Family Summer Splash is open for signups! Signups close on Thursday 6/5, make sure to sign up before it closes. I want every Aquajet to attend this meet if you are in town that weekend. Whether your swimmer has been an Aquajet for one month or for over a decade, each of our swimmers should plan on showing off that Aquajet pride by attending the meet. We are hosting this meet so we will need all hands on deck to ensure it runs smoothly. Last year went great, I am hoping this year does too! OME Link

There will be no practices on Monday 5/26 for Memorial Day. That includes morning practice and afternoon practices. Enjoy your long weekend and spend some time with your family.

Some lost and found items were left at the meet on Saturday. If you are missing a plain white towel or a patterned Pendleton picnic blanket then let me know so I can get your items back to you.

Our Summer Schedule is available now and up on our website. Most groups’ main practice is shifting to the morning at the PV pool, the minijets’ main practice will remain in the afternoon at In Motion. There are afternoon sessions available in case swimmers can’t make their morning practice. The afternoon sessions can also be used to do double workouts for senior and pre-senior swimmers. Attached is a word doc with the summer schedule that will run from Monday June 9 through Thursday July 24.

The Woodland Spring Classic is open for signups! Signups close tomorrow Thursday 5/8 or when all spots are filled. This is one of our few long course meets before the Bill Rose Classic in July. Every swimmer that is planning on attending the Bill Rose Classic or hoping to attend the Bill Rose Classic should race at Woodland’s Spring Classic meet in order to get as much experience racing in a long course pool as possible. Here is the OME Link: OME Link.

RAD Rumble by the River is open for signups! Signups close on Thursday 6/12 or when all spots are filled. This will be the last long course meet that we attend before the Bill Rose Classic in July. All Bill Rose Classic swimmers and those hoping to make it to the Bill Rose Classic should race at RAD’s Rumble by the River to get more experience racing in a long course pool. Here is the OME Link: OME Link

Please remind your swimmers that the locker rooms at In Motion are only to be used when absolutely necessary. In order to help maintain a positive relationship with others using the gym, chico Aquajet swimmers (regardless of In Motion membership status) should prioritize using the outside restrooms and showers when needing to change, shower, or use the restroom. If our swimmers need to use the locker rooms, they need to be quick and respectful while doing so. The locker rooms are not a place to be social. I will talk to each of the groups this week to remind them, please talk to your swimmer(s) as well to help make sure we are using the facilities as intended.

To help maintain a safe environment, In Motion has asked us to follow a couple rules. The first rule is that any child under the age of 14 need to be supervised by an adult. Our coaches are focused on actively practicing groups. Which means when your swimmer(s) is waiting for their practice to start or when they have finished their practice, they need to be supervised by a parent or guardian until they leave the facility. The second rule is to not park in handicap spaces when dropping off or picking up if you do not have the clearance to park in a handicap spot.

IMPORTANT Reminders

  • Make sure your swimmer is USA Swimming registered (the link can be found in the “USA Swim Registration” section of the news splash)
  • Make sure your swimmer brings a water bottle to every practice
  • Check out the Team Store for CAJ gear: Team Store Link
  • Practices are canceled Monday May 26 for Memorial Day
  • Start of Summer BBQ on Tue June 10 at 6:00pm, at Five Mile
  • Practices are canceled Thursday June 19 for Juneteenth
  • Swim-a-thon on Sat August 2 at 8:00am at the PV Pool
  • End of the Summer BBQ on Tue August 12 at 6:00pm, location is TBD

UPCOMING TEAM MEETS

  • Spring Classic in Woodland [AGO, LCM] 5/16/25-5/18/25 OME Link
  • Summer Sanders in Roseville [Qualifier, T/F, LCM] OME Link
  • CAJ Winzenz Family Summer Splash in Durham [AGO, SCY] 6/13/25-6/15/25 OME Link
  • Durham Dolphins Invitational in Durham [Invitational, SCY] 6/20/25-6/22/25
  • RAD Rumble by the River in Redding [AGO, T/F, LCM] 6/20/25-6/22/25 OME Link
  • Gridley AGO in Gridley [AGO, SCY] 6/27/25-6/29/25
  • Orland Dual Meet in Orland [Dual, SCY] 7/9/25
  • Plumas Rapids Open in Quincy [AGO, SCY] 7/12/25-7/13/25
  • Durham Mini Meet in Durham [8&Under, SCY] 7/16/25
  • Bill Rose Classic: SNS LCM Championships in Roseville [Qualifier, T/F, LCM] 7/17/25-7/20/25
  • Orland Otters Invitational in Orland [Invitational, SCY] 7/19/25-7/20/25
  • NVAL Championships in Redding [Invitational, SCY] 7/25/25-7/27/25

NEW AQUAJETS: 

Please Familiarize yourself with our  CAJ Handbook located on the CAJ website under Join the Team.  

We ask that parents avoid being on deck during practice as it can be distracting to the coaches and the swimmers.  

NEW SWIMMERS: SIGN  CAJ WAIVER  AND HAND IT TO YOUR COACH    

USA SWIM REGISTRATION

This link will show you all you need to register your swimmer until the end of 2024.

https://omr.usaswimming.org/omr/welcome/2945A4A75BFD45

SWIMMER ACCOUNT REMINDER: All swimmer fees are due on the 1st day of each month and are considered late if not received by the 10th. A $10 late fee will be assessed for late payments.

Membership Cancellation Policy: Notice of intent to discontinue swimming must be provided to the Chico Aquajets in writing by the 15th of the month before the date of inactivity to cancel monthly fees. Written notice must be provided through the "Contact Us'' button on the CAJ website. Verbal notice to coaches is not sufficient. Any written notice occurring after the 15th of the month before deciding to discontinue will be charged the following month. Any hanging balances left will be billed and payment will be required before any re-registration. 

  • BE ADVISED: if you discontinue your membership, the $75 registration fee will be reassessed upon re-registration. 
  • CAJ WEBSITE: All members must double-check your Team Unify member account to ensure that your e-mail is correct and verified. We also need you to verify your SMS number, and make sure you use dashes. This will ensure you receive ALL of our communications. 
  • REMINDER FROM IN MOTION: If families discontinue their In Motion gym membership it is the responsibility of the parent/guardian to notify In Motion that the swimmer is remaining an Aquajet swimmer. We’d also appreciate notification to the team through the “contact us” button so that our bookkeeper and membership coordinators are aware of your IMF membership status. This will assist in smooth entry to the club as well as accurate billing information for CAJ. Thanks! 

Old Business

  • For the safety of our swimmers please make sure to pick up your swimmer(s) on time after their practice ends.
  • In order to keep our swimmers safe and to ensure a positive relationship with In Motion Fitness I am asking our Aquajet families to adhere to the following. When swimmers are on deck, they need to follow the pool rules: 
    • This includes walking on deck,
    • No horseplay
    • No foul language.
    • Aquajets are only to use the lap pool, the outside showers, and the outside bathrooms during their practice time as well as 30 minutes prior to and after their scheduled practice.
    • Aquajets that are 14 years old or younger need to be supervised at all times. If you are unable to supervise your swimmer while waiting for the start of their practice, then your swimmer will need to sit at the tables located on the deep side of the lap pool so the coaches can watch them.
    • If you are going to watch the practices, please do so at the tables located on the deep side of the lap pool, which In Motion has reserved for us during our practice times. This helps keep the entire outside pool area organized and helps us work with In Motion better.
    • When picking swimmers up, make sure to follow the rules of the road in the parking lot; 
      • stop at stop signs,
      • follow the speed limit of 5mph
      • do not park in handicap spaces (if you are not approved to do so).
  • I have implemented a written Honor Code for all swimmers and a parent/guardian to sign. To help remind everyone of the expectations I have for swimming on this team, I am requiring every swimmer and one of their parents or guardians to sign an Honor Code outlining my expectations and the consequences for failing to meet those expectations. I have attached a copy of the Honor Code to the News Splash that you may print out, sign, and then get back to me. I will also have paper copies on deck swimmers may take home. All swimmers now need a signed Honor Code before they will be allowed to practice. If your swimmer has not turned on in yet, be sure they bring one the next time they are on deck or they will not be allowed to practice until doing so. Thank you to the swimmers and families that have already turned one in, I appreciate it.
  • We use an app called TeamSnap in order to improve the ability of our team to communicate with each other, and to make it easier for our members to see upcoming events. Please download the app and turn notifications on, so you do not miss any information. If you have not received an invite to our team’s profile on TeamSnap, send me an email and I will get an invite to you.
  • Be sure to check out our Chico Aquajets Facebook and Instagram pages for fun posts and information about the team!
  • We have started offering morning practices on Mondays and Fridays for Seniors and Pre-Seniors. Morning practices will be 6:00am-7:00am on Mondays and Fridays at the PV pool (2320 North Ave) through June 6. Swimmers looking to excel this summer should consider attending these practices. On top of all the regular practice benefits, swimmers that go to morning practices can expect an added sense of accomplishment for their day when they start their day with an early morning practice. It can also give participating swimmers an energy boost to start the day, assuming they are getting enough sleep throughout the week.
  • We need more officials! Officials are like the referees of swimming. They watch the races to make sure swimmers are following the rules, they start each race, and they help organize the administrative part of the meet. Officials are a necessity for swim meets. If a team does not meet their official requirements for a meet then their swimmers will not be scored or awarded at that meet. We have been fortunate to have a handful of wonderful parent volunteers that always help us meet our official requirements. Having more officials on our team will help lessen the load for those that currently help our team out by officiating. Other than just supporting our team, officiating lets you learn more about the sport, it helps you be more involved, and a lot of the time you will make friends with other swim parents who are also officials. You may start becoming an official through online USA Swimming courses. Here is a link with more information on the official training process: Official Training. Let me know if you have any questions about becoming an official.
  • Every White group, Navy group, Pre-Senior group, and Senior group swimmer should start bringing a pair of fins to practice every day. I am seeing more fins on deck, which is great! Thank you to all the families for making sure your swimmers come to practice prepared. Fins are a useful tool for helping swimmers build strength, mobility, and improve their technique in the water. Whether they are working on their kick, increasing their speed, or focusing on their overall form, fins can really make a difference. I recommend short-tail fins, like the Arena PowerFin Pro and the TYR Strykers. The coaches would like to implement fin-based sets with the swimmers so please get a pair for each of your swimmers and have them bring their fins to practice every day.
  • Talk to Coach Andrew and check out our Team Store for some CAJ merchandise. If you would like a car magnet ($10 for one or $15 for two), stickers ($3 for one or $5 for two), CAJ Klean Kanteen ($35), or CAJ cap ($12) let Coach Andrew know so he can get it to you. There are also team suits, shirts, parkas, hats, and much more in our team store. It is definitely worth it to take some time and see if anything in the team store piques your interest. Here is a link to the team store: CAJ Team Store.
  • Setting goals is a vital step for the progress of all athletes. Your swimmer will see better development when they have a goal in mind that they are striving towards. In order to help your swimmer set SMART goals, I am available to set up a goal meeting. If your swimmer is interested in setting up a goal meeting with me, reach out and we will work to find a good time to meet.

Your next race has already started,

Coach Andrew