It is a New Season and a new opportunity for improvement and success. I hope those families returning to SWAT are looking forward to and working towards bigger things. New families, I welcome you to the club. This will not only be a place of learning how to swim (fast), but also a place to learn about other skills and aspects of ourselves. SWAT wants this to be a safe space to explore this sport and grow as people.

Last season was one of exploration and learning as I stepped into a new role, with a new club, in a new province and city. I could not have been happier with how the season went. Everyone in the club found some form of success: from that first splash with the club and humble best times, to Nova Tech graduation and AAA qualification, to East Coast Champs finals and medals and Junior Nationals qualification. I applaud everyone that tried something new regardless of the results. We don’t learn what we are capable of without trying to get outside our circle.

We welcome back the Tidal Waves for their first full season as a group in the club. This group has added a new landing place for new swimmers and those that have cut their teeth in the Mini Waves program. The groups addition to the club also highlights the greater training and competition goals for each group in the club. There are some subtle changes to group titles to reflect the level of competition, and the inclusion of a second Junior group to reflect the successes of last year.

I encourage everyone to look at the next step, the next level. Look at the standards for the next level of competition. Get excited about the idea of where you could be and who you could be swimming and racing with or against. Break them down into achievable targets; find a way to say, “that doesn’t sound too hard,” and share those goals with your coaches and friends to get everyone excited about taking that next step together.

The Parent Handbook is a tool for families to check on club expectations, standards, and policies for swimmers, families, and staff. It will give a preliminary look at meet procedures and structures, volunteering and officiating information, communication procedures. It also provides Nova Tech graduation criteria, and qualification standards for East Coast Championships (AAA) and National level competitions. I would encourage each family to read and keep a copy of the handbook.

I am excited for this new year. I am excited to be back at the pool. I am excited to see the successes of the swimmers and staff for this season. Tell you families, tell your friends, SWAT is back and we are only getting better!

Matt Pedersen
SWAT Head Coach