JV/Varsity Swimmers: Moving Forward!

 

 

I.          Moving forward onto our next phase

As school swimming comes to a close this week (Districts) and next (Regionals – for qualifiers), we are excited to launch forward into the next iteration of aquatics!

Every single swimmer involved in Spartan Swimming this fall made incredible forward progress!  We learned a lot of new technical and tactical skills, gained awareness of training intensities, developed strong team camaraderie and experienced a great deal of individual and team success.  Yet, as many of the kids have realized this fall, there is a great deal more to swimming than they may have originally thought.  Despite all that we have accomplished this season, there is much, much more to learn; and, in fact, we have only just begun to break the surface into each swimmer’s true potential.  Quite frankly, in this day and age, if one is to be competitive in interscholastic swimming, one must swim for more than 12 weeks per year (the typical duration of the school season). 

As such, every single swimmer is strongly encouraged to stay involved with swimming through the winter, spring and summer, so that next fall, we begin the season further ahead of where we ended the season this year.  Staying involved in swimming is an opportunity all swimmers can realize by becoming a part of our club swimming program – Miami Country Day Aquatics.

I know that many of our swimmers are involved in other sports, during both the winter season and the spring season.  However, club swimming is something that can work within a schedule that involves other sports, school work, and outside activities.  Unlike interscholastic swimming, where all practices and competitions are required, club swimming provides a greater allowance for individual schedules and needs.  We encourage all of our club swimmers to attend practice at least 4-5 times per week; however, we do have swimmers who are only able to commit to 2-3 practices per week. 

Those not involved in other sports, who are wanting to make a commitment to competitive club swimming, will find with regular practice attendance and participation in club meets that their swimming abilities skyrocket.   Even swimmers who commit to at least a couple of practices per week through the rest of the year will find themselves more experienced, more knowledgeable, and competitive at a much higher level than ever before.  Come next fall, these swimmers will be the leaders of Spartan Swimming!

 

How does one continue the successes of this fall and continue on that path with club swimming?

1.       All swimmers who participated this fall with Spartan Swimming are already entered in our online team management platform.  As such, there is no need to re-register swimmers with our program. 

2.       Swimmers who participated in Spartan Swimming this fall, who continue with club swimming through the winter/spring, will be placed in either our Advanced Blue or Gold training groups. 

3.       If your swimmer wants to continue as part of our club program, simply send me an email, and we will take care of the rest. 

4.       If you have already communicated with me relative to your swimmer continuing, there is no need to do so again.  I have already made the necessary adjustments in our team management platform and look forward to seeing your swimmer on Monday!

5.       Practices begin on Monday, October 29, and will continue through the winter and spring, following the same practice schedule as this fall. 

a.       Monday – Thursday 4:30pm-6:30pm

b.      Friday 3:45pm-5:45pm

c.       Saturday 9:00am-11:30am

d.      Check out the complete November calendar HERE.

6.       Club swimmers will also have the opportunity to participate in competitions, approximately 1-2 times per month.  Most competitions are in the South Florida area; some swimmers, however, may be invited to participate in travel competitions.  Check out our competition schedule (through December) here.  The competition schedule (January – May) will be available very soon.

7.       The monthly fee for club swimming is $130.  There is also a one-time, annual, USA Swimming registration fee of $60.  As such, the fee for the first month (November) is $190, billed to your team account.  Fees for subsequent months, at a rate of $130, would also be billed to your team account, which generates invoices on the first of every month.

8.       There are four pieces of required equipment/apparel for new club swimmers:  team suit, team shirt, training fins and a mesh equipment bag.  All items are provided to swimmers when they join the club program, and associated charges are billed to your team account.  Team warmups, team bags, etc., are not required for new club swimmers, although they are available should you wish to order them at some point.

9.       Please review our website for full details on financial obligations and equipment/apparel.

10.   More questions?  Please don’t hesitate to contact me ( email or phone 305-779-6778).

11.   Additionally, if you haven’t already, please familiarize yourself with our team website: ( www.aquatics.miamicountryday.org).  On the site, you’ll find information about upcoming meets, schedules, news, events, coaching updates and more.  It’s a good idea to check the website regularly for new information. 

 

 

III.                Water Polo Opportunities Available this Winter – Please see the info below from Coach Guillen

1.       Water polo is open to those ages 11 and up, boys and girls of any skill level (beginners, intermediate, or advanced)

2.       For those wishing to compete (no competition schedule yet available) members must be register with USA Water Polo as a silver athlete ($65) in order to participate in USA Water Polo sanctioned events. To register, go to www.usawaterpolo.com, click on join now, check “silver athlete,” fill out the membership form and chose "Miami Country Day Aquatics" as the club of affiliation.

3.       Club fee: $300 for the three months (November, December & January) or $115 on a monthly basis for those who want to try it out first, then $200 for the last two months if decide to stay.

4.       Fees for water polo participation will be billed to your team account.

 

IV.                Swimming & Water Polo

1.       For swimmers who also want to participate in water polo, practice opportunities will be as follows:

                                                   i.      Monday/Wednesday:  Swimming 4:30pm-6:00pm; Polo 6:30pm-7:30pm

                                                 ii.      Tuesday:  Swimming 4:30pm-6:30pm

                                                iii.      Thursday:  Polo 4:45pm-7:30pm

                                               iv.      Friday:  Swimming 3:45-5:45pm

                                                 v.      Saturday:  Swimming 9:00am-11:30am; Polo 12:00pm-2:30pm

2.       Certainly, athletes are not required to attend all practices; however, this combination of swimming and polo will allow athletes to develop better swimming skills and water polo skills in a mutually compatible manner. 

 

V.                  Water Polo Only

a.       For athletes seeking to participate in water polo only, practice opportunities will be as -follows:

                                                   i.      Monday/Wednesday/Thursday:  4:45pm-7:30pm

                                                 ii.      Saturday:  12:00pm-2:30pm

b.      For more information on water polo, please contact Coach Guillen. 

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As always, if you have any questions, please let me know.  Thanks, and see you at the pool!

Coach Pittman