CLUB NEWS - June 2, 2020
Miami Country Day Aquatics
TEAM UPDATE
Hello All,
I hope everyone is safe and healthy. I know that we have all been apart and quarantined in our homes for most of this time, but now that there has been some loosening of the restrictions, I am sure that we are all itching to get out of the house and back to a “normal” schedule.
A lot of parents have been asking if last week was the end of our Zoom Dryland. Typically, June 1st would mean the end of the Spring Quarter and the start of our summer season. But, considering the situation we are all still facing, we want to continue to provide you with the daily Facebook workouts and weekly Zoom meetings. We will continue to offer our Dryland sessions as long as we are out of the water! So just because school has ended and summer has technically started, we want to see all our swimmers’ faces on our computer screens. If you haven’t joined us in the past, please start. If you’ve taken a break, get back to it! It really is a great way for the athletes to see friends, stay connected to the team, and stay fit.
The MCDA Relaunch
I’d like to give you all an idea as to where MCDA is in regards to returning to the pool deck. I have submitted a Miami Country Day Aquatics Relaunch and Facility Reopening Protocol proposal to the administration and Covid-19 Task Force. They are going through the very detailed document with the Facilities Department, the Chief Operating Officer and the Head of the Auxiliary Programs here at Country Day. Once our plan aligns with the school’s plan to have students and faculty/staff back on campus, we can then present the Relaunch Plan to the Head of School. I will say that we have received a lot of support along the way and there are many people who are pushing for us to get started.
I believe that we are the perfect program to start the back-to-campus initiative. We have 3 full time dedicated coaches, a great group of highly motivated athletes who are comprised of Miami Country Day School as well as the local community and of course a great support staff of enthusiastic parents. We could be the guinea pig program that helps all the other programs find their way to opening up again!
Getting Back in the Pool
I’m sure you all have been keeping track of all the new openings across the state and here in Miami. As of June 1, the Mayor of Miami passed a motion to open up pools and beaches. Since Miami Country Day School is still working on their Return to Campus Plan and not yet opened, below is a list of pool facilities where you can reserve lane space. Remember that each facility will have their own rules and regulations, so please call ahead. Your primary training group coach will provide you with a very general swim workout. So please reach out to him or her. These workouts will be based on getting swimmers back into shape. They will not be geared towards speed or high intensity training.
Coral Springs Aquatic Center
12441 Royal Palm Boulevard, Coral Springs – 954-345-2121
Swim Fee - $5.00 per hour
Plantation Aquatic Center
9151 NW 2nd Street, Plantation – 954-452-2525
Swim Fee - $7.00 (adult) / $4.00 (child)
Miami Shores Aquatic Center
10200 Biscayne Blvd., Miami Shores, - 305-795-2241
Swim Fee – Miami Shores Residents - $5.00 per 45 min
Oak Grove Park Pool
690 NE 159th Street, Miami, FL – 305-755-7850
Swim Fee - $2.00 per hour.
Summer Plans
I know that many of us had summer plans which might have included some family travel, a swim camp, a sleep away summer camp. Those plans have probably fallen by the wayside by now. Many parents have asked me if we will be running our program soon and what it will look like. I can only tell you that we are working very hard to get our program up and running. Please be patient as our protocols need to be looked over and approved by many different people before we get the go ahead to start swimming again. But know that we will be splashing around as soon as we can!!!
Happiness Matters
Finally in this most troubling times, please remember that happiness matters. With all that is going on just outside our doors, in our city, in our country and across the world, it is imperative that we carve out a little bit of happy time. I hope this simple list of 7 ways to boost happiness sheds some light on things we all need to or can do in our daily lives.
7 Ways to boost happiness by Gretchen Rubin
1. Double down on physical self-care. “Your physical experience will always influence your emotional experience”
2. Meditate. “Meditation increases feel-good neurochemicals, as it reduces stress hormones such as adrenaline and cortisol”
3. Improve sleep. Rest is crucial in physical and mental wellness. Take the time to regulate your sleep.
4. Connect with other people. Don’t isolated yourself. Take time to talk to others. Reach out to that old friend that you’ve been meaning to call!
5. Make your bed and declutter your space. Outer order, Inner calm. Decluttering can be difficult with more people at home, but whatever you can do to help and give you a sense of control.
6. Get outside. Exposure to natural environments has been linked with better health and lower stress. Get off the couch and way from your phones and screens!
7. Say thank you. Rather than noticing what you don’t have, take a minute and give gratitude for what you do have.
Best way to make yourself happy is to make others happy. So ask yourself “how can I lift other people’s spirits?
I’ve said this before and I will say it again, we all miss swimming and our team very much. Stay connected to your teammates and your coaches. Figure out ways to get stronger, quicker, and more flexible. We will get to the other side of this thing much sooner than later. And even though it doesn’t seem like it now, my hope is that we can look back at this crazy time and we can be better people for it. Please stay in touch with me and let me know how you're doing or if there is anything I can do to help.
I look forward to seeing you poolside!
Coach Eric
"Opportunities to find deeper powers within ourselves come when life seems most challenging." ~Joseph Campbell~
