Notes from Parent Meetings!
Notes from Parent Meetings!
Here are the key notes if you missed the beginning of year parent meetings, we apologize this is out a little late - please read carefully, start to finish, all parents responsible for knowing!
Meet Sign-ups/Participation:
PLEASE PARTICIPATE! Participating in meets on a regular basis is the number one thing that will keep swimmers engaged in our sport - PLEASE PARTICIPATE when you can. The meets involve higher level stroke work, focused feedback, stroke mechanics, and accountability - we ALWAYS see the most improvement from the swimmers that are participating in meets on a regualr basis. If event is a 3-day weekend, you can do all 3 days, 2 out of 3, 1 day, or just 1 session! We have a unique situation in that MOST/ALL of our meets are LOCAL! It is VERY IMPORTANT that all competive swimmers also choose a December Championship Meet, AND a February/March Championship Meet (some will be 2 or several depending on time standards met). Seasonal swimmers - November Meet info will be coming soon!
PICKING EVENTS: We let swimmers and parents choose first - you go first, but coaches have final edit! If you max out events, or your swimmers "playing time" as we call it, we usually don't do much but I have had in the past literally kids come up to me angry that he or she was put in an event that he or she did not sign-up for...coaches have final edits! If you have any logistical conflicts let us know in the notes field. We cannot guess or read minds, but please let coaches make swim decisions (and parents make the logistical decisions)...this is a unique privelege we give GCY parents and swimmers that most teams and sports do not allow...Rationale, as a former swim team parent only, our family would sacrifice entire weekends for meets and often times kids were in only 1 or 2 events and not the events that they typically enjoy....we do not want that to happen to you! In our meets, we want to MAXIMIZE your swimmers "playing time" and have them max out on events, as the best swimmers do, this is a proven formula! Normally the max put you only missing one event per day, so why fight over what is typically 1 event? If we see what we feel are poor swim decisions we will edit and typically discuss. If you would like to leave blank and for your coach to decide events, just click yes, most do this! In championship meets, we try to focus more on specific BEST events and how much rest/time swimmers get between events is more strongly considered. We would like ALL swimmers to do each stroke and distance by end of year, and hopefully get IMR and/or the IMX Award! This is another reason why we give you first choice - please make sure you are getting in all events!
Click here for more information on the IMX Program
(National Team Notes: You are auto-signed up, you are in this program because it is assumed you will participate in meets on a regular basis. When logistical issues pop up, please decline, we still have to pay your fees when you do not show up - help us keep your monthly cost at the great rate you have by declining when you cannot attend!)
Team Suits/Equipment:
Summary: Long fins are best, get team equipment for more enjoyable practices, we have SILICONE caps!
We are a SPEEDO sponsored team, and SPEEDO has done alot for us! Please purchase the new Speedo team suit if you can, and get your swimmers up-to-date with his/her equipment.
2 big points:
- GCY is a "LONG" fin team, swimmers should purchase the long rubber fins, NOT the shorter zoomer/short fins.
- Your practices and sets have snorkles/fins/paddles sometimes, swimmers should not rely on borrowing pool site equipment on a daily basis, it is there primarily for our seasonal groups and for days when you might forget it, it will not always be there! Swimmers SHOULD NOT but GCY pool deck equipment in his/her bags, if you find it have them return it to keep the costs down.
Click here to view REQUIRED equipment by group (PLEASE GET ASAP)
Click here to view/purchase TEAM SUIT and ALL EQUIPMENT (PLEASE BUY off of our website, PROCEEDS go back to the team when you do!)
Also - Silicone and latex caps, ALL COLORS, as well as shirts and more, ARE ALWAYS AVAILABLE for purchase at the Bryan YMCA office - get these while we are stocked up!
Saturday Mornings and GCY Best Kept Secrets:
Competitive: Sometimes, if the last practice is on a Thursday, and swimmer never practices on a Friday or Saturday, that 3-4 day gap really hurts his or her development as a competive swimmer, Coach Brad stressed attendance on these 2 days when you can make it happen logistically (to avoid those gaps). Saturday mornings are key practices where SEASONAL can also come out to make up a missed class on these mornings! PLUS, all swimmers get to interact with what might be a different coach or a coach they might see in an upcoming meet, this is immensely helpful!
Also, we've said "yes" to certain swimmers on certain things during the year, and have tied those "yes's" together in a Bonus Benefits section on our website:
CLICK HERE FOR GCY BONUS BENEFITS
Coaching:
At GCY, building in different coach interaction is VERY INTENTIONAL. We see this as a weakness in our sport sometimes when a swimmer has 1 coach only, all the time, for everything...your swimmer has a PRIMARY COACH, and then will likely have secondary coaches that will be scheduled in or that he or she will see on Saturday mornings or at meets or at other sites, or for certain segments of practice (ie- dryland). As a former swimmer, parent, and a coach with 25-years plus experience, this is a GOOD thing, and a STRENGTH. Our coaches are passionate about what they do, and are often coming in from full time jobs or school because they enjoy what they do each day. We have monthly meetings, coaching and re-certification classes, continuing education, and constant communication through direct and electronic means. We will continue to develop our coaches, educate, and get better and better on a daily basis. We HAVE NOT had to hire very many coaches in the past 2 years, because most stay with us, but when we do please know that these new coaches go through a rigorous background check and extensive safety training. When your swimmer completes his or her senior year of high school or final year at GCY, and he or she is interested in coaching please let us know, we know they've been through a great program and that there are some fantastic young minds on our team!
Travel Trips/Bonus Dryland/Special Events
When these are offered, please have your swimmer participate if possible! When finances are a factor, let us know, we can offer sometimes delayed billing or there is scholarship assistance. These events are both social and developmental...for example our annual Cocoa Beach trip is a college prep event to get swimmers accustomed to what he or she will do collegiately, and a focused week of practice - but more importantly it is a social event that he or she will likely remember for a lifetime. GCY has traditional events, but then occasionally we'll go outside the box a little bit, all of these things are designed to build performance, friendships, and a passion for our sport!
Billing/Website/Other Issues:
Send us an email or call us in the office if there are ever any issues, but here were a few other things we spoke about:
- 13&over swimmers should have at least the "Teen" Membership, FAMILY memberships are always BEST!
- If you have not got a login/password please let us know immediately.
- Always DECLINE or ACCEPT meets/events, this helps us not to keep bothering everyone with unnecessary emails.
- We pay for meets 10 days out, BEFORE we typically charge you or your account. You will still be charged for any changes after that point because we have already paid host team or facility (this is industry standard, policy of most all swim teams in the country).
- We need parents on the GCY Makos Cub! If you are interested please let us know, we'll have another meeting soon!
