🐟 HCY Stingrays Scoop

Welcome Christie!!! 🐝💙

We are thrilled to welcome Christie to the Stingrays coaching staff! Christie is our Hunterdon Region Aquatic Director and brings an incredible depth of experience, with 16 years in aquatics within our YMCA community and involvement in Y Aquatics programs dating back to 1998.

While Christie did not swim competitively herself, many of you already know her impact firsthand. She has been a driving force in developing young swimmers and has spent years introducing our Little Stingrays to the fundamentals of swim team readiness. Her passion for teaching, nurturing confidence, and building strong foundations has helped countless swimmers take their first steps into competitive aquatics.

Christie is excited to join the coaching staff and to work closely with Lou to create a strong bridge between our aquatic lessons programs and the Stingrays swim team—helping young swimmers grow their skills, build confidence, and develop a lifelong love of swimming.

She will be working with the Little Stingrays and Junior 1 practice groups on Wednesday nights, and we couldn’t be more excited about this collaboration. This is a fantastic step forward in supporting swimmers as they transition from lessons to team—and in strengthening our entire aquatics pathway.

Welcome to the deck, Christie! 🎉🏊‍♀️

Stingrays Splash

Thank you to everyone who has already signed up to volunteer for the Stingrays Splash! Volunteer sign-ups will remain open through Friday, January 9.

As a reminder, each volunteer position at the Stingrays Splash counts for 2 points toward your season-long volunteer requirement. In addition, HCY families who volunteer during the meet will have their swimmers’ entry fees waived (up to $79 per swimmer).

If there are no volunteer spots available in your child’s session, please reach out to [email protected]—we can still use your help!

ADMISSION

There will be no spectator admission fee for this meet.

PARKING ADVISORY

Parking at the Perth Amboy YMCA can be challenging, especially during larger sessions.
Please prepare your families in advance.

• On-site parking is limited and may fill quickly.
• Families should be aware they may need to use the municipal parking garage approximately 1/4 mile down the street from the YMCA.
• Please plan additional time for parking and walking to the facility so swimmers arrive on time for warm-ups.
• Swimmers and their families will not be permitted into the facility until the doors open for their session.  Be prepared to wait in your cars or outside - including in inclement weather.

SESSION SCHEDULE

500/1000/1650 Free Events

• 1000 and 500 FR events will be run slowest to fastest as a timed final, alternating girls/boys
• Heats may be combined to reduce time
• Swimmers need to provide their own timer and counter for the 500 and 1000 Free.
• There will be a 10 minute break before the 500 free and 1000 freestyle events

FACILITY / DECK POLICIES

• Swimmers and spectators may not enter the building until 15 minutes before the first warm-up begins.
• This is for crowd control. No exceptions.
• No chairs, hard coolers, or similar items are permitted inside the facility.
• No food on the pool deck.
• No photography or video behind the starting blocks.
• Meet Mobile will be active during all sessions.

WARM-UP / MARSHALLING / VOLUNTEERS

• Teams must provide 1 marshall per 8–10 swimmers to assist in the gym.
• 10 & Under and 11/12 sessions will be marshaled from the gym.  13 & Over sessions will not be marshaled.
• Two lanes in the warm-up pool will remain open during 11/12 and 13&O sessions only.
• Officials and timers meeting will be held 45 minutes prior to the start of each session.
• Parent volunteers and timers will receive lanyards.
• Designated areas will not be accessible without a lanyard.  Only Parents with a lanyard will be allowed in the gym during the 10 & Under and 11/12 sessions.  No exceptions.

SCRATCHES & START PROCEDURE

• Scratches are due 20 minutes after the first warm-up begins, regardless of team warm-up time. Flyover starts will be used.

🏆 NJ YMCA 8/Under Championships
The NJ YMCA 8/Under Championships are quickly approaching! Meet information and event sign-ups are now live on our website, and all of our 8/Under Stingrays are strongly encouraged to attend this exciting championship experience. This is a fantastic opportunity for our youngest swimmers to race, have fun, and represent the Stingrays on a bigger stage.

⏰ Important: The sign-up deadline is TODAY!!!, so don’t miss out on this great event!

📱 Stay Connected with GroupMe

Join your swimmer’s GroupMe chat to stay updated. We recommend both parents and older swimmers join:

• Seniors: Join Here
• Pre Seniors: Join Here
• Junior 2: Join Here
• Junior 1: Join Here
• Little Stingrays: Join Here

🏅  Meet/Event Schedule

🚨 Important Practice Updates 🚨

January

Friday Jan 16th:  Stingrays Splash Prep

Seniors 4:40-5:40 PM (Seniors dryland from 4:00-4:30)

Pre-Senior and J2 5:40-6:15

Little Stingrays 6:15-6:45

Saturday Jan 17th:  All Practices canceled for Splash

Monday Jan 19th:  All practices canceled

Saturday Jan 24th:  All practices at Deer Path (RVCC is unavailable)

Saturday Jan 31st:  All practices at Deer Path (Portion will be a Deep freeze)

💡 Tip: Mark your calendars now! These changes affect all groups—especially during meet weeks.

See you on the pool deck,
Coach Lou & Coach Ruby