WELCOME TO MINI RACER 2!

We are so excited to have your family with us at RACE and welcome your swimmer to our entry level group for 10 & unders! Our names are Coach Ari and Coach Dave, and we have a range of experience you can read more about here. We have worked together coaching Mini 2 since Fall 2023, and have had a blast doing so.

Though Mini 2 is for all novice 10 & unders, we do separate the group into two–mostly by ability, but also factoring in age. This season, we will be switching which group we coach every two weeks. This allows for the swimmers to get to know both of us, while allocating us each more time to track the progress of that group over the two week period. Your swimmer can progress to the older/upper group at any point in the season, as they’re able to legally swim 3-4 strokes and are ready to increase their yardage.

We look forward to working with your swimmer as they gain a love for the sport and work toward advancing onto future groups! If you have any questions during the season please feel free to reach out to either of us at [email protected] or [email protected].  

HELPFUL INFO ON SWIMMING 

HOW IT DIFFERS FROM OTHER SPORTS

Unlike most other sports, swimming runs year-round, regardless of age or ability. Of course, your family can choose their level of involvement. There are two seasons in the sport of swimming:

• Fall/Winter (Short Course season): the pool is situated for swimming short course yards (SCY) and each length is 25 yards. All meets held during this season are swum SCY. This season runs roughly mid-August through beginning of March. Followed by a 2-3 week break.
• Spring/Summer (Long Course season): the pool is mostly situated for swimming long course meters (LCM) and each length is 50 meters. During this season you’ll see us switch the pool often (from SCY to LCM) and this is to accommodate some of the younger groups, who aren’t yet ready to train LCM. This season runs roughly mid-March through end of July. Followed by a 2-3 week break, then Fall resumes again.

Since swimming is a year-round sport, you will not need to re-register after each season. Rather, if your swimmer needs to take a break, you’ll need to fill out this cancellation form to pause billing. At the end of each season, we e-mail all families of swimmers moving on to another group, based on various requirements.

GROUP OVERVIEW

Mini Racer 2 is for our novice 10 & under swimmers, who are either new to the sport of swimming or still working toward achieving at least one 10 & under ‘B’ time standard (which is required for moving on to Mini Racer 1). Our group emphasizes the importance in swimming basics, such as maintaining a strong kick (both underwater and with each stroke), streamlines, starts, open turns & flip turns, while learning to legally and efficiently swim all four strokes. In our group we set swimmers on a course to race fast and effectively while maintaining legal strokes. 

GROUP GOALS

Our greatest goal at RACE is for all of our swimmers to be successful both in and out of the pool, by learning excellence in life through swimming! Additional goals for Mini Racer 2:

• Swimmers will be legal in all four strokes, underwaters, turns, and finishes.
• Technique in all four strokes will improve throughout the season.
• Consistent streamlines off of every wall.
• Be able to race fast and effectively, while maintaining a strong kick.
• Participate in as many swim meets as possible to gain experience in racing.
• Achieve at least one ‘B’ time standard (required to move on to Mini 1).
• Learn the importance of teamwork through group fun and camaraderie.

GROUP EXPECTATIONS

• Swimmers should be to practice ready to jump in at the start of class.
• Show a willingness to listen to coaches and desire to learn and improve.
• Demonstrate an ability to treat teammates & coaches with kindness and respect.
• There is no weekly practice requirement, but the more they practice, the faster they will improve. We encourage all swimmers to come as often as they can, and to swim in at least the meets hosted at home since it’s the best way to improve and have fun with teammates (meets are also a requirement for moving onto Mini Racer 1, where swimmers need to have met one B time standard).

QUALIFICATIONS FOR MOVING UP

Mini 2 swimmers will move on to swim with one of two groups: either Mini Racer 1 or Junior Racer 2:

Mini Racer 1 is the top 10 & under group at RACE, where swimmers must: have at least one B time standard; attend 80% of practices a week/month; compete in meets each month; arrive on time for practice ready to work hard and improve.

Junior Racer 2 is the novice group for 11 & 12 year olds. If a swimmer turns 11 before the end of the current season, and has not yet met the qualifications for Mini Racer 1, they will move on to Junior Racer 2 (at the start of the following season). Depending on their birthday, a swimmer may still be 10 years old when they are moved to Junior 2. This group must: have four legal strokes; have 11-12 B times working toward BB times; have a commitment to training and improving; demonstrate knowledge of basic drills and be able to maintain more advanced intervals.

GETTING STARTED WITH THE GROUP

FIRST STEPS:

• Download the OnDeck App and MeetMobile App to your phone. There is an annual charge to both, but you will need them. OnDeck is more user friendly to navigate (view your account, meets, team info, etc.) whereas MeetMobile you will be able to view your swimmer’s events and times/placement for events swum at meets. Swimmetry is also a great app to download - more on this app below, on how to check for time standards.
• Be sure to read the weekly e-mails Coach Ari sends out. Oftentimes they include info regarding meets and sign-up deadlines.
• Ensure your swimmer comes to practice on time with the proper equipment.

EQUIPMENT LIST (have your swimmer’s name written on equipment before first day):

• Water Bottle
• Standard sized kick board
• Long Fins
• Working pair of Goggles (extra in swim bag)
• Swim Cap (for girls, and boys if desired)

WHERE TO SHOP:

• SwimOutlet Team Store for RACE team suits, kick boards, fins, etc. You can also search for items not on our team store by doing a standard search on SwimOutlet (ie. practice suits, goggles, long fins, etc.).
• Rockwall Swim & Sport in town has plenty of suits and swimming equipment.
• Amazon sells a variety of goggle and practice suit brands.

PRACTICE SCHEDULE:

Fall 2024: Monday, 8-12-24 through Thursday, 3-6-25

• Mini 2A (Early): M/T/TH from 3:30-4:30 PM
• Mini 2B (Late): M/T/TH 4:30-5:30 PM
• BOTH: Fridays from 4:00-5:00 PM

MEET SCHEDULE:

Our weekly e-mails will include reminders regarding upcoming meets and deadlines. Meets can be tentative and details do shift, so always refer to the meet documents that, as we near the date of the meet, will be attached to the Event file.

(These are tentative; always check the Events page on the OnDeck app or your web browser,  and read weekly e-mails for updates)

• Sat 9/28 RACE/COR Dual @ Home
• Sat 11/9 & Sun 11/10 RACE Tough as Nails @ Home
• Sat 12/14 & Sun 12/15 COPS BB/B/C @ Home

HOW TO CHECK YOUR SWIMMER’S TIME STANDARDS:

• PDF on how to check time standards (cuts), created by Coach Kacy with Mini Racer 1. This PDF lists the different ways to check your swimmer’s cuts and more helpful info along with it.
• Check the USA Swimming Motivational Age Group Times (ie. B, BB, A times etc.): check what time standard your swimmer has achieved per event (pay attention to whether you’re looking under LCM Long Course Meters or SCM Short Course Meters.
• Download the Swimmetry App to your mobile phone (minimal annual charge). This is arguably one of the best tools with all the info you’ll need in one place. After you set up the app with your swimmer’s name, it can be synced to retrieve their results from each meet they swim. It will list their current time, the cut associated with that time, how far they are from the next standard, and you can view all the applicable standards for each event.

OnDeck, MeetMobile, and Swimmetry apps respectively.

ADDITIONAL INFO & LINKS

When you have a moment, please familiarize yourself with our website and apps! Here are some links outside of the regularly visited pages.

• RACE Parent/Swimmer Link with common FAQS.
• Volunteering info for swim meets: we have a RACE team requirement of 20 service hours/year, with an added bonus that it’s a great opportunity to be on deck with your swimmer.
• Become an Official! Get service hour credit and reduced meet fees.
• Rates & Fees
• RACE Swim Team Guidebook - a must read for all new parents & swimmers.
• RACE Cancellation/suspending Account Form - if your swimmer needs to take a break from swimming, please fill out this form in order to suspend billing on your account.
• If you would like to schedule a team bonding activity, please email Coach Ari at [email protected] to have the activity sent to the group and added to the calendar.