Weekly Email
Good Evening Dolfin Families!
Welcome back and a special welcome to all new swim team families! My name is Amy Ross and I am the Parent Board President. I am responsible for all meet entries among other fun duties! I will be sending out a weekly team email which will include important information from Coach Talli as well as many important deadlines, meet results, meet programs and all other communications from the board. Don't miss out on deadlines by making sure to read these emails in their entirety! Here goes our first Weekly Email of the 2019 swim season!!!!
A NOTE FROM COACH TALLI
Hello Dolfin Families!
Welcome to the 2019 swim season! It's always so much fun to get our pod back together and see how happy everyone is to reconnect.
We had an amazing first week of practices! All age groups of swimmers were focused and ready to learn.
SWIMMING
We are trying a few new things this year and while change is hard, they are giving their best effort and I am really proud of them! In an effort to stretch out their body positions and speed up their tempo we are switching to straight arm freestyle. It will help newer swimmers finish their strokes without pulling the arms out early. Much easier for their brain to think straight instead of when to bend and when to stretch their arms. It is also the fastest technique for sprinting and that is all we do in Rec swimming. We will be working a lot on stoke technique, including body position, stroke drills, head positions, breathing and fast kicking. We will also be practicing race pace swimming, dives, streamlines, turns and finishes. I want their brains thinking fast!
This is the first year that I have seen the swimmers settle into their groups the first week. We are starting with so many skills already in place that it makes me very excited about the season! We start with the new swimmers in a separate group in order to teach them basic skills that they need to move up with the returning swimmer group. They are not stuck in that group. They will be moved whenever the coaches feel like they are ready to keep up. During the summer the whole age group practices together.
BUSY SCHEDULES
We understand that swimmers and parents are very busy with school and other sports in the Spring. Please just come when you can and know that we will continue to work on the skills that we learn everyday so they won't miss out. We are fine with swimmers hopping in late
or getting out early if they have other activities.
COMMUNICATION
During practice, it is important for swimmers to communicate directly with the coaches if they need something, rather than call out to a parent. We welcome all parents to watch practice, we just need you to stay back from the edge of the pool. We are experts at fixing goggles and caps and we will call for you if we need your assistance. This helps build the swimmer/coach bond that is very important.
Coaches have their full attention on the swimmers in the pool during practice and we have back to back practices so it is difficult to chat during practice. If you have a quick question, I am happy to answer it or send you to one of our board members on deck. Best way to reach me is by email at [email protected] or if it is urgent you can text me at 925-216-7932. I answer both quickly except during practices.
NO PHOTOS & VIDEOS DURING PRACTICE
We encourage parents to watch practices but we do NOT allow any kind of filming during practices. Practice is a time for kids to learn and not a time to perform for a camera. We need their complete attention during practice. This has become a huge problem the last few years so please help us out. You are welcome to take photos and videos at swim meets as long as they are not taken from behind the blocks.
2019 COACHING STAFF
Head Coach-Talli Pitcher
Mini Dolfin Lead-Ciera Kirby, Assistant-Isabelle Ariana
6&U Lead-Ciera Kirby
7-8 Lead-Isabelle Ariana
9-10 Lead-Bryce Halliday
11-12 Lead-Talli Pitcher
13-14 Lead-Mirelle Augst
15-18 LeadTalli Pitcher
Assistant Coaches-Joe Alden, Carol Madsen, Audrey Jullien, Wyatt Touchet
Guest Coaches-Nay Albertson, Heather Rosson, Jamie Wanket
Our coaching staff is a bit of a puzzle this year since all of our college coaches come home at different times. I will be planning and leading all practices so please let me know if you have any questions or concerns.
See you on the pool deck!
Coach Talli
[email protected]
cell-925-216-7932
INFORMATION FROM THE PLEASANT HILL RECREATION AND PARKS DISTRICT
Parking at the Education Center Pool
The Adult Ed Parking Lot at the back of campus is reserved for Adult Ed Students. Please do not park in this lot. PH Rec participants should park in the main parking lot (between the track and campus). Please see the attached map for more information. PH Rec and Adult Ed thanks you for your cooperation.
Swimmer Safety
Swimmers are to be at the pool only during their scheduled practice time unless under the direct supervision of an adult other than a coach. Coaches have no way of supervising swimmers except while they are practicing.
All 8 & under swimmers must be escorted by parents when using the restroom. All 9 & over swimmers must use a buddy system when parents aren’t present. Please encourage your swimmer to use the bathroom before practice so they don’t need to leave the pool to use the restroom.
When dropping off swimmers, make sure they enter the facility prior to you leaving. Bring swimmers to practice no more than 10 minutes prior to practice in an effort to have the swimmer ready when practice begins.
Please be in the parking lot 5-10 minutes prior to the end of practice. All swimmers need to remain on-deck until they see you drive up to the facility.
Please use caution in the parking lot and watch out for swimmers and other facility users. Swimmers should wear shoes in the parking lot. At the Education Center Pool, please drop off/pick up in the main parking lot, between the football field and campus. Please do not use the Adult Education Parking Lot.
Swimmers should change in the bathrooms. Please do not deck-change.
We know pets are important members of your family, but per California Health and Safety Code, they are not allowed on the pool deck or the PH Middle School Campus. Service animals specifically trained to aid a person with a disability are welcome.
SAVE THE DATES!!!!
Tuesday, April 23 – Suit try-on day. Zumo reps will be coming with sample suits for swimmers to try on for sizing. PH Aquatic Park will open at 3pm for try-ons. Zumo will move to the Education Center Pool about 4:30. It is best to try on suits before practice when swimmers are not wet.
Sunday, May 5th-Nacho Bingo Night. **See below for more detailed information from our amazing social director, Laurie Korn
Thursday, May 16, 7:30pm - New Parent Meeting at the Pleasant Hill Teen Center. This meeting is geared towards new families, but all are welcome to attend to learn about the team and work assignments.
**Dolfin families! We will host our annual Nacho Bingo Night on Cinco de Mayo, Sunday May 5th from 4:00 - 7:00 p.m. Bring the family and invite your friends! This is a not-to-be-missed, fun-filled evening for the families to get together, enjoy some bingo, win some prizes, and most of all, EAT SOME NACHOS! Purchase your tickets early to take advantage of the advance ticket price - $20 per adult (18+) and $10 per child (4-17). Tickets purchased at the door are $25/adult, $12/child. Kids 3 and under are free.
