WCSC Newsletter Weeks of 5/11
Walnut Creek Swim Club Weekly Update
Week of May 11th, 2025
In This Newsletter:
- Time Trials Info:
- 💙 Blue Squad = Last names A–Li
- ❤️ Red Squad = Last names Lo–Z
- Live results via TimeDrops Live App code will be given out the day of the meet.
- Timers: Arrive 15 minutes early to help start meets on time
- Job Sign-Ups: Must be completed by Saturday, May 17
- Caps Are In! Pick up personalized silicone caps at practice (Tues/Thurs 4:30–5:30 PM) or at Time Trials
- Welcome Back Picnic: After Time Trials at Larkey Park – food truck, ice barbers, tie-dye station (bring a white shirt)
- Wednesday Meets: Communicate with coaches if your swimmer can’t stay late
- New Families: Check in with your buddy family and arrive early Sunday if you're volunteering
- Camping at Camp Richardson: Campsites sold out – join the waitlist or book nearby; fill out the Google Form if you secured a site
Important Upcoming Dates:
Saturday, May 17th - Deadline to sign up for all dual meet jobs for the season
Sunday, May 18th - Time Trials & Welcome back Picnic
Sunday, May 18th - Deadline to sign out of Livorna Meet
Wednesday, May 21st - Home Meet vs. Livorna, warm-ups at 4:45 meet starts 5:30pm
Wednesday, May 21st - Deadline to sign out of Gheringer Park Meet
Sunday, May 28th - Home Meet vs. Gheringer Park
Coaches’ Update:
We’ve started our season off strong with two weeks of freestyle, two weeks of backstroke, and two weeks of butterfly focus, and will now begin work with one of the most technical strokes in swimming—breaststroke. Some swimmers will be learning breast for the first time, and others will be refining technique with focus on proper form, breathing, and timing to ensure both speed and efficiency in the water. Whether your swimmer is a beginner or they have been swimming breaststroke for a while, there is always room for improvement, and the WCSC coaches are excited to help your child grow!
I have received some questions about family buddies vs Big Buddy/Little Buddy. The family buddy program is where a returning family is paired up with a new family or two so that they can be a welcoming liaison and help answer any questions they might have about WCSC. Our Nightriders will send out communication soon about signing up for Big Buddy and Little Buddy swimmer pairs. Our apologies for any confusion, and we appreciate those who have volunteered to connect with our new families! :)
Time Trials: Blue Squad vs. Red Squad! We’re going all out for a morning of fun on Sunday as we swim our first meet of the season intramural style! You’ll be getting updates throughout Time Trials as to which squad is in the lead, and we encourage every swimmer to swim all of the events they are entered in so that they can earn points for the squad they’re on!
đź’™Blue Squad- Last names beginning with A-Li
❤️Red Squad- Last names beginning with Lo-Z
Please refer to this warm-up schedule for the time we would like your child behind the blocks, caps/goggles on, ready to go:
7:45-8:00 10&Unders
6&U Lanes 1-2
7-8 Lanes 3-6
9-10 Lanes 7-10
8:00-8:15 11&Ups
11-12s Lanes 1-4
13-14s/15-18s Lanes 5-10
8:20 a.m. WCSC Team Meeting and Cheer (all families at the picnic tables)
8:30 a.m. Meet begins
A few key notes for you to remind your swimmers before their races: NO touching the bottom of the pool during a race, stay fully on your back in backstroke (except a flip turn for 9&ups), two hand touches on the wall in breast and fly. 9&Ups are responsible for getting themselves to the block.
Sportsmanship- Swimmers should remain in the water until all swimmers in their heat have finished their race. It would be awesome if our swimmers could give a handshake or high five and a “great swim!” or “nice job!” to those in the lanes next to them.
We are running a couple of free relays for the 6&U and 7-8 girls and boys so that our shepherds (especially our new families) can practice getting our swimmers to the correct sides of the pool. This will be at the conclusion of the individual events.
Some swimmers might be entered in just freestyle and backstroke if they are brand new to the team and need some additional time to practice fly and breast before they’re ready to swim it in a race.
More fun info about coaches will come in next week’s newsletter because this week’s focus needs to stay on Time Trials! :) Can’t wait to see you all on Sunday!!
Thanks!!❤️💙
Coach Emily
Meets:
Time Trials is coming up this weekend! Live times will be available through the TimeDrops Live app. If you haven’t downloaded it yet, it’s available in both the iOS and Android app stores.
You’ll need a pin code to access our meet data—this will be shared on the day of the meet. Viewing (unofficial) results through the app is the best way to track times. The TVs on each side of the pool are mainly there so swimmers can see their times at the finish.
The app looks like this:
Wednesday Meets:
We do have two Wednesday night meets while school is still in session. For our younger swimmers who may not be able to stay for the full duration (meets may run past 8:30 PM), please communicate with the coaches ahead of time if you plan to leave early.
We want your swimmers to enjoy meets and grow to love the experience—but we also understand they may need to work up to later nights. That said, if your swimmer misses a race, it takes an opportunity away from another swimmer. And if they’re scheduled on a relay, the entire relay team won’t be able to swim.
Jobs:
Reminder: You must be signed up for all 6 of your jobs by Saturday, 5/17!
If you’re working this weekend, please double-check your scheduled arrival time and be sure to check in—you won’t get credit if you don’t.
- Meet Set-up and Take-down: You must show up for both shifts to receive credit.
- Timers: You must arrive 15 minutes before the meet starts so we can begin on time.
Apparel:
Personalized silicone caps have arrived!
Come pick them up at practice this Tuesday or Thursday between 4:30–5:30 PM at the pool. We’ll also have them available at Time Trials this Sunday.
Questions? Email us at [email protected].
Social Events:
Sunday, May 18 Welcome Back Picnic- Please come to the Welcome Picnic at Larkey Park outside of the pool area immediately following Time Trials to kick off the 2025 swim season! There will be a food truck, or bring your own lunch, blanket and chairs to picnic in the park, and say hello to new and returning swimmers and families.
Food Truck: https://www.mexicanfoodtruckconcord.com/mexican-food-truck
Ice Barbers: https://icebarbers.com/
Make your own WCSC swag! Bring a white T-shirt or item to tie dye and we’ll have all the supplies!
SAVE THE DATE Swim Day at the Giants! June 26th!
Social Event questions? Reach out to us at: [email protected] - Erin Fairholm (Social Chair)
New Families:
Hello families, I hope our new families have heard from their buddy families!
Time Trials are this Sunday. Please plan to arrive a little early so your swimmers have time to get ready for their races. Get ready to cheer on your friends and have a ton of fun!
New families: If you’re working the meet, please arrive early, check in at your designated area, and plan to stay until the end of the meet.
Let’s go WCSC!
Camping Updates:
WOW!!! Campsites sold out fast—we're so excited to see our camping families soon! We especially look forward to our swimmers enjoying time together, having fun, making new friends, and creating lasting memories.
If you’d still like to join the camping fun but weren’t able to reserve a site, please fill out the 2025 Camping Waitlist, and we’ll do our best to pair you with families who have extra space. You can also contact Camp Richardson directly at (800) 544-1801 to check availability for hotels or cabins, or search recreation.gov for any open campsites. If you book something, please email us so we can include you in WCSC Camp Richardson communications.
Some families also stay at local hotels or Airbnbs in South Lake Tahoe and join us at Camp Richardson for team activities. If that’s your plan, just send us an email so we can keep you in the loop.
This week, a Google Form will be sent out to all families who have reserved a campsite. Please use it to let us know:
- The family/families you’ll be sharing with
- The total number of campers at your site
- Whether you’re open to sharing your site with additional families if space allows
If you’ve booked an RV site, hotel, cabin, Airbnb, or made other arrangements but plan to participate in team events, please email us to be added to the camping communications.
More camping info coming soon once details are finalized!
Questions? Email us at [email protected].
