Weekly Update

Erin McCann

Weekly Update

Announcements

The Kona Ice Invite is this weekend!! We are so excited to watch our MSA swimmers swim on the 28th! Please wear THIS YEARS team caps as you should have them by the meet. In addition, please wear this year's team suit or last year’s if this year’s has not arrived yet. Please remember to be respectful, excited, and uplifting as we are visiting another team’s pool and want to bring in good energy only!

Please wear MSA caps to practice.

Our new block wedges are going to be up soon and ready to use! We will keep the old wedges off for now as they are a safety concern (sliding back, not clicking in place, etc). For swimmers safety we have taken them off but are excited for the new ones to go up.

If you did not make the available times to pick-up gear, then please email [email protected] to coordinate pickup from Caroline Wathen’s home.

The outdoor pool is going to be closed over Fall break, September 30th-October 4th, to install the bubble over the pool. This will result in all MSA practices taking place at the indoor pool during that time. Stay tuned for more updates on that schedule, which will only take place while the bubble is going up. After the bubble is up we will resume the normal MSA schedule.

Please click the link below to register your swimmer(s) for their USA Swim Membership. This needs to be completed ASAP, especially if you plan on attending the SSA Kona Ice Invitational and/or the Intramural Meet.

Click or copy & paste: https://omr.usaswimming.org/omr/welcome/093F451D856809

The MSA Intrasquad Meet sign-ups are now CLOSED.

The Fran Norris Invitational sign ups are open. If your swimmer(s) are attending please begin registering them for this Invite. We WILL NOT be accepting any late entries. All entries are due October 4th and if you fail to sign-up your swimmer(s) then they will not be able to participate.

Practice Schedule Changes

Upcoming Schedule Changes (9/23/24-9/29/24)

Practice Schedule:

White: T/TH 3:30-4:30PM. T/TH (always indoor).

Yellow: M/W/F 3:30-4:30PM. M/W outdoor, F indoor.

Blue: M-F 3:30-4:30PM. M/W indoor, T/TH/F outdoor.

Bronze: M-F 3:30-4:30PM. M-F indoor.

Silver: M-F 4:30-6:00PM, NO Sat 8-10AM (Scottsboro meet). M/T/W/F indoor, TH outdoor.

Gold: M-F 4:30-6:30PM, NO Sat 8-10AM (Scottsboro meet). M/W/TH/F indoor, T outdoor.

MSA Gear and News

The “swim outlet” link and “apparel lab” link are updated now for the 2024-2025 MSA Season gear. You can click on the links to check out our new merch, the team suits for swim meets, and the gear lists. All of this is also on our website.

This is what each group will need, we recommend purchasing an equipment bag as well.

Yellow & White: Fins/KickBoard/Pull Buoy
Blue & Bronze: Fins/KickBoard/Hand Paddles/Pull Buoy
Silver: Fins/KickBoard/Hand Paddles/Pull Buoy
Gold: Fins/KickBoard/Hand Paddles/Pull Buoy/Snorkel/Tempo Trainer

https://www.swimoutlet.com/collections/msa

Get Involved!!!

Become an Official

MSA regularly needs officials to host meets and run the consistent and high-quality competitions we have become known for. Each MSA Meet must have certified USA-S certified officials conducting the meet for each swimmer to receive official credit for their swims/times.

If you have any questions about the process, please contact our MSA Officials Point of Contact, Heather Koehler at [email protected]

Parent Education

I have been adding a few readings onto the Weekly Updates. Here you will be able to find articles written by coaches, parents, athletes, psychologists, etc., about team sports, importance of parent involvement, and roles that seemingly assist coaches, parents, and athletes in their endeavors through the greatest sport in the world (swimming).

Optimistic Athletes vs Pessimistic Athletes

https://chrismance.com/2020/08/28/optimistic-athletes-vs-pessimistic-athletes-a-mindset-comparison/

Swim Parents: Your Stress & Expectations Are Contagious

https://swimswam.com/swim-parents/

Other:

12 Things All Swim Parents Should Know

MSA Sponsors and Affiliates

Please remember that when you support our sponsors you are also supporting MSA! If you have or know of a business that would like to help a local non-profit organization support young swimmers and growing program, please have them contact Anna Wright at [email protected]

Boars Head

Papa Johns

PJ’s Coffee

Tyler Mann

Vertex Stone

Long Range Planning

Please note the schedule of the following events which will take place several months from now

Signup deadlines are generally 2 weeks before the event.

September 28: SSA Kona Ice Invitational (Scottsboro,AL)

October 5: MSA Intrasquad Meet (Madison, AL)

October 18-20: Fran Norris Meet (Huntsville, AL)

November 8-10: Veteran’s Day Meet (Madison, AL)