Manta Rays News 12.19.25
Good afternoon, Manta Rays. Here’s your weekly news!
Quick Reminders:
- There will be no weekly news emails sent out December 22nd-January 5th! Any urgent reminders or updates will be posted in Heja.
- Holiday Practices: Practice Reminders: No practices December 24th-26th or December 31st-January 3rd.
- YMCA Meet at Washington Sign Up Deadline: December 29th
Team Apparel & Gear
Don’t forget to check out our team apparel stores! A portion of sales comes back to the team with Elsmore, QT Designs and SwimOutlet.com!
Check out all the different shops: https://www.gomotionapp.com/team/ymca-2205/page/team-apparel--gear
Check in/out
We are still having issues with people no-showing or not signing up for check in/out shifts, please help out and cover shifts! Here is the link for January Check in/out shifts:
Missing Practices-How does it impact your swimmer?
With limited practices over the holidays, busy family activities, and kids out of school here are some reminders why you shouldn’t take the “easy miss” and skip out on all the practices over the holiday breaks:
Key Impacts of Missing Practices (a few days up to 1 or 2 weeks)
- Lost Momentum: Each missed session creates a gap, making it harder to build on previous progress. With limited practices over break, this will be even harder for coaches and swimmers.
- Swimmers may feel “off”. They will feel stiff, awkward or like they’ve forgotten how to swim when they return.
- Reduced Aerobic Capacity: their heart’s ability to pump blood and their muscles’ oxygen use (VO2 max) starts to decline quickly.
- This lost momentum can create a feeling of “one step forward, one step back” when they do return to practice.
- Hindered Skill Development: Consistent reps are vital for refining technique and building good habits. This gets lost when swimmers miss practice.
- Weakened Team Connection: Swimming is a team sport; missing practice means missing vital bonding and shared effort.
- Eroded Mental Toughness: Missing practice is giving in to fatigue or excuses, preventing the development of perseverance. This perseverance is what helps prevent mental/emotional breakdowns, especially in younger swimmers.
- Giving Up the "Edge": Other dedicated swimmers are showing up and putting in the work.
The Good News: Muscle Memory & Recovery
- Quick Comeback: Swimmers regain fitness relatively quickly, often in a 1:1 ratio (e.g., a week off usually takes about a week to get back to full speed)
- Conditioning Returns: The body "remembers" the movements, so retraining focuses on reintroducing intensity.
Rest is Vital: Short breaks allow the body to recover and are beneficial; missing a few days isn't catastrophic for most, but taking the “easy miss” for the entire break can impact your swimmer in big ways! Let’s keep our swimmers in the water as much as possible over break so we can keep the momentum going into the new year!
See you at the pool!
Have a wonderful weekend Manta Rays!
