Hello Colonies Swim Team!

I hope everyone is staying healthy and getting excited for the season to start!

Before practices begin on June 15^th, the coaching staff and I want to hold a “Meet the Coaches” event to allow us to meet some of the swimmers and vice versa before practices start. The event will be held on June 11^th in the pool parking lot from 4:30 to 5:30 PM.

To maintain social distancing, we will hold the event in the pool parking lot as a “drive thru” style event. Families are welcome to drive or walk up to the coaches’ area, introduce themselves, and meet all the coaches from a safe distance away. Swimmers will also receive a sanitized Popsicle from one of our awesome parent volunteers.

Now we realize this nontraditional style of “Meet the Coaches” may cause a backup of people waiting to meet the coaches and limit the amount of time swimmers have to interact with us. To minimize these potential issues, we recommend the following:

• We recommend families come to the parking lot at staggered times depending on last name to prevent the whole team from showing up at once and having to wait a long time. Below are our suggested arrival times based on the first letter of your last name:

• A-B: 4:30 - 4:40 PM
• C-D: 4:40 - 4:50 PM
• E-H: 4:50 - 5:00 PM
• L-M: 5:00 – 5:10 PM
• N-R: 5:10 – 5:20 PM
• S-Z: 5:20 – 5:30 PM

We are hoping these suggested arrival times will help stagger the arrivals of families and prevent a long line. However, if you cannot make your suggested arrival time, you are more than welcome to come at a different time.

• We recommend swimmers come with an “introductory card” about them to help quickly break the ice. To make an introductory card, swimmers should fold a piece of paper in half “hamburger-style” (I haven't used this term in over a decade) and write/draw the following:
  • On the front: write your first and last name, age, grade, how long you have swum at Colonies, and your favorite stroke. Swimmers are more than welcome to add other facts.
  • On the inside: a picture of your favorite quarantine activity.
  • On the other inside panel: a picture of what you’re most looking forward to about swim team this year.
  • On the back: write their favorite joke.

This introductory card is completely optional, we think it will help younger and quieter swimmers interact with the coaches whether they are showing us their artwork or telling us a joke. For inspiration and for families who cannot make it to the event, the coaching staff and I all made our own introductory cards and filmed ourselves presenting them. Please see our video here.

Thank you Cruisers! We are looking forward to meeting all of you and getting our season started!

Very Respectfully,

Coach Jack