Thank you for your patience as the coaching staff and I learn and adapt to coaching socially distanced swim practices! The coaching staff and I learned a lot after the first week of practices. We reflected on this experience and would like to implement several changes to the practice schedule and structure moving forward this season. These changes are designed to even out practice sizes across all ages and provide swimmers with more individual attention during practice. Evening out practice sizes will allow the coaching staff to provide better socially distanced stroke instruction while also making room in practice to allow swimmers to attend two practices a day (if they would like). I realize changing the practice schedule will complicate logistics for parents, but I promise will benefit the swimmers.

Beginning June 22^nd, our practice schedule will change to:

• Morning Practice:
  • 9:00 – 9:45 AM: All swimmers aged 8 & younger
  • 9:45 – 10:30 AM: All swimmers aged 9 through 12
  • 10:30 – 11:30 PM: All swimmers ages 13 & older
• Afternoon Practice:
  • 3:30 – 4:15 PM: All swimmers aged 8 & younger
  • 4:15 – 5:00 PM: All swimmers aged 9 through 12
  • 5:00 – 6:00 PM: All swimmers ages 13 & older

Please note we’re hoping to have our beginning swimmers start when Virginia enters Phase 3. At that time, there may be additional practice changes.

Beginning June 22^nd, the structure of swim practices will slightly change.

Currently, when practice sizes exceed 12-18 swimmers, we split the swimmers into two groups with one group swimming and the other either running, performing land exercises, or performing exercises in the deep end. While this structure allowed us to accommodate practices with 28 swimmers at once this week and keep them in the water when the air is cold, it limited our ability to provide specific stroke instruction.

Moving forward, when practice sizes exceed 12-18 swimmers, we will split swimmers into 3 groups. Assuming the weather conditions improve, one group will swim, one group will either run or perform land exercises, and the last group will work on technique in the deep end. For the technique portion, coaches will explain and demonstrate different skills on land, demonstrate the skill in the water, and then watch and provide feedback as swimmers work on that skill. For younger kids, this will allow the coaching staff to focus on teaching new strokes. For older kids, this will allow the coaching staff to focus on refining different strokes and turns. Please note, this structure requires swimmers to come to practice with running shoes and a towel to sit on during land exercises.

Again, thank you for your patience as we continue to adapt to the special circumstances surrounding the swim season this year. As always, please feel to reach out with any questions, concerns, or recommendations for how we could further improve your swimmer’s swim team experience this year.

Go Cruisers!

Very Respectfully,

Coach Jack