Dear Hammerheads,

We had an awesome first week of practice and can’t wait for Week 2!

Just a reminder — we only practice Monday–Wednesday this week. Enjoy the last day of school on Thursday and kick off Memorial Day weekend on Friday! We’ll see everyone back for morning summer practice times beginning Tuesday, 5/26.

Last week, several questions and situations came up that I would like to clarify and explain, as well as share additional information on matters that presented themselves throughout the week.

Coach Support Practice (CSP)

Please remember that if your swimmer was placed in our CSP practice last week, it does not mean they will remain in CSP for the rest of the season. Our goal is to help all swimmers transition into their age group practice as soon as they are ready. While we would love not to need a CSP practice, our priority is safety and building confidence in all swimmers — that is the goal of CSP!

Some swimmers simply need a couple of weeks to build stamina and “find their fins.” Coach Bria will let you know when it is time for your swimmer to move into their age group practice.

Team Shirts & Merchandise

Team shirts and any other merchandise ordered during registration will be distributed at practice on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Coaching Coordinators
As we move into summer practice, I’d like to introduce everyone to our Coaching Coordinators — Jeramey Shaw, Lisa Pulley, and Jessica Vicars. They will be assisting our coaches with stroke technique and helping swimmers improve throughout the season. All three moms have a background in competitive swimming, having swum in high school and college, and each also served as a summer swim coach while growing up. If your child is pulled aside for additional instruction, please know it is only to help improve technique. Sometimes one-on-one instruction helps swimmers better understand and physically feel the correct movement. For example, Bria has spent a lot of time this week working with older swimmers on proper butterfly kick technique — sometimes it’s something swimmers simply have to feel before it clicks!

Jeramey, Lisa, and Jessica will also help answer parent questions throughout the summer. During practice, please avoid approaching coaches while swimmers are actively in the water, as it can be distracting and unsafe. Coaches and the lifeguard on duty are responsible for monitoring 40+ swimmers during practice. If they are engaged in conversation, they cannot fully focus on swimmer safety.

There is a 15-minute break between summer practice groups, which is the perfect time to ask questions. Please remember that part of Jeramey, Lisa, Jessica's role this summer is to support both families and coaches.

Practice Safety
Coach Audrey and Coach Piper are both Red Cross-certified lifeguards and will be helping ensure a safe practice environment throughout the summer.

Evening Practice Spots
Many families reserved Monday and Wednesday evening practice spots for the summer. If your schedule has changed and you no longer need your PM practice times, please log in and release them so other families can use those openings.

Swim Meet Bullpen Reminder

As we move into swim meet season, please remember that non-swimming friends and siblings are not allowed in the bullpen area. The bullpen is for current team swimmers, coaches, and designated volunteers only and should function similarly to a dugout at a baseball or softball game.

For example, if a sibling swam on the team last season but is not swimming this year, they are not permitted to sit in the bullpen to visit with friends during the meet while a sibling competes. Non-swimming siblings and friends will need to sit with their parents during meets. If non-swimmers are found in the bullpen visiting, they will be asked to leave.

This expectation helps ensure bullpen parents and volunteers can remain focused on supervising swimmers competing in the meet.

Babysitting Availability

We have several responsible swimmer siblings (ages 13+) who are interested in babysitting during meets at your home. If you would like their contact information, I’m happy to share names. Also, if you have a non-swimmer sibling age 13+ who is interested in babysitting as well, please feel free to send me their name so I can add them to the list.

Handicap Parking Reminder

We have several grandparents and family members helping transport swimmers to practice who have valid handicap parking permits. Please do not park in designated handicap spaces unless you have a permit. Earlier this week, a golf cart was parked in one of these spots, preventing access for those who need it.

Weather Reminder

We’ve also had questions regarding weather. As long as there is no lightning or thunder in the area, we will practice in the rain. Summer pop-up showers are common, and it is safe to practice — and even hold swim meets — in rainy conditions as long as conditions remain safe.

There is also a weather protocol we are required to follow for swim meets by the Atlanta Swim Association. The first line of the protocol states: “Every effort must be made to swim each meet as scheduled. In the event of inclement weather, each team MUST show up at the pool on time. If at 5:30 PM the weather still precludes the meet from starting, the two team representatives, two head coaches, and the ASA referee will meet to decide whether to postpone or reschedule.”

If weather becomes an issue on the day of a meet, we will communicate any additional protocol and next steps that must be followed.

I hope this information provides clarity on certain subjects. I am always around, and happy to answer any questions that may arise. I hope everyone is looking forward to practice tomorrow.

Go Hammerheads!

Nicole Brien