Hello Otter Fam!

Couple reminders & FAQs from your Otter Board & Coaches:

1. Reaching out to confirm we do have practice today for new swimmers. The calendar initially did not list today as a practice date for new swimmers due to a potential pool party conflict, but we do have practice as usual today Wed 5/21, 330pm for returning swimmers and 5pm for new swimmers. 

2. We will not have new swimmer practice next Wed 5/28 as the pool is booked for a school party at 5pm. As such, we will need to be out of the water and cleared off the pool deck promptly by 445pm next Wed for returning swimmers.

3. Reminder from Monday Memo NO PRACTICE Memorial Day.

4. Additionally, we cannot have any one on deck that is not a coach, Otter swimmer or board member. Please do not leave the Bleacher area or pass the red line in the shaded table/solar panel area if you are spectating swim practice. (Please see attached pic of our Otters on the Minors Softball Tar Heels after swim practice pointing to the red line). This definitely includes siblings, they cannot hang out on the pool deck watching their siblings practice if they are not swimming. If your child is sick or feeling ill but attending practice with a sibling, the children not swimming may not remain on deck either. This is a big distraction and it is not safe to play on the pool stairs or ladders. 

5. Please do not contact the coaches while they are coaching as they must keep their eyes and ears on our children in the water to coach and also to lifeguard. 

6. If you have a concern you would like addressed, 1 of us 7 board members is at every swim practice and please come chat with us! See Monday Memo for a picture of all of us and our names. We love our swim families! If you would like to email us please do at [email protected]

7. Swim group assignements- the coaches are evaluating all week and will let your swimmers know this Friday 5/23 if their currently assigned swim group will change. The groups are based on swim abilities, endurance, stroke knowledge, and they may change slightly to fit your athlete's needs for growth and knowledge. The coaches (Mikayla, Tasha, and Alexander) assess constantly and even if swimmers are not moving a group as of Friday that does not mean that they will not ever move a group through the season. Thank you for your patience and cooperation. 

8. WATER! Please always send your kids with a water bottle to stay hydrated. The Otters shared the cost with the city to pay for the new water refill station in the shaded area just as you enter the pool premises. Please feel free to use that (but walk around the pool by the deep end and diving boards) to help yourselves to a water refill. Thank you!

9. Looking for Otter Swim Team swag? Check out Oscar's on 4th Street! They have a whole rack of t-shirts and tanks ready to fit your families needs. If they don't have your size they can usually iron on 1 of our several existing logos within the same week. Our theme this year is Otter BEE-ch Party - Bees and Beach! James at All In Vinyl also has some sweet Otters Hats, the swimming O, and he also makes custom swag and stickers. 

See you at practice! GO OTTERS!