Swim Team News

• New Family Q and A (tonight)
• Withdrawal deadline
• 6/1 MOR Clinic (RSVP)
• Red/White Meet Information
• Volunteer updates
• Declaring Swimmers for Meets by Sunday Noon deadlines.
• 6/3 Pasta Night (RSVP) and Big Whale Meeting
• National Anthem Volunteers (Home Meets)

Hi Killer Whales!

Our first week of practice was a success and our Red-White Meet is only a week away! The season is now in full swing and next week is teeming with activities. We’re offering a MOR clinic, we’ll be pumping up with Pasta, and swimming our Red-White Meet.

RSVP and Swimmer Declaration is open for all three of these events. We know how confusing this can all be to navigate this process for the first time. Stop by our New Family Q&A; tonight at 6:00 pm, at the pool to ask questions and get help with these tasks.

You can access all the RSVP and Swimmer Declaration via our SV Sign Up Calendar page (Find the event, click the ‘RSVP’ or ‘Meet Open’ button and fill out the forms.

Our season swimmer withdrawal deadline is June 10th. We understand that life happens. If you’ve had a change of plans and can no longer participate this season, 6/10 is the last day to withdrawal your swimmer from the SVKW team to receive a refund (less fees).

Red-White Meet information emails:

Since this is the first meet, it is like our team’s “dress rehearsal” and we use this opportunity to work out any issues that may arise. This is an intrasquad meet and we will not be swimming against another team.

We are aware that WCPSS is still in session AND this is finals week. TSA made the decision to move the season forward by a week. To keep the swim meet shorter, we are not arranging team photos and we will not swim butterfly for any age groups. You can also sign out of relays if you know you need to leave early. Last-minute scratches only upset other swimmers so decide this ahead of time.

We would like to swim the freestyle relay at the end, but will determine if this is possible after we have our swimmer count and can estimate the end time of the meet. We will know this June 3rd and communicate with you. Relays take 30 min (or more) to complete.

We will send a PRE-MEET info email out a few days before the meet with info about parking, concession, meet schedule, volunteer needs, and any other special details to note. Be on the lookout for those before each meet. A couple of days after each meet we will send out a POST-MEET recap email that includes the final team score, double and triple winners, personal best records, and the swimmer of the week winners.

Volunteer updates:

Thank you to everyone who has stepped up to help with this season! Our list of needs is dwindling but we still have some crucial roles to fill. We MUST have another Meet Administrator to complete our season needs. We also need an Announcer for June 11th and an Order of Finish Judge, for the first half of 6/25. These are non-negotiable positions we must have. The list of current vacant jobs for each meet is listed here as well. If you don’t have 4 points, please review our needs and email what you can do here: https://shepherdsvineyard.swimtopia.com/resources

How to Declare your Swimmer for Meets (click here for step-by-step instructions)

You will need to declare if your swimmer is or is not attending for each meet. We open two meets at a time so that we are certain to have accurate attendance counts. The weekly deadline is Sunday Noon. Make sure you complete both steps below for EACH registered swimmer:

1. Find the upcoming Meet on the Sign-Up Calendar and click the “Meet Open” button.
2. Participation: Declare attending OR not attending for EACH swimmer registered.
3. Relays: Declare if you are/are not available to participate in Relays (the default is available to participate, and no shows prevent others from swimming so make sure to do this step if your swimmer won't be there).

Declarations (or any changes) should be made before SUNDAY NOON before each Meet. If an emergency arises after the meet declaration closes, and your child will be missing all, or part, of the meet, please contact the Coaches as soon as possible by e-mailing them at: [email protected] prior to the meet. During the meet, we will have a designated coach to talk to (TBD) if something happens and you need to leave early. 

Please note that just because you declare you are available for a relay does not mean your swimmer will automatically swim in a relay. Coaches chose the final relay teams. Please be sure to tell your swimmer this.

What happens after Sunday Noon? Each swimmer is entered in the events and numerous forms are completed, copied, and distributed to meet officials of both involved teams. This has to be done prior to Tuesday to have time to communicate with the other team. Please make every effort to communicate your intent to attend or need to miss each meet prior to AND during the meet. If your plans change or you forget to declare an absence and your child is a no-show or leaves early without advance notice, it affects not only the individual events that the swimmer was placed in, but also can put relays, which other children are part of, in jeopardy. Failure to give advance notice may result in disqualification for the next meet (and may cause other swimmers to become teary-eyed).

In short: it is really important that you give us the play-by-play details of your participation before, and during, Tuesday's Meets. Don’t be a no-show for your swim events and relays!

MOR Starts/Turns/Finishes Clinic for ages 7+

Come join MOR Coach Lindsay on June 1 for her specialized clinic. One great way to quickly shave off some seconds from your time is to improve your starts and turns. We encourage everyone to attend. RSVP on the sign-up page for one of the below clinics (helpful but not required to attend).

• 9:30 am - 10:10 am: ages 7-10
• 10:20 am - 11:00 am: ages 11+

Between the 7-10 clinic and the 11+ clinic, there will be time for a Q&A with Coach Lindsay for all ages swimmers and their families to find out more information about swimming year round at MOR.

Pasta Pump Up and Big Whale Meeting:

Swimmers and their families are invited to come join us for our annual Pasta Pump-Up Monday, June 3 from 5:30pm - 7:30pm. Please note the times in relation to your practice times. 13+ come early to practice to get pasta before practice. we’ll be cleaned up before your practice concludes. RSVPs are helpful for planning but not required. 

There will be a Big Whales Meeting on June 3 as well, prior to your practice. Look for more info in the next week with information. 

National Anthem Singers:

We are looking for kids or parents who would like to volunteer to sing the National Anthem at the start of our 4 home meets this summer on June 4, 11, 18 and July 9. Email us to sign up!

Upcoming Events:

• 5/28: New Family Q&A, 6:00pm
• 6/1: MOR Clinic - Starts, Turns, Finishes
• 6/2: Declare your swimmer by NOON on Sunday.
• 6/3 Pasta Pump Up!
• 6/4: Red/White Team Meet
• 6/13: Morning Practice begins

See you on Deck!

Your SVKW Board