Parents - I wanted to thank all of you for being apart of the 2010 Fall Session with RICE Aquatics. The coaching staff is excited and anxious to start the new season. This year marks our first full season in the Gibbs Recreation Center. The new 50 m pool is not the only growth we have experienced the last few years. Only 4 years ago RICE had returning age group swimmer numbers of 26 and topped out for the year at 80 total swimmers. This year we returned over 115 swimmers and will have over 185 registered swimmers for our first day of practice. Our Masters team has also had great growth going from 40-50 master swimmers to around 100 current and active swimmers. All of these swimmers equals a great RICE Aquatics family.
RICE Aquatics: "Team" Momentum
- One of our main goals and themes this year is going to be the sense of "Team". In short we will be focusing on getting all of our swimmers and families moving in one direction towards forming a team, attending meets, better technique and a higher level of swimming. We have a diverse set of swimmers coming from over 20 schools ranging from home school to private schools and will be looking to get them together in and out of the pool as often as possible. For most swimmers once they graduate and move on in life it is the friendships and bonds that are remembered about swimming and not the times or medals won. We have some great activities planned for the fall and will be unveiling these as they approach.
- The second part of our "team" movement is going to be our service hours policy. As the team has grown so have the number of volunteers needed to help run meets, organize group functions, and assist with odds and ends of the team. The coaching staff handles most of the items that help the team function but we do need parent involvement to ease the load. We will have an upcoming meeting and handout that will outline our service policy and all the great opportunities you have to be a part of supporting your swimmers.
First Day of Practice Notes:
- We will need a few parents to sign up and help pass out lanyards and ID's before each practice. The Job Sign ups are up on our website for Tuesdays practices.
- Swimmers will need to have their lanyards visible when entering the building and when not in the pool for practice.
- The turnstile to the right of the center kiosk is going to be our entry point for our swimmers.
- Please make sure your swimmer has all of their equipment with them. You can leave it in the equipment bag and have them take that to their lane. I would sharpie their name on all of their gear front and back so it is clear who it belongs to.
- Parents are welcome to sit in our adjacent lounge or under the covered awning in front of our offices. The pool deck is closed during practice times.
Drop/Off Pick Up and Parking:
- Once the session gets going most swimmers will be dropped off and picked up at the curb or be walked in by a parent. ( Younger groups). For the first day we are asking that a parent or carpool parent walk with them to the check in table and then into the building. This way we can ensure they have their ID's and get to the pool with out issue. Older swimmers will still need to check in for their ID's and then proceed into the building.
- Parking along the curb of the Rec Center is only allowed with hazards for temporary parking 5 mins. The RUPD does ticket for cars on the curb and will do so if it is backing up the traffic. Please plan on parking for the first day and then setting up a drop off plan for later practices.
- Parking Passes - The full Roster has been sent to the parking department in the underground garage near the REC Center. For those wishing to purchase a parking pass you should be able to starting Tuesday. More info on the pass is available on our website.
- We are asking for swimmers to start arriving 15 minutes early for practice. Our practice start time is the dive in time and swimmers will need to have suits and gear ready prior to practice. The coaching staff will be there by 4:30 every day for swimmers to start arriving. Please do not drop your swimmers off prior to this with out first talking to a coach.
- The coaching staff will also be on deck until 7:45 on most nights. If you are running late your swimmer can stay in our lounge area to wait for a ride. Please try to have your swimmer picked up no later than 10 minutes after practice time ends. The staff will be on the pool deck and have limited ability to attend to those swimmers not picked up from their practices. If your swimmers practice ends at 7:45 pm please be there at 7:45 for your swimmer.
Weather
- Due to the pool being outdoors we will have to clear the pool and pool deck (cement area) for hazardous weather in the area. If this occurs during practice time we will have activities / drylandsfor swimmers to do for their practice times. Please do not pull your swimmer from their class during these activities unless notified by a coach. Many times this down time is just as important for team growth and team bonding amongst swimmers. These activities may or may not be swim related but are in the best interest of each swimmer individually and as a group.
- If weather is severe prior to practice we do ask that you use your best judgement. We will post on our website pool closures and try to email out notifications as the status changes. Please remember that we may be on the deck and unable to get an email out every time. Please be aware that in severe rain the roads in or near west university may flood so keep this in mind when making your trek to the pool.
- If a practice is rained out there is not a make up day assigned. All swimmers will continue with their group schedule and attend their next scheduled group.
Need More Information???
- You can visit our website and click on parents, swimmers and news for more information regarding the team. The Blog is also a great place to get updates and information that may not find its way onto our main site. You can also ask one of our returning parents while on the pool deck. We will be assigning a group parents shortly for each group. These parents will help schedule outside activities for the kids but also help pair new parents with veteran swim parents. They will also be the first place you can ask questions and get a parents perspective from someone who was recently in your shoes.
Email Updates
- The coaching staff will send out email updates through out the season to keep everyone on the team on the same page. We will try to get as much info in each email and limit the quantity of emailsgoing out. Please do not ignore these emails as there may be important information inside. Hopefully this will be our longest one of the year and get smaller from here!
Again thank you for being apart of RICE and we look forward to seeing your swimmers grow in and out of the pool.
See you at the pool,
Head Coach
coachjason@riceaquatics.com
www.riceaquatics.com
http:/ /rice-aquatics.blogspot.com
281.627.2418
