Pool Temp.

Parents - As all of you know we are beginning to have some "winter" weather for Houston. The Rec Center has been working with what the baseline "air" temp can be with out affecting the regulated pool temp. They have been using the manufactures recommendation on the heater temp up to this point and will now begin apply real world adjustments to the heater temp. This week has been chilly and rainy already with more to come later in the week. With the rain last night the current pool temp is going to be a little chilly today. Please keep this in mind for tonights practice. I wanted to list a few things RICE Aquatics is initiating with the Rec Center to help regulate the temp. through out the day. These steps will start tonight and continue through the upcoming months. We will begin keeping the far end of the pool covered through out the day. This will mean less lap swim lanes but should not have an effect on our swim space and time. Once Masters Swimming is finished at 6:30-6:45 we will begin covering 6-8 lanes. After Senior 2 practice at 7:15 we will cover all but 4-6 lanes of the pool. When Group 4 finishes at 7:30 we will cover all lanes except 2-4 lanes of the pool. These lanes will be covered once the Rec Center closes each night. The covers will be pulled from our side as needed begining with Masters, Senior and College practice in the morning. We will need swimmer help to pull the covers in a timely manner so please be aware they may stay in the water 5 mins over what their usual practice time is if they fall within the timeframe of pulling tarps. I wanted to assure everyone that RICE Aquatics will not have practice if the pool temp is not acceptable for our groups. If you have a smaller swimmer and are looking for some holiday gift ideas here are a few: Thermal Suits. TYR, Speedo, and Finis make some variation of a thermal suit or thermal shirt. I have not used them but know teams that have. See you guys at the pool, Coach Jason

Parka Orders

I will be picking up the Parka orders early Thursday morning and should have them at practice Thursday night. The parkas will be placed in the swimmers lounge area for pick up on Thursday nights practice. I will have a few parent volunteers to help pass them out on Thursday night.

Thank you for your patience.

RICE First List

With the opening of the new outdoor pool we have had many first's this year. First 50 m practice in pool, first sub 50 practice, first practice while raining. If anyone has checked the weather for Friday we might have another first. Our first snow practice!!!

Post - Thanksgiving Day Practice

I wanted to thank all of the Masters and Age Groupers who came to practice today for a little "Turkey Burning". Hopefully we can grow this practice in the upcoming years.

Returning Swimmer Registration

Read below for info regarding the Spring 2010 Registration process.

Spring 2010 Returning Swimmer Registration

I would first like to thank all of the families that participated with RICE Aquatics during our Fall session. The team experienced great growth in numbers and families and new successes in and out of the pool this session. The coaching staff is excited about keeping the momentum going for the into the 2010 session. Listed below is the process to commit to the 2010 spring session. This process is for Senior, Age Group and Masters swimmers. It is essential all swimmers choose a status prior to Dec 7th. so RICE can anticipate our numbers and pool space for the spring session.

Committing to the Spring Session:

• Please log into the RICE website using your account email and password.

• Once Logged in find the event labeled "Spring 2010: Returning Swimmer Registration" and choose attend this event.

• Find your swimmers name listed and click on the link for their name.

• This will bring up a new page. Choose the drop down declaration menu and click Yes attend this event. You can also add any comments needed into the comment box.

• Click Save changes.

• If at any time before the deadline you need to adjust your commitment you can log back in the same way and make any changes or additional comments needed.
  

• All accounts will be invoiced the 21st of December and billed the 1st of January for the Spring Session. If you have ACH or Credit card billing and do not commit prior to the deadline and would like to swim you will have to pay by cash or check. All payments for accounts not using ACH or Credit Card billing need to be paid prior to the 1st of January

Not continuing for the Spring Session:

• Please log into the RICE website using your account email and password.

• Once Logged in find the event labeled "Spring 2010: Returning Swimmer Registration" and choose attend this event.

• Find your swimmers name listed and click on the link for their name.

• This will bring up a new page. Choose the drop down declaration menu and click No, thanks {swimmers name} will not attend this event. You can also add any comments needed into the comment box.

• Click Save changes.

• If at any time before the deadline you need to adjust your commitment you can log back in the same way and make any changes or additional comments needed.
  

• If you have ACH or Credit card billing and will not be swimming in the spring you must log in and select not to commit to the event. All accounts will be invoiced the 21st of December and billed the 1st of January for the Spring Session. All payments for accounts not using ACH or Credit Card billing need to be paid prior to the 1st of January.

As always if you have any questions please send me an email.

See you guys at the pool,

Coach Jason and the RICE Aquatics Coaching Staff.

Fall Champs Meet Sign Ups Online

Swimmers - The Fall Champs meet sign ups are now online. Please read through the description and meet invite. The Fall Champs meet for 8 and Unders @ UH allows a swimmer to enter with a NT and a time for up to 4 events. The 9-14 Fall Champs @ HCAP allows a NT up to the cut off times listed. These are championship meets so every swimmer should try to attend if possible. If you have any questions about events please email coach Jason.

Senior Meet at HCAP

Due to the length of both timelines on Saturday all swimmers must scratch down to 4 events on Saturday's sessions. This is 4 events for the entire day. If you are swimming more than 4 events please contact coach Jason about which events you should swim and which to scratch.