Masters

There will be NO PRACTICE this Monday for the holiday.

Parents - We will be having a team outfitting today for all groups. Texas Swim Shops will be setting up outside of the Rec Center under the covered walkway. With potential rain in the area this will give everyone the easiest access to get their equipment and get out as quickly as possible. If you can not make todays outfitting please make sure to get all your equipment prior to the first day of practice. Equipment needs were given out during try outs and/or emailed out for returning swimmers. You can also find the list on our website. 

If you are purchasing a team suit. Please have your swimmer wear their suit to the pool so we can slip the team suit over to make sure we have a proper fit. Girls should remember that this is a competition suit and not a practice suit. You should not be able to lift the straps of the suit up past your ears. Ideally 3 fingers should be able to slide under the shoulder strap of the suit. Typical sizes are 22-26. For reference we have college women swimmers in 26-30.

I will have ID's available for swimmers at a separate desk. If you are a new swimmer you will need to pick up a lanyard, ID case and paper ID. This is to be worn to enter the pool and while in the facility. IF you are a returning swimmer you will need to pick up the new card and place it in your previous case. 

Again with the possibility of rain at 40-70 % we understand if you can't make it tonight. But we will begin using equipment at the first practice and swimmers with out an ID will have once passed out to them outside of the REC center prior to gaining access to the building.

See you guys tonight,

Coach Jason

Where is Coach Kyle and Coach Jada this week?

Both Coach Kyle and Coach Jada will be attending the ASCA (American Swimming Coaches Association) World Clinic in Indianapolis, Indiana. While at the clinic they will be sitting in with some of the great coaching minds from the present and past going over everything from technique and teaching skills to nutrition. Both will be back next week and hope to share some of their new knowledge with Masters and Age Group.

RICE Outfitting Day

A reminder that we will be outfitting all Age Group swimmers tomorrow from 5:00 - 7:00 pm.

Masters Fall 2010

Masters Swimmers - I wanted to first thank all of you who have committed to the Fall session with RICE. If you have not done so the deadline is tonight, please log into the site and commit for the fall. Listed below are a few reminders/changes for all masters swimmers going into the Fall session.

• The active Roster for the season will be formed from those who chose "commit" through our website by tonight.
• Starting with the new session the Rec Center and RICE Aquatics will no longer allow you in the facility with out a RICE ID. They recently changed the ID Card system and may need to re-asign your cards number to ensure it works properly. This will be done at the turnstile at the front of the Rec Center. Please be patient as they work to ensure everyone's ID works properly.
• To help streamline the process of helping those who cards may need new numbers all swimmer must use the entrance turnstile to the right of the middle desk/kiosk. 
• All members will need to use this entrance point for the entire session.
• The exit turnstile will no longer be allowed to be used as an entrance.
• If you are going to re-activate your account with RICE Aquatics from inactive it will be a 24 hour turnaround before you are allowed to swim a practice and/or enter the Rec Center facility. (ex: if you turn in paperwork or pay on Monday night, Tuesday's pm practice will be the earliest you are allowed to swim)
• As always membership with RICE Aquatics allows use of the pool during our assigned practice hours, us of shower and changing areas and our team lounge. The weight room and other amenities are only for paying members of the Rec Center.

All of these will help RICE Aquatics ensure that our paying members are able to gain access to the facility while continuing our great relationship with the Gibbs Rec Center.

Parents - A few notes on the practices this week. Reminder they are only Monday - Wednesday of this week. Swimmers should swim in their group from the previous year. Practice times are as follows:


Groups 1,2,3 4:45 - 5:30 pm
Groups 4 and Seniors - 5:30 pm-  6:30 pm


We will not be teaching new drills or skills or correcting a whole lot this week. The main purpose of this week is to get the kids back in the water and see some faces that may have stopped in the spring or fall. All Groups will be final Thursday AM. Please read the previous email about paying for the session and procedures for cash/check or ach/credit card payments. 


All swimmers need to have their lanyards with them to enter the pool. For those who may have lost their lanyards I will have a list of swimmer names at the front desk (this list is from those who committed to the re-registration online). New colored ID's will be handed out shortly more info on that in a handout at the pool today.


We will need a few parents to help at our registration table this Thursday and next Monday and Tuesday. The times are 4:45 - 7:30. I am getting job sign ups online this afternoon if you would like to sign up to help. I will be at the table the first 45 minutes of each session to help the process get going. Hours worked will be counted towards our upcoming volunteer hour policy (more info shortly). 


More emails and updates will be coming as the season gets closer. I will try to cover as much as possible in each email to limit the amount being sent out. Please take the time to read them and send me an email if you have any questions.


Coach Jason

Age Group and Seniors Payment for Fall 2010 Season

Parents- With some swimmers still moving around groups we will not be accepting full payments this week for swimming. Please read the directions below for payment options.


ACH/Credit Card Payment - Log into the website and click the "set up auto pay" button and follow the directions on screen. If choosing to pay by ACH/ Credit Card all info must be in no later than August 29th. If paying by ACH/Credit Card your team registration fee ($100) will be included on the September 1st charge.


Cash/Check Payment - If paying by cash or check for the session you must turn in the team registration fee of $100 per swimmer by Wednesday of this week. Once the groups are finalized, the morning of Thursday August 26th, payments need to be dropped off to Coach Jason prior to September 1st. 


All swimmers not paid in full by the first day of practice may loose their placement in the group and have their slot filled with a swimmer on the waiting list. If you are out of town this month please contact me directly so we can set up an alternative payment plan.


I will be post at the pool on these dates after the 25th:


August 26th 9:00 am - 7:30 pm
August 30th 4:00 pm - 7:30 pm
August 31st  9:00 am - 7:00 pm


See you at the pool,
Coach Jason