Hey Hammerheads!

Hope everyone is having a great week of practice so far. Just like our other emails this week, this email hopes to answer some frequently asked questions and also provide you with some important updates/reminders. We have provided an agenda to help you identify the topics which applied to you and your swimmer(s). If you're not sure if a topic applies your family, it's best to read through it anyway! :)

1. Bathing Suits!!!!! (Today is the last day)
2. Friday Practice (5/19 - Tomorrow!)
3. 11&UPS 
4. Beginning of Season Party (This Sunday, May 21st)
5. Inclement Weather Policy
6. Pool Deck and Playground - All Parents Please Read :)
7. Mandatory Volunteer Sign-Ups Open
8. Picture Day (Next Wednesday, May 24th)
9. Swim caps and Ponytails
10. OUR AWESOME 2017 SPONSORS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
11. Team T-Shirts and Additional T-Shirts

1. Bathing Suits

Today is the last day to order suits for this season! Our bathing suit representative will be in the clubhouse during all practices today. Please bring a check for payment. We have seen quite a few kids wear very loose swim suits to practice. Just a reminder that if the bathing suit is loose now, it will be VERY loose by the middle of the season. The chlorine really does continue to stretch them out. Tights suits make it much easier to swim correctly and quickly through the water.

2. Friday Afternoon Practice (This Friday, May 19th)

This Friday we will hold our only Friday afternoon practice all season. We repeat - this will be the only Friday afternoon practice we will have all season. After this practice, there will be no more Friday afternoon practices. Just want to make sure that is very clear! Practice times will run as normal. (6&Unders at 5, 7/8 at 5:30.... etc.)

3. 11&UPS

If you have an 11&UP swimmer, please make sure they bring a water bottle to practice. It's important they stay hydrated! We have already had a couple of them get cramps and bringing water will help this tremendously. In addition, eating a banana before practice will help keep the cramps at bay. Lastly, please have them come to practice in tennis shoes and not flip flops. Most days, we will do dry land exercises before practice begins. 

4. Beginning of Season Party (This Sunday, May 21st)

The Beginning of Season Party is this Sunday (May 21st) at the pool from 1-3PM. However, the weather is looking grim. We will make a call about the party on Saturday and will send out an email so everyone feels free to make other plans if needed.  You do not have to RVSP for the party! All swim team families are invited; your swimmer must be 10 or older to attend the party without an adult. Ice cream will be provided to the kids, families are encouraged to bring coolers/beverages/food, and parents are encouraged to ask the coaches any questions throughout the party.

5. Inclement Weather Policy

We will always send out an email if practice is canceled due to inclement weather. However, we will always do our best to hold practice if possible. We watch the weekly report and weather radar to help make the most informed decision possible. We will be the first to admit that our calls are not always 100% right (sometimes the sun pops out and the rain clouds disappear) but our decisions are guided by our #1 priority - keeping the kids safe. 

If it is raining with no lightening or thunder and we are able to see the black lines on the bottom of the pool, we will hold practice in the rain. In all honesty, it's pretty fun. If it is lighting or thundering, there is an automatic 30 minute delay and everyone will be asked to exit the pool area (we can stand in the clubhouse). We typically cancel one practice at a time and rarely a full days worth at once. Therefore, we may not have 6&Unders practice due to thunder, but we will resume practice as normal for 7/8s once the storm has passed. Basic gist - if it looks like there is going to be inclement weather, check your email and the Hammond Hills Swim Team Facebook Group (because that is where we will let you know if practice is canceled).

6. Pool Deck and Playground - All Parents Please Read :)

Playground: After a couple of incidents on the playground, we just want to address a few concerns about the playground area. Kids must wear shoes at all times while on the playground. In addition, please remind kids that there is no pushing, shoving, climbing on top of the slide, or jumping off the slide from tall heights. In addition, all children must be DRY (not wet) before playing on the playground. We also want to remind parents that the playground is not supervised by a lifeguard. It is strongly encouraged that a parent supervises their child at all times while they are on the playground. We want to make sure no more kiddos get hurt this season! Hugs go out to our swimmers who have taken a couple of bad falls this season both on the playground and on the pool deck.

Pool Deck: We would like to ask parents to please refrain from standing near the pool during all practices. We completely understand the need to take pictures and record video of our precious Hammerheads. But we ask that after you finish photographing/videotaping, you return to the lounge chairs, clubhouse, or main seating areas. We love for you watch, but frequently have trouble holding the attention of our swimmers when their parents are nearby. Exceptions can be made per the situation if needed, but we ask that you speak with our head coaches first. If there is ever something urgent that needs to be addressed, do not hesitate to reach out to our staff during practice. We would just like minimize distractions as much as possible moving forward.

7. Mandatory Volunteer Sign-Ups Open

Just a reminder that Mandatory Volunteer Sign-Ups are open! You can find job descriptions and volunteer sign up directions on our website. Note - you can only sign up for positions on a computer. Sign-Ups are not available on the mobile version of the website. Every family must volunteer twice! If your family does not volunteer twice during the season, you will be fined. :( The only parents who do not have to volunteer are parents with only junior shark swimmers. If their Junior Shark becomes a 6&Under before the end of the season, they will be required to volunteer.

8. Picture Day (Next Wednesday, May 24th)

Picture Day is next Wednesday, May 24th. ALL AGE GROUPS WILL REPORT TO THE POOL BETWEEN 4:30-4:45PM. No practice will be held after Picture Day. After your individual/family pictures and team pictures have been taken, you may leave the pool. We will be completing picture day by (at the latest) 5:50PM. A private party will start at 6:00PM so it's important that we are finished on time. Best thing you can do is fill out the form attached below and bring it to picture day! It will save you lots of time.

9. Swim caps and Ponytails

If your child has hair long enough to tie back, please put their hair in a ponytail!!!!!!!!! :) If their hair down during practice, it is like swimming with 50 extra pounds and navigating through a jungle of vines. Aka no fun. So please tie hair up and bring back up hair ties as they can break easily. Although swim caps are not required for practice, they will help your swimmer. As for meets, it is VERY HIGHLY (really really) encouraged. If you order a cap during registration, you will receive it before the first swim meet.

10. OUR AWESOME 2017 SPONSORS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

THANK YOU TO OUR 2017 SPONSORS! We are truly fortunate to have such generous network of corporations, local businesses, and entrepreneurs. If you ever have any questions about their services, do not hesitate to contact Coach Laney or check out all of their information on the "Sponsors 2017" tab on the website. We encourage you to go out and support them as they have supported us this season! We will be posting updates about our sponsors on our Facebook Group throughout the season.
 

All-State Agency (Shep Lawerence) - Diamond Level

Rebekah Barr, Keller Williams Realty - Platinum Level

British Swim School - Gold Level

Roxanne Ponds Photography (Official Team Photographer) - Gold Level

Georgia Grinders/NaturAlmond - Gold Level

Clorox Pool and Spa - Gold Level

Special Events Network - Silver Level

Michelle Robinson, Ansley Atlanta Realty - Silver Level

EDGE - Silver Level

Pizza Crosta - 15% back of sales (After Meet Dinner Sponsor/Time Trial Sponsor)

Barberitos - 15% back of sales (Time Trials Sponsor)

11. Team T-Shirts and Additional T-Shirts

Team T-Shirts are at the printers and expected to handed out at the end of next week or the day before the first meet! We will keep you updated! In addition, Swim Caps ordered during registration will be given out with team t-shirts.

One more note:
Lastly, Coach Laney just wants to apologize for not getting back to everyone's emails sooner! She is working through responding to everyone, but there is a lot to go through. She promises to get back to everyone as soon as she can! :)

See everyone soon!!!!!!!!!

All the best,

Your 2017 HH Coaches

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