Hello Gator Families!
We are almost one week away from practice beginning at the pool!! Below is important information for you to be aware of prior to us getting to the pool. New information is written in green!
Practice begins May 28 with both mornings & evenings available. The schedule for the summer is attached.
Information Needed If you have not submitted a registration form to me, PLEASE send me your swimmer’s name(s) with middle initial, Date of birth & T-shirt size! (RETURNING SWIMMERS TOO PLEASE!) This will allow me to have all lists current when we get to the pool.
Team T-Shirt All swimmers will receive a team shirt as a part of the registration fee. Family members may purchase shirts for $15 each. We have a short period of time between the first practice and our first swim meet so I am trying to make sure we have shirts in time for the first meet. This year’s shirt will be pale purple with have Louisa Gators logo on the front and a list of sponsors & all swimmers on the back. If you would like to order family shirts, please let me know by May 25. Family shirts can be paid for when we get to the pool. This shirt is NOT available at our team store!
Team Sponsors All sponsorship information must be received by May 27 in order to be listed on the t-shirt. If you know you are bringing in a sponsorship, please let me know ahead of time. I will need sponsor name and amount. Forms and money can be submitted at the pool.
Swimmer Evaluation This year, ALL swimmers will be evaluated and placed into groups. Over the years, we have had swimmers in groups due to family convenience and/or friendships. This has resulted in a large degree of difference within each group. In order to provide the best possible experience for each swimmer we are starting over. The coaches have met and established requirements for each level. Swimmers may NOT end up in the same group as last year. For the first week, returning swimmers should attend at the time of practice for the group they were in at the end of the summer. New groups will be established by June 1.
New swimmers should come to their first practice during the Prep Time at the Activity Pool. They will be evaluated and moved into the appropriate group at that time.
Team Picture We will be taking our team picture at the June 12 swim meet.
Themes for HOME Swim Meets June 12 – Superheroes (come as favorite character or hero) July 10 – Tropical/Luau (leis, grass skirts, aloha shirts) July 17 – Gator Spirit (purple, green & gold) This is a chance for swimmers and families to have fun and show team spirit.
Team Registration There are still several ways to sign up for the Swim Team and/or Prep Team prior to going to the pool. Swimmers may be registered by completing the attached registration form and mailing to POGA, P O Box 1373, Louisa, VA 23093. Registration forms are also available on our team website at louisagators.org.
Registration Fees Until 5/27 the registration fee is $180 first swimmer/$175 each additional swimmer. Any registrations received after 5/27 will be charged $200 per swimmer. We are trying to get paperwork out of the way ahead of time, so come to a registration meeting or send your fees in ahead of time so we will know to expect you. I have attached a registration form in the event you send your forms via mail. The link to pay by debit/credit is:
https://squareup.com/store/louisagators
We have had some difficulty in getting the prices changed on our Square account so in the event you are not charged the correct amount, we will bill you for the remaining amount. If you chose this option, please send me an email with your swimmer’s name & your contact info (parent’s names, cell phones, email & mailing address). We can take care of the forms at the pool.
Parents of the Gators Association (POGA) Board Members Missy Lonce – President mlonce_lchs@yahoo.com Margaret Hiter – Vice President mhiter00@gmail.com Colleen Moore – Secretary cjmoorex2@gmail.com Heather Ways – Treasurer hbways1@live.com Debra Bickley – Head Coach coachdebrab@yahoo.com April Pekary – Fundraising aspekary@gmail.com Debbie Dessent - JSL Representative thedessents@embarqmail.com Stephanie Gurski – At Large sgurski2@gmail.com VACANT – At Large We have three At Large positions available, let us know if you are interested
We are looking for three parents to serve on the POGA board, if you are interested please contact Colleen Moore by June 6. We will have a vote by ballot at the June 12 Swim Meet.
Practice Information Morning & Evening Practices begin on Tuesday, May 28. As always, swimmers are welcome at one or two practices per day…depending on family schedule. Our swimmers are assigned a color based on their ability, returning swimmers should come to the same practice as last year. New swimmers should come at 8:30 AM and/or 7:15 PM to the Activity Pool to meet with Coach Debra during the first week of practice. The new swimmers will be assigned a color at that time and will then switch to the appropriate practice and main pool for the remainder of the year. It is possible the new or young swimmer will remain in the activity pool for several days to work on a specific skill or endurance prior to moving to the main pool.
All swimmers should wear one piece suit & have goggles for practice. The team will be providing a swim cap for each child, additional caps or replacement caps will be $5. The caps will be available from POGA board members during the picnic and practice. Please bring several towels and have sweatpants & sweatshirts to change into after practice…your swimmer will be COLD!
Prep Team Our prep team is designed as an two week intensive skill instruction 30 minute practice sessions twice a day. We focus on basic skills need for freestyle & backstroke as well as building confidence and endurance. Do not worry if you are only available mornings or evenings…we will work with your schedule – just let us know! Prep swimmers may progress to the main pool/team at any point during this time, the more they are with us the faster they progress. At the end of the week, Prep members are expected to join the team and practice in the main pool unless the coaching staff deems they are not ready. At that time, the remainder of the team fee will be assessed, with credit given for all but $10 of the Prep Team fee paid.
Practice Schedule – Week One ONLY (5/28-5/31, no evening practice on 5/29) Main Pool 7:30-8:30 AM Red & Green 8:30-9:00 AM Blellow 9:00-9:45 AM Yellow
7:00-7:45 PM Yellow 7:45-8:15 PM Blellow 8:15-9:30 PM Red & Green
Activity Pool – Prep & younger swimmers 8:30-9:30 AM & 7:15-8:15 PM
The Activity Pool will be used for the Prep Team and new swimmers for the first two weeks only. All new swimmers & Prep Team should plan on attending during this time. New swimmers will be assessed and given the appropriate practice time for the Main Pool. Depending upon the size of the Prep Team, the Prep team may be split into two groups. I have attached the entire season schedule and will have copies available at the registration meeting and pool.
Team Suits & Apparel All swimmers will be required to purchase a team suit for competition. We have a team store with SwimOutlet.com. We will also have other items available such as team shirts, spirit shirts, sweatpants, hoodies, tank tops, flannel pants etc. The link to our team store is: https://swimoutlet.com/louisagators Our team suits are purple & black with our team logo. Females will have the choice of two different suits, one with thin straps & one with thick straps. Males have the choice of either design in jammers. Please check the sizing guide if you are unsure what size you need. Any items you order from the website will be shipped directly to your home! Team suits need to be ordered ASAP, they take several weeks to ship due to the customization.
Goggles Goggles should be purchased in advance…swimmers should have several pairs in case one is lost or breaks. There are several pair listed on our team store at swimoutlet.com/louisa gators or you can purchase them at WalMart, Sams, Cosco or sports stores. Please be sure to make some identifying marks on your goggles…paint pen or fingernail polish usually works.
Swim Meet Schedule Wednesday, June 12 Home meet with FAST/ELKS, arrive at 4:45, meet begins at 6 Wednesday, June 19 Bye week Wednesday, June 26 Away meet at GHG, arrive at 4:45, meet begins at 6 Tuesday, July 2 Away meet at ELKS, arrive at 4:45, meet begins at 6 Wednesday, July 10 Home meet with CCC, arrive at 4:45, meet begins at 6 Wednesday, July 17 Home meet with FAST, arrive at 4:45, meet begins at 6
Directions for away meets will be provided prior to each meet. LCPRT will be providing concession during our home meets. We receive a portion of the profit so please support the team by purchasing food & drinks.
JSL Championship Meet The Championship Meet is the culmination for the entire summer swim season. The meet is open to ALL swimmers who compete in at least two meets during the regular season. All swimmers will be placed in this meet unless on vacation or specified conflict. There are many changes with the Champs meet this year, but please note the times & age group information is tentative and will be confirmed once all teams have submitted registration information. For new swimmers, swimmers are only required to come at that time of their age group…they will not need to be there all day both days! The meet will be at UVA Aquatic Center on 7/26 & 7/27.
Fundraising Each family is responsible for raising $100 per swimmer in addition to registration fees. The fee may be handled in several ways: outright payment, get a team sponsor or participate in a team fundraiser such as a team raffle. I am attaching the sponsorship letter and information. Sponsors must be obtained by May 27 in order to be featured on our team t-shirt.
Group Text Information (Remind Text) If you have not signed up for our group text, please do so in the following manner: Text to: 81010, message: @louisa gators There is a space between louisa & gators. I will receive a notification that you have joined our group.
If you would like to join our Facebook Group, please submit request at Louisa Gators Swim Team.
Junior Coaches Middle School & High School swimmers…we will need Junior Coaches again this season. You will work with the younger swimmers during the Prep & Blellow times. In addition, you may be asked to work with other swimmers on a specific skill. Note – You will be expected to be in the water with these swimmers so be prepared! Let me know if you are interested in being a Junior Coach this summer.
Feel free to contact me or a POGA board member if you have any questions! Looking forward to seeing (and meeting) everyone at the pool!! See you in ONE week!!
Coach Debra 540 760-1464 |
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