Hello Crestwood families!!

I am so excited to let you all know that we are planning to have a swim team season for the summer of 2020! Coaching at Crestwood is always one of the highlights of my summers. I'm so happy that we have the opportunity to make this season happen in the midst of all the chaos in our world. We have been working diligently to finish all the necessary planning to keep swimmers safe this year with everything going on in the world. While this season will look very different from what we are used to, I am confident we can still have a blast! Below I have written out some information about some of the new rules regarding practices this year. There will be more information about meets later on, and all information will be posted on the website. Please understand that your children's safety is our top priority, and this year requires some extra precautions. Our goal this year is for the swimmers to stay safe and healthy while still having fun!

Practices will begin Monday, June 22nd. The last day to register will be the Friday of that same week, June 26th. There will not be any flexibility on this deadline.

Note: swim team registration will again be through Swimtopia.com (https://crestwoodswimteam.swimtopia.com)  - and should be available by the middle of next week (around Wed 6/17).

In order to participate in swim team meets and practices for the 2020 season, 6 & unders must be able to swim at least one length of the pool (25 meters) UNASSISTED. We will run a swim test on the first day of official practice for all 6 & unders and all new members of the swim team.

Practices:

• Each swimmer will need to bring his or her own cap and goggles. We recommend that each swimmer also bring an extra pair of goggles, as we will not have the goggle tree and swimmers will not be allowed to borrow goggles. Each swimmer and any parent who wishes to be on deck during practice must bring their own face mask. It is important that each swimmer brings a mask because we may have to shelter under the overhang due to inclement weather and we need to ensure every team member is safe. Each swimmer needs to bring his or her own water bottle. Swimmers are not to share drinks, caps, goggles, water bottles, or masks.
• We will not be using additional equipment this year, so there is no need for swimmers to bring fins or kickboards.
• Coaches will call off practices in advance via the Remind app. If inclement weather should come unexpectedly, the swimmers will clear the pool area and gather under shelters with masks on. Depending on the number of swimmers at practice, we will try to maintain as much social distance as possible under such circumstances. However, the goal is to anticipate bad weather prior to practice and avoid such situations if possible.
• There will be no changing in or out of swim suits allowed during swim team practice. Swimmers are expected to come to the pool wearing their suits and leave the pool wearing their suits. Swimmers may wear whatever sort of coverup they decide to wear.
• Bathrooms will be open for EMERGENCIES ONLY. We ask that swimmers and parents use their restrooms at home before coming to Crestwood to minimize bathroom usage as much as possible. Only one person will be allowed in the bathroom at a time, and this will be monitored.
• Attendance will be taken at every practice. All swimmers must be signed in prior to entering the pool. Any parent who wishes to come inside the gate during practice must also be recorded on the attendance sheet. Only one parent or guardian per family will be allowed to enter with their child(ren).
• Each swimmer will be assigned to a specific practice: A, B, or C. Please pay attention to the practice times, as they have changed from years past.
  
  
  
  
  • A: 8:00am-9:00am
  • B: 9:10am-10:10am
  • C: 10:20am-11:20am
• As often as possible, we will try to assign family members to the same practice times. However, this may not always be possible based on swimmers' abilities. If siblings are in consecutive practices (A & B, or B & C), they may each stay at the pool for the other's practice time as long as they stay in the designated deck area to which their family is initially assigned. This also must be specified on the attendance sheet.
• For 10 minutes prior to each practice, someone will be available at the front gate to take attendance. This year, it is extremely important for swimmers to be on time for practice. The front gate will be closed after attendance has been taken before each practice.
• Swimmers who typically ride bikes or walk to practice may still do so, as long as they still sign in and enter through the front gate.
• Upon arrival at Crestwood in the morning, please enter through the front gate and sign in.
• There will be a designated area depending on practice assignments where swimmers can place their belongings. In said area, each swimmer or family will have an assigned table or lawn chair. This should be the only place swimmers place their belongings. This is also where we ask parents to sit if they wish to stay for the duration of practice.
• Swimmers will have very specific lane assignments at each practice to maintain social distance as much as possible in the water. We are following the lane assignment guidelines provided by USA Swimming.
  
  
  
  
  • USA Swimming Guidelines
• At the end of practice, swimmers and parents will gather their belongings and exit through the back gate down the driveway to avoid the need to pass by any persons entering the pool for the following practice time.
• Following the last practice C, everyone, excluding staff, must exit the grounds so that all areas can be sanitized prior to opening. No one will be permitted to stay and wait for the pool to open as normal, and members cannot leave anything on the pool grounds intentionally to 'mark' a spot. Families who wish to come back at noon must sign back in when the front gate is reopened.

This may seem like a lot of changes and may be overwhelming to you all. In these crazy times, I hope that you can be patient with the necessary steps we need to take to maintain the safety of everyone involved in the swim team this year. Please feel free to contact any of your coaches if you have questions, issues or concerns throughout the season.

• Claire: 937-558-6112      [email protected]
• Carter: 937-607-7554     [email protected]
• Abby: 937-657-8295       [email protected]

I'm excited to see where this summer takes us! Thank you again for all of your ongoing support and patience.

Coach Claire Leibold

Team! Team! Team!