New Practice Schedule

So we are just about to get the High school season underway, and with the new season will come a slightly altered schedule:

-There will no longer be morning practice

- The Beginner group will practice from 4-5

- The High School, and Upper level groups will practice from 5-7

- There will be no changes to the pools. We will still practice at Founders M,W,F and we will practice at JAC T,TH,SAT. Saturday practices will be on and off as we may have meets on the weekends.

- For High School swimmers, I will be proctoring a study hall right after school which will last from about 2:30-3:45. I will have to leave the school and coach the beginners at 4, but all are welcome to stay and study. The place is still to be decided. No one is forced to go, but this will allow any swimmer to get some work done, to compensate for the hour change in the schedule.

I do realize that this is a slight change in the schedule, and that most people are used to practicing from 4-6, and that HS swimmers are used to practicing solely at Founders Park. WE, and yes this includes me, commute back and forth because as the team grows, we have several swimmers that reside in Key largo, and several who reside in Islamorada. Also, when I first got here there were three 8 & under swimmers, and now there are more than 10. This has been the largest factor in the hour change, primarily because these swimmers require more attention, and are less self sustained. I NEED a separate hour just for them, and I am not going to make a 8 year old practice from 6-7. Until I have a assistant, this is the best working schedule that will allow me to do the best job that I can with everyone. I am not willing to compromise my quality, to compensate for a one our time change. I pride myself on doing a good job, and giving as much attention, and time that I can to everyone. This is the schedule that I feel will allow me to get things done properly. I do realize some swimmers will have to change their schedules, i.e. change when they do homework, eat, hangout and other things, but I am a firm believer that a successful student athlete/individual will figure that out, learn to balance the obligations in their life, and make a schedule that works best for them. I am very excited about the growing team, and the potential that I see for all of us. I do appreciate swimmers, and parents who have had to adjust their schedules in order to practice. It will definitely be a busy couple of months for us all, but nothing good ever came without a little elbow grease!