Steeple Station Stingrays News and Updates
March 14th
Hey Stingrays!
Gosh it's been a while since I've said that, and I couldn't be happier about being able to say it again! If you haven't heard yet, the 2021 summer league season is a go!
As excited as I am to confirm that we'll have a season, as I'm sure you expect, this season will look a little different. I still do not have ALL the details, but I do want to give you some of the preliminary information that we do have or are considering so that you can start making preparations for summer plans.
Here's a snapshot of some of the ways this season will be different:
- This season we will have 4 meets instead of 6 and they will all be virtual.
- A virtual meet means that teams will not be traveling to other pools. We will race at our home pool (Steeplechase), the team we're going against will race at their home pool, and the results of each will be combined.
- The meet format will look different.
- We are still not sure exactly what this will look like (we will make some decisions based on numbers), but we may have each age group (or maybe two) race in separate sessions to avoid pool crowding. We have some liberty with the meets being virtual.
- I am also aware that we are at a disadvantage because we don't have blocks and I am working on figuring out a solution for that.
- We will do anything within our power to reduce the number of people on the pool deck at once. This means there will be some adjustments made with volunteers, spectators, etc.
- Masks will be required whenever athletes are not actively in the water, eating, or drinking. Social distancing will be expected.
- This is simply going to be about safety and respect, two things we value most on this team. We will address any changes in guidelines if and as they come.
- Practices will look a little different
- For the ages that are able to stand up in the water, the kids will be spread out within the pool and start and stop in the same spot every time. This way they're not breathing the same air. I've gotten pretty creative over the past 9 months with my year-round team and am confident in our ability to adjust and do sets in ways that kids are not stuck in close proximity breathing each other's air.
- I will likely either have the incoming practice group wait off the pool deck and/or have a 1-way traffic flow of athletes exiting the pool versus coming in so that there's next to no crossing of groups. I may have them start to clear the deck a few minutes early to ensure a proper transition.
- Any time a coach has to be in the water with a little one, they will wear a face shield.
- We will have roughly the same practice schedule as 2019 (maybe with minor tweaks to it as needed).
- We will be keeping the same suit from the 2019 season.
- I will be organizing my coaching staff in the coming weeks and will announce it when I have it.
- We will let you know cost once we have a few more details.
First Day of Practice - Monday, May 10
County Meet @ Georgia Tech - July 9-11 (yes, that's a potential 3 days) Things to remind ourselves of:
- This is hopefully just one season of precautions with the goal of allowing our athletes to be together safely with minimal risk and protect anyone else they come into contact with.
- I feel a lot better about our safety knowing we'll have two pools to practice at, that COVID doesn't transmit through properly-chlorinated pools, that we'll be outside, and that we have great resources within our parent and board base that we can look to for guidance!
- I will get as creative as I can and do everything I can within reason to make this season enjoyable and exceptional. This is going to look, feel, and be different than previous seasons but just like doing free relay changes at 10 PM, if summer league prepares us for anything it's to be flexible and resilient. Please radiate this positivity toward your swimmers, as will I.
- Executing this season safely is going to be a TEAM EFFORT. We must all commit to the safety of our Stingray family and prioritize it.
