Dear Swim Parents,
The first swim meets of the season are days away, and I want to take this opportunity to welcome back returning families and introduce myself to all the new parents. My name is Emily Giles, and I have been coordinating the YMCA Summer Swim League for the past 5 or 6 years. It is a joy to get to know all the parents, coaches, and swimmers, and witness the growth and development of your precious children. It is a great honor to be able to contribute to their health and well-being.
As you may or may not know, swim competitions require heavy parent participation. It is impossible to conduct a swim meet without the help of at least 20 parent volunteers each meet. Therefore, it is a league requirement that each family provide a volunteer at least once throughout the season. If every parent does their fair share, no one should have to volunteer more than twice per season. There are sometimes special circumstances that prohibit some parents from volunteering, and we truly appreciate those that help over and above what is expected.
If you haven't done so already, I encourage you to talk to your coach or team parent and find out how you can help.
Most volunteer positions can be learned in just a few minutes at the swim meet, but there are a few positions that require a bit more training. One of those positions is that of the official, or judge. This is a very important position, and helps ensure fair competition and accurate results. Many people are afraid to accept this role, but let me assure you that it is not difficult, and can be a fun and rewarding way to participate.
Each team will need to have at least one trained official for every ten swimmers, so it is important that as many parents as possible are trained. Although we can train you during the swim meet, it is much more effective to do this ahead of time as a group. So, this year we will be offering training classes for officials and finish judges. I highly encourage these classes for ALL returning swim parents and new parents with previous swim experience, unless you are already committed to working another position such as Head Clerk of Course or Starter. Not only will you learn what you need to know to officiate our swim meets, but you will also be better informed about the rules of the sport your child is participating in. Remember, the more people we have trained, the less those people will actually have to work!
So far we have two classes scheduled, with more to follow:
Friday, June 5 @ Bell Road YMCA 6:00 pm
Monday, June 8 @ Wetumpka YMCA 5:00 pm
If you plan on attending one of these classes, send an email to ememlu@gmail.com with your name, phone number, and the team you represent. This class is also a must for coaches/assistant coaches/parent helpers who need to brush up on swimming rules.
If you cannot attend one of these classes, but would like to attend one in the future, please contact me to let me know when the best time/location would be for you.
See you at the pool!
Emily Giles
MYSSL Coordinator
