FIRST WEEK! 8.10 to 8.16

The 2015 season is finally here!  Summer is always a great time to get outside, recharge, and get out of our normal school-year routines for a bit, but I'm certainly ready to get things rolling again with our new crew.  As in the past, each Sunday I will post here on the blog with important info for the coming week.  Especially at the beginning of the season, there's a lot of information/dates/times, etc. so please read these posts thoroughly!


This Week

Physicals

• A physical form has to be turned into the athletics office or in my hand on or before Wednesday, August 12 in order to practice. I sent out an email last week with info regarding a walk-in option.  If you're not sure if yours in on-file yet, call Jennifer Bieri to check!

Practice Times/Locations

• For ALL athletes, both swimmers and divers!
• Where: Holland Aquatic Center
• When Wed through Fri, 8:00 to 11:00am
• Remember, when 8:00 is listed as the practice start time, that means you're on-deck and ready to go at 8:00am!  Be sure to get to the pool with enough time to change and get ready.  If you simply arrive at 8:00am, you're late!

What to Bring

• Practice suit, cap, and goggles.
• A water bottle!  Staying hydrated is a must!!
• A gatorade or other sports drink, or a granola bar, or some other healthy snack.  You need to consume some calories during a 3-hour practice!
• Swimmers: an old pair of socks to use with your fins (helps prevent blisters).

Senior Camp

• Senior Camp for all HC Seniors is Sunday, August 16th to Monday, August 18th up at Timberwolf Young Life Lodge.
• I will be attending the camp along with many other HCHS teachers, so Lisa will be leading practice on Monday.
• Seniors swimmers going to camp need to bring their suit, cap, and goggles for a wake-up swim on Monday morning in the lake, which has become a fun tradition! You will ride back with the bulk of your class on Monday, so you're excused from Monday's practice unless you want to make it up later Monday night on your own. 

Looking Ahead

***Although an email was sent out earlier in the summer with important dates to consider, Football Cleanup dates and our date for Compasstionate Heart were not on that list as they were not finalized at that point.  I've since added them, so here's that link again:

2015 Schedule & Important Dates

Football Game Cleanups

• Besides working the Herman Miller Picnic, our other "fundraiser" for the year consists of doing the stadium cleanup after football games a couple times during the fall.  Between having a few families bring blowers and plenty of hands, it usually goes quite quickly.  I think last year our record was close to 20 minutes!
• Dates:
• September 3
• September 18
• October 16
• There is a special event going on before the homecoming game and we'll be putting away tables, chairs, etc. during the game while the boys swim team will be taking care of the post-game cleanup.  More details on this as we get closer.

Compassionate Heart

• Each season, our team raises funds for Compassionate Heart (a non-profit in Zeeland) via our Ducks for Bucks game at our home meets. On some weekend during the season, we host a Fall Festival for the kids at Compassionate Heart, doing face painting, cookie decorating, coloring, and a whole host of games.  It's always a highlight of the season, filled with plenty of fun!
• Date: Saturday, October 10th.
• Time: After practice until no later than 2:00pm.

Well, I think that's it for now!  2 days...