HELLO SAILFISH!

Who is ready to get this season started!!! Starting today and for the duration of the season, your Sailfish SCOOP will arrive bi-weekly (Saturday/Sunday & Wednesday) and contain lots of important information for you. We have a lot for you today, since our swimmers start practices in just TWO DAYS. 

Listen up - Here’s the SCOOP…

PRACTICES BEGIN MONDAY, MAY 15

Only 2 days (!!!) until our first practice of the season. (Soooo exciting!!!) As a reminder, here’s our practice schedule. This information is also posted on the bottom left of our homepage for future reference.

Update: No practices on Friday, May 26, and on July 3 and 4.

Afternoon practices

Weeks of May 15 and May 22 ONLY; Monday through Friday. (No practice on Friday, May 26.)

• 6 & Under swimmers: 4:30pm – 5:00pm
• 7–8 swimmers: 4:30pm - 5:00pm
• 13–14 swimmers: 5:00pm – 6:00pm
• 15–18 swimmers: 5:00pm – 6:00pm
• 9–10 swimmers: 6:00pm - 7:00pm
• 11–12 swimmers: 6:00pm - 7:00pm
• NO Mudskippers this week

Morning practices will begin after Memorial Day starting Tuesday, May 30, held Monday through Friday:

• 7–8 swimmers: 7:45am – 8:30am
• 9–10 swimmers: 8:30am – 9:30am
• 6 & under swimmers: 9:30am – 10:15am
• 11–12 swimmers: 9:30am – 10:30am
• 13–18 swimmers: 10:30am - 11:30am (Tuesday/Thursday/Friday)
• Mudskippers: 10:15am – 10:45am Group 1; 10:45am – 11:15am Group 2 (We’ll send you more information on your group placement at a later date.

Evening practices starting May 31

Monday & Wednesday evenings (no 13-18 morning practice on M/W)

Pre-sign-up required — Information on sign up will come at a later date.

• 7-8pm: 7-8s, 9-10s, 11-12s, 13-18s (priority to younger swimmers)
• 8-9pm: 13-18s (if there's high interest-otherwise all ages from 7-8pm)

As a reminder - we are adding evening practices to better accommodate families’ schedules. Swimmers should not attend more than 5 practices in a week. They MUST attend at least two practices a week to be eligible to swim in that week’s meet, per league rules.

A second reminder about inclement weather. If the temperature is below 50 degrees, practice will be canceled. If there is lightning in the area, we wait 30 minutes from the last observed strike before resuming practice. If practice is canceled, you will receive email notification. Always use your best judgment about the weather.

SAFETY REMINDERS FOR PRACTICE

• Swimmers are only supervised by the swim team coaches during their age designated practice times. Sailfish coaches are busy on deck with swimmers in the water. 
• Swimmers are not permitted to stay at the pool unsupervised outside of practice times. 
• Please remind your children that the children’s pool and dive well are closed during practice. Swimmers are able to swim in the dive well under the supervision and permission of their coach. The children’s pool opens at 10:30 am each day and WILL be supervised by a lifeguard at that time. This pool is only for children ages 9 and under, and parents or a guardian MUST be present for children to enter this area when it opens.
• There are no lifeguards on duty during swim practice. Coaches serve in this capacity for swimmers who are practicing.
• If your swimmer rides their bike or scooter to practice, please remind them to use the crosswalks. 
• Please remind teen drivers to drive carefully around the pool and to attend to speed hump and stop signs. In a recent Greenwood Village police survey, we learned that over 80% of drivers run through the stop sign at Powers and Galena - creating a significant safety issue for pedestrians near our pool. The Greenwood Village Police are conducting targeted enforcement at this intersection and we expect that they will be around often during our practice times.

HELP US FIND MORE SWIMMERS

We still have plenty of room for more swimmers and there is still plenty of time to sign up for the season. Please help up spread the word about our AWESOME team. YOU are the best recruiting tool that we have.

PERSONALIZED SWIM CAP ORDERS

Have you ever thought that you wished you had a way to have your child stand out in a sea of swim caps? No more hoping the sharpie that you've used to write your name will stay on through the season! Now is your chance to order personalized swim caps!

Simply fill out this form with all the necessary information by May 15th and we will send you a Venmo request to complete your order!

Please note that each name is a minimum of two caps and the team must hit a minimum of 25 caps total to place the order. In the event that we do not reach that number, orders will not be placed. (We have reached the minimum - so we will place orders on May 15.) For those wondering, we will also be selling our team caps, without names, at our meets. Reach out to Bailey Foley ([email protected]) with any questions!

CALLING ALL BIG KIDS

The Big Kids program is back this year and better than ever! We have a ton of fun events planned, and new ways to communicate events so you and your Big Kid can stay in the loop. If you have a Sailfish swimmer that is a rising 7th grader or older, please take the following steps:

1. Check out our new Big Kids page! This will be updated as we add events throughout the year.
2. Fill out this Google form! This will ensure that both you and your Big Kids have a finger on the pulse of all things Big Kids this year. 
3. Order merch! Check out the Big Kid only merch available on the Big Kids page.
4. Talk up the Big Kids program with your kids. We know they'll have a great time hanging with their friends outside the pool and we want to get them excited about it!

CALLING ALL BIG FISH & LITTLE FISH!

The Big Fish, Little Fish program is designed to build relationships, camaraderie, and team spirit between the age groups.

The Big Fish/Little Fish program is not about elaborate gifts – it is about actions and behavior. It is about being a supportive teammate!

Both swimmers are encouraged to cheer each other on at practices and meets. However, the Big Fish should take the lead to be a mentor, cheerleader, and role model of what makes a good teammate. To ensure the success of the program, it is important that Big Fish fulfill these expectations. If you don’t think you can reliably serve in this role, please don’t sign-up to participate in the program.

Here’s How to Get Involved:

1. CREATE- Write your Big/ Little Fish a note, draw a picture, or make a friendship bracelet! Use your talents to inspire your Big/ Little Fish to swim fast and psych them up for a great meet!
2. CHEER - Watch your Big/Little Fish swim at meets! Be the loudest and most supportive teammate on the pool deck!
3. CONGRATULATE- After your Big/Little Fish race, be there to tell them how great they swam!
4. AT THE POOL- If you are at the pool, meet up with your Little Fish for some fun. Go for a swim (Big Fish can help Little Fish with their strokes), a walk, or even a snack together. Make this a memorable experience for you as well as them!!
5. FUN EVENTS/ OTHER - Spend some time together at events such as swimming under the stars, Pirates Cove, or the Banquet. We will suggest other activities at season at meets and practices for Big Fish/ Little Fish to connect!

To Be a BIG FISH: Be 10 or older You must commit to cheering on your Little Fish. If possible, let your Little Fish know when you are going to miss a meet or any social event. 

To Be a LITTLE FISH: Age 9 and under Just let us know if your child wants to participate! If possible, let your Big Fish know when you are going to miss a meet or any social event. 

Please complete this form for each swimmer that would like to participate in the Big Fish/Little Fish Program. Please complete the form by May 17. Buddies will be sent via email and on the website by the end of that week.

After you sign-up, you will be assigned a Big/Little Fish who is counting on you! If for any reason you are no longer able to participate, please notify Natalie Messersmith at 720-971-9774 or [email protected].

That’s the news for this edition of the Sailfish SCOOP. 

See you all at the pool this week.

Life is better when you are swimming!

Paul Baumann, Molly Carr, and Amy Fetter

Sundance Sailfish Parent Representatives