COACH'S CORNER:

• Coach Audrey: Hello families! I am thrilled that the pool is now open for our upcoming season. As we ease into our first official week of practice, our focus will be on technique and enhancing skill development. During practice, we will dedicate time to all four strokes while also honing their abilities in diving, flip turns, and open turns. I am looking forward to learning the swimmers abilities this week. If you need to communicate anything with me, please feel free to email me at [email protected].
• Coach Sophia: Hello parents! I’m so glad that we are finally able to get in the water! We had our first water practice this Friday and were able to play some games in the shallow end. This next week we will be starting to learn the basics for all of the strokes in order to get the kids prepared for time trials. I would recommend trying to attend as many practices as you can as we will be trying to move through all the strokes before time trials. Additionally, swamp pups will be pushed one week with our first practice being Monday, June 3 so I can have more time to work with the 6U. I can't wait see you all in the water this week! Feel free to reach out with any questions or concerns at [email protected]. 
• Communicating swimmer needs and abilities: As we begin practices in the water, we want to meet swimmers where they are in their development. If your swimmer needs to be challenged more, or begin with more of the basics, please encourage your swimmer to talk to Coach Audrey or Coach Sophia about this. If you’d prefer to talk to a board member, reach out to [email protected]. We want each swimmer to have fun and swim to their full potential. 

SWIMTOPIA APP: Practice cancellations, delays, and updates are sent through the Swimptopia App (Google Play Store, Apple Store). The app is free for basic needs (like communication). A paid subscription provides more features such as timely results of swim meets, and you can pay for the app for just 2 months of summer swim. Be sure to log in with the e-mail address used for registering for the Swampfoxxes.

SWIM TEAM REGISTRATION: This is the final week for swim team registration. Registration will close on May 31st.

MEMORIAL DAY PARTY: We’ll be having our annual Memorial Day Party TODAY, Monday, May 27 from 12-4pm. The SwampShack will be open throughout the event. We'll have a DJ from 12-2pm and fun pool games starting at 1pm. This is a great opportunity to celebrate the start of the season with your neighbors and to raise money for the Swampfoxxes. We still have 1 job available from 2-3p and a few food items needed. Please go to https://oxxfordhunt.swimtopia.com/swim_meets to sign up. We look forward to seeing you there!

SWAMP PUPS: Unfortunately, the delay in getting our pool opened means we are going to have to delay the start of the Swamp Pup lessons by one week. Coach Sophia hasn't been able to get any lane time with the 6U swimmers yet, and needs to get them ready for our Time Trial meet. The 6U will have her undivided attention for the 4 days of practice next week, and she will be able to start working with the Swamp Pups the following week. This means the first Swamp Pup lesson will be on Monday, 6/3, and we will have lessons that Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday. We will send out which of the two days your swimmer has been assigned early next week.

MEET VOLUNTEER TRAININGS: Parents should be prepared to volunteer for at least one job per meet that you have a child swimming in. Swamp Pup parents who have no one swimming at the meets do not need to volunteer at meets. Although volunteering at a meet might sound intimidating- it's not! 

• Please take advantage of our Role Training rescheduled for Thursday, May 30 where we will go over timing, kid pushing, and ribbon writing during both practice times, and Time Trials on Tuesday, June 4.
• TSA, Tarheel Swimming Association (our swim league), is offering trainings on Stroke & Turn, Starters, and Meet Administrators on June 2 (beginning at 1pm) at University Park in Raleigh and one June 8 (beginning at 8am) at Cary Park. Email Katie Richards ([email protected]) if you want more details!

LOST AND FOUND: A sweatshirt and water bottle were left at the clubhouse after the kick-off meeting. Please contact Tim at [email protected] to claim your items.

SWAMPSHACK: Thank you to Isabelle Walsh, who has been hard at work getting the Swamp Shack ready for business. We are officially open for the season!! Swamp Shack snack cards can be purchased with a credit card online at: https://oxxfordhunt.swimtopia.com/shop. Just show the lifeguard your receipt and he/she will write out your card.

TEAM SHIRTS & SWIM CAPS: Each swimmer receives a shirt included in their registration, and a Swampfoxx swim cap (either latex or silicone). Shirts and caps will be distributed at practices when they arrive in a few weeks. Extra 2024 shirts will also be available for sale at that time for parents and other supporters.

OTHER TEAM MERCH FOR SALE: Custom Swampfoxx Swag will be available through Squadlocker once we get our new logo uploaded and items added to our store.

Please let us know what questions you may have or use other parents as a resource, either in person at the practice or via our FB parents forum!

Your Oxxford Hunt Swim Team Board