PAY Swim Team News- 3/6-3/12/2023

PAY Weekly News for 3.6.2023-3.12.2023

Here is what else you need to know for this week. There is a lot of news and there are practice time changes so please scroll down to the end.

COACHES NOTES

BAKER PARK QUESTIONS: We have been fielding questions regarding the new policy for Baker Park Outdoor Pool memberships. Clarification: if your swimmer is on the PAY Swim Team and if they’ll be outside for swim team training or swim meets, then they do not need a Baker Park Summer Pool membership because they will only be out there for swim practices/meets. (Some practices will be indoor this summer too).  However, if your swimmer or your family plans on hanging out at the outdoor Baker Park pools during the times open to the Y community at large then your swimmer or your family will need to obtain a Baker Park Summer Pool membership.  

KINETIC PHYSICAL THERAPY AT OUR YMCA!: I wanted to make sure you all knew of some benefits to being members of our YMCA. Our branch and association partner with Kinetic Physical Therapy to serve the needs of a wide variety of YMCA members, right at our branch in Phoenixville!. Please visit their website and watch their “YMCA partnership video” at the bottom of their homepage at the following link: https://www.kineticptpa.com/

Kinetic also has additional local locations in Collegeville, Chester Springs, Exton, Downingtown, etc.

SCHEDULE CHANGES FOR THIS WEEK PLEASE READ THESE OVER CAREFULLY!!:

MONDAY 

3:30-5:30 pm Nat/Pre-Nat/Senior (DRYLAND 5:45-6:15pm)

5:30-6:30 pm Junior 1 

5:30-6:30 pm Junior 2

6:30-7:15 pm Novice 1 

7:15-8:45pm Senior Prep 

TUESDAY 

5:30-7:00 am Nat/Pre-Nat/Senior (Senior Prep by approval only) 

3:30-5:30 pm Nat/Pre-Nat/Senior

5:30-7:15 pm Senior Prep (DRYLAND 7:30-8:00pm)

7:15-8:15 pm Junior 2 (DRYLAND 6:30-7:00pm)

7:15-8:45 pm Junior 1 (DRYLAND 6:30-7:00pm)

WEDNESDAY - Junior 2 swimmers may attend practice tonight!

3:30-5:30 pm Nat/Pre-Nat/Senior (NO DRYLAND)

5:30-7:00 pm Junior  1 

5:30-6:15 pm Novice 1

6:15-7:00 pm Novice 2

7:00-8:45 pm Senior Prep 

***Junior 2 District qualifiers may attend either the Junior 1 or Novice time slots tonight. But please let Coach Dave know ahead of time!!

THURSDAY- modified schedule.  Only Districts Qualifiers should attend practice.

NO AM PRACTICE OR DRYLAND THIS THURSDAY

Modified Thursday Practice Schedule (District Swimmers ONLY on this day).

The intention is to get all swimmers and coaches home for the evening at an earlier hour with the District meet starting the following morning; and also to give our District qualifiers an opportunity to fine tune and rehearse for the meet weekend with more pool space to spread out a bit more.

DISTRICT SWIMMERS ONLY:

3:30-4:30 pm National/PreNational/Senior 

4:30-5:30 pm Senior Prep

5:30-6:30 pm Junior 1 & Junior 2 (Novice District qualifiers may attend this slot, but please let me know ahead of time if doing so)

***If logistics make it necessary for your District swimmer to swim “down” a group on this night, that is OK. Just let Coach Dave know ahead of time!!

FRIDAY-SUNDAY- CANCELLED unless you hear otherwise via email

Friday-Sunday Practices are all tentatively canceled for our District meet. This is a huge meet for our team with a very large number of swimmers competing. It more or less requires “all hands on deck” from our coaching staff.

If I can find coaching coverage for any of these typical weekend practice time slots while still keeping the District meet fully and robustly staffed, I will follow up with those individual groups via email.

THANK YOU: Thank you to all the individuals who volunteered at the swim meets last weekend!!!  We can’t attend or host meets without parents volunteering to help out so we appreciate everyone! Thank you also to all the parents who helped with the Bowling Party! The swimmers had fun!

COLDS, ALLERGIES, COVID- Spring is around the corner and with it sneezes galore. Please remember the following:  If your swimmer has nausea or GI issues, it is better for them to rest at home until they feel better.  If your swimmer’s cough/sneeze is more than spring allergies and deemed covid then the latest CDC guidelines are they should stay home for 5 days then they can come back with a mask for the next 5 days.  Any questions, please talk to Coach Dave or Coach Kate Deeney.

UPCOMING MEETS or DEADLINES- Please remind your swimmer that it is every swimmer’s responsibility to clean up after themselves and leave the area we occupy at meets in better condition that we found it AND if your swimmer has to cancel attending the night before or morning of a swim meet, please email coaches (david.rue@philaymca.org and Kathryn.deeney@philaymca.org ) and Kate Baganski (kbaganski@verizon.net ) to ensure the lineups are edited prior to the meet starting.Thank you!

3/10-3/12 YMCA DISTRICTS Meet at the York YMCA in York, PA - see Coach Dave’s email from 3/7/2023.  More volunteer Timers and Officials are needed from our 104 swimmers’ families.  Signup links are within Coach Dave’s email.  Volunteers don’t need to pay for admission.   If you happen to be on deck as a timer or official befor e a meet session- please help the coaches take group session photos in our team area before or after warmups.

DISTRICTS TICKET LINK (all spectators will need to purchase tickets here unless you are a timer/official: https://york-ymca-aquatic-club.ticketleap.com/2023-pa-ymca-central-districts-championships/

3/16-3/19 Junior Championships (formerly known as JOs)- Qualifying times needed.

3/24-3/26 YMCA STATES Meet at WVU in Morgantown, WV- Eligibility is based on results of the Districts Meet. Talk to Dave if you have questions on the likelihood of qualifying. If you have any doubts as to whether your swimmer may qualify for States or not, please email Coach Dave ASAP.

3/29-4/1 EASTERN ZONE AGE GROUP CHAMPS in Webster, NY - MEET EVENT IS POSTED.

4/3-4/7 YMCA National Championship Meet in Greensboro, NC - The culmination of our entire winter season for our National level qualifiers!  Parents of National Qualifiers will have a Zoom Meeting on Thursday, March 16th at 8pm.

Saturday, April 22- YMCA Family Fun Day and Pickleball Tournament- Our swim team will be hosting a snack bar table at the Phoenixville YMCA’s Family Fun Day as a fundraiser for our team to reduce the cost of the Swim Team’s Awards Dinner at RiverCrest (which will be 5/11/23).  Stay tuned in for signups for donations and volunteering to help us that day- and let’s all hope for a sunny and fun-filled day for all!  

Sunday April 30-  Swim Team Teen/Adult Volunteers needed-MASTERS MEET- We’ll need many families and teens to help us host this tremendous swim meet for the US Masters Swimmers ages 19-89+ who come from many surrounding states to compete for world records in our meters pool! Please help us help them! Volunteer Signups will be posted soon. 

Wednesday May 10- End of Winter Season Swim Team Awards Dinner- 6pm-8:30pm at River Crest Golf Club- Stay tuned for details and a RSVP signup.  We will need to finalize our numbers by 4/22/2023.

FACEBOOK-Come follow “PAY Swimming” on Facebook to celebrate the achievements of all of our kids.  Even better, text or email your child’s photo and “brags” from our swim meets to swim mom Donna Hungarter to share on the PAY Swimming page at (484) 686-3156 or  dmhungarter@gmail.com.  If you happen to be on deck as a timer or official before a meet session- you can be our photographer for group photos in our team area before our remaining meets.

TYR PORTAL - If you need any swim apparel or equipment, please visit teams.tyr.com, create an account and use the access code "PAYSUM25". You will then get access to your custom team portal with TYR. By shopping through the custom portal, you will receive 25% off anything you order including parkas, suits and equipment. PLUS, your purchase helps to support the team as TYR provides benefits back to us, based upon our total sales. Please email our TYR rep Joe Eiden with any questions at jeiden@tyr.com or cell 714-615-3757.

SUPER SENIORS: We have 6 swimmers in the Class of 2023! Can’t wait to hear all their plans as they head into the last few months of the school year! GRADUATING SENIORS- please keep your eyes open for an emails about a PCHF Scholarship opportunity and a separate one regarding a PAY Scholarship Opportunity.  ALL SENIOR GROUPS- please keep your eyes open for an email regarding “Senior Notes”- a chance for you all to send our 6 graduates off with kind notes and happy memories from all of you!

BIRTHDAY ROUND-UP Wishing a wonderful day to our teammates who are aging up:

Coach Andrea celebrated a birthday March 7th!

Cayden Ryan turns 13 on March 8th!

Erick Zinn turns 12 on March 8th too! 

“Never regret a day in your life: The good days bring happiness, the bad days bring experience, and the best days bring memories.” – Unknown

Have a Wonderful Week!