Hope everyone had a great time at Penguin Madness on Friday. We had a good turnout for yesterday’s Memorial Day swim clinic, and the coaches got to work closely with swimmers on their starts, turns, and pulldowns. Now it’s time to start looking forward to Time Trials on Saturday!
 

*NEW EVENING PRACTICE TIMES START TODAY*

For the next two weeks, our evening practice times are compressed because the pool is open to members until 6:00 pm.  Please note the new times and age groups (today through June 3):

• 9 & under: 6:00–7:00 pm
• 10-13: 7:00–8:00 pm
• 14-18: 8:00–9:00 pm

THIS WEEK AT PRACTICE

In these two weeks of compressed practices, the lanes are going to be more crowded than usual. The coaches will be focusing on meet readiness before Time Trials on Saturday, so it’s especially important that new swimmers come to practice every day this week if possible.

TIME TRIALS ON SATURDAY, JUNE 4

Time Trials will be this Saturday, June 4. Swimmers and parents should check in no later than 7:15 am. Coach Scott will have a brief meeting for new swimmers and their parents starting at 7:20 am. The meet should be done around 1:00 pm.

If you are new to the team, you might want to check out the Swim Meet Survival Tips article on the website for some helpful advice about what to bring, what to wear, etc.

If your child will not be able to attend Time Trials, you need to let the coaches and volunteer coordinators know ASAP. Please send email to coaches@swimlpac.org and volunteers@swimlpac.org. Any swimmers who do not attend Time Trials must come to the make-up day on Monday, June 6 at 8:00 pm.

So far, we have heard that the following swimmers are going to be missing all or part of Time Trials: Holland and Zurie Adam; Anthony and Luke Anderson; Dillon and Ashley Blacow; Oskar and Theo Brady; Alex, Lucas, and Gabrielle Castro; Megan Cristal; Alex Delgado; Phyllis, Daitarih and Cresside Hansen, Amanda Jackson, Ana and Karla Julian, Everett Leung-Thomas, Maddy Nelson; Sophia, Sarina and Siena Seps; CJ and Noah Taylor; Ishir Vaidyanath.

VOLUNTEER SHIFTS AT TIME TRIALS

Volunteer assignments for this Saturday have been posted to the Time Trials page on the website under “Links.” Meet entries and results will eventually be posted here as well, once those reports are available.

Please check the list for your name and assigned shift(s). If you don’t see your name listed but you do have a child who will be swimming at Time Trials, please e-mail Cecie Boston at volunteers@swimlpac.org. If you see your name but your child is NOT swimming, please also e-mail Cecie, so the position can be filled. We still have the following openings that need to be filled:

• 1st shift Men’s Restroom
• 1st shift Marshall
• 2nd shift Clerk of the Course
• 2nd shift Lane 1 Timer
• 2nd shift Marshall
• 2nd shift Kitchen Helper
• Set Up / Clean Up

Please note, we really need everyone to pitch in at Time Trials. Because there is no other team, we have to man all the volunteer roles, and we have several families who will be out of town this weekend. If you have a child swimming, we need your help! If you have more than one swimmer swimming, we may need you to work an extra shift. If you know another family in the same position, offer to split a second shift with them!

TIME TRIALS MAKE-UP DAY: MONDAY, JUNE 6

Swimmers who cannot attend Time Trials on Saturday must come to Make-Up Day on Monday, June 1 at 8:00 pm. Parents are expected to stay and volunteer as timers and recorders during Make-Up Day. We will be getting a very late start (because the pool is open to members until 8:00 pm), so it is VERY important that you arrive on time! Please note there will be no regular night practices on Monday.

MORNING PRACTICES START NEXT WEEK!

We will switch to morning practice times starting next week (June 6). Practice times will be as follows:

• High School: 6:45–7:45/8:15* am (*dryland on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays)
• 12-14: 7:45–8:45/9:15* am (*dryland on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays)
• 9-11: 8:45–9:30 am
• 8 & under: 9:30–10:15 am

*Swimmers ages 12 and up will also have 30 minutes of dryland exercises immediately after their regular practice times on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays. Please bring running shoes on these days.

Swimmers who are unable to attend morning practices because of school or work commitments may attend night practices, Monday through Thursday from 8:00-9:00 pm. Swimmers must have coaches’ prior permission to attend night practices. However, please note there will be no night practice on Monday, June 6 due to Time Trials make-ups.

SWIM LESSONS

Though our LPAC coaches focus on stroke technique every day at practice, there’s only so much they can do with 30-40 kids in the pool at one time. Individual or small-group swim lessons can be a great way to improve your strokes, starts, and turns even more. Check the Swim Lessons page of our team website for some different places that offer individualized stroke instruction for all ages.

UPCOMING EVENTS

• Saturday, June 4: Time Trials
• Monday, June 6: Morning practices begin
• Monday, June 6: Time Trials Make-Ups
• Saturday, June 11: Belwood @ LPAC
• Friday, June 17: Picture Day
• Saturday, June 18: LPAC @ Montevideo
• Saturday, June 18: Overnighter and Cardboard Boat Races
• Saturday, June 25: LPAC @ Oaktree

Just a few quick reminders:

• We’re looking forward to seeing everyone on Friday at Penguin Madness from 6-8 pm! NorCal Swim Shop will be there selling suits, caps and goggles, so you can stock up before Time Trials. High school swimmers are meeting for Game Night afterwards at the Burkes’ home; please bring snacks or drinks to share.
• Remember, there are no regular practices on Memorial Day (Monday 5/30), but there is an optional swim clinic between 9:00 am and 10:30 am. Swimmers can come any time and do not have to stay for the entire time.
• We’ll resume practices on Tuesday (5/31), but please note the slightly different practice groups and times:
  • 9 & under: 6:00–7:00 pm
  • 10-13: 7:00–8:00 pm
  • 14-18: 8:00–9:00 pm
• Volunteer shifts for Time Trials and our first home meet against Belwood are attached to this email and posted to the website. Please review to be sure you are able to work your assigned shift(s). If you have not already signed up, please send email ASAP to volunteers@swimlpac.org. Also, please send email if you will be missing either Time Trials or the first home meet on 6/11.

Have a great Memorial Day weekend!

PENGUIN PLAYDATE ON TUESDAY!

Our youngest penguins (5-6 year olds) and their parents are invited to meet at Los Paseos Park this Tuesday (May 24) at 4:30 pm for a pre-practice playdate. It’s a chance to catch up with old friends and make some new penguin pals! Please bring a snack to share; we can all walk or ride over swim practice together afterwards.

PENGUIN MADNESS THIS FRIDAY

Penguin Madness will be this Friday, May 27, from 6:00 to 8:00pm. There will be no swim practice on this day.

Preliminary team rosters are posted to the Penguin Madness page of the website. Swimmers are encouraged (but not required) to wear the color of their designated penguin team. Note that these are all dryland games, so wear comfortable clothes and shoes so you can run, jump, crawl, etc.

If you haven’t signed up yet, it’s not too late! Send an email today to info@swimlpac.org and include your child’s name and age. There is no cost for this event.

Parents and siblings are welcome to come and cheer for their favorite penguins. We recommend that you bring warm layers, plus snacks, water, and folding chairs or blankets to sit on.

NorCal Swim Shop will be coming to Penguin Madness this year and will be selling practice suits, caps, or goggles. This is a great chance to stock up for the season without making a trip to the store!

Swimmers in the high school practice group are invited to the Burkes’ house (26 Via Campina) for Game Night immediately following Penguin Madness. Please bring snacks or drinks to share!

MEMORIAL DAY SWIM CLINIC

There are no regular team practices on Memorial Day (Monday, May 30), but swimmers are invited to attend an optional Swim Clinic that morning from 9:00am to 10:30am. The coaches will be working with small groups of kids on diving from the blocks, backstroke starts, pulldowns, and all types of turns. Swimmers who want to work on any of these skills are welcome to attend.

PRACTICE TIMES CHANGE AFTER MEMORIAL DAY

After Memorial Day, the pool is open to its members until 6:00 pm. This means that we have to compress our swim practices for one week until school is out (May 31 through June 3). Please note the new times and age groups:

• 9 & under: 6:00–7:00 pm
• 10-13: 7:00–8:00 pm
• 14-18: 8:00–9:00 pm

 VOLUNTEERS NEEDED

Parents, there are several important volunteer positions that we still need to fill. We are looking for 2 clean-up helpers, 1 clerk of the course, 2 deck marshals, 2 kitchen “shadow” helpers, and 2 assistant volunteer coordinators. It really does take a village to run our swim team, so please step up to help out if you can! As an extra incentive, we’ll put your name in a hat and draw for a guaranteed up-front parking spot at home meets. Send email to Cecie Boston at volunteers@swimlpac.org and let us know how you’d like to help.

TIME TRIALS ON JUNE 4

The first swim meet of the season is Time Trials, which is just like a regular meet but without the other team. At Time Trials, LPAC swimmers race against their own teammates to establish times in every event under real race conditions. These times are used to determine seedings and calculate improvement points at the dual meets. It’s a good chance for swimmers and parents to get warmed up for the start of the season—and a great opportunity for our newest penguins to experience their very first races!

Attendance at Time Trials is mandatory, and we need parents to volunteer for positions just like at dual meets. If you haven’t yet signed up for a volunteer shift, please contact Volunteer Coordinator Cecie Boston at volunteers@swimlpac.org.

If your child will be unable to attend time trials, you need to let the coaches know ASAP. Please send email to coaches@swimlpac.org or leave a “Note to Coaches” in the file box. Any swimmers who do not attend Time Trials must come to Time Trial Make-Ups on Monday, June 6 at 8:00 pm.

UPCOMING EVENTS

• Friday, May 27: Penguin Madness
• Monday, May 30: Memorial Day Clinic (no regular practices)
• Tuesday, May 31: Practice times change

• Saturday, June 4: Time Trials
• Monday, June 6: Morning practices begin
• Monday, June 6: Time Trials Make-Ups
• Saturday, June 11: Belwood @ LPAC
• Friday, June 17: Picture Day
• Saturday, June 18: LPAC @ Montevideo
• Saturday, June 18: Overnighter and Cardboard Boat Races
• Saturday, June 25: LPAC @ Oaktree