Good Evening People Of The Pool,

We have an absolutely HUGE week coming up. The new league schedule has moved Divisional Relays up a week and with a bye last week we are starting off our A division schedule with our biggest dual meet. But also, for real, things are literally heating up. We won't quite be swimming across the Phlegethon, but temperatures are touching off in the 100s this week, and ladies and gentlemen, this ain't no dry heat. I say all this to make sure that you are sending your swimmers with water bottles so that we can ensure they stay hydrated. In addition, this may not be the week to let your swimmers hang out at the pool all day. This is especially true on Tuesday and Thursday for those swimming in the meet at night. 

Speaking of Tuesday and Thursday nights... Please, please, please do not wait until the last minute to sign up for swim meets. Believe it or not, but we coaches actually work on these entries well in advance of the meets to ensure that we are putting together both the most competitive lineup and also providing the largest number of swims for our large team. If you know that you will not be attending a meet it does help to notate that so that we are not left to wonder if you are not attending or just forgot to sign up. 

The posted deadline for both meets this week was last night, but I am going to leave that open through tonight as it appears there are quite a few people who have not made their attendance status known for Tuesday and Thursday (even if you do not think your swimmer would be swimming on Thursday, please mark their availability). 

Tuesday, June 24th -- A Meet vs. Washington Golf

Warm Up -- 5:15PM, Meet Start -- 6:00PM, Meet Theme -- Top Gun

Buffet -- Asian Fusion -- Please sign up here

It's the Arlington Derby! The seat of power in CCSDA resides in Arlington as Washington Golf and Army Navy have finished 1-2 at Champs for the past 8 seasons straight! So, to say this is a big early season matchup would be an understatement. While we did surpass Washington Golf at Champs last season, we have not beaten them in a dual meet in over a decade. Both teams are strong in a lot of the same areas and this meet will likely come down to some close touches on a few races. Everyone should make sure to rest up during the day as it's going to be a hot one. After practice swimmers should find the AC to charge up for big swims at night. 

This is our first A meet of the season as well. All swimmers that are available will still be able to swim. We have unlimited heats of freestyle to accommodate all swimmers. In addition we try to add as many exhibition heats of back, breast, and fly as we can without tipping the meet ending well past dark. 

The theme is Top Gun. So pull out your aviators, grab a flight jacket or oil up and set up the volleyball net and get ready to take off. So many options with this one: white tees, slicked back hair, aggressive mustaches, it's all on the table. "I feel the need...THE NEED FOR SPEED" *aggressive high five*

Thursday, June 26th -- A Division Relay Championships @ Columbia CC

Warm Up -- 5:15PM, Meet Start -- 6:30PM, Theme: U S A!

Divisional Relays is quite a bit earlier this year than in years past, but that doesn't mean it isn't any less important. One of three championship meets throughout the season (Divisionals and Champs being the other two), this will be the smallest crew of swimmers and the shortest meet we have all season. There will be a freestyle relay and a medley relay for each age group and a crescendo relay at the end. With only one relay entry per event that makes for a roster of less than 50 swimmers competing in this meet. We will have the finalized lineup Wednesday morning with Tuesday night's meet still affecting entry possibilities. 

Even though the meet may only have 50 swimmers competing, this is one of the best meets for on deck vibes. It is quite short (we will be done before 8PM) and there is always a DJ to keep the fun going after the meet ends. So all swimmers are strongly encouraged to put on their best red, white, and blue and come out to cheer on our relay swimmers. 

Columbia Country Club is hosting this year and they will have snack bar service throughout the meet. In addition they will have a buffet after the meet along with the aforementioned DJ. The cost of the buffet is $29/$18 for adults/kids. 

Friday, June 27th -- Fun Friday Practice & Activity

Again, we will have Friday practice from 8:45-10AM for all swimmers (there will be no 10AM or 11AM practices). After practice there will be tables and supplies setup for everyone to put together their best Army Navy swim team spirit bracelet to wear for the rest of the season. A treat to be determined will be included with the festivities. 

This is a good time to mention that if you are looking for opportunities to volunteer that are not during swim meets this is a great option. It is always helpful to have parents to help with organizing, setting up, herding cats/children, and cleaning up after. Volunteering at Fun Friday will count the same as signing up for a volunteer position at a meet.

Saturday, June 28th -- Duckies & Donuts Developmental Meet @ Fairfax

Warm Up -- 8:00AM, Entries Close Wednesday, June 25th

We will have our first 10&U developmental meet on Saturday June 28th out at Fairfax. This will be the 3rd annual Duckies & Donuts meet and it keeps getting better every year. Sign ups for entries are open now and this is a great opportunity for our little swimmers to get some chances to try events they may not have at our bigger meets. 

We will follow our normal B meet rules, which means that swimmers should not enter events in which they have placed top 3 in at a meet already this season. Otherwise feel free to sign up your swimmer for their favorite 3 events. We will have duckies for heat winners and fresh donuts from the club served for each swimmer after the meet. 

Please get your entries in prior to Wednesday night so that we can begin building out the meet and prepare appropriately.

Looking forward to a full, hot, and fast week ahead. Away we go!

From the Deck,

Coach Ian