Good Afternoon Crocs!

Hope you've had a wonderful and safe 4th of July weekend! It's hard to believe we are heading into our last dual meet of the season! We have a lot to look forward to this week as we celebrate our graduating seniors at our home pool and race towards a few more CHAMPS qualifying times! Reminder the meet this week is on TUESDAY, July 8! As we prepare for another awesome meet, please read the announcements and reminders below. As always, reach out to me directly if you have any questions at [email protected] or (434)238-0284!

Events

• The events are attached below. Please let me know ASAP if you see anything that needs to be changed.
• It is MEDLEY week so please keep an eye on what stroke each swimmer is swimming! The order for Medley relays is Backstroke, Breastroke, Butterfly, then Freestyle. Remember all relays are tentative and subject to change, please check the relay whiteboard at the meet to confirm the relays.
• For 9 and up swimmers, please double check with a coach that you are not on a relay before leaving the meet after individual races are done.

Dive Rules

• GRAL follows the USA swimming dive certification rules for all 10 and under swimmers. Our coaching staff has been working at practice to document everyone’s dive level.
• Some swimmers are only certified to dive off the side, and some swimmers must start in the pool for forward strokes. This is due to safety concerns regarding diving.
• At check in, some swimmers will receive either an “O” written on their LEFT ARM. This ensures the officials know the swimmer’s dive level. Those with an O will start from the side of the pool. If your swimmer does not receive an O at check in this is due to them having the ability to dive off the blocks.

Practice this Week (7/7-7/11)

Reminder that there will only be regular morning practice Monday, July 7 and Tuesday, July 8 of this week for the whole team:

• 13 and older swimmers: 8:00 - 8:45
• 11 - 12 year old swimmers: 8:45 - 9:30
• 9 - 10 year old swimmers: 9:30 - 10:15
• 8 and under swimmers: 10:15 - 11:00

WEDNESDAY Morning, July 9- We will have our last donut/fun practices of the season at the following times:

• 11 and older swimmers: 9:00 - 10:00
• 10 and under swimmers: 10:00 - 11:00

MONDAY Evening, July 7- last evening practice for the whole team

• 8 and under swimmers: 4:00 - 4:30
• 9 - 10 year old swimmers: 4:30 - 5:00
• 11 - 12 year old swimmers: 5:00 - 5:30
• 13 and older swimmers: 5:30 - 6:00

Wednesday Evening, July 9- registration for all CHAMPS qualifiers

If your swimmer(s) have qualified you have already or will receive an email on Wednesday morning from about registration. I also will include practice times for CHAMPS qualifiers at that point in time. I will be looking for some additional swimmers to be in relays at CHAMPS so if you child is interested, please let me know!

EXTRA 2025 SPIRIT WEAR SHIRTS- Available for purchase!

Text or call Emilie White at (804)380-5190 to claim. 

These are first come, first serve for $20 each. Here are the sizes she has left: 

1 Youth XS

1 Youth S

2 Youth M

1 Youth L

1 Youth XL

Swim Meet Reminders/Announcements-- IMPORTANT!

• The meet theme will be SPIRITWEAR NIGHT! (dress up in as much Canterbury croc wear and colors as you can to win a ring pop!)
• We will also be celebrating our 11 seniors: Aiden "Snake" Boyd, Lucia Bremer, Lily Budzinski, Jackson Eakes, Caroline Hope, Coach Kate Hotem, Mary Kate Jacobs, Sam Lionberger, Erin Walters, Coach Aurora Weeks, and Hazel Wells.
• 4:30 - CRA swimmers and volunteers please begin to arrive for positive check in. There will be a table set up by the tennis courts. Gates will be open at 4:30 as well. You may enter the pool through the back gate by the diving boards. Check in needs to be completed by 5:20, so if running late and miss warm-up, please text Lauren at (434)238-0284 so your swimmer is not removed from the swim meet.
  4:45- 5:05- Canterbury Warm-Ups
  • 4:45 - 4:55 12 and under swimmers warm-up
  • 4:55 - 5:05 13 and older swimmers warm-up

  5:30 - Team Cheer/Green Caps on the Wall Ball Court

       5:40 - Senior Recognition

• Don't forget your goggles, cap, towel, water bottles, and CANTERBURY attire :)

Sportsmanship/Support

As a team, we would like to do our best to be positive, welcoming, and supportive to our own team and the Raintree swim team. If possible, please go over these quick reminders with all swimmers so we can show what a great team we have :)

• Cheer on our teammates and be supportive throughout the meet!
• Wait in the water at the end of each race for everyone to finish, as well as give a handshake or high five to at least one lane beside you waiting to get out of the pool.
• Do not write anything on the back or body at meets beyond the shoulder marking for dive rules, and the event numbers on hand/arm.
• Clean up trash throughout the meet even if it's not yours so that we can keep our pool looking nice and so there is less to clean up to do at the end of the meet!
• Help our new/returning swimmers feel comfortable and confident- we are one big family when it comes to swim meets and have lots of new swimmers! Get to know others regardless of age and help any swimmer when/if needed!
• No tearing, ripping, or biting of relay cards at the end of the meet. 

 LET'S GO CROCS!

Sincerely,

Coach Lauren