Good Evening Bluefins Family,

Group changes start tonight, Wednesday, Oct. 18 (see attached PDF).

If you can't make the adjustment tonight, that is totally understandable. No worries, you may arrive at the regular time, but start the new group the next day you come to practice. Try to make the new group tonight though if this a regular day you attend. :)

• Team suit try-ons & purchase, tomorrow, Oct. 19

As we do each year, we make one large change to training group assignments around this time of the season. After that, as swimmers improve relative to their peers, if changes are still necessary we will contact parents individually. 

• All new assignments should be considered on a trial basis. 
• Assignments are ALWAYS subject to change. 

That is, there is no such thing as a permanent lane or group assignment, and if coaches see a change is necessary we will make the adjustment if feasible. 

WHY? 

1. Flexibility is key on our team. We have limited space, limited time, limited coaching staff, with an exceptionally large range of swimmer abilities, even within the same age groups.
2. The strength of our coaching staff is our ability to properly balance limited resources and logistical requirements, with team goals, with individual needs. Getting that balance right is one of the reasons we continue to experience success as a team. However, it is a balance that needs continual adjustment as #s 3-6 demonstrate below.
3. On rare occasions an individual truly excels beyond their current group and improves well beyond what could normally be expected. Adjustment needed.
4. Sometimes a group improves as a whole, but an individual struggles to improve at the same pace. Adjustment needed. 
5. We continue to have new swimmers join us throughout October & November. Adjustment needed.
6. Depending on on how many coaches we can consistently get to a group's time slot, or how many kids consistently show up at that time slot, to how well that group behaves or learns as a whole, it is necessary to divide it up and create a lane for that group in a different time slot. For example, we might have a "White" lane in a "Blue" group, or vice versa, but that is what fits the puzzle for that year to get the best balance. Adjustment needed. :)   

So, please tell your swimmers that their group assignment is not their destiny. They are in the group we believe they will see the most success in..., which is ALWAYS subject to change as swimmers/groups progress. 

1. Training Group assignment is NOT an ego test, not a friend test, not a hard worker test, not for bragging rights, IT IS a resource management puzzle.
2. There are several main criteria the coaching staff considers when discussing and placing swimmers in a group: Stroke Proficiency, Best Times Achieved, Race Speed vs. Training Speed, Experience, Age 

Again, please reinforce to your swimmer that their group assignment is not their destiny, there is no secret sauce or magical group, we don't hold back our coaching knowledge or expertise, regardless of their group..., hard work, dedication, and a positive attitude wins.

AND, one more time... subject to change. :)

See you on deck,

Coach Drake