Hello everyone,

Please share with your high school swimmer:

We definitely support high school swim programs. As a result, if you are representing your high school team, then your high school championship meets and training needs should take 1st priority over YMCA Districts. We spend many years developing swimmers to be positive additions to their high school teams; we want to see them be successful there, and we want the high school coaches to appreciate the work we do at developing swimmers for their programs. Therefore, we have no incentive to jeopardize that once they are there. Our focus is on making it work for the swimmer.

It is possible, as many YMCA/HS swimmers have demonstrated over the years, to do well in both YMCA Districts/States/Nationals and high school Districts/States.

Since we draw from six different high schools, from two states, that have very different end of season schedules, we have become adept at knowing how to weave what we do at the YMCA into what your high school goals are too. Nothing we do at the YMCA will jeopardize your high school goals, but definitely talk to us about your goals so we are all on the same page. 

In fact, we are value added, because very often our high school swimmers achieve even faster times at YMCA Districts and States even after high school championships. Not to mention, it allows swimmers to continue to achieve their long time YMCA goals they have pursued for years. Actually, this too further develops swimmers so they are even greater assets to their HS teams the next season.

So, please do not stress, this is not new for us; it works out. :)

Key points:

1. Share with your high school coaches that we (your YMCA coaches) recognize the need to make you HS champ meets a 1st priority.
2. Be an advocate to your high school coach for your goals, both short and long term. It's easier once you've been on their team for a while though. 
3. Communicate those goals with us too.
4. Let your high school coaches know they can always reach out to me if they have any concerns. I know most of them personally, and respect all of them, so as we have occasionally done in the past, we work together to manage swimmer goals. 

See you on deck,

Coach Drake