Splash is a place for the younger kids that are ready for competitive swimming to be.  It is NOT a swim lesson program nor can it become a swim lesson program per the city.  We work with the pool space available and within the guidelines the city sets up, end of story. 

  Other teams and have other pools to work with, other aquatic directors and may have different standards than the Redtails do. That is the way it is. 

We handed out rough guidelines of the expectations to get into splash, but these are just guidelines.  Coach Marnie might look at a kid and think they are ready and Coach Steven might look at them and think they are not quite and then coach Scott might have a different opinion yet.  When it comes down to it Coach Steven is the coach and it is his decision and Coach Scott and I stand by him 100%. 

·He has done a fantastic job as far as Coach Marnie and Coach Scott are concerned.  The kids Coach Marnie gets into the bronze group from splash are often times better than the kids that started in bronze. 

It was brought up that some of you have told people that they think their kid is ready for splash and to come and they would for sure get in because you feel they are better than the kids presently in splash.  They come and they don’t get in and then are disappointed and mad at you. 

·       You are not the coach and should not be telling your friends that they will get in when it is not your decision to make. 

·       You should instead say hey have you ever thought about Redtails, why don’t you come in and try out and Coach Steven can tell you whether he thinks you are ready or need a few more swim lessons.

It was also, brought up that there is a gap between the last swim lesson levels for a child who is not yet 6 years old which is whales and Redtails and why can’t we have a program in the shallow end for these kids? 

·    When it comes down to it we cannot meet everyone’s needs in the swim lesson realm and our program cannot be swim lessons per the city of Longmont. 

·    We tried having our group in the shallow end at one point and the city said no way. 

·It is too bad that there is this gap and maybe something you should being up with the city and maybe they can add a program to fill this gap.  Private lessons are an option too for those kids who have exhausted the lesson program and are not quite ready for splash group. 

·     

Another point was said:  why can’t we just give these kids a chance, as they will catch up in a couple of months. 

·    We have one coach and to take a kid on that is not ready and behind the group would take away from the coaching that the rest of the group is getting and we do not want that. 

·Yes they are disappointed that they are not in when they come and try out, but there is no way to guarantee and say yes your kid is a fit until the coach sees them swim and sees how they do with the rest of the group.

It was brought up that Coach Erik and I did things differently than Coach Steven and not as many drills. 

·Yes, probably and Coach Scott would do things even more different, in fact every coach you would have would be a little bit different. 

·Yes, it needs to be fun along with learning and the longer you coach the better you get at this.  It is however and Coach Scott feels the same way, always a challenge to find some fun in swimming back and forth.  Sometimes it is in the kid’s hands especially as they get older to create the fun and really enjoy what it is they are doing and trying to accomplish. 

·       We as coaches can only do so much.  They either love it and it is fun for them or it is not.  They can’t be made to enjoy it just because mom and dad want them too.

We, Coach Scott, Coach Marnie, Coach Erik and Coach Steven, teach the basics the same as far as stroke techniques, drills, coaching philosophy’s and overall goals for the team, however, we each have our own style that is different from one another.

·       That is part of what makes changing, growing and moving from group to group fun.  You don’t always have the same personality for your whole swimming career.

  A question that was brought up at the latest meeting was if there is not room to move up to the next group what is done?

·       On the occasion that this might happen Coach Steven would do his best to challenge the child until there is space available.  They could also serve as demonstrator for the other kids for certain drills etc. This can be a big confidence builder.

      A statement was made to make it more known which meets would be good for splash swimmers to sign up for. 

·       Coach Marnie and Coach Steven will do their best to announce these meets and as always if there is a question about a meet come to one of the coaches and ask.

      Lastly, it was stated by the coaches that sometimes you may see a kid that starts out and improves and really catches on and then all of the sudden they regress and you think how did that kid get in splash.  This is part of the nature of the game.  You will see this regression happen in some, not all and the time length of this varies from kid to kid.  Then the next thing you know they take a leap forward.  Everyone, progresses at a different rate.

        If you have questions, it was stressed by the coaches by all means ask one of us at any point, Coach Steven, Coach Marnie or Coach Scott.  We like to keep the lines of communication open.