Parent Zoom
PARENT MEETING 9-11-22
Welcome new families:
I just wanted to start out by welcoming new families to the team. Club swimming can be a little overwhelming at first, and we want to help you as much as possible as a new family to our team. Don't be afraid to ask questions. You can talk to a coach before or after practice, or send us an e-mail.Dave: castcoachdave@gmail.com
Also, please allow us 1-2 weeks to get your account originally set up. New applications often go from a coach , to our treasurer. This may take a few days, and then the Treasurer is a volunteer, so the new aps get processed as she has time to do so. If you don't have an account set up (you'll get an email) within two weeks, please contact me at the email above and I will make sure you're taken care of.
New USA swimming registrations:
All CAST swimmers, whether or not currently competing, need to be registered with USA swimming. The registration after Sept 1 is good through dec 31, 2022. We are allowed to let first time – new swimmers to swim for 30 days prior to being registered. However, swimmers may not compete until they are members of USA swimming.
We have gone through different processes in the past few years. Beginning last week, USA swimming has updated many of their website features. One of these features is individual online registration with USA swimming.
I will be sending out information on the process by tomorrow noon. Anyone who is new and is not yet registered with USA swimming will need to register by Tuesday midnight if they wish to compete in the Frestyle Festival on the 24th.
How to commit to a meet:
Go to the CAST website, click on the CAST events tab, click on the salmon colored button to commit. If it is a multi day or multi session meet, you will be asked to commit by day sessio or to all…..if you’re not sure which session is which, you can commit to all but then put in a note…..example: “cannot swim Sunday afternoon”, or “has to leave by noon on Saturday”.
If you’re not sure if your swimmer is qualified to compete, or if the particular competition is for you, that answer may be in the description, but if not clear, you can always sent me an email.
Once you commit, you will be entered into events by the coaches. Some times we allow you to pick your races, and sometimes not. In any case the coaches will review the entries to make sure swimmers are entered into events that the coach deems fit. Once we send in the entries we must pay for your entry. So you will be billed for those entries whether you actually compete or not. Also cast charges a small processing fee of 50 cents per event on top of the listed entry fee in the format. This is primarily to help cover the cost incurred in credit card processing.
Freestyle Festival:
The first regular meet of the season is the Freestyle Festival on Saturday September 24th (12&U’s) in the morning and (13&olders) in the afternoon. Swimmers need to commit to the meet by the 13th in order for me to send them in by the deadline. The meet is for EVERYONE!!!!. All swimmers can swim freestyle events. Please take care of committing online.
Team Banquet:
October 2nd Coronado Strand – information to follow from Coach DawnElla in the coming weeks.
Work credit service hours:
Due to changes to meets during COVID times. We temporarily did away with mandatory and tracked service hours. Although we have tried to accomplish things without reinstating the mandatory service hours, it looks like we may be doing it again….the board will be discussing this at an upcoming meeting this week.
Officials:
We are always in need of officials. When we attend a meet and have over 10 swimmers attend we are required to provide at least 1 official, over 35 at least 2 officials ….for the duration of the meet. You received something a week ago in your emails regarding this process. ---and compensation that goes along with it.
Team outfitting:
Swim west (formerly known as Paradowskis) on Convoy court in Kearney Mesa is our team store. We are a Speedo sponsored team. Our old suit - speedo anlges color 421 (blue green) has been discontinued. We will likely be choosing a new suit with the Spring lineup. I will explain more at the meeting.
Fundraising:
Swim-O-Rama information went out last week. Check the website and your email (as well as the CAST News tab) for more information. Sept 23rd is the swim date…...Oct 4th is the final day to turn in money.
Meet schedule
The meet schedule is available online through March. Click on CAST events.
Renaming/merging groups:
We have had to update our groups with the changing dynamics of the team. Coaching changes changing swimmer abilities, etc.
Dues changes
There will be some changes in swimmer dues before next month. It’s probably no surprise that our costs continue to rise. This week the board will be figuring out what is necessary to continue to provide our quality program. You will be notified soon as to those changes.
Thanks
Coach Dave
