Email #5

The Swim-a-Thon is our primary fundraiser each season (see attached PDFs). There's no selling flowers, candles, chocolates, tickets, coupons, or any work required of any parent, except to maybe help count laps on Wednesday, July 10th.

• ALL athletes are required to participate even if they raise no funds. Even if swimmers have no sponsors, they will complete this part of the program on July 10, or the next time they show up at practice after that. Please make an effort to swim on July 10, as we will have more people available to count laps.

• Developmental Group & Developmental Hybrid members are exempt.

• No one is obligated to raise funds; if it's an obligation, then it's a team fee, not a fundraiser.
• Lap counter positions are available for sign-up on the team website.
• Date: July 10, Wednesday
• Location: Walter's Park
• Start Times: Green Group starts at 8:30 am, Gold Group starts at 10:15 am, Blue Group starts at 11:20 am
• NOTE: Distance Groups are not the same as training groups, so definitely look for your swimmer's name to see what group they are in and time they should arrive.
• Swimmers get sponsors for finishing a number of laps non-stop (no holding on to the lane line, wall, or touching the ground) that is assigned to them, no more, no less.
• Sponsors pledge a certain amount of money per lap. For example, Uncle Joe pledges 20 cents per lap, and his swimmer completes 40 laps, he then rewards the swimmer with an $8 donation.
• Swimmers WILL finish their assigned number of laps; it's part of their training. No one has ever failed to make their distance. So, no matter how daunting it may seem, just tell your swimmer they will prevail.
• Two PDFs showing distance groups and Swim-a-Thon details (with the math already figured out) are attached to this e-mail.
• Swimmers may swim any stroke or use a kickboard for short periods of time. Freestyle is usually the preferred stroke so kids finish in a timely manner. There are some kids who choose to do large chunks of it butterfly, but that could be a separate challenge from a sponsor for more money as an incentive.

MOST IMPORTANTLY - Use the upcoming weeks and July 4th to find sponsors. It's a perfect time for our kids to ask grandparents, aunts, uncles, family friends, and neighbors while at a BBQ or get together!

FAQs:

1. "OK, Coach Drake..., I know you said it's not an obligation, but what should we use as a guide?" Most raise between $20 - $40 per family, although we've had some families raise hundreds of dollars in some years; $700 is the record for one family. :)
2. "What if we raise no money, does my child still have to swim the distance?" Yes, it's part of their required training regimen.
3. "My swimmer is worried, he doesn't think he can swim that long non-stop. Does he really have to?" Yes, no one has ever failed to make their distance, so no matter how daunting it may seem, tell your swimmer they will prevail. It's a mental challenge more than a physical one, and these distances are well within reach of every swimmer in their group. Plus, they can use a kickboard or swim any stroke they want, whenever they want. Additionally, it builds personal confidence and it's a shared rite of passage for each team member.
4. What do we use the money for? Team gifts (TBD for 2024), training fins, kickboards, fulcrum paddles, team computer & software, timing system, storage bins, shed repairs, lane lines, lap clocks, backstroke flags, station markers, and maintaining lower team fees.