Upcoming Swim Team Dates

1. Swim-a-Thon: Monday, July 15 - see details below and attached PDF for updated group assignments.
2. Away Meet @ Hackettstown, Tuesday, July 16 - Declare attendance, I need to get the line-up done on Sunday.
3. Home Meet against Nazareth, Thursday, July 18 - Declare attendance this weekend, I'm attending a wedding in Illinois and leaving on Wednesday. So, I need to do the line-up on Monday for Thursday's meet.  
4. George Stultz Memorial Meet Entry Deadline (last chance meet to qualify for champs), Wednesday, 1:00 pm. Entries are now open. I need to submit them before I go to the airport at 4:00 pm that day. This meet is held on Saturday, July 20.
5. GPS Awards Picnic, Wednesday, July 24. Awards, Fun Relays, Food, Drink, a nice early evening by the pool. :) Sign-ups for people to bring dishes will be opened shortly.
6. PJSL Championship Meet, Saturday, July 27 - Entries are now open.

Swim-a-Thon Details - PDF of group assignments is attached.

• ALL athletes are required to participate even if they raise no funds. If you have another family obligation, swimmers will make it up the first day they are back at practice.

• Developmental Group 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 15, Monday
• 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.
• PDF of group assignments is attached.
• 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.

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 (team shirt for 2024), training fins, kickboards, fulcrum paddles, team computer & software, timing system, storage bins, shed repairs, lane lines, lane line reels, lap clocks, backstroke flags, station markers, printer, paper, ink, and maintaining lower team fees.