FLOWER VALLEY FROGS SWIM TEAM-
As I sit here writing this letter, looking out the window with close to 40 inches of snow on the ground it is hard to imagine that planning for the swim season is underway. Get your caps and goggles ready. The Flower Valley Frogs are back in the A Division following a very successful 2009 season. The Swim Team welcomes all levels of swimmers from those who are just learning to swim to more experienced swimmers. Our coaches are on deck during practices to teach basic stroke mechanics for rookies and to help more advanced swimmers fine-tune their strokes.

THIS YEAR’S SWIM TEAM REGISTRATION WILL BE DONE IN PERSON ON WEDNESDAY MAY 6TH AND THURSDAY MAY 12TH. REGISTRATION WILL BE AT FLOWER VALLEY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL FROM 6:30 PM TO 8:00 PM. ALL MEMBERS RECEIVING THIS LETTER WIL RECEIVE AN “EARLY FROG” DISCOUNT IF REGISTERED BY MAY 28nd.

Swim team fees will remain unchanged again this year, at $100 for the family fee with an additional $55 per swimmer. The family fee is discounted to $50 if registered by May 28nd. Please remember, at registration, each family will be asked to sign up for volunteer jobs, such as timing and working the snack bar, and food requirements. If you cannot make either date please contact Cindy Kirchner to register before May 28nd.

Memorial Day (May 31th) will be the official Swim Team Kick-Off. Please come by the pool from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm to meet the Coaches and to pick up your team handbook and any pre-ordered suits and spirit wear.

The first day of swim team practice is the following afternoon, Tuesday, June 1st. Please check the pool bulletin board, web page, or team handbook to find the appropriate time for your child’s practice. Time trials are scheduled for Saturday morning, June 12th and the season ends on August 1st with the Montgomery County All Star Meet.

The Flower Valley Frogs will be swimming this summer in Division A, ranked 6th. The pools we will be competing against are Bethesda, Rockville, Tilden Woods, Westleigh, and Upper County. We will have two Saturday morning “A” meets at home. Similarly, we will have 2 home meets for our Wednesday evening B team. Our B League opponents include Mill Creek Towne, Hallowell, Olney Mill, Upper County, and Damascus.
Remember, the Swim Team Web Page is a great source of information, too.  Just go to www.fvbrc.com

If your child is not quite ready to swim as a Frog but wants to join in the Swim Team fun, then sign them up for the pre-team!  We have two levels of pre-team swimming: Tadpoles and Pollyzoggs.  Dates for pre-team try-outs and practices will be announced in the near future.

Tadpoles:  This program is designed for the youngest swimmers that have not yet developed their skills enough to swim the length of the pool (25M).  Tadpole tryouts and registration will be held on a date to be decided during which time your child will be asked to swim the width of the shallow end of the pool (12.5M) using any combination of strokes.  Children who cannot swim across the shallow end of the pool on that day may take lessons and join the pre-team at any point throughout the season.

Pollyzoggs:  This program is for those children who can swim the length of the pool (25M) but have not made the qualifying times (set forth in the team handbook) to swim in a meet.  If you think your child will swim as a Pollyzoggs this summer, please register them during the May 12 and May 20th registrations.  By doing so, your child can start swimming on June 1st during the after school swim practices and, since many Pollyzoggs quickly qualify to swim in the B-meets it is best to have them in the computer system at the beginning of the season. 

The Flower Valley Swim Team is currently looking for a pre-team parent coordinator.  Please contact any of the swim team reps listed above if you have question or are interested in helping with the pre-team.

Swimmers: THINGS TO REMEMBER!
Monday: B-Meet Entries due at 6pm!
If you want to swim on Wednesday night you must be signed up by this time. NO DECK ENTRIES WILL BE ALLOWED THIS YEAR. If you are going to be out of town, email, call, or leave a note for the head coach before Monday.