Hello Gators,

I hope everyone is geared up for the end of the school year and ready to enjoy Memorial Day Weekend. I am listing our practice schedule for next week below. As always, the schedule is subject to change depending upon the weather & LCPRT so I will send out any updates via SwimTopia on each Sunday for the following week. If you have not registered your child via SwimTopia please sign in and do so at

louisagators.swimtopia.com This will be our primary method of communicating weekly and last minute updates. Our website will send both email and texts…text option will be used for information which is needed quickly.

But now, it is time to hit the pool…I can tell because it is supposed to rain and be chilly next week! Returning swimmers should attend the practice group they were with last summer. New swimmers should plan to come to Blellow practice for their first practice. At this time, we will evaluate each swimmer and determine the appropriate practice group. Please note – swimmers frequently change practice groups throughout the season as their skills progress. PREP swimmers should plan to attend evenings only during the first week (we will be shorthanded at morning practice) and then can come mornings and/or evenings for week 2. Prep swimmers will only practice thru June 5 unless they transition to the team and pay the remaining fee (will receive a $50 credit from Prep Fee towards team.) We will begin practice Tuesday morning 5/26, with the following schedule:

Morning – May 26 thru 29

7:30-8:45 AM Red/Green

7:30-8:30 AM Yellow

8:45-9:15 AM Blellow & first practice for new swimmers

No PREP in the morning this week (we will be shorthanded in morning this week)

Evening – May 26 thru 29

7:00-7:30 PM Blellow

7:30-8:30 PM Yellow

8:30-10:00 PM Red/Green

7:00-7:30 PM PREP & first practice for new swimmers, in the Activity Pool

When swimmers arrive at the pool, they should stop in the breezeway to check family folder in our box for information and mail. All swimmers also need to sign in on our attendance sheet (there are separate sheets for morning & evening practices), located in the LG Team notebook. The notebook will also have a section for swimmers to note when they are on vacation, at camp etc. Please be sure to write vacations down so that swimmers are not entered into a swim meet if they are not going to be at the meet. It is assumed that all swimmers are entered into each swim meet unless they have listed their names on the appropriate week. Swim meets are put together on the weekend so all any special requests or absences should be in the notebook by the end of Friday morning practice. Swimmers may attend as many practices as possible – but it is summer so there will be vacations, camps and just stay home days! At your swimmer’s first practice parent’s may need to complete registration forms and additional paperwork at first practice and will also be able to pay registration fees via cash, check or card.

In general, when coming to practice swimmers should wear a swim suit (any one piece suit is fine for practice), bring shoes, underwear, sweat pants & sweatshirts, 2 towels, goggles & water bottle. Please make sure all items have a name so that we can get items returned quickly if they are left at the pool. Swimmers will receive a swim cap at their first practice. In general, swimmers are starving after practice so snacks are also good (pool concession is not open during any of our practices). Outside food & drink is allowed during swim team practice – no GLASS please.

It is going to be chilly for the first few weeks and potentially more, we have not had an abundance of warm sunny days. Expect younger swimmers to get cold very quickly and all of our swimmers may end up getting out of the pool before the end of practice. As the water and air warms up, swimmers will be able to last longer in the pool.

The normal weekly schedule beginning June 1 will be:

Mornings

7:30-8:45 AM Red/Green

7:30-8:30 AM Yellow

8:45-9:15 AM Blellow (and all PREP who continue onto the team)

Evenings

7:00-7:30 PM Blellow (and all PREP who continue onto the team)

7:30-8:30 PM Yellow

8:30-10:00 PM Red/Green

Our Wednesday schedule will be different once we begin having swim meets. We will have a Team meeting at the Picnic Shelter across from the pool at 9:00 AM to talk about the meet and to write events on swimmer’s hands for our first two swim meets. We will not get into the pool on swim meet days. I will also be sending out event entries on Tuesday so that swimmers who do not come to the team meeting will know their events. In general, if we have to cancel or postpone the meet it will be move to Thursday. This year our league has changed all event numbers so please expect confusion from everyone! The changes truly do not make sense but it is what it is!

Our meet schedule is as follows:

June 10 – Home meet vs Greene Hills & Gordonsville, arrive at 4:45 for warm-ups at 5, meet starts at 6:00 PM

June 17 – Away meet @ Greene Hills, arrive at 4:45 for warm-ups at 5:20, meet starts at 6:00

June 24 – Away meet vs FAST and Gordonsville, at FUMA, arrive 4:45 for warm-ups at 5:20, meet starts at 6:00

July 1 – Home meet vs FAST, arrive at 4:45 for warm-ups at 5, meet starts at 6:00

July 8 – Away meet @ Greene Hills, arrive at 4:45 for warm-ups at 5:20, meet starts at 6:00

July 15 – Away meet @ Gordonsville, arrive at 4:45 for warm-ups at 5:20, meet starts at 6:00

July 24 & 25 – Championship meet at Brooks YMCA, information will be provided later regarding age groups/sessions.

Directions and pool information for away swim meets will be provided on our website and each week as needed.

Team suits – returning swimmers who can still wear last year’s suits may continue to do so. New swimmers or those needing a new suit will purchase from our team store at:

Swim Outlet.com/louisagators. The girls suit (solid purple with green/white logo) is available in both thin and thick straps. Boys will be able to choose between solid purple or black jammers with logo on leg.

Team shirts are available for families to purchase on our website. Swimmers automatically receive a shirt as a part of the registration fee. Please check the t-shirt list (will be located at front desk) to make sure your swimmer’s size is recorded and is correct. Team shirts feature our Sponsors & all swimmers names on the back of shirt each year. Family/friend shirts can be ordered using the t-shirt link on our website or via t-shirt form at the pool, cost will be $20 per shirt (upsize charges will apply). We hope to have shirts available at our first swim meet so shirts should be ordered by June 3. We will be accepting cash (exact change only) or credit/debit cards.

Fundraising – Calendar: we will be doing a variety of fundraising events this season. Our first project will be a June calendar fundraiser. Attached you will find the calendar. It is very simple, friends & families simply pick a date and pay the amount of the date. For example: I chose June 2 & 14…I will owe $16. Calendar money can be collected in cash or check and can be turned into me or POGA board member working the table at the pool during practice. (Checks should be made payable to POGA).

Fundraising – Swim A Thon: we will be featuring the return of the Swim-A-Thon! Swimmers will ask friends and family members to sponsor them (specific amount or per length). This is a great chance for our Gator swimmers to actually be involved with fundraising personally. We will be holding the Swim A Thon on June 12, from 6:30-8:30 PM.

Team Sponsors – We are still looking for sponsors for the 2026 season. I have attached the sponsorship letter and form. Please reach out to businesses you know that may be interested in supporting our team. Sponsors will be recognized on our team T-shirt, Sponsor Banners and on our website. The deadline to make sure your sponsor is on our team t-shirt is May 29. Let me know if you have a sponsor even if you can’t get to the pool before the deadline!

Stroke & Turn Officials – we need parents to become officials, each team is supposed to have at least two per meet. Training is required and combines a zoom meeting with JSL Head Official and the online class which covers all strokes and rules. There are two zoom training meetings: Tuesday, May 26 – 7PM or Monday, June 1 – 7PM. Returning officials simply need to attend the zoom meeting or take the online course at strokeandturn.com. New officials must attend the zoom meeting and take the online course. You must pre-register with Locke Boyer at [email protected] to attend the zoom course and/or to take the online course. JSL pays for the online course which is why you need to register with Locke in order to get a key for the course.

Our team has several team picnics scheduled for this summer. The picnic dates are: June 5, June 19 and July 17 from 6:30 – 8:30. During this time, the main pool will be open to families & friends to enjoy. The Gators provide beef hot dogs/buns, condiments, utensils, plates & napkins for each picnic. Families should bring drinks for their own family as well as a side dish and a dessert to share with everyone.

I look forward to seeing everyone at the pool next week! Please let me know if your family is not returning this summer so that I can remove you from our group email. If you have not registered but plan on participating you can sign up at the pool during practice. Let me know you are coming so your swimmers will already be on the sign-in sheets. Feel free to contact me if you have any questions, texting is usually best! (540 760-1464)

Coach Debra