Weekly News - November 22, 2021

Amy Parratto

Weekly News – November 22, 2021 

Latest Information

  • Neptune Invite and RSC Senior Showdown – Congratulations to all of our swimmers who competed in this past weekend’s meets! Riptide swimmers achieved a slew of best times. The coaching staff is looking forward to preparing our swimmers for our important meets in December. Stay healthy everyone!
  • Safe Sport Training – In order to renew our club’s Safe Sport status, we must have all Riptide families to go to our Safe Sport Team Policy Event on our team website - https://www.teamunify.com/team/mnwss/controller/cms/admin/index#/calendar-team-events. All families are required to accept the policies in order for Riptide to achieve 2022 Safe Sport status. As of today, we only have 190 families who have viewed and accepted the policies. We have 228 families who still need to complete this task so that Riptide can retain Safe Sport Club status. If you have any questions, please contact Anne Knapp – [email protected].
  • Upcoming Clinic Deadlines – Backstroke Starts – November 28.
  • New Classroom Clinics - We are very excited to announce a new series of “Improving Your Swimming IQ” classroom clinics starting in January. We would like to start educating our swimmers not only in the water, but out of the water, on how to become a successful athlete, respectful teammate and take care of themselves emotionally and physically. Setting up goals, following training, maintaining a healthy diet and nutrition habits are all important keys in young athletes’ mindset and physical development. Classroom time clinic will take place once a month and will consist of two periods. We will have 30 minutes of classroom time with the topic discussions including interactive games and swimmers participation. Following 30 minutes of supervised open dive time to give our swimmers extra block time to practice their starts and finishes. Hope you will take advantage of this educational curriculum and we will see your swimmer in our Riptide classroom clinic!
  • Thanksgiving Holiday Practice Schedule – There will be no practice for all groups on Thursday, Nov. 25. Senior Elite will practice on Friday, Nov. 26 from 3:00 to 5:15 p.m. There is a normal practice schedule on Saturday, Nov. 27. All practice calendars are updated to reflect these holiday changes - https://www.teamunify.com/team/mnwss/controller/cms/admin/index?team=mnwss#/calendar-practices
  • Riptide Masters Thanksgiving Charity Swim – The Riptide Masters group is running a charity swim Thursday morning. If you would like to contribute to this food drive for 360 Charities please place your donations in a paper bag and leave at the BWAC front desk. The five most needed pantry items are: canned fish and meat, canned fruits and vegetables, cooking and baking supplies, rice, pasta, peanut butter. Also consider personal care items: toothpaste, shampoo/conditioner, diapers, cleaning supplies, toilet paper, etc. Thank you!!!
  • Riptide Holiday Items at Elsmore – You should have received an email regarding new holiday items at Elsmore on Sunday night. To access those gifts, go to our website and the team gear & apparel page. Here is a quick link - https://elsmoreswim.com/teams/minnesota/clubs/riptide.html.

Regular Reminders

  • Questions – If you have a question regarding your swimmer, meets, clinics, practices etc. please contact your swimmer’s lead coach in order to get the quickest and most accurate response (see the list below). If you have a billing question, contact Cara Pavek - [email protected].
  • Riptide Lost & Found – If your child is missing any clothing, shoes, water bottles, masks, goggles or equipment, please stop in quickly to check the lost and found table in the lobby. Items will be donated or thrown away at the end of the month.
  • Clinic Registration Reminder – Clinic registration can only be done through our website. Do not register for clinics using the TU App.
  • Private Lessons: Riptide Coaches are offering 30 and 60 minute private lessons. The winter break may be an ideal time to try and schedule a session. If your swimmer is interested, either contact your lead coach directly or [email protected].
  • Adult Swim Private Lessons, Clinic & Training:

1. Adult Lessons: 30 & 60 minute sessions scheduled based on coach and pool availability.

2. Clinic: 5x 60 minute sessions on Friday afternoons from 1:30-2:30pm starting this coming week 11/12 geared for the beginner adult swimmer.

3. Training Group: 4-week session of 2x 75 minute practices per week on Mondays and Wednesdays from 6:45-8am beginning 11/29 geared more towards triathletes who are not quite at the level of or looking for masters swimming. For more information, contact [email protected].

  • Bronze, Silver, Gold, Senior Prep and Senior Groups – Our lead coaches want to remind you that all swimmers must bring their tennis shoes Monday through Thursday for the dryland exercise portion of practice. Thank you!
  • Remember that we do have a parking lot routine that everyone must follow. Here is the link to see the details - https://www.teamunify.com/mnwss/UserFiles/File/BuildingMap-traffic%20flow.pdf
  • New Team Suit – Please be aware that ALL swimmers are required to purchase the new team suit if they are competing in swim meets. Here is the link to our Elsmore team apparel page - https://elsmoreswim.com/teams/minnesota/clubs/riptide.html.
  • Officiating – If you have any interest in becoming an official, please contact Coach Amy Parratto – [email protected]. 

Safety Protocols

  • We still require masks while at BWAC. Fully vaccinated coaches may now remove masks while swimmers are in the water but will wear them during any interactions with the swimmers before or after practices. Thank you for your continued attention to these procedures.
  • Locker rooms are only available for swimmers to use the bathrooms. Exceptions have been made for selected groups and practices.
  • Swimmers should continue to arrive and leave practice in their swim suit.
  • Vaccinated swimmers are required to follow any CDC guidelines regarding quarantine and exposures. They do not have to follow the 10 day unvaccinated quarantine procedures. More information will be provided in the days to come.
  • Under NO CIRCUMSTANCES should swimmers exhibiting symptoms associated with Covid-19 and/or with a fever of 100.4 or higher attend practices. Please work together to reduce the risk of infection. If your swimmer has had close contact with a confirmed Covid-19 case, you must keep them away from the pool for 10 days. You may not test out of this quarantine. Please review the Standard Operating Procedures.
    • Stay home if you are not feeling well. Please err on the side of caution as one bad decision can impact numerous other swimmers and families.
    • Remember that family members sharing the same household are considered “close contact” when it comes to Covid exposure. Therefore, if a member of your family tests positive for Covid, you must quarantine from practice for 10 days. You may not “test out of quarantine”. In the event you must miss practice due to Covid exposure, please notify [email protected] and a credit will be arranged.
    • Please remind your swimmers to always wear masks at BWAC while not swimming. Send your swimmer with a small plastic baggie in which they may place their mask at the end of their lane. The mask may be taken off just prior to entering the water and must then be placed back on immediately after exiting the water.

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