Hello Flyers!  

Thank you to all who were able to come to the parents meeting last night.  It was great to see familiar and new faces. I did want to share a recap for those who could not attend and/or for those who want to recall some of the key points.  Apologies for not the best formatting and likely a typo or two but my day job doesn't always afford the time to seek perfection in all communications.  

Flyers Parent Meeting

May 28, 2025

Communication

1. Check your email regularly for messages from me via Swimtopia (make sure these aren’t going to spam)
2. Download/update the Swimtopia app (free version is fine) for time-sensitive updates

This app will also give you your swimmer’s info for each meet and allow you to track their times throughout the season.

Coaches

• Head Coach: Dillon Delaney a former Flyer and collegiate swimmer

• Assistants - many are previous Flyers and/or current Flyers.

- Niamh Kastner

- Louisa Lamerdin

- Holly Brundage

- Georgia Aponte

- Brooke Quinn

- Elly Younica

You can learn more about them on the Flyers website but they all work hard to create a very positive environment. They ensure kids are safe and having fun while developing their strokes for competition.

Coach’s Word

• Safety is our number one priority. Please allow coaches to move freely around the pool. If you need to talk with a coach please do so before or after practice. You can also contact the coaches via email. Please be sure to include Dillon on all communications so he is tracking and able to assist.
• Any suit can be worn at practice. Please be sure to come ready with goggles and it is never a bad idea to get use to wearing a swim cap and getting one on.
• Other equipment. We have kickboards and fins for the kids to use and will use those as needed at practice. If you have your own, great but it is not required to purchase.
• Caps for meets will be for sale for $10 and emails on days to purchase will be sent
• Goldfish group and also private lessons for those needing some additional support with their swimming
• Goals:
  • no DQs at Champs
  • undefeated season - AGAIN!
  • All Goldfish into lanes
  • 25% of the team qualifying for at least one event at Champs!
  • Sportsmanship - the Flyers are known for being generous hosts and a kind team…we want to maintain that reputation. All swimmers (and parents) will be expected to demonstrate good sportsmanship.
  • HAVE FUN!

Swim Meets

Some of you may be used to meets and for others, this may be brand new. My favorite part of summer swim is that meets are where older and younger swimmers really get to interact. While there is a competitive element -- the goal is to have fun and for kids to see their progress on display.

• 6 dual meets always on Monday nights - First Meet is June 16th - Friendship Meet with Edgehill Eels
• Opt in - If your swimmer is participating in a meet, you will need to declare them by the Friday before the Monday meet. For example, the first meet is on 6/16 so they must be declared by 6/13 in Swimtopia - click on the meet in the Upcoming Events section to declare. If you don’t want your child swimming after the second half or in relays please put that in the notes.
• Relays - chosen the night of the meet; stay till the end
• Do not need a team suit, but if you didn’t purchase one, please get your swimmer a plain black suit to wear for meets. Team suits can be purchased here: swimoutlet.com/fcflyers
• Bring chairs and tents. Some meets we are in the sun and we will do our best to flag those but bring chairs and tents and bug spray and your Flyers Spirit!!

Home meets -

• Swimmers will be on deck, parents in the field.

• Arrive 4:45pm for warm up - but allow time for parking and walking to the pool

• Old City BBQ as well as Polar Ice and Everbowl (July 7th only) will be onsite and concessions will be available - drinks, chips, candy. Note $10 for concessions collected at registration so no donations needed!

Away Meets - an email well before will be shared about the arrival and warmup times as well as how to access the pool, for example we have an away meet at Ford's Colony. 

Summer Awards is a big meet toward the end of the season that brings together all 19 teams in the VPSU league, giving swimmers a final chance to qualify for the Champs meet.

• July 26 at Queens Lake - Coaches encourage all to attend because it’s a lot of fun and gives kids the experience of a larger meet. Please declare your swimmer in advance and make sure to attend as the team pays for each entry.
  • younger swimmers will swim in the morning and older swimmers will swim in the afternoon.

Champs is the championship meet at the very end of the season. You must make the Champs qualifying time for your gender and age group. Those times will be shared for reference and motivation.

• August 2rd at 757swim pool at WISC. Swimmers qualify individually as they compete in regular meets.

• older swimmers will swim in the morning and younger swimmers will swim in the afternoon

Volunteers are needed for all meets including Awards and Champs - our meets truly, cannot run without volunteers.

• 4-6 volunteer shifts per family, depending on how many swimmers you have.
• All kinds of jobs. Sign up in Swimtopia the Tuesday prior to each Monday meet.
• Several parents came up to Lisa after the meeting wanting to help. Thank you! She will be in touch about a co-volunteer coordinator role, ribbons and scoring coordinator, spirit/craft coordinator, senior gift coordinator and end of season party coordinator. THANK YOU!!

Sponsors

We are so very grateful for all the local businesses who have sponsored our team this year. I know the fees might feel like a lot, but these sponsorships enable us to keep them as low as possible!!

Swim Buddies

• Pairs younger and older swimmers and helps everyone feel connected.
• Swim buddies will be paired before the first meet and given an opportunity to meet.
• Swim buddies cheer one another on during the meet and bring a small gift or treat to swap at each meet (handmade card, snack, gatorade, trinket)
• Goldfish will get swim buddies and will either be a coach or an experienced swim family to help foster them and welcome them.

Other Important Dates

• Team and individual photos June 27th - order form and times via email
• Senior Appreciation meet - last HOME meet July 7th
• End of season celebration - Sunday, August 3rd

Other Roles to Consider

• Need scorers - Not difficult but does require training. Those dates are coming up! We really need a team of people to do this… so that we can divide into shifts and not rely on the same 3 each meet. Grab your friends and get trained together! You will get to watch your kids swim and there is AC!
• Stroke and turn officials - you get to be up front and pool side and our meets can’t run without officials.

LASTLY - HAVE FUN, summer swim is supposed to be fun so at the end of the day have fun...and volunteer;-)