CCRA Stingrays: Stingrays News

2009 Stingrays Season

Hi and welcome back to the CCRA Stingrays 2009 summer swimteam season!  All children whose families are permanent, full summer,weekday or combination members are invited to join the team.  CCRA rulesdo not allow us to admit swimmers whose families have partial summermemberships.  This summer is the Stingrays' eleventh year in theMontgomery County Swim League (MCSL).  We are in Division H this year.

Coaches

We are delighted that Amy Vermillion will be returning for her sixth season to coach the Stingrays.  Coach Amy will be helped by our new Assistant Coach, Kimmie Chodnicki, and junior coaches who will continue to swim for the team.  During the season, please let all our coaches know how much we appreciate their dedication to the team.

Practice

Practices (except for pre-team) will begin on Tuesday, May 26 and continue through July 17 except for swimmers who will participate in Divisionals and/or All Stars.  There will be two one-hour practices each afternoon except for the Wednesdays when B meets are scheduled.  The earlier practice is geared toward younger, less experienced swimmers and the later practice toward older, more experienced swimmers.  Ultimately, the decision about which practice individual swimmers should attend rests with the coaches.  If you are unsure about where your child would fit in best, please talk to Coach Amy.

Pre-team practices are from 4:00 to 4:30 p.m. starting on Monday, June 1st.  Pre-team meets every afternoon except on the afternoons of Wednesday B meets.  Pre-teamers are usually 5-7 years old.  Please consult Coach Amy if you have any questions about pre-team.

Registration

Registration must be complete before the first day of practice on Tuesday, May 26 (Monday, June 1st for pre-team).  Please fill out a registration and mail it with a check payable to "CCRA SwimTeam" to Daren Stevenson (address on form).  Registration forms will be mailed out in May or you can get one on-line at http://eteamz.active.com/CCRAStingrays/handouts/.  No registrations will be accepted at the pool.  The registration fee is $115.00 for the first swimmer and $90.00 for each additional swimmer per family, which includes a $15 social fee per swimmer.  Note:  There will be a late fee of $15 per swimmer for registrations received after the first day of practice.  No child may swim on the team unless a valid registration form and check are received.

Time Trials

Time trials will be held on Wednesday, June 3 beginning at 4:00 pm and on Saturday, June 6 beginning at 9:00am.  All swimmers except for those on the pre-team participate in time trials, where new official season times will be obtained for each swimmer.  Please let Coach Amy know which day your child will attend time trials.  Parents must assist with timing or other duties for their child to participate in time trials.

A and B Meets

We will have five A meets and four B meets this season.  The A team will swim against Woodcliffe (July 11th, home), Inverness Forest (June 20th, home), Palisades (July 4th, away), Eldwick (June27th, away) and Norbeck Hills (July 18th, away).  B meets are scheduled for the following dates:  June 17th (Bethesda, away), June 24th (Somerset, home), July 1st (Rock Creek, home) and July 8th (Little Falls, away).

The first A meet will be on June 20th followed by A meets on 6/27, 7/4, 7/11 and 7/18.  A meets begin at 9:00a.m. and usually end around noon.  Swimmers must arrive up to an hour early for warm-ups. Swimmers with the three best times per event generally qualify to swim in weekly A meets. 

Our Divisional Relay Carnival will be held on July 12th at Inverness Forest.  The Coaches Invitational Long Course Meet will be held on July 14th.  The Divisionals Meet will be on July 25 at Eldwick.   Relay All Stars are held on August 1st and Individual All Stars on August 2nd.  Please keep these dates in mind as you make your summer plans.

There will be four B meets on Wednesday evenings beginningon June 17th and then on June 24th, July 1st and July 8th.  The B meets begin at 6:00 and usually end around 8:00 p.m.  Warm-ups are earlier.  All 4:30 and 5:30 practice swimmers are signed up for B meets, however swimmers who place first, second or third in an A meet usually may not swim that event in a B meet.

Volunteering

It takes many adult volunteers to run a swim meet. Every family must participate in order for us to fill all the positions oftimers, runners, automation personnel, clerk of course, stroke and turn judges, ribbon writers, snack volunteers and other positions.  If your child is swimming, you must help.  Each family will be assigned to work two B meets during the season if their child is swimming.  If you must leave before the meet ends, please arrange for a substitute to take over your position.  If your child swims in an A meet, you are expected to help with that meet.  We will post sign-up sheets at the pool so that families may volunteer to be timers, clerk of course, stroke and turn judges, starters and runners. 

We also need certified officials to act as starters, referees, and stroke and turn judges.  MCSL provides training for these positions.  Please contact the team representatives to get certified or see the MCSL web site for dates the training is offered: http://www.mcsl.org/official.html

Social Events

Please come to the pool on Monday, June 1st for Back-to-Pool night from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m.  The rain date is Wednesday, June 3rd.  You will have an opportunity to meet the coaches, learn moreabout the team, sign up to volunteer and enjoy a pizza dinner with the team.  During the season, we will have our Friday evening pasta dinner/pep rallies at 6:30 p.m..  The Team Family Banquet is for all swimmers, parents and siblings.  It will be held on Saturday evening, July18th.  Please contact Kelly Murray (sixmurrays@yahoo.com) or Suzanne Pranzatelli (pranzatelli@hotmail.com) to help with the social committee.

CCRA Bathing Suits

We have a new swim suit this season, the Speedo Shining Star.  You can buy CCRA team suits at Capital Sport and Swim, 10558 Metropolitan Avenue, Kensington MD.  t (301)949-7366.  Please remember to ask for the team discounted price.  Some suits will also be available at Back-to-Pool night.  Swim team caps will also be available at the pool.  All swimmers are strongly encouraged to wear CCRA suits andcaps at the meets. 

Communication

Please check the team website for information at CCRAStingrays@yahoogroups.com.  You may contact Diane Mooney at dianelmooney@msn.com to join the team e-mail list if you are not already subscribed or to update your information.  Additional information is available on the Stingrays website at http:eteamz.active.com/CCRAStingrays and on the MCSL website at http:www.mcsl.org.  During the season, information will also be posted on the Stingrays bulletin board at the pool.  The team representatives will be glad to try to answer questions you may have.  We're looking forward to a great summer 2009 season.

Daren Stevenson, A Representative

daren.stevenson@gmail.com

(301) 951-9174

Cindy Hart, B Representative

cindyhart@verizon.net 

(301) 654-8278

Christine Dallaire, B Representative

 christine31@mac.com

(301)654-8278

 GO STINGRAYS!