Announcement
FOX HALL FINS SUMMER 2020
Our Mission statement:
The Fox Hall Fins are a neighborhood summer league swim team that are parent
run and coach- led. Our goal is for all swimmers to learn to be a part of a team
and support their teammates while improving their skills. Every swimmer
participates in fun, organized, instructional practices and competes in meets
against swimmers of similar abilities.
Our Goal for the 2020 season:
The Fox Hall Fins swim team can provide physical, emotional, and social support
to our neighborhood’s kids and families after a long period of physical and social
isolation. Our coaches and our program can offer structure and support while
implementing recommended health guidelines.
The Fox Hall Fins are a member of the Greater Richmond Aquatic League
(GRAL). GRAL has not yet determined if any competitions can be held. If any
meets or competitions can be held, it will be within the guidelines of the
Governor’s office in response to COVID-19.
Practice Safety Guidelines
- 6 swimmers and 2 coaches in the pool area during practice
Parents of 8 and younger swimmers must stay in the area (but not on the pool
deck) for the entire practice. Any parent who must stay or chooses to stay will
need to bring a chair and sit outside the fenced pool area. The number of
swimmers per practice is based on the Governor’s current guidelines that
requires one swimmer per lane. Phase 2 may allow for more swimmers per
practice.
- Coaches will monitor entrance and exits from practice
• Sanitation of the pool area and bathroom facilities will occur after
each practice session by the lifeguard on duty
• Bathrooms will only be used on an emergency basis and only one
swimmer can enter at a time
• Swimmers must wear their suits to, and from practice
• Swimmers must bring their own equipment to practice:
• caps, goggles, kick boards will not be shared or borrowed
• It is extremely important to follow and comply with the modified practice plan in order to continue. Anyone with a presumed risk of exposure should wait 14 days before coming to practice. Any swimmer running a temperature must stay at home and not attend practice.
- COACHES WILL NOT BE IN THE WATER WITH SWIMMERS.
Swimmers should be able to comfortably swim a length of the pool
freestyle and backstroke. If you think your swimmer might not be strong
enough for the team this year, please request an evaluation. If your
swimmer is evaluated, a parent will also need to wear a bathing suit and
be prepared to get in the water with your child.
Phase 1 Practice schedule: Begins Monday, June 1
4 × 30 minutes practices
2 × 45 minute practices
15 minutes in between each practice for cleaning
Expected practice times:
9:00-9:30am 11:15-11:45am
9:45-10:15am 12:00-12:45pm
10:30-11:00am 1:00-1:45pm
- This schedule accommodates 36 swimmers per day. In phase one,
depending on how many swimmers are signed up for the team, we would
offer a Monday/ Wednesday/ Friday practice group and a Tuesday/
Thursday/ Saturday practice group, accommodating 72 swimmers. We
will modify as needed based on registration numbers which may mean
some swimmers practice 2 days per week instead of 3
- Practice times are based on what the Fox Hall Community pool hours are.
We expect things to be fluid as Virginia begins to open up. We will adjust
practice times and group numbers accordingly.
PRACTICE ASSIGNMENTS
The sign up process will be based on the numbers of swimmers registered.
Swimmers will be loosely grouped by age and ability by the coaches.
Please be patient as we work to provide an opportunity for everyone in
Phase 1. If you will be on vacation or need a specific time or day, please
let the coaches know when you register.
Cost
The cost of the program will fully cover coaches salaries. Due to the COVID-19
crisis, our our fundraising opportunities (sponsorships, concessions, etc.)
are limited. Our dues will go entirely to the coaching staff,
and the coach to swimmer ratio we are able to offer during this time, cannot
be beat! The dues cover the program from June 1- August 1.
14 & under swimmers- $115.00
15 & over swimmers- $50.00
Coaches
Charles Ellison- Charles has been a part of Fox Hall Swim Team for over 10
years, and a member of Godwin High School’s Varsity Swim Team for 4 years.
He has been a part of the Fins coaching staff for the past 2 years, first as a junior
coach and then as an assistant coach. Charles loves swimming and coaching
kids, and greatly looks forward to returning to the team this year. Charles will be
attending UVA in the fall.
Emma Farney- Emma comes to us from Richmond Country Club where she
served as an assistant coach for 2 years. Emma also has 5 years of experience
as a NOVA lessons instructor, teaching kids of all ages how to swim all strokes.
She is a former NOVA swimmer and captain of her high school team at Godwin.
Emma just finished her freshman year at Virginia Tech.
Laurel Reid- Laurel has over 10 years of coaching experience in the Richmond
area. This includes time spent as the Head Coach of various summer league
teams including Fox Hall, Rockville and Dolphin Club.. She was also the Head
Coach of the Dolphin Club’s year-round program. Laurel currently works full time
for NOVA as a coach and lessons instructor.
Charles and Emma will be our primary coaches for the season. Laurel Reid
will continue to be a part of the support staff. We will see Laurel from time to time
at practices, as her full time job allows. With our current “schedule” her primary
role will mostly be “behind the scenes.” Laurel will be working with our coaches
to plan practices, organize groups, and communicate with the team. Depending
on the direction that our season goes, we may see her more, later in the season.
Questions & Answers
What will the practice schedule look like in Phase 2?
We expect that we will be able to offer up to 2 swimmers per lane (starting at
opposite sides) in Phase 2. This would allow for practices to be longer, and there
would be more flexibility of practice days. We will wait for the Governor’s final
guidelines for Phase 2, and then make the adjustments.
Will our coaches wear masks during practice?
Coaches will carry a mask and will wear the mask if they cannot maintain a safe
six-foot distance from each other and swimmers.
What about the kids who are not social distancing?
We expect that all parents and swimmers follow the safety guidelines. Coaches
will remove any swimmer not able to follow the safety guidelines before, during,
or after practice.
What will we do if there are no meets?
GRAL is considering “virtual meets,” we may participate in those. That would
mean hosting a meet for just our swimmers, and then comparing results with a
different GRAL team to decide races. If there are no GRAL meets we will
explore ways to do some fun, “intra squad” meets, possibly one age group at a
time. We will work to be creative and have fun this summer, while staying within
recommended health and safety guidelines
The document FOX_HALL_FINS_SUMMER_2020.pdf was attached to this post.