Swim Meet Officials Needed

 Parents- We need 2 more Officials.  It doesn't matter if you've never done this or have no idea how to officiate. We will train you!  You get a front row seat to all the action and the more Officials we have, the less you have to do. Please consider this EXTRA fun volunteer opportunity to help the swim team.  Thanks.

Guidelines for Summer vs. Year-Round Swimming

 I have been getting a lot of questions regarding this topic. Here are the rules for clarification:

From Article VI: Section H (2.) of the CSSCSA Bylaws: On or after May 16, a swimmer may practice only with their summer club swim team and compete only in their summer club swim team’s meets in order to be eligible. To clarify, a swimmer may NOT practice or compete for another summer club team, a year-round team, etc. on or after May 16. Notwithstanding the above, a swimmer may practice or compete on or after May 16 interscholastically or inter-collegiately without losing eligibility.

Pool Clean Up Day - MAY 1ST - 8:30 AM to 12:30 PM

Attention Swim Team!  We need help getting the grounds ready for swim season.  Any and all help from kids 11 years of age and older is appreciated.  

Please come to the pool on Saturday, 5/1, to help the all-volunteer GMSC Board members prepare the grounds for our 2021 season. There is a lot of work to do! Come prepared to work hard, get dirty and to meet other members of the pool. Typical tasks include pulling weeds, washing chairs, cleaning the bathrooms, putting together playground equipment, and so on. 

Items you can bring with you:  gardening gloves, garden weeding tools, rubber cleaning gloves, tree branch clippers, rakes, brooms, cleaning sponges, trash bags, and anything else you think might be useful for grounds maintenance and locker room cleaning. 

Note: GMSC Members who volunteer two full hours will receive 3 guest passes on their account, which is a $30 value. (Limit: One per family.)

We will provide coffee and light snacks.

Thank you, in advance, for your time!

Summer Season Registration is Open

Hello Gators!

Summer swim team registration is now open.  We have a lot of funky issues this season because of COVID, so please keep reading to get the full picture of what this season will look like (and know that it could change at any minute).

Start Date:

We will start after school practices the week of 5/17 or 5/24 depending on when the pool is ready to go.  Morning practices will start Tuesday, June 1.

Practices:

Practice times will remain the same, but we may need to shift age groups based on numbers.

6:30 am - 8:00 am ages 13+

8:00 am - 9:00 am ages 10 - 12

9:00 am - 10:00 am 9 and unders

Meets:

Due to COVID restrictions, we may be limited by the number of people allowed on the grounds during a meet.

If Jeffco is at Level Blue:  All meets will be at our pool with our team only. A majority of the FSA teams in our league are following this model. We will have a dual meet against a different team each week, but we will all be at our respective pools. We will then combine the times for scoring.

If Jeffco is at Level Clear:  We will return to in-person dual meets. We will still have safety guidelines to protect our team and parents and those will be disseminating as we get closer to the meets. 

Parent Volunteers:

We absolutely still need parent volunteers for all swim meets. We expect each family to volunteer for approximately 5 volunteer shifts throughout the season. It may be more. It may be less. It takes a lot of hands to run a swim meet and we can't function without the help. Plus, you get a front row seat to all the swimming action!

State and League Championship Meets:  

League is a go and is planned for the weekend of July 16th.

State is up in the air. It is tentatively planned for the weekend of July 23rd, but no pool has been found to host State because of COVID restrictions. 

General COVID Restrictions:

Until restrictions are lifted we will continue to work with the team to keep everyone safe. All swimmers will need to arrive at the pool with a mask on. Masks can be taken off once the swimmer is at their assigned lane. Parents will be allowed on deck with a mask to watch the swim meets, but we will spread everyone out and ask that you quickly vacate the deck if your child is not swimming. 

High School Boys:

The boys CHSSA season is in direct conflict with summer swim club this season. We plan to offer an evening boys practice time each week. The practice will be non-conditioning and will focus on relays, starts, turns, dryland and socialization to keep our boys steeped in Gator spirit. 

Team Swim Suits:

You are not required to have a team suit, but it does give the swimmers a sense of belonging to the team. DEADLINE TO ORDER A TEAM SUIT IS 5/14. We will not have suit fittings this year due to covid. Please go to our team store online and order directly.

www.coloradoswimshop.com

Click on Teams Store

At the top, click on Teams store again to pull down the list

Choose Green Mountain

Password is: GREENmtn21 (case sensitive).

We are so excited to get all our swimmers back in the pool! This summer will be weird AND fun and we look forward to experiencing it with our wonderful swim family.

click here to register

Reminder: Swim Club Membership Sale Ends 4/18

 Swim Club Memberships are on SALE until 4/18.

The price for a family membership will be $495 for families who join by April 18th, and then it will increase to the standard price of $550. 

Go to the GMSC website to join. 

Swim Club Membership is Open

 Swim Club Memberships are open NOW and are on SALE until 4/18.

Family Membership Price: The price for a family membership will be $495 for families who join by April 18th, and then it will increase to the standard price of $550. 

For returning members from 2019 and 2020: For prior members from recent years, the primary account holder will receive an email invoice for renewing your membership this weekend. Simply follow the instructions in the email in order to renew your membership. Please note that you will be able to add a "Plus One" to your account for your babysitter or nanny, if needed. If a previous member and not renewing this year, you can ignore the email invoice(s) and your account will expire before the start of the 2021 season. 

For new members: Our new, updated website will be live by this Sunday, April 11th. You will be able to complete your membership application and pay dues via the website. If you do need to add a nanny or babysitter, please add the Plus One to your Family Membership. We do anticipate increased demand this year so please join early.

Click here for more details from the Swim Club.

Pool Manager/Lead Lifeguard Wanted!

 Green Mountain Swim Club is looking for a Pool Manager/Lead Lifeguard to handle the following responsibilities:

1. Staff scheduling

2. Supervising pool and grounds maintenance

3. Working guard shifts

4. Holding bi-monthly in-service training with all guards

5. Closing bank drawer and counting closing cash

6. Communicating with pool board members about any pool or staff issues

Candidates must meet the following requirements:

· Have a current Lifeguard Certification including CPR from the American Red Cross, YMCA, City of Lakewood or similar organization.

· Willing and able to conduct swimming lessons for a variety of ages and skill levels

· LOVE working with and spending time with kids!

· Available 40 hours per week, including weekends and holidays

· Mature, punctual, responsible, self-motivated, and a good work ethic

Lifeguards Wanted!

The Green Mountain Swim Club is hiring Lifeguards for the summer. If you are interested, please read below for details and contact Shannon Baker at staffing.gmsc@gmail.com

Candidates must meet the following requirements:

· Be at least 15 years old

· Have a current Lifeguard Certification including CPR from the American Red Cross, YMCA, City of Lakewood or similar organization.

· Willing and able to conduct swimming lessons for a variety of ages and skill levels

· LOVE working with and spending time with kids!

· Available at least 20-25 hours per week, including weekends and holidays

· Mature, punctual, responsible, self-motivated, and a good work ethic

Lifeguard Responsibilities:

Overseeing activities at an aquatic facility.

Assisting with swimming lessons if necessary

Explaining and enforcing rules, regulations, and policies to ensure the safety of patrons.

Monitoring designated areas to recognize signs of danger.

Maintaining order in swimming areas.

Responding to emergencies and rescuing swimmers in danger of drowning.

Performing first aid procedures.

Maintaining cleanliness and orderliness of all areas.

Reminder: SWIM CLINIC STARTS 4/3

 Just a reminder to register for Swim Clinic before you head out for Spring Break.

REGISTER HERE

Green Mountain Rec Center
$70 clinic fee
Saturdays 4/3 - 5/8
3:00-4:00 pm  12 and under
4:00-5:00 pm   13 and older
(If you have a child between the ages of 11-14, you may be asked to switch times to even out the number of swimmers at each session. )

*Note: The GMRC is closed on Sundays due to budget cuts, hence the Saturday schedule.

We'll see you in the pool. Hooray!!

SPRING SWIM CLINIC AND MORE GATOR NEWS!

 SPRING SWIM CLINIC

    Registration link: https://form.jotform.com/210715843722150

AND MORE GATOR NEWS.....

Here's a brief list of what we know about our summer swim season:

- Summer swim season is a go!
- Dates for League and State are being set and all FSA teams (our swim league) are moving forward with their swim seasons as well.
- 19 year-olds will be eligible to swim this summer to help make up for the lack of summer swim in 2020.
- The boys High School season will directly overlap with our summer season. The boys are allowed to compete for high school AND their summer swim club. We hope to work with all our high school boys to find a solution for them to join us this summer. 
- COVID restrictions are unknown at this time. We will follow all guidelines to keep all kids and parents safe. 

SWIM CLUB NEWS...

- GMSC is in the process of updating their website, and it will support more automation of the annual membership process, member check-in/check-out, a member portal, a mobile app, and other features. 

- GMSC is  investing in a new chlorination system that will better support the continued safety and cleanliness of our highly-utilized pool. This investment is due both to a nationwide chlorine tablet shortage and best practice recommendations from a local pool maintenance company. 

- Once the new website goes live (target early April), we will start accepting 2021 membership applications.

- The price for a family membership will be $495 for families who join within two weeks of our website launch, and then it will increase to the standard price of $550. New members: We do not have initiation fees!

We are EXCITED for the 2021 season. We will keep you posted as we know more. Tell a friend and join us in our SUPER EXTRA JOY that our kids will be back in the water very soon. 

Swim Team Updates 2/2021

Hello Gator Family!

I wanted to take a minute to give some quick updates regarding the 2021 Summer Swim Season.

Green Mountain Swim Club: The pool is planning to open this summer and will be doing everything in their power to make that happen. We will need help! I will keep you posted with volunteer opportunities. Please also keep in mind that becoming a member of the pool (although not required for swim team) is also a solid way to help the pool.

Foothills Swim Association:  I have a meeting in late-February with our league members to determine the feasibility of a 2021 season due to COVID, potential scheduling of meets, determining how CHSAA schedules will impact our summer schedule, and more!

To be clear... I am hopeful that we will swim as a team this summer. However, I do not have any concrete answers yet.  I will keep everyone posted.  Please reach out if you have questions.

Danielle. 

Keeping You Updated

Even though our Gator Swim Team is taking a break, it doesn't mean the Gator Board hasn't been busy.  There is still a lot happening and we want to keep you updated so that you know what the options are for your family.

State of Colorado:
Governor Polis has extended the Safer at Home order through July 31, 2020. Although there is an amendment to the order that allows outdoor pools to open, it still states that a social distance of 6 feet must be maintained and no more than 1 swimmer per lane at any given time. This doesn't lend itself to swim team functionality.

Colorado Summer Swim Club Association:
- The State Meet has been cancelled
- The League Meet has been cancelled

Foothills Swim Association:
FSA is the swim league that our Gator team falls under. Here's what's going on with the other teams:
- Green Mountain:  no team, pool closed
- Stingrays: no team, pool closed
- Mount Vernon: no team, unknown on pool
- Golden Marlins:  no team, unknown on pool
- Wheatridge:  no decisions have been made
- Columbine Knolls: no decisions have been made
- Applewood Knolls: no team, possibly small swim camps only, pool open
- Applewood Athletic: no team, possibly small swim camps, pool not open yet
- 5 Parks: trying to have a team, pool open

Gator Camps??
If at some point the State orders allow more than one person per lane .....and the Green Mountain Rec Center opens it's indoor pool .....and they allow us to rent lanes, we will try to have a couple swim camps or just start clinic early. There are A LOT of "ifs" in this statement. Just know that we are working hard behind the scenes and trying to figure out a way to get your kids in the pool and keep swimming in their hearts (and very strong bodies!)

We Miss our Swim Family!
We may attempt a team picnic or some kind of gathering this summer if more restrictions are lifted. As always, we will do our best to keep you informed.

This hurts to type.  Genuinely hurts.

After multiple discussions with Summer Club teams across the league and state, and the Green Mountain Swim Club, the health and financial implications of COVID-19 give us no option but to cancel the 2020 Gator season.  The Swim Club itself will also be closed for the season.  Both the team and the club plan to resume as normal for the Summer of 2021.

We put this decision off as long as possible as we searched for any feasible solution.  But nothing that met health and safety criteria made any financial sense, and vice versa.

We will continue to monitor the situation, and will host the Fall Clinic if at all possible.

Please feel free to contact us with any questions, and have an enjoyable rest of your summer.  Go Gators!

Update on Summer Swim Season

Hello Gator families,

Here is a brief update on the summer swim season.

We are in discussions with other summer club teams League- and State-wide, as well as the Green Mountain Swim Club board, regarding the summer season.  We are also monitoring communications and guidelines from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) and Jefferson County Public Health.  Currently the guidance is ambiguous, but we expect to receive clarification in the next week or two.

Everyone hopes that we can find a way to have a season, but the health and safety of our swimmers and families must be our first priority.

We will update everyone as we learn more.  Thank you for your patience as we navigate these very unusual circumstances.  Stay well!

Swim Team Updates

Spring Swim Clinic:  swim clinic is cancelled through the remainder of the dates. We owe many of you refunds and will be working on that as soon as possible.

Summer Swim Team:  We are crossing our fingers and hoping for the best. See below for the official statement from the Colorado State Summer Swim Club Association:

The CSSCSA board is aware that the coronavirus may impact swimming during the summer of 2020. The state meet dates of July 24 – 26 CANNOT be changed. As of now, the board is monitoring the situation and realizes that some schedule changes, particularly in the early part of the season (June) may need to happen.  As the situation changes almost daily, NO decisions have yet to be made.  Likely no decisions will be made until we are much closer to the summer season. We will try to let everyone know what our plans are when more information is available.

We will keep everyone updated. We are as eager as you. Stay safe and stay active. 

Swim Clinic Postponed Due to Rec Center Closure

The City of Lakewood announced today that the Rec Center would be closed March 14 - March 29.  We hope to resume swim clinic on Sunday 4/5.  If the Rec Center is open, we will be there!
Stay tuned....

Swim Clinic Update 3-12-19

1- We plan to have clinic as long as the Green Mountain Rec Center stays open and our coaches stay healthy.

2- That's it. Pretty simple.

If anything changes, we will alert you immediately. Short of that, we hope to see everyone on Sunday.

 

The City of Lakewood has released the following statement in regards to the rec centers:

 

Our facilities are currently open, with minimal activity cancellations.

All recreation centers, arts and cultural facilities, family services facilities and parks are open and most programming is continuing as scheduled. We are taking extra precautions to protect residents and visitors from COVID-19 by disinfecting hard surfaces more frequently throughout our facilities.

REMINDER: CLINIC STARTS 2/23

Gator Spring Swim Clinic will start on Sunday 2/23.
Ages 11 and under; 5:00 - 6:00 pm
Ages 12 and up: 6:00 -7:00 pm
** note: we are moving the 12 year olds to the 2nd hour of clinic to spread out the number of swimmers more evenly. If your 12 year old needs to stay at the 5:00 pm time frame, that is OK.

Revised Clinic Dates

There has been a slight date change.  Jeffco Schools have a 4-day weekend on our first Sunday of spring clinic. Many families have indicated that they will be out of town and I wanted to be make sure that we started out strong.  The revised dates are as follows:

start week 1:  2/16 

start week 1:  2/23

week 2:  3/1

week 3:  3/8

week 4:  3/15

skip 3/22 due to spring break

week 5: 3/29

week 6:  4/5

skip 4/12 due to Easter

week 7: 4/19

week 8:  4/26

week 9:  5/3

last week 10: 5/10

Gators 2020 Spring Clinic

It's here.... Spring Swim Clinic!  The registration link is active and ready to go.

Registration link:  CLICK HERE
Cost:  $100 per swimmer for 10 weeks

Dates:

start week 1:  2/16

week 2:  2/23

week 3:  3/1

week 4:  3/8

week 5:  3/15

skip 3/22 due to spring break

week 6: 3/29

week 7:  4/5

skip 4/12 due to Easter

week 8: 4/19

week 9:  4/26

last week 10:  5/3

Location: Green Mountain Rec Center
Details:  Join us for our 10-week session this spring. You do not have to be a current Gator to join the Spring Clinic.  Invite a friend and get those swim legs ready for summer fun in the pool