So far this season, we have welcomed 30 new swimmers to the Stingray family.

We are so glad to have you all with us this year! And, just like years past -- we need you to be involved ... at the meets ... at fundraisers ... and in other supporting roles.

Officials' Training will take place on June 8th via Zoom. This is a great way to learn a bit more about the rules of competitive swimming. It is important that every child learns to "swim legally." We aren't asking you to be enthusiastic about enforcing rules -- nor are we asking you to "inspect" swims searching for DQs. We are asking you to help keep the playing field even for all swimmers. 

No one wants to be "the baddie". But we also don't want children to think they can swim however they feel like swimming in a competitive environment. 

As coaches, sometimes the best tool we have to encourage kids to listen to the instructions we give is to be DQd in a meet. I cannot tell you the number of teenagers I run into every year joining the Coast Guard program from recreational/summer programs who do not believe me when I tell them they don't have a legal breast or fly, or have to finish backstroke on their back -- the first response is always "Well, I've never been DQd for it." No official wanted to be "mean." So instead, they tacitly encouraged kids to continue for years with bad swim habits that are much more difficult to unlearn at 13 or 16 than they were at 6 ... 8 ... 10 ... or even 12.

There are many ways as a swim parent that you can help our team. Officiating is just one of them. Wherever you choose to help out, we appreciate your willingness to do so. As my grandma used to say, "Many hands make light work ..."

Thank you for stepping up to help your Willow Oaks Stingrays succeed!