Hello all,

We have only three weeks left in our season, if you can believe that. Time always flies by.

It's summer, school's out, and pools are fun! But... 

We are at the point in the pool season where there's a lot of traffic and some things have gotten difficult. 

The Glenwood Park Pool is a membership pool that extends its use to us per an agreement that is renewed on an annual basis. If we do not adhere to the rules, we risk losing the Glenwood Park Pool as the Piranhas host pool. 

Many of us have invested a lot of love and energy into this team and we can't risk losing the good faith relationship between the pool and the team. 

We need everyone to put in the same effort here, both pool members and nonmembers. Below I've outlined some rules for our review, added some underlying expectations, and concluded with a basic outline of what we expect from our swimmers. We appreciate your support in advance. I personally love this team and know we can keep these relationships strong and positive. 

Review: Pool use rules (members and non-members)

• We will always share the pool with members. There will always be at least one lane and the shallow play area available for member use.
• Non-member swimmers may use the facilities for their practices, but when practices are over, it is understood that non-members will leave the premises. If a pool member wishes to have a non-member swimmer stay as their guest, members must list guests in the sign-in book at the pool entrance and use their guest passes.

I have been asked to also make this explicit: Piranhas who are not pool members may not bring guests to swim who are not pool members. 

Unfortunately, there are pool members who are under the impression that swim team members are bringing guests who are raising a ruckus. If this is the case, it must stop. 

Review: Practice Rules

• Swimmers must follow the coaches’ instructions at all times.
• Practice lanes will be decided by coaches. Lane decisions will be made based on swimmers’ ages and skill level.
• Parents must refrain from discussing individual swimmer concerns with parents during practice, as this will hinder coaches’ ability to keep all swimmers safe.
• Parents must supervise any other children at all times.
• Parents must be present when practice ends. Children must never be left without a designated adult at the pool. Coaches supervise only the team members who are in their designated practice lane. Parents who leave children unattended at the pool will risk their swimmer’s team membership. This is non-negotiable.
• Swimmers who are at the pool but not practicing may not interrupt the practices (i.e. chat with coaches or swimmers who are practicing). Additionally, swimmers who must stay in the pool area while an older (or younger) sibling is practicing must NEVER disrupt other members and must ALWAYS adhere to our general pool rules, posted on the wall at the pool entrance.
• Additionally: swimmers who are dropped off at the pool for practice must practice with the team. 

To summarize:

- Piranhas will always set an example for other children. 

- Piranhas will not disrupt pool members' or other Piranhas' experiences. 

- Piranhas will practice at their designated times. 

- Respect for others is always an expectation. 

Parents, since our children are not always aware of the effect of their behavior on others, we must keep an eye out on our children at all times and intervene if they are not meeting these expectations.

Please feel free to reply with your questions.

All the best,

Martha