[FAST News] Summer Swimming Topics

[Fort Worth Area Swim Team Mailing List]

Many of our swimmers will have FAST summer morning practices away from WGAC. 
Please keep these things in mind:

* The outdoor pools do not have kickboards, fins, hand-paddles, or 
pull-buoys available for use. These training items in the bins at WGAC do 
not belong to FAST so they are NOT to be removed from the WGAC pool area. 
Check with your coach to see what your equipment needs will be and see our 
Swim Store Director Christen Ellis if you need to order anything in time for 
the summer. She can also sell you some tinted goggles or a mesh bag to carry 
everything in. If you have equipment you no longer use, consider our Swap 
Shop.

* Only swimmers and coaches are allowed on the pool deck. This is both a 
safety rule and also to keep the swimmers and coaches focused during 
practice. Also, kids should not be playing inside the pool compound before 
or after their practice.

* FAST policy is that water bottles are to be the reusable kind, not 
disposable drink bottles. Disposable drink bottles end up creating litter 
including plastic safety seals that end up clogging the pool plumbing. Mark 
your bottle with your name and avoid sharing it. Swimmers sweat quite a bit 
even when swimming in cool water; when exercising out in the sun and in 
warmer water it becomes even more important to drink water often. Usually 
the first sign of dehydration for swimmers is that they will fatigue and 
slow down even before they get thirsty. Drink up!

* USA Swimming policy is that swimmers shall enter the pool feet-first in a 
safe manner unless working specifically on starts or racing. The shallow end 
of the training course at WGAC, RPA, and Forest Park is NOT deep enough for 
safe dives. Diving injuries are not covered by your USA Swimming insurance 
and could be catastrophic. Even if you think you are perfectly safe diving 
in shallow water, please follow the rules and set a good example for the 
others.

* Our lovely Texas Weather seems to act up as soon as we schedule outdoor 
practices. Swimmers will swim in mild rainstorms but not if there is 
lightening, thunder, or threatening winds. Conditions vary quite a bit and 
even if it is crummy weather at your house it may be "good enough" at the 
pool to swim. Also, your coach may delay but not cancel a practice start if 
it looks like conditions may improve before the end of the scheduled 
practice.

* Sunscreen. Even if it's early in the day, you will be getting a lot of sun 
over the days and years of your swim career. M. D. Anderson skin cancer 
awareness efforts are targeting youth who are outdoors a great deal, because 
they are at the highest risk for developing skin cancer later in life. Just 
three severe sunburns before the age of 18 can increase a person's lifetime 
risk for melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer, by five-fold.

* Running. Too many times in the past the kids have been doing runs on the 
streets in the park without paying attention to cars. Drivers not with FAST 
will not be expecting the kids in the middle of the road and may be 
speeding. Parents should discuss this with their kids.

These seem like negative things but all in all outdoor swimming can be a 
great way to start the day. The open air and park surroundings are a nice 
mood-improving change from swimming indoors. With your awareness we can help 
keep it safe and productive for everyone.