Hello new and returning Dal Synchro Club members!
Your 2020-2021 club executive hopes this message finds you well at this exciting time of year. Despite the unprecedented times we are all adapting to, school is starting once again. We are thrilled to announce that the Dal Synchro season is starting up as well! Please read very carefully, and all the way through.
In this message you will find a run-down of Dal Synchro’s training program for September 2020 as well as step-by-step instructions for what we need from you in order to build our training groups for the upcoming season.
This plan is the product of much summer brainstorming and teamwork. It reflects the standards which have been put in place by each of the governing bodies we report to: Nova Scotia Health Authority, Nova Scotia Artistic Swimming, Dalplex and Dalhousie University, and the Canadian University Artistic Swimming League.
The Dal Synchro executive thanks you for your patience as we navigate the approval process from each of these bodies. The process is still underway, however, we anticipate being back in the pool very soon. Please stay tuned to your emails and WhatsApp as things can change very quickly, and we will keep everyone in the loop! In the meantime, we have an action packed September that is just getting started! Keep reading to find out more!
FIRST UP → We will be holding a Kick-off Dal Synchro Meeting over Zoom on Tuesday, September 15th at 5pm AST.
At this meeting we will explain what September synchro will look like and answer any questions you may have! We will cover group introductions and welcome all newcomers into the Dal Synchro community
This meeting will be held virtually using Microsoft Teams.
Please click THIS LINK to access the meeting.
Prior to this meeting, if you have not already, please fill out THIS survey. This was sent out in our last email, and it will let us know where you are based, and what your participation level will be this year. Thank you to everyone that has already submitted their responses.
NEXT → An overview of the month of September: Online, Outdoor, and Pool Workouts
As soon as Dal athletics clubs are approved to start holding practices and events, we will be offering physically distanced outdoor workouts & icebreakers on the weekends in September, beginning on the weekend of the 19th. At these sessions we will get back in shape, get to know each other, and get outside while the weather is still beautiful!
You will need to sign up to participate & receive further details, like where to meet & what to bring with you!
If there is bad weather on one of the intended outdoor training days, or we still are waiting for approval for in-person activities, we will specially select a fun virtual workout to complete at home & plan to cool down together over Zoom. More information will be shared in our info session and over WhatsApp closer to the date.
FInally, if you have access to a pool, whether that be in your backyard or in lane swim, we encourage you to get back in the pool until we can do so together. We have designed a pool workout to be done by experienced program swimmers during the month of September. Keep reading to learn more.
The Season of “Training Groups”
For the time being, Dal Synchro is required to follow the regulations set out by Nova Scotia Artistic Swimming in its Covid-19 Return to Sport Guide. This guide has been approved by the provincial sport and public health authorities. If you would like to view the Return to Sport document, we can make a copy available to you.
One of the primary Return To Sport requirements for synchro swimmers in Nova Scotia is that we train in permanent “training groups” of 10 or less.
We are prohibited from mixing training groups once they are formed. So, it is very important that we group swimmers based on similar skill levels: speed, endurance, and height. This may sound like ordinary team selection, however there are a few key differences which make this process very unique:
Training groups will not be formed with competition in mind, as the competition season will look very different this year (though there will likely be some form of competition for those that want to take part).
Instead, training group formation will be based on promoting efficient and enjoyable synchro for all. The end result will be just like when you sign-up for a fitness course and are grouped into “beginner”, “intermediate”, and “advanced” leveled groups, letting you get the most out of your instructor and workout time, surrounded by others at your level.
Coaches will make and deliver the same practice plans and workouts to every training group, with a few small modifications to adapt to the level of difficulty required for each group.
Training groups will not have one specific coach, but will instead get to work with all of our excellent Dal Synchro coaches: Caitlin, Gretel, and Jordan.
Training groups for the season will be announced by email once we have collected all of your benchmark swim information - please continue reading for more information.
Novice Program: Gold Group
Novice program swimmers, AKA the Gold Group, will begin training together as soon as we get University approval to get in the pool. We will convey this practice time ASAP.
If you qualify as a Novice University Synchro Athlete, we are excited to welcome you to the Gold training group.
What we need from you (New and Returning Experienced Swimmers)
This section does not apply to Novice/Gold Group. You can skip ahead to the end of this section!
We have developed a swim workout that is designed to exercise various synchro and swimming skills. It is accessible on the Members Only page of this website. We need you to complete the workout and record your benchmark times and heights. Then, we are asking that you submit your times using THIS ONLINE SURVEY.
All of the pool time allocated to our club in September will be dedicated to you gathering your benchmark times and heights. Once the University approves our Back to Sport Plan:
You will be able to sign-up for an individual swim time during our pool time.
Our coaches will be on deck to lend a hand and remind you of the test workout, however this process will be largely self directed.
Please arrive at your workout time slot prepared! You should know the workout or bring your own printed copy in a ziplock or document sleeve.
We will provide tools (like pool-side personal whiteboards and markers) so that you can record your answers. These tools will be thoroughly sanitized between uses. If you have another preferred method of recording your benchmarks, you are welcome to do so!
If you require more than one practice time to complete your benchmark workout, it will be possible to sign up for a second time slot once others have had their first chance to get in the pool and swim.
Until such time as we are approved to get back in the Dalplex pool as a club, we very much encourage you to complete your benchmark workout in a public lap swim time or at some other swimming facility (outside of Nova Scotia, at an apartment pool, in a lake, or even in the ocean!)
We know this process is new and not exact. We are hoping to collect answers that give us an honest and reasonable sense of your current synchro skills and fitness abilities. If we all work together on this we will be able to form fair and balanced training groups and we will excel together throughout the upcoming season 😊
What to expect during your visit to Dalplex Pool
Pool time in this new COVID-19 era will look different. For those of you that have not attended Dalplex yet this year, there are some additional restrictions that you should be aware of.
The locker rooms are closed. Only deck bathrooms and showers are open. We are discouraged from changing on deck. You should plan to arrive at the pool with your bathing suit on and ready to jump in the pool. After your slot of pool time you can towel off and put clothes over your suit, but please prepare to clear off the deck right away. There will be cleaning performed between each 1 hr booking of pool time which means the cleaning staff need the area quickly cleared.
Only one athlete will be allowed in each of our lanes. You are to stay in your lane, and to remain in your lane the entire time.
This is only a brief overview. Please check out THIS WEBPAGE and THIS VIDEO to familiarize with the Dalplex pool restrictions before you go to the pool for the first time.
PHEW!! That was a lot of information. We are more than excited to see you at our Kick-off Zoom meeting on September 15th at 5pm AST, and around the pool this fall. While we wait for the go-ahead to start our in-person training, don’t miss these brand new initiatives that will keep you in the loop with our club…
Unveiling of the Official Dal Synchro Website: We have launched a new club website to promote our organization and communicate effectively with you, our members. CLICK HERE to check it out! Throughout the 2020-21 season we will post all training schedules and other key information on the website, making it easily accessible from home and on-the-go. This email is replicated on the website, so if you need to reference it in the future, check out the Club Updates page!
Each of the survey’s we need from you are compiled on the Member’s Only page of the website, where you can access them all in one convenient location.
Exec & Coach Intros: Please stay tuned to our social media pages, where our Exec and Coaches introductions will be coming soon! You can always direct specific questions or ideas to any Exec member or Coach through the club email address – dalhousiesynchro@gmail.com
-Yours Sincerely
Caitlin Schropp
President
Julia Malek
Vice President
Caitlin Menczel
Head Coach
Valentina Marini
Uniform & Equipment Director
Kayla Mozill
Social Media and Marketing Director
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