Countdown to start of practice: 5 DAYS!

As we get closer to the official start of the season, team managers get more and more questions…so, we wanted to go ahead and answer a few of them. Feel free to email if you have others – someone else might have the same question!

Why are there so many reminders about the Shuma Spiritwear Store?
ANSWER: We want everyone to be happy! And it closes TODAY!

Each year, as soon as practice starts, parents start approaching team managers asking if we have extra HW shirts and hats for sale. And we have to say “no.” As meets get closer, people think about what they are going to wear in the heat and ask if we have extra tanks or ballcaps? We’ll have to say “no.” There’s already excited chatter about the new brand of shirts (softer, lighter), but don’t ask us if we have the 2026 version … we’ll have to say “no.”

Team managers want everyone to be happy! We don’t like saying “no.” So go ahead and anticipate your FOMO or your regret of not buying a “Swim Dad” shirt for Father’s Day or not getting grandpa a shirt that matches his grandkids or remember that it will be tank top weather soon! Go ahead and order today so you (and team managers) can be happy all season long. :) https://shuma.chipply.com/hanarrywest/

How do we know if practice is canceled because of the weather?
ANSWER: Coaches will send an alert through SwimTopia

Be sure you have your SwimTopia alerts and notifications set to “allow”. SwimTopia has a great Help section online with instructions for how to do this and more. Or ask a fellow parent at practice next week.

Head Coach Eric Brown or Assistant Head Coach Ethan Kruger will make the call on practice being canceled (or occasionally postponed slightly) and will send an alert through SwimTopia to parents. Often, with so many passing summer showers, these alerts don’t come until very close to the start of practice. Sometimes, one age group practice is held and another is canceled. We do practice in the rain, but if your swimmer is not comfortable swimming in the rain, they are not required to come to practice. For more on weather policies, read the Weather page on our website.

The Spirit Night at Agavero Parkside was a lot of fun, but did we raise money?
ANSWER: Yes, it was fun, and yes, $400!

Agavero Parkside loved having our team and said we are welcomed to host a Spirit Night again, so we are hoping to make this an annual tradition. Thank you for coming out and dining! Thank you for picking up spiritwear! Thank you for trying something new to start the season!

As our team has grown, so has our annual coaching budget. The Spirit Night funds will be a huge help this season as we have coaches working more and more hours. New this year, you’ll see coaches leading some Fun Friday activities. Coaches will also be doing all the setup and breakdown for our home meets. To help prepare for 153 swimmers each day, we’ve added daily coach meetings and a weekly post-meet debrief meeting with team managers to their schedules. Plus, the stroke clinics are now free for swim team members and those coaches are paid by the team.

What’s the after-school practice schedule and when does it start?
ANSWER: Swim team practice starts this Monday, May 11.

Here’s the breakdown by age group. (Please note that the age group breakdown for summer practices is a little different.) And, note there is no practice on the last day of school.

4:30-5 p.m. 6 & under
5-5:40 p.m. ages 7 to 8
5:40-6:20 p.m. ages 9 to 10
6:20-7:10 p.m. ages 11 to 12
7:10-8 p.m. ages 13 to 18

I haven’t joined the Hanarry West Swim & Tennis Club yet – is there still time?
ANSWER: Yes, the Club still has member slots available.

The Club and swim team are separate non-profits, so join the Club by going to its website and filling out the member application. There's a Memorial Day Party on the Club calendar, so join soon! 

Go Dolphins!
Patricia Heys
HW Team Manager