Hi Blue Crabs!

We are just one week out from the start of our summer swim season and we wanted to provide you with several updates. 

A BIG “THANK YOU” 

First, thank you to all who came out for our kick-off event this past Sunday night! We had beautiful weather, a huge turnout, and delicious cupcakes from one of our wonderful sponsors, Nanita’s Sweets. Also, a big shout out to Katie Thomas for organizing the event and our swimsuit fittings!

PRACTICE SCHEDULE 

We have been working hard on getting things ready for the season and are happy to announce that we have finalized our practice schedule. The Blue Crabs will hold their first practice on May 31, and the Mini Crabs will follow with their first practice on June 1. You can view the entire practice schedule on our website here. 

MINI CRABS or BLUE CRABS? 

Several parents have asked how to know whether your child should swim with the Mini Crabs or their Blue Crabs age group. The coaching staff has provided the following guidance which we trust will help: 

• “While there is no definitive answer, please consider whether you feel that your child is water safe if the coaches are watching another swimmer, or if you feel that your child needs one-on-one attention. We will have flexibility to move back and forth between the two groups during the opening weeks of the season, so please err on the side of caution if you are unsure, and have your child start with the Mini Crabs. If your child appears ready for the Blue Crabs team, the coaches will reach out to you and encourage you to make the change, if you feel comfortable. No swimmers will be forced to move from Mini Crabs if they and their families are not comfortable with it.” 

Thank you for your patience as we navigate these first couple of weeks together!

PARENT MEETING DATE 

On Monday, June 5 we will hold two brief parent meetings near the bleachers on the pool deck at Stone Barn. The first will be at 4:45 PM and the second at 6:00 PM. We will cover the same information in each meeting, including what to expect for the upcoming season, team leadership, and expectations for participation. Please make it a priority to attend one of these meetings. 

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES 

If you checked out our informational meeting, you have heard about the culture of service that we are seeking to cultivate for the Blue Crabs. We aim to be a community who steps up when needs arise. We have two opportunities for you to jump in and help. 

1. We will need help to run our kick-off pool party on June 2 from 4-7 PM. Checkout our needs and sign-up here: Swim meets and Events Sign-up
2. In order to run a successful summer season we are required to have volunteers who are trained to be officials. The Frederick Summer Swim League will provide all of the training needed. These sessions will be virtual and you only need to attend one date. These will be held at 6 PM on May 30, May 31, June 1, June 6, June 7, & June 8. Please sign-up by filling out this form (our team abbreviation is VUBC).

WEBSITE 

Finally, please familiarize yourself with our fantastic website. You can meet our coaches, check out our practice and meet & event schedule, get a better understanding of volunteer roles, learn how to sign your swimmer up for meets, support our generous sponsors, and much, much more. 

As always, please don’t hesitate to reach out to [email protected] if you have any questions at all. 

We are looking forward to a great summer season! 

On behalf of the Blue Crabs, 

Devon Kauflin