Each year when we get rain, I get a lot of phone calls and e-mails from parents who want to know if swim practice will be canceled. Well, practice is always on except during the following weather conditions:
- Extremely high winds. We can get 60 mph wind gusts at the top of the hill.
- If there is lightening less than 30 minutes before a given practice.
- The pool falls below 78 degrees for group 2, 3 and 4, and below 80 degrees for group 1.
I know that when the weather is cold and rainy, most sane people would consider swimming to be at the bottom of the list … or not even on the list at all. And this is exactly why you should get your kids to practice in a pouring rain; I can tell you they will love it because it’s unusual! If I decide to cancel swim practice I will send a team wide e-mail with the news and will be available by phone as well.
As far as swim meet goes, I have never attended a swim meet shortened as a consequence of bad weather ... and I wish some had been. There is this mentality in the swim community that you just don't quit. Kids are taught to push through discomfort at practice and in their races ... and parents do the same the day of an event. Over the years, we have seen tents fly, ice on pool deck, pool steam so thick you can't even see the other side of the pool, rain that just won't quit. Our Spooky plunge in 2008 was a good example of that!
Look at these parents! I bet they still talk about that meet.
