Dear GHSC,
 
Our first meet is fast approaching.  Tuesday, May 22 will be the close of entries for the East Kentwood Invitational, June 1, Friday at 4:30 pm.  After that date, we coaches will not be adding or changing entries.  What you choose, is what you will be entered in, so please be careful in your choices and entries. It's not unusual due to typing errors for a parent to enter their 8 year old boy in the 8 year old girls' event, or to mistype and enter your daughter in the 400 IM when you meant the 50 Freestyle.
 
For those new to this, here's what it might look like:
 
First we have a meet scheduled.  You will find the meet events and information packet available on our Weebly site.  Approximately 2 weeks ahead of the meet we will close entries, and you will only be entered in the events you chose and paid for.  If payment is not completed, the entries will not be made. The coaches will submit entries to the host team.  If you are not sure what to swim, first time around it's best to do the 2 shortest freestyle events, a short backstroke, and perhaps any other event you would like.  Most meets limit entries to 4 events, you do not have to swim 4, but it makes sense to me as the coach to swim as many as your wallet and time will allow. If you're not sure what to swim, simply click coaches' choice for each event you wish to enter (so if you want to swim 4 events, you'll need to click coaches' choice at the bottom of 4 separate drop down boxes).  Most meets run 3-4 hours.

Below is a link to the first meet signup page.  You will find others already on the website.

East Kentwood signup page
 
Next week:
 
M  -  practice schedule as usual
Tu -  practice schedule as usual, East Kentwood Entries due
W  - practice schedule as usual
Th -  NO Practice, Graduation Day, building closed
F  -  practice schedule as usual
 
See you at the Friday Sundae event tonight!
 
Bill Hamm
(951) 317-1003 - cell
bnshamm@yahoo.com

To get "instant" last minute notifications, cancellations, etc all season long... please sign up to receive texts from the REMIND site.

There are 2 different ways you can sign up for Remind notifications:

1. send a TEXT to:   81010 and send the message:   @ghscsu
   
2. send email to:  ghscsu@mail.remind.com:  no verbiage required

Hi everyone, 
This Friday we would like to celebrate the end of our first week of GHSC Summer Swim!  
We will celebrate at 7:30 pm (for all swim groups) with ice cream and toppings.  

Assistance with serving, or purchase of ice cream/toppings would be appreciated!  Please sign up here:
www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0C45A4AC22A5FB6-funfriday

P.S. Coach Hamm knows there is Buc Blaster at the middle school on the same day... he would love if you could make it to practice as well!!

Last night, we had a parent meeting to kick off the summer swim season!  Below are the things you must complete before your child(ren) will be allowed to swim with the team. 

To see the full presentation that was shared last night, go to the Registration/Forms page on this site and scroll to the bottom, and click to download the file called "2018 Orientation summer presentation".  More information and direction will be provided here as our season gets underway!

The items below must be done at a minimum to get your child(ren) enrolled in Grand Haven Summer Swim club for the 2018 season.

1. Register for the team at the NORA website
   (if you don't have a login/account yet, call NORA at 616-850-5126 and they will get you setup.)
2. Note: when you register at NORA, part of the check out process asks you to sign a waiver.  You must do this step.
3. Must have a "Concussion Release Form" on file at the Aquatics office.  If you have ever signed this form for your child(ren) the Grand Haven Aquatics program, you do not need to do this again!!  You can find a link to this printable form at the bottom of the Registration/Forms page on this site.
4. Athlete Questionnaire must be submitted.  This digital form is at the top of the Registration/Forms page on this site.  (If you fill out the digital form, you do not need to print/fill out the "2018 Athlete Questionnaire" at the bottom of that same page)

On the Home page of this site, there is a calendar with all practices, swim meets, when swim meet entries are due, etc.  Please visit this site regularly to double-check the schedule as it does tend to change.  (Coach Hamm typically sends out emails when there are any major changes in plans.​

On the first day of practice there are two different swim times:
6pm to 7pm -- For swimmers that are new to the Grand Haven Swim Club (no matter their swim ability)
7pm to 8pm -- For swimmers that have swam with GHSC in the past.

Your swimmer(s) will be assigned to one of the groups and practice times below (Mon thru Fri):
Minnows 6:00-7:00     
Snappers 6:30-8:00    
Dolphins 6:30-8:00      
Sharks     7:00-8:30

Multiple modes of communication are used throughout the season.

1. Emails from Coach Hamm 
2. Posts on the Updates page on the website  (you can subscribe to get notifications of these posts)
3. The Grand Haven Swim Club Facebook page
4. Remind text notifications (for last minute changes/cancellations) -- information on how to subscribe coming soon!!
5. On the pool deck!  Come see Coach Hamm if you have questions.
6. Also feel free to email to Coach Hamm (bnshamm@yahoo.com) if you have questions
   

For those of you who have expressed interest in a swimming co-op with Holland Aquatic's MLA team, the co-op option is available again this season!!    Details will be posted soon regarding this.