**Note: All Friday Practices are Mandatory. Coach will send out notifications of any changes **

• Practices are held Monday-Friday and daily attendance is expected. However, as we have very limited/crowded lane space, we offer team members the ability to choose *up to* 2 days/week of ‘Swimmer’s Choice’ practices (not including Fridays).
• You must complete 5 total practices per week, including 3 Mandatory practices  (including Friday.) For the remaining two days,  you must attend either regular practice or complete an approved “Swimmer’s Choice” workout. For mandatory practices:
  • All swimmers must swim at least 60 minutes & are expected to arrive 15 minutes beforehand. Varsity (A-B-C relay swimmers) should practice for the full 90 minutes unless you have had additional outside practice time that day.
  • First Practice: 7:30PM-8:30PM  (6PM-7PM on Friday)
  • Second Practice: 8:00PM-9:00PM (7PM-8PM on Friday)
  • JV Swimmers may stay for both practices should they choose. Depending on lane space, this may involve dryland training around the pool deck.
  • Divers have their own mandatory practice schedule – Dive practices are at the Ipswich YMCA Monday and Thursday from 7:45PM to 9PM
  • All meets are mandatory, even if they fall outside mandatory practice days.
• Swimmer’s Choice (either Monday/Wednesday or Tuesday/Thursday)
  • All HIGH SCHOOL swimmers must complete a SUPERVISED workout of at least 60 minutes (90 minutes for Varsity). These are NOT required for 8th graders.
  • For less experienced swimmers or those who would otherwise be in the pool less than 5 days per week, it is STRONGLY recommended that you attend regular practice. There is no substitute for time in the water. 
  • You must have approval in advance from me. Don’t just not show up to practice. 
  • All alternative activities MUST BE SUPERVISED BY A QUALIFIED COACH/INSTRUCTOR. Examples include:
    • Weight room at your school, supervised by a qualified school trainer. Swim-focused workouts (plyometrics, core training, explosiveness, pre-habbing etc) are recommended. A weight room workout intended for football or basketball is unlikely to help your swimming.
    • Year-round swim or dive practice
    • Dance class at a licensed studio. 
    • PT/Rehab appointments.
    • These are examples – if you have another type of workout in mind, talk to coach.
    • For offsite workouts: must send a “selfie” to myself and a parent during each workout in order to ensure that swimmers are where parents and coaches think they are. Group photos are okay. Parents may waive this requirement in writing and/or have it re-instated at any time.
    • Bottom line: this is a privilege – use it wisely or lose it.

All practices are held at the YWCA in Newburyport:

Address: 13 Market St, Newburyport MA 01950.

Dive Practices are held at the Ipswich YMCA, 110 County Road, Ipswich MA.