4/20 to 4/26 Notable Events That Could Impact Pool Use

Atma Yoga on 4/20 & 4/21 @ 9:00 AM

Swim Team Clinics on 4/20 & 4/21 (11-1 PM)

Swim Team Gear Swap on 4/20 @ 9 AM

New Swim Team Orientation on 4/20 @ 1 PM

New Swim Team Member/Mini-Stinger Lesson/Assessment on 4/20 @ 1 PM

Coaches Training on 4/20

Volunteer Signups Open for Swim Team at 5:00 PM on 4/24

Swim Team Practices 4/22-4/26

Masters Swim on 4/22, 4/24, 4/26 @ 9:00 AM

The Newsletter for Park Pool: Fourth Week of April!

Swim team is officially starting next week--and the weather is looking pretty good! This tends to bring a lot of adults and kids to the pool for the first time in months. Be sure we're all doing our best to be safe and aware of our surroundings as we re-acclimate to the pool this week.

Next week marks the official start of swim team practices. This means getting every swimmer into the pool, a lot more coaches to help both in and out of the pool, and a BIG focus on establishing good habits.

8 and unders will be learning/reviewing the structure of practices, while practicing free and back work. Kicking will be a big focus for this group in the first week.

The older groups will split the days up by stroke: Monday free, Tuesday back, Wednesday breast, Thursday fly, and Friday flip turns. There will be and extra focus on learning new drills and working on kicking.

As usual this is all subject to change based on attendance and weather.

Here are the times for swim practices:

- 6 and under: 4:00-4:25

- 7/8: 4:25-5:00

- 9-11: 5:00-5:45

- 12 and ups 5:45-6:45

*Note: Spring swim clinics on the weekends will continue for a few more weeks: 11:00-11:45 for 9 and ups, 12:00-12:45 for 8 and unders

New Swim Team Orientation for Families Tomorrow (4/20)

Tomorrow, April 20, from 1-2 PM, we will be holding our new swim team member orientation at the pool . If you are new to the team this year, come on down to learn everything you need to know about volunteer obligations, swim practices, meets, job signups, and events.

We also strongly recommend that new families and mini-stinger families have their children attend the free lesson/assessment from 1-2 during the swim team orientation.

Swim Team Volunteer Positions Go Live on Wednesday 4/24

Get ready Stingray families! Our swim team crew is going to have all of the volunteer positions up and ready for grabbing next Wednesday. We'll send out more about obligations this year soon, but please mark your calendars and be ready to sign up quickly for your spots on that day and time. Those that have done this before will definitely tell you that it pays to act fast on the bidding process. No volunteer gig is bad, but there definitely are ones that fit certain people's interests much better than others. Don't be one of the families digging through the leftovers to try to find a combination of positions that could possibly work for your family!!!

Clothes Swap Tomorrow (4/20) at 11 AM

Calling all stingrays young and old! Join us at the pool for an OPP gear swap! Have an old OPP suit, shirt, or parka that your child has outgrown that you’re willing to pass down? Or maybe you want to snag something for your younger swimmer? Come at 11 am on April 20th and make a swap! We’ll finish up around 1 pm. Hope to see you there!

Spring Schedule (3/25 to 5/5)

(Please Reference the Calendar on the OPP Website for the Swim Team Schedule)

Who's Hungry???

The OPP Stingray Cafe is set to officially open for the summer season on Saturday, May 25. Chef Dave has been hard at work developing a menu to keep us all well-fed this summer. We're excited to share a preview of how the menu is shaping up--feedback is welcome and can be directed to our Social Director, Carri Maas at carrimaas@gmail.com.

While the Cafe officially opens on May 25, look for some pop-up events over the coming weeks, particularly as the weather warms up.

Initial Cafe hours, starting May 25, will be as as follows:

Monday through Saturday, 11 AM to 6 PM
Sunday, 12 to 6 PM

The Cafe will also be open during all swim meets, and Chef Dave will cater many of our pool-wide social events and swim team events this season. To keep up on special events, cafe offerings, hours and menu updates, and more, follow OPP Stingray Cafe on Facebook.

Getting To Know Your OPP People!

We got him folks! The big tuna has been reeled in. Time to meet the man, the legend, the myth(?), and the husband/dad who is likely going to annoy his family for the next week+ after this much praise causes his ego to over-inflate: COACH BRAD!

Q: Where were you born and raised?

A: Born in Berkeley, raised in Orinda since I was 4 years old

Q: Though most people already know the answer to this, what pool did you swim for as a kid?

A: The one and only home of the Stingrays, Orinda Park Pool

Q: Did you play any other sports as a kid?

A: I played almost every sport as a kid growing up. In high school, I focused on water polo, basketball, and golf.

Q: Did you have any other hobbies that you did growing up--or currently are engaged in these days?

A: Growing up, I felt like I did everything. Nowadays, if I had time for hobbies, I might have a few. But my family, math, and coaching encompass almost all my free time. However, I do pride myself on attending as many concerts as I can.

Q: How long have you coached at OPP?

A: Started as a 16 year old junior coach and worked my way up the ranks until I became head coach in 2005 and been here ever since.

Q: Are there any really memorable moments from your time as head coach at OPP that you could share with everyone...in a few sentences or less?

A: Every summer has unique memorable moments but a few individual accolades have resonated with me over the years: Peter Klem earning 27 best times in one summer and Siobhan Nicheallaigh garnering over 200 best times during her entire career; Jack Deal breaking my last remaining record at OPP; Summer Johnston swimming the fastest 8&Under 25 yard freestyle in the history of the County.

Q: Do you have any immediate family that also comes to OPP?

A: My daughter Gemma is back from university this summer and will be returning as a coach. My sister Corrie and her family are members with Tiago (8) and Matea (6) swimming for the Stingrays.

Q: In the off-season, what do you do as a career and/or, what do you do during your free time?

A: When I'm not coaching swimming, I have my own math tutoring business. And free time? What's that?

Q: Any words of advice that you'd like to give to all incoming swim team families this year?

A: Be patient and persistent. Swimming skills don't happen automatically nor do they turn on just because you went to one practice. Like anything, success and sustained success, whatever that means to you as a swimming, takes time and effort. And the coaches are here to push, pull, coerce, motivate, and inspire you along the way. gooooooOOOOOO PARK!

If you have any questions or comments for us, please reach out to us at news@orindaparkpool.org.