Welcome New Head Coach Steve Mainini and Fall Swim Registration

Benicia Stingrays

Hi Team,

 

As promised, we have the Fall Swim Program ready to go!

 

First, we have a big announcement.  With Coach Mariska resigning to focus on her family and health, we are excited to announce that Steve Mainini has stepped back in as the Benicia Stingrays' head coach.  Coach Steve has an extensive history with the Benicia Stingrays.  He was co-head coach of the Stingrays for 8 years before he stepped down for a break in 2020.  In addition, he has decades of swim experience, swimming and coaching for Pinole as a youth, and also coaching for USA-year-round and masters' level swimming.

 

We are also excited to announce that we are adding to the coaching staff for Fall Swim.  You will still see the familiar faces of Coaches Miguel, Karissa, and Elias on deck. In addition, we will be adding Coach Jess Scott and Coach Alyssa Mainini to the roster.  Jess and Alyssa were extremely accomplished Stingray swimmers during their youth, were junior coaches to many of our 12/up swimmers, and are excited to get back on deck to assist with our fall swim program!

 

2024 Benicia Stingrays' Fall Swim Program

The fall swim program is designed to further the development of stroke and turn techniques and conditioning.  In each practice, there will be a balance of teaching and conditioning to help support your swimmers' needs.

 

Dates and Times

  • Tuesday, September 3 - Thursday, October 24th, 2024
  • 6/unders:  Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday from 4:30-5:15
  • 7-10 year olds:  Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday from 4:30-5:30
  • 11/ups:  Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday from 5:30-6:30
  • During the last week of Fall Swim, Tuesday, October 22nd - Thursday, October 24th, the pool will close at 6:00 pm.  Adjustments will be made to our practice set up to accomodate the early pool closure.  

 

Practice Focus

  • 10 and unders:  50% teaching and 50% conditioning
  • 11 and ups:  30% teaching and 70% conditioning

 

Cost and Registration

  • Register via the home page registration link as you do for the regular swim season
  • Registration will open at midnight on 8/16/2024 (so Thursday night going into Friday)
  • Registration through Wednesday, August 21st will be open to returning Stingrays only.  Cost for the early bird period is $200.
  • Registration will be availalbe to new and returning Stingrays beginning on Thursday, August 22nd.  Cost will be $225 after early bird registration is finished.
  • There will be no refunds once you are registered and paid.  There are no exceptions, including, but not limited to:  pool closures due to poor air quality from fires, COVID related issues, natural disasters, change in family plans, too much homework, practice is too difficult, etc.  We have fixed expenses we must cover and can not offer refunds for any reason.   The one exception to this is explained below--if you register and your swimmer does not meet the requirements after attending swim tryouts, we will refund your fees minus the $25 credit card processing fees we must pass on.  

 

 

Age Group Limits

  • Limited daylight hours and pool space requires us to limit the number of younger swimmers we can accomodate.
  • 6/unders:  15 swimmers
  • 7/8's:   20 swimmers
  • 9/10's:  25 swimmers

 

Swim Requirements

  • These requirements are firm and are to make practice effective for those participating and, more importantly, safe for all swimmers.  
  • All 8 and under swimmers MUST be able to efficiently swim 25 yards freestyle and backstroke unassisted.  There will not be junior coaches in the water to offer the one on one assistance that the 6/unders are given during the regular swim season.
  • All 9 and up swimmers must be able to swim 50 yards freestyle and backstroke, as well as 25 yards of breaststroke or butterfly. 

 

Swim Tryouts

  • Tryouts will be Wednesdsay, August, 28th from 4:00-5:00pm
  • All 8/unders swimmers are encouraged to attend tryouts if you are not 100% certain that they meet the requirements set above.  This is for safety reasons!
  • If you register your 8/under swimmer, they come to tryouts, and they are not ready to be on the team for Fall Swim, we will refund your registratoin fees minus the $25 credit card processing fee we must pass on.
  • If you register your swimmer and they do NOT come to tryouts, they show up to practice and the coaches deem your swimmer does not have the ability to safely participate, you will be asked to remove your swimmer from Fall Swim and we will NOT issue a refund after Fall Swim practice has begun.  
  • Therefore, if you are unsure if your swimmer has the skill and ability to safely participate in Fall Swim, PLEASE come to tryouts to avoid losing your entire registration fee!  

If you have questions, please email Coach Steve Mainini at coach@bsrswim.org

 

Goooooooooo Stingrays!!!!