SWIMMING
One of our winter Special Olympics sports is Aquatics (swimming). St. Cloud Area Aquatics runs from January to March with practices usually at the College of St. Benedict on Sunday afternoons. The time of practices is determined by pool availability.
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The team does some dry land warm-ups together and then heads to their assigned lanes. Level 2 coaches are on deck to help each athlete work on the skills they need to focus on for their ability level. Level 1 coaches are in the water or offering extra encouragement from the sides.
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There is a place for everyone from athletes who require a great deal of assistance (through a flotation device or another
person in the water) to athletes who are able to compete for longer distances independently in a variety of strokes. Only athletes who can swim independently are eligible for relay teams. Depending on the number of volunteers we have, we may request that an assistant or PCA be provided by the athlete for this sport. (All volunteers and coaches are Level 1 certified and background checked.)
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Times are checked a few weeks prior to Area to allow athletes to be placed in the correct division. Athletes compete as much as possible against other swimmers of like ability. Athletes are then placed in divisions for State based on their times from Area. Often there are more than one division in a heat so an athlete may be beaten by someone swimming in the pool at the same time but actually still win their division.
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Athletes provide their own bathing suit and goggles and towel. Some of our athletes choose to wear a swim cap. Athletes should be in their suit and ready to go five minutes prior to the start of practice. They will do their dryland stretching in their suit so they can get right in the water to practice.
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Head Coach: Lisa Edelbrock