Practice Schedule
2025 Season Practice begins May 5th at Hemby Program Center, located at 9760 Happy Valley Drive, Charlotte, NC. Practice runs daily Monday-Thursday until meets begin.
Monday May 5th - the Coaching staff will meet with the 5 - 8yr olds at 5:15pm, 9 - 12yr olds at 6:15pm and 13 and up at 7:15pm. Attendance is appreciated, but optional. Coaches will be meeting with both swimmers and parents, plus getting a head start on our swimmer info/goal sheets. We’d love to have the orientation on the field by the pools so we can comfortably spread out (so please bring a lawn chair). If it rains, we will shift indoors and create smaller groups.
*Pending pool water temperatures - Swimmers need to be prepared to get in the water for a swim assessment. I suggest rash guards if you have one. We will assess ability to practice May 6th - 8th as the date nears.
See below for specific age-related time group times May 12th - June 26th
- 5-6 yr old practice from 5:15 – 6:00 pm
- 7-8 yr old practice from 5:15 – 6:15 pm
- 9 - 10 yr old practice from 6:20 - 7:20pm
- 11 - 12 yr old practice from 6:15 - 7:15pm
- 13 and up practice from 7:15 - 8:15pm
NO PRACTICE on Memorial Day
Practice Policies
We want practice to be fun for everyone and to get the most out of each day. However, practice policies must be followed because we want to keep our swimmer's safe at all times. We are also representing the Brace Y Community. It is the responsibility all of our coaches, swimmers and parents to follow the guidelines set forth by our lifeguards and our team handbook.
All summer practices are outside at the Hemby Program Center.
- All swimmers should arrive 10 minutes prior to the start of practice, be "swim ready" and by the stair section of the pool five minutes before practice begins for attendance and lane assignments.
- Attendance is encouraged but NOT MANDATORY. You do NOT need to alert the coaches if you are not able to attend a practice.
- Children must be picked up ON TIME when practice is over. Coaches and lifeguards will not be responsible for watching children outside of their designated practice times. Your swimmer cannot be left unattended. Please make sure you pick your swimmer up promptly after practice.
- Parents are welcome to attend practice but are required to observe outside the pool deck. You may bring a chair and sit on the field if you’d like.
If you have a question about practice or anything related to the team please arrange for a time to talk to the Head Coach before or after practice hours. Please do not attempt to communicate important information to coaches during practice as they are concentrating solely on the health and safety of the children.
- Children may not enter the pool BEFORE or AFTER practice to “play.”
- Please note that alcohol, glass containers, and animals (unless service) are NOT allowed on the property.
Weather Policy
We practice in the rain. We also have meets in the rain. However, any sound of thunder or instance of lightning clears the pool until at least 30 minutes have passed without a recurrence. If it is raining so hard that the lifeguard cannot see the bottom of the pool, participants will be asked to get out of the pool until the rain subsides or the lifeguard can see the bottom.
Parents: If there is a good chance the weather will become an issue, we ask that you stay close and monitor the weather and SportsYou app especially if you have dropped off your swimmer.
That does not mean that practice is cancelled. The coaches will determine if practice groups are combined at that point.
Decisions to close the pool are made by the lifeguards; please follow their instructions. If there is stormy weather in the area we will be monitoring it closely and send notice if practice is canceled. We will be using the SportsYou app for Weather Alerts and changes to practices and meets. Please download the SportsYou app and join our Brace Y Summer Swim Team. Access Code: X72G-F2NC
