Parents,

I mentioned this idea in an earlier email, but I want to try and articulate it a little better. I also know that I will not be able to communicate all that I see happening with this new idea and we will have some challenges and successes that I hope we can build on throughout the years.

The Big-Fish Program.

• Goal: Create a stronger community and Team aspect across age groups and families. 
• How: Pair or group athletes of varying ages together in a supporting network
• When: This will mostly play out during meets, but sometimes during practices. 
• Actions: I will encourage the athletes to make cards expressing good luck / have fun for the meets. We will encourage the younger ones to demonstrate their support in some tangible way. I do not want to encourage lavish gifts, but a piece of candy or small (<$5) gift would be acceptable. The same will be asked of the older ones. They will be asked to sit with the younger ones for some period of time at the meets. Get to know them. Help them. We will articulate that the parents will be helping run the meets; therefore, they need to help keep an eye on the kids to a varying degree. 
  • We want the athletes of each pair to become the biggest supporter of each other.
  • Our older athletes will be charged with helping the younger ones at the meets with anxiety, nervousness, preparedness, and organization of when to line up, where to be, etc. They will be asked to set a good example on behaviors and sportsmanship. 
  • Our youngest athletes will be charged with supporting and cheering on the older ones. They will be asked to watch and learn good behaviors from their Bigger fish. They can look to their older fish for help and support when needed.

I hope you will help me roll this out and support your kids in doing this. I know many of the older ones were VERY excited about this idea. The younger ones were a little confused and that is ok. We want them to feel supported and give those older ones some responsibility on the team. 

The pairs we have created are in the attached document. We paired the youngest swimmer with the oldest; then 2nd youngest with 2nd oldest, etc. We keep at least a 2 year age gap between swimmers; therefore, we created some groups of three (the first 12 groups). Within the groups of 3, the youngest will gift to the middle, the middle to the oldest, the oldest to the youngest. 

Thank you for your help and support, 

Mark