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Blue Tide Aquatics
Weekly Chlorine
August 26th - August 31st
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OUR MISSION
To have a nationally recognized aquatics program that teaches and trains all levels of swimmers, emphasizing individual progress, team unity, and family participation.
OUR VISION
- Support and grow a developmental program from a learn-to-swim to national and international level competition
- Maintain flexible and committed swim programs that allow for various swimmer interests.
- Remain the featured swim program in the Humble/Kingwood/Atascocita area
- Increase and maintain team enrollment above 300 swimmers.
- Continue to provide a healthy and positive environment for all member athletes through the development and implementation of club governance measures, USA Swimming Safe Sport policies and reporting mechanisms, USA Swimming Safe Sport best practices, and training for athletes and parents
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August 26th - Team Day
August 28th - La Madeleine's Spirit Night
September 7th - Team Picture Day
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Dear Blue Tide Families,
Welcome to the Weekly Chlorine! Whether you're a seasoned member or receiving this for the first time, we're thrilled to have you as part of our Blue Tide Aquatics family. This weekly update is your go-to resource for all things BTA, filled with essential information to keep you informed and connected. We understand that life gets busy, so if you ever miss the email, don’t worry—we also post it on our Instagram and on the website for easy access. Staying up-to-date with the Weekly Chlorine ensures that we all move forward together with one message, one team, and one dream.
I’m particularly excited to announce that we have a team picture day coming up soon. This is a wonderful opportunity to capture the spirit and unity of our entire team as we embark on what promises to be an incredible year. I strongly encourage everyone to participate so we can have a memorable start to the season. In addition, please mark your calendars for our Team Day on August 26th. This event is more than just a chance to meet our coaches—it’s an opportunity to learn about the new group structure and flow, get familiar with key policy changes, pick up some team swag, and most importantly, spend time with our swim family. Our sense of community is what sets BTA apart, and events like this help strengthen the bonds that make us such a special team.
We are also entering the last week of our stroke clinic, and I’ve been hearing fantastic feedback from the coaches. In just one week, they’ve noticed significant improvement in the kids’ understanding of the drills and their overall technique. This progress is a testament to the dedication of our coaching staff, who are deeply committed to making Blue Tide not only the best team in Northeast Houston but one of the best in the nation. I’ve had the chance to step on deck and witness our coaches in action—they’re not just standing on the sidelines but actively engaging with the swimmers, walking the deck, offering guidance, and fostering an environment of growth and excellence. This level of involvement is exactly the vision we have for our program, and it’s inspiring to see it come to life.
As a reminder, Blue Tide Aquatics is a non-profit, board-governed, and coach-led program. This means that our success relies on the collaboration of coaches, parents, and swimmers working together towards a common goal. We are all part of one team, and every member’s contribution is vital to our collective achievement. As we move forward, let’s continue to support each other, stay informed, and keep our eyes on the prize. I have a strong feeling that this season will be one to remember, and I’m grateful to share this journey with each of you.
Thank you for being part of the Blue Tide family. Let’s make this the best season yet!
THE TIDE IS RISING!
Coach Matt
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Short Course Meet Schedule
The short course meet schedule has been finalized, and we are excited to share it with you. Please take a moment to review the schedule and mark your calendars for the upcoming meets. However, please note that the dates for the championship meet are not finalized yet. As soon as Gulf Swimming makes these dates official, I will provide you with an update. Your attention to these dates will help ensure that our athletes are well-prepared and can participate fully in all the scheduled events. We look forward to a successful and competitive season ahead!
2024 - 2025 Short Course Meet Schedule
BTA Swim Meet Schedule Breakdown
Short Course Practice Schedule
We are excited to announce the updated Short Course Practice Schedule, which now includes all dryland sessions within the practice times. Please be aware that we’ve adjusted some groups due to collaborations with a local high school to prevent double dryland sessions on certain days. We are also proud to offer morning practices for all high schoolers who are homeschooled, with double sessions scheduled for Tuesday and Thursday mornings. Additionally, we will be providing double sessions for our Performance Prep kids again this year.
Every group from Bronze 1 and above is encouraged to arrive 15 minutes before their scheduled practice for a dynamic warm-up. This warm-up will include shoulder prehab exercises to help prevent future issues and strengthen their shoulders. To ensure a productive warm-up session, all swimmers must arrive in appropriate shoes. This new structure aims to enhance our training and better accommodate our swimmers’ needs. Thank you for your support and cooperation!
2024 - 2025 Short Course Practice Schedule
Team Picutre Day
We are thrilled to announce that our team picture day will take place on September 7th at KPark! It's been quite some time since we've had this opportunity, and we are excited to capture the spirit of our team in one photograph. Individual photos will be taken from 9:00 to 9:30 am, followed by our team photo at 11:30 am. We ask that every swimmer wears the Navy t-shirt provided by the team to ensure a unified look. A form will be sent out soon with more details. We can't wait to see everyone there and capture this special moment together!
🎉 Get Ready for BTA's Spirit Night at La Madeleine! 🎉
Mark your calendars and bring your appetite because BTA's Spirit Night is happening at La Madeleine on Wednesday, August 28th, 2024, from 4:00 - 8:00 pm! This is a fantastic opportunity to enjoy a delicious meal while supporting Blue Tide Aquatics, with 20% of your purchase going directly to our team!
Here's how you can be a part of the fun:
1. Dine-In or Take-Out: Join us in person, whether you're dining in or grabbing your meal to go.
2. Show Your Spirit: Don’t forget to show the flyer when ordering to ensure your purchase supports BTA! Click the link for the flyer!
Where to Find Us:
La Madeleine
4570 Kingwood Dr,
Kingwood, TX 77345
Bonus: I, Coach Matt, will be heading to La Madeleine after Hi-Performance practices if anyone wants to join and share a meal. There may or may not be a special guest—Baby Blake—with me!
Let’s make this night a huge success! Come hungry, show your BTA spirit, and let’s rally together for a great cause. We can’t wait to see you there!
BTA aims to be a Safe Sport recognized club, and we need your help!
What is Safe Sport Recognition? USA Swimming Safe Sport Club Recognition program allows a USA Swimming member club to demonstrate its commitment to creating a healthy and positive environment free from abuse for all its members through the development and implementation of club governance measures, Safe Sport policies and reporting mechanisms, Safe Sport best practices and training to athletes and parents.
There are a number of educational resources available on the USA Swimming website. In order to fulfill our recognition requirements, we need a minimum percentage of club parents and athletes to take an introductory online course (see instructions below.) This training creates an awareness of Safe Sport best practices, and helps to build a safe and inclusive environment at BTA. You will hear more about this important Program at Team Day. For questions, please contact safesportrep@swimbluetide.org.
- Parent Training (log onto your USA Swimming account to receive credit), under Education, choose "Parent's Guide to Misconduct in Sport"
- Athlete Training (log onto your USA Swimming account to receive credit), under Education, choose "Safe Sport for Kids" or "Safe Sport for Youth Athletes"
Team Day August 26th
Team Day will be held on August 26th from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the Nathaniel Center. I advise all parents, both new and long-time BTA families, to attend this important event. We will be sharing crucial information about the program and discussing our plans moving forward. This is a great opportunity to connect with other families, meet the coaching staff, and gain valuable insights into what to expect in the upcoming season. Your presence and participation are highly encouraged to ensure a successful and unified start to our year.
|  | Exciting Announcement for the 2024-2025 Season: BTA's New Gear Partnership with SwimOutlet.com | |
We're thrilled to kick off the new season with an incredible opportunity for all BTA families! We've partnered with SwimOutlet.com to bring you group-specific training gear, BTA team suits, and a wide range of Arena-branded fan wear items. Our customized online store is now LIVE, offering you an easy and convenient shopping experience. Please click the linked below!
BTA Team Store
As part of this partnership, all BTA families will enjoy a FREE SwimOutlet.com membership, which gives them access to competitive prices and exclusive deals on all their swim needs.
Join us at Team Day on Monday, August 28th, from 6:00 - 8:00 PM at the Nathaniel Center to learn more about this exciting new partnership. Take advantage of the chance to gear up for the season and show your BTA pride!
See you there!
| Exciting News: Free Swim Lessons for Kids at Blue Tide Aquatics! | |
Dear Blue Tide Families,
We are thrilled to announce that Blue Tide Aquatics is launching a new lesson program, and we’re kicking it off with a special offer just for you!
Starting this week, we will be offering free swim lessons for children ages 3 to 8 years old at the BTA pool. These lessons will be held in 30-minute intervals from 9:00 AM to 10:30 AM, and I, Coach Matt, will be in the water teaching your little ones how to swim.
This first week of lessons is entirely free, and it’s an excellent opportunity for your child or anyone you know who might be interested in learning to swim. Please share this with friends and family who may want to join in. Simply use the link below to sign up:
BTA Swim School
FAQ's
After this introductory week, we will continue offering lessons at the BTA pool at the affordable rate of just $16 per class with a 45-dollar anniversary charge once yearly.
We look forward to seeing you there and helping your children build their swimming skills in a fun and supportive environment!
Best regards,
Matt Sanspree
| BTA Swim Practice Schedule | |
Hi-Performance
Monday - Friday 4:30 - 6:00 pm @KPARK
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Performance
Monday - Friday 4:00 - 5:30 pm @KHS
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Senior Group
Monday - Friday 4:00 - 5:30 pm @KHS
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Performance Prep
Monday No Practice (Due to Team Day)
Tuesday - Friday 6:30 - 8:00 pm @KHS
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Senior Prep
Monday No Practice (Due to Team Day)
Tuesday - Friday 6:30 - 8:00 pm @KHS
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Silver 1
Monday No Practice (Due to Team Day)
Tuesday - Friday 6:30 - 8:00 pm @KHS
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Silver 2
Monday No Practice (Due to Team Day)
Tuesday - Friday 6:30 - 8:00 pm @KHS
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Bronze 1
Monday No Practice (Due to Team Day)
Tueasday - Friday 5:30 - 6:30 pm @KHS
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Bronze 2
Monday No Practice (Due to Team Day)
Tueasday - Friday 5:30 - 6:30 pm @KHS
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Bronze 3
Monday No Practice (Due to Team Day)
Tueasday - Friday 5:30 - 6:30 pm @KHS
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Gulf and USA Swimming
Time Standards
USA Swimming time standards serve as benchmarks for assessing swimmers' progress and performance levels, particularly younger athletes, across various age groups and events. These standards are meticulously designed to offer a clear framework for swimmers to aim for, starting from the local and regional levels and advancing through to national competitions. They categorize performances into different levels, such as B, BB, A, AA, AAA, and AAAA, with each level representing a progressively higher performance standard. This system not only fosters a sense of achievement and motivation among swimmers by providing tangible goals to strive for but also aids coaches in tailoring training programs to meet each swimmer's individual needs. Furthermore, these time standards facilitate the selection process for various swim meets, ensuring that participants compete against others of comparable skill levels. This structured approach to competition helps measure progress and success, encouraging swimmers to continue improving and advancing in the sport. By comparing times against these standards, swimmers, coaches, and parents can gauge improvement, set goals, and understand where a swimmer stands about peers at the local, regional, and national levels.
Age Group Time Standards
USA Swimming Age Group Motivational Standards
Gulf Age Group Champs Time Standards
TAGS Time Standards
Senior Time Standards
Southern Senior Championship
Sectionals Standards
Futures Time Standards
18 & Under Spring Cup Time Standards
Summer Junior Time Standards
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If you have Questions about Practice Times or Meets for your swimmer, please get in touch with your swimmer's Lead Coach of the Group.
If you have general questions about the swim club, concerns, or compliments, please email In Head Coach Matt Sanspree.
If you have any questions about your account, please get in touch with our Team Registrar at Team Registrar
If you have any questions about Volunteer Hours, please contact our Volunteer Coordinator at Volunteer Coordinator.
The BTA Board of Directors were elected to serve you. Please feel free to ask any questions, express your concerns, or give your compliments. BTA Board Of Directors
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We Need You! Fun Way to Volunteer and be on Deck!
Every swim club relies on the dedication and expertise of officials to successfully conduct swim meets, ensuring fair competition and adherence to USA Swimming rules. When clubs participate in away meets, it's equally important to bring along officials who can contribute to the smooth operation of these events. Becoming a USA Swim Official not only offers a unique vantage point to experience the excitement of swim meets but also provides a rewarding opportunity to support your swimmer and the broader swim community. Embrace the chance to make lasting friendships with fellow parents and volunteers, all while playing a pivotal role in the sport you love.
By deciding to become an Official, you're offering a valuable gift of time and talent to the swimming world, enhancing the experience for all involved. Whether you lean towards being a Stroke & Turn Judge, who closely observes swimmers' techniques and ensures compliance with USA Swimming rules from poolside, or prefer the role of an Administrative Official, managing meet information and serving as a go-to resource for questions, there's a path that suits your skills and personality. Both roles are crucial, offering different perspectives on the meet but sharing the same goal of facilitating a fair, enjoyable competition. Full training is provided for both positions, requiring no previous swimming knowledge, making this an accessible way to contribute significantly to your swim club and the sport at large. Take the step today and become an integral part of the swimming community as an Official.
There are two paths: Stroke & Turn Judge or Administrative Official. They are different classes, and they are different jobs. You should choose one path, based on personality and fit, and work your way through the process.
Stroke & Turn Judge - USA Official who stands at the edge of the pool during swim meets and observes the swims of the swimmers. Reports observations that deviate from the USA Swimming rules. Full training is offered, and no prior swimming knowledge is needed.
Administrative Official - USA Swimming Official who serves as an information center at meets by entering information into computers, answering general questions from swimmers, coaches, other officials, parents, and spectators. Full training is offered, and no prior swimming knowledge is needed.
Become a USA Swimming Official today and follow the link below!
Become an Official Today!
For questions and assistance, please reach out to
Gulf Swimming Official’s Chair (Matt Sale) at officialschair@gulfswimming.org
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