Since I was about 11, swimming has been part my families and my summer routine. We didn’t go anywhere, or do anything that didn’t take our swimming schedule into account. We were all involved, my younger brother and I as athletes then as coaches and my parents as officials or running the team café. Our vacations were always planned for the second week in August and, as an adult they still are. This is because coaching has become my career and summer wouldn’t be the same if I wasn’t standing on a pool deck somewhere, joking with and teaching young swimmers this sport that I have loved since I first dove into it.

I understand that there is always some apprehension in entrusting that which is most valuable to you to someone else, and that is what I ask of you every time you bring your child to practice. To entrust the safety and well being of your child to me is a great responsibility and one that neither I nor my staff takes lightly. It is the cornerstone to building a team. In order for your children to have faith in me and in my staff, you as their parents must also. Swimmers get confused when they are getting input from several people at once. I know that you are trying to help but when you tell your swimmer to listen to the coach, or do this or that they aren’t listening to the coach….its just not possible. I think that I have a pretty good idea of what I am doing so trust me and my staff to teach your children. If you feel that I am missing something that your child is doing feel free to speak with me after practice to address your concerns. I want you to know that I have nothing but the best intentions for your children at heart. They are all capable of success but understand that in order to teach your child everything we can about swimming, we must have their undivided attention during practice and at meets.

 Thank you for entrusting your children to my staff and to me. Have faith that we will lead them and teach them to deal both with failure and with success.

 ~Jorge