I have no problem with the hours at the pool & I feel the life guards are doing a great job! The census at the pool has been down at the pool for years & especially after 8:00pm. Changing the hours isn't the answer! Maybe we need to do alittle updating or build a new pool like Spring Grove did. Quit your complaining!
I agree with you Kelli, the 5:00 swim class was wonderful for the working parent. You had to stand in line early in the morning to get a spot in that class, but it was worth it. This community is fortunate to have a swimming pool; however, our pool is a very old pool with alot of problems. It may not last too much longer. Read the Spring Grove Herald. They are having big problems with attendance at their aquatic center and are also having problems with paying for that pool. I can't see the community of Caledonia backing a venture like that. We do need somewhere for our kids to spend their summer. The pool and the summer ball program need a major overhall. We have a summer rec committee that has let the power of being on a committee go to their heads. Who cares how the coaches wear their hats? How important is that in the big picture?
To Parent: Maybe you should join the park/rec committee. Past coaches have not been doing their job and after sitting on the sidelines attending a few practices, I saw it was clearly visible that there was NO structure. Having 20 little t-ball players line up in a long line to practice hitting a ball while all the coaches stood in a huddle while one pitched is NOT efficient. It was absolutely ridiculous to see the kids play in the sand, pick at each other, mess around, etc. while they waited their turn. A more logical option would be to break the group up into groups of 4 or 5 with each coach working with a smaller group to allow more teaching and practice of skills. Or how about having 3 or 4 stations where the groups rotated so they could actually learn while they were at practice? Also, how logical is it in a Pee Wee game to let the kids run to the outfield and whoever gets their first gets to play that position? The whole program needs an overhaul! The current park/rec board from what I understand was just created last year. They met with and tried to work with the coaches to make changes that were good for the kids who signed up for the program. Some changes were implemented but most of the coaches were too used to their old ways of being lazy to really want to make a change. Hopefully, this year, we will see even more improvement. Hats off to those on the park/rec committee that have been putting in alot of time the last year and a half to try and make things better for the rest of our kids. And best wishes to Miss Guillaime in her new position. She seems like a go getter and could be a very positive addition to the program if people like Parent don't scare her away. And yes, Parent, I do see coaches dressing like a slob and sitting their butts down on milk crates to pitch and catch during games as some of the many negatives in the BIG picture.
How would you like to see the hours at the city swimming pool changed? Leave the same- Lessons- 9 to noon and open swim 2 to 8 p.m. Change to- Lessons- 9 to noon, open swim 1 to 6, lessons 7 to 9 p.m. Change to- Lessons- 9 to noon, open swim 1 to 7, lessons 7 to 9 p.m.
I noticed the poll above on the home page of The Argus. I believe one more choice needs to be added and that is NONE OF THE ABOVE. As a parent, I do feel night time swimming lessons are a must as most people I know take their kids to Spring Grove for night time lessons. Also, it would be beneficial to have the option of private lessons as does Spring Grove. Furthermore, having open swim only until 6 PM or 7 PM if night time lessons becomes available isn't satisfactory. The only time I can take our kids to the pool is at night after work. So 5:45 would be the earliest we could get there and that doesn't give much time for open swim. Lessons from 5-7 and open swim from 7-9 would be a better fit I would think.
How would you like to see the hours at the city swimming pool changed? Leave the same- Lessons- 9 to noon and open swim 2 to 8 p.m. Change to- Lessons- 9 to noon, open swim 1 to 6, lessons 7 to 9 p.m. Change to- Lessons- 9 to noon, open swim 1 to 7, lessons 7 to 9 p.m.
Wondering why the old pool hours were not a option on the "pool hours poll". Lessons 9-12, open swim 1-5, lessons 5-6 and open swim 7-9. If enough lifeguards avalilable could get lessons from 5-7, but agree - life guards need a break. I grew up with these hours and was at the pool almost every day. Wondering why they were changed?
To the last poster: How many practices have you been to?? Because if you would be at practice you would know that tee ball kids are split up into groups of hitting, ground balls, base running, pop flys, ect. So get your facts straigh before you come in and give your opinion. Also do you know anything about baseball or softball? Being 6 foot tall and pitching to a 9 year old is not efficient. We sit on buckets for a reason so that the kids can see what the ball looks like coming from someone thier own height. We are not lazy, there is a REASON for it. If you knew a bit more about the sport you would understand that.
Also don't be too impressed with the summer rec committee, they didn't meet with all coaches to address what they would have like to have been done. They just said they talked to the coaches and told them what they would have liked done. The maybe sat down with two coaches and addressed SOME issues but not all, so its hard to change things when you were never notifed of what is wrong in the first place.
And since when does what we wear affect how we coach? Would you like to see us in suits and ties in 90 degree weather while we stand out in the sun and sand? Is shorts and tee shirts not fancy enough for you? Because I'm pretty sure that the way we dress has no effect on the way that we coach.
If you have so many problems why don't you join the park and rec committee or tell a coach what you have problems with? So if you haven't done any of this then it really isn't that big of a problem for you.
So all in all get your facts straight and learn a little bit about baseball and softball before you complain!
Two years ago, when attending practices, kids WERE NOT broken up into small groups. It didn't happen until last year when it was requested to you by the park/rec committee who listened to concerned parents.
The local soccer teams are coached by parents and seems to be a very positive and successful experience for the kids who join. Hopefully, the ball teams can become a similar positive program. Leadership handled by parents will probably make it more successful.
Parents don't expect coaches to wear suits and ties but AT LEAST a good pair of ol'tennis shoes would be nice instead of being barefoot! That issue was addressed last year,too, and hopefully has been resolved.
First off all the kids have always been broken up into groups and thats how it has always been, yes kids are going to have to stand in line for certain drills that is just how it goes.
Also why are you complaining about stuff that happened TWO YEARS AGO...none of what you are complaining about happened last year. Lets not focus on what happend years ago, things have changed since then.
My point exactly.....things started to look up after a Park/Rec committee was created. They can't turn things around 100% in one year but slowly and surely, hopefully we will see a big improvement of the program. Some coaches from the past few years didn't take anything seriously as far as what changes needed to happen or what parents/park&rec committee asked of them. It will be good to have some weeding out this year of those who didn't give 100%. P.S. I don't know which group of kids you were in charge of as coach, but NOT all were broken into small enough groups to be effective.
Some coaches didn't know the changes that needed to be made...they were never told. So don't say that they didn't give 100%, they were just doing what they thought was right....it's hard to change something when you are never informed of what is wrong...so don't praise the committee. Ask around, then you can really see what people think of the committee. Not to mention that this is one of the lowest participant numbers in YEARS! You can thank the committee for that too
