From Prattville YMCA
Prattville, AL
The Prattville Swim League (PSL) starts its competitive summer swimming program on May 12th . The team is sponsored by the Prattville Parks and Recreation Department and the Prattville YMCA. “When it comes to summer league competitive swimming, you’ll not find a much better program than PSL,” said 28-year veteran head coach Joe Reynolds. Last year’s squad placed 6th in the state from among 25 teams at the Alabama Recreation and Parks Association (ARPA) state championships.
The team is unlike most teams in the nation, offering competitive USA Swimming, YMCA Swimming, and ARPA swimming all on one team. PSL competes throughout central Alabama, and some swimmers travel out of state for regional level competitions. It also provides a “preteam program” with advanced lessons for aspiring competitive swimmers. “Our preteam program is exceptional,” Reynolds explained. “We take swimmers who have finished advanced lessons and give them six weeks of training to prepare many of them for competitive swimming.” Last year’s team roster featured over 110 competitive swimmers and 20 “preteamers.”
Other than Reynolds, PSL has five assistant coaches with tremendous swimming backgrounds. “All of our coaches are USA-Swimming certified, three are also YMCA certified, some with over 20-years coaching experience and participation in programs at the collegiate level,” said Reynolds.
Since the early 90’s, Prattville swimming has produced many State, Southeastern, and YMCA swimming champions, as well as collegiate scholarship athletes. PSL offers multiple practice groups designed to match swimmer’s abilities to appropriate coaching levels, from novice recreation swimmers to national-caliber athletes.
Registration is open NOW at the Don M. Smith Branch Prattville YMCA and will extend to May 30th. You do NOT have to be a member of the YMCA to join PSL. New swimmers must be evaluated on their swimming skills and there will be several opportunities for evaluations. Evaluations will take place at the Prattville City Pool, 256 Doster St, Prattville, AL 36067-3933 on May 13, 15, 19, 20, and 22; 6:15 – 7:15 PM. For questions regarding PSL Summer Swimming, contact the Prattville YMCA (365-8852).
