Hello Vikings,
Welcome to the 2026 Summer Season!
With a little over a week to go, I hope everyone is getting excited for an incredible summer ahead. I’m thrilled to be stepping into the role of Head Coach this season and can’t wait to get started. It’s going to be great to see so many familiar faces back on deck, and I’m equally excited to welcome all of our new swimmers to the Vikings community.
Determination, ambition, and a great summer are at the heart of what it means to be a Viking. If you are new, get ready for an energetic summer. If you are returning, I encourage you to set new goals, challenge yourself, and make this your best season yet.
Attached to this email you will find the training group lists, as well as the May and June practice schedule. You will also find the meet and club social event schedule for the season, so please save the dates. Additionally, our team goals document is included, which outlines the values and expectations that guide our program.
Before the start of the season, I would like to provide some context around how training groups are created. Group placement is not an exact science, and while no roster is ever perfect, it reflects our best efforts to create training environments that support development, group synergy, and a positive experience for every swimmer. We consider many factors when forming groups, including age, skill level, experience, friendships, team dynamics, and group requirements.
Our goal is to place each swimmer in an environment where they feel confident, challenged, and supported while contributing positively to their group. While most swimmers adjust quickly, we understand that it may take time to settle in. It is not possible to meet every preference immediately, but we are confident swimmers will adapt and thrive within a few weeks.
For the first two weeks of the season, swimmers will remain in their assigned groups while coaches assess placements and get to know each athlete. In the rare case that an adjustment is needed, it will be made after this period at the discretion of the coaching team. The best way for swimmers to advocate for themselves is through consistent attendance, effort, and performance from day one.
You can expect a welcome email from your group coach on Sunday, April 26, with more details about your group. In the meantime, coach bios are available on our website here if you would like to learn more about our coaching team. The schedule will also be posted on the website in the coming days.
We understand that May and June can be busy months with other commitments. While we encourage swimmers to attend as many practices as possible, we also recognize that flexibility is sometimes necessary. That said, the first month of the season is incredibly important for building fitness, skills, and team cohesion, so we strongly encourage consistent attendance wherever possible.
Finally, thank you to all of our families for your continued support. It truly makes this program possible.
If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out at headcoach@vancouvervikings.com.
I’m looking forward to a great season and can’t wait to see you all on deck!
GO VIKS GO!
Coach Mira
