News and Notes:

Practice change for Thanksgiving week.  Mon and Tue practices are normal.  On Wednesday, Advanced will swim 2-4PM and Varsity will swim 4-5:30PM (if you have travel plans that may need accomodation, please let Mark know ahead of time).  No practice on Thursday (Thanksgiving Day).  Friday Practice 2:30-4:30PM (the infamous 300 game…guaranteed new title champ this year).  Saturday practice normal (9-11:15AM).  Remember, if you are leaving town, use that opportunity to swim with another club.  If there is not another club within comfortable driving distance, please take a holiday practice packet.  DON’T COME BACK TO PRACTICE FEELING LIKE A STUFFED TURKEY ! 

Sign-ups for the NOVA B/C meet have been pushed back to Thursday, 11/15.  Any swimmers with any B or C (or no times) should swim those events at this meet.  You can also qualify for the other December meets at this meet.

Sign-ups for the SEVA 12&Y BB+ meet are due by Monday 11/19.  Please let the coaches know of ANY sessions that you do not plan to attend.  Be as proactive as possible. 

Sign-ups for the PSDN 13&O BB+ Holiday Classic are due by Friday 11/30.  All 13&O swimmers with BB times should compete.  Again, let the coaches know of ANY sessions that you may be missing. 

TOPIC OF THE WEEK:  MAKING THE MOST OF WHAT YOU’VE GOT

When I ask a group of swimmers the question, “Who wants to be the best swimmer that you can be?” as always, 100% of the hands are raised.  That’s good!  They should be.  That’s why they are here.  This week I shared with them an article from Bill Sweetenham (former Austrialian and British Olympic Coach).  The following comes from Sweetenham’s contribution to the The Swim Coaching Bible (pg 93-94).  Coach Sweetenham has devised a list of a few things swimmers can do on their own, aside from just what their coach is telling them in and out of the water each day:

·        Has a written plan incorporating academic work, family life, training, and competitions – and distributes copies to all relevant people.

·        Has 100 percent attendance at all required practice sessions.

·        Does not arrive late or leave early from competitions or training.

·        Does not need to be instructed or reminded more than once.

·        Incorporates both a team and individual perspective to the sport.

·        Loves to race.

·        Loves the sport and is committed to it.

·        Has an open mind and believes that anything and everything is possible

·        Has great self-esteem and confidence developed by exposure to and success in defeating challenges and obstacles – and, in fact, enjoys the higher and more difficult challenges.

·        Always does more than the coach asks.

·        Has learned and practiced the ability of self-promotion, but understands that confidence, not arrogance, is a key factor in performance.

·        Is very honest in self-assessment of training and competition.

·        Practices difficult breathing patterns (without being asked).

·        Can repeat exact stroke counts and specific predetermined times with even split, efficient strokes.

·        Carries at all times two suits, two caps, two pair of goggles, and all other necessary equipment (prepared by the swimmer, not the parent).

·        Is capable of fruitfully using his or her free time to enhance training or competition performance.

·        Consistently offers the coach feedback on technique, training repeats, best times on sets, and heart rates (without being asked).

·        Practices good self-management in all areas, understanding that focusing on solutions is always better than focusing on problems.

·        Practices quality nutritional habits at all times, especially during competition and travel.

Do I EXPECT every swimmer to accomplish every thing on this list?  Absolutely not.  However, I do feel that the swimmers that are truly driven to succeed in this sport will do many of the things that are listed here without even knowing that they came from a list.  Remember that I’m not concerned with each swimmer being the best 12-year-old or 14-year-old they can be…I’m interested in what makes the swimmer the best swimmer he or she can be at the peak of the career.  These are traits that must be learned over time.  I expect it to be a long, arduous, difficult task.  If it was easy, it would never be worthwhile…the lesson would be short lived. I'm much more interested in the person who is developed in the pursuit of "being the best swimmer you can be."