SUNDAY NOVEMBER 17
WEEK AHEAD: This week there will be no practice on Thursday, Friday, or Saturday. The pool will be closed for the Mason Team as they wrap up their fall season with a big three day meet. Our groups will also be participating in a 3 day meet at the annual Swim &Rock Meet held at Oak Marr Pool in Fairfax.
Warm Up Schedule.
FRIDAY 11 AND UP 6:30-7:50 MEET STARTS 8:00
FINALS 5:00-5:50 MEET STARTS 6:00
SATURDAY 13 AND UP 6:30-7:30 MEET STARTS 7:45
11&12 11:30-12:30 MEET STARTS 12:40
9&10 2:55-3:35 MEET STARTS 3:45
FINALS 6:00-6:50 MEET STARTS 7:00
SUNDAY 13 AND UP 6:30-7:30 MEET STARTS 7:45
11 AND 12 11:30- 12:30 MEET STARTS 12:40
9&10 2:55- 3:35 MEET STARTS 3:45
This is a trial and final meet. What does that mean you ask? The top 16 13 and over and the top 8 11 and 12 year olds will be brought back in the evening to swim. YOU MUST SHOW UP! IF YOU FAIL TO SHOW THEY WILL SCRATCH YOU FROM THE REST OF THE MEET! If you plan on not coming back you need to talk to a coach and they can decide to scratch you, but it must be done before you leave. THIS IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY NOT THE COACHES! Do not just fail to show, because that prevents another swimmer the chance to swim at finals.
POSITIVE CHECK IN: All events that are 200 and above must be checked in. This is not the coaches job. This is your responsibility, find the table and take care of it before warm up.
SATURDAY MEET RESULTS: Great job to all of you who swam either the 200 fly and/or400 IM yesteday. Swimming these events for the first time were; Alex Aung (200 fly and 400 IM), Katie Krouse (200 fly and 400 IM), Andrew yang (200 fly), Peter Jones, T.J. Petty, Anthony Grimm, Gillian Goodiel, Elanor Monnig and Kenta Deegan who swam the 400 IM for the first time.
Some thoughts that I had when watching the meet were; OUR walls are getting much better, but we do need to be more aggressive in and off the walls. Let's not take these walls for granted, it is a GREAT way to pick up speed in our races. Some of your fastest swimming should be done around the walls, but we need to first make that effort at practice so we can carry it into our races. If you take no momentum into the wall, you will not take much off of it, which will hurt you in a short course pool. USE THE ATTACK MODE. Attack the wall (every time in practice) and make this an attitude as much as a technique. Keep your eyes on the cross as you near the wall; gauge for a hard full stroke into the wall without a breath. Fast in, Fast out.
WEEKLY TOPIC: "BEING A GOOD TEAMMATE"
This past week I had three swimmers from our group come to me with issues that they were having with other swimmers in our group. These distractions not only affect that swimmer but in the long run it will affect the entire group. The following article was written by Mike Gustafon for USA Swimming.
In swimming, just because you're a good swimmer doesn't mean you're a good teammate. Being a good teammate is about much more than just cheering during races. Just like practices, being a good teammate takes hard work, practice and a daily commitment.
Swimming is an unusual sport in that it is technically "individual"- meaning no one can physically help you swim down the pool faster. But when a team/group comes together throughout a season, motivates each other, pushes each other, and picks each other up when others fall down, each swimmer on that team or in that group will actually get better. Being a good teammate means, while you can't physically push someone down the pool to be faster, your presence almost can.
Here are 9 ways to be a better teammate:
1. Stand up when you cheer.
Cheering is kind of worthless if the swimmer about to race doesn't see you opposite the blocks or standing poolside. When you step up to race, 99% of swimmers look to see if teammates are there. It's a quick fleeting glance, but it matters. Don't sit in the bleachers and passively whisper a teammate good luck. Stand, walk to the pool, and let them see you. They'll feed off your energy.
2. Create a culture of encouragement.
So simple. Just one sentence, "Keep it up!" is so effective when you're hanging on the gutters barely able to breathe. It doesn't have to be directed at anyone specific. One teammate, than two, than three, over time the entire team/group will begin encouraging each other.
3. Pick someone up when they're falling down.
This part is tricky, and you have to be careful, but if someone is skipping practice or repeats, or being disruptive or negative don't be afraid to say something. Take them aside and be direct, honest and positive. You're a team, and part of being a team is not letting others fall behind. Everyone needs to be picked up, and as a teammate, that responsibility is yours.
4. Criticize in private, compliment in public.
If you ever need to approach a teammate about something negative, do so privately. But compliments should be public. Look swimmers and coaches aren't blind. We see things in practice. When someone is truly bringing it that day or being positive, let em know. And let everyone else know, too. If you don't compliment your team/group, who will?
5. Know when to back away.
Everyone's had a bad race. Being a good teammate means knowing when to allow a teammate some private time, if that teammate had a bad race. Let them have space to gather their thoughts. Saying "Great Race " after a bad swim may actually make them feel worse, angry, upset or defensive. Instead say something like OK let's get them in the next event or just give them a shoulder.
6. Embrace when teammates swim fast.
We've all been there. A teammate drops a lot of time even though they may not work that hard in practice. The hardest part of being a good teammate is realizing your teammates might beat you. That's OK-- that's part of the sport. You have to control those feelings and focus on yourself. Nothing tears a team/group apart more than envy or jealousy. Worry about your own races and congratulate your teammates when they swim fast. After all the faster they are, the more competitive your practices will be and the better YOU'LL become.
7. Don't be afraid to get competitive in practice.
There are two types of teammates: Those who push others to slow down, and those who push others to go faster. Be the latter.
8.Don't ever say, "This sucks."
No it doesn't. It may be hard, or cold, or tough, but it doesn't mean it sucks. You knew this sport was hard. Sports are about pushing yourself. When you mutter "This sucks" you're actually bringing others down too. When you're having a great day or practice, the last thing you want to hear are negative comments from a teammate. So don't do it to them just because you're having a bad day.
9. Realize you don't have to be fast to be a good teammate.
In 20 years, people won't remember times or places. They will remember the cheering, the talks, the support, and the companionship that you had. It takes work, but the lessons you learn being a good teammate will serve you far better in life than swimming a 200 fly really fast.
I leave you this that I was taught a long time ago before being allowed to put on a uniform;
'Never ever disrespect your opponent, or your teammate, or your organization, or your coach, and never ever your uniform."
HAVE A GOOD WEEK AND LETS SWIM AND ROCK THIS WEEKEND MIKE
WEEK AHEAD: This week there will be no practice on Thursday, Friday, or Saturday. The pool will be closed for the Mason Team as they wrap up their fall season with a big three day meet. Our groups will also be participating in a 3 day meet at the annual Swim &Rock Meet held at Oak Marr Pool in Fairfax.
Warm Up Schedule.
FRIDAY 11 AND UP 6:30-7:50 MEET STARTS 8:00
FINALS 5:00-5:50 MEET STARTS 6:00
SATURDAY 13 AND UP 6:30-7:30 MEET STARTS 7:45
11&12 11:30-12:30 MEET STARTS 12:40
9&10 2:55-3:35 MEET STARTS 3:45
FINALS 6:00-6:50 MEET STARTS 7:00
SUNDAY 13 AND UP 6:30-7:30 MEET STARTS 7:45
11 AND 12 11:30- 12:30 MEET STARTS 12:40
9&10 2:55- 3:35 MEET STARTS 3:45
This is a trial and final meet. What does that mean you ask? The top 16 13 and over and the top 8 11 and 12 year olds will be brought back in the evening to swim. YOU MUST SHOW UP! IF YOU FAIL TO SHOW THEY WILL SCRATCH YOU FROM THE REST OF THE MEET! If you plan on not coming back you need to talk to a coach and they can decide to scratch you, but it must be done before you leave. THIS IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY NOT THE COACHES! Do not just fail to show, because that prevents another swimmer the chance to swim at finals.
POSITIVE CHECK IN: All events that are 200 and above must be checked in. This is not the coaches job. This is your responsibility, find the table and take care of it before warm up.
SATURDAY MEET RESULTS: Great job to all of you who swam either the 200 fly and/or400 IM yesteday. Swimming these events for the first time were; Alex Aung (200 fly and 400 IM), Katie Krouse (200 fly and 400 IM), Andrew yang (200 fly), Peter Jones, T.J. Petty, Anthony Grimm, Gillian Goodiel, Elanor Monnig and Kenta Deegan who swam the 400 IM for the first time.
Some thoughts that I had when watching the meet were; OUR walls are getting much better, but we do need to be more aggressive in and off the walls. Let's not take these walls for granted, it is a GREAT way to pick up speed in our races. Some of your fastest swimming should be done around the walls, but we need to first make that effort at practice so we can carry it into our races. If you take no momentum into the wall, you will not take much off of it, which will hurt you in a short course pool. USE THE ATTACK MODE. Attack the wall (every time in practice) and make this an attitude as much as a technique. Keep your eyes on the cross as you near the wall; gauge for a hard full stroke into the wall without a breath. Fast in, Fast out.
WEEKLY TOPIC: "BEING A GOOD TEAMMATE"
This past week I had three swimmers from our group come to me with issues that they were having with other swimmers in our group. These distractions not only affect that swimmer but in the long run it will affect the entire group. The following article was written by Mike Gustafon for USA Swimming.
In swimming, just because you're a good swimmer doesn't mean you're a good teammate. Being a good teammate is about much more than just cheering during races. Just like practices, being a good teammate takes hard work, practice and a daily commitment.
Swimming is an unusual sport in that it is technically "individual"- meaning no one can physically help you swim down the pool faster. But when a team/group comes together throughout a season, motivates each other, pushes each other, and picks each other up when others fall down, each swimmer on that team or in that group will actually get better. Being a good teammate means, while you can't physically push someone down the pool to be faster, your presence almost can.
Here are 9 ways to be a better teammate:
1. Stand up when you cheer.
Cheering is kind of worthless if the swimmer about to race doesn't see you opposite the blocks or standing poolside. When you step up to race, 99% of swimmers look to see if teammates are there. It's a quick fleeting glance, but it matters. Don't sit in the bleachers and passively whisper a teammate good luck. Stand, walk to the pool, and let them see you. They'll feed off your energy.
2. Create a culture of encouragement.
So simple. Just one sentence, "Keep it up!" is so effective when you're hanging on the gutters barely able to breathe. It doesn't have to be directed at anyone specific. One teammate, than two, than three, over time the entire team/group will begin encouraging each other.
3. Pick someone up when they're falling down.
This part is tricky, and you have to be careful, but if someone is skipping practice or repeats, or being disruptive or negative don't be afraid to say something. Take them aside and be direct, honest and positive. You're a team, and part of being a team is not letting others fall behind. Everyone needs to be picked up, and as a teammate, that responsibility is yours.
4. Criticize in private, compliment in public.
If you ever need to approach a teammate about something negative, do so privately. But compliments should be public. Look swimmers and coaches aren't blind. We see things in practice. When someone is truly bringing it that day or being positive, let em know. And let everyone else know, too. If you don't compliment your team/group, who will?
5. Know when to back away.
Everyone's had a bad race. Being a good teammate means knowing when to allow a teammate some private time, if that teammate had a bad race. Let them have space to gather their thoughts. Saying "Great Race " after a bad swim may actually make them feel worse, angry, upset or defensive. Instead say something like OK let's get them in the next event or just give them a shoulder.
6. Embrace when teammates swim fast.
We've all been there. A teammate drops a lot of time even though they may not work that hard in practice. The hardest part of being a good teammate is realizing your teammates might beat you. That's OK-- that's part of the sport. You have to control those feelings and focus on yourself. Nothing tears a team/group apart more than envy or jealousy. Worry about your own races and congratulate your teammates when they swim fast. After all the faster they are, the more competitive your practices will be and the better YOU'LL become.
7. Don't be afraid to get competitive in practice.
There are two types of teammates: Those who push others to slow down, and those who push others to go faster. Be the latter.
8.Don't ever say, "This sucks."
No it doesn't. It may be hard, or cold, or tough, but it doesn't mean it sucks. You knew this sport was hard. Sports are about pushing yourself. When you mutter "This sucks" you're actually bringing others down too. When you're having a great day or practice, the last thing you want to hear are negative comments from a teammate. So don't do it to them just because you're having a bad day.
9. Realize you don't have to be fast to be a good teammate.
In 20 years, people won't remember times or places. They will remember the cheering, the talks, the support, and the companionship that you had. It takes work, but the lessons you learn being a good teammate will serve you far better in life than swimming a 200 fly really fast.
I leave you this that I was taught a long time ago before being allowed to put on a uniform;
'Never ever disrespect your opponent, or your teammate, or your organization, or your coach, and never ever your uniform."
HAVE A GOOD WEEK AND LETS SWIM AND ROCK THIS WEEKEND MIKE
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