ELITE NEWS BULLETIN               04-27-09

 

KATZ & STRAND STILL AMONG THE NATIONS BEST:

& ALEX MANGO, A NEW ELITE SWIMMER, PART OF STATE RECORD LAST YEAR;

 

            As of April 22, 2009, Zach Katz and Michael Strand remain among the nations fastest swimmers in their signature events.

 

            12 year old Katz is currently ranked 4th in the country for 11 year old boys in the 50 yard breast. Katz’s time of 32.25 was performed at Winterfest in January.

 

            16 year old Strand is currently ranked 11th in the country for 15 year old boys in the 100 yard back. Strand’s time of 51.14 was performed during finals at Holiday Classic in December, 2008.

 

            While the rankings will be held open until August 1, 2009, most USA swimming competitions from now until August will be long course meters, so it is likely that both Katz and Strand will remain in the top 20 for the year.

 

            Also to be noted is Alex Mango, who joined Elite this spring. Mango is a 14 year old who participated on Somerset Valley YMCA’s 13-14 Boys state record setting 200 yard free relay of 1.33.43. Mango’s relay broke a 27 year old record!!

 

            Congratulations to Zach, Michael & Alex!

 

THIS WEEK’S LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP MEET FORMAT ADJUSTED;

 

            Elite begins its racing season this weekend as the Wavebuster Teals, Marlin Blacks and Marlin Teals compete at Union’s Boys & Girls Club in Union.

 

            The structure of the meet will change slightly, as only Elite and Tidal Wave, the host club, will compete. Other teams invited (and whom competed in years’ past) have declined to enter the meet this year. The events to be held will remain the same and Elite’s swimmers will compete in those events they have been entered. There just will not be other teams at the meet.

           

            The start times will also be adjusted (1st session has already been moved back). Please check the team website later in the week.

 

END OF SEASON SUMMER CHAMPIONSHIP SCHEDULE FINALIZED:

 

            New Jersey Swimming has virtually finalized the Summer 2009 Championship Season schedule. The schedule is posted on the team website.

 

            Two major changes to the schedule this summer are:

 

1)      Junior Olympics has been expanded to a 4 day meet and is now a prelim/final format for 13 & Olders. These changes were made for several reasons: 1) NJ Swimming felt that the end of the season championship meet should be a prelims/finals format for 13 & Olders to give these swimmers the best opportunity to qualify for higher level meets 2) this format required an expanded meet schedule. The benefits include buffer (or extra time) on Sunday to hold events eliminated earlier in the meet by lightning.

2)      At the 12 & Under Silver Bronze Championship meet, swimmers with gold times will be able to compete (in a non-award capacity) in their gold time events. This will provide gold level swimmers another opportunity to compete in their event this summer (and late in the season).

 

NEW JERSY SWIMMING’S LCM QUALIFYING TIMES ARE NOW POSTED ON THE TEAM WEBSITE;

 

            New Jersey Swimming has now released the Junior Olympic and Silver time standards for the Summer 2009 season. These standards can be view at http://www.eliteswimclub.org/Time%20Standards/Time%20Standards%202009%20LCM.htm.

 

            Also included on Elite’s website under Time Standards are the Super Sectionals, Eastern Zone and Junior National Standards.

 

            Prior to the 1st Long Course competition this summer, Elite has 22 swimmers qualified in 77 events for Junior Olympics. These times are non-converted times that were accomplished last summer or at the CeraVe Long Course Meet held this past January.

 

8th ANNUAL ELITE-A-THON TO BE SATURDAY, MAY 30:

BILL TO SWIM FOR RICHARD QUICK-CANCER RESEARCH:     

 

The 8th Annual Elite-a-thon fundraiser will be held Saturday, May 30th at Morristown-Beard from 2:30 pm to 4:30 pm.

 

Like all past “Elite-a-thons,” this year’s event will be structured so each individual participating will be raising money for the “charity of their choice.” A suggestion list of charities accompanied information provided by Seniors Tad Deatly & Dani Martinez, the co-fundraiser heads whom are coordinating this year’s efforts. Tad & Dani will provide information directly to swimmers at a Sunday  practice in May. This list is also now posted on the website.

 

In a tradition begun five years ago, Bill will swim approximately 3000 yards to raise money for his yearly charity. This year, Bill will raise money to support Richard Quick’s Cancer Research. Quick is one of the legends of the sport of swimming, who has coached Auburn University, Stanford University and University of Texas NCAA National Champions along with being a 5 time USA Olympic Coach. Quick is currently stricken with an inoperable & cancerous brain tumor. Money raised by Bill will be matched by New Jersey Swimming-up to a total of $3,000.

 

Information will be posted on the website under “Elite-a-thon” later this week. Please follow the directions (do not go out soliciting for money alone!!!) and keep track of your pledge totals!!! 

 

WORKOUTS: ITS ABOUT RECOVERY, TOO:

FOOD, WATER & SLEEP PLAY BIG FACTORS IN TRAINING:

 

            Conditioning the body requires several components for optimum success: 1) getting into a consistent and effective workout routine 2) high intensity while working out and 3) providing your body with the best opportunity to do it all again, tomorrow. That is where recovery comes in.

 

            Swimmers will not get faster if they don’t train and train hard. Elite’s conditioning system trains all three energy systems (explosive, sprint & aerobic) a human possesses every day. The closer one comes to attending every practice, the better the odds a swimmer will improve faster than their competition. And while at practice, the higher the intensity one trains at, again the more likely a swimmer will improve significantly.

 

            But there is a third factor: recovery from the workout. Often. recovery gets overlooked. Proper recovery allows a swimmer to train at a higher intensity at the next workout.

 

            Proper recovery includes 3 significant yet easily remembered components:

 

1)      good food. A person can only absorb a certain amount of nutrients from the food they eat. Obviously, one of the factors is how good are the nutrients in the food (nutrients replenish the muscles so they are stronger for the next workout). But another factor is time: the body can actually absorb more nutrients from the same amount of food directly following a workout. Scientists make the analogy to a window. Directly following a workout, a swimmer can absorb the maximum amount of nutrients. As time progresses, the body’s ability to absorb nutrients is reduced, like the closing of a window. After two hours, the body’s ability to absorb nutrients returns to normal. Thus, the sooner a swimmer is fed following a workout, the higher amount of absorption of nutrients occurs and the better a swimmer is prepared for the next workouts

 

Thus, parents who provide some good food in the car ride home or a meal directly following a workout are significantly helping their child’s ability to recover and to train at a higher intensity (with stronger muscles) at their next workout.

 

2)      sleep. A significant factor in recovery is sleep. Scientists are still not 100% positive why sleep is so important; but they are sure that sleep is important. For the average swimmer, 8 hours is a good night’s sleep. However, your swimmer may need more. Getting the proper rest again helps in the recovery process and properly prepares the swimmer for the next workout. Naps are incredibly effective at helping the body recover and to stay healthy. 15 minutes naps go a long way.

 

3)      hydrate. An athlete needs water, lots of water. An athlete should have water at practice and consume most of it during the 1st half of practice. The water they drink in the 1st half will be the water the body uses in the 2nd half of practice. Elite strongly discourages Gatorade, etc. The body evolved over millions of years using water to replenish itself. Man did not figure out a better way 20 years ago. Please have your swimmer bring water to practice and make sure they are drinking water all day long in moderate amounts.

 

The best athletes are athletes who make great decisions. Eating right and soon after practice, getting enough sleep and keeping hydrated are among the most important decisions an athlete can make.

 

SWIMMERS & PARENTS: WE ALREADY ENTERING SWIM MEETS: CHECK THE WEBSITE:

 

Swimmers and Parents are reminded that the Elite website is the place to check on swim meet information. The link is http://www.eliteswimclub.org/Meet Schedule/Homepage.htm.

 

Elite has already entered swimmers in two meets. Memorial Day Invitational is posted (swimmers need a qualifying time for this meet) as is League Championships (all Wave Teals, Marlin Blacks and Marlin Teals are entered into this meet). Summer Sizzle (qualifying times) and Tiger Invitational (all Seniors, Senior Preps, Wave Gold, Wave Blacks and Wave Teals will be entered into Tiger) are expected to be posted shortly.

 

All swimmers should get into the habit of checking the meet schedule homepage.  If you know you will not be attending a meet, please notify Bill by email asap!!!

 

PARKING AN ISSUE AT NEWARK ACADEMY:

 

            As we head into the Spring 2009 Session, parents are reminded that there is a distinct shortage of parking spaces at Newark Academy, especially on weekdays between 5:00 pm and 6:30 pm. Parents are welcome to “drop off” or “pick-up” their swimmers by the field house entrance during this time period if the driver remains in the car. If a parent is coming into the building, they are requested to park in the “upper” lot and walk thru the school to reach the pool.  Newark Academy is also now requesting the cars do not idle.

 

            Please remember to drive slowly thru the parking lots and do not park in the fire lanes, as the Livingston Police will ticket improperly parked cars.

           

NOMINATIONS WANTED FOR ESCPO:

 

            Nominations for positions are wanted and needed for the Elite Swim Club Parents Organization. Parents who are interested or who have nominees should email Sandi Niccolai at sandnic@aol.com.

 

THINKING SUMMER? THINK SUMMER SWIM CAMPS!:

 

            Although the hot sun and humid weather seems millions of years away, summer is only 6 months away and top-notch swim camps are already taking registrations for the summer of 2009.

When planning the upcoming summer, please consider sending your Elite swimmer (Wave Black level, Wave Teal level, Marlin Black level or Marlin Teal level). Wave Golds and Seniors should remain training with Elite thru the summer months) to one of the numerous swim camps.

 

Each summer, numerous Elite swimmers spend a rewarding week (or two) at a summer swim camp. The benefits of such a camp are: 1) individual attention by reknown swim coaches 2) an increased knowledge of the sport of swimming and 3) personal growth that occurs as a result of “being on one’s own.” The formula that seems to work best is finding an Elite friend to spend the week with at the swim camp.

 

If you are considering sending your swimmer to a swim camp, now is the time to do the research and make decisions (many of these camps are sold out by mid-Spring). On the website, under Swim Camps at http://www.eliteswimclub.org/Swim Camps/index.html is information regarding Summer Swim Camps. Many of these swim camps close out in late February and early March!!!

 

Thinking about summer? Think Swim Camps!!

 

WHEN IN DOUBT, CHECK THE WEBSITE:

 

            If you have questions about Elite, your first source of information is Elite’s website located at eliteswimclub.org.  When in doubt, first check the website!!!