ELITE NEWS BULLETIN               06-08-09

 

ATTENDANCE THRU MAY STILL STRONG; ALL 7 TRAINING GROUPS AVERAGING OVER 74%; SENIORS LEAD WAY WITH 81.44%!!! ATHLETES RECOGNIZED:

          Practice attendance is the foundation of improvement. One can’t improve if they are not at practice (and great work habits and a great aerobic base are built at practice and is the way to faster swimming). Thru June 7, the Elite Swimmers have continued to show their diligent work ethic by attending practice at a rate of 76% as a team!!! As of yesterday, the Seniors training group leads the outstanding Elite attendance race by averaging, as a training group, 81.44% attendance!!! The Seniors are followed by the Senior Preps (77.12%), the Marlin Blacks (76.15%), the Wave Teals (75.82%), the Marlin Teals (75.15%) the Wave Blacks (74.80%), and the Wavebuster Golds (74.40%).

At the end of the Season Awards Dinner during the Winter Session, Elite swimmers with 85% attendance (or greater) will be presented with the Attendance Award. This award, plus attendance requirements for swimmers who want to be promoted, have positively motivated Elite Swimmers to come to practice. Habits formed during the Spring/Summer Session usually carry forth thru the Winter Season.

            Swimmers (59 total - 32% of the team) with 85% attendance rates or higher (* designates perfect attendance!) are listed below:

            Marlin Teals: Sandeepan Mukherjee, Delaney Smith, Will Stearns & Sachi Tanwar 

            Marlin Blacks: Megan Balbo*, Carolyn Delaney, Erika Fresen, Tabatha Georget, Rachel Hong, Erica Iizuka, Monica Iizuka & Jessica Kraus

Wavebuster Teals:  Jimmy Coyne, Will Delaney, Avi Duvvuri, Andrea Ferrell, Patrick Hong*, Andrew Huang, Jennifer Huo, Karen Iizuka, Brandon Li*, Sarah Lowe, Abigail Shvorin, Abir Thakur, Samy Zhong

Wavebuster Blacks: Ariel Gelman*, Emma Harris, Alyssa Hartigan*, Isabel LaRaia, Karl Melchior, Darragh O’Gorman

Wavebuster Golds:  Chris Balbo, Lindsay Behar, Andrea Galea, Matt Hong, Jessie Lowe*, Katie McGrath, Caroline Nash, Kaitlin Stearns, Rachael Tortorella, Caroline Watt, Sarah Weinbrom

Senior Preps: Matt Ahlmeyer, Anthony Don, Allie Dorneo*, Sam Duren, Regan Kology*, Karen Miller-Radest*, Ryan Sebastian*, Andrea Shepard, Lindsay Stearns*, Adam Weinbrom

            Seniors: Tad Deatly, Greg Keiser, Michael Li*, Brendan Miller-Radest*, Ali Morreale*, Michael Strand, Ryan Wyer* 

LAST WEEK OF PRACTICE FOR MARLIN BLACKS AND MARLIN TEALS: ATTACK YOUR SUMMER LEAGUES!!!

 

            This is the last week of practice for the Marlin Blacks and Marlin Teals, as Elite loses access to the Newark Academy pool (school concludes this week and a summer camp & summer school begin use of the facility) during the summer.

 

            Both Marlin training groups have progressed significantly this spring. The Marlins are highly encouraged to practice and compete for their summer league teams. Given their hard work this past winter, the Marlins will be very impressive in their summer competition!! Attack your races and have fun!!!

 

            Marlin Blacks whom are offered promotion in the Wavebuster Teals for the Winter 2009-10 season will be offered training this summer with the Wavebuster Teals.

 

            Information regarding the Winter 2009-10 Season will be mailed to all swimmers within the next two weeks. Swimmers who provide their deposits prior to the registration deadline will automatically reserve a roster spot for next winter’s team.

 

FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS MEET STRUCTURE CREATES PROBLEM, BUT JULY JUBILEE MEET SOLVES IT;

 

            In planning its summer competition schedule, Elite elected to attend the Friday Night Lights Meet in Bayonne on Friday, July 10 in Bayonne. When planning this meet, Elite presumed that the meet structure would remain the same as last year and that all Elite Wavebuster Golds, Wavebuster Blacks and Wavebuster Teals could attend.

 

            However, the meet host Bayonne elected to change the Friday Night Light Meet structure to limit entries to swimmers 11 and older. Elite has entered all swimmers in these 3 training groups whom are 11 and older and these entries are now posted on the team website.

 

            To accommodate those swimmers in Wavebuster Black and Wavebuster Teals whom are 10 & Under, Elite has elected to attend July Jubilee with these swimmers only on Sunday morning, July 12 (meet to be held at Rutgers). This meet will provide these 10 & Under swimmers long course competition prior to championship meets later in the summer season. Swimmers 10 & Under who are Wave Blacks and Wave Teals should check the team website later this week for entry information.

 

FOLLOWING FINA, USA SWIMMING RULES ON RACING SUITS;

 

            On May 19, FINA (the world federation that governs international swimming competition) issued a list of swimsuits approved for international competition. The approved list, which approval is effective immediately, includes 202 racing suits.

 

            USA Swimming, as of June 1, has adopted the swimwear approved by FINA and only these suits can be worn in USA (read: NJ Swimming) competition.

 

            The FINA list could be expanded as of mid June, 2009. If the list is expanded, USA Swimming will follow suit and allow suits on the expanded list within USA Swimming competition.

 

            Attached to the email is the approved list.

 

“SOFT SELLING” ELITE IS LIFEBLOOD OF CLUB;

 

            Summer Swim Teams are the lifeblood of year round swim clubs like Elite. Swimmers who enjoy the training and competition of their summer clubs form the vast majority of new swimmers into “winter” or “club” swimming.

 

            The terrific swimming performed by Elite swimmers this summer in their dual meet and championship competition will be the main selling point of the club. Elite swimmers will be among the best (if not the best) swimmers in the their races. They should be, they have worked hard and have earned that right!!

 

            Parents of Elite swimmers are requested to “soft-sell” Elite; meaning they should await an approach by an interested swimmers/parents, but then earnestly provide information to such people upon their approach. Elite parents and swimmers are highly encouraged to point perspective swimmers to the team website and to instruct interested parties to email Bill regarding questions about the club.

 

            Tapping this pipeline will help keep the Elite Swim Club vibrant. In addition, a swim club at capacity (Elite is about 90% of capacity) will help keep the cost down to each Elite family/member. Lastly, each new season sees some existing swimmers leaving the sport or moving out of the area. These roster spots provide openings for new swimmers.

 

            Tryouts for Elite will be held Tuesday, July 21st at 4:00 pm at Morristown-Beard School.

 

            Any questions regarding how one should act during a specific inquiry should be directed to Bill. Thanks in advance for your salesmanship!!!       

 

SUMMER SEASON/PROMOTION SCHEDULE EXPLAINED:

 

            With the Summer now in sight, below is an explanation of how training at Elite will work. If you have further questions, please do not hesitate to contact Bill.

 

            For Marlin Teals and Marlin Blacks, the Spring 2009 Season will conclude to Friday, June 12.

 

            For the Wavebuster Teals, Wavebuster Blacks, Wavebuster Golds, Senior Preps and Seniors, practice will continue thru late July/early August.

 

            Below is a detailed explanation of how each training group will transition. Please note that every existing Elite swimmer will be invited to train with Elite for the Fall 2009 Training Session. Each swimmer will receive in mid-June a letter inviting them to train with Elite for the Fall 2009 Training Season. To accept this invitation, a swimmer needs to mail their $300 deposit check ($300 per swimmer if a multiple swimmer family) to Bill prior to Saturday, July 11. If a swimmer does not mail in their deposit but would like to train with Elite, they will need to tryout for Elite at one of the two Elite tryouts (1st one on Tuesday, July 21st). There is no guarantee a swimmer will regain their roster spot during tryouts-it is NOT automatic. Elite will take the best swimmers at tryouts, regardless of longevity on Elite. To secure a roster spot, one needs to mail in their deposit prior to Saturday, July 11.

 

            Marlin Teals: During the summer, there is no training for Marlin Teals (they should participate for their local swim clubs and shine!!!). Letters regarding which training group a swimmer will be placed in for Fall 2009 will be send in mid-June (including promotions-there may be a few into Marlin Blacks). All Marling Teals will need to send in their $300 deposit to reserve their roster spot by Saturday, July 11.  

 

            Marlin Blacks:  During the summer, there is no summer training for Marlin Blacks (they should participate for their local swim clubs and shine!!!). Letters regarding which training group a swimmer will be placed in for Fall 2009 will be send in mid-June (including promotions-there may be a few into Wavebuster Teals). If a swimmer is promoted into Wavebuster Teals by reason of the June roster letter, that swimmer is invited to train as a Wavebuster Teal this summer (see Wave Teal explanation). If a newly promoted swimmer chooses to train with Elite this summer, they will be entered into summer Championship Meets (see Meet Schedule on website). This swimmers will also be billed a pro-rata rate for their Summer training participation. A promoted swimmer can opt not to train with Elite and it will not affect their status for Fall, 2009.  All Marlin Blacks will need to send in their $300 deposit to reserve their roster spot by Saturday, July 14.  

 

Wavebuster Teals:  The Wavebuster Teals have the option to train with Elite this summer at Morristown-Beard School & Springfield (see summer schedule). And in fact, they have paid for this option within their Spring 2009 bill. Swimmers who want to train but have conflicts (vacation, car pools, etc) are strongly encouraged to come to practice whenever they can. Swimmers who come to summer practices will be entered into summer Championship Meets (see Meet Schedule on website). Letters regarding Fall 2009 will be send in mid-June. Swimmers whom at that time have earned a promotion into Wavebuster Blacks will receive a letter of promotion in mid June. A promoted swimmer will remain a Wavebuster Teal until the Fall 2009 Season. All promotions will be conditional upon continued performance and attendance thru late July. Regardless of placement, swimmers will need to send in their $300 deposit to reserve their roster spot by Saturday, July 11.   

 

Wavebuster Blacks; Wavebuster Golds, Senior Preps & Seniors:  Swimmers in these training groups are expected to train with Elite during the summer, as participation in these training groups is year round. Swimmers in these training groups will be entered into summer Championship Meets (see Meet Schedule on website). Letters regarding the Fall 2009 session will be send in mid-June. A promoted swimmer will remain within their current training group until the Fall 2009 Season. All promotions will be conditional upon continued performance and attendance thru late July. Regardless of placement, swimmers will need to send in their $300 deposit to reserve their roster spot by Saturday, July 11.   

 

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.

 

 

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!!!