ELITE NEWS BULLETIN               08-25-08

 

REST, OLYMPICS RECHARGE TEAM’S BATTERIES; NOW: LETS DO IT AGAIN!!!

SENIOR & SENIOR PREPS START NEXT WEEK;

WAVEBUSTER (GOLDS, BLACKS & TEALS) FOLLOW WEEK OF SEPT 8TH:

MARLINS (BLACKS & TEALS) FOLLOW WEEK OF SEPT 15TH:

 

Relentlessly pushing hard for 10.5 months last year, the Elite swimmers, coaches and parents have taken a well-earned month vacation away from the daily grind of training. The rest, plus the added bonus of watching the world’s best gather at the 2008 Bejing Olympics, have completely recharged the team member’s batteries. So, it’s just about time to do it all over again!!!

 

Starting next week (starting Sept 2), the Elite Swim Club Winter 2008-09 Training Season will begin as the two most advanced training groups, the Seniors and the Senior Preps, will begin practice starting Tuesday/Wednesday at Morristown-Beard School.

 

The following week (starting Sept 8), all 3 Wavebuster Training Groups (Golds, Blacks & Teals) will began their training seasons at Newark Academy. The following week (starting Sept 15th), the Marlin Training Groups (Blacks & Teals) will begin their training.

 

Please note that the phase-in 3 week practice schedule was also provided and is now posted on the website.

 

Elite will have a plethora of team and individual goals for this upcoming season. The coaches expect to improve upon the following 2007-08 team accomplishments:

 

1)      Winter 2009 Junior Olympics:  qualify more swimmers in more events & score more points (last year: 45 qualifiers, 284 events & 909.5 points)

                                                      Target Team Score: 1300 points- Plus more swimmers score points individually: more than 21 swimmers

2)      Summer 2009 Junior Olympics: qualify more swimmers in more events & score more points (last year: 38 qualifiers, 243 events & 1152 points)

                                                      Target Team Score: 1500 points- Plus more swimmers score points individually: more than 28 swimmers

3)      Winter 2009 Eastern Zones: qualify more swimmers in more events (more than 4 swimmers in 8 events)

4)      Summer 2009 Eastern Zones: qualify more swimmers in more events (more than 19 swimmers in 67 events)

5)      Winter 2009 Sectionals: qualify more swimmers in more events (more than 4 swimmers in 17 events)

                                            Plus qualify one or more female swimmers!!

6)      Summer 2009 Sectionals: qualify more swimmers in more events (more than1 swimmer in 4 events)

                                            Plus qualify one or more female swimmers!!

7)      Junior Nationals 2009: to have at least one representative from Elite and have that representative reach finals/consolations in an event

8)      At least 75 Elite Swimmers earning one of the Scholar/Athlete Awards, presented at the Elite Awards Dinner (more than 64)

 

Along the way, Elite swimmers are expected to collect numerous other accomplishments at Holiday Classic, Burgdorff, Senior States and Junior

States.

           

            While these goals are a tall order since Elite swimmers performed absolutely magnificently last year, several factors actually point to Elite surpassing all these lofty goals:

 

1)      Elite swimmers & coaches are now fully immersed in the Councilman Training System. This system of training is cumulative, meaning that it builds upon itself. Thus, Elite’s youngest swimmers will actually get the most benefit from it, as they train in the system year after year. In addition, the coaches are able to tweak the system to help translate the “textbook” into real training with specific swimmers.

 

2)      Elite swimmers & coaches are now fully immersed in our stroke technique system. Swimmers in the Wavebuster and Senior Training Groups are refining their skills, not learning them. More efficient training and more efficient stroke technique points to significant success!!

 

3)      Approximately 20 accomplished year round swimmers from neighboring year-round programs opted to join Elite during the spring/summer session and as a result of the Summer July 22nd tryouts. There is significant talent among these swimmers that Elite coaches expect to hone and develop!!! While developing and succeeding, these “new” Elite swimmers will challenge “returning” Elite swimmers at practice and in meets, for the benefit of all current Elite Swimmers!

 

4)      The quality of non-year round swimmers whom were accepted into Elite as a result of the July 22nd tryouts was very impressive. This should help Elite this year and for years to come!!

 

5)      The current team members are hard working, are goal-oriented and focused on improving!! And many of them are already accomplished swimmers!!!

 

             So, lets get it started!!!!

 

FARNOW, GRYWALSKI & ROSS NAMED TEAM CAPTAINS:

 

Continuing the team tradition of naming all Elite Senior Seniors (seniors in high school who train with the Elite Senior Training Group) team captains, Cassandra Farnow, Amanda Grywalski and Brittany Ross have earned the right and the distinction of being named the tri-captains of the Elite Swim Club, Winter 2008-09.

 

            The Senior Seniors have accomplished the ultimate goal of all Elite swimmers, to earn the distinction of being in the top training group and have been committed to Elite in their high school years. All three girls are outstanding students, are positive role models and will bring these attributes to the hardest working group of Elite swimmers this season.

 

On a daily basis, the captains lead dryland practice and are expected to lead at every opportunity during pool practice. The Captains are also expected to communicate to the Senior Coaches issues involving their training group and the team at large. Lastly, Senior Seniors/Captains help plan the annual Senior training trip in late December.

 

            Congratulations Cassandra, Amanda & Brittany!!!

 

SEPT 2nd TRYOUTS: HELP WANTED!

 

Elite will conduct a 2nd round of tryouts for Winter 2008-09 Season on Tuesday, Sept 2nd at Newark Academy from 4:30 pm to 6 pm.

 

As a result of approximately 90% of last year’s team returning plus a very successful July 22nd tryout session, Elite now has very few openings for this year’s club.

 

            Elite swimmers and/or parents are welcome to volunteer their time to help the coaches out at tryouts! We need timers and marshallers to conduct an efficient and effective tryout.

 

SCHOLAR/ATHLETE AWARDS WILL BE HIGHLIGHT OF AWARDS BANQUET:

 

          Swimmers are reminded that the ultimate award an Elite swimmer can earn at the season ending Awards Banquet will once again be the Elite Scholar-Athlete Awards. Great grades, in addition to great swim times, are required for a swimmer to earn one of these awards.

 

            These awards will be broken down into four levels:

 

1        All-American Scholar Athlete Award: Swimmer must have a 3.5 grade average and at least 1 Sectional Qualifying time. This award is actually a USA Swimming Award and will be presented by New Jersey Swimming. Elite will also provide a certificate to those swimmers who have qualified for this award. The swimmer must be a sophomore to earn this distinction.

 

2)  The Elite Scholar-Athlete Platinum Award: Swimmer must have all A’s and no more than 1 B (or the equivalent of all A’s and 1 B) plus at least 1 individual Eastern Zone Sectional Qualifying Time

 

3) The Elite Scholar-Athlete Gold Award: A swimmer must have all A’s and no more than 1 B (or the equivalent of all A’s and 1 B) plus at least 1 individual Junior Olympic Qualifying Time

 

4) The Elite Scholar-Athlete Teal Award: Swimmer must have all A’s and B’s (of the equivalent) plus at least 1 individual Silver Qualifying Time

 

In addition to each swimmer receiving an impressive certificate from Elite acknowledging this achievement, from this season forward Elite will post the names of its scholar athletes on its website-forever acknowledging its most special scholar-athletes. 

 

Parents will be requested to provide the scholastic information in early March 2009.

 

REGISTRATION FORMS IN WELCOME PACKETS NEEDED BACK AS SOON AS POSSIBLE:

 

                With the exception of new Elite swimmers (who filled their paperwork out during tryouts), all Elite swimmers will receive a “Welcome Folder” containing paperwork which we ask prompt attention be given to.

 

Within each swimmer’s folder are: 1) an Elite Membership form  2) an Emergency Contact Form and 3) an Elite Code of Conduct form. The Code of Conduct form will be reviewed and signed by each swimmer at their 1st practice. Parents will also need to sign the Code, which is the ticket into Elite.

 

It is critical that these forms be returned to Bill’s mailbox as soon as possible so that each Elite swimmer is registered (and thus insured). Swimmers should hand their paperwork to their Head Training Group Coach.

 

PARKING AN ISSUE AT NEWARK ACADEMY (& MORRISTOWN-BEARD):

 

            There is a distinct shortage of parking spaces at Newark Academy, especially on weekdays between 5:15 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.

 

            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.

 

            Morristown-Beard School parking should ease this fall. Construction of the new Middle School Building is finishing up, and paving of the parking lots should be completed by Sept 10. Parents are reminded not to park anywhere designated as fire-lanes!

 

PRACTICE SUIT, ACCESSORIES SALE SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 28TH:

 

            Elite will hold a “Swimming Accessories Sale” Sunday, September 28th at Morristown-Beard from 1:00 am to 4:00 pm. The sale will have four components:

 

Component #1 will have Donna Kay of Swimming, Etc. selling all swimming related items from fins, goggles, practice suits, practice racing caps, pull buoys, flip-flops, and paddles. Credit cards can be used to purchase these items. All Elite swimmers need fins while all Wave Blacks, Wave Golds, Seniors Preps and Seniors need pull buoys. Payment will made directly to Swimming Etc and credit cards can be used.

 

Component # 2 will have Elite selling excess inventory of “Elite Apparel” such as Elite racing caps, last year’s t-shirts, last year’s towels and sweatpants.  Checks or cash can be used to purchase the Elite Apparel.

 

Component #3 will have the Parents Organization providing additional “Elite Wear” such as collared shirts, fleeces, etc.

 

          Component #4 will have the Parents Organization providing information regarding the structure and plans of the Elite Swim Club Parents Organization (ESCPO).

 

Please remember that all Elite members will receive a team suit, two team t-shirts and a team sweatshirt & team racing caps as part of their membership of Elite separate and distinct from this sale.

 

TENTATIVE MEET SCHEDULE NOW POSTED:

 

      The tentative Winter 2008-09 Meet Schedule is now posted under Meet Schedule. 

 

       Please be advised that meet dates change during the season due to pool availability. Thus, Elite's meet schedule will be updated from time to time thru out the season. Please have your swimmer constantly review the meet schedule for meet entries, dates and session times!!!           

 

OFFICIALS & COMPUTER VOLUNTEERS NEEDED TO RUN MEETS:

 

          To effectively run meets, Elite needs a variety of parents to volunteer their time and efforts during these meets. This season, Elite will again be strongly encouraging those parents who have an interest to become New Jersey certified officials.

 

            To run New Jersey sanctioned meets, certified officials are a necessity. Currently within New Jersey Swimming, there is a shortage of officials certified. Elite, while having 8 certified is understaffed and thus, under represented officiating meets. In addition, Elite likes to have officials present even when we run our dual meets/intraclub meets, as the officials provide significant feed back as to areas the coaches need to focus upon.

 

            In addition, this year Elite continue to build up its volunteers with regards to the electronic running of the meets (touch pads, timing console & processing the data coming thru both into Elite’s computer). Last year, Greg Lowe, Antone Balbo, Alyssa Hartigan learned the electronics. But we need more volunteers (being computer savvy is helpful but not necessary!).

 

Anyone with interest in either volunteer position should contact Bill as soon as possible.

 

TIME TRIALS TO SOLVE “HAPPY” PROBLEM:

 

            The coaches believe the swimmers at Elite have a “happy” problem and the coaches plan to fix it: to find out just how much faster the Wavebuster level swimmers are since their last SCY (25 yard) times were recorded last March. To solve this “happy” problem, Elite will be holding a time trial meet at Newark Academy on Tuesday, Sept 23rd for all Wavebuster level swimmers only.

 

            Returning Elite swimmers are well aware that Elite is extremely diligent in using only established times in its entry process for NJ Sanctioned meets. If at all possible, Elite does not use “guestimate” times for entries (attempting to translate Long Course Meter times-50 meter pool times- into SCY times). By holding steadfastly to this practice, Elite swimmers who have improved since last March (quite possibly a large number because of the hard training many Elite swimmers put in this past spring and summer) might inadvertently not be entered into appropriate level meets this fall (particularly the Fall Festival Meet in early November).

 

            To fix this “happy” problem, Elite will hold a Times Trial Meet on Tuesday, September 25 from 5:15 pm to 8:30 pm for swimmers in the Wavebuster Gold, Wavebuster Black and Wavebuster Teal training groups only (swimmers most likely affected by this situation).

 

            Since the Time Trials meet will be run just like Elite’s Dual/Intraclub Meet, parents will be needed to help time and officiate. Please volunteer to help out!!    

 

ELITE PARENTS SOCIAL TENATIVELY SCHEDULE FOR FRIDAY, OCT 17:

 

            ESCPO (Elite Swim Club Parents Organization) is planning its 1st parent social for Friday, October 17th. Tentative plans are for the social to be held from 7:30 pm to 9:30 pm at the Chatham Fish & Game Club in Chatham.

 

            All parents are invited. Details to follow.

 

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!!!