ELITE NEWS BULLETIN               08-31-09

           

AUGUST REST RECHARGES TEAM’S BATTERIES; NOW: HERE WE GO AGAIN!!!

SENIOR & SENIOR PREPS THIS WEEK;

AGE GROUPERS (WAVEBUSTERS AND MARLINS) FOLLOW WEEK OF SEPT 7TH:

 

After relentlessly training pushing hard for 11 months last year and having that training pay off as Elite Swimmers scaled new heights at every level within the program, the Elite swimmers, coaches and parents have taken a well-earned month vacation (for some, only 2 weeks!) away from the daily grind of training. This break is meant to recharge each team member’s mental and physical batteries. With this rest period about over, it’s time to do it all over again!!!

 

After placing 4th in team points at both the Spring (SCY) and Summer (LCM) Junior Olympics last year, the Elite Swim Club will need to train hard & perform very well just to equal last year’s feats. Interestingly though, several factors actually point to Elite surpassing all these lofty achievements of last year!!

 

As the Seniors and Senior Preps get ready to start the year long process with their first practices this week (Seniors start tonite), here are Elite’s team goals:

 

1)   Winter 2010 Junior Olympics:  qualify more swimmers in more events & score more points (last year: 52 qualifiers, 346 events & 1539 points)

                                                      Target Team Score: 1700 points- Plus more swimmers score points individually: more than 27 swimmers

2)      Summer 2010 Junior Olympics: qualify more swimmers in more events & score more points (last year: 50 qualifiers, 235 events & 1346 points)

                                                      Target Team Score: 1500 points- Plus more swimmers score points individually: more than 26 swimmers

3)      Winter 2010 Eastern Zones: qualify more swimmers in more events (more than 6 swimmers in 28 events)

4)      Summer 2010 Eastern Zones: qualify more swimmers in more events (more than 25 swimmers in 93 events)

5)      Winter 2010 Sectionals: qualify more swimmers in more events (more than 4 swimmers in 18 events)  Plus boys and girls relays! Plus relays that score points!

6)   Summer 2010 Sectionals: qualify more swimmers in more events (more than 3 swimmers in 13 events) Plus boys and girls relays! Plus relays that score points!

7)   Junior Nationals 2010: to have two representatives from Elite and have at least one representative reach finals/consolations in an event (last year 2 representatives in 7 events)

8)      Senior Nationals 2010-to have at least one representative from Elite (last year-no representative)

9)      At least 95 Elite Swimmers earning Scholar/Athlete Awards, presented at the Elite Awards Dinner (last year: 87) & having 2 swimmers qualify for USA Swimming’s Scholastic

            All-American Award (last year: 1 swimmer)

 

Along the way, Elite swimmers are expected to collect numerous other accomplishments (such as performing well at and having high point contentors) at Holiday Classic, CeraVe, Senior and Junior States.

           

            While these goals are a tall order since Elite swimmers performed absolutely magnificently last year, there are several factors that lead one to believe these lofty goals can be matched or exceeded:

 

1)      92% of the Spring/Summer team is returning. That means: 1) a majority of the swimmers know the system and this will allow each training group to start moving at a higher level and sooner in the training session 2) these 92% are already conditioned within the Councilman Training System. This system of training is cumulative, meaning that it builds upon itself. Thus, Elite’s youngest swimmers actually get the most benefit from this system, as they train in the system year after year.

 

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

 

3)      Approximately 30 accomplished year round swimmers from neighboring programs opted to join Elite during the spring/summer session and as a result of the Summer July 21nd tryouts. There is significant talent among these swimmers new to Elite that coaches expect to hone and develop!!! And developing and succeeding “new” Elite swimmers will challenge “returning” Elite swimmers at practice and in meets, for the benefit of all current Elite Swimmers! And Elite may pick up year round another swimmer or two as a result of the Sept 8 tryouts.

 

4)      The quality of non-year round swimmers whom were accepted into Elite as a result of the July 21st  tryouts was very, very impressive. This should help Elite this year and for years to come!! And again, we may pick up a few more at the Sept 8 tryouts. These swimmers should blossom within Elite’s training system!!

 

5)      The current team members are hard working, are goal-oriented and are focused on improving!! Thus many of them are already accomplished swimmers!!! Elite has approximately (JO standards are not yet set) 28 swimmers already qualified for SCY 2010 JO’s in about 115 events based upon their 2008-09 SCY times (which does not factor in improvement due to this summer’s long course training)!! For a point of reference, the Elite’s season ending totals for the 2006-07 season at SCY JO’s was 32 swimmers in a 178 events!

 

             So, lets get it started!!!!

 

2ND ELITE TRYOUT TUESDAY, SEPT 8;  SPACE EXTREMELY LIMITED:

          Elite will conduct its 2nd tryout for the Winter 2009-10 Season on Tuesday, September 8th at 4:30 pm at Newark Academy.

          Due to 92% of the last summer's team returning plus acceptance of 20 swimmers from Elite's 1st tryouts in July, Elite is virtually at capacity. Because Elite limits training groups in size (to approximately 38 swimmers) to guarantee the best possible environment for Elite swimmers to develop, there are very few roster spots open for this coming season.

          Swimmers with year round training experience are encouraged to email Head Coach Bill Deatly at eliteswimclubnj@comcast.net their best yard times. From this information, Bill will be able to ascertain where an interested swimmer would slot in and if there are any roster spaces left at that level.

C. ALLOCCO, ANDERSON, V. D’ALTRUI, DEATLY, V. DUVVURI, MARTINEZ & WEINBROM 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, Chelsea Allocco, Lindsay Anderson, Victoria D’Altrui, Tad Deatly, Venkatesh Duvvuri, Dani Martinez and Adam Weinbrom have earned the right and the distinction of being named the captains of the Elite Swim Club, Winter 2009-10.

 

            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 these swimmers are also 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. The team will be lead thru their eagerness to train hard and their enthusiasm for swimming and Elite. Lastly, Senior Seniors/Captains help plan the annual Senior training trip in late December and team bonding activities.

 

            Congratulations Chelsea, Lindsay, Victoria, Tad, Venk, Dani & Adam!!!

 

TOP 10 LCM TIMES NOW UPDATED:

 

            Elite’s top 10 all time LCM times list has been updated on the team website. There are literally dozens of new times achieved from this summer’s competition. Check it out!!

 

AWARDS DINNER TO BE HELD SUNDAY, APRIL 11;

SCHOLAR/ATHLETE AWARDS WILL BE HIGHLIGHT;

 

          The 15th annual Elite Awards Banquet will be held Sunday, April 11 from 12:30 pm to 4:30 pm at the Hanover Marriott (site of the last 5 banquets).

 

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 Scholastic Scholar Qualifying time (as established by USA Swimming-generally faster than Sectional qualifying times!). This award is 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, Elite posts the names of its each of its scholar athletes on the team website-forever acknowledging its most special scholar-athletes of each season. 

 

Parents will be requested to provide the scholastic information in early March 2010.

 

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 3) Consent and Release Form and 4) an Elite Code of Conduct form. The Code of Conduct form will be reviewed and signed by each swimmer at their 1st practice.

 

In addition, there is a memo in the welcome packet regarding Parental Obligation with regards to each swimmer participating at Elite. As a consideration of having their child(ren) members of Elite, parents are committing to 1) pay their club dues promptly 2) time as needed at dual/intraclub/USA Swimming meets and 3) participate in jobs at the Elite hosted USA Swimming Meets (Distance Derby, 9-10 Silver Bronze Championships and 13-19 Silver Bronze Championships (one only needs to work at these meets if their swimmer is participating. The only exception is that the 8 & Under parents must participate at the 9-10 Silver Bronze Championships).

 

It is critical that these forms be returned to each swimmer’s Head Training Group Coach as soon as possible so that each Elite swimmer is registered (and thus insured). Swimmers should hand their paperwork  as soon as possible (2nd practice would be terrific!!).

 

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 has eased as a result of the completion of the school construction. Parents are reminded not to park anywhere designated as fire-lanes!

 

PRACTICE SUIT, ACCESSORIES SALE SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 27TH:

 

            Elite will hold a “Swimming Accessories Sale” Sunday, September 27th 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, a team sweatshirt & team racing caps as part of their membership of Elite. These items will be distributed separate and distinct from this sale.

 

TENTATIVE MEET SCHEDULE NOW POSTED:

 

      The tentative Winter 2009-10 Meet Schedule is now posted on the team website under Meet Schedule. 

 

       Please be advised that meet dates may 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 more officials than most NJ Swim Club is still 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). If you are computer savvy or have an interest, please let Bill know!!

 

We are always in need of developing our Parental Talent as well!!! 

 

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

 

ELITE PARENTS SOCIAL SCHEDULED FOR FRIDAY, OCT 9:

 

            ESCPO (Elite Swim Club Parents Organization) is planning its 1st parent social for Friday, October 9th. 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!!!