ELITE NEWS BULLETIN               09-15-08

 

PHASE 3 OF BEGINNING OF SEASON STARTS TODAY;

MARLINS (BLACKS & TEALS) START IT UP:

 

            The third phase of the start of Elite’s season begins today, as both Marlin Training Groups start practice this afternoon. The Marlins, both Black and Teal, begin their Elite journey today. For many, this is the exciting start of the Elite career!!

 

            Regardless of the pool situation at Newark Academy, Elite will hold all practices scheduled for today at Newark Academy (if they need to be dry, so be it).

 

LAST WEEK’S “POOL DOWN” SITUATION REMINDS US TO CHECK PRACTICE SCHEDULE REGULARLY, LOOK FOR EMAILS, CALL FRIENDS: 

 

The unfortunate fact of swimming pools is that they break. And usually when it is most inconvenient (like the beginning of the season). Last week’s pool down situation at Newark Academy serves as a reminder that swimmers (not parents) should regularly check the team website and emails in case there is a last minute pool disruption.

 

            If there is a pool disruption & practice is cancelled, all Elite members are requested to reach out to their friends (phone, text, email) to let them know of the situation. Cover your friend’s back!

 

MEET ENTRIES TO “MEET OF X-CELLENCE” (FORMERLY FALL FESTIVAL) & “HALL-O-WEEN” TO BE POSTED THIS WEEK; EVENTS DOVE-TAILED, SOME ENTRIES WILL BE ALTERED:

 

            Hard as it may be to believe, Elite will be sending in entries for two NJ Swimming Meets within the next few days. In order to insure Elite is accepted into these meets, these entries will be sent prior to team’s internal Time Trials scheduled for next Tuesday.  Please note that the original entries will be modified to reflect the time trial results (particularly if swimmers post new silver level times and can be entered into Meet of X-Cellence).

 

To insure we get as much data on our swimmers as possible, where possible the meet entries for both meets will be dovetailed (swimmers will swim the widest variety of strokes and distances as possible between the two meets. This is done early in the season to establish new yard times/baselines for each swimmer).

 

            Below is the strategy behind these meet entries:

 

1)      Meet of X-Cellence has qualifying times (which are Silver qualifying times). Any swimmer who qualifies for 1 event in a session can swim up to 3 events in that session. Where logical, Elite will enter a single event session qualifier into a second or third session event

2)      All Seniors, Senior Preps, Wave Golds, Wave Blacks and Wave Teals whom have qualifying times are entered into Meet of X-Cellence

3)      Hall-o-ween has no time standards

4)      All Wave Golds, Wave Blacks, Wave Teals & Marlin Blacks are entered into Hall-o-ween

5)      Where events are offered in one meet but not the other, the team’s individual entries will be slanted towards those events only offered at one meet.

6)   Entries will be amended if swimmers who previously did not qualify for Meet of X-Cellence post Silver qualifying times.

 

NEW JERSEY SWIMMING’S SCY TIME STANDARDS NOW POSTED:

 

            The time standards for Junior Olympics and Silver Championships are now posted on both Elite’s (under time standards) and will shortly be posted on New Jersey Swimming’s website (njswim.com). Compared to last year, there have been minor changes to the New Jersey time standards.

 

With regards to the JO qualifying times, approximately 1/3 of the times have been tightened-the rest of the times remain the same as last year’s.

 

With regards to the Silver qualifying times, all time standards have remained the same as last year’s. This is a result of the success that the “Silver/Bronze” championship meet formats have had and the splitting of the meets into two meets at the 12 & Under level. Be advised that there may be “bottom” cuts for the 13 & Older Bronze levels swimmers, as last year’s 13 & O Silver/Bronze Championship Meet (which was hosted by Elite!!) needs to be reduced in size. This bottom cuts are not expected to be drastic.

 

Swimmers: lets get prepared to CRUSH these times!!!

 

BILL TO REPRESENT NJ SWIMMING AT USA SWIM COACHES CONVENTION IN ATLANTA NEXT WEEK:

 

            As Administrative Vice-Chairman of New Jersey Swimming, Elite Head Coach Bill Deatly will represent New Jersey Swimming at the annual USA Swim Coaches Convention to be held this week in Atlanta, Ga . This will be the 2nd convention Bill has attended (he also attended last year’s).

 

            The convention will run Wednesday thru Saturday. In addition to dozens of workshops ranging from stroke technique and biomechanical topics, there will be the general convention meeting and a NJ Board of Directors Meeting.

 

            Like last year, Bill expects to return with dozens of tips and ideas to improve the club at every level.

 

FULL SQUAD MEANS MAKE-UP PRACTICES ELIMINATED FOR NEXT YEAR;

 

            Based upon the large number of returning swimmers plus the impressive tryout numbers from July, it is a virtual guarantee that each training group within Elite will be fully subscribed next year (with 36 swimmers training in each training group). In anticipation that the previous practice of “make-ups” would thus cause overcrowding at workouts (which is what the team is attempting to prevent by limiting each training group to 36 swimmers), the previous Elite tradition of allowing “make-up” practices will NOT be offered next year.

 

Attendance levels will remain the same (with the one exception of Wave Golds attempting to become Senior Preps, that attendance minimum will drop to 80%).

 

In response to several parental questions regarding this change in policy, the Elite coaches are analyzing several scenarios to help swimmers with scheduling conflicts to have alternatives. More information on this will follow.

 

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!

 

WINTER SUNSHINE, HERE I COME;

SENIOR TRAINING TRIP DEPOSITS ARE DUE TODAY!!!:

 

            Seniors are reminded that the $500 deposit for the 2008-09 Senior Training Trip is due Monday, Sept 15. This year, the Elite Seniors will be traveling to Arizona State University from December 26 thru January 2. Fifteen Elite Seniors are expected to travel 3000 miles for the pleasure of working out 5 hours and swimming over 7 miles a day!! Hopefully, all long course!

 

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!!!              

 

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 three 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.

 

2) 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 QualifyTime

 

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

 

OFFICIALS & COMPUTER VOLUNTEERS NEEDED TO RUN MEETS:

ELITE TO HOST OFFICIALS CERTIFICATION CLASS AT NA ON OCT 2ND:

 

          To effectively run meets, Elite needs a variety of parents to volunteer their time and efforts during these meets. This season, Elite will be strongly encouraging those parents who have an interest to become New Jersey certified officials. To help in that effort, NJ Swimming will be hosting a series of certification classes thru the early part of the season. Elite will be hosting one of these classes at Newark Academy on Thursday, Oct 2nd from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm.

 

            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 6 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.

 

            To become an official, one needs to attend one of these certification classes. The official-to-be then needs to take an open book on-line officials test. Upon passing that test, the official-to-be apprentices for 4 sessions at NJ Swim Meets before earning the stroke & turn official rank.

 

            In addition, this year Elite will be building 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).

 

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

 

TIME TRIALS TO SOLVE “HAPPY” PROBLEM:

PARENTS: WE NEED TIMERS:

 

            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).

 

            Due to a variety of reasons, Elite will run this Time Trials meet by stop watch times only. Thus, we would like 3 watches on each lane (thus we need 18 timers!). Parents are requested to need to help time and officiate. Please volunteer to help out!!        

 

ELITE PARENTS SOCIAL TENATIVELY SCHEDULE FOR FRIDAY, OCT 17:

 

            Note from ESCPO (Elite Swim Club Parents Organization):

           

Following last years very successful social, we are looking forward to another great evening.  This year the social will be on Friday, October 17 from 7:30 to 10:30 PM.  Same location as last year- Chatham Fish & Game. We are looking for a few people to help with organizing this great event. Please grab a friend-old or new-and let us know if you would like to help.   Please contact 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!!!