ELITE NEWS BULLETIN 9-20-10
“Cultivating Excellence in Academics, Character and Swimming”
USA SWIMMING
PASSES LANDMARK LEGISLATION
AIMED AT
PROTECTING OUR ATHLETES:
On Saturday, Sept 18, USA Swimming, at its annual convention, passed strong landmark legislation providing significant protection for athletes from all types of abuse. This legislation puts USA Swimming at the forefront of all USA National Governing Bodies (federally mandated organizations that oversee structured athletic development-such as gymnastics, track & field, swimming, etc).
Within the past year, USA Swimming has come under media attack that not enough safeguards were in place to protect our athletes from sexual predators. Although this criticism was mostly inaccurate, the result of the new legislation is that USA Swimming has moved to a position of leading the pack of NGB’s on this issue.
Elite will be implementing the policies and the guidelines (some guidelines unfortunately are unwieldy) put into practice by USA Swimming. Also prominent will be education (provided by USA Swimming and Head Coach Bill) to the Elite club membership as to how to spot and/or prevent sexual abuse from ever happening (each of us must be ever vigilant).
PARENT
WORKSHOPS: 1st DATE IS (THIS) WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 22ND
In
an effort to educate parents about swimming in general and specifically Elite’s
philosophy, Head Coach Bill will conduct the 1st of many Parent
Workshops once a month during the Winter 2010-11 Training Season at Newark
Academy this Wednesday, September 22.
Each
workshop will consist of a lecture regarding a specific topic (like nutrition)
and will have time set aside for general questions. This week’s workshop will
focus on Elite’s overall Philosophy, structure and the goals the coaches have
for your swimmer along with a discussion on Online Predators and how we (as
parents) can greatly reduce the risk to your swimmer.
PRACTICE
SUIT, ACCESSORIES SALE SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 26TH:
Elite will hold a “Swimming Accessories Sale” Sunday, September 26th at Morristown-Beard from 12:00 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/has received a team suit, two team t-shirts, a team
sweatshirt & team racing caps as part of their membership of Elite. These
items have/will be distributed separate and distinct from this sale.
NA OPEN
HOUSES NOW A SCHEDULING ISSUE:
The practice schedule during three
Saturdays this fall will change as Newark Academy will no longer let Elite
train during their Open House programs. For the previous 15 years, Elite was
allowed to train during NA Open Houses.
On October 2, October 16 &
October 30, the practice schedule will change for the Wavebuster Golds,
Wavebuster Blacks and the Wavebuster Teals; this groups will practice in mid
day/afternoon at Newark Academy rather in the morning/mid day.
The changed practice schedule will
remain the same for all 3 dates.
Elite will be unaffected on the 4th
NA Open House this fall as swimmers from the 3 affected training groups will be
at a meet on Nov 13.
POOLS WILL BREAK
DOWN; CHECK EMAIL AND WEBSITE FOR INFORMATION:
The unfortunate fact of swimming pools is that they occasionally breakdown. And usually when it is most inconvenient (like the beginning of the season).
Thru the email chain, a blast will be sent to all swimmers if practice is unexpected cancelled. In addition, a note will be placed prominently on the website front page announcing the cancellation of the practice. This note 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!
SPECIAL DAY: 10-10-10 (SUNDAY, OCTOBER 10);
“MIRACLE
MAN” JASON LEZAK TO VISIT ELITE!!!
64 SWIMMERS ALREADY
REGISTERED!!
Absolutely, positively mark your
calendar for Sunday, October 10th!!! The Elite Swim Club Parents
Organization has tentatively arranged for world class swimmer Jason Lesak, best
known for his come from behind anchor leg in the 4 x 100 Free Relay at the 2008
Beijing Olympics that caught the world’s fastest swimmer and gave the USA a
“miracle” win (and finished Michael Phelps quest to win 8 gold medals!!), to
visit Elite in an exclusive swim clinic. The event is provided in conjunction
with Mutual of Omaha (a USA Swimming sponsor) and Josh Davis, a former Olympian
and world record holder in the 200 free, who now coordinates such clinics.
Reservations
are now being taken (see attached flyer!!). The list of those who have
registered is linked: http://www.eliteswimclub.org/Olympian/Olympians/jason_lezak%20homepage.htm
Lezak, whose anchor leg of 46.06
(still the fastest 100 lcm free split time ever), will spend 4 hours (tentatively
11 am to 3 pm) exclusively with Elite swimmers. The cost of the clinic has not
yet been set, but ESCPO, with dues collected last year and this year, will
offset the cost with a donation towards the total cost of the clinic. Davis,
who thoroughly entertained Elite Swimmers in October 2007 when he hosted a
similar clinic at Elite with teenage swimming phenom Kate Zieglar, will join
Lezak at the clinic.
Lezak is a two time Olympian,
representing the USA in both the 2004 Athens and 2008 Beijing Olympics, and is
one of the titans of USA Swimming. Jason participated this past week at the Pan
Pacific Games held in his home pool in Irvine, California (also site of the Jr.
Nats meet, which Michael Strand participated in). Jason has won 7 Olympic
medals to date and is expected to seriously contend in multiple events for a
third Olympic berth in 2012. Information regarding Lezak can be viewed at his
website: http://jasonlezak.com/pages/bio.html.
Thanks to Susan Gorham and Antone
Balbo, for coordinating this event.
MEET ENTRIES
FOR FALL CHALLENGE & FALL RALLY IN THE PIPELINE:
WANT TO
SAVE $? LET BILL KNOW PRIOR TO ENTRIES SUBMITTED
THAT YOUR
SWIMMER WILL NOT ATTEND A MEET (OR A SPECIFIC DAY OF THE MEET):
EVENTS TO DOVE-TAILE TO UPDATE WIDEST VARIETY OF TIMES:
Swimmers who know they are not
available for all or part of Fall Challenge & Fall Rally should email Bill
early this week. The email will actually result in the family saving 50% of the
entry fee (credit to be posted on the swimmer’s next bill).
At Fall Challenge (Sunday, Oct 23),
the Wavebuster Golds, Wavebuster Blacks, Wavebuster Teals and Marlin Blacks
will be participating.
At Fall Rally (Friday, Nov 12 thru
Sunday, Nov 14), the Seniors, Senior Preps, Wavebuster Golds, Wavebuster
Blacks, Wavebuster Teals and Marlin Blacks will be participating.
All swimmers (and parents-with the
exception of the Marlin Teals) are expected to participate and work Distance
Derby (Nov 20 & Nov 21) during the sessions that their swimmers are
participating)..
Any
parent who knows their child is NOT available for one or more of these meets
(and if they are not available for 1 day of a 2 day meet) should email Bill
NOW!!!
Swimmers and parents should note that Elite’s philosophy
is to dove-tail entries for several meets. This gives the swimmer the opportunity
to update the widest variety of events and distances.
TEAM UNIFORM DISTRIBUTED:
IF YOU WANT
IT BACK, PUT YOUR NAME ON EVERYTHING!!!!
In our continuing attempt to be the
best swim club in New Jersey, Elite has already begun the process of handing
our the team uniform to each of its swimmers. The team uniform consists of a
team racing suit, a team cap, two t-shirts and a sweat shirt. All swimmers will
receive a team uniform (swimmers who tried out last
week will receive their uniform within the next week).
If a swimmer feels they have been
sized incorrectly, they need to follow the instructions provided with the
uniform for returning that item. Please note that racing suits need to be very
tight; any swimmer wanting to return a suit will need to model it for a coach
prior to it being returned.
Once your uniform is complete, please put the swimmer’s name on everything!!!
Please note that each 185 Elite Swimmers have the same uniform, so if one
leaves an item at a meet, it will only be returned if it has one’s name on it.
If it does not have a name on it, the item will go into a general lost and
found and is available for anyone to take.
Swimmers
and Parents are also advised to also put the swimmer’s name on all practice
suits, pull buoys, fins, towels, etc.
AWARDS DINNER TO BE HELD SUNDAY, APRIL 10, 2011;
SCHOLAR/ATHLETE
AWARDS WILL BE HIGHLIGHT;
The 16th annual Elite Awards Banquet will be held Sunday, April 10 from 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm at the Hanover Marriott (site of the last 6 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 2011.
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!
TENTATIVE MEET SCHEDULE NOW UPDATED:
The tentative Winter 2010-11 Meet Schedule is updated & posted on the team website under Meet Schedule. It has been amended since first posted in July. It will continue to be amended as the season progresses.
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 BILLS EMAILED WEEK OF SEPT 13TH;
Electronic bills were emailed to each
family last Tuesday, Sept 14. If a parent did not receive a bill, they should
email Bill immediately.
The bill reflected the $300 deposit
posted this summer by each family per swimmer. The new bill was for 50% of the
total outstanding charge due for the remaining season. In mid November, a 2nd
bill for the remaining charge due will also be emailed.
Within the $300 deposit from this
summer was the only extraneous charge one will receive from Elite this winter.
This charge was for the Elite Swim Club Parents Organization (ESCPO). An
explanation of what this organization does follows:
ESCPO: AN EXPLANATION:
The Elite Swim Club Parents
Organization’s purpose is to provide support to the swimmers, coaches and
families of the Elite Swim Club by fostering a socially enriching, supportive, positive
sportsmanlike, open and inclusive team atmosphere.
This year, ESCPO has coordinated and will help offset the costs for hosting 2-time Olympian Jason Lezak in a closed swim clinic for Elite Swimmers only on Sunday, October 10 (11 am to 3 pm).
ESCPO also hosts a Parents Welcome Cocktail party, barbecue’s at several swim meets, Float Night, the coordination and cost of the Memory Book provided to each swimmer at the Awards Dinner, Publicity. Recently, ESCPO’s meetings have been opened to all Parents.
As part of the $300 deposit, Elite collected the ESCPO charge assessed to each Elite family ($30 for a single child and $60 for 2 or more swimmers). Elite has acted solely as a collection agency on this matter. Parents are reminded that this is their organization!!
2010-11 SCY TIME
STANDARDS NOW POSTED:
New Jersey Swimming has published the new time standards for the Winter 2010-11 Short Course Season. These standards are now posted on the team website under Time Standards at the link: http://www.eliteswimclub.org/Time%20Standards/home_page.htm
CLOTHING ITEMS PREVIOUSLY
PURCHASED THRU ESCPO NOW IN: CONTACT ALLISON NASH:
The clothing items previously purchased thru ESCPO have arrived. Parents are encouraged to contact Allison Nash to arrange pick-up at Newark Academy. Allison’s email address is ALLISONRNASH@MSN.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!!!