ELITE NEWS BULLETIN 09-24-07
TIME TRIALS THIS
TUESDAY FOR WAVES-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 25 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. Elite does not use “guestimate” times for entries unless the meet is a Bronze level (no bottom cut times) nor does Elite use “conversion times” (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 and/or at the correct time.
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 Bill and Michael Turkot (the only ones at the
moment familiar with the electronic timing system) are both unavailable, the
Time Trials meet will be run just like a summer meet with 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!!
PRACTICE
SUIT, ACCESSORIES SALE SUNDAY, OCTOBER 1ST:
Elite will hold a “Swimming Accessories Sale” Sunday, Sept 30 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, fins, 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, a team t-shirt and a team sweatshirt as part of their membership of Elite apart from this sale. This sale is for items to be used during practice.
SWIMMING PHENOM KATE ZIEGLER
& OLYMPIAN JOSH DAVIS TO HANG
WITH THE ELITE SWIM CLUB ON SUNDAY, OCTOBER 21!!!
19 year old distance phenom Kate
Ziegler & Olympian Josh Davis are on their way to the Elite Swim Club on
Sunday, October 21 for a swim clinic sponsored by the Elite Swim Club Parents
Organization!!
In June 2007, Ziegler shattered
the oldest World Record in the books-Janet Evans’s March, 1988 1500 meter free
time of 15.52.10 by turning in a head turning, mind boggling time of 15.42.54
(10 seconds under the 19 year old WR time!!!). Ziegler is also currently the
top USA swimmer in the 400 meter and 800 meter free. Kate is expected to
participate in her first Olympics in China in 2008.
Davis is a two time Olympian-1996
& 2000. Davis was the only triple gold medallist at the 1996 Olympic Games,
winning gold medals in 400 meter and 800 meter free individual events plus the
participating in the 400 medley relay. Davis also placed 2nd in the
400 and 800 meter free in the 2000 Olympics.
More detailed information will be forthcoming in the near future. The cost is will be $50 per swimmer and each participant will receive a goody bag including an autographed picture of each clinician.
BILL TO REPRESENT NJ SWIMMING AT USA SWIM COACHES
CONVENTION IN CAL THIS 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 Garden Grove, Ca (near Irvine, Cal). This will be the 1st convention Bill has attended.
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.
Bill expects to return with dozens of tips and ideas to improve the club at every level.
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 friends back!
ELITE TO BACK “SUNSHINE KIDS” FUNDRAISER ON OCTOBER 6:
Senior swimmers Chris Dart, Corey Deatly , Tad Deatly and Michael Strand have committed to lead an Elite contingent in swimming sponsored laps on Saturday, October 6 at the Summit YMCA from 3:00 pm to 6:00 pm to raise money for The Sunshine Kids, a national organization that provides activities for children with cancer. These swimmers are looking for fellow Elite swimmers to join them as participants!!!
Sponsored by Prudential New Jersey Properties of New Providence and Summit, this fundraiser raised over $5,000 last year.
Any and all Elite swimmers are invited to attend. All a swimmer needs to do is to raise money for their laps and then show up and swim.
Information posters regarding this
event are posted at both Newark Academy and Morristown Beard. The website for
The Sunshine Kids is: http://www.sunshinekids.org/.
PARENTS TO
PARTY ON FRIDAY, OCT 12:
The Elite Swim
Club Parents Organization (ESCPO) will hold its 1st ever Elite Parent social on
Friday Oct. 12 from 7:30 pm to 10:00 pm at the Chatham Fish & Game Club (41
Fairmount Ave, across from the Chatham train station). Please come join us for our
inaugural parent get-together. Come
enjoy some beer, wine, appetizers and dessert, and socialize with other swim
team parents in a chlorine free setting!
RSVP by Thursday, Oct 4th to
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 swimmer’s 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).
PARKING AN ISSUE AT NEWARK ACADEMY:
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.
TENTATIVE MEET SCHEDULE NOW POSTED:
The tentative Winter 2007-08 Meet Schedule is now posted under Meet Schedule.
Please be advised as to the following:
1) 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. Already, several Oct dates will be changed due to Newark Academy and Morristown-Beard conflicts!!!
2) Elite is exploring the possibility of participating in 2 important & different "travel" meets this coming year. Although nothing is set at this time, these are the meets are currently under consideration:
1) Elite is exploring participating in Sectionals outside the Eastern Zone (quite probably Indiana). Thus, the dates for this meet are fluid since Sectionals in different USA Zones are held on different weekends. It is highly likely Elite will participate in a Sectional meet outside the Eastern Zone.
2) Elite is exploring participating in a travel meet for Age Groupers and/or Seniors. One possibility is in April AFTER NJ Swimming's Championships (this would extend the SCY season for many Elite swimmers). Elite is also exploring a travel meet in January, 2008 for Age Groupers Only.
It is extremely unlikely Elite will participate in two different travel meets for the Age Groupers this season but it is extremely likely Elite will participate in one of these two options.
Stay tuned for additional information!!!
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 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 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.
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).
New Officials:
there will be a new officials clinic, hosted by Elite Swim Club and Morris
County Swim Club, at Morristown Beard School on Thursday, October 11 from 7:00
pm to 9:00 pm.
Anyone with interest in either volunteer positions should contact Bill as soon as possible.
SUMMER “20”:
PARENTS NEED TO GET INFO TO BILL:
Last summer, the Elite coaches challenged swimmers in the Wavebuster Teal, Marlin Black and Marlin Teal training groups to add Elite swim practices to their summer regiment. Five workouts for each of these training groups plus a calendar were posted on Elite’s website. Swimmers were challenged to do 20 workouts during the summer and parents were requested to keep tabs of these workouts on the calendar.
Parents of the “stud” swimmers who met the challenge and
completed a minimum of 20 of these workouts are requested to get the calendar
to Bill (by email or place it in Bill’s mailbox) so that Elite can organize and
present the earned rewards. This needs to be done by Friday, Sept 22 (end of
the 1st week of practice for these training groups).
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!!! If you do not see what you need, email Bill at eliteswimclubnj@comcast.net