ELITE NEWS BULLETIN               9-27-10

 

    “Cultivating Excellence in Academics, Character and Swimming”

 

 

TO BE THE BEST, ELITE WILL LEARN FROM THE BEST;

COACHES MICHAEL TURKET, PATTY MARTIN AND BILL DEATLY TO VISIT SWIMMAC TO LEARN FROM DAVE MARSH, COACHING LEGEND:

 

          If we want to be the best, we need to learn from the best. Elite will be doing just that in the coming weeks, as 3 coaches will be traveling to North Carolina to spend 3 days with Coaching Legend Dave Marsh and his staff.

 

            Marsh, the architect of the Auburn University Swimming dynasty in the late 1990’s and early 2000’s, is now the Head Coach of SwimMAC program in Charlotte, North Carolina. While at Auburn, Marsh led the Tigers to 12 Division I national championships (7 men and 5 women) and was named National Coach of the year 8 times. Earlier this month David was inducted to the American Swimming Coaches Association Hall of Fame. Among his past and current hopeful Olympian swimmers are New Jerseyian Cullen Jones, Nick Thoman, Josh Schneider & Fred Bosquet (on the French Relay team that Jason Lezak caught!!).

 

            Michael Turkot and Patty Martin will travel to SwimMAC this coming weekend (Sept 30 thru Oct 2) for a 3 day coaches session. This program is structured to have Elite coaches watch SwimMAC practices and interact with SwimMAC coaches on how to run a better, more efficient practice at each level within Elite.

 

            Bill Deatly will follow by attending a similar session Oct 14 thru Oct 16. Bill’s focus will be more global, seeing how Elite can emulate the best of SwimMAC here in NJ on a club wide basis.

 

            Assuming this program works as well as anticipated, Elite plans to send other Elite coaches on a regular basis to pick the brains of the best of the best. Tentatively, Coach Cindy Ross is scheduled to travel to SwimMAC this spring.

 

ESCPO OFFERING NEW CLOTHING ITEMS FOR WINTER 2010-11:

ITEMS ON SALE UNTIL 10-10-10; CONTACT ALLISON NASH FOR:

 

            The Elite Swim Club Parents Organization (“ESCPO”) is now coordinating “Elite-wear” for the Winter 2010-11 Season. This clothing is available for purchase by all Elite swimmers from now until October 10, 2010 (10-10-10).  New this year is an Elite embroidered fleece jacket, a blanket, a v-neck t-shirt, open legged sweatpants and a Elite logo and personalized swim backpack. Back by popular demand is the Elite rowing jacket.

 

            The order forms on now posted on the team website at: http://www.eliteswimclub.org/Parents%20Org/Homepage.htm

 

            Allison Nash (ALLISONRNASH@MSN.COM) is the parent organization’s contact. Parents/swimmers can bring the forms and check to practice where it can be collected by ESCPO.

 

ESCPO HAS SCHEDULED ITS 4TH ANNUAL PARENT SOCIAL FOR FRIDAY, OCT 22:

PARTY TO RETURN TO CHATHAM’S FISH & GAME:

 

            The Elite Swim Club Parents Organization (“ESCPO”) is planning its 4th annual Parent Social for Friday, October 22nd from 7:30 to 10:30 pm at the Chatham Fish & Game Club in Chatham.  The Parent Social Invitation is now posted on the website under the Parents Organization tab and attached to this week’s memo email. The link is http://www.eliteswimclub.org/Parents%20Org/Homepage.htm

 

            We need people to help on the night of the Social (set-up and clean-up) as well as a few people to help with shopping. Please let us know when you RSVP if you can help.  Please RSVP to Carolyn Balbo at cbalbo@comcast.net. 

1ST PARENT WORKSHOP ADDRESSES ELITE STRUCTURE:

NEXT PARENT WORKSHOP (NUTRITION): TUESDAY, OCTOBER 19 AT NEWARK ACADEMY:    

            This past Wednesday, approximately 25 parents spent an 90 minutes with Head Coach Bill Deatly discussing the philosophy and structure of the Elite Swim Club.

            The next planned Parent Workshop is scheduled for Tuesday, October 19 from 6:45 pm to 8:15 pm at Newark Academy. The main topic of discussion will be nutrition for athletes.

            All Elite parents are welcome to attend.

SPECIAL DAY: 10-10-10 (SUNDAY, OCTOBER 10);

“MIRACLE MAN” JASON LEZAK TO VISIT ELITE!!!

91 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.

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!

 

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. 

 

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!

 

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.

 

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.

           

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!!!