ELITE NEWS BULLETIN               09-28-09         

 

 

TEAM UNIFORM DISTRIBUTED THIS PAST WEEK; PERSONALIZE CAPS WILL BE A WHILE;

 

            Elite distributed its team uniform to all members this past week (Thursday, Friday & Sunday).  Swimmers and parents are reminded that these items are to be worn at Elite meets; thus, not losing them is a top priority.

 

            The personalize cap order was received but the order was incorrect (caps were printed on the wrong Elite logo/cap). Thus, Elite will be reordering all personalized caps and it will take some time for the new caps to be received.

 

            If all items fit, it is STRONGLY suggested that the swimmer’s name be clearly printed on the label of each item (as items are constantly lost or left at meets). With a name, the items will get returned to the owner. Without a name, the items go into the lost & found at Newark Academy and become fair game. Elite has a small inventory of the uniform so lost items can be purchased from Elite for their retail cost.

 

            If there is an item that does not fit, please follow the procedure described in the letter accompanying the team uniform as to how to return the item. Please note that racing suits need to be snug (swimmers should expect receiving a significantly smaller suit that their standard practice suit size). Racing suits are designed to reduce drag in the water, but can only do so if the suit is snug. Racing suits will only be exchanged after Bill or Brandy has seen the suit in question on the swimmer and they are convinced the suit is not the proper size. Please note most summer league teams size suits INCORRECTLY (we are the professionals, they are the 1 month a year coaches or parent volunteers).

 

            Prior to meet day, swimmers need to check the meet information to understand what uniform is to be worn at which day of the meet (easy way to be always right, pack one of each t-shirt).

 

ELITE PARENTS SOCIAL SCHEDULED FOR FRIDAY, OCT 9; RSVP BY OCT 2ND  (THIS FRIDAY); ESCPO ELECTION TO TAKE PLACE AT SOCIAL:

 

 

            ESCPO (Elite Swim Club Parents Organization) is planning its 3rd parent social for Friday, October 9th. Tentative plans are for the social to be held from 7:30 pm to 10:30 pm at the Chatham Fish & Game Club in Chatham.  Anyone interested in helping please email Sandi Niccolai at sandnic@aol.com.

 

            Parent Social invitation is now posted on the Parents Org page and attached to this weeks email.  The Parent Social is on October 9th- please RSVP by the 2nd.  We need people to help on the night of the Social (set-up and clean-up)-Please let us know when you respond if you can help.

 

            President Sandi Niccolai has also announced the nominations for the 2009-10 ESCPO Board. Please go to the Parents Org page to view the ESCPO Newsletter with information about Board elections and the Parent Social. Voting for these positions will be held at the Oct 9th social.

 

REMINDER From ESCPO President Sandi Niccolai...Don't forget to RSVP by Friday October 2nd for the Parent Social that is on October 9th.    Thank you to those of you that emailed your responses or signed up yesterday at the suit sale.  We look forward to seeing you there!

 

 

PRACTICE SCHEDULE DISTRUPTED BY FACILITY FUNCTIONS, COLUMBUS DAY AND JEWISH HOLIDAYS:

 

        During September and October, the practice schedule is disrupted by facility functions (such as back to school nights, parents days and homecoming weekends), Columbus Day and the Jewish Holidays. Please get in the habit of having your swimmer constantly checking the practice schedule.

 

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.

 

Next week, the names of those swimmers who have not turned in their paper work will be listed in the weekly bulletin.

 

GOING GREEN, ELITE EMAILED BILLS THIS WEEK; ROSTER ALSO TO FOLLOW ELECTRONICALLY:

 

            “Greenonomics” has reached Elite. Following last spring’s very successful first attempt at email billing, last week Elite electronically sent out bills to each family for the Winter 2009-10 Season thru email.

 

If you did not receive a bill, please contact Bill immediately.

 

Elite will also email out shortly the roster to each family. The roster is meant to be kept within the Elite Family and not to be shared outside this circle. Your teammates and their families appreciate your willingness to respect their privacy.

 

 

MEET ENTRIES TO FALL FESTIVAL OF X-CELLENCE”, HALL-O-WEEN & DISTANCE DERBY TO BE POSTED SHORTLY; EVENTS DOVE-TAILED TO UPDATE WIDEST VARIETY OF TIMES:

 

            Hard as it may be to believe, Elite has already sent in entries for a New Jersey Swimming meet and will be doing so for 3 additional ones shortly.

 

To insure we get as much data on our swimmers as possible, for these 3 meets where possible the meet entries will be dovetailed (swimmers will swim the widest variety of strokes and distances as possible between the three meets).

 

Please note that with respect to Halloween, all Wave Golds, Wave Blacks, Wave Teals & Marlin Blacks will be entered.

 

Please note with respect to Fall Festival, there are qualifying times (and if a swimmer makes 1 time with the session, they are allowed to swim 3 events). All Seniors, Senior Preps, Wave Golds, Wave Blacks, Wave Teals and Marlin Blacks WHO QUALIFY will be entered into this meet. The only exception will be those swimmers who also qualify for NYC OPEN, held the same weekend. Bill will determine which meet (or both-different days) these swimmers will attend. NYC OPEN is an extremely high level meet where only the top Senior level swimmers will come (qualifying times are approximately 15 & Older Junior Olympic times-long course).

 

Please note with respect to Distance Derby, all Seniors, Senior Preps, Wave Golds, Wave Blacks & Wave Teals will be entered into this meet.

           

 

POOLS 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). While it has not happened this September so far, Newark Academy and Morristown-Beard have been down early in the season in prior seasons. In addition, winter storms (or even the threat of winter storms) will shut down the facilities.

 

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!

 

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.

 

 

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 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.

 

 

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!!!