ELITE NEWS BULLETIN 10-23-06

AGE GROUP AND SENIOR TEAM 1000:

THE “WHY” BEHIND THE DISTANCE MADNESS:

During the past two weekends, swimmers in the Senior, Senior Prep, Wave Golds and Wave Black training groups have been timed in the 1000 yard freestyle. To the average Elite parent, the obvious question must be “Why have my kid timed in the 1000 when it is unlikely they will compete in this event during the season”?

The answer is simple: knowledge of a swimmer’s time in the 1000 will give coaches valuable information on how to train our swimmer for all events the rest of the season.

Swimming fast has 3 components: 1) stroke technique 2) proper conditioning and 3) positive mental attitudes regarding racing. Within proper conditioning, there are 3 energy systems a swimmer needs to train: 1) distance 2) interval/pace and 3) explosive/sprint. The 1000 pertains directly to #2, the interval/pace sets.

This season, Elite has adopted a training system based upon the legendary Doc Councilman’s scientific system of training an athlete. Councilman’s University of Indiana swim teams established the greatest dynasty of swimming, spanning 40 years (Among the multitude of All-American and Olympics swimmers Doc coached was a guy named Mark Spitz).

According to Councilman, if the athlete and coach can understand the intensity of an athlete’s training, that intensity can be sciencifically adjusted throughout the season; providing a very efficient method of training. To monitor one’s intensity, one needs to know their heart rate per minute while training (take it after each practice swim). During the past month, each Elite swimmer in the Seniors, Senior Preps, Wave Gold and Wave Blacks have learned to take their own heart rate and have been taught what that heart rate means.

By swimming a hard 1000 yard/meter swim, an athlete can maintain a heart rate of approximately 170, which is a high but not an explosive heart rate (sprint). By getting a swimmer’s time in the 1000, coaches/swimmers can then establish what interval/pace a swimmer can train at during practice during an interval set while maintaining a heart rate of 170. If a coach wants a higher heart rate, the interval can be adjusted so there is less rest (forcing the heart rate up a bit) OR a swimmer needs to swim faster. As a result, both the coach and the swimmer can make adjustments!!!

Councilman was so brilliant that he recognized that no swimmer can swim all ou,t all practice, all season long. Thus, he established specific sets in which a swimmer should swim all out and others where he/she should hold a more moderate pace in within each practice. Throughout the season, the all out sets change: moving from distance sets to speed sets (as we near the championship meets).

Now that the swimmers have pace times equating a heart rate of 170, the coaches and swimmers can work together to get the correct interval/pace sets for optimum training. This should translate into more efficient training and ultimately, very fast times.

WEEKEND OF LEARNING FOR ELITE COACHES, SWIMMERS:

Elite coaches and swimmers spent the weekend learning, and it appears it was quite a productive learning session.

With the Age Group Team 1000, coaches and swimmers have a basis on which to develop optimum interval sets within their workouts from this point forward.

On Sunday, 52 swimmers and two coaches (Bill and Linda) spent 4 hours with Coach Dean Hutchinson (of Rider University) learning on how to develop their start and streamline techniques. Hutchinson is a former world class sprinter from Auburn University who helped develop Auburn’s reknown starting techniques. If applied on a regular basis, starts and turns by Elite swimmers will develop greatly thru out the season.

From Friday thru Sunday, Leighann and Ashley attended the Eastern States Swim Clinic in Cherry Hill, New Jersey. Speaking at the conference were Michael Phelps, Bob Bowman (Phelp’s coach), Richard Quick (former Stanford Women’s coach), Olympian Kaitlin Sandeno, Jim Richardson (U of Michigan’s Women’s coach) and many more. Leighann and Ashley will report back to the other Elite coaches on what they learned and how Elite can apply what they learned to the daily Elite workouts.

TRAINING GROUP PARENTS MEETINGS THIS WEEK:

The Elite Swim Club Parents Organization (ESCPO) is holding Training Group Parents Meetings this coming week during practices. All parents are requested to attend.

The purpose of the meetings is two fold: 1) ESCPO needs a Parent Representative from each training group. This Parent Representative will be a sounding board for parents in each training group to communicate to the Board. In addition, the Parent Representative will be have minor responsibilities and will be expected to attend 1 specific ESCPO Board Meeting each year and 2) for Sharon Bronsnan and Brandy Deatly to explain the different responsibilities needed for Elite to run Distance Derby and to begin coordinating the parents efforts for this meet.

    The meetings, which should not last more than 45 minutes, are scheduled as follows:

Marlin Teal and Wave Blacks: Tuesday, October 24: at Newark Academy at 5:30 pm in the bleachers

Senior and Senior Preps: Wednesday, October 25: at Morristown-Beard at 6:00 pm in the upstairs Pool Hallway

Marlin Black & Wave Teal: Thursday, October 26: at Newark Academy at 6:00 pm in the bleachers

Wave Gold: Thursday, October 26: at Newark Academy at 6:45 pm in the bleachers

In order for Elite to continue to grow and develop, we need each parent's involvement. Please plan to have at least one parent attend.

JUST AHEAD: BIG WEEKEND OF COMPETITION:

For every swimmer in the Seniors, Senior Preps, Wave Gold, Wave Blacks and Wave Teals, there is major competition this coming weekend.

Because of a quirk in this year’s meet schedule, both Fall Festival and Hall-O-Ween Classics are being held on the same weekend (in the past Fall Festival has been held in November). Elite has elected to compete at both meets (with some swimmers even swimming 1 meet one day and the other meet the 2^nd day).

Both meets will provide swimmers with a guide post of where they are at this stage of the season. Times recorded at this meet will determine if swimmers qualify for high level meets in December and January (such as Holiday Classic, Christmas Meet in Pittsburgh and Winterfest).

Swimmers need to get excited, as this weekend is important!!!

AND SOME HELPFUL DO’S AND DON’TS TO HELP TO HELP YOU SUCCEED:

Here are some Do’s and Don’ts that will be helpful this weekend and the rest of the season:

DO stay well hydrated (drink good fluids) and stay well rested (get sleep).

DO eat a variety of colorful healthy foods. 

DO get to practice on time (early).

DO wear hooded sweat shirts and wear sweats to drylands.

DO carry a symmetrical double strap backpack to school- use both shoulder straps to evenly distribute weight.  Side slung book bags creats uneven stress on the body-which has to compensate for the uneven weight and often times leads to shoulder, hip, knee injuries.

DO congratulate and cheer your teammates for a job well done OR a challenge met-att practice or at a meet. Be a leader of enthusiasm!!!

DO repeat to yourself Elite training philosophy:  "Today is my most important practice because..." 

DON'T forget you are not just any swimmer; you are an ELITE swimmer AND an Elite Person. Correct behavior is as important (if not more important) than fast times.

DON’Tt eat junk food (and yes, that includes all candy in the machine at MBS).

DISTANCE DERBY ON THE HORIZON;

HOSTING MEET TAKES FULL TEAM EFFORT:

Each year, Elite runs two (Distance Derby and the 9-10 Silver/Bronze Championships) New Jersey Sanctioned Swim Meets. Elite hosts these two meets for two reasons: 1) to provide opportunities for our swimmers to compete and 2) as a team fundraiser to help keep the costs of running the team down.

Distance Derby will be held on Saturday, November 18 & Sunday, November 19. Swimmers in the Wave Teals, Wave Blacks, Wave Golds, Senior Preps and Seniors will compete in this meet. Parents from these 5 training groups will be expected to help organize and run the meet (there are a myriad of jobs that are needed to be performed during each session each day). In addition, the parents from these 5 training groups will be asked for a small donation (bagels, box of power bars, napkins, etc). These donations will be requested to be delivered to Newark Academy the week prior to the meet.

Parents of the Marlin Teals and Marlin Blacks will also be requested to make a small donation (a case of water per family).

Please plan to do your part!!!

ESCPO NEWS...

Yankee Candle Sale - Reminder - Please turn in your completed order in the
Parent Organization Folder in Bill's box at Newark Academy or for Morristown Beard swimmers, forms can be given to Bill.  Orders are due now! Thanks to all those who submitted their orders, the response has been great!  Email Sandi Niccolai (sandnic@aol.com), should you have any questions or comments.

ESCPO Registration - For those who have not registered for the Parent Organizaiton, forms will be available at the upcoming Training Group Meetings, or please check under the Parent Org section of the team website. Completed forms should be returned to the Parent Organization folder in Bill's box at Newark Academy, or for Morristown Beard swimmers, forms can be given to Bill. You will receive a team directory, once your registration is completed.          

Training Group Meetings - All parents are requested to attend.

Elite Wear and Accessories - Forms for ESC merchandise orders, created by Jodiand Paul Shepard, are also available on the website under Parents Org. This merchandise is available for a limited time. Orders are due by Oct 31 to insure timely delivery for the holidays.

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!!!