ELITE NEWS BULLETIN 11-26-07
DART TO REPRESENT ELITE AT SC NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS:
This weekend, Elite’s Chris Dart will compete at USA Swimming’s 2007 ConocoPhillips Short Course National Championships at Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta, Georgia. This is the last national level meet USA Swimming will sponsor prior to the Olympic Trials in June 2008.
Chris, qualifying on his blistering 51.07 time at last spring’s Junior Olympics, will race the nation’s fastest swimmers in the 100 yard backstroke, his specialty, this Friday. During the course of the three day meet (Thursday-Saturday), Chris will also compete in two time trials (events to be determined but likely two out of the following: the 200 IM, 50 Free or the 200 back).
USA Swimming will also provide an opportunity for these elite athletes to compete long course, as there is a one-day, two-session long course meet held on Sunday at the same site. Since an athlete must qualify for Olympic Trials in a long course meter venue (there are no conversion times or comparable short course qualifying times), this one day meet provides the nation’s best with another chance to qualify for Trials. Chris is entered in 5 events, again including the 100 meter backstroke, on Sunday.
In a change from past nationals meets, Chris will be accompanied by Senior Assistant Coach Michael Turkot (rather than by Bill).
Good luck
Chris!!!
THREE MARLIN TEALS PROMOTED INTO MARLIN BLACKS:
Based upon great attendance
and tremendous improvement during the past 3 months, three swimmers have been
promoted from the Marlin Teals into the Marlin Blacks. These swimmers will be
notified by mail and will begin training in their new group immediately upon
their receipt of the promotion letter. No swimmer from any other training
group is under consideration for promotion until the Spring 2008 session.
Although this is a change from past promotion schedules (other than this instance, swimmers in Elite are not promoted until a new training session begins), with this year’s practice schedule change that has Marlin Teals and Marlin Blacks practicing at identical times each week, it is logical to reward beginner swimmers who are progressing rapidly and coming to practice. Many of the new swimmers (to Elite this Fall) were placed in the Marlin Teals with the expectation that they could be promoted prior to the next session if they developed. It is likely in the future that all swimmers at the Marlin level will initially be placed in the Marlin Teals and then provided the opportunity to be promoted in mid-winter session.
Coach Ashley Johnston and Coach Becky Marcelliano recommended these three promotions since these swimmers have mastered their stroke drills, have great attendance and are ready to be challenged at a higher level.
There are swimmers in the Marlin
Teals who have mastered their stroke drills but who were not be considered for
promotion since their attendance is lower than 70%. The coaches may make
further recommendations to Bill for promotions between now and January 1st
if they feel the swimmer has competed the necessary requirements to train at
the Marlin Black level (ie improved stroke drills, improved attendance). No
swimmer will be promoted after January 1st until the Spring Session
promotions.
WITH DECEMBER COMES WEATHER,
CHECK WEBSITE/EMAIL FOR PRACTICE CANCELLATIONS:
Weather will have an affect on practice schedules and meet starting times. When in doubt, check the Elite website and your email for information regarding time changes due to weather.
Be advised that both Newark Academy and Morristown Beard tend to close down at the forecast of bad weather. In addition, safety is extremely important. Thus, weather is likely to interrupt practice and even if it does not, parents should make decisions based upon their comfort level regarding travel to and from practice.
TENATIVE HOLIDAY PRACTICE SCHEDULE
POSTED:
The holiday practice schedule is now posted on the website under Practice Schedule. While likely this will be Elite’s practice schedule over the holiday, it is subject to change.
SICK? COULD BE YOUR LACK OF “AT HOME” SWIMMING DETAILS!!!
Are you sick? Got
the flu, strep or a bad head cold? Your sickness is probably caused by
your own lack of swimming details!!!
Since we are
heading towards our heaviest training (December & January), swimmers are “broken
down” or tired based upon the heavy swimming workload. To stay healthy, each
swimmer needs to practice their “at home” swimming details: drinking lots of
fluids, eating properly and often, getting enough sleep and dressing properly
for winter.
There are
literally dozens of swimmers that ignore these vital “at home” swimming
details, and most of these swimmers end up missing significant training and/or
actually missing their meets because they do not live their “at home” swimming
details. These swimmers literally shorten their training seasons due to their
sickness!!!
One new swimmer
phenomena that is just plain crazy is the “sandal/no sock look” in zero degree
weather. Swimmers who dress like this are literally begging to get sick. One
Elite swimmer actually got frostbite 3 years ago due to not dressing properly
on the way home from swimming on a particularly cold night. Ever tried swimming
with frostbite?
Be a winner: do
your swimming details at home and at school, in addition to at the pool!!!
PRACTICE SCHEDULE CHANGES (SLIGHTLY) NOVEMBER 15 FOR MARLINS &
WAVE BLACKS….
Swimmers and Parents are reminded that the practice schedule will change come Monday, November 19. The changes will affect the Marlin Teals, the Marlin Blacks and the Wavebuster Black training groups.
Starting Thursday, November 15, Newark Academy’s high school and middle schools will begin training for their winter competitions. To accommodate NA, the immediate effect will be that the Marlin Teals and Marlin Blacks will “lose” 15 minutes of training (actually, we added 15 minutes of training in September and October and just revert back to the original practice schedule) and begin training at 5:15 pm on Mondays, Wednesdays & Fridays.
In addition, on those Saturdays when they are not competing the Wave Blacks practice will now be held from 2:30 pm to 4:00 pm and at Morristown-Beard.
….JUST WHEN YOU THOUGHT IT WAS SAFE NOT TO
LOOK AT OUR PRACTICE SCHEDULE: HIGH SCHOOL MEETS TO DISRUPT PRACTICES:
In December, January and thru the middle of February, high school & middle school swim teams conduct practice and meets. Incredibly, a total of 7 high school and middle school teams use either Newark Academy or Morristown-Beard School during this time. What these means to us is that Elite’s practices will be disrupted as these meets will encroach into Elite’s practice times.
On days when there are no meets, Elite’s practices will be held at the same time. However, on those days when a high school or middle school is using one of our pools for a meet, our practices might be shortened at the front end or on the back end.
Thus, please check the practice schedule for practice time changes on a daily basis!!
SWIM MEET “LOST & FOUND” BROUGHT BACK TO NA; PLEASE CHECK
YOUR ITEMS AT HOME:
As anyone at Princeton this weekend knows, the crowded situation at meets creates a ripe situation where items are going to be left, lost or accidentally picked up by other swimmers. Swimmers and parents should know the following:
1) Items easily identified as Elite’s that are left at the meet are brought back to Newark Academy and placed in the lost & found.
2) Items with names on them are much more easily identifiable. If not already done so, write your name on all swim gear and team uniform items so they can get back to you.
3) As
a courtesy to your fellow swimmers, please check the items you bring home to
confirm they are actually yours. You may have accidentally picked up someone
else’s uniform, suit or goggles.
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