ELITE NEWS BULLETIN               7-05-11

 

    “Cultivating Excellence in Academics, Character and Swimming”

NEW TEAM WEBSITE START DATE PUSHED TO AUGUST:

            While work continues on the construction of the new Elite website, the start date has been pushed to August, 2011. The decision was made last week to help ease the transition of the team members to the website.

            With Championship Season upon us, Head Coach Bill Deatly felt that the transition to a new website, which Team Unify describes as a “cultural change,” would probably cause confusion for some if not most team members during a particularly sensitive time of the season. Since information is crucial during this phase of the season, Bill did not want team members having difficulty searching for information such as start times, meet events, etc.

            By putting the starting date of the website into August, most team members will have 30 days in August which to familiarize themselves with the website prior to the start of the Winter 2011-12 Training Session. Plus, team members will have additional time to familiarize themselves with the meet information portion of the website, since meets do not start until late October.

             As part of Head Coach Bill Deatly’s continual upgrading of the program, Elite has contracted with webserver TeamUnify http://www.teamunify.com/__corp__/ to host Elite’s new upgraded website.

WINTER 2011-12 INFORMATION MAILED OUT; DEPOSITS DUE JULY 15TH;

38 SWIMMERS REGISTERED; SUMMER SEASON/PROMOTION SCHEDULE EXPLAINED:

 

            With Elite now in its Summer Schedule, below is an explanation of how training at Elite will work. If you have further questions, please do not hesitate to contact Bill. A list of swimmers who have sent in their deposits for the Winter 2011-12 Training Session is now listed on the team website under Tryouts: http://www.eliteswimclub.org/Tryouts%202/Home%20Page.htm. 39 swimmers are currently committed to Elite for next season.

 

            For the Marlin Blacks, Wavebuster Teals, Wavebuster Blacks, Wavebuster Golds, Senior Preps and Seniors, practice will continue thru late July/early August.

 

            Below is a detailed explanation of how each training group will transition. Please note that every existing Elite swimmer will be invited to train with Elite for the Winter 2011-12 Training Session. Each swimmer has already received a letter inviting them to train with Elite for the Winter 2011-12 Training Season. To accept this invitation, a swimmer needs to mail their $300 deposit check ($300 per swimmer if a multiple swimmer family) to Bill prior to Friday, July 15. If a swimmer does not mail in their deposit but would like to train with Elite, they will need to tryout for Elite at one of the two Elite tryouts (1st one on Tuesday, July 19th). There is no guarantee a swimmer will regain their roster spot during tryouts-it is NOT automatic. Elite will take the best swimmers at tryouts, regardless of longevity on Elite. To secure a roster spot, one needs to mail in their deposit prior to Friday, July 15.

 

            Marlin Teals: During the summer, there is no training for Marlin Teals (they should participate for their local swim clubs and shine!!!). Letters regarding which training group a swimmer will be placed in for Winter 2011-12 have been sent (including promotions-there will be a few into Marlin Blacks). All Marling Teals will need to send in their $300 deposit to reserve their roster spot by Friday, July 15.  

 

            Marlin Blacks:  This summer, Elite is offering limited summer training for Marlin Blacks (check the schedule). Each practice is optional and will a swimmer’s parents will be billed $10 per practice they attend. Marlin Blacks should also participate for their local swim clubs and shine!! Letters regarding which training group a swimmer will be placed in for Winter 2011-12 have been sent in mid-June (including promotions-there may be a few into Wavebuster Teals). All Marlin Blacks will need to send in their $300 deposit to reserve their roster spot by Friday, July 15.  

 

Wavebuster Teals:  The Wavebuster Teals have the option to train with Elite this summer at Millburn Pool (see summer schedule). And in fact, they have paid for this option within their Spring 2011 bill. Swimmers who want to train but have conflicts (vacation, car pools, etc) are strongly encouraged to come to practice whenever they can. All Wave Teal swimmers will be entered into summer Championship Meets (see Meet Schedule on website). Letters regarding Winter 2011-12 Session have been send in mid-June. Swimmers whom at that time have earned a promotion into Wavebuster Blacks have already received a letter of promotion. A promoted swimmer will remain a Wavebuster Teal until the Winter 2011-12 Season. All promotions will be conditional upon continued performance and attendance thru late July. Regardless of placement, swimmers will need to send in their $300 deposit to reserve their roster spot by Friday, July 15.   

 

Wavebuster Blacks; Wavebuster Golds, Senior Preps & Seniors:  Swimmers in these training groups are expected to train with Elite during the summer, as participation in these training groups is year round. Swimmers in these training groups will be entered into summer Championship Meets (see Meet Schedule on website). Letters regarding the Winter 2011-12 session have been send in mid-June. A promoted swimmer will remain within their current training group until the Winter 2011-12 Season. All promotions will be conditional upon continued performance and attendance thru late July. Regardless of placement, swimmers will need to send in their $300 deposit to reserve their roster spot by Friday, July 15.   

 

COMING NEXT FALL: ELITE PARENT MEET SHIRTS

PLEASE RETURN YOUR FORM WITH FALL DEPOSIT:

 

            As part of your ESCPO Parent Association dues this year, all families will be provided with TWO Parent T-shirts to be worn at Elite hosted and Co-hosted meets.  Please complete the T-shirt size form included in your swimmer’s promotion letter and return the form to Bill and Brandy along with your swimmer registration information by July 15, 2011.  Please contact Carolyn Balbo (cbalbo@comcast.net) with questions.  Additional forms are available on the team website.  http://www.eliteswimclub.org/Parents%20Org/Parent%20T-shirt%20Flyer%20-%20For%20Posting.pdf.

 

SAY CHEESE AND DOWNLOAD PLEASE!

MEMORY BOOK PICTURES NEEDED!

 

            It is never too early to think about next years memory book!  Thank you Pam Coyne for doing a great job with the memory book this year!  Laura Matheson (Cody's mom!) has agreed to put together the book and slide show for next years banquet.   Parents and swimmers can provide pictures to Laura by email kmatheson531@earthlink.net, by thumb drive or by compact disk.  Laura can usually be found in the bleachers during Wave Gold practices.  Send your pictures to Laura as you take them and she will be sure that some of your favorite photos are included in this years memory book!  Remember, summer is a great time to get candid shots of your favorite swimmers at practice or at our many fun filled events.   

 

ELITE’S NEXT MEET HOSTING CHALLENGE: OFF-SITE HOSTING;

CONSTRUCTION AT NA NEXT FALL/WINTER WILL CHANGE PLANS FOR DISTANCE DERBY & 9-10’S:

 

            Elite’s newest meet hosting challenge: hosting a meet off site from Newark Academy!

 

            Last week, Newark Academy informed Elite that there will be, starting in July, major construction on the building which will significantly reduce the size of the “upper” parking lot during construction. NA has confirmed that Elite’s practice schedule will not be affected by the construction.

 

            Elite has already begun exploring alternative sites to run both Distance Derby (in November) and the 2012 9-10 Silver/Bronze Championship Meet (in February).            

           

PARENTS: PLEASE BE PROMPT IN PICKING UP SWIMMERS:

 

            Parents are requested to be prompt in picking up their swimmers at the end of practice. Recently, especially after the Wave Golds on weekdays and the Wave Teals on Saturday, swimmers have had to wait 30-45 minutes after practice for their ride.

 

            Bill has asked the coaches to remain at practice until the last child has been picked up (for the obvious safety reasons). Coaches are more than willing to do so occasionally. But Elite coaches have other full time jobs and several are attending school in addition to their primary jobs and coaching. It is unfair to ask the coaches to spend an additional 30-40 minutes waiting for parents to pick up their children.

 

            Elite is prompt about ending practice on time. Please help out the coaches by being prompt to pick up your child.

 

TIMING COORDINATORS ASK FOR YOUR HELP IN RESPONDING TO EMAILS:

 

            Parents of Elite swimmers are asked to add the following four email addresses to your e-mail address book to ensure you receive important information regarding Elite Hosted Meets, Timing Information for all other meets and Parent Association Information.  Adding the e-mail addresses will insure that these important e-mails do not go to your junk/spam folder. 

 

Carolyn Balbo -                     cbalbo@comcast.net

Sanjeeta Mukherjee -        sanjumukhe@gmail.com         

Sue Duren -                            sueduren@aol.com

Antone Balbo -                      abalbo@comcast.net

 

NEXT UP: FRIDAY NIGHT -11 & OLDERS & XCEL-9-10S GO ELITE!!!; MEET INFORMATION POSTED; PLEASE RESPOND TO TIMER COORDINATORS EMAILS:

 

            Elite’s next competition will be Friday Night Splash on Friday, July 8th at Bayonne for 11 & Olders in the Wavebuster Training Groups and the X-Cellence Meet for 9-10 at Princeton University on Sunday, July 10. Elite will have multiple timing assignments. Please have your swimmer get in the habit of checking the team website on a regular basis (and report back to you about details such as warm-up times, entries, meet locations!).

 

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!!!