Coach's Comments October, 2006

I would like to begin by saying that i am very excited and looking forward to the upcoming short course season. I believe that everyone, not just our sectional and above swimmers but everyone who has made a commitment to improve their swimming is on the right track. Swimmers have been regular in their attendance and are now starting to develop a strong aerobic base to be able to workout and swim meets at an even higher level.

Looking over the psvch sheets for the pentathlon, DRD and OLY we have good numbers going to all the meets, but not everyone who could go is going. It is very important that you swim in meets this is where we can see what progress is being made, are you working to really change your stroke, is your base conditioning improving, what do you need to continue working on. All these things come into sharper focus at swim meets. Everyone should be swimming in one or two meets a month.

I will be handing out, for your child to fill out and return, goal sheets for the coming season. Goals for both workout and meets. You cannot expect to achieve goals set for meets if you haven't first set and met goals in the area of commitment to workout. To be able to compete at the state level and above, you need to be working out 5, and preferably 6 or 7 days a week, swimming between 5,000 to 9,000 per workout depending on age / ability level. BAC is a competitive team and wants each individual to compete at the highest level possible.

With our puppies and junior dogs the same pattern holds true. The more regular and committed you are to making your workouts, either two or three times a week, the more rapidly you will develop the motor skills, stroke technique and aerobic base necessary to move up into the 5,6 or 7 days a week of workouts.

I will also hand out a set of tables to help evaluate where you are. Each table describes a range of behaviors, going from unacceptable to advanced. You need to honestly evaluate where you are in each category and if you have a majority of behaviors that are unacceptable then, we need to talk with you and your parents about ways to improve, or if swimming is even the sport for you.

We will also be video taping during October, with the goal of taping all senior and bulldog level swimmers. If you have a tape already bring it in. I encourage every senior and bulldog level swimmer to have their own tape.

I will also be having a parent meeting on Wednesday October 18, at NHS time to be announced. We are also planning a meeting to provide information about college recruiting, and related topics. Please watch the web site for details.

Coach Brad