Coach's Comments February, 2007

The championships will soon be here. The entry for the District meet is due Monday Feb 5 and we have been talking to many athletes about what events they should swim in, if you have any questions please consult with Cami, Teri or myself. We want everyone who has B/C times swimming those events at the District.

The coaches will be overseeing and making entry suggestions for the kids swimming in the 8 & under championships. All other championship meets are entered in the normal manner.
For the JO Meet you need Q1 times (slower than Q2). The State meets are Q2 times. Then Sectional and National qualifying times. Everyone should be aware of their times and what meets they have qualified for.

I encourage everyone to participate in a season ending championship meet. All the kids have worked so hard, and shown so much improvement this year that to not be able to swim rested, in a championship meet would be a real shame. There is a meet for everyone, 8 and under to 18 and over, so clear your calendar and watch for the entry information.

During the first full week of February we will be doing technique centered stroke work. Breaking down each stroke and doing many different stroke drills to help improve stroke technique essential for racing. During the rest of the month we will be doing workouts to help increase speed and refine racing strategies and techniques. It becomes vary important during this training that swimmers are aware of the pace that want to maintain for a race, and get comfortable swimming at that race pace. Another important aspect of championship swimming is being mentally prepared. Get a mental image, a mental movie of the race you are getting ready for. If you are doing more than one race at the championships you need to make a mental movie of each race. Try to imagine the start, every stroke, every breath, every turn and finish done right. Replay this mental movie over and over until it becomes your model for workout. Then set time/performance goals, breaking them down into small components, and then focus your daily workout on improving those small components. See the website section on goal setting strategies.

Even if you havent written any goals down on paper, I know that in your heart you want to do your personal best.

Lets work together, and make this your best championship meet ever.

Dates to be aware of for Feb are: Thurs Feb 1 at Hillside 3:30-6:15, Tues Feb 6 at Hillside 3:30-6:15, Wed Feb 7 at Hillside 3:30-6:15, Fri Feb 9 at hillside 3:30-6:15, Sun Feb 11 NO WORKOUT, Thurs Feb 15 at Hillside 3:30-6:15, Wed Feb 21 at Hillside 3:30-6:15, Fri Feb 23 at Hillside 3:30-6:15. A group comes from 3:30-5:30, all other groups regular times.

I need to reinforce that we must treat the facilities that we practice at with respect. We want to keep the facility neat and clean, and whenever possible leave them in better shape than when we arrived.

Coach Brad