The York Y Rambler
By Coach Michael
13 May 2007
GOIN’ TO A MEETIN
On Tuesday 15 May the York YMCA Executive Director Larry Richardson will lead a parents’ meeting from 5:30 to 7:00 pm in the Loucks Room, regarding the plans for a new pool and facility. All York Y swimming families are strongly encouraged to attend.
TRAINING ADJUSTMENTS
Because of the Retriever meet this weekend, we are slightly adjusting the training schedule, as follows:
FRIDAY:
a) For swimmers racing on Saturday & Sunday (and not racing on Friday, obviously), practice will run from 4:30 to 5:30 pm.
b) For swimmers not racing in the meet, practice will run from 5:30 to 7:00 pm.
SATURDAY:
For swimmers not racing in the meet, practice will run from 9:30 am until 12:30 pm.
NEW MAN ON DECK
I’d like to formally introduce our new assistant coach, Nate Gentzler. He will be helping out with all our groups from novice to senior. This past weekend at Columbia he had his baptism by fire: his first meet on deck for us. For the last several years Coach Nate has been the assistant coach with the West York HS bulldogs. Already Nate has shown a tremendous enthusiasm to learn everything he can about swimming and coaching; he even enthusiastically watches stroke videos whenever he gets the chance (my kind of guy)! Along with a growing swimming expertise, Nate brings a very strong background in the high-tech world and is an EMT. He is a very welcome addition.
Nate, Welcome to the club.
RETRIEVER REMINDERS
For those swimmers racing this weekend down at UMBC in the Retriever meet, a few reminders about the meet schedule:
FRIDAY
All age groups: 3:30 pm w/up, 4:30 meet
SATURDAY
13 & Over: 6:45 am w/up; 8:00 am meet
12 & Under: 12:15 pm w/up; 1:30 pm meet
SUNDAY
13 & Over: 6:45 am w/up; 8:00 am meet
12 & Under: 12:15 pm w/up; 1:30 pm meet
Open 1500 Free: meet begins 30 minutes after conclusion of 12 & Under session
Note that all 400 freestyle events, all 400 IM events, and the mile require a positive check in.
Also note that the weather at this meet is typically horrible. No matter the weather forecast, pack for cold and rain. Steel your mind right now and swim fast no matter the conditions.
A NEW NORMAL
Beginning next week (Monday 21 May) we will be adjusting our regular practice schedule slightly:
Current Silver and Gold training groups will train from Monday to Thursday from 4:15 pm until 6:00 pm.
Note: we have added 15 minutes of water time by beginning earlier.
Note: Bronze/Novice practice will remain 4:30 to 5:30 Monday to Thursday.
Note: “Regular” Friday practice will remain from 6:00 to 7:30 pm.
Saturday practice (for Golds, Juniors, & Seniors) will be earlier: from 8:00 until 11:30 am.
Note: we start earlier and get done with practice at a reasonable time.
STATE COLLEGE BOUND
As an addition to our Tentative Meet Schedule, we will be racing our friends at the State College Area YMCA on Sunday 3 June. The meet will be held at the State College YMCA. Warmups will begin at noon, and we should be finished by around 4 pm. This meet will be open to all York YMCA swimmers, though I will be keeping some of our more advanced older swimmers home. I will be distributing more information in the next few days.
WORDS OF WISDOM
“It wasn’t so much about competing against the opposition as it was about competing against an ideal, a level of perfection as opposed to just winning the game. We won a lot of games, but he [Coach John Wooden] got most of his satisfaction – and he taught us to get most of our satisfaction – from playing well.”
Hall of Famer Bill Walton, on playing for John Wooden at UCLA