The York YMCA Rambler

By Coach Michael

19 September 2007

SATURDAY SPECIAL

This Saturday, 22 September, is the Shrewsbury Triathlon.  Many of our swimmers old and young will be competing.  The first (slowest) heat of swimmers takes off at 8:00 a.m., and since our swimmers are not slow, we will primarily be in later heats.

For our Senior swimmers who are not competing in the triathlon, we will have a practice at the Shrewsbury Y from 5:30 to 7:45 a.m., so that we can be finished and out of the pool in time for the triathlon to begin.  I am completely excited about this opportunity to train as early on Saturday morning as most other senior swimmers around the world, and I am sure you share my joy.  Go-getter Junior A swimmers are welcome to join us.

For Senior swimmers who want to race in the triathlon but who have not yet signed up, do so immediately.

The upshot of the special weekend festivities:  NO “REGULAR” PRACTICE AT THE DOWNTOWN Y POOL ON SATURDAY.

IN ORDER TO OFFICIALLY EXIST…

            If you have not already done so, please turn in your registration materials immediately.  You will not show up on my rolls, nor will you be entered in meets, unless you have turned in your forms and payment to the front desk upstairs.  All registration materials are on the team table.

If you are planning on participating in USA Swimming meets (and we have some very good ones on our competition calendar), you must turn in these registrations to me along with your check for $ 57 payable to “York YMCA Aquatic Club.”

UPCOMING RACING

            Tentative entries for the upcoming WSY Kickoff meet are done and posted both at the pool and on the team’s website.  If you have any questions or problems, please see me immediately.  To explain my reasoning in doing the entries:

Senior A:  generally, these swimmers will attend practice on Saturday 6 October, then head to CVHS to race the 1000 free; they will race the full complement of 4 events on Sunday.

Senior B:  generally, these swimmers will race a full list on both Saturday and Sunday.

Junior A & B: generally, these swimmers will race a full list on both Saturday and Sunday.

Novice:  this is a 9 & Over meet only; no 8 and Unders have been entered.

Note: in a few individual cases I deviated from the above reasoning. Also, with many of our stronger or more veteran swimmers, I have avoided entering them in their best events this early in the season, giving them the opportunity to make some nice progress in their previous weaker events.  Finally, this is a USA Swimming meet, so only swimmers registered with USA Swimming have been entered; if you are not registered but I have incorrectly entered you, please let me know right away.

TOOLS OF THE TRADE

            For Junior A, Senior B, and Senior A training groups – in other words, those swimmers who need to have and bring their own training equipment to practice:  Flying Feet on Mt. Rose Avenue has paddles and kickboards in stock.  If you do not know what size of paddles to purchase, ask me.  You should pick the smallest kickboard available (remember, we want kickboards to kick with, not surfboards to lie upon).

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

Keith’s question:  “Are you making the pursuit of excellence fun, or are you having fun at the expense of the pursuit of excellence?”

Keith Bell, sports psychologist