Good Morning All,

Thank you to those of you who came out to the Parents Meeting last night. Most of the information hasn’t changed from year to year, but it was an opportunity for you to get to know me in terms of my coaching philosophy, and my goals and vision for the season. Here are some of the highlights of what we covered. I know its a long email, but please take a minute to read all the way through it. Thank you.

Philosophy

The overarching goals of the season:

Have Fun

Develop a bond with teammates and develop sportsmanship skills

Comfort and Confidence in the water

We want to be a little bit better than we were last week

Technique Centered

Sometimes we do more yardage, other times we want to use our time to hone our skills- whether its turns, starts, etc.

Individual Centered

In the water everyday to make sure we are correcting technique and body positioning

Can’t have a strong team if we don’t have strong individuals

Practices

-Skills of the week are determined by the novice stroke of the week for meets

Add in turns, starts, finishes, relay starts gradually through the season

-Practices are written for the more advanced within the age group, and then adjusted based on the skill level of each group a coach is working with

-Practices never written for swimmers to fail. They are written to be a challenge at times, but I never write a practice that I don’t think a group can complete successfully

-Expectations:

1.Be on time

2. Have a good attitude, come ready to tackle practice

3. There is no practice requirement, but please attend as many as you can. The more repetition the better.

That being said… in the regular season to give all kids the chance to get the attention they need, we would prefer kids not do 2-a-days.

4. Parents respect the coaches in terms of space and time. This is our time to our job with the kids. As said before in an earlier email, it can be distracting for children if their parents are behind the blocks, at the end of lanes, or walking up and down the side of the pool, and talking to them. It keeps the coaches from being able to form the bond we need in order to do our job.

5. Please use email and phone as main form of communication

I personally feel guilty when I am pulled away from practice with the kids to be talking to parents- I’d like to concentrate that time I have on coaching.

Meets

Notes from the Volunteer coordinators

Avalon Families, did you know it takes over 77 volunteers to run a home meet??? 77!! We all have to pitch in. It takes every single one of us! Don’t be the family that sits back and thinks someone else will do it for you! If we don’t have enough people we can’t run a meet! Please take a moment and double check what you signed up for. If you mistakenly signed up for a meet you can’t commit to or a slot that says “training required” please let Amanda, Anne Gray or Jess know ASAP. If you have signed up for 2 slots (1st and 2nd half) in one meet, you are required to fulfill, even if you signed up for those just to be able to register. If you have something last minute come up and you won’t be able to fulfill your volunteer job it is your families responsibility to find someone to cover for you. Please contact Anne Gray and Jess and let them know who it it that will stand in for you. Please do not rely on Jess and Anne Gray to fill your place. The day of the meet check in at the volunteer table as soon as you arrive. If you are going to run late please text Anne Gray 804 929 6953 and let her know what time to expect you. Jess and Anne Gray are here to help you so if you have any questions about your position don’t hesitate to ask! Swim meets are fun and being a volunteer puts you right in the middle of the action!

Anne Gray Siebert [email protected]

Jessica Catoggio [email protected]

Meet Requirement

-All swimmers who are registered with the team (excluding mini mites) are required to participate in at least 3 of the 6 regular season meets.

-We want all swimmers to feel apart of the team; be able to bond with their teammates- meets are a great way to do that

-Quantitative way for swimmer to see their progress throughout the season

-Be on deck at least 15 minutes prior to warm ups- so we know who is here

JRAC Changes

-No more 100 Breast for Intermediates and Seniors

-Novice Back for mites at all meets

However, cannot swim back and breast, or back and fly depending on the week

-Preseeding meets- still using cards, but hopefully will make meets go faster

-Have to turn in a no show list 30 mins prior to the start time- another reason it’s important to be on deck at the time specified before the meet.

Seeding

-Wednesday Nights- need RSVPs done ASAP so we have accurate rosters for meets

-Most events are determined by novice events of the week

-Try to make sure everyone swims every event (they are legal in) at least one a season in prep for champs.

-Although there are limitations in how many swimmers we can have in certain events, we strive to spread the wealth as much as possible, and give everyone the chance they deserve.

-Events will be sent out the night before each meet. Events are fina once sent out, barring an emergency that takes a swimmer out of the meet.

-For those who are not legal in breast and fly- as a policy we do not put kids in events they are not legal. It serves no purpose for those kids to be continue put in events that they will not be successful at. On the flip side, if they are put in it, and they somehow manage to get by a judge, that does not help enforce correct technique. If a child in on the brink of being legal, we will give them a shot. But it is at the coaches discretion whether a child is ready.

Finally, I had a bittersweet announcement for the end of the meeting. I unfortunately will not be returning next year. Fortunately (for me) it is for the opportunity of a lifetime. In August, I will be moving to Dubai, UAE to start as a Development Coach at Hamilton Aquatics Club. Yes, you read that correctly, Dubai! I am so excited to fulfill a lifelong dream of living and working abroad. Being able to fulfill one passion (traveling) while working in my other (swimming) is an opportunity I could not pass up. This has no effect on my presence this season, I am here and fully committed for the summer season. I want to thank you all for your support and welcoming me as a part of the Avalon community. Without this position at Avalon I would have never had the confidence to even apply for this position with Hamilton- so thank you, again, from the bottom of my heart for an amazing summer experience, that will always have a place in my heart.

Thank you, and Go Gators!

Coach K