Good evening Shark family – I hope everyone is having a great beginning to their 2015.  We are quickly approaching the upcoming summer swim season and before you know it May will be upon us.  So, your board has begun working towards preparing for this swim season and I wanted to send out an email notifying every one of some minor changes and a few highlights.

 

The board has added two new board positions and a new volunteer position.  Below is an updated list of our board:

President – Rich Schluter

Vice President – Steve Raska

Treasurer – Mark Pizzino

Secretary – Mary Barlow

NWAL Team Rep – George Ebelt

Volunteer Coordinator – Katie Noe

Clerk of Course – Lesley Inman

 

The new volunteer position is called the “New Shark Coordinator” and Tasha Nissen has agreed to fill this position.  Tasha will be responsible for helping new families by conducting a new family orientation, helping them get plugged into a volunteer spot and be their go to person throughout their first year on the team.  Thank you Tasha for taking on this new position.

Coach Aubrie and I met earlier this month to discuss how and what we can do to improve our division ranking as well as help our swimmers get better.  This season we will implement a new practice/training format and schedule that mirrors local year round swim clubs.  The new practice/training format will focus more on grouping and training our swimmers based on ability first and age second.  Coach Aubrie feels this new format will enable her and her assistants to design and implement practice regimes that will challenge all swimmers at every level.  This new format will help avoid scenarios where you have a beginner swimmer grouped with a more skilled swimmer; each swimmer loses out on important training because the coach has to split up time to train two different swimmers on two different levels.  Please know this new format and practice schedule is fluid  and may be adjusted at the coaches’ discretion, but it is a start.  The following is an example of what the new format may look like.

Nemo (6 & under) – 45 minute practice: 4:15-5:00pm

Beginner swimmers or swimmers who still need help; have little to no knowledge of freestyle and backstroke or proper stroke technique.

Focus: This group will focus on learning the proper technique for freestyle with side breathing and how to swim backstroke.

Requirements to move out of level: Must be able to do freestyle and backstroke with proper technique on their own.

 

Bronze – (ages 6-10) 1 to 1.15 hour practice: 5:00-6:15pm

Level Requirement: Able to do freestyle and backstroke without assistance. Demonstrate proper stroke technique in these two strokes.

Focus: Butterfly and Breaststroke basics will be introduced in this level along with proper stroke technique for both. Racing starts and finishes will also be taught.

Requirements to move out of level: Are able to demonstrate all 4 strokes with proper technique.

 

Silver – (ages 7-10) 1 to 1 ½ hour (w/ dry land) practice: 5:30-7pm

Level Requirement: Able to do all 4 strokes

Focus: Minor adjustments on stroke technique, flip turns, IM basics, dry land workouts, racing starts, finishes.  Introduction to endurance training through interval sets, clock reading, & lane etiquette.

Requirements to move out of level: Efficient in all 4 strokes, efficient in IM basics, able to do flip turns for all strokes, and have enough stamina to do workouts with higher yardage.

 

Gold – (ages 8-14) 1 to 1 1/2 hour (w/ dry land) practice: 5:30-7pm

Level Requirement: Able to do all 4 strokes, flip turns, and IM.

Focus: IM transitions, endurance sets, dry land workouts. This level will have practices with higher yardage.

Swimmer should be able to complete a legal 50 of each stroke, and a 100 Freestyle with flip turns.  Group focus is refinement of all four strokes through instruction, drilling, and kicking. Introduction to endurance training through interval sets, clock reading, & lane etiquette.

High School – 1 to 1 ½ hour (w/ dry land) practice: 3:30-5pm

 

Mondays – OFF (No swim team practice)

Tuesday, Wed and Friday – groups starting at 3:30 and ending by 7 pm

Thursday – groups starting at 3:30 and ending by 6:30 pm with Family Night beginning at 6:30 pm

 

 

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Referral Discounts and Sponsorships:

We will be offering referral discounts to families who bring in new families to the Shark swim team.  For every new family you refer, and they register and pay, you will receive a $25 discount toward your first swimmer.  If you refer a second family you will receive another $25 off your second swimmer.  (Maximum 2 swimmer discounts per family)

 

Also, families finding personal sponsors (family member or place of employment are examples) for their swimmers will receive registration fee discounts. 

• If you are able to secure a $250 sponsorship, then you will receive a 50% discount on your first swimmer.

• If you are able to secure a $500 dollar sponsorship, then you will receive a 100% discount on your first swimmer.

If you would like to become an official, which is actually a fun job, you will earn a 50% discount on your first swimmer.  (We always need officials).

Other News:

• Tentative date for on-line registration is March 1st

• In person registration and volunteer sign up will be March 28th at the east clubhouse from 9 am -2 pm.

• Fundraiser Ideas – ex. Sharks Car Wash at both pools

• Kelly Ebelt, our website and communication coordinator, will be sending out future emails with news and updates.

 

If you have any questions or comments don’t hesitate to either call or email me.  My email address is [email protected] and my phone number is 832-928-0591.

 

Thank you,

Rich Schluter