Here’s what’s going on this week at the Delaware Swim Team…
- GOLDEN GOGGLE AWARD:
o Congratulations to DST alum Andrew Gemmell for his 2009 USA Swimming Golden Goggle Award nomination! Andrew is a nominee for USA Breakout Performer of the year. Please follow the link below to vote for Andrew!
§ Fans can vote for the winners online at www.GoldenGoggles.com., or through our websit; www.delawareswimteam.com. Online voting begins October 16, and will continue through November 18.
- PUMPKIN PATCH & BANANA BOAT MEETS:
o Great job by all our swimmers who competed at last weekends meets at the University of Delaware! Thank you to all those who volunteered their time to help each of these meets run, you help is greatly appreciated.
§ Full meet results are now posted on our website
- DELAWARE STATE MEET:
o Be on the lookout for Delaware State Meet information, which will include some exciting changes to this years meet.
- - OFFICIALS CLINICS:
o Thanks to those of you who have attended one of the MA Officials Clinics, and to the great group of officials who turned out this past weekend. DST cannot run a meet without you and we truly appreciate the hours you volunteer to make these events happen.
§ Those of you still interested in becoming an official can find the dates of the remaining clinics on our website, or Middle Atlantic: www.maswim.org.
- TYR CUP HOLIDAY CLASSIC:
o The DST office has received multiple inquiries regarding our team entry for the now closed TYR Cup meet in December. Here are the details as of today:
§ DST had been accepted into the meet.
§ All qualified swimmers registered as of October 2nd, were entered by the staff in the maximum number of events that individual could swim.
§ We will update our entry after each meet, or until no longer allowed by the meet director.
§ Our staff is the process of cross referencing the meet results from the Banana Boat meet with our current team entry. DST will post an updated eligibility report first thing tomorrow morning.
§ Online entries will be accepted until Wednesday 10/21. The team will update its entries after this deadline. Please get those entries in ASAP; time is important when it comes to updating entries for a closed meet.
§ Please understand that this meet is “closed.” Meaning that we may NOT be able to update or add to our team entry. Times WILL be updated, but event changes or new swimmers MAY be declined by the meet director.
- RMSC AGE GROUP CHALLENGE:
o The final applications have been submitted and the staff is working to select the team. The team members will be selected and announced tomorrow.
§ Check the web tomorrow for details and picture of the meet T-shirt. This shirt will not be on sale at the meet, and we will be putting together a team order for those interested. These shirts will be in addition to DST’s team shirt.
- PROGRAM UPDATE:
o Over the course of the season the staff is in a constant state of self evaluation. We talk about what is working, not working, and what changes need to be made to best keep DST moving in a positive direction. Through the first couple of months of this new season we have made changes to our practice schedule, coach’s schedule, and group placement in order to best use our facilities and staff. I believe that these changes have been successful, but we as a staff are always looking to improve our program. That being said, I would like to communicate out thoughts and ideas for the program moving forward.
§ In late September we made changes to our schedule in order to better use our pool time at the University of Delaware, Pike Creek, PS DuPont, and DSFC New Castle. Though the changes were minor in some instances, and drastic in others, we feel the adjustments made at that time have been successful in creating better practice environments at those sites.
§ After evaluating the changes made in September, the staff has ideas for a second phase of adjustments we will implement over the next month to once again create more efficient training settings. Stay tuned for details.
§ A third phase to our program progression is performing an overall evaluation of levels of swimmer development at each site. A concern for any Club that merges with another is how to merge two different scales of skill development. The staff is creating a plan to address this concern, with the intention of moving the program closer to a more cohesive group placement and movement structure.
§ This week DST will have a visitor to our office and nightly practices. We are pleased to have Bob Steel from USA Swimming coming in for a visit starting tomorrow. Bob is a Master Coach and program development consultant. This week he will be taking a look at our program, and lending a hand in the creation or our path forward.
- PRACTICE CHANGES:
o Here are the practice changes for this week:
§ Sunday 10/25 @ Pike Creek
· Pups: 4:00-5:00pm
· Wonders: 4:00-5:15pm
· Mightys: 5:15-6:45pm
That’s all I have for today, have a great week…..