Hello, everyone!

 

I just wanted to clarify a couple of things (which may or may not be new to you) since the end of the season is fast approaching. Conferences are coming which means that it is very important that swimmers try to make it to every practice in the upcoming weeks. We want to make sure that they are in the water and ready to swim their fastest for the last meet of the season. Practice is an important part of getting faster, giving us more time to fix strokes, work on different techniques, and, especially for the older kids, increase endurance.

 

If your swimmers are missing more than a few days due to vacation or other sports/activities, please inform me or Matt as soon as possible. 

 

As for Conferences, I am sure that you aware that B Conference is Saturday, July 22rd at our pool and A Conference is Saturday, July 29th at Lombard. Each swimmer will only swim at one conference meet depending on certain choices made by coaches and by the swimmer's times/attendance. We will need you to RSVP for BOTH conferences by Tuesday, July 11th at 7pm, in hopes of relaying the information about conference to your swimmers by Wednesday morning at practice. 

 

There is a significant difference between the goals of both conferences. In B Conference, swimmers are essentially racing against their own times, rather than for points or simply to win the competition. Each swimmer can help gain points for the team by beating his or her own time. Since it is an individually focused meet, there are no relays, but instead multiple heats of each event in order for each swimmer to swim the maximum numbers of events. The events that your child/children will swim are chosen by us, the coaches. For swimmers attending B Conference, practice the week of July 24th is optional.

 

As for A Conference, this meet is primarily based on points. Swimmers are racing against other swimmers in order to win the heat/event. It is still important for them to beat their times, however, there is the added bonus of placing in an event to earn the team points. For this meet, the top two swimmers with the fastest times in their age group are chosen to swim each event. Some swimmers will be swimming in both relays and individual events at the maximum number, while others may only be swimming in individual races for two or three events. Swimmers are chosen according to two key principles- 90 percent is based on times, while the other 10 percent is based on practice attitude (which includes attendance, performance, and behavior). All of this is assessed by the coaches.

 

The unfortunate downside to A Conference is that we cannot take everyone. Because it is based on the fastest time system, swimmers who cannot attend B Conference and do not have one of the fastest's times for an event in A Conference will not be able to swim in A Conference. It is very disappointing for all, swimmers, parents, and coaches alike. If this is an issue for you or your swimmer, please come talk to us. Swimmers will find out this week which conference they will be placed in.

 

With that said, it is very important that your swimmer(s) in the upcoming weeks remain as healthy as possible. Sickness (and swimmer's ear) is the last thing that any of us want, so it is important that swimmers eat healthy foods, get a decent amount of sleep, use drying drops to get water out of ears, and attend practice to keep in shape.

 

Quick side note- the last dryland for the Gold Group will be Friday, July 21nd. 

 

If you have questions, comments, or concerns, please contact me (Annalise Morrone) or Matt Seider. Thank you and I hope we have a great end to this wonderful season!

 

 

Thank you,

 

Annalise Morrone and Matt Seider