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Weekly Mailer
|
April 10, 2018 |
Long Course Season Tips
and Information!
Long course season has officially began! This weekend we will
have the first long course meet of the season. The Westside Meet is
going to be very fun with many new best times, new time standards
achieved and hopefully some new team records. Long course season
has many benefits for our swimmers. Here are some helpful tips and
Information on long course swimming.
Long Course. These two words have huge implications for even
the most experienced swimmer. The beginning of long course season
represents the transition from shorter pools broken up into 25
yards, to a much longer and sometimes more daunting 50-meter
length. While the transition can often be difficult in the
first few weeks, as swimmers’ bodies adjust to the longer
pool and lack of walls, the long course season can offer huge
opportunities for any swimmer.
When is long course
season? Long Course season goes from April to August
every year.
Thoughts Swimmers have
when beginning Long Course Season: The first swim long
course can feel like hopping from a nice quaint little pond into a
gigantic and never-ending ocean, often wondering when you will ever
reach the wall. However, always remember to look on the bright
side, counting your laps gets way easier with long course.
Training
Differences? While swimming short course is often centered
around turns and kicking off walls, long course is known more
for the consistent building of speed through each lap. Swimmers
must learn to hold their stroke for more than twice the length of a
25-yard pool before hitting a wall. This builds a different
type of endurance that is beneficial to everyone. If you spend time
training and racing meters, the transition back to a 25-yard
pool will leave you feeling like the pool is suddenly significantly
shorter than you remembered.
What if you can’t
train long course, but you’re competing in long
course? Don’t worry! Sure, more experience in
a long course pool will better prepare you for the change in
distance, but there are some swimmers out there who train
exclusively short course and have had great success long course. I
for one never had an opportunity to train long course as an age
group swimmer… surprising huh!
Olympic Trials
qualification: In the past, Olympic Trials qualification
times were both short course yards, short course meters, and long
course meters. Currently qualifying times are only in long course
meters. This forces swimmers to qualify in the same pool distance
format as the Trials competition. It means better consistency and
competition at Olympic Trials.
Why long course meters is
beneficial: Training long course makes swimmers focus more
on stroke technique and endurance. Short course swimmers can get
away with some technical glitches by executing excellent turns and
underwaters, but not in long course.
Which event changes the
most, compared to short course? My opinion? The 200
backstroke utilizes so many turns and underwater kicks in the
short-course format. In long course, however, it becomes this
entirely different beast. You have to pace yourself.
Backstroke Stroke Count
Difference? Yes there is a difference in your backstroke
stroke count when swimming long course. The flags are 5
meters away from the wall long course and in short course they are
only 5 yards away from the wall. It will make about a 1-3 stroke
count difference. Just practice it a couple times and you’ll
be fine.
Why Long Course Brings us
Together? Whether you are a swimmer with a legitimate shot
at an Olympic Trials cut, a spot on the Olympic team, or you are
someone who is simply excited to watch the meet on television, the
long course season offers a unique chance to come together.
Swimming and training in a 50 meter pool gives everyone a
little taste of the Olympic spirit. The Olympics offer a rare
chance for swimming to take the spotlight, whether it is in the
form of an Olympian singing their national anthem with the whole
world watching, or a tiny age grouper pointing to the
television and saying “I can swim that too!”
UPCOMING
EVENTS:
MANDATORY GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING (ALL
PARENTS)
Saturday April 21st
8:00-9:30am
The Spring VJO General Membership Meeting (Parent Meeting)
will be held on Saturday April 21st from 8-9:30am in the
Portable Buildings next to the pool. Coffee and pastries
will be provided. This meeting is mandatory for ALL PARENTS
to attend. We will be discussing important items like team
policies, budget and fundraising. A detailed agenda
will be sent out before the meeting.
Important
Topics:
Favaro Scholarship Committee
Needed (need 3 parents that do not have graduating seniors)
Volunteer Hours Update
VJO Treasury Report/ Budget (How
is VJO doing?)
Summer Event/Meet Schedule
Upcoming May Long Course
Meet
Upcoming June Senior Meet
May Meet Job Sign ups
Shark –A-Thon (June
26th 2018)
Grant/Sponsorship Updates
Becoming a Team Sponsor
LONG COURSE PRACTICE (ALL
SWIMMERS)
Saturday, April 21st
Saturday April 21st we have our second long course practice of
the season. All swimmers need to be at this practice. After
this long course practice we will give swimmers 30 minutes of
game/fun time at the end, while all the parents are finishing up in
the General Membership Meeting.
Saturday April
21st – Saturday Long Course
Practice
Junior, Junior 2 & Seniors
Groups: 6:45am-9:30am
Leopard & Mako Sharks:
7:30-9:30am
Hammerhead 1 & 2:
8:00-9:30am
TEAM SUIT FITTING
Thursday May 3nd
Making Waves (previously Nor Cal Swim Shop) will be at
Cunningham pool on Thursday, May 3rd from 4:00-7:00pm for our VJO
team suit and warm-up fitting. Our team suit again this year is a
black polyester suit with an embroidered team logo. The
women’s suit is offered in three different styles. The
men’s team suits are available in either Jammer or brief
style. We will also have our team warm-ups available in both
youth and adult sizes. New 2018 Order Forms will be emailed
out and available at the pool soon.
***REMINDER – It is mandatory for all swimmers
to be wearing a team suit and team cap at all
meets***
When: Thursday May 3rd
Time: 4:00-7:00pm
Where: Cunningham Pool
Where: Cunningham Pool
New Company: Our
new team gear manufacturer is called "Making Waves". This
Regular Practice for
All Groups this Day
UPCOMING
MEETS:
WESTSIDE AQUADUCKS LONG COURSE
C/B/A MEET ***CLOSED***
APRIL 13-15th 2018
The Westside Aquaducks Long Course C/B/A+ Meet
on April 13-15 is NOW
CLOSED. This will be our first long course meet of
the season
TIMING: VJO is
required to supply 4 timers each day. Sign-up sheets can be found
in our team area on Saturday morning. All VJO parents to help
fulfill our timing chairs.
OFFICIALS: VJO is
required to supply 2 Officials each day. Parents we need your help
Officiating to make sure we don't get fined $100-300.
LOCATION:
Petaluma Swim Center, 900 East Washington Street, Petaluma, CA
94952
TIME: Friday
- Arrive at 3:30 for warm-ups. Meet starts
at 5pm
Saturday - Arrive at 7:15am. Warm-ups at 7:30am. Meet starts
at 9am
Sunday
- Arrive at 7:15am. Warm-ups at 7:30am. Meet starts
at 9am
MEET SHEET: CLICK HERE for the meet
sheet.
NAPA VALLEY LONG COURSE C/B/A MEET
April 28-29th 2018
The NVST Long Course C/B/A+ Meet is CLOSED
for entries. This is an optional long course meet for the
month of April. We know the long course season is limited, so we
have added this meet to our VJO schedule as a second meet in the
month of April. We will have a smaller coaching staff at this
meet.
LOCATION:Napa
Valley College. 2277 Napa-Vallejo Hwy., Napa, CA
TIME: Arrive at
7:15am. Warm-ups will be from 7:30am-8:45am. Meet will start at
9:00am
VJO CINCO DE MAYO DUAL MEET – May 5th
***OPEN***
Our VJO Cinco de Mayo Dual Meet on May 5th is NOW OPEN
for ENTRIES! This small short course one day dual
meet is geared towards our Hammerheads, Leopard, Mako and Junior 2
Groups. The Junior and Senior Group will be having a long course
practice in the morning and will be helping out at the meet.
The entry deadline is April 23rd 2017.
Please note there will be relays. The VJO coaches will enter
swimmers in relays. Click Here for Entry Form.
LOCATION: Cunningham Pool
TIME:
Arrive at 8:45am on Saturday. We will get in
as a team to warm-up at 9:00am. The meet will start at 10:00am. The
meet will be done by 1pm. Remember parking is easier the earlier
you arrive.
ENTRIES: Swimmers
may compete in up to 4 individual events, plus 2
relays. Team entries will be done by Hy-Tek Team
Manager, so all paper consolidated entry forms must be turned in by
Monday, April 23rd by 7:30pm to the manila folder at the
pool. The manila folder can be found hanging on the team bulletin
board next to the Shark Tank. All swimmers entered in meet will be
ENTERED IN RELAYS unless coaches are otherwise informed. Count on
being in a relay.
ENTRY FEES:
$20.00 entry fee per swimmer. Entries shall be rejected if
payment is not sent at time of request. Turn in all entries
to the manila folder hanging on the bulletin board at the
pool.
Make check payable
to: “Vallejo Aquatic Club” or
“VJO”
ENTRY DEADLINE:
Monday, April 23rd by 7:30pm
RELAYS: Coaches
will enter the relays. We will put ALL entered VJO swimmers in
relays, so please notify the coaches if you are not able to be in a
relay.
CHECK-IN:
The meet will be pre-seeded. A scratch down meeting will be
held 15 minutes prior to the start of the meet.
EVENTS: Please speak with your coach if you
have questions about what events to enter.
JOB SIGN-UPS:
Parents please click on the link below to sign-up for your
volunteer job. We need everyone’s help to make our home meets
a success. This is a great meet to shadow in a new area.
VJO MAY LONG COURSE MEET - May 18-20th
***OPEN***
Our VJO May Long Course C/B/A Meet on May 18-20th is
OPEN for ENTRIES! This is our team meet for
the month of May and is recommended for ALL VJO swimmers.
Please get signed up before April 9th
2017. We are very excited to announce there will be
RELAYS offered in our May Meet! These relays will
be very fun for our swimmers. Please note the VJO coaches will
enter swimmers in relays. Parents and swimmers will not be entering
these.
**2 WEEK PRIORITY
REGISTRATION**: Swimmers in Zone 3 have a 2 week priority
registration. During this time our swimmers will be given
first priority for acceptance to the meet. After this time the meet
will open to everyone and WILL FILL QUICKLY. Priority registration
for VJO will end April 9th, 2018.
ENTER
ONLINE: http://ome.swimconnection.com/pc/vjo20180518
TIME:
Friday: Arrive at 3:30 for warm-ups. Meet starts at 5pm.
Saturday & Sunday: Arrive
at 7:15am. Warm-ups will start at 7:30am and
the meet will start at 9:00am. Remember parking is
easier the earlier you arrive.
LOCATION: Cunningham Pool
CLICK HERE FOR MEET
SHEET
EVENTS: Please speak with your coach if you
have questions about what events to enter.
Loepard, Mako, JR, JR2,
& SR: Please enter 3 events a day (one challenging
event, one favorite event and one to keep you well rounded). Coach
Sophie and Coach Jennifer want to see you swim all four strokes
over the course of the weekend.
Hammerhead 1 &
2: Please only enter events you are ready for. Entering
swimmers in events they are not ready for can be very discouraging
and causes un-needed paperwork for our officials. Talk to your
coach first.
JOB SIGN-UPS:
Parents please click on the link below to sign-up for your
volunteer job. We need everyone's help to make our home meets
successful. Please remember each family is required to work at
least 10 hours and all our home meets. Sign-up sheets can also be
found at the pool.
UPCOMING
DATES:
APRIL
April 13-15 - Westside Long Course
C/B/A Meet (All Groups, Petaluma)
April 21 - Long Course
Morning Practice (All Groups, 7-9:30am)
April 21 - Mandatory
General Membership Meeting (8-9:30am, Portable Building)
April 26 - Shark Pride
Day (5-7pm, All Groups)
April 27-28 - SCAC's High School Swimming
League Championships
April 28-29 - NAPA Long Course
C/B/A Meet (All Groups, Napa Valley College)***OPEN***
MAY
May 3
-
Team Suit Fitting (Cunningham, 4-7pm)
May 5 - Junior &
Senior Long Course Morning Practice (6:45-9am)
May 5 -
Dual Meet (for H1, H2, LS, MS swimmers) ***NOW OPEN***
May 10-12 - High School swimming Section
Championships (Qualifying HS, Lodi)
May 18-20 - VJO Long Course C/B/A
Meet (All Groups, Cunningham Pool) ***NOW OPEN***
May 21 - NO PRACTICE
(Meet Recovery Day)
May 28 - NO PRACTICE
(Memorial Day Holiday)
May 31 - Shark Pride
Day (5-7pm, All Groups)
JUNE
June 1-3 - WCAN Long
Course Meet (All Groups, Napa Valley College)
June 11 - First Day of
LC Morning Practice (JR & SR Group M/W/F 6:45-9am)
June 16 - SASO
Short & Long Course Dual Meet (All Groups, Solano College
)
June 23-24 - VJO Senior
Open Meet (Qualifying Seniors, Cunningham Pool) *** JUST ADDED***
June 26
- Shark-A-Thon (All Groups
5-7pm)
June 28 - Shark Pride
Day (All Groups 5-7pm)
June 30 - VJO Annual
Pool Party & Alumni Reunion (12-4pm, Cunningham Pool)
JULY
July 6-8 -
Junior Olympic Championships (Qualifying Meet, Location
TBA)
July
10
- Team Pictures (Individual @ 5pm & Team Picture @
5:45pm)
July 20-22 - Ukiah Dolphins
Short Course Meet & Camping (All Groups, Ukiah) ***UPDATED DATE
***
July 19-22 - Speedo CA/NV
Sectional Championships (Qualifying SR, Santa
Clarita)
July 26 - Shark
Pride Day (All Groups 5-7pm)
July 26-29 - Far Western
Championships (Qualifying, Moraga)
AUGUST
Aug 3-5
- REAL Summer Championships (All Groups,
Petaluma)
Aug 6-19 - Team Break
Aug 20 - First Day of
Fall Practice
