Sunday, June 30, 2019

Weekly Update: June 30th Edition

Good morning, Torpedo family!

Great job on last week's meet! We finally got a meet in, and everyone did a great job! Not counting our new swimmers, there were over 80 new best times, two new team records (Congrats Jacob J. on the 13-14 100 Free Record and Jaxon S. on the 15-18 100 Back record!), and we won against McDowell and Forest City. We didn't have a lot of miscues in the water, and I loved the sportsmanship demonstrated by our kids in and out of the water.

Thank you to everyone for helping make the meet run smoothly. I know it was a hot night, and any help was greatly appreciated. We had an issue with the timing system early on, and I want to extend a special thank you to Amanda Lennex and Lindsay Watson for staying well after the meet ended to make sure all the times were hand-entered correctly.

We do still need to have a few more folks to help out with stroke and turn, and I will be happy to train anyone interested. We will need you this last month! Start off by viewing the videos on the USA Swimming website, and then let me know when you have done that. It is a great way to help the swimmers improve.

This week we travel to Black Mountain. This is where we will have conference this year, so this is a great chance to see and race in the pool before the big day. Warm ups are at 5:30pm, so please be there ready to get in by then. The pool is located at 401 Laurel Cir Dr, Black Mountain, NC 28711. Parking right at the pool is limited, so please plan to drop off swimmers and chairs, etc. and then park where you can find a spot. The heat will be with us this week, so please bring water and lots of it. Please encourage your swimmers to start hydrating today.

July 3-5 (this Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday) we will not be practicing as a part of a mid-season holiday break. We hope you all get to have some quality time with family and friends over the break.

If you know you will be available for the remaining meets, go ahead and sign up for them. The binder will be out on the counter whenever the Rec. is open, so swing by and sign up during practice or whenever you are in the area. Shirts and caps are all in, and they can be picked up after practice times. We did not order many extras, so please be sure you get the size you ordered. We have the order slips in the event you may have forgotten what you may have ordered.

Thank you again for a great meet, and helping to make this team successful!



Tuesday, June 18, 2019

Granite Falls Meet Info.

Good morning,Torpedo!

Summer, it seems, has returned! The heat and the afternoon storms are back. Please be sure you have access to Remind so you receive the notifications regarding delays, cancellations, etc. I will do my best to avoid having you all arrive only to hear of a canceled practice.

I'll let everyone know by 4:15pm if we are going to have to cancel the meet due to weather. Otherwise, assume things are a go. Should we need to call the meet early, it will count towards the two meets your swimmers need to be eligible for the conference meet. 

Tonight we head to Granite Falls (56 Pinewood Rd, Granite Falls, NC 28630). Please be prepared for rain, although we may not have any at all. The town there does not permit tents on the deck with the exception of a few for coaches and meet workers. There are a couple of pavilion areas with picnic tables on the deck, so please make use of those. Tents are permitted in areas off of the pool deck.

Swimmers' entries will be sent via Remind and posted on the pool deck at the meet. Please make sure not to miss an event, and come talk to your coaches immediately after you finish swimming.

We start warming up at 5:30pm, then we will start the meet right after we conclude. We will need volunteers to time and officiate. I'll send the SignUp Genius link later today with those slots. Please be prepared to help out. There are only six lanes.

Please be sure to sign your swimmers up for the meets as far in advance as you know. I took entries up to yesterday evening, but I really would have liked to  have had them earlier. The binder is on the fitness desk anytime the center is open, so stop in when you can or right after practices. 

I'm looking forward to a fun meet, and I hope you all are, as well!
  

Wednesday, June 5, 2019

KICK OFF THURSDAY, MEET AND VOLUNTEER SIGNUPS, AND SUMMER PRACTICE SCHEDULE!

Good evening, Torpedo!

It wouldn't be summer without some rain, and the way my lawn looks, we need it! It does tend to throw a wrench in practices, though. Thank you all for being understanding and flexible as we have had delays or location changes. I am very excited about this year's team, and I gather you all are, as well.

Just a quick reminder that we have our rescheduled Kick Off event Thursday after the last practice. I hope we can ward off the rain tomorrow long enough, but if not, I'll be sure to let everyone know through Remind.

I plan to have all of the meet sign ups in the team notebook Thursday afternoon. Please sign your children up for the meets you can attend (coaches will decide events with some input from your swimmers). If you sign up for a meet and can't make it for some reason, LET A COACH KNOW. Please don't not show. That could impact a number of things in the planning for a meet, as well as potential relays, and the sooner we can make needed adjustments, the better.

Please plan to volunteer in some capacity at each meet. We always do a great job with timers, and stroke and turn officials are always needed. Our concession stand at home meets needs folks, and we also take donations for items to sell at the stand. If each family can spare a person to help, we will have an amazingly staffed meet. If you are unsure of a role, ASK, and I will be more than happy to train/teach you what is needed. Besides, volunteers often get the best seats in the house!

Monday, June 10, marks the beginning of our summer practice schedule. Just as a reminder, we have these practices divided by age and development level to help your swimmers improve. Please have your swimmer at their correct practice. I understand that things come up and their are occasions when a swimmer may need to be at a different practice, but I want to stress that this should be the exception and not the rule. I want to thank you all in advance for your help in getting your swimmers where they need to be and when.

Weekdays we will practice as follows:
7:30-8:30am: 9-10, 11-12 year olds
8:30-9:30am: 13-14, 15-18 year olds
5:30-6:15pm: 8 and Unders

Sometimes we may opt to cancel a practice the morning after a long meet, so check Remind or listen to announcements at the meets to hear whether that may, in fact, be the case.

As always, please don't hesitate to get in touch should you have any questions or concerns. I'll be happy to answer or direct you all to an answer.

Have a great night, and GO TORPEDO!

Tuesday, May 28, 2019

PRACTICE STARTS TODAY! WOOHOO!

Today marks the start of the season for the Torpedo!

We're excited to welcome Coach Kloey back and welcome Coach Marshall. Coach Marshall has swam with us for a couple of summers, and has been a guard here at the Rec. for a year.

Practice times through June 6th are 3:30-4:30pm for 11 and up, and 4:30-5:15pm for 10 and unders. We WILL NOT be practicing on June 7th due to graduation events. Please bring water, goggles, a swim suit, and sunscreen. It's been very hot already this year!

Don't forget that we will have our kickoff event on the deck Friday evening at 5:20pm. We'll have a few sweet treats for everyone, as well as come clinics on what to expect for meets.

For the new members this summer, I'm going to link back to a few posts from the past which will hopefully help you as you enter this crazy new world of Torpedo Swimming!

What are they doing?! A guide for new swim parents:
http://vtst.blogspot.com/2017/05/what-are-they-doing-guide-for-new-swim.html

On swim meets and volunteers (you!):
http://vtst.blogspot.com/2017/05/the-most-important-person-at-our-meets.html

SEE EVERYONE THIS WEEK!

Wednesday, April 3, 2019

THIS MONDAY: APRIL 8: Starter's Clinic in Marion

Good morning, Torpedo!

I received this message from Colleen Gillan, a friend and USA Swimming official.

On April 8th 5:30 at the Corpening YMCA, 348 Grace Corpening Dr. Marion.  I am running a USA Starters Clinic.  The summer league is welcomed to audit the class.  I will need to have firm confirmations that they will attend and I have room for only 5 people.  

It would be a great help to have some folks go through this training! Let me know if you are interested and can attend, and I will pass your info along to Colleen. This is a great opportunity to learn from an experienced, veteran official.

Saturday, March 9, 2019

2019 Meet Schedule is HERE! (UPDATED)

Good afternoon, everyone!

The Tarheel Swim League coaches and team reps met today to set out the schedule for this summer's meets. We had a great meeting, and all of the teams are looking forward to a great season!

So, without further ado...

Important Dates:
Sign-Ups start on April 29
Practices will start on May 28, and we will go to our morning and evening practices starting June 10. I'll post practice times at a later date, but they will more than likely follow the same schedule as last season.
July 3rd- July 5 will be a break for the Independence Day Holiday. Practices will resume July 8th.
Our pre-conference meet Spaghetti Dinner is on July 26th at 5pm at a location to be determined.
Our end of season potluck and awards will be on Saturday, August 3 at 5:30pm.
UPDATED: Pictures will be on June 13th before the home meet, with June 27th as a backup date. Please try to be here by 4pm for pictures.


Meet Schedule:
Home Meets have a 5:00pm warmup, and away meets have a 5:30pm warmup.
June 13th: Black Mountain at Valdese
June 18th: Valdese @ Granite Falls
June 27th: McDowell/ Forest City @ Valdese
July 2nd: Valdese @ Black Mountain
July 11: Granite Falls @ Valdese
July 13: Sprint/Distance in Forest City (Swimmers 11 and Up Only- Sat. AM Meet)
July 16: Valdese @ Forest City
July 23: Valdese @ McDowell
July 27: Championship Meet @ Black Mountain (All-Day Meet)

Parents, you did a great job helping the meets run smoothly last year! Let's keep it going this summer, too. If you are interested or able to help with concessions, timing, or officiating, please let me know!

Our league is growing, and we need to grow, as well, to stay competitive! Spread the word about our team and invite folks to join us!

See you all soon!