Important Dates

All Video Taping Sessions Cancelled!
THERE WILL BE NO PRACTICE THIS THURSDAY, JANUARY, 30th. Video taping for Thurs., Jan. 30 has been cancelled. We will reschedule.Please arrive 5 minutes prior to the time you signed up, so we do not waste time. There are still plenty of people that still must be taped. Every time slot has been taken except for two. If you have not been taped please sign-up for a time. There are only two left so hurry!

Saturday Practice-2/1/03
I would like to apologize to all the parents about the problem with practice on Saturday. Sorry for the inconvenience, and to thank you for your patience. There are several meets taking place at the Pullen Aquatic Center this month, so we will be have practice at Candler. This Saturday, January 25th we will have practice at Candler. Minnows, Novas, & Wahoos will practice from 10:30-11:30 AM. Dolphins practice from 10:30 AM-noon.

NEXT MEET: RSA-North Age Group Qualifier / Eastern 8 & Under Championships
The next meet is the RSA-North Age Group Qualifier, which is to be held in Goldsboro. There are many swimmers that have not qualified for Age Group Championships. This can be a great meet for all swimmers, because we will taper and get everyone ready for this meet. The dates for this meet is Feb. 8 & 9, 2003. 10 & Unders are in morning, while 11-ups are in the afternoon. 8 & Unders will be scored and swum in a separate course of the pool. This a good chance for 8 & Unders to swim in longer events and compete against swimmers their age.

Entries for Qualifier are in: The meet entries for the qualifier are posted on the RSA Website. Look Under Meets / Meet Info and then select the Qualifier. If there are any mistakes on the meet entries please let me know ASAP, so I can try to correct them.

Qualifier Help: RSA North is hosting the qualifier in Goldsboro, and they are in need of timers and kid pushers. If you will be going to the Qualifier and willing to volunteer please let Margaret Bell know by emailing her at rbell18@nc.rr.com. She is in contact with the meet director at RSA-North.

Summer Swimming: TSA Meetings
I attended the first TSA meeting of the year. At this meeting I passed out information about our RSA In May our Pre-Summer Stroke Clinic and Swim Camp. The first session begins on April 7th. They are three week sessions. Two more sessions begin on April 28th and 29th. The coaching staff is trying to get a jump on getting the word out. I know there are many RSA swimmers that are on a summer team. I am trying to get a parent that will represent RSA at their respective summer club. This will bring more swimmers to RSA. If you are on a summer club and are willing to represent RSA please let me ASAP. I want to try to get information out about our clinics before sign-ups for each of these teams. Please let me know if any parents could help out.

Technique For The Week
This week I wanted to give you a list of some things that you can do to dramatically improve your times at swim meets. Please look at the list and go over them this week, and next so you will remember when we get to the qualifier meet next weekend.

1. STREAMLINE: Make sure that you streamline off of your start and each of your turns.
2. DO NOT TAKE A BREATH on you start in free and fly. Take three strokes before you take a breath
3. DO NOT BREATH OUT OF YOUR TURNS: After you do a free or fly turn do not take a breath immediately. Take two or three strokes before breath.
4. DO NOT BREATH FROM THE FLAGS TO THE WALL ON YOUR FINISH: Try your best to hold your breath from the flags to the wall on your finishes in free and fly.
5. KNOW YOUR STROKE COUNT IN BACKSTROKE ON YOUR TURNS AND FROM THE FLAGS TO THE WALL
6. DO PULLOUTS OFF YOUR STARTS AND TURNS IN BREASTSTROKE
7. DO NOT FLIP TOO CLOSE TO THE WALL ON FREE AND BACK TURNS (KNOW YOUR STROKE COUNT)
8. TOUCH WITH TWO HANDS IN BREAST AND FLY

WINTER CLEANING: I have had a lot of response to this request. This may be an effort in which several parents will have to participate. I will talk to coach Dan about a date when we will do this. I will get back to those who said they can help. Thank you for the response.

Keep up all the hard work everyone. It will pay off at the meets!

Coach Brian