Important Dates

Please BE SURE TO READ the Practice Schedule Changes for March 5-8 below in the newsletter
NC B/C States Meet: THIS WEEKEND March 5-7 @ Pullen
This weekend March 5-7 is the North Carolina B/C States held at Pullen Aquatic Center. Below is all the info you will need to know about this swim meet.

Warm Ups and Meet Schedule
Friday, March 5, 2004
11-12 & 13-18 Warm Up begins at 5 PM; Meet Starts at 6 PM (Please remember that the following events are on Friday night 11-12 100 IM, 12& Under 500 free)
Saturday & Sunday, March 6-7, 2004
10 & Under Warm Up begins at 7:30 AM Meet Starts at 8:30 AM
11-12 & 13-18 Warm Up begins at 1:00 PM Meet Starts at 2:00 PM

Kid Pushers Still Needed !
The Following parents have volunteered to help get 8 & Unders to their events: Catherine Baron, Margaret Bell, & Claire Alonzo
Please we are still in need of more kid pushers, especially for Sunday morning. This is an excellent opportunity to earn service credit points if you have an 8 & Under participating in the meet. Below are the number of kid pushers that are still needed for the meet. One benefit of being a kid pusher is that you will be able to remain on the pool deck with your child during the swim meet. Otherwise you will be pushed to the bleachers and off the deck area.
Saturday AM- 1 to kid push 8 & Under Girls needed
Sunday AM- 2 to kid push 8 & Under Girls needed, 2 to kid push 8 & Under Boys needed

B/C States RELAYS
Coach Brian will be finishing up the relays for this weekend. Tuesday, March 2 will be the last day to let coach Brian know if you cannot participate in them. Please let me know if you cannot participate in relays. You will be considered available for relays unless you let Coach Brian know. Many swimmers can be upset if you were slated to be in a relay do not show up. IT IS LETTING YOUR TEAM DOWN!

Meet Entries
The meet entries for the B/C States Meet are posted on the web site under meet info. The entries are also posted on the Minnow, Nova, Wahoo, and Dolphin bulletin board at the Candler Swim Club. PLEASE CHECK TO SEE IF THE ENTRIES ARE CORRECT. If something is incorrect please let me know ASAP. Basically you are checking to make sure that your child is entered. Remember the coach chooses the events. Please make sure that you attend the correct session.
Click Here! for B/C States Meet Entries

What to Bring to the Meet
RSA caps (red or black) this is your choice, goggles, two towels, RSA T-shirt, sweatshirt/pants, activities (gameboy, books, etc.), waterbottle and healthy snacks.

Here are some Important Things to Remember About Going to a Swim Meet

• Prior to the beginning of the meet, parents should write the events the child will be swimming on the child’s arm.  This will enable the Kid Pushers and the Clerk of Course to determine if the child is in the right place.  It is the parent’s responsibility to get the child to the Kid Pushers/Clerk of Course.
• Immediately after each swim, your child should see the coaching staff to get feedback on their performance.  This is the best time for the child to get a clear understanding of what they did well and what things they need to work on.
• Parents please remember the coaches are not responsible for getting the swimmers to the blocks for their race. The coaches need to make sure they watch every child's race. The 8 & Unders have kid pushers to get them to the block and will all sit in a designated area. Please be sure that your child is sitting in that area, because the kid pusher will not track the swimmer down during the meet. 9 & Overs are responsible for paying attention and getting to block for their swims.
• I will be giving out best time ribbons to those who have established times from last year or the last swim meet. Go out and swim your best!
• There are RELAYS IN THIS SWIM MEET please be sure to check to see what relay you are in at the swim meet.
• PLEASE REMEMBER: We are not all about awards and time standards.  Your child may not always have a best time or get an award, but they may do other things that the coaching staff and the swimmer should be proud of.

Practice Changes for March 5-8
Due to the swim meet at Pullen this weekend practices will change slightly. Please note the schedule changes
Friday, March 5
Wahoos & Dolphins: 6:15-7:15 PM @ Candler

Saturday, March 6
Dolphins (Tarheel States Swimmers ONLY): 11:30-12:30 PM @ Candler
Minnows : 11:30-12:15 @ Candler

Monday, March 8
NO PRACTICE FOR Novas & Wahoos. Take a day off after the swim meet
NO PRACTICE FOR Dolphins who participated in B/C States. There will be dolphin practice for those who are going to Tarheel States.

Scratch Deadline for TARHEEL STATES
The Scratch Deadline for Tarheel States is March 2nd. Please let coach Brian know if you cannot attend the swim meet or will only be going for one of the days. This meet is for BB swimmers ONLY. A swimmer can swim any event in which they have a BB time. Tarheel States will be held at Pullen Aquatic Center this year from March 19-21.

RSA Swimming Lessons and Stroke School Information- March Session sign up approaching
The March session five of the Raleigh Swimming Association Stroke School and Swim Lesson Program Session begins Saturday, March 6th.  The dates for session five are: March  6-7, 20-21, 27-28, April 3-4 . Please try to encourage your neighbors and friends to come out and learn to swim with us to get ready for the summer season. Support RSA!

The program teaches children the basic strokes and water safety. Lessons are offered from October through May on the weekends. The cost of each session is $70.00. Each session consists of 8 lessons. Participants are grouped by ability. There are three different levels that are offered: Beginner, Advanced Beginner, and Pre-Swim Team. The program is directed by RSA’s national award winning coaching staff. RSA was selected as a National Club of Excellence by United States Swimming for 2003-2004. For more information, please call 859-4881 and ask for Liz Roady (lroady@swimrsa.org), or see our web page www.swimrsa.org
Click Here for Swim Lesson Info and Registration Form

RSA IN MAY INFORMATION IS OUT!
Parents the 2004 RSA In May information is up on the website. Please try to encourage your neighbors and friends to come out and swim with us to get ready for the summer season. We offer several different sessions. Support RSA!

Session 1:  April 12^th-29^th  Monday, Wednesday, & Thursday  4:15-5:15 PM @ 1013 Jones Franklin Rd
Session 2:  May 3rd-May 21^st  Monday, Wednesday, & Friday  4:15-5:15 PM @ 1013 Jones Franklin Rd
Session 3:  May 4^th-May 22^nd  Tuesday, Thursday  4:15-5:15 PM & Saturday noon-1:00 PM @ 1013 Jones Franklin Rd

In the link below you can find information about RSA In May, including a 2004 registration form.  If you have any questions you can email me at bgill@swimrsa.org or call the RSA Office at 859-4881.

Click Here! for RSA In May Information and Registration form


TECHNIQUE FOR THE WEEK
For some of you this is the last meet of the short course season. Lets make it a good one. Get plenty of rest and drink fluids this week to stay hydrated. Here are some of the things you should be concentrating on for your races.
1. Be sure to streamline. This has been something the coaching staff has preached all year. Streamline off your start and off of you turns, and squeeze your ears with your arms.
2. Race into the wall on turns and finishes. Remember do not go into your turns slowly attack each wall and be aggressive. DO NOT BREATH OFF OF YOUR TURNS in free and FLY, and DO NOT BREATH FROM THE FLAGS TO THE WALL ON YOUR FINISH in free and fly. be sure to kick off the wall on each turn. Do not rush your underwater pull out for breaststroke.
3. AIM your arms out on your start. Many of us sometimes aim down on the start. Push your arms up like you are aiming towards the other side of the pool so you go out instead of down.
4. HAVE A GOOD TIME. All of these things will make you go faster, but it is important to have a good time at the meet.

See you all at practice

Coach Brian