P.O Box 280 Stittsville, ON K2S 1A4

The SPLASH

Volume 6; Edition 2 November 9, 2006

 

Quote for the Month

 

 

Upcoming Events

 

 

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Coaches Report

Report from Head Coach Rob

 

October has been a busy month for our swimmers with 19 of our swimmers attending the Hall of Fame swim meet in Etobicoke on the weekend of October 14^th and 15^th. There were some great swims - Sarah Coakley six swims for six personal best times, and Stephanie Cook made provincial time in the 100 fly. All swimmers attending the meet swam personal best times. Sara Gilboe, only 9 years old, had her first meet and did very well. This a great start to our season.  Personal best times are always good, but to be there this early in the season is a great start.

 

We now have two meets coming up.   Ottawa U this weekend, with 30 swimmers attending.  Well done all. Please note that the warm up time for the afternoon session has been changed to 12.10 pm on both Saturday and Sunday.

 

The next weekend we have our club meet.  For this meet we have 70 swimmers entered.   This number is up from last years meet.

 

December is also going to a busy month for our swimmers:

December 7^th to 10^th Pointe-Claire Platinum and Gold Qualifiers.

December 9^th to 10^th Cornwall Silver and non-qualifiers for Point-Claire.

December 16^th Sawmill Bronze, Entry and non competitive.

 

Report from Assistant Coach Liliana

I want to congratulate the Silver swimmers participating at the Hall of Fame swim meet. They all did Personal Best times in all their events. Great job!

 

The preparatory period is close to the end and we are starting to move into the competitive season.   Two swim meets are coming soon for the Silver group: one at the Ottawa University and one at our pool. We still have to work on some technique problems and mainly on push offs, starts and turns. Most of the kids are working hard at the practices to swim faster and better. They want to get Personal Best times in all their strokes and events.

 

This year some of our Superfish group kids are going to participate at the Entry Level swim meets. It is good to have their first experience with a real swim meet on the 18^th – 19^th November weekend at our swim meet. They are very excited to swim at the GAC swim meet to show their abilities and strength to all the parents and coaches.

 

We thank all the parents and families who are volunteering many hours to organize our swim meet, to make it run smoothly.

 

Christmas Training Camps

Tuesday January 2^nd to Friday January 5^th 2007

 

Platinum and Gold Program - run by Rob

 

Tuesday to Thursday:     8.30am to 10.30am and 4.30pm to 6.30pm

Friday:                           8.30am to 10.30am

 

The camp will conclude with a swim meet in Beaconsfield the weekend of January 6^th and 7^th 2007.  The plan is for the team to leave Friday pm January 5^th for Beaconsfield.

This meet is open to all swimmers in the Platinum and Gold groups that are taking part in the training camp.

 

I am working at bringing in a guest coach for one or two of the practice sessions.  The focus of this camp will be technical skills and how to implement these skills into race strategies

Silver and Bronze Program – run by assistant coach Liliana.

 

Tuesday to Friday:        5.30pm to 6.30pm

 Saturday:                     7.30am to 8.30am

 

The focus of this camp will be the continued development of all our club members in all strokes.

 

Pool Air Quality

 

The pool has a new compliment of staff this season and it has become evident in the increased cleanliness of the pool area and change rooms.

 

With regards to the air quality, the Goulbourn Recreation Center (GRC) have put in place a monthly maintenance schedule, run by an outside contractor, to keep on top of the air system.  Repairs and maintenance will be scheduled between 8.30am and 11.00am so as not to be carrying out these tasks while our kids are in the pool. Also, they will be upgrading the air system throughout the course of this season.  They will keep us informed of when and what time this work is going to be carried out.  I have asked that we be sent an email letting us know of scheduled work so that we can adjust our training program accordingly should these repairs run into our pool time. This was their policy in the past but was not done last season, so from now on we will receive notice in advance if any repairs or maintenance that is going to be carried out.

 

Everyone acknowledges that the air from the hot tub is a contributing factor to the air problems at the pool. Dave Janssen is working on a system that will circulate the air from the hot tub separate to the pool area.

 

Also we must work hard on discouraging parents and swimmers from using the fire escape doors.  Opening and closing these doors causes problems with the air circulation system.

 

GRC does understand that it is our intention to help in any way we can to improve things. If there is any thing we can do, GRC will let us know.   As we move forward in this new season I will keep everyone informed- we still have a way to go but we are making progress.

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Practice Changes

 

Last practice before Christmas for all groups is Friday December 22^nd 2006.

 

Normal practice schedule resumes Monday January 8^th 2007

 

GAC Swim Meet – Sat Nov 18 and Sun Nov 19, 2006

 

**Attention High School students***

 

You can earn community hours for helping at the meet Contact Carole Houde at andrehoude@rogers.com if you want to earn community hours.

 

Thanks to all the families for volunteering for the meet!

 

All volunteers – Your representative will contact you in the next week with final details for the meet.

 

Gong Prizes – This is a favorite with the swimmers – Please contact Susan if you have not yet dropped off your Gong Prize.

 

Hospitality – Will be contacting you for a food item in the next week.

 

Concessions – Any donations from sponsors would be greatly appreciated

 

See you all on November 18^th!

GAC Swim Meet Volunteer Grid

 There are several spots still vacant – please volunteer so our club does not loose the opportunity to host a swim meet next year.  The annual meet is a major fundraiser for our club  - we need everyone’s help to make it a success.

 

OFFICIALS still NEEDED FOR GAC MEET

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

GAC Christmas Party

 

The GAC Christmas party is coming up on December 2^nd.  It will be held from 4 pm to 7 pm.  We are still looking for volunteers to help out with this event.  If you are willing to help, please contact the GAC office at 613-726-7901 or through e-mail at gac@bellnet.ca. 

 

Tip of the Month – Mental Preparation

This week’s Speedo Tip of the Week comes from Dr. Alan Goldberg, an expert in the field of applied sports psychology and the former sports psychology consultant for all of the teams at the University of Connecticut. Here, Goldberg offers some advice on preparing yourself mentally for your best swims.

Goldberg’s Tip:
Seven-time gold medalist Mark Spitz once said that “swimming fast in practice is 90% physical and 10% mental.” To become a champion you must first work like one in practice because there is no substitute for hard work. However, once you get to a meet, going fast according to Spitz is now “90% mental and 10% physical.” The difference between your best swims and worst swims lies between your ears and is directly related to what you concentrate on and how nervous you are both before and during your races. Many swimmers go faster in practice than they do in meets because they are far more relaxed in practice than they are when they race. If you concentrate on the right things when you swim, i.e. what you are doing in your lane, then you’ll tend to stay loose and go fast. However, if you concentrate on the wrong things, i.e. those around you or the time that you need to go, then you’ll get nervous and tight and swim slower.

Carpooling anyone?

 

The Jundi Family is looking to car pool with another GAC Family living in Kanata and have a swimmer in GOLD.  Please call Husn Wafai at 613-270-0572

 

The Holland Family is looking to car pool with another GAC family living in the Bridlewood/Barrhaven area and have a swimmer in GOLD.  Please call Yvonne Holland at 613-852-0975.

 

 

 

 GAC Contact Information

 

GAC Office:

Office Hours:                            Tuesday – Thursday 9:30am - 2:30pm

Address:                                   P.O. Box 280, Stittsville, ON, K2S 1A4

Office Phone Number:              613-726-7901 

E-mail:                                      gac@bellnet.ca

 

GAC Coaching Staff:

Robert Beattie

E-mail:              robert.beattie@sympatico.ca

Office:              613- 726-7901

Home:              613- 592-0113

Liliana Rusu:                 lilianar@magma.ca 

Matt Hyne:                   matt.hyne@ottawa.ca   

 

GAC Board of Directors

Joseph Elchakieh, President - joseph.elchakieh@sympatico.ca

Greg MacPherson, Vice President and Director of Public Relations

Mary Raphael, Treasurer - mssraphael@rogers.com

Carole Houde, Secretary and manager of GAC swim meet - andrehoude@rogers.com

Ian Lightbody, Director and Officials Director - casa_lightbody@mac.com

Your feedback is important and encouraged; please contact the office at any time with your suggestions or concerns.