`I like dryland exercise. I build strong muscles from those. I look great but man... is it ever sore!?'
`I wish they had instructions on how to use the swim caps. I never knew you needed two people to put one on!'
`I never knew you could get so much gossip from a girl's changeroom. Now it takes me forever to get changed!'
`I like to swim backstroke because I can lead the group. I hate breastroke because I swim dead last.'
`My mom's version of pain and aggravation are the speed bumps at AY Jackson. My version of that are Sabrina's
practices.(OK...maybe just the push ups and sit ups...AND THE 25 METER UNDER WATER NO BREATHING
FLY KICK!)'
`I don't like swimming with fins. It hurts my feet so much and we have to do extra distance with them!'
Thoughts from our swimmers:
Thoughts from our parents:
Do you remember the feelings and
emotions you had when you first
started competitive swimming? Eve-
rything was new. The experience
was overwhelming. And of course,
the practices were unimaginable.
Eighty percent of our swimmers in
Age2 had to experience just that. As
for the parents, they were even more
surprised than the swimmers them-
selves: waking up early Saturday
mornings; paying astronomical fig-
ures for swim fees; buying new
equipment that you just bought them
last week and gone missing already,
etc. Here are some random thoughts
I have captured from some of our
swimmers and parents. But first of
all, let me start with my own
thoughts about the short course sea-
son for Intro2 and Age2 at AY Jack-
son.
Our groups have come a very long
way since September. We started
with eleven swimmers with both
groups combined. Many of them
were swimming competitively for
the first year. And now, with 26
swimmers in both groups, everyone
has definitely learned and developed
many skills they had never thought
of gaining from the pool. I am glad
to report that by the end of short
course season, we have ten of our
swimmers reaching at least one cen-
tral region C time, with some possi-
ble LC provincial qualifiers. There
is still a lot of work to do, particu-
larly in stroke techniques and endur-
ance. Our swimmers, however, are
determined to work hard and to
achieve their target goals. Thanks to
all the parents who continue to sup-
port our swimmers by getting them
to practices on time and being pre-
sent at swim meets!
`Until now, I never considered myself an early morning person...amazing how swimming motivates you on a cold,
winter morning (and an extra large Tim Horton's double double).'
`I would like to be able to see a concise snapshot of what is expected of a parent when they have a swimmer at a par-
ticular level. There's so much information on the website but it gets quite confusing.'
`We find the swimming fees too high. It would be great if the club could get at least partial government subsidy.
Other than that, we have a wonderful coach with excellent leadership skills, and a great group of kids.'
`I am having a great time watching my kid's races. Sometimes I want to jump in and do the race for them!'
By Sabrina Ng
Random Thoughts from Intro2/Age2
Page 7
NYAC