Weekly Update: High School Swim Team/Candy

Aquadawgs!

Thanks for another great week.

This week all the groups worked on breaststroke and butterfly. The intermediate and advanced groups also put everything together in a 100 IM.

Thank you again to everyone who brought candy to donate to the YMCA trunk or treat. The winners of the raffle have been posted on the blog and will be notified by email with more information about how to set up the private lessons.

We have now decided to open up a high school swim team group. This group will be available to high school aged swimmers only. This group will partner with the other Aquadawg groups and the high school swimmers will be able to participate in those swim meets. The goals of this group are to help swimmers stay in swim shape all year round and prepare them for high school swim season. The practice times will be (Nov 3- Dec 19) MON/WED/FRI 5:00-6:30 pm at the Ahwatukee YMCA. It is $72 for facility members and $97 for program members. Swimmers who are moving up from advanced to the high school team will be charged an additional $21 for facility members and $29 for program members. If you are interested in this group (even if you are just moving from advanced to high school) please email Deb: djrothstein@vosymca.org

Please spread the word about this team if you know anyone that would like to join. If we can get this group running it will be a huge step for our team and provide a future for the swimmers who will be in high school in a few years.

Our first swim meet is November 8th at 7:00 am. The form has now been posted. You can get it on the top bar of this blog or on the Aquadawg webpage here. The form is due to me by November 6th. Swimmers are only allowed to swim up to 4 events. Please put those dates on your calendar and get the form to me ASAP.

Thanks

Coach Alisha

Candy Raffle Winners

I was very impressed by the amount of participation we had in the candy donations. At the end of practice I couldn't even lift the bucket! Thanks so much to everyone who brought candy and supported the YMCA trunk or treat.

As many of you know the prize for winning the raffle is a free 30 min private lesson with me (Coach Alisha). The winners will be emailed with more information about how to set up the private lesson.

And the winners are...

Beginner: Aidan Martin, Keely Tague

Intermediate: Jeff Rudolph, Bianca Tuegel

Advanced: Isabella Romano, Molly Sutherland

Candy Reminder

Our YMCA is having a trunk or treat and is accepting candy donations. The Aquadwags have decided to support this by having a raffle for a FREE private lesson with coach Alisha when you bring a bag of candy to practice on THURSDAY the October 23. Each group will have a raffle so a swimmer in each group will win a private lesson. This is a fun way to support our YMCA and possibly win a private lesson!

High School Dual Meet Wednesday

Aquadawgs!

As many of you know I love to attend the local high school swim meets. I swam for DV myself so usually that is who I am found cheering for. I also believe that it a very good idea for young swimmers to attend these meets. It gives swimmers an idea of what they are potentially working towards. It also shows off some great swimming/racing technique and support for our local community. DV's last dual meet is WEDNESDAY (tomorrow) from 4-6pm at the Nozomi Aquatic Center. I am usually in attendance at these meets and if my schedule allows I will be there (it's a busy week). But I encourage all swimmers to go if possible. This will be the last opportunity to see the high schoolers swim in a dual meet this season.

Nozomi Aquatic Center: 250 S Kyrene Rd. Chandler, AZ 85226

Aquadawg Weekly Update: Fall/Winter Season

Welcome to our Aquadawg blog!

I will be posting weekly updates for the Aquadawgs and their families. These updates will include a recap on the week, things for parents and swimmers to think about, reminders about upcoming meets and events, and any other information I find might be helpful to you. If you are curious feel free to browse the blog and read some of the posts from last season.

Some general information about practices...

•  Practice Times

• Beginner Tue/Thurs 4:30-5:30 pm

• Intermediate Tue/Thurs 5:30-6:30 pm

• Advanced Tue/Thurs 6:30-8:00 pm

• Locker Rooms: Please have children (especially the beginner and intermediate swimmers) use the family locker rooms. These locker rooms offer private dressing areas and showers unlike the adult locker rooms. 

• Equipment: fins, goggles, kickboard, swim cap (girls only), mostly black swim suit for swim meets, and pull buoy (advanced only)

• Parents are not allowed on the pool deck during practice. This is due to our lifeguard ratio. The lifeguards are responsible for watching the people on the deck as well as the swimmers in the pool. I will allow parents on the deck 5 min at the start and end of practice to drop off and pick up their swimmers.

• Swimmers please remember to go to the bathroom BEFORE practice.

• ALL of the forms and the results for the swim meets will be posted on the Aquadawg website. Bookmark that page it is important to be able to access it. 

• Any questions, concerns or comments email Deb: djrothstein@vosymca.org. Deb will forward emails to me as necessary and I will respond. 

• Follow this blog by email! Scroll down to the very bottom of the page you see "follow by email". If you enter in your email and click "submit" your email will be notified every time I post something new on the blog. This is very useful and the best way to stay up to date on information.

• Follow the Aquadawgs on Instagram @ymcaaquadwags. Feel free to tag us in any of your Aquadawg photos.

I am so excited to be starting off another swim season. All of the groups are almost full! It is a wonderful feeling to be carrying this momentum into our fall/winter season.

I would like to let all parents and swimmers know that I will not be at practice on THURSDAY. I have an out of town funeral to attend so just know it is not normal for me to miss a practice. I believe that Coach Deb will be filling in for me, so all of the swimmers will be in good hands. 

The swimmers are off to a great start. All of my groups are full of motivated swimmers who act like they want to be there. On Tuesday, the groups worked on freestyle. The beginner group worked heavily on streamlines, blowing bubbles, rotating from side to side, and alternating side breathing every three strokes. The intermediate group worked on streamlines, rotating from side to side, alternating breathing every three strokes, and keeping their elbows high. The advanced group worked on rotating from side to side, alternating breathing every three strokes, high elbows, good body position, and learning how to incorporate good technique with speed. Next week, I look forward to working on some of the other strokes with the groups as well as dives and possibly turns with my older groups.

Our first swim meet is November 8th at the Ahwatukee YMCA, warm ups start at 7:00 am. The form for this meet will be linked on the Aquadawg website. The meet entry form is due to me by Thursday the 6th. Please mark those date on your calendar!

Thanks!

Coach Alisha

Star Swimmers of The Week #6

Congrats to these swimmers on their outstanding efforts!

3:30- Abby, Elena & Xiaofan
4:30- Logan & Lindsey
5:30- Vaughn
6:30- John, Leah B & Leah W

Reminders

• High School Swim Meet today (DV vs. Hamilton). Nozomi Aquatic Center from 4-6pm. Coach Alisha will be there. Come watch the high schoolers swim and hang out with Coach Alisha.

Nozomi Aquatic Center: 250 S Kyrene Rd. Chandler, AZ 85226

• MEET FORM! Print out and bring to practice by THURSDAY.
• Sign ups. This is our last week of the season make sure you sign up for next season (October 14-December 21).