Weekly Update: End of the Season Wrap Up

Thanks for another great week Aquadwags and another awesome season.

This is our last week of practice for this season. There will be no practices March 9-13. 

I was very proud of our swimmers this weekend at the meet. I saw lots of swimmers drop time and improve their overall technique.

I am sorry that the awards didn't get presented at the meet on Saturday. We have been trying a few new things with out computer system to hopefully make it easier for our summer season. Awards were handed out at practice on Tuesday and if you were not there I will have the awards again today.

Don't forget to register for next season March 16- May 16. Spots are limited. I have talked to some swimmers already, but if you think your swimmer is ready to move up to the next group please ask me and I will let you know if they are ready. A lot of factors go into my decision to move swimmers up. 

As the season comes to a close I have picked my favorite Aquadwag photos from this season. I was very impressed by the creative effort many of the swimmers gave with their photos. I am exicited to continue giving out the Aquadawg next season and see more creative photos.

Coach Alisha

alisha.maxwell@vosymca.org

Weekly Update: Meet Recap (PICTURES), Staying Warm, & Coach Alisha's Email

Thanks for a great week last week Aquadawgs!

Last week the swimmers worked on some starts, turns and fast swimming in preparation for our swim meet.

I was very impressed with all of the swimmers who went to the swim meet. I held the swimmers responsible for knowing warm up before the swim meet and I think that helped warm up go very smoothly. I also saw a lot of good racing happening especially in our older age groups. It always helps us push ourselves if we have someone to race. I also saw a lot of swimmers drop times and also inform me that they dropped times. Focusing on our times is a wonderful habit we are developing as individuals and as a team.

MEET RESULTS

A few things to improve on for the next meet are swimmers need to come more prepared for the weather, especially the little ones. I saw too many cold swimmers. It is a good idea to bring a sweat shirts, sweat pants, several towels and shoes to the swim meet. Also kids love hot chocolate in a thermos after getting out of the pool.

For the next swim meet I would prefer that swimmers walk up to their race with a towel or sweatshirt and shoes. They should take them off before their race and leave them on the timers chair. Then after the race they can pick them up and put them on. For those swimming 25's wear a towel or sweatshirt and shoes to the starting end of the pool and have your parents meet you at the finish with a warm dry towel. And then you can go get your stuff you left at the start.

Lets please stay warm.

And please prepare for the weather at practice the same way with sweatshirts, sweatpants, shoes, and warm dry towels.

Reminders & Important Information:

• Tuesday there is practice even though it is Veterans Day
• Coach Alisha has a YMCA email! If you have her personal email please start using this one for all YMCA related questions: alisha.maxwell@vosymca.org
• Please get your ribbons from the meet at practice
• Follow our Aquadawg Instagram @ymcaaquadawgs

Thanks!

Coach Alisha

Weekly Update #7: Season Wrap Up

Aquadawgs!

Thanks for another great week of practice! We are nearing the end of our season...can you believe this is our last week of practice!

As we come to the conclusion of our season don't forget:

1. SIGN UPS: sign ups for our next season (October 14-December 21) are going on NOW! There are limited spots so sign up ASAP...and I promise THE POOL IS HEATED! :)
2. SWIM MEET: October 4th is our final meet of the season. Bring your meet form to me (Coach Alisha) by Thursdays practice. Remember you can only swim 4 events. 

This last week at practice was probably our toughest one yet. I really pushed a lot of our swimmers this week. During this week I was looking out for swimmers who were excelling as I pushed them. I also introduced swimmers to stuff they might learn in the group above them to see how they handled it. I did this because I wanted to see what swimmers might be ready to move up a group. This last week gave me a great feel for where all our swimmers are at. Feel free to ask me if your child should stay in the same group or move up for next season. But do keep in mind, swim team is not swim lessons. Children are expected to be in the same group for multiple seasons and possibly a few years. That is normal. Moving up usually happens with not only improvement but also age. 

Beginner group worked on Backstroke and introductory flip turn work.

Intermediate group worked on IMs and did some harder more challenging sets with intervals.

Advanced group did some intense freestyle workouts. A special shout out to this group, they endured some of the most challenging workouts I have ever written for the Aquadawgs. They handled it well and felt very accomplished, tired, hungry and sore after...as they should have. GREAT JOB to this group I was very impressed. 

Also thanks to Ingelise & Katie for attending the high school swim meet this week. It was fun to watch the high school swimmers and talk about swimming. 

Here are some pictures from the high school meet this week to show just how much fun we had. (Most of these pictures were posted on Instagram follow us @ymcaaquadwags)

There is another DV meet on Wednesday against Hamilton. It is at the Nozomi Aquatic Center from 4-6pm.

Lastly, here is an article Coach Deb posted on my Facebook this week. It is a good read especially going into our final meet! Read it here. 

Coach Alisha