Quote of the Week

If I don't push you, I'm cheating you.

via SB Nation

Thomas Michael "Tom" Izzo

Friday Afternoon

16 - FV, GV, MV
11 - CR
7 - SA, DD
6 - MB, HS
4 - SE, AL, AM
3 - ZH, ST, JW
2 - CA, BR
1 - FR

Broken Work

Group did some good broken swims this a.m.

Posted above pic on Facebook this a.m.

Here are a few comments from other swim coaches:

PH

Congrats to those who stepped up. Taking advantage of opportunities is key to success.

DA

Skipping bc it's "too cold"? There's only one person who's cold at these glorious training opps, and he/she is the one with the stopwatch! We have sunshine and I've even removed my gloves and jacket #1. Must be in Miami Beach! 

AC

I had 7 yesterday and 8 today take advantage of having an indoor pool.

CB

I remember the days!

CW

As a swimmer who trained outside the majority of his life, I understand how temperatures, both hot and cold can effect your desire to train. But....there's countless farm boys and farm girls that are feeding livestock and working fields in this same weather for much longer hours. I doubt they got congratulations when they finished and will guess that they don't wake up to "recovery" days after a rough day on the farm. Had a kid ask if he could get out of workout early one cold winter morning a number of years ago. I asked if he wanted to crawl back into his warm bed. With a straight face he said "Naw...I've got 240 square bales to stack and if I don't get a jump on it before school, I won't be able to finish it up before afternoon workout. That's a kid who's employable, that's a kid I want voting, that's a kid who put family first and self second. We are truly privileged to coach some of the finest individuals the world has produced.

15 - FV, GV, MV

11 - CR

7 - SA

6 - MB, DD, HS

4 - SE, AL, AM

3 - ZH, ST, JW

2 - CA, BR

1 - FR

 

Five Brave Swimmers

13 - FV, GV, MV
10 - CR
7 - SA
5 - MB, DD
4 - SE, AL, HS
3 - ZH, AM, ST, JW
2 - CA, BR
1 - FR

Chilly Afternoon

12 - FV, GV, MV
10 - CR
7 - SA
5 - MB, DD
4 - SE, AL
3 - ZH, HS, ST, JW
2 - CA, AM, BR
1 - FR

Another One Down

11 - FV, GV, MV
10 - CR
7 - SA
5 - MB
4 - DD, SE, AL
3 - ZH, HS, ST, JW
2 - CA, BR
1 - AM, FR

It was a cold morning, so we had some leftovers (Black Walnut & Banana Split Sundae):

(l to r) - Michael V*, Hannah S, Faith V, Aubry M, & Glory V

*a.k.a. "The Hypothermia Kid"

Odds-n-Ends

First, looking forward to seeing a large group of athletes tomorrow!

Take advantage of these holiday training opportunities...your opponents are!

Next, looking over the ARC guard training flyer, I think there is a typo on the March class dates (20th - 22nd).  Says those are weekend hours, but they're Tuesday - Thursday.

Might want to double check with Angela on that.  If she meant the prior Friday - Sunday (16th - 18th), that's the last weekend of spring break.  Might work out well for y'all!

If you're planning to coach the summer team, please borrow from me!  I get plenty of age group coaching materials throughout the year and much of it would help y'all out!

If you want to get it yourselves, there's a really good deal on American Swim Coaches Association (ASCA) membership so you'd get the same things every month!  Let me know and I'll get you a copy of the form.

If I can remember, I'll ask if the swim team board would cover your membership for 2018.  Many club programs do this for their entire staff.

Bob Steele's book available for loan.  Steele coached the Southern Illinois University Salukis for many years (the guy's team called themselves "The Men of Steele").

Quote of the Week

Opportunity is missed by most people because

it is dressed in overalls and looks like work.

via Menlo Park Museum

Thomas Alva Edison

So Far, So Good

Holiday training has gone well - no misses due to weather or pool issues.  Let's hope that continues!

Ice cream, cookies, pizza...good thing we're training hard and burning off those calories, right?

We accomplished plenty in just ten (10) practices:

• Three (3) solid dry-land sessions
• Ten swim/dive practices
• 50,000+ yards
• New dives

The improvement has been tremendous!  Kids are tired & sore, but they are now swimming/diving on another level.  We've been training with much greater volume & intensity* and they've responded very, very well.

We're off for the UIL-mandated five (5) days.  Any physical activity y'all can get in is a plus.  Dry-land & flexibility work, plus some water time if you can find some.

When we return to practice, here's next week's schedule:

Wednesday

Swim/Dive 8-10 a.m.
"A" Dry-land 4-4:30 p.m.
Swim/Dive 4:30-6 p.m.

Thursday

Swim/Dive 8-10 a.m.
Swim/Dive 4-6 p.m.

Friday

Swim/Dive 8-10 a.m.
"B" Dry-land 4-4:30 p.m.
Swim/Dive 4:30-6 p.m.

Saturday

Swim/Dive 8-10 a.m.



*Probably too much yesterday afternoon...my bad...

Break Time

Went a little overtime before our five-day break:

10 - FV, GV, MV

9 - CR

7 - SA

5 - MB

4 - DD, SE, AL

3 -  ZH, ST, JW

2 - CA, BR, HS

1 - FR

Passing Fred

Evening group en route to 6,600!

8 - FV, GV, MV

7 - CR

6 - SA

4 - MB

3 - DD, SE, ZH, AL, ST

2 - CA, BR, JW

1 - FR, HS

Perfect Weather

What a great day to swim outdoors!

Quite a few "makes" on dot sets.  See Brooke if you need dots, and Sarah if you need the marker.

7 - FV, GV, MV

6 - CR

5 - SA

3 - MB, SE, ZH, AL, ST

2 - DD, BR, JW

1 - CA, FR, HS

Academic All-District, All-State, & All-America

Academic All-District to be announced at district championships.  Must have 90+ average for fall semester.  Freshmen, Sophomores, Juniors, & Seniors eligible.

Academic All-State (Juniors & Seniors only) and All-America (Seniors only) info posted last month here

Nice work this afternoon on dry-land and swim.  Weather was perfect!

6 - FV, GV, MV

5 - CR

4 - SA

3 - ZH, AL

2 - DD, MB, SE, ST, JW

1 - CA, FR, BR, HS

My Memory...

...failed me!

Tried to remember brutal Christmas training yardage Mansfield senior group went and was waaaaaaaay off.  It was for one (1) week and they went 90,075 yards.  About 15,000 per day for six days.

Seventeen made it.

via MAC

Over half of them went on to swim in D-I and D-II programs.

Don't they look happy?







 A little rain this afternoon:

We put in some mileage today!  12,800 for any who made both as written.

4 - FV, GV, MV

3 - ZH, CR,

2 - SA, MB, SE, AL, ST

1 - DD, FR, HS, JW

Quote of the Week

Success is that old ABC:  ability, breaks, and courage.

via CALISPHERE

Charles Luckman