Wednesday, October 31, 2007
Race Club Family
The Race Club had a meeting the other night to discuss a way to jump start this new era of Florida Keys swimming. We all feel like the Race Club and FKSC is too disconnected. In all actuality The Race Club, and the Florida Keys Swim club, on all levels, is very much a family. They have a positive symbiotic relationship, and on November 10th we plan to make that a more noticeable, and tangible idea. Our idea is on the 10th to have a combined practice/pot luck with both the FKSC and Race Club. The practice will start at 12:00 at Founders, and we will combine everyone...that's right everyone. Masters, kids, high school, and world team members will all be working together in the pool. This will be followed by some fun relays and swim events, followed shortly thereafter by a pot luck lunch. We hope that this will be a big event, and that it will help glue together what is already one. If you can make it please come. Any questions please feel free to ask.
Friday, October 26, 2007
Dig A Little Deeper
Well, not every single meet is going to be breeze, and I will say that Regionals was not so easy for us...initially. In the morning we swam very flat, and unmotivated. The best thing about my team is that they are all scrappy. When it comes down to the wire they want to win. Regionals was a huge meet that we had no chance of winning. We swam slightly un-inspired. we were not ourselves.
That, however, was only they prelims. Winston Churchill said that success is the ability to move from one failure to another with enthusiasm. Well, we definitely failed in the prelims, but could we turn it into success? Could we walk back out there as a different team, a more motivated team that wasn't scared?
YES! Our finals performance was much better. We had a few personal best times, and a girls relay that CRUSHED the consolation heat. I mean they went 4 seconds faster. I believe that under adversity is when you really see yourself. Well, we were faced with a adverse situation, our real selves stepped up and rocked out!
What a awesome, and exciting season. I can't believe it is over already. Next year we will def. bring kids to States. I just want to thank everyone along the way who helped me out. I was a new coach in a new town, and without the help, and support of the school, the parents, the facilities, and the race club I don't think I could have gotten it all done.
Looking forward to next year, but as for now back to buisness as we have a age group meet coming up this weekend. Keep checking for updates!
That, however, was only they prelims. Winston Churchill said that success is the ability to move from one failure to another with enthusiasm. Well, we definitely failed in the prelims, but could we turn it into success? Could we walk back out there as a different team, a more motivated team that wasn't scared?
YES! Our finals performance was much better. We had a few personal best times, and a girls relay that CRUSHED the consolation heat. I mean they went 4 seconds faster. I believe that under adversity is when you really see yourself. Well, we were faced with a adverse situation, our real selves stepped up and rocked out!
What a awesome, and exciting season. I can't believe it is over already. Next year we will def. bring kids to States. I just want to thank everyone along the way who helped me out. I was a new coach in a new town, and without the help, and support of the school, the parents, the facilities, and the race club I don't think I could have gotten it all done.
Looking forward to next year, but as for now back to buisness as we have a age group meet coming up this weekend. Keep checking for updates!
Monday, October 22, 2007
Districts
Man, that went fast! It seemed like only a short while ago I didn't know any of the high school kids, they didn't know me, and nobody knew what to expect. Well, after a little more than a month I have gotten to know 27 individuals very well, they have gotten to know me, and all of us have high expectations for what is to come.
We have gone quite a long distance in just a short amount of time. I firmly believe that every single person on this team got smarter, stronger, and faster. In fact at this District Championship I would firmly stand on the fact that 98% of this team did a personal best time. I would also say that about 90% of them came back to swim again, and score points in either a championship, or consolation final. That being said, our men's team placed third out of nine teams, and our women's team placed fourth out of nine teams. The schools in front of us cost more than $20,000 a year, and can afford to recruit. We were the #1 public school in the district. My new slogan is : YOU ARE BIGGER, WE ARE FASTER! I am not scared of either of these teams. They are not better than we are. As we grow, they will see that.
I have never been more pleased with a season. This was really my first season as a head coach. I designed the program, and watched it go through its process. Some times I wanted to scream into a pillow, and other times I laughed so hard I couldn't breathe,but I always enjoyed being there, and can't really think of a better profession. I am so overwhelmingly proud of all of my swimmers. They showed tremendous heart, passion, and strength that I have only seen at the highest levels of this sport. They were not just swimmers, but more so people achieving and enhancing themselves. There are many in this world who can say that they don't get better every single day. Well, my swimmers, at least for a month and a half, can all say that they did!
I encourage any swimmer from the high school team to continue swimming on my club team. This way we can take one step close to achieving our goals.
Here are some links for your enjoyment:
http://www.fhsaa.org/guest/swim/district/1_12.asp District Results
http://www.fhsaa.org/guest/swim/district/1_4_selection.asp List Of Regional Qualifiers
We have gone quite a long distance in just a short amount of time. I firmly believe that every single person on this team got smarter, stronger, and faster. In fact at this District Championship I would firmly stand on the fact that 98% of this team did a personal best time. I would also say that about 90% of them came back to swim again, and score points in either a championship, or consolation final. That being said, our men's team placed third out of nine teams, and our women's team placed fourth out of nine teams. The schools in front of us cost more than $20,000 a year, and can afford to recruit. We were the #1 public school in the district. My new slogan is : YOU ARE BIGGER, WE ARE FASTER! I am not scared of either of these teams. They are not better than we are. As we grow, they will see that.
I have never been more pleased with a season. This was really my first season as a head coach. I designed the program, and watched it go through its process. Some times I wanted to scream into a pillow, and other times I laughed so hard I couldn't breathe,but I always enjoyed being there, and can't really think of a better profession. I am so overwhelmingly proud of all of my swimmers. They showed tremendous heart, passion, and strength that I have only seen at the highest levels of this sport. They were not just swimmers, but more so people achieving and enhancing themselves. There are many in this world who can say that they don't get better every single day. Well, my swimmers, at least for a month and a half, can all say that they did!
I encourage any swimmer from the high school team to continue swimming on my club team. This way we can take one step close to achieving our goals.
Here are some links for your enjoyment:
http://www.fhsaa.org/guest/swim/district/1_12.asp District Results
http://www.fhsaa.org/guest/swim/district/1_4_selection.asp List Of Regional Qualifiers
Monday, October 15, 2007
A Shout Out To The Rents
I was going to save this post until after the District meet, but Race Club workout was cancelled this morning, and I got a rare morning off. But, I still awoke at the same time, and I'm getting antsy so here it is...
I just wanted send a HUGE thank you out to all the parents and supporters of the team.
Here is a list of why parents deserve this thanks:
There are parents who support our practices;
Some have been to every practice.
There are parents who support the meets;
Some parents who have been to every meet.
There are both.
There are parents who run the meets,
and parents who score the meets.
Parents time.
Parents cheer.
Parents ride on buses.
There are parents who order team equipment.
Parents who host dinners,
And bring the essentials of food and water to the meets.
They get the swimmers to and fro...
Some on time.
Others late.
But, with out them they couldnt be there at all.
Then there are the intagebles parents have.
The support that only they can give.
I dont do any of this. I couldn't. Without the help & support of the parents it would only be me writing workouts. Good workouts :) but only workouts. They are the gears.
One of these days I will think of reasons to thank the swimmers. But as for now, only the parents.
I just wanted send a HUGE thank you out to all the parents and supporters of the team.
Here is a list of why parents deserve this thanks:
There are parents who support our practices;
Some have been to every practice.
There are parents who support the meets;
Some parents who have been to every meet.
There are both.
There are parents who run the meets,
and parents who score the meets.
Parents time.
Parents cheer.
Parents ride on buses.
There are parents who order team equipment.
Parents who host dinners,
And bring the essentials of food and water to the meets.
They get the swimmers to and fro...
Some on time.
Others late.
But, with out them they couldnt be there at all.
Then there are the intagebles parents have.
The support that only they can give.
I dont do any of this. I couldn't. Without the help & support of the parents it would only be me writing workouts. Good workouts :) but only workouts. They are the gears.
One of these days I will think of reasons to thank the swimmers. But as for now, only the parents.
Thursday, October 11, 2007
We Are The Champions
Well, only three teams went to the county championship, but only one gets to sing, "We Are The Champion." You know the name.... Hurricanes
A very exciting meet. I can say that collectively we swam very well. Everyone scored points. Everyone contributed. People swam back to back, and got behind their team. We had energy. We had momentum. I most definitely felt their will to win, and that made me proud of them.
But I don't want to stop here...
I put the trophies up in my apartment the night we got back. Every now and again I would look over at them, and have some flashback of the meet, a exciting moment or a good swim, and I smiled. But, immediately after I felt urgency not to settle. I felt like we still had work to do. We have districts coming up. I don't want our momentum to stop here. I want to take what we have learned up until this point, and I want to tighten things up just a bit. Then, I want us to rock at districts. I don't care about who is supposed to win that meet. I care about racing, and swimming fast. Maybe your team is bigger. Our team is faster.... 0 - 0
123
A very exciting meet. I can say that collectively we swam very well. Everyone scored points. Everyone contributed. People swam back to back, and got behind their team. We had energy. We had momentum. I most definitely felt their will to win, and that made me proud of them.
But I don't want to stop here...
I put the trophies up in my apartment the night we got back. Every now and again I would look over at them, and have some flashback of the meet, a exciting moment or a good swim, and I smiled. But, immediately after I felt urgency not to settle. I felt like we still had work to do. We have districts coming up. I don't want our momentum to stop here. I want to take what we have learned up until this point, and I want to tighten things up just a bit. Then, I want us to rock at districts. I don't care about who is supposed to win that meet. I care about racing, and swimming fast. Maybe your team is bigger. Our team is faster.... 0 - 0
123
Tuesday, October 9, 2007
Mike Smith
For those who have not heard, one of my masters swimmers, Mike Smith, passed away over the weekend. He was out on a dive, and had a shallow water black out. Although Mike was not someone I was incredibly close with he is someone that I saw all of the time, and feel very connected to. He was such a nice guy, always smiling and joking around with me. He would always offer to take me out on dives, and always came to practice willing to learn and try new things. In fact he DID learn butterfly. I can still remember his face when I close my eyes. His loss will most def. be felt by all who know him.
Mike was not a old guy. I don't know his exact age, but had to be in his thirties. He is survived by his wife who is pregnant with his child. I know this must be very hard on his family, and myself and others who knew Mike are trying to organize a way to raise some money for his family. In early November we will have a event to raise some money. Keep checking the blog for updates. If you are interested in donating money to Mike's family there is a Micheal R. Smith Memorial Fund at any First State Bank. All proceeds go to his family. Any little bit helps.
Rest in peace Mike.
Mike was not a old guy. I don't know his exact age, but had to be in his thirties. He is survived by his wife who is pregnant with his child. I know this must be very hard on his family, and myself and others who knew Mike are trying to organize a way to raise some money for his family. In early November we will have a event to raise some money. Keep checking the blog for updates. If you are interested in donating money to Mike's family there is a Micheal R. Smith Memorial Fund at any First State Bank. All proceeds go to his family. Any little bit helps.
Rest in peace Mike.
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