Jingle Bell Meet Week

This weekend, T2Aquatics is sending 120 plus athletes of all ages to the Clearwater Aquatic Club's "Jingle Bell" meet.  It's my opinion that US Club swimmers do well with three "Championship" meets per year -- one in December, one in the Spring, and one at the end of the summer.  This meet will be the first "team" Championship meet of our season, and we're really excited to perform well.

It should be noted that in Florida, High School-aged athletes swim in their HS State Championships in November.  We do take this meet seriously, but it's a different type of experience for our athletes....they only swim two events, and it only takes one day.  Many of our athletes excel in events like the 200s of each stroke, the 400 IM, and the 1650 -- none of which are offered at High School States.  For this reason we choose to focus on our December Championship meet from the beginning of the fall, and swim the Florida HS Championships "enroute".

One of the great things about this meet will be the fact that our entire team will be involved....from our 10 and under athletes to our National/International-level performers.  For our youngest athletes to get the chance to see our oldest and most accomplished athletes race is invaluable to their development; and likewise for our older athletes to compete alongside our youngest athletes the competition offers them a different type of leadership opportunity, while simultaneously re-connecting them with their "competitive roots".

Tune in to this website for a psyche sheet, and results: http://www.fastswimresults.com/

Additionally, you may be able see the meet streamed live at floridaswimnetwork.com -- if they can 
get their Internet connection working. 

To Start a Tradition....

 

I've tended to be part of teams with "Tradition".  I can say, as a coach, tradition helps -- particularly when you've got some positive momentum.  Tradition is dependant upon momentum!

But now, with a new team (T2 Aquatics is just over two years old) -- I don't have tradition to work with.  So, what to do?! 

The answer is: Start a Tradition!  What an exciting concept....to be part of something which creates.....I get to create a culture, create an attitude -- and be involved on the ground floor!

There's an immense amount of PRIDE that goes along with this beginning stage on our team here at T2 Aquatics.  To those of us who are here now, and anyone coming through our program over the next few years.....it's up to US to create that which we think is possible.  We are FORMING the tradition that will be built upon for years to come!

Workout November 23, 2012

Here's a workout we did last Thursday.  Look toward the bottom of this post and you'll see copies of each workout for the week, leading into this particular workout.  Tune in to "Proswimworkouts.com" this week to see what we did to finish last week's practices.

This type of workout is done by High School -- Aged athletes.  Our post-graduates tend to do a different type (and volume) of work!

http://proswimworkouts.com/workouts/nov-23-2012-t2-aquatics

Erika Erndl Video

http://www.swimmingworldmagazine.com/lane9/news/USA/32792.asp?q=SwimmingWorld.TV-Video:-Joao-de-Lucca-and-Erika-Erndl-Race-Olympians,-Post-Lifetime-Bests-at-USA-Nationals

Check out this video of Erika Erndl, who had an outstanding meet this weekend in Austin at the USA Swimming Short Course (Winter) Nationals.  Erika's times of 22.48 (50 Free), 48.21 (100 Free), and 1:43.42 (200 Free) were all lifetime bests!