DROITWICH DOLPHIN NEWSLETTER
SEPTEMBER 2005
The Annual General
Meeting will be held on Sunday, 13 November
2005 at 6pm at Droitwich Leisure
Centre.
A questionnaire is available for completion by swimmers and/or parents. Your feedback on this questionnaire is appreciated.
8 October Speedo League
14 October Club Championship 200IM
The house gala planned for 1 October has been postponed until later
in the year.
Now that we have all had a break, everyone is back in the pool and are working very well. I hope that this enthusiasm will be sustained, and is not just in preparation for the recent Worcester County Sprints. Without realising it, the training plan over the past 4 months has been working towards the sprints, with the next main target being the 2nd round of the Speedo league in November. After that, it will be the main Worcester County Championships next March.
I have held several meetings with the coaches over the last weeks to ensure that the club is in a situation where we can successfully put two teams out for the Nuneaton Junior League in 2006. We have identified a number of swimmers in each age group who will form a specially selected core squad from which the teams will be selected. Further details of this selection will be available shortly.
In addition to this, a general League Selection Policy has been developed and this is available to view on the club notice board. Please take the time to read this.
It is important that swimmers and parents remember that swimming is based on individual achievement but is still a team sport. The effect of having just one swimmer missing at a competitive gala can be dramatic. Please keep checking the notice board for team lists and make sure that you are available to swim. The competition list for events up to the end of the year is on the notice board, with next years being work on. Make a note of these dates in your diary.
In addition to discussing the swimmers for the 2006 Nuneaton Junior League we have been reviewing every swimmer and as a result, several have now been moved into different groups. This review will now take place every 3 – 4 months to ensure that swimmers are in the correct training group. This may mean, however, that swimmers move down a group or may be asked to change to the Club Squad, if they are not coping with the level of training required, are not attending the training sessions, or their behaviour in training is too disruptive. Swimmers who are being considered for a downwards mover, will be informed by their coach and given the opportunity to improve. Please bear in mind that commitment to competition is also an issue when deciding who swims where.
It has become apparent recently that a number of parents are dropping young swimmers off outside the leisure centre and leaving without ensuring that their children are at the pool. Coaches are always on poolside to keep an eye on the swimmers while they are in the water, but are not available to supervise the changing rooms or the corridors around the Leisure Centre. We are concerned, not only about the safety of our young swimmers, but also their behaviour before and after their training sessions. Could parents please ensure that the younger swimmers, particularly from the Sharks, Dolphins and Bronze Squads, are escorted to the changing rooms and collected from the Café area after their swim. With the dark nights drawing in so quickly, it is also important that children are not asked to wait outside the Leisure Centre to be picked up in the car park. Please come inside and take the opportunity to have a look at the Club notice board for any news.
Please work with us to ensure the safety of your child at all times.
See you in the pool.
Simon Hillson
Director of Coaching