Quote of the Day: March 6, 2009

"If you think you can do a thing or think you can't do a thing, you're right."

Today's quote is a great one from Henry Ford. Oftentimes we (the coaches) hear a swimmer tell us they "can't" do something (I can't go that fast...I can't beat her...I can't make that interval...etc.). The most frustrating thing about this is the fact that they are making up their mind before they even make an attempt. Our job is to present swimmers with increasingly difficult challenges, both physical and mental in nature, to help them toward their goals and overall potential. But, as the saying goes, you can lead a horse to water but you can't make it drink. We are providing the framework, the road to your goals. The swimmers have to take that first step down that road. There has to be a willingness to trust what the coaches are doing and even a "leap of faith" of forcing yourself to believe even when there is doubt in your mind. I have said before that every swimmer on this team is a lot faster than the best times currently associated with them. We have proved this various times in practice with different sets and get out swims. More than anything, the coaches believe in all of the swimmers.

Tomorrow marks the first round of championship meets with the New Jersey High School Meet of Champions. While swimmers will be representing their respective high school teams they are still also representing GPAC. What begins this weekend carries through the month of March from GCIT to Orlando and York, PA as well Maryland and Newark, Delaware. Now is the time to narrow your focus to two things: school and swimming. Conserve your energy outside of the pool by avoiding other physical activities and resting whenever possible. More than anything, get ready to swim fast!

Championship Meet Goals

Don't worry, this is not a proposal along the lines of Jonathan Swift's 1729 essay of the same title...

We are 1 week away from our first Championship meet, Junior Olympics at GCIT, and I feel there is a strong need to give everyone a picture of how we have fared in these meets over the last couple of years as well as establish some team goals (and rewards for reaching these goals) for the 2009 Championship meets.

Team families received an email with an Excel spreadsheet detailing the entries and scoring for Mini Champs, Junior Olympics, Senior Champs and Regional Champs over the last couple of years. The spreadsheet can also be found on the team website under "News". Please note the following:

• Junior Olympics entries and scoring included 15 and over swimmers in all years prior to 2008
• Senior Champs was brought back for the first time in 8 years as a spring meet in 2008
• 2008 Senior Champs scoring includes National group members who will not be attending the meet this year
• There is no scoring for the Regional Meet

I feel it is very important for swimmers to have individual goals for these meets, but to also have collective team goals. The swimmers need to keep these team goals in mind when they are swimming: your teammates are depending on you! They also must keep them in mind when their teammates are swimming: your teammates are depending on you to encourage them! Finally, you mjust keep the goals of swimmers in meets you may not be attending in mind during practice...your teammates are depending on you to help them prepare!

Where are our points going to come from? #1 on the list is relay scoring. A winning relay earns 40 points for the team. In years past we have had swimmers try to beg off of relays to "rest up" for their individual events. This doesn't happen at any college conference championship meet (and I am sure it doesn't happen on Saturday's in the summer) so its not going to happen with our team any longer. Swimmers have an obligation to swim on a relay and to SWIM FAST...your teammates are depending on you!

#2 on the list is individual scoring. Looking at the Junior Olympic psych sheets we see a lot of opportunity for swimmers to move up into the final or consolation final heats at night. Don't worry about place, worry about swimming fast and not giving in to the pain...your teammates are depending on you! If you swim fast the rest will take care of itself.

The most important swims at a championship meet come on the very first day. Swimmers who start off the meet are the ones who have to get the ball rolling for the rest of the team. Show your teammates (and the other teams at the meet) that GPAC is ready to swim fast...get after your races and swim out of your mind! If the first couple of swimmers in the meet can get the ball rolling the rest will follow!

The spreadsheet sets the goals, but what about the reward? Well, we aren't totally set on that just yet. However, at the very least, it will be a team pizza party. Upgrades from there will depend on how well the team swims overall in March and April.

THE BOTTOM LINE: START GETTING EXCITED...START GETTING READY...START THINKING ABOUT HOW FAST YOU ARE GOING TO SWIM AT THESE MEETS!!!

Quote of the Day - March 4, 2009

"Build up your weaknesses until they become your strong points."

There you go Notre Dame fans, a quote from Knute Rockne who was born on March 4, 1888.

Quote of the Day - March 3, 2009

The lion's roar yesterday kept me from posting a quote of the day. Sorry about that. Here is today's QOTD:

"A man, as a general rule, owes very little to what he is born with - a man is what he makes of himself."

Today's quote comes from the man credited with inventing the telephone, Alexander Graham Bell who was born on March 3, 1847.

Quote of the Day for March 1, 2009

"The end is the beginning and lies far ahead."

Going a little philosophical on a dreary Sunday morning (I'm sure Coach Gordon will appreciate it). This quote comes from the novel The Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison, who was born on this day in 1914.

What does it mean? I'm sure it could mean many different things to many different people (especially when taken out of context). If you have an idea or thought go ahead and leave in in the comment section.