NEWSLETTER 2018-19 ISSUE 2

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The 2018-19 training schedule is posted on the LAC website.

The 2018-19 DRAFT competition calendar is posted on the website.

ALL SCHEDULES (training & competition) ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE.

COACHES REPORT​

Once again, welcome back to all returning LAC'ers and a very special welcome to those of you joining the LAC team for the first time. While our youngest swimmers will be focussing almost exclusively on building the proper technical foundations for the four swimming strokes, this should also be the primary focus at this time of our oldest swimmers. More experienced swimmers, as you all take the first steps on your 2018-19 swimming journey, it's important to remember that every journey needs a destination. You should all have a long term objective, somewhere you want to be by the end of the season, and then, more importantly, some very clear short-term goals in mind, what you want to accomplish this week and today. WHAT IS YOUR #1 GOAL FOR THIS SEASON, and WHAT IS YOUR #1 GOAL FOR TODAY'S PRACTICE? The best kind of goal is one that you decide upon yourself, not one that somebody else has for you.

It's also important to remember that the process of setting a goal can be relatively easy - sure you'll take some time to think about it, and try to decide on a goal that will provide the appropriate amount of challenge so you'll have to work really, really smart and hard to achieve it, but setting the goal is the easiest part. You must be willing to accept that the road to achieving your goal will be filled with challenges, both expected and unexpected. Walls will rise up in front of you and people will say "You can't do that." Accept that things will not go according to plan, that the path will be sometimes bumpy and lonely, and will not be straight. If you are able to do this, yet continue to work constantly and consistently, purposefully and passionately, paying attention to the details, and staying positive, then you will be one step closer to achieving success.

THE WILLINGNESS TO REACH IS FAR MORE IMPORTANT THAN THE ABILITY TO GRASP.

TEAM BUILDING EVENT ~ ALL LAC SWIMMERS!

Sunday, October 7^th 8:30am – 11am at SKYZONE!!   Cost is $20 per swimmer (including the non-slip socks, snacks and drinks)

784 Wharncliffe Road South, London

Come and join the fun on Thanksgiving before your turkey dinner!  LAC has the entire facility before it opens to the general public.  Be sure to be there early – the first 30 minutes you will enjoy the GLOW session – blacklights, lasers and music.  From 9-10, the lights will be back on.  You will have access to The Challenge Zone, Freestyle Jump, Skyslam, Ultimate Dodgeball, Rock Climbing, Warrier Course, Drop Zone, Skyladder, Warped Walk and Sky Joust. 

From 10-11 we have access to the private party room for snacks and drinks.

Sign up is available on the LAC website under the “Events” tab.  DEADLINE is Oct 4^th but please sign up as soon as possible as we need a minimum of 100 swimmers to take advantage of the early opening.  $20 will be automatically billed to your account.

**Please be sure to print off the attached waiver, completed and signed to bring with you**

If you have any questions, please contact [email protected]​

SWIM EQUIPMENT SHARK CARD

The 2018-2019 Shark Card is now available on the LAC website under the “swim equipment” tab. This offers a 15% discount off all regular priced goods.

IMPORTANT

You MUST have this card with you at the time of purchase. Either as a pdf saved on your phone or a printed hard copy.

IMPORTANT

The new online coupon code is listed on the cards as well this year. This code will be valid on the new website/webstore which is in the process of being launched. It offers a 15% discount on all regular priced goods listed on the site/store.

SWIMMER ACCOUNTS

Swimmer account statements were sent out last week. PAD payments will come out September 21. Any concerns need to be sent to Donna [email protected] by September 19.

For families with swimmers in the Intro program you can bring your cheque for registration and September membership when your group starts (the week of Sept 24), we can also take your payment by etransfer to [email protected]

LAC BANQUET - SUNDAY, OCTOBER 21 - HELLENIC COMMUNITY CENTRE - SOUTHDALE ROAD

We are excited about our new venue for this year's gala celebration of our great 2017-18 season! If anyone has photos from last year's swim season that you would like to include in our Banquet slideshow, please forward them to [email protected] before October 14.

Those of you who won annual trophies at last year's banquet, i.e., Most Improved Swimmer, please return them to your coach before the end of September.

IT’S OFFICIAL!​

Officials Clinics: As mentioned last week my job is to make sure that we have enough officials to run our swim meets.  Swimming requires a lot of officials.  There are 9 different types of officials.  Obviously these jobs require training.  That is what the clinics are about.  I get questions like “What order should I take them in?”  Ideally you would take the Introduction to Swimming Officiating clinic first.  After that they can be taken in any order but there is not much point in taking a clinic before you a ready to try it.  The way I look at it is, officiating is a lot more interesting if you are not always doing the same job.  Might as well learn them all!  I will announce the clinics in the newsletter as soon as I have them scheduled.  I will be starting at least 2 introduction clinics.

Official Registration: There is not a lot to do to register as an official.  If you are a returning official you can find the form here.  Print it, fill it out and put it in the LAC mailbox at CGAC. Alternatively you can ask for a form in the office at your first swim meet, fill it out and hand it back in at the office. We will register you once you have taken a clinic other than the Intro clinic or are requesting a sign-off (we will cover that another time).  If you are a new official, when you attend your first clinic, ask for the PIPEDA form so that we can register you.  New officials need to provide additional information which you provide when you sign-in at the clinic.  When we do register you, you will receive an email from Swim Canada with instructions that you must follow to complete the registration process. 

If you have any officiating questions please contact me, Mark Lukings L.A.C. Co-Club Officials Chair at [email protected]

UPCOMING MEETS

LAC SESSION CREDITS

Club hosted meets help to reduce membership fees by 20-25% as well as reducing travel costs by attending fewer out-of-town meets. To ensure the Club has sufficient resources to host meets, most LAC swim families are required to work a minimum of 22 sessions* during club hosted meets (please see below for exceptions). These sessions may be worked through officiating or working at the club’s food canteen, awards or other positions. Any unfulfilled session credits will be billed at a rate of $40.00 per session to the swim family’s Swimmer Account at the end of the season. Please note that this is not meant to be a “fundraiser” but rather an incentive to participate in the running of home meets. Swim families may receive up to 5 donated session credits from another club family to complete their credits, however any more than the 5 donated session credits must be approved by the board. Session commitments are waived for first year swim families with no prior competitive swim club affiliation, as well as for introductory and post-secondary students training full time with the club and for varsity swimmers, although assistance during swim meets from these groups is greatly appreciated.  First year families ARE required to fulfill the LAC orientation program. This includes an introductory club meeting, participating in an Introductory to Swimming clinic during the swim season and a follow up “on-deck” mentoring session.

*** Families of Development swimmers who are not in their first year of competitive swimming who do not have a swimmer in another level are required to fulfill only 11 of the assigned session credits.***

*The number of session credits will be reviewed by the board in the fall upon club enrolment and may be subject to change.

There is a session credit FAQ under the "Parent Info" tab under "Session Credits.

LAC EQUIPMENT

Instructions for ordering swim equipment can be found on the LAC website under “Swimmer Equipment” tab. Also found on the website is the TAS shark card, you will need this card when purchasing Team Aquatic Supplies merchandise at swim meets or in their stores. There is a list of equipment needed for each group posted here.

If you have any equipment questions please contact [email protected]

NEWSLETTER

Information for the newsletter should be emailed to [email protected]  by 10 am Monday mornings.