Hello Swim Parents!

Today I'd like to spend a few minutes of your valuable time discussing the equipment that I believe is important for your child to bring to practice. While everyone's funds are limited, and I realize not everyone can purchase everything immediately, please move in the direction of getting the following for your child. Any questions, of course call me at 954-684-3024 and I'll be happy to help.

First, everyone, regardless of group, needs some basics. They are:

1. Competitive swim suit for training. Boys should have jammers (knee length tights), not surf shorts. Girls need one piece, traditional competition suits. What type is personal preference, as is color, etc. I recommend SPEEDO suits for practice. Eventually, we'll decide on a team suit for major swim meets, but for now, for practice, individual choice reigns! Ladies, no bikinis. The world does not train in bikinis. Thanks.

2. Goggles - two pairs at practice, two pairs at competitions. Invariably, one will break. If another is not immediately handy, its hard to swim at all, and then be able to go home and see well enough to study.

3. Swim Caps: I am giving each child two team caps, asking them to save one for competitions and use one in practice. I am insisting that they all wear team caps to practice. Boys with hair of any real length at all should also wear caps.

4. A mesh bag to carry gear. Why mesh? Because it lets the water out!

5. Swim Fins: These should be inexpensive (around $20) training fins and NOT big scuba fins, nor the short fins called Zoomers. We use fins to increase leg power and increase speed. It's important for swimmers to swim (some of the time) at speeds greater than race speed, so they learn to "get out of the way of the water" and become more hydro-dynamically perfect. Swimming fast is more about getting out of the way of the water than it is about generating huge amounts of power. Fins help us learn to do both.

EVERY team member from Stroke School to Senior, should have the above.

At the Age Group Level, we add:

6. A pullbouy: A small one, solid foam. Fits between the legs and eliminates the kick, so that the swimmer can concentrate on the pull and body work of the stroke.

At the Senior Level, we add:

7. One or more types of paddles. Paddles are all different and do different things with your swimmers hands in the water. I will individually tell each child what type I would like them to have.

8. Front-mount Snorkel: (Made by FINIS) This eliminates the need for a swimmer to turn their head to breath and allows them to focus on their underwater stroke. It also, (somewhat) restricts their breathing and they get slightly more physical benefit out of the training set. Of course, this is offset by the fact that they then don't have to focus on their breathing mechanics!

Purchasing Equipment

You are certainly invited to purchase equipment from whatever vendor you wish. My recommendation is Total Team Wares:
275 S. US Highway 17-92
Longwood, FL 32750
Phone: 407-644-1333 / Fax: 407-644-2280
www.totalteamwares.com

Bart and Cathy at Total Team Wares are aware of our team (they did our caps!) and they are good to work with. Prices are comparable to any other swim shop and they attend most of the bigger meets in South Florida.

Thanks for the Privilege of working with your children!

All the best, John Leonard