Weekly Update: Week of April 15th
Weekly Update: Week of April 15th
Happy Spring, IFLY!
April showers are here, garden beds are blooming, and we’re starting to ramp up our practice intensity as swim meets are on the horizon!
The IFLY coaching staff is excited about the team energy and developing camaraderie we’ve seen thus far. The summer season can be a grueling 18 weeks if time isn’t taken to devote to building more meaningful relationships with teammates, proper mechanics, appropriately build swimmers up to handle more robust training, and some ‘off’ days to have some fun. We had a blast at DEFY trampoline park, at our Field Day at Hubbard park, rock climbing, and playing water polo as teammates got to know each other outside of their usual training lanes and move their bodies in unique and different ways.
Now, we head into the heart of the LCM season. As school ends, swim meets will begin to take place more frequently. We believe half (or more) of the fun of swimming comes in the form of racing, so we’ll continue to encourage all of our IFLYers to compete this summer- even if it’s just at our home Intrasquad and the end of the season Regional meet. We hope you join us on deck and in the competition pool!
Congratulations:
Iowa Swimming, Inc. has put together the first ever, out-of-state Select Camp for athletes (ages 13+). This year’s Select Camp is the second iteration of this camp and the first time it will ever be held at altitude.
Of the 21 athletes selected to attend this year’s IASI Select Camp, 10 campers represent IFLY. Wow!
Coach Jackson Leonard will travel with our swimmers and act as the Camp Director as the group trains in Colorado Springs, CO at the U.S. Olympic Training Center. Swimmers will complete 7 practices over 4.5 days, explore the OTC/Colorado Springs, and learn from Team Services members at USA Swimming.
Congratulations to our IASI Select Camp swimmers!
Practice Adjustments:
Wednesday AM through Sunday PM: Coach Jackson Leonard will be out of the office.
He will be in Colorado Springs, CO at the U.S. Olympic Training Center acting as the Camp Director for the 2024 IASI Select Camp.
He will have internet access and will answer texts and emails as quickly as possible.
Thursday PM-
JR2:P, SR2:P, SR3:P-N-
Swimming together from 4:45 p.m. – 5:45 p.m. with ankle flexibility work and stretching afterward.
We are using this week as an Adaptation week to let our bodies adjust to our training.
Friday PM-
Location reminder: JR2:P/SR1/SR2:P/SR:3 P-Nat @ Field House
Location reminder: AG1, AG2 @ CRWC (done at 6:00 p.m. due to UI Swim Camp)
AG1- Diving Well, AG2- LCM
DEV- Starts and Turns - Canceled due to UI Swim Camp
Para/Adaptive @ Field House
Pre-Team @ FH- As normally scheduled- Shallow End (L1-3)
Saturday AM- we need to adjust our schedule due to the UI Swim Camp
SR3:P-N- Lift @ FH from 8:00 - 9:00 a.m.
JR1 / SR1 / JR2:P / SR2:P / SR3:P-N:
Swimming- 9:00 a.m. - 10:45 a.m. @ Field House (Shallow & Deep End)
Pure speed work!
· Coach Chris, Coach Alex, Coach Allyson, Coach Aidan
10:45 – 11:15 a.m.- Group stretch and flexibility work… done early!
Masters: 11:30 a.m. - NOON @ Field House (Shallow end, 2-3 lanes)
· Paper practice on a board
AG1/AG2: @ Field House-
10:30 a.m. – 10:45 a.m. Pre-Hab, Dryland, Stretching
10:45 a.m. - Noon (Shallow end & Deep end)
- Coach Blanca, Coach Paul, Coach Aidan, Coach Jan, Coach Meredith, Coach Erin
Upcoming Events:
Annual Armbruster Meet(s):
For the first time, we’ll offer two Armbruster meets this summer! After several years of our Armbruster Open meet filling up and selling out within 48 hours, we’ve split the meet into a Senior version and an Age Group version.
This year, the 2024 Armbruster Open (May 17-19) will offer Open events and we’ll ask teams to primarily send swimmers ages 13 and Over. Then, June 1-2, we will run the inaugural 2024 JR Armbruster, which will serve athletes 12 & Under.
Which Meet Should You Commit To? See below:
Armbruster Open: JR1, JR2:P, SR1, SR2:P, SR3:P-N
JR Armbruster: DEV, AG1, AG2, some 12U JR1 swimmers
Swimmers Aging Up to 13 between the meets: Armbruster Open
Other initial points to consider include:
Officials: If you’re interested in signing up to work at one, or both, meets, please contact Bill Brown! We will get the Officials’ sign up posted to our landing pages as soon as they are available. Below is a Google Form for Officials to fill out to receive a polo.
Google Form for an Officials' Polo
Apparel- Click HERE
1. Open now - April 30, 2024, with a pickup option on May 17, 2024 at the 2024 Armbruster Open or shipping for a fee.
2. Open May 1, 2024 - May 19, 2024, with a pickup option on June 1, 2024 the 2024 Junior Armbruster or shipping for a fee.
3. Open May 20, 2024 - June 7, 2024, w/ shipping for a fee only. No pick-up is available.
Volunteering
We need help from all families (DEV è SR3:P-N) to efficiently run our home meets for our athletes!
Families should commit to volunteer positions for the meet they will attend.
If you have swimmers at both, please assist with the meet that has fewer volunteers.
As always, we will have food donation options available for families who absolutely cannot make it to the meet. However, we implore families to reach out to friends and other family members who can assist, if possible.
Swim Meet Registration Deadlines:
If you want IFLY coaches to sign your child up for events at a swim meet on our team schedule, please follow the instructions linked HERE
Below are the deadlines for families to let IFLY coaches know your child will participate.
We cannot late-enter athletes who sign up after the deadline. Please commit to swim meets proactively.
2024 David Armbruster Open:
Who should Attend:
- JR1, J2:P, SR1, SR2:P, SR3:P-N:
- Athletes ages 13+
- Any athlete who is currently 12, but will turn 13 before June 1st
Registration Deadline (on the IFLY website): April 19th*
*We have pushed back the registration deadline after a delay from IASI Sanctioning
2024 Mike Brotherton Intrasquad:
Who should Attend:
- Any and all IFLYers
Registration Deadline (on the IFLY website): May 26th
2024 JR Armbruster:
Who should Attend:
- Pre-Team, DEV, AG1, AG2, JR1, JR2:P (if age appropriate)
- Athletes ages 12&U
Registration Deadline (on the IFLY website): April 28th
Connect with IFLY: Social Media
Looking for more information about our team? Follow us on social media!
Instagram: @iowaflyerswimclub
Facebook: Private Group- IFLY Parent Group
New IFLY Parent/Family and Full Team Meeting:
When: Wednesday, April 24th
5:30 – 6:15 p.m. in the Natatorium stands
Who: New IFLY parents/families & any and all IFLY families
Parent Advisory Committee members will be in attendance to help answer specific questions
What: Explanation of group expectations, summer meets, schedule discussion, etc.
Groups:
We utilize email as the primary form of communication, so please make sure your email login for TeamUnify is an account you frequently check!
Please give our coaches 24-48 hours to answer any emails; if you’ve received no answer after 48 hours, please contact Coach Jackson Leonard.
Points of Contact:
Pre-Team: Email Coach Jackson Leonard with questions; CC Coach Mady Gomez
DEV: Continue to email Coach Jackson Leonard with questions; CC Coach Mady Gomez
AG1: Families will reach out to Coach Blanca for the remainder of this week and CC Coach Mady Gomez. Coach Mady will begin normal email communication on April 8th.
AG2: Families should reach out to both Coach Blanca and Coach Paul Waas with questions. They will co-lead AG2 with the support of our new Head Age Group coach and other assistants.
JR1 & SR1: Families should reach out to Coach Andrew Rottinghaus with questions. The groups will have different schedules, practice focus points, and different intensities.
JR2:P: Families should reach out to Coach Jackson Leonard with questions.
SR2:P: Families should reach out to Coach Chris Freeman with questions.
SR3:P-N: Families should reach out to Coach Chris and Coach Jackson Leonard with questions.
Para/Adaptive: Families should reach out to both Coach Megan Mindy and Coach Talz Leman with questions.
Masters: Swimmers should reach out to Coach Jackson Leonard with questions.
Call for Parent Advisory Committee Members:
The purpose of the IFLY Parent Advisory Committee is to provide an avenue of feedback for the parents of club participants (and Masters participants) regarding the general operation of the swim club to University of Iowa Recreational Services staff.
Since IFLY is a program operated by Recreational Services, the committee does not function as a board of directors. The committee is advisory in nature rather than a decision-making authority. The Committee consists of up to nine members who serve three-year terms and represent various training groups within the IFLY program. Committee meetings are held quarterly (typically September, December, March, June). Meetings are open to all IFLY club members for observation.
This Fall, we will accept applications for three new PAC positions.
IFLY family members who are invested in the team’s performance/direction are encouraged to apply. PAC members are tasked with various roles and responsibilities to help ensure continued high-quality youth programming. We encourage all interested members to apply.
Application Link: CLICK HERE
