LCSC Coho Update 5 January 2024
LCSC Coho Update 5 January 2024
Session II is underway and registration is open!
(Spaces are available in Bronze, Silver, and Gold groups)
Tell Your Friends about the great team environment at LCSC!
Thank you for making LCSC your year-round swim team. These updates are communication to the whole team from the LCSC coaches. Please use this semi-monthly newsletter as a reference for important and timely information.
LCSC is a member club of USA Swimming and is part of the Michigan Swimming community.
We look forward to a great year of swimming at every level: learning about water safety and racing techniques; having fun developing your strength, fitness, and racing skills; and following your passion for elite-level racing success.
LCSC Mission: LCSC offers the local swimming community excellent instruction in water safety, essential swimming techniques, advanced racing skills and training, and cultivates a life-long love of the sport of swimming.
LCSC Vision: Livonia Community Swim Club will continue to develop well-rounded swimmers who strive to excel in swimming and apply these principles to all aspects of their personal success. We seek to develop both regionally and nationally ranked swimmers as well as good sports citizens.
Training Schedule Update
Week of Jan 8: Please note schedule changes: Due to HS swim meets, practices are canceled for all groups on Tuesday (Jan 9) and Friday (Jan 12). Practices as regularly scheduled on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday.
Week of Jan 15: Please note schedule changes: Due to HS swim meets, practices are canceled for all groups on Thursday (Jan 18). Due to the PA Closed Invitational, Saturday (Jan 20) practice is canceled. All other practices as regularly scheduled.
Week of Jan 22: Please note schedule changes: Due to HS swim meets, practices are canceled on Thursday (Jan 25). All other practices as regularly scheduled.
Week of Jan 29: Please note schedule changes: All practices to run as scheduled Monday through Thursday. Tuesday night will be an intrasquad from 6-8 p.m. Friday through Sunday is the Team Effort Meet, the 2024 LCSC Polar Plunge. Thank you in advance for everyone’s effort in this major team fundraiser.
Racing Schedule Update
We are looking forward to the great opportunities to measure each Coho’s improvement in racing throughout the year. Here is the upcoming schedule for the remainder of the 2023-2024 season:
Jan 20-21 PA Closed Invitational @ GP North HS (Whole Team)* Entry Deadline: passed
This meet is a rare opportunity for the whole team to swim at each session. Entries have been accepted for this meet. Information is posted on the team website. Saturday’s session is in the afternoon, and Sunday’s is in the morning.
Feb 2-4 LCSC Polar Plunge (Team Effort Meet)
Team Effort Meet! This is our second fundraiser of the year and every swimmer will be signed up by coaches for a full slate of events. The BoD agreed that since this is a team fundraiser, all swimmers will be entered fully into the meet, and will be charged for a full slate of events, whether or not they fully compete. Questions about this policy change may be directed to Coach Vince or the BoD.
Feb 9-11 OLY Michigan Open (State qualifiers and above)
Meet information is posted. This meet is for our older swimmers (13 & Over with qualifying times) to gain experience in a prelim/final format.
Feb 23-25 MCSA Junior Cup (Team Effort Meet, 12 & U only)
All 12 & Under swimmers are encouraged to sign up for this prelim/final event being held at Clarkston HS. All swimmers are eligible. Details will be posted when available.
Mar 1-3 MCSA Senior Cup (Team Effort Meet, 13 & O only)
All 13 & Over swimmers are encouraged to sign up for this prelim/final event being held at Oakland University. All swimmers are eligible. Details will be posted when available.
Mar 9 MCSA Guppy Cup (Team Effort Meet for 8 & U swimmers)
All 8 & Under swimmers are encouraged to sign up for this event being held at Grosse Pointe North HS. All swimmers are eligible. Details will be posted when available.
Mar 9-10 10 & Under State Meet (Qualified Coho swimmers)
Mar 15-17 11-14 State Meet (Qualified Coho swimmers)
Mar 21-24 Central Zone Speedo Sectionals at Indianapolis (Qualified Coho swimmers)
Mar 22-24 Open State Meet (Qualified Coho swimmers)
Coho Art Contest extended until Friday, January 12
Designs for this year’s Coho are being accepted through next Friday, January 12. Each family received an email with the blank Coho. Rules are: three colors or less, “LCSC” visible in the Coho body. Top designs will be refined and may be used for upcoming Coho t-shirts.
LCSC Seasonal Goal Sheet and Swimmer Evaluations
Three times during the year, Coho swimmers are expected to set in writing their swimming goals for the upcoming year. Session II (Winter 2023-2024) goal sheets for each group are available on the team website. Each swimmer is expected to complete, in their own handwriting, their swimming goals and expectations for the upcoming seasons. Coaches will review goals with each swimmer during the month of January and provide an evaluation for each swimmer during the session.
LCSC Suits, Caps, and Training Equipment
Spiritwear: https://teamlocker.squadlocker.com/#/lockers/livonia-csc
Suits and Caps: https://makingwavesusa.com/team/livonia-community-swim-club-lcsc/
Password: lcsc
Each Coho swim group has a list of required equipment. Some equipment is available through our SwimOutlet team store, and most is available through our partnership with Finis (We are currently assembling the Finis information.) At the top of our home page, click the Finis or Swimoutlet.com icon, and the LCSC team store will link up. The specific type of equipment (i.e., Finis products, styles) have been selected by the coaches as the best equipment for each athlete to improve technique. Proper equipment allows swimmers to increase the variety of training challenges each day.
Bronze/Silver: Finis Alignment kickboard, Finis PDF fins, Finis Freestyle snorkel*
Gold: Finis Alignment kickboard, Finis PDF fins, Finis Freestyle snorkel* (*must be specific style)
SR/Platinum: Finis Alignment kickboard, Finis Edge fins, Finis ISO Paddles, Finis Freestyle Snorkel, Swim parachute, mesh bags for kicking. Swim parachutes differ in their price, size, and quality; mesh bags (12” x 18”, or larger) may be found at the Champion Sports Store: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Champion+Sports/page/2B5765CF-D35A-4B67-99C8-A0F5136C247E?ref_=ast_bln
Swimmers may check with coaches regarding equipment recommendations.
LCSC Coho 2023-2024 Training and Racing Plan
What to Expect Each Day at Practice
~Please arrive 15 minutes ahead of scheduled time to properly stretch and prepare to be in the water on time. Coaches will review/instruct the daily stretching routine with all groups during the first two weeks of the year.
~Parents may observe practice from the spectator area on the second floor. Per USA Swimming insurance guidelines, no parents are allowed on deck, except for meetings and/or questions for the coaches.
~Please stay home if you are having symptoms related to the flu, Covid-19, or any contagious bug. Please communicate with us if you have positive tests in your household. We are obliged to communicate close contacts when they occur.
LCSC Daily Training
Each day, LCSC coaches and swimmers are expected to bring a positive attitude, be on-time and prepared, and be attentive to the details of swim instruction throughout the practice session. Every day offers instruction in excellent swimming skills, from the basics of underwater streamlining and propulsion to the most minute details of hand and limb placement in each racing stroke.
Preparing for Introductory Racing
Racing with LCSC is a bit different than racing summer club or high school. In the USA Swimming community, athletes are recognized for their versatility in racing in multiple strokes and distances. Each year, LCSC recognizes its young swimmers who achieve the USA Swimming IMXtreme standards for their age group. LCSC coaches work with Coho swimmers to improve technique, endurance, and speed in all four racing strokes with the goal of preparing each swimmer to have the skills and confidence needed to be successful in this swimming challenge.
Preparing for Racing at the State Level and Beyond
Daily training and understanding the basics of racing are the backbone of successful swimmers. But you need more than the basics to be successful at the higher levels of any discipline, especially an athletic endeavor like competitive swim. Daily attendance, a resilient attitude, and constant attention to minute details increase one’s opportunity to experience high degrees of success. LCSC coaches recommend that any Coho athlete interested in being prepared to race at the state level or above be prepared to practice 4-8x/week, depending upon their age. There are a lot of hungry young swimmers in the State of Michigan, and that’s only the tip of the USA Swimming iceberg!
Continue to Work for Success in 2024!
Your LCSC Coho Coaches
