Masters Weekly Announcements Monday, August 4, 2025

Masters Weekly Announcements
Monday, August 4, 2025

Happy Monday, Team.

This week's announcements include the following:

1. Summer Championship Meet
2. Important Key Dates to Remember
3. Team Service Hours Support Program  
4. Words from Coach Mark
 

1. Countdown to Championships!

Only 12 days to go until our SW Zone Swimming Championships — the excitement is building! As you fine-tune your preparations, it's time to embrace the taper phase, a vital step in your training journey.

What Is “Taper” in Swimming? Tapering is the intentional reduction of training volume and intensity leading up to a big competition. Here's why it's crucial:

• Muscle Recovery: It allows your body to repair and rebuild after months of hard work.
• Peak Performance: By minimizing fatigue, you arrive at race day feeling fresh, fast, and fully energized.
• Mental Sharpness: It helps boost confidence and focus, turning all your training into high-performance results.

During the taper, workouts become shorter and more race-specific. The goal isn’t to train harder, it’s to train smarter.

So, rest well, stay sharp, and get ready to shine. The countdown is on, and your moment is near! Let me know if you'd like a tailored taper tip or a motivational message for your swimmers.

If you haven't entered yet, there's still time to join the fun and represent our club:
Entries Close Friday, August 8, at 11:59 PM.

We need swimmers to show up strong! When signing up, please indicate all the relays you're available to swim. While it doesn’t guarantee placement in every relay, it gives flexibility to create the best possible lineups.

This is your moment to finish the season on a high note—with fast swims, great teammates, and a whole lot of pride. Let’s make this championship unforgettable!

Questions or need help signing up? Reach out anytime.

Go Nadadores! Let’s end the season with a splash!  

Meet Registration

2. Important Key Dates to Remember

• August 18–24: Dark Week – No workouts. Take this time to rest and recharge!
• September 7 - Pool Open Water Clinic (1:00-3:00 PM)  Sign Up Now
• September 21: Mission Mile – Sign-ups are OPEN! 
• October 5: Short Course Meter Meet – Let’s keep the momentum going into fall!

Thank you all for your continued dedication and team spirit. Let’s bring the energy, swim fast, and finish the summer season strong!

Go Team!  

3. Team Service Hours Support Program – SW Zone Summer Championships

The SW Zone Summer Championships is a mandatory event, and all Nadadores Masters members are asked to contribute 3 hours of volunteer service by working or swimming during the meet. These hours are essential—not just for the success of the event but for the continued strength and sustainability of our club.

As a non-profit organization, Nadadores Masters relies on the dedication of its swimmers, coaches, and programs. Our events generate vital income that keeps the program running. This success depends on our members stepping up—working together to maintain the standard of excellence we’re known for. Many club functions throughout the season also depend on active participation from our membership.

Important Reminders:

• Members who are unable to work at this mandatory event will be assessed a $50 fee—even if their overall service hours for the season have already been met.
• For Session 2 (April 1, 2025 - August 31, 2025), any member who does not complete any required volunteer hours will be assessed a $150 Hours Requirement Fee (HRF).
• Members who fulfill part—but not all—of their required hours will be billed $25 per hour for each hour still owed during the volunteer session.

Your time, energy, and presence make a lasting impact. Thank you for helping make Nadadores Masters a thriving, inclusive, and high-performing community.

Need help signing up or unsure where to volunteer? We're happy to assist!

Job Sign Up

4. Words from Coach Mark 

Breaststroke and Butterfly Race Strategies  

Having race strategies for Breaststroke and Butterfly is crucial for a championship meet because these strokes are technically demanding and energy-intensive. Here's a brief overview of why strategies matter:

100 Breaststroke:

Warm-up: 200 swim (50 free/50 breast)
2 x 100 drill/swim
4 x 50 kick descend 1-4
50 easy w/FAST turns and good pull-downs

Race Strategy:
1. Pulldowns and breakouts must be PERFECT.
2. Low-in-the-water turns must be FAST.
3. Time your turns correctly (no half strokes or long glides into the wall)
4. Big toes finish the kick…make sure you FINISH the kick.
5. Do not start the pull until the kick has been completed.
6. 50% of your propulsion comes from your pull, and 50% of your propulsion comes from your kick (there is no room to be “relaxed”)

200 Breaststroke:

Warm-up: 300 choice (mix free and breast)
100 drill – 2 kicks, 1 pull
4 x 50 swim (broken)
100 easy with FAST turns and good breakouts

Race Strategy:
1. SAME as the 100, in addition:
a. 50 controlled, 100 build, 50 finish
b. Drive the legs into a longer glide
c. TURNS, TURNS, TURNS…must be long and FAST.

100 Butterfly:

Warm-up: 200 choice (50 free, 50 fly drill R/L arm)
6 x 25 (25 free/25 fly)
4 x 50 underwater kick/Fly
100 easy free build

Race Strategy:
1. Just like your backstroke, your underwater kick must be performed EFFECTIVELY
2. Your kick is what’s going to determine how fast you finish.
3. Breathing pattern must be consistent…once changed, your body won’t adapt to the over- or under-oxygen intake.
a. Over oxygen- when you breathe more than what your body is asking for…you will develop a cramp in your side, your legs will give up on you and your arms will go into several mode.
b. Under oxygen- when you deprive yourself of oxygen. If you hold your breath too long at the beginning of the race,
your leg muscles will die on you at the end…You NEED your legs at the end!

200 Butterfly:

Warm-up: 200 choice (50 free, 50 fly drill R/L arm
8 x 25 (25 fly/25 free)
6 x 50 underwater kick (alt. fly/free)
100 easy free build

Race Strategy:
1. Same as 100 fly, in addition
2. LONG and UNDER CONTROL is the key to surviving the race.
3. Legs should be used to keep tempo in check.
4. The breathing pattern should be as consistent as possible.
5. Use your legs to execute perfect turns and long, perfect streamlines.
6. FINISH STRONG!

Mission Viejo Nadadores Masters  
…a lifetime of… 
Challenge... Achievement...Recognition!