Happy Leap Day!!

A quick congratulations to all those who participated in the Silver and Senior State meets this past weekend. We had tons of best times, several new State cuts and several new Sectional cuts. Way to go guys. 

There will be no morning workout tomorrow, Thursday the 1st. Here's what is coming up. 

1. This weekend is the 14 and Under State meet and RACE is bringing its strongest team in years. This is in large part to the efforts of our Head Age Group Coach Rob Putnam and our other age group coaches, Colin, Cam and Allen. However, the majority of the credit goes to the swimmers who have worked hard this Winter. Good luck everyone. GO RACE. 

2. On Tuesday the 6th, the Sectional team will board a plane to Federal Way, WA for the Spring Senior Section meet. RACE will be bringing a strong team of 16 swimmers to the meet. Wish them luck as well. 

3. Remember that we have an altered schedule starting next week with only one outdoor workout (5:30-7 PM for Senior I and II and pre senior swimmers) the week of the 6th. Staring the 12th we will take a week off. Normal practice schedule resumes the week of the 19th. For a full schedule, refer to the www.raceswimming.org website and the 2/13/12 newsletter.

4. Remember that entries for the Brighton meet are due on the 13th of March and the Foothills entries are due on the 2nd of April. 

We are one day late with this. Sorry about that. Here we go.

1. Silver and Senior State info is posted on our website: www.raceswimming.org. Psych sheets, parking info and passes, warmup times, timer assignments and everything else you might need is up on the website. The coaching staff is so excited to see what we are going to do this weekend. The experts are predicting a lot of fast swimming from RACE. Remember, any new State cuts must be entered at the Silver State meet. See Rob for help with that.

2. Sectional entries are due to Grant on Monday the 27th. Please plan on checking your entry with him on Monday after workout.

3. Long Course season is right around the corner. A couple of entry deadlines for you.

Brighton April Fool's entries are due on the 13th of March. This is a great short course meet for the 12 and Under and the seasonal swimmers. Note that the entry is due while the team is on break, so touch base with Rob ASAP about this meet.

Castle Rock entries will be due the 20th of March.

Entries for the Foothills meet April 20-22nd are due NO LATER than April 2nd. Entries must go to them at 8:00am on the 5th so please no late entries. This meet is open to all RACE swimmers. Check with your coaches.

Happy Valentine's Day from RACE. We LOVE having you here. Sorry, couldn't resist some cheesiness.

1. First a congratulations to the RallySport Aquatics girls on a great High School season. You represented yourselves and RACE beautifully and left many a swim fan impressed. Boys, let's follow their great example.

2. 14 and under state entries are due today or tomorrow at the latest. Please email them to Rob and Grant. Also, remember to check with Rob regarding the State relays.

3. RACE will be taking a break in March, and there are some scheduling changes. We understand that Spring break trips may not match up with our breaks. Just let the coaches know when you are out of town and we'll work it all out.

—We will have normal workouts through Monday March 5th.
—Starting the 6th through the 9th, there will be one workout only from 5:30-7pm each day, and no workout Sat the 10th.
—We will take the week of March 12th-18th off.
—The week of March 19th-25th is optional workouts, but all workout times will be offered for all groups.
—We will be back to normal workouts the week of the 26th. We do realize that this is Spring break, so if you are out of town, HAVE FUN.

4. Spring meet Schedule.

April 7th Brighton April Fool's
This meet is mostly for the Seasonal RACE team. It is short course.

April 15th Castle Rock 12 and Under
This meet is for Seasonal and 12 and Under swimmers. It is Short course.

April 20-22 FST Spring Long Course
This is for all RACE swimmers who wish to attend.

May 5th Steve Drozda Long Course
We will be attending only Sat. This is for all RACE swimmers.

May 12th FST LC Open
We will be attending Sat only. This is for all swimmers.

June—Seasonal Duel Meet schedule begins. More info to follow.

June 1-3 Cuda-Star Long Course
We will be attending all 3 days.

June 8-10th Mutual of Omaha Swimvitational
Cut/travel meet in Omaha.

June 22-24th FAST Long Course or travel meet
This will be a prelims/finals meet with cut times.

June 24th Boulder Short Course 10 and under meet

Olympic Trials June 25th-July 2nd
Omaha, NE

July 13-15th Zone 2 Championships
Long Course meet with cut times.

July 24-28th Sectionals
Gresham, OR cut times

July 27th-29th LC State
Cut times

August 7-11 US Open
Indianapolis, IN Cut times

August 12-17th Junior Nationals
Indianapolis, IN Cut times 

Here we go! It is Championship Season and it kicks off this weekend with Girl's High School State. Good luck ladies. Represent RallySport Aquatics well. You're going to be awesome.

Announcements and Reminders
1. Senior and Silver State entries are due today, tomorrow at the absolute latest. Please remember that these meets have cut times that must have been achieved in the last 12 months at a recognized USA Swimming meet. Please include times with your entry.

2.  Be advised that 14 and Under State entries are due a week from today. Same entry procedure. If you are a 14 and Under swimmer, please check with Rob as to whether you are needed for relays at the State meet. We will be doing as many relays as possible and may need you.

3. Congrats to Ozzie Davis for setting a new team record at the All Star meet in January. Ozzie broke a long standing team record in the 9-10 50 fly with a time of 32.51. Great Job Oz.

4. The Summer meet schedule will be put out in next week's newsletter.

5. Here is a little advice from USA Swimming for parents during Championship Season.

Helping Your Athlete During Taper

Every swimmer looks forward to the championship season, including that exciting and welcome relief called “taper.” Swimmers adjust to reduced training volume and emphasis on meet performance at the end of a season. For most swimmers, this adjustment is both physical and mental.

This adjustment is not automatic and takes some time. Typical signs of this adjustment may include trouble falling asleep, reduced appetite, and/or feeling nervous. This is normal and expected. Always encourage your swimmer to discuss any of these issues with their coach.

Tapering for 12 and unders is more a mental adjustment than physical. Hopefully, they are not training 20 hours per week, like a college swimmer. Their training load is just not high enough to warrant cutting their training yardage in half or more. Secondly, tapering involves resting the muscles. Most age group swimmers are fit, yet few have the muscle mass to warrant a taper like a mature college athlete or post graduate.

Moms and Dads can assist the process by avoiding placing undue pressure on the upcoming meet. Most young athletes are competitive enough to want to succeed and find it difficult to distinguish between judgment of abilities and judgment of self-worth.

Follow these guidelines:

-Ask yourself: Does my child have to excel to “feel loved?”
-Offer encouragement and support
-Praise for persistence and effort. Don’t punish for failure
-Don’t demand or expect certain performance levels. Avoid undue or harsh criticism.
-Teach them to enjoy and have fun regardless of the outcome.
-Be sensitive when talking with your child after a poor performance. Help the athletes realize that the consequences of failure are temporary.
-Take pictures of them and their friends. In the long run it will mean more than any medal or trophy.
-Keep things in perspective. The sun will be up tomorrow and life goes on!