Swim BC competition calendar proposal

[Neil Harvey]

Coaches
I would like to open a discussion with all BC coaches regarding the
proposed changes to the provincial meet calendar. The proposal was
tabled following a TAC meeting with some indications that it would be
implemented for September 2010. All head coaches in the VIR need to
comment on this proposal in order to move forwards with a large degree
of consensus.

I believe the proposal is a very good change to our current system. It
allows for focussed competitions at the right level every 12 weeks.
It also allows for good progressions within each of the blocks.
Invitational meets are moved to earlier in the block and a
championships ends each one. A lack of blackout periods allows
swimmers falling below the championship level to have a good meet as
well (new invitationals). It gets rid of the AA blackout periods
which are detrimental to proper age-stage development flow in the
program.

The first frame is mid September to the 2nd weekend in December. This
is a natural block. Invitational meets occur from October through 1st
weekend of December followed by AAA provincial champs. Some top end
swimmers might go to a higher level meet at the end but this is a
small number overall. The whole province will 'heat' up in mid-
December.

The 2nd block starts mid-December with a week of de-tuning before
Christmas and training camp starts the 27th. This level of swimmer
then has VIR champs, Invitational meet, Westerns, Club champs and
perhaps Nationals in the 2nd 12 week block. They might not go to all
of those meets, but they are built into the plan. Those who do not
qualify for Westerns or Senior nationals still have a block ending
meet province wide. The format for the Club Champs is very similar to
the VIR meet. You can take your whole club and have great racing. The
VIR's in January would be perfectly placed as the jump off point for
this 2nd block. Invitational meets fit into the middle weeks.

The 3rd block starts at March break and goes through mid-May with the
next AAA's. The very best kids will not likely peak for this AAA meet
but they do want to swim fast and have some great racing in this time-
frame. The entry and mid-level AAA swimmers would have a good reason
to train really well and swim fast through this block. Again,
invitational meets in late March through early May followed by AAA's.
The week or so after this AAA is Zajac which raises the bar to
international level for that level of swimmer.

The 4th block starts mid-May and goes through end of July. The senior
national group will be on a different preparation process compared to
the club champs/VIR champs level swimmer. This 2nd group will have
another well laid out progression from mid May with VIR's mid June,
perhaps an invitational meet in late June/early July, ending up with
Club Champs late July (eventually). Age group nationals is the premier
meet for 16 and under swimmers in Canada. It fits into the end of this
4th block. Swimmers not quite making that level will still have a good
reason to train hard and race fast through to the end of July. Age
group nationals kids coming home could have a fun end of year meet
with the rest of the team.

Team and swimmer development are really encouraged in this model.
Invitational meets are still important but they are moved earlier in
each 12 week frame. We can keep young developing swimmers interested
for 12 weeks at a time without the burnout and boredom of 24 week
frames. Some coaches may plan for 24 weeks between peaks for their
best kids but the provincial program does not need to cater in detail
to that level of swimmer anyway. The SNC National calendar will do
that.


Neil Harvey
Island Swimming/Tyee Aquatic Club
Victoria BC
250-595-8930
ne...@islandswimming.com