Gator News-Swim Team Update
Christi zellerhoff
GSSC GATOR NEWS
Saturday April 16, 2011
Ready! Set! Swim!
Welcome Back GSSC Swim Families!
We are in for an exciting summer season at GSSC and I want to share with you some of the fun changes you will experience and what you can anticipate as we get closer to kicking off the swim season. I am a big believer in communication & information-sharing so I will be sending out a weekly “Gator News” email that will highlight important swim-related information (i.e. coach announcements, weekly swim meet schedule/directions/theme night info; practice changes, swimmer kudos & accomplishments, upcoming pool events and more). The better informed you are, the better the summer experience.
2011 Coaches
Your coaches have already teamed up, brainstorming new ideas to maximize workout effectiveness and fun with the goal of offering a high-impact swim experience for your kids. We also agree that part of being a good coach is to get coach development training-so we will be attending a 2-day “Coaches Clinic” May 7-8 hosted by White Water Aquatics staff that will teach us how to blend & implement important coaching philosophies & strategies (i.e. how to run more effective & competitive workouts, how to teach high impact drills/techniques with limited pool time, recognize improper strokes and correct them, and initiate fun team activities to build strong team identity and spirit) to name a few. We are excited to bring this new knowledge into our coaching approach and believe an important part of team identity is having a strong club/team mission that articulates who we are as a club and what our teams’ focus is (see mission statement & philosophy below). Now a word from your 2011 coaching staff…
Melissa Low-Head Coach
“I became a member of GSSC when I was 14 years old, where I became part of the swim team as well as a lifeguard. I worked and swam for Gregory until I was 18; it was then that I was offered a head coaching position. I have now been head coach of the gators going into my sixth summer. I have been a competitive swimmer since the age of 8 while swimming for multiple clubs in the Seattle area through high school where I swam as a Highline Pirate at the state level for 4 years and also was an All City swimmer for Gregory. My coaching experience comes from a background of competitive club swimming and summer league swimming, through this I have learned a lot about coaching skills and is the reason why I return to the sport and want to give back the knowledge that I have to the kids that now swim for me. My coaching philosophy is to strive to involve and form relationships with all of my swimmers equally. To make being a Gregory Gator first and foremost fun while also learning to attain goals and be competitive. I hope to help and give feedback from my experience and knowledge of swimming to each swimmer in the best way that I can. I am looking forward to an amazing summer, I want to welcome all new and returning families and swimmers to the Home of the Gators for what I feel should be the best summer yet to come!”
Megan Low-Assistant Coach
“I joined Gregory Seahurst Swim Club as a 10 and Under and swam and played tennis until my senior summer. I was the Speedy Sixer coach for the 2007 and 2008 season along with assistant tennis coach for the 2008 season. The past two seasons, 2009 and 2010, I have held the assistant swim coach position under my sister and head coach, Melissa Low. My coaching philosophy is to give every swimmer the attention and dedication that they deserve to reach their full potential in the pool. I believe it is important to create a relationship and a friendship with my swimmers that is both beneficial as a role model and friend. I hope to be able to pass down my knowledge and experience as a sportsman and swimmer to each one of my athletes. It is also important for me to carry on the traditions of Gregory that I grew up with, such as family, community, creating a safe environment and most important fun! I am so excited to get everyone enthusiastic and excited about showing their Gator green pride this summer! I am also so excited for the returning members and new gators to our family to work hard, drop time and have an awesome season together! See you guys on the deck!”
Tyler Kimmel-Speedy Sixers Head Coach
“I started swimming at Gregory Seahurst as a speedy sixer under Mike Fosberg and Lori Box. I swam for the team every summer through my senior year of high school and also swam for Highline High School. Some of my favorite memories have been spent at this pool, swimming, life guarding, and coaching. In 2007 I co-coached the speedy sixers with Megan Low and had a blast. These kids were hilarious and so eager to DO swimming and I look forward to having another great experience. I have always been a big believer in relating every activity or sport to the disciplines of life—that developing perseverance in one area of life can be transferred to other areas and add to the betterment of the individual. It is my hope that Christi and I might show these young swimmers what it means to have self-esteem, work hard, be a team, build each other up in healthy competition, and most importantly have fun! It is most important to me that these swimmers feel comfortable at GSSC and learn to love swimming and make some lasting friendships! I am so thankful to be invited back to work with these awesome coaches and swimmers. Get in the POOL !”
Christi Zellerhoff-Speedy Sixers Assistant Coach
I am THRILLED to be working with the Speedy Sixers this year! I began swimming competitively as a Speedy Sixer for the South Snohomish County Dolphins and began competing nationally as a breaststroker at age 9. I went on to swim for Mariner High School and competed in 2 State Championships; but ultimately chose Husky Cheerleading over college swimming (so you can expect me to cheer hard for your kids!). Now a parent of two young Gregory Seahurst swimmers, I understand the importance of making swimming fun at this formative learning stage when youngsters discover their swimming ability perhaps for the first time. But I also know kids at this age can set competitive goals and achieve amazing results in a short amount of time. My coaching philosophy is to emphasize proper form and technique to build confidence, challenge swimmers, while making the swim experience crazy fun so that the Speedy Sixers develop a desire to continue in the sport of swimming. My summer goal is to get Speedy Sixers excited about being part of a team; introduce them to the fundamentals of the competitive swimming experience, and celebrate each and every swimmers’ “personal best” as an important part of the team’s success. Every child may not come in first place, but if they finish the race knowing they tried their very best, well that is a Gator Glory moment for sure!” Looking forward to a GREAT year~GO GATORS!
GSSC Team Mission Statement & Coaching Philosophy
Team Mission Statement:
Develop within our kids, an interest and love for swimming, diving, and tennis; provide training and competitive opportunities for youth of all abilities; celebrate team and individual “personal bests;” and provide a fun, family-friendly, “Gator Pride” atmosphere that builds sportsmanship, character, skills, and friendships.
Team Philosophy:
Ø GSSC teams are founded on the belief that age-group competitive swimming, diving, and tennis offer a fun, exciting and worthwhile experience in a young person’s life. They can be learned and enjoyed by those with very little natural ability, as well as those who are seasoned athletes.
Ø GSSC is dependent on committed youth, family participation, a dedicated board, and a well-qualified coaching staff; to offer fun, family-friendly, and competitive experiences; designed to introduce kids to sports, perhaps for the first time and foster their interest to develop a passion to continue on.
Ø It is a basic assumption that for an age-group competitive program to succeed, it must encompass and challenge all who participate and it must follow continuous developmental progression. However, its values go far beyond that of learning efficiency in the water or on the tennis court.
Ø We understand that not every child will be a world-class swimmer, diver or tennis player. However, every child in our program WILL undoubtedly achieve a “personal best.” We celebrate individual accomplishments as an important part of our team’s success. It is our goal to help all participants know the value of teamwork, practice good sportsmanship, reach personal goals, build character, and improve self-esteem.
New GSSC Website hosted by “Team Unify”
GSSC is transitioning to a new website that will offer swim parents many great new features. Not only does this new web platform showcase our club, swimmers, and events with picture slideshows, it will provide important information on club events, lessons, membership, pool schedule, calendars. Better yet, it also allows swim parents to sign up and utilize their own personal online account to view their swimmers’ events & results online, sign up for volunteer jobs, pre-commit or opt out of certain swim meets and order swim products (googles, etc.). Many more benefits exist and we think you will love the new layout. Our new GSSC Web Administrator, Erika DuBois, is finalizing all the details and we should be ready to launch within the next week or two. I will keep you posted and send you the link when it is ready to “go live.”
Going “Cardless”
This year you will notice a change on how we will run our home swim meets. All South-end swim clubs are in the 2-year process of transitioning to a “cardless” meet format. What this means is that our swimmers will not be using the blue & pink event cards at home meets, but rather all meet entries will be handled electronically. This is exactly how post-season championship meets are run. GSSC has decided to make the leap this year and have already put some measures in place to insure a smooth transition. Specifically, we have a dedicated group of parents already signed up and committed to work the computer during home meets who, along with the coaches and myself, will receive special training. Additionally, you will have a big role in helping your swimmers get to their “new” staging areas on time. However, not to worry, you will have help because there will be an older swimmer & parent assigned to each age group and we will have a clerk of course and stagers to methodically move swimmers up to the blocks as their events/heats get closer. More information will be shared via website & at the parent meeting. Your attendance at Time Trials will be critical so that coaches can get baseline times for swimmers, and parents can experience a “cardless” mock meet firsthand. This is a new learning process for all of us so please ask questions and volunteer to help out as our team makes this transition.
GATOR GLORY
Our 2011 Summer theme is “Spirited Competition and Personal Bests.”
“Spirited”: This is all about creating a fun team atmosphere that enlists your participation! We want parents to cheer hard for our kids, show visible support by wearing “gator green” clothing to meets, wave our new “spirit rags” during races, join in the team cheer & let those who come to the “HOME OF THE GATORS” know we mean business!
“Competition”: When your kids are in the water we want them focused and ready to work hard. We have added more pool practice time and workouts will be well structured and challenging. You can help by making sure your swimmers are on time and paying attention, and help get them “swim meet ready.” Your coaches will also be conducting “skill building clinics” throughout the summer to help swimmers improve on flip turns, starting block starts, relay takes offs, counting flags to wall on backstroke….etc. We hope your swimmers can attend.
“Personal Bests”: Not all swimmers will get first place, but certainly all swimmers will have a personal best this summer. We want to celebrate individual accomplishments by giving swimmers a “Gator Glory” card each time they improve a time, master a new skill or qualify for a post season championship. Because we know that individual improvements are another important way to define team success!
Our local suit vendor (I Swim USA) recently informed me that the “Eternal Flame” design is no longer available for purchase this year but can offer us a comparable suit that is very similar in design. It is the TYR “Aurora (green & black)” (max back-girls; jammers-boys). Since we are on year 2 of our two-year ordering cycle, there is no need to buy this design if your swimmer already has the “Eternal Flame” design of last year and the suit still fits. However, if you need a new size or are new to the team, you will need to order the “Aurora.” Also, if you are new to swim/dive this year, it is highly advised you attend the fitting before you place your order. Limited quantities of suits will be available for purchase at the fitting and our 20% team discount will apply. If you are unable to attend the fitting, please contact Misty, GSSC’s vendor rep, directly at 253-838-6440 or mi...@swimshop.com and she will be happy to help you order and honor our team’s 20% discount at time of purchase. I Swim USA is located at 1105 S. 348th St. #B106, Federal Way, WA 98003-7027.
NEW: Or, if you already know your size, you can also shop TYR direct online at our new “Gator Store” once our new website is live.
2011 Swim Meet Schedule
Please make a note of our summer meet schedule so that you can let our coaches know well in advance if your swimmer will miss a specific meet. Your coaches work hard to plan out the swimmer line-ups and need to know in advance if you will be unable to attend a specific meet. This is especially important in helping them plan relay line-ups for post-season championship meets. (Meets highlighted in green are home meets). Also be thinking about which home meet you can volunteer at (timers, stagers, clerk of course, snack shack)…more information to come!
Thursday June 23 Gregory Seahurst @ Marine Hills
Tuesday June 28 Lakeridge @ Gregory Seahurst
Thursday June 30 Gregory Seahurst @ Twin Lakes
NO MEET ON TUESDAY 7/5
Thursday July 7 Gregory Seahurst @ Arbor Heights
Tuesday July 12 Olympic View @ Gregory Seahurst
Thursday July 14 Gregory Seahurst @ Kent
Tuesday July 19 NormandyPark @ Gregory Seahurst
* All regular-season meets start at 6:00pm; please arrive at 5:00pm for team warm ups.
POST SEASON CHAMPIONSHIP MEETS
Thursday July 21: B-CHAMPS @ Olympic View
Monday July 25: GIRLS PRELIMS @ Gregory Seahurst
Tuesday July 26: BOYS PRELIMS @ Arbor Heights
Thursday July 28: SOUTHERN DIVISION @ Normandy Park
Tuesday Aug. 2: ALL-CITY @ Klahaya
1. New GSSC website launched: within next 2 weeks
2. Opening Day BBQ: May 15 at 6:00pm
3. Mandatory Parent Meeting & suit fitting: Wednesday May18th
4. Pre-Season practice begins: May 31 (evenings)
5. Time Trials/Mock Meet: June 15
6. Regular-Season practice begins: June 28 (mornings)
7. Picture Day/Pancake Breakfast: July 14 at 8:00am
8. Awards Banquet: Aug 3 at 6:00pm
*If you would like to have your name removed from the Gator News email list, please let me know by responding to this email, and I am happy to unsubscribe you. Also, if you know of someone you think might be interested, please forward this email and invite them to subscribe to the "gssc-swim" email group by going to this link and signing up http://gregoryseahurst.com/email.html.