Movin' on Up - Silver 5X swimmers

Two weeks ago, DART didn't have any swimmers in the Silver 5X practice group.  Today we have three.  Zach Sodorff (11) joined the team about 10 days ago, and became the season's first member in the group.  Ryleigh Foggin (12) joined Zach a few days later, and Kayla Bevers (9) moved up just recently.

Congratulations to all three for taking that step up.

Making the move from Silver 3X to Silver 5X  might not seem like a big jump ... but it can more than double the development pace.  The Silver group concentrates on improving technique and building stamina.  Technique isn't just learning proper stroke mechanics, but developing muscle memory so the stroke can be repeated.

Silver 3X swimmers develop that muscle memory three days ... but "undevelop" it, if you will, four days per week.  While the steps forward outweigh the steps back, progress can be relatively slow.

In contrast, adding just one more day of practice, tips the scale in the swimmer's favor.  Not only do they gain by the extra practice, but they lose less with only three days out of the water.  It's like trading a negative for a positive ... double benefit.  A fifth day of practice takes the development pace even higher.

Bumping up practice time isn't for all swimmers.  Some kids simply aren't ready for that added commitment, some don't have the time, etc.  Swimmers looking to advance within the sport, however, should consider adding a day (or two) when the time feels right.  Talk to your coaches and let them help guide you.

Easy as 1 - 2 - 3

DART 2013 Swim-A-Thon

DART's current fundraising event, represents my daughter's 6th or so Swim-A-Thon ... I've lost count.  In the past, collecting donations required the swimmer go door to door with a paper form in hand, seeking pledges.  I simply paid the minimum collection requirement, instead of having her hit the streets.

This year, swimmers can use a tool on the DART website to solicit donations electronically, leveraging contact lists that already exist.  Its easy and donors can give securely online with their credit cards.  They can also still pay by check or give cash.

It's as easy as one, two, three ...

1.  Create a profile for each of your swimmers.  Default profile text exists.  You can use the default or modify it to say whatever you wish.  You can also optionally upload a picture.

2.  Upload contacts from various contact sources (gmail, yahoo, hotmail, facebook, etc) and select which ones to include in your solicitation.  Note:  Nobody sees your contacts besides you.

3.  Compose an email and send in mass to the contacts you selected.  Done!

Then, sit back and monitor the, perhaps surprising, generosity of your friends and family.

Get started by logging into the DART website and clicking the lane line graphic across the top.  Use the Setup button to create a profile.  Use the Promote button to upload, select and email your contacts.

Please participate in this fundraising event.

Bleeping Goggles - Part Three

Despite finding proper fitting goggles (discussed in part one, here), and being comforted that the dreaded goggle issue will eventually right itself with proper technique (part two, here), it remains heartbreaking to watch your swimmer struggle with their goggles.  It's annoying to them and a bit frustrating for you.

What can help your swimmer keep their goggles on, while you patiently wait for them to perfect their dive?

1)  Tighten the goggle straps - Okay, you've likely already done this, perhaps to an extreme.  Tightening the straps does help, but don't expect it to solve the problem alone.  Oh, and at some point it becomes counter productive (like when their eyes start popping out of their head).  One way to ease the frustration is to replace the stock straps with bungee cords (pictured below).  The little adjusting mechanism makes adjustments (tightening) easier.

2)  Adjust the position of the straps - The straps, as they track across the back of the head should be separated.  One strap should be even with the eyes, all the way around.  The second strap should be adjusted in the back, a couple inches or so, above the first strap.  This helps keep the goggles from moving vertically on the face.  Again, its not a solution in itself.

3)  Put the cap on over the goggle straps - Using the cap to hold the straps in place can help.  It limits how far the straps can stretch, hence limiting how easily the goggles can come off.  Another variation uses two caps, with the straps between ... cap, then goggles, then another cap.

4)  Camden Snow it - I've seen Camden Snow, a Gold group swimmer, do this little trick when he was younger.  Apparently it helped him.  Once his cap and goggles were on and he appeared ready to go, he'd take one more step.  He'd pull the front of his cap down over the top edge of his goggles. It takes away some visibility, but likely not that much.

5.  Industrial strength staples - Two at each temple, one between the eyes and the goggles will stay on all day.  (Disclaimer:  This is a joke)

Quote 'O the Month

Pain is Temporary, Pride is Forever -- Greg Fernley

For those who don't yet know, Greg Fernley and his wife Pam, founded our team in 1987.  Greg lost a battle with cancer over a decade ago, but his legacy lives on.  You may have seen this plaque, as it hangs proudly at the Sand Hollow pool, where we practice.

Bleeping Goggles - Part Two

The first segment, of this three part series, talked about choosing goggles that fit, and included a video on how to tell when they do.  You can visit that post here.  Part two talks about why the goggles misbehave to start with.

<physics>
Newton's first law of motion states a body at rest will remain at rest until an outside force acts upon it.
</physics>

That law, applied to goggles, means a pair of goggles will stay on your swimmer's face until something knocks them off.  Duh!  I mean, Newton was a genius!  The force, in this case, would be the impact as your swimmer's face crashes into the water on their dive.  Having proper fitting goggles helps, but let's face it, it doesn't take much force to move a small rubbery object held on with stretchy straps.

The secret to keeping goggles on during the dive lies in the entry into the water.  With proper technique, goggles absorb very little of the dive's impact, staying right where intended.  With improper technique, well, you get a goggle mustache like this one ...

That proper technique?  I'm not going to tell you.  I'm not a coach and make it a point to not impersonate one.  At some point, a real DART coach will help your swimmer overcome the anxiety of diving off the block, teach proper diving technique, and promote streamlining.  When that happens, the frustrating, heartbreaking goggle issue will disappear forever, I promise.  It may take some time, so please be patient.

Attitudes Change With The Attitudes Around Them

While driving my daughter, a swimmer, to school this morning, she said something worth quoting ... "Attitudes change with the attitudes around them".

Most people see swimming as an individual sport.  On race day, relays aside, its one swimmer with one lane ... not exactly a team effort.  Or, is it?  Coach Bob has talked often about what it takes to become an elite swimmer.  (Sometimes it seems that's all he thinks about).  He quickly points to the pieces necessary for that level of success.  1) A dedicated, knowledgeable coach.  2) Support - Just try to become an elite swimmer without mom's taxi or daddy's money.  3) Talent - That one's up to fate and DNA.  4) Teammates.

Teammates?  Yes, teammates.  Good coaching, good support and good genes aren't enough.  Good teammates make it fun.  Good teammates make a swimmer want to go to practice.  Good teammates push each other to higher levels.  Good teammates affect attitude.

Do you have a good attitude?  Your teammate's success might just depend on it.

Bleeping Goggles - Part One

During the DART intrasquad meet yesterday morning, more than one pair of goggles found themselves draped cockeyed across a face or around a neck.  In almost every case, the goggles started on the eyes of a novice swimmer.  The more experienced swimmers almost never seem to have this problem.  This post is one of a three part series about goggles and how to keep them on your swimmer's face.

There are no magic goggles.  Even a $100 pair of Speedo Fastskin 3 Super Elite Swim Goggles with IQ Fit Goggle Seal (pictured above) will gladly fly off your face, given the opportunity.  Apparently Speedo prices their goggles based on the number of words in the name.

Step 1: Find goggles that fit.  Eye sockets come in different shapes and sizes ... so do goggles.  Go to a swim store (Aquaholics, Poco Loco, etc.) or to a vendor at a swim meet, and try on different brands and models.  Find some that make a good seal so they don't leak, hurt or come off easily.  See the video below.

Anybody Out There?

Starting a new blog reminds me of scientists sending light beacons into space hoping to contact aliens from far off planets.  You're not sure who, if anyone or anything, has seen the message.

This Shark Bites blog, brought to you by DART, for DART, and exclusively about DART, represents a DART beacon.  (By the way, that sets a new record for using the acronym DART in one sentence, and represents a challenge for future posts.)  I'm not sure who's out there.

That's where you can help.  If any people, aliens or other life forms happen to see this blog, and have some interest in the DART swim team, please return the beacon.  A five segment audio/light sequence, a la the Close Encounters movie would work ... or you could type a comment to this post, by clicking the post title.

Comments like "Hello" and "I'm here" would work, but you could also ask a question, make a suggestion or give feedback.

By the Numbers

DART has 62 active members ...

35 Girls, 27 Boys

23 New Members (13 girls, 10 boys)
39 Returning Members (22 girls, 17 boys)

Age     Girls     Boys
-----     -----     -----
  6         2          0
  7         2          1
  8         1          1
  9         5          5
10         6          3
11         7          4
12         7          3
13         2          5
14         2          4
15         0          1
16         1          1

Practice Group     Girls     Boys
------------------      -----      -----
Bronze 2x               7          6
Bronze 4x               4          1
Silver 3x                11       11
Silver 5x                  0         1
Advanced Silver      8         3
Gold                       5         5

Aging Up

No active DART swimmers were born in the second half of September, so let's look back and wish a Happy Belated Birthday to the September babies we missed.

Spencer Goff started out the group turning 11 on the 1st day of the month.  It's always good to be first.

Shaylee Neil also turned 11, on the 5th.  Welcome to the 11-12 age group Shaylee.

Kaden Matua celebrated his 10th birthday just 3 days later on the 8th.

Eli Edward Blanchard jumped to the 13-14 age group on September 12th.  Happy 13th Eli.

Sandpiper Pumpkin Invite Meet

The next meet on DART's meet schedule is in Las Vegas on October 25-27 (Friday-Sunday).

Who should go?  All DART swimmers, even the very youngest, looking to compete for their first time, can swim in this meet.  All Las Vegas teams follow a common meet format that includes a 5-8 age group with 25 yard events.  They also offer the usual 10&under, 11-12, 13-14 and senior age groups.  The meet is big enough that each age group draws swimmers of all levels, from novice to experienced.

Why should you go?  DART has limited opportunities to swim locally.  There are literally only 4-5 sanctioned meets offered all year in Southern Utah.  Las Vegas is the next closest location.  We should take advantage of every available opportunity to swim without traveling 300+ miles.

What is the downside?  Younger swimmers (10 and under) and 11-12 year old boys swim in the morning sessions, leaving the 11-12 year old girls to warm up with the high school aged swimmers in the afternoon.  While all their races would be against other 11-12 girls, warming up in a crowded lane of high school swimmers can be an adventure ... fair warning.

The other potential downside is for families who don't swim on Sunday.  Out of state weekend meets typically are Saturday-Sunday format.  Las Vegas is close enough for a one-day meet, however.

The DARTs

What's in a name ...

According to the by-laws on the DART website, the team's official name is Dixie Aquatics Race Team, Inc.  While that may very well be the legally adopted name upon incorporation a few years ago, it is incorrect.  Twenty-six years ago, or so, the team had been founded under the name Dixie Aquatic Racing Team ... that's no "s" on Aquatic, and with an "ing" on the Race part.  The acronym, when pronounced phonetically, also included a leading "the" and a trailing "s", as in "the DARTs".  No Sharks were involved, I believe. 

Somehow, through the years and many team leaders, the name evolved was bastardized.  We lost an "s", gained a different "s", forgot a "the", added sharks, and misplaced an "ing".  Perhaps, to the founders and an entire era of alumni, we owe an apology.

Whether we are the DARTs or DART Sharks, we are who we have always been, a small band of dedicated athletes, coaches and parents striving for excellence in the sport of swimming.