New England Swimming:  Coaches’ Meeting 3/2/02

 

I.                    Annual Meeting May 4th

A.     Need a new coaches’ Representative

1.                  Dan Ruvin from HYV

2.                  Mike (?) from BGSC

B.     Need a new Senior Chairman

1.                  Mike Spring from MVP

C.     Speaker suggestions

1.                  DeBruin from Montreal

2.                  Department of Recreation in Philadelphia

3.                  Bob Bowman

4.                  Ernie Maglisco

5.                  Nort Thornton

II.                 Zones – How can we do a better job?  Feedback and questions welcome

A.     More clothing and accessories for the team members

1.                  We can have warm-ups and shorts that are on loan from NES for the team to use every year.

2.                  We need more information on the website about the Zone meet to promote it to our swimmers earlier in the season.

3.                  Alternative Zone practice sites for those swimmers whose teams are done practicing before Zones:  Attleboro and North Shore Swim Club.

4.                  Is it possible to get all New England and USA Swimming Meets set for the same dates every year?  Zones is in conflict with YMCA Nationals.

5.                  It is expensive for swimmers to participate on the Zone team.  Can NES cover more of the cost?

III.               LSC Camps

A.     Catch the Spirit Camp on May 18th at Wellesley College.

B.     Should we offer more camps?

1.                  Swim camp in August between seasons.

2.                  Selective Camp with a visiting elite coach.

IV.              Short Course Season Feedback

A.     Eight and Unders – all positive about both sites

B.     9-12 Age groups – almost all positive including the cut times and the number of swimmers at the meet

1.                  The finals are going too fast

2.                  The swimmers need a short warm-down after each series of events

C.     District Championships

1.                  The majority of the coaches in the room want Districts to return to its previous position before Age Group championships.

a)                  We need a proper progression for the swimmers.

b)                  This allows the faster swimmers to maintain more pool time and more attention from the coaches.

c)                  Replace the qualifier with Districts

D.     Qualifier

1.                  Ray Grant noted that they are considering eliminating the qualifier

2.                  Coaches noted that the cut on times for the Qualifier should be slower than the District cut time

3.                  Mike Lane from OSS that he would like a second chance meet after Age Groups

E.      13 and Over Championships

1.                  Poor communication regarding the meet location, the meet bid and the options available

2.                  Mike (?) from BGSC noted that Bentley was available for the 13 and Older meet and BGSC was willing to run the meet, however the calendar committee told them that ABF was awarded the meet and would have to run it.

3.                  There is great confusion and concern over how this meet was awarded and if we did the best thing for the meet

F.      Other issues about the short course schedule

1.                  NEB and Northeastern should be fined for canceling their meets with such short notice

2.                  A policy about cancellation of meets and notification of teams should be in place within NES

3.                  Senior circuit of meets

4.                  Championships run by NES to prevent team issues