Happy Memorial Day (and Happy Race-Day Eve)!

I understand there are questions regarding how I put together the meet entries every week.  I'm going to explain it here as briefly as I can.  If you have questions, please, please, please don't hesitate to ask me directly.

Firstly, the ASA rules: 

• Every swimmer is allowed to swim a maximum of two individual events, one medley relay event, and one free relay event.  (More individual events are allowed if there are less than five swimmers in an age-group.).
• Swimmers can "swim up" in older age-groups for relays.
• Only swimmers in the first heat get Disqualified (DQ'd or "Deek'd").  (A DQ happens when they don't follow the established rules for a particular stroke.)
• Every swimmer gets a ribbon based on where they place in their heat.  (Unless they are in the first heat and get DQ'd.)

My number one goal?  (Keeping it fun, of course!)  Then:  Making sure every swimmer gets as many opportunities to race as possible! (And relative to that swimmer.)

My second goal:  Trying to put the Team in a position to win the meet.  I attempt to put kids in their favorite / best events, but that is not always possible.  When I'm building a line-up, especially when it comes to IM (one swimmer: fly-back-breast-free), butterfly, and medley relays (four swimmers, each swimming a leg of:  back-breast-fly-free), the Team may need them to swim their least favorite stroke.

A lot of weeks, I feel like MacGyver (and even more like MacGruber...).  There are lots of variables that go into my decisions:

Ability
Experience
Maturity
Consistency at practice
Motivation
Tolerance of cold water
Anxiety

The meets are supposed to be fun, but I will challenge a kid outside of their comfort zone.  (There is a lot of fun on the other side of accomplishing something they are not sure they are ready to do.)

In the end, it is always about keeping it fun and keeping them excited about the next opportunity.

Again, if you have questions, please reach out to me!

GO PIRANHAS!
Coach Marty