2013 TSA Championship Meet Entry/Waiver/Payment Reminder

Hi Everyone,

We are at the half way point of the TSA regular season and I just wanted to send out a reminder to get started on your 2013 TSA Championship Meet Entries.

Just a couple reminders:

1.)    The deadline for entries is Wednesday July 10^th at 4PM. Please email me the entry file you created following the “How to use Team Manager” document  using Hytek Team Manager Lite.

2.)    Payment and Waivers are due Friday July 12^th  at 7PM. Please make entry payment check out to Triangle Aquatic Center and turn into the front desk at Triangle Aquatic Center during regular business hours. Every swimmer must fill out a waiver or they will not swim.

I hope you are all having a great season thus far!

Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns!

 

Thanks!

2013 TSA Championship Volunteer Assignments

Hi Everyone,

I hope your week 2 swim meets went great!

As mentioned in the meet information and previous emails when your team attends the TSA Championship you will be asked to provide 1-2 Timers per session and 1 stroke and turn judge per session. In the morning session the Saturday Teams are allowed 2 kid pushers per team, the Sunday teams are allowed 4 kid pushers per team.

Below is how we will break down the assignments for Timers and Stroke and Turn Judges.

Once you have assigned your Stroke and Turn, Timers and Kid Pushers please email me jlefever@triangleaquatics.org the names and position of your assigned volunteers with “TSA Volunteers” and your team name in the subject line on the email.

ASSIGNMENTS ARE DUE on MONDAY JULY 15^TH @ 4PM

Saturday Teams:

ALL Teams with 10 or MORE swimmers participating on Saturday are asked to supply 1-2 Timers and 1 Stroke and Turn Judge per session.

ALL Teams with 9 or FEWER swimmers  participating on Saturday are not required to bring Timers or Stroke and Turn Judge.

You are allowed 2 Kid Pushers during the AM Session only.

Sunday Teams:

All Northern League teams participating on Sunday provide: 1-2 Timer and 1 Stroke and Turn Judge for both Sessions.

All Southern League teams participating on Sunday provide: 1-2 Timers and 1 Stroke and Turn Judge for both Sessions.

You are allowed 4 Kid Pushers during the AM session only.

 

Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns!

Thanks!

Marlins of Raleigh registration has opened for 2013-14

The Marlins Of Raleigh Swim Team is now taking registrations for the 2013-2014 swim season which begins Sept. 3.  The Marlins of Raleigh (MOR) are the 2008, 2011, 2013 State Senior Champions and the highest ranked swim team in the Triangle in USA Swimming's National Virtual Club Championships ranking in the top 25 out of over 2700 teams in the US.  MOR has had 14 swimmers compete at the US  Olympic Trials and one swimmer compete in the 2008 Olympic Games.

    Our eight full-time coaches are the most experienced in NC with over 140 years coaching experience and are the top instructors of technique in the area.  4 have been head swim coaches and have had swimmers ranked #1 in the US.  We have had six NC Coach of the Year Awards bestowed on our staff.  11 of our swimmers achieved USA Swimming Scholastic All-American status combining academics and swimming accomplishments which was the highest in the Triangle. 

    MOR started with 6 swimmers in 2001 and has grown to 500 through developing swimmers from the TSA summer league teams.  We bring our team to you with 3 great convenient locations:

• Raleigh/Cary
• N. Raleigh
• Clayton

    With the most recognized coaching staff in the area, hard working swimmers focusing on their goals and supportive parents, MOR is clearly Better.  

    To register, go to www.marlinsofraleigh.com  today.  Register early as we had to cap our practice groups last year.  For more information call 919-851-3000.

   

TAC Titans registration is now open

 

USA SWIMMING'S TAC TITANS 2013-2014 REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN!

 

The vision of a unified year-round swim team fully aligned with a state-of-the art home pool facility providing public access to quality health, safety, recreation and competition aquatic programming for Triangle citizens has been part of the Triangle Aquatic Center’s (“TAC”) long-term vision from its inception in 2002. On April 8th, 2013, the TITANS began a journey of excellence and the fulfillment of the long-term vision that will provide a progression of infant through senior health, safety, recreation and competition aquatic programming that will benefit swimmers, parents, coaches and the Triangle community.

Vertically integrating and aligning life-saving learn to swim programs into the TITANS Tracks year-round swim team (Preparatory - Challenge – Elite) within its own home pool facility, the clean and quality $15 mil Triangle Aquatic Facility, will better promote the health and safety benefits of swimming and allow each child to grow and compete based on their individual abilities and level of passion.

TAC believes that joining together around a unified vision and common set of goals to promote and build competitive swimming in the Triangle to heights it has never achieved before will yield valuable benefits for the children, parents, coaches and the Triangle community. There are many good aquatic organizations in the Triangle but TAC, and now the TITANS, are on a focused and passionate aquatic journey where the only acceptable destination is great!

 

We invite all swimmers in the Triangle to join in the mission and unified vision of TAC and the TAC TITANS and 

become part of the journey to greatness. COME CHECK US OUT AT www.tactitans.org. Evaluations will begin in July for appropriate group levels assignments.

The 2013 list of approved Stroke and Turn Judges is now available.

Hello TSA Reps -

I hope everyone is gearing up and ready for a great summer swim season with the Tarheel Swimming Association!

I wanted to pass on to you that the 2013 list of approved Stroke and Turn judges is available here: http://www.tsanc.org/documents/ZIP/StrokeAndTurnJudges2013.xls

The spreadsheet will be updated throughout the season, so if you have any updates or changes, please send them to the strokeandturn.tsanc.org@gmail.com address.  When sending updates, please remember to list:

·         Stroke and Turn judge name
·         What club they represent
·         Where they are certified (USA Swimming, NCHSAA, etc), and their certification number.

Please take some time to look over the spreadsheet to ensure that your club and judges are accurately listed.  There are a number of clubs who currently do not have any certified Stroke and Turn officials.  It is important for every club to have certified Stroke and Turn officials. If your club does not have any, you can still get them certified at www.strokeandturn.com.  Prior to each Tuesday’s meet, I will update the list with any additional certifications for people who have passed the online certification.

 One item of note: if your club has Stephen Mollot as a volunteer, can you please send me an email (strokeandturn.tsanc.org@gmail.com) letting me know what club he is a volunteer for?  Somehow, his club name did not get saved to his online certification test.

 Best of luck for a great 2013 season!

 

Fast water,

Todd Blandford

2013 TSA Championship Meet Post#2

TSA Reps and Coaches,

You can find the Meet File for the 2013 TSA Championship Meet as well as Meet Information now posted under the 2013 TSA Champs tab at www.triangleaquatics.org  Please review the meet information carefully.

A few reminders as you complete your team entries.

 

1) Remember – SATURDAY TEAMS:  EVENTS 101-166,   SUNDAY TEAMS:  EVENTS 201-266.

 

2) 6 & Unders swimmers - please adjust their times for 25 yards by multiplying by 1.7

 
3) Please identify your team in the subject line when emailing.  If you have not sent me 3 email addresses that will be used to send all future information, please do so as soon as possible.
 
4) You will receive your volunteer INSTRUCTIONS shortly. We are using an online signup form this year. Each team is asked to provide 2 timers (larger teams 2 timers per session) or clerk of course volunteers, at least 1 stroke & turn official and each team may have 2 “kid pushers” for the morning sessions.
 

5) WAIVERS - Every swimmer entered must have one!  Please alphabetize these before turning in.  They can be mailed or dropped off at TAC.

 

6) Design a team sign or poster.  Each morning, the teams will meet in the parking lot and enter the pool together.  Display your sign so swimmers can find you and it can be used on deck also.

7) Email or call if you have any question!

Thanks!

Buy a mattress (or bedding) and support your swim team and TSA

We are excited to introduce our newest sponsor, The Organic Bedroom. Located in the Oak Park Shopping Center off Glenwood Avenue in Raleigh, the store will donate 6% of the purchase price to your TSA team and 3% to TSA. This is a great offer for both our organization and your summer team.  It lasts till the end of the summer league season.

Store owners Joey and Vicki Ashley are TSA parents. Their children, Mary and Alex, swim for the Oak Park swim team. Both children started swimming with the Piranhas when they were 4. Joey is the team’s announcer and Vicki is the new TSA Rep.  “Summer League swimming has had a positive impact on the children and our family,’’ says Vicki, adding, “The whole family participates.’’ After honing their skills with the Piranhas, the children also now swim for the YMCA of the Triangle year-round swim team.

The Ashleys opened their store last year and carry mattresses made with natural, chemical-free, materials such as latex, wool and cotton. They also stock organic bedding (including bamboo), pillows, mattress protectors, mattress toppers and pads, along with platform beds and cribs. “We sell the highest qualities brands in organic bedding including Savvy Rest, Royal-Pedic, WJ Southard and Suite Sleep,’’ says Vicki adding, “All of our products have been selected by us to provide a high level of comfort, high quality and at prices comparable to major retailers.

The store is located at 5230 Hollyridge Drive in Raleigh, just off Glenwood Avenue, a mile northwest of Crabtree Valley Mall. Visit online at www.theorganicbedroom.com or call 919-521-5566.

Draft minutes of May meeting available for review

Minutes of the May Board of Directors meeting are now available for review. Please contact me if you spot any errors or omissions so that corrections can be made before the next meeting.

Clinics Update

Clinics Update:  The final coaches clinic location has been changed to accommodate the anticipated clubs (50) who will need to attend the clinic. 

The final Starter's Clinic will be held on Saturday, May 25th at Silverton in Cary. 

The last  Stroke and Turn clinic, June 3rd, location has been changed to the Stonebridge club house which is located on Emerywood Drive in Raleigh.

** We are in need of projectors for the coaches and stroke and turn clinics. If you have access to a projector please contact me.

2013 TSA Clinic Schedule (remainder)

STARTER:

May 25th (Saturday), 9:00 am at Silverton 
 COACHES: 
May 30th (Thursday) 7:00 pm at Jewish Community Center- NOTE LOCATION CHANGE
 STROKE & TURN: 
May 23rd (Thursday) 7:00 pm Lochmere Highlands 
May 23rd (Thursday) 7:00 pm Planter's Walk 
June 3rd (Monday) 7:00 pm Stonebridge- clubhouse on Emerywood Drive- NOTE LOCATION CHANGE

COACHES CLINICS are MANDATORY. Per the TSA rules at least one coach from each team must attend. The clinics committee would like to encourage all coaches to attend. Please communicate this to your coaches. In response to feedback we are doing a complete makeover for 2013 coaches clinic sessions. These clinics will be useful and informative for ALL coaches. 

STARTERS CLINICS are not mandatory but are essential to running a smooth, fast and efficient meet. Starters can find very helpful documents on the TSA web site; see: Starter Event Form, Starter Script, Starter Clinic Summary and Starter How-To's.

MEET MANAGEMENT: If you are new to TSA and want to learn more about how to run an efficient meet, plan on attending the meet management session that will be held Tuesday, May 21st at TAC immediately following the conclusion of the 7:00 TSA Board of Directors meeting. 

STROKE & TURN CLINICS: Attending a Stoke and Turn Clinic is required each year for anyone in your club who will be serving as a stroke and turn judge unless they obtain certification online (see below) or can claim exemption from TSA training because they are already certified as a Stroke and Turn Judge by USA Swimming, YMCA, NCHSAA or NCAA. Judges claiming this exemption must register with TSA each year by sending details of their external certification, along with their name and the name of their TSA team, to strokeandturn.tsanc.org@gmail.com. Please do NOT send email to that address if you attend a TSA clinic or use the online training method, as TSA will already have a record of your certification.

Alternative method of certifying Stroke & Turn Judges:www.StrokeAndTurn.com

AVAILABLE NOW!

• Course is offered completely online and may be taken at user’s convenience, including stopping at any point and resuming later, repeating sections, etc.
• Certification takes about two hours to complete, including post-training exam
• Training and exam both use video clips extensively
• Exam grade of 80 percent or better is required to pass
• User must pay $12.95 fee to take course; each team can decide on its own whether to reimburse judges who use this
• Based on USA Swimming rules, so there are only a few minor differences from TSA:
• Covers Individual Medley, which TSA does not use
• Some sections about officials refer to the Head Judge and Meet Referee, posts which don’t exist separately in TSA (the two TSA Reps, acting jointly, are the only officials in charge of Stroke & Turn Judges at a TSA meet)

Note that this is an alternative option for certification and is not required!

OTHER INFO: The clinics committee would like to create a short video on how to run clerk of course. If you believe that your team does a great job at clerk of course and is willing to contribute to the video please contact me.

If there are any teams out there that are organizing clinics on their own and would like to open them up to other teams please contact me.

May TSA Reps Meeting

The TSA Board of Director meeting is scheduled for this Tuesday, May 21st, 7 p.m. at the Triangle Aquatic Center. Please review the agenda and last meeting's minutes. If you are planning to stay for the Meet Management Clinic (encouraged for all new TSA Reps), please review the rulebook prior to attending.

2013 TSA Championship Meet Posting #1

TSA Reps and Coaches,

You are receiving this email because you are listed as a team representative.  It contains a few IMPORTANT items that need your attention as you complete your team entries for this years’ meet.

1) Please email me, J.P. Lefever, with any questions you may have with your entry process.  START EARLY! The meet information should have most answers and the “How to Use TM” will help with the entries. (Both of these documents will be included in my next posting). Remember – SATURDAY TEAMS: EVENTS 101-166   &   SUNDAY TEAMS: EVENTS 201-266.

2)  The “Important Dates” file which lists deadlines for receiving information. Will be posted on the TAC website by the start of next week or can be found in an email I sent out 5 minutes ago.

3) The “Heat Sheet Ad/Sponsorship” form.  Please share with your team families and earn something back to your team. Will be posted on the TAC website by the start of next week or can be found in an email I sent out 5 minutes ago.

4) The “Meet Waiver” form that MUST BE filled out and signed for every swimmer you have entered in the meet and is due by July 12^th.   Please alphabetize these before turning in. Will be posted on the TAC website by the start of next week or can be found in an email I sent out 5 minutes ago.

5)  Please send an additional 3 email addresses that will be used to send all future information as soon as possible.  WHEN EMAILING, ALWAYS, PLEASE IDENTIFY YOUR TEAM IN THE SUBJECT LINE. We are counting on you to communicate the important information to your families as we give it to you.

6) Each team is asked to provide 2 timers (larger teams 2 timers per session) or clerk of course volunteers,  2 stroke & turn officials (1 per session) and each team will be able to have 2 “kid pushers” for the morning sessions with the 10 & Under swimmers.  Your team session assignment will be sent in the next “Info Email”

7) Each morning, the teams will meet in the parking lot and enter the pool together.  You may design a “Spirit Sign” or poster to display so swimmers can find your team and can be used on deck in your team area also.

That’s enough for now. Give yourself plenty of time to complete your entries.

Thanks,
JP Lefever

Coaches' Clinic

Dear TSA Reps,

The Coaches' Clinic speakers would like to hear from the COACHES!  Please ask your coaches what questions and or topics they would like covered at the clinics. We are asking for the TSA Reps to have their coaches send their questions to Taylor Blanton. As an incentive for all of the coaches to attend a clinic, there will be door prizes awarded at the end of each of the coaches' clinics!

Please remember that the clinics are starting NEXT weekend, May 11th.  We begin with the "mega clinic" being held at TAC. Kindly refer to the clinics schedule for details.

Thanks,

Debra Ryan

KIT–Kids in Training – 11 years of Keeping Kids, and their Families, FIT

Triathlons, Duathlons, Adventure Races and DaKITalon for kids ages 5-17.

Also check out ClubKIT for year-round activities for the whole family.

June 9 - KIT Adventure Race - Harris Lake - parent/child or 2 teens Canoe/Bike/Run
 

June 23, Aug 3 & Aug 18 - KIT Triathlon – Fuquay, Raleigh & Cary – Swim/Bike/Run
 

*Remember to register at least a month before the races to dodge the late fees, participate in the training sessions and make sure you get all your race swag. Training and swag included in registration.

Visit our website for more events and information and to join our email list or email us. 

25 meter lane ropes for sale

We have four 25-meter lane ropes, brand new in solid dark blue.  Specifics can be found about them here.

Please contact Beth if you are interested.

Wahoo Water Camps

Established in 1960, Raleigh Swimming Association (RSA) is the oldest competitive swim club in the Triangle.

After a great success last year, RSA will again be offering day camps for summer swimmers! Wahoo Water Camps are a great way for swimmers to prepare for their summer season. With a strong focus on fun, participants learn water safety and improve their stroke technique through various games and activities, led by RSA Coach Matt Wallace.

The camps were inspired by RSA’s more well known RSA in May program, which was designed as a stroke “refresher” course for athletes who participate in summer league swimming.  Wahoo Water Camps go a step further by adding water safety instruction. According to the Drowning Prevention Foundation, as many as 19% of drowning deaths involving children occur in public pools with certified lifeguards present. 

With this taken into account, RSA felt that it was necessary to provide some sort of instruction to youths who spend many summer of their days near water on how to be safe while at the pool.

This year, the Wahoo Water Camp program will be offered from 8am-12pm Monday through Thursday at a new location, the Morrisville Fitness and Aquatic Center. To better accommodate working parents’ schedules, athlete drop-off will start at 7:30 am, and can be arranged to be earlier if needed. The camps will be held June 3rd through the 6th for Track 1, May 13th through the 16th for Track 2, and June 11th through the 14th for Traditional and Track 1 students. The cost of the camp is $130 if you sign up more than two weeks in advance.

Visit the RSA Website or “like” us on Facebook for more information.

2013 TSA Clinic Schedule

STARTER:
May 11th (Saturday), 8:00 am at TAC
May 14th, (Tuesday), 7:00 pm at Stonebridge - clubhouse on Emerywood Drive
May 25th (Saturday), 9:00 am at Silverton
 COACHES:
May 11th (Saturday) 11:30 am at TAC
May 30th (Thursday) 7:00 pm at Stonebridge- clubhouse on Emerywood Drive
 STROKE & TURN:
May 11th (Saturday), 9:30 am at TAC
May 23rd (Thursday) 7:00 pm Lochmere Highlands
May 23rd (Thursday) 7:00 pm Planter's Walk
June 3rd (Monday) 7:00 pm Jewish Community Center

COACHES CLINICS are MANDATORY. Per the TSA rules at least one coach from each team must attend. The clinics committee would like to encourage all coaches to attend. Please communicate this to your coaches. In response to feedback we are doing a complete makeover for 2013 coaches clinic sessions. These clinics will be useful and informative for ALL coaches.

STARTERS CLINICS are not mandatory but are essential to running a smooth, fast and efficient meet. Starters can find very helpful documents on the TSA web site; see: Starter Event Form, Starter Script, Starter Clinic Summary and Starter How-To's.

MEET MANAGEMENT: If you are new to TSA and want to learn more about how to run an efficient meet, plan on attending the meet management session that will be held Tuesday, May 21st at TAC immediately following the conclusion of the 7:00 TSA Board of Directors meeting. 

STROKE & TURN CLINICS: Attending a Stoke and Turn Clinic is required each year for anyone in your club who will be serving as a stroke and turn judge unless they obtain certification online (see below) or can claim exemption from TSA training because they are already certified as a Stroke and Turn Judge by USA Swimming, YMCA, NCHSAA or NCAA. Judges claiming this exemption must register with TSA each year by sending details of their external certification, along with their name and the name of their TSA team, to strokeandturn.tsanc.org@gmail.com. Please do NOT send email to that address if you attend a TSA clinic or use the online training method, as TSA will already have a record of your certification.

Alternative method of certifying Stroke & Turn Judges: www.StrokeAndTurn.com

AVAILABLE NOW!

• Course is offered completely online and may be taken at user’s convenience, including stopping at any point and resuming later, repeating sections, etc.
• Certification takes about two hours to complete, including post-training exam
• Training and exam both use video clips extensively
• Exam grade of 80 percent or better is required to pass
• User must pay $12.95 fee to take course; each team can decide on its own whether to reimburse judges who use this
• Based on USA Swimming rules, so there are only a few minor differences from TSA:
• Covers Individual Medley, which TSA does not use
• Some sections about officials refer to the Head Judge and Meet Referee, posts which don’t exist separately in TSA (the two TSA Reps, acting jointly, are the only officials in charge of Stroke & Turn Judges at a TSA meet)

Note that this is an alternative option for certification and is not required!

OTHER INFO: The clinics committee would like to create a short video on how to run clerk of course. If you believe that your team does a great job at clerk of course and is willing to contribute to the video please contact me.

If there are any teams out there that are organizing clinics on their own and would like to open them up to other teams please contact me.

 

CHECK THE BLOG FOR UPDATES AS THE SEASON GROWS CLOSER

TSA Night at Kast-A-Way Swimwear

Draft minutes of March meeting available for review

Minutes of the March Board of Directors meeting are now available for review. Please contact me if you spot any errors or omissions so that corrections can be made before the next meeting.

Titans Stroke Clinics at TAC

With summer swim league right around the corner, make sure you swimmers are prepared! Triangle Aquatic Center in partnership with TAC TITANS is offering TITANS STROKE CLINICS. The clinic runs for 5 weeks and will be focusing on different strokes each week with the last week covering flip turns and diving. If you have any questions about the clinics please contact Aquatics Manager TJ Roebock.

Make sure you register today because spots are filling up! 

flyer attached:

TPAWL looking for an Assistant Coach

The Park at West Lake is a fun community located in Cary, close to Middle Creek High School. We are in need of a great assistant coach who can transition to head coach next year. Our team looks to be close to 80 swimmers this year. Our experienced head coach will assist in mentoring you this year to possibly become the head coach next year. The season runs from late May to late July. Must be able to teach stroke and turn fundamentals as well as racing preparedness while maintaining a fun, enjoyable team-oriented environment. CPR certification required. If interested, please send your response to tpawlstingrays@gmail.com .