Week 7 Newsletter

Hello Rapids!

Wow, impressive results at the Summer Championship Meet this weekend! We finished 6th overall and 2nd place out of the summer teams. As coaches, we were very impressed with the 44 swimmers that represented the Rapids. League Champs is a very good indicator of how Lonestar will turn out so let's work really hard in the next week and a half to become the SUMMER STATE CHAMPIONS once again!

There is a lot of information that is going to come at you in the next two weeks so make sure you are checking the website and asking questions if you have them. Here is what you need to know for this week:

1. STROKE CLINIC will be starting this week and running Monday-Thursday from 7:30-8:15pm. Jessica will be coaching all week. All age groups welcome, sign up at the front desk before you get there tonight. Remember, 10 swimmer max, $40. Please take advantage of this before Lonestar!
2. INTERSQUAD MEET. Since our dual meet was cancelled, we will be holding an intersquad meet to get qual times for those swimmers who weren't able reach them through out the season. Everyone will be expected to swim, even if you have qualified an event. Please be keeping track of what events your swimmer still needs to qualify and have them available TOMORROW MORNING. If you have questions about this, please email richardson.rapids@hotmail.com. A top times spreadsheet has been placed in your swimmers folder so you can check your swimmers time to the Lonestar qual time (found in the meet info packet).
3. PEP RALLY. Come get excited for Lonestar with the team this Saturday at Hawaiian Falls Garland!! We have reserved a pavilion and a group rate of $10.99 per person. We will be meeting at the pavilions at 1pm to make team banners and spirit equiptment, eat snacks, and hang out. The team will provide snacks and drinks but if you'd like to bring your own food/drinks then you have to pay the additional cooler rate ($10). Come early and stay late: the park is open from 10:30am tp 7pm! Check your folder for flyer and directions.
4. SPAGHETTI DINNER. You do not want to miss our carb overload the night before Lonestar begins! Our 3rd annual spaghetti dinner is a pot-luck where you bring your favorite Italian dish. Starting next week, there will be a sign up at the box every morning at practice so please sign-up for what you'd like to bring. This is a really fun time, great food, and a lot of vauable information for Lonestar. If you are attending your first Lonestar, you do not want to miss this. We will eat together in the gym at 7pm and split the kids and adults after dinner. Flyers are available in your boxes.
5. LONESTAR. The big show-down is coming up and we want every possible swimmer to come help our team. It is a FOUR DAY MEET (July 24-27) with older kids in the morning, younger in the afternoon, and finals/relays at night. Remember, you must have had participated in 2 meets and optained qual times (9 and up only) to be eligible for the Lonestar State Meet. Entries are due TOMORROW @ 9AM after the intersquad meet is finished. Please e-mail us with specific questions!
6. TAPER. We will begin tapering for Lonestar on Wednesday of this week until Wednesday of next week. This means purely stroke work, starts, turns, and sprint workouts. By reducing the workload in the training plan, it allows the swimmer to perform optimally for shorter stretches of time as a result of a season’s worth of training. It’s like compressing everything learned throughout the season into one quick and successful winning race!While the physical effects of taper workouts for swimming are undeniable, tapering also offers positive mental effects as well. As a big competition nears, a swimmer must build their self-confidence and bolster their positive self-image in order to swim their best. By tapering their workout regime instead of powering towards the competition, athletes are given more time to relax and focus on each individual stroke. A clear mental picture is the first step towards a successful, race-winning stroke.
7. TEAM PICTURES. If you didn't get a chance to order the group team picture, there's still time. They are $7 for a 5x7. Please email futurestarsphoto@sbcglobal.net of your interested.

Thanks for your committment to the Richardson Rapids! Let's have a fun and focused week of practice.

Thanks,

Coaches