Regional Age Group - Notice Board: September 2013

Monday, 30 September 2013

1st Bag Pack of the Season

Hi All,

I would just like to say a big well done all the swimmers and grandparents who helped out at the Bag Bag held at Morrisons yesterday. The bag pack turned out to be great fun and a brilliant success raising £800 for club funds. Money from these fundraising days will be spent on events like the Welsh Nationals and also team buses to events such as Junior and Arena League .

This is a great start to the season and the supporters committee would like to congratulate and thank everyone one who took part.

Kevin, Tom S, Josh, Scott & Tom B

Wednesday, 25 September 2013

Junior League Tickets - Northern Final

Hi All,

Tickets to watch the Northern Final are now on sale. They can be purchased from Emma Ferriman (Ellie & Eve Jones Mum) on the balcony at a cost of £4. Due to limited seating there will only be 1 ticket per swimmer (of which there are 42 selected). If you would like an extra seat please request to be entered in the lottery draw for one of the remaining 10 tickets.

Kevin, Tom S, Josh, Scott & Tom B

Monday, 23 September 2013

Arena League Round 1

Date: Saturday 12th October

Venue: Ponds Forge, Sheffield

Arrive: 4.30 pm

Warm Up: 5:00 pm

Start: 5.30 pm

Please can the following swimmers confirm their availability to Craig Robinson (craig.robinson@leeds.org.uk).

Regional 1

Jamie Broome

Charlotte Gibbs

Regional 2

Joseph Hawkins

Robert Shillito

Rebecca Clynes

Thanks

Kevin, Tom S, Josh, Scott & Tom B

White Rose Junior League (Northern Final)

Date: Sunday 6th October

Venue: John Charles

Arrive: 09:40

Warm Up: 10:00

Can the following swimmers please confirm their availability to Craig Robinson (craig.robinson@leeds.gov.uk) by Wednesday 25th September

Regional 1

Zak Moran

Nathan Russell

George Smith

Nealsen Orange

Matthew Walker

Charlotte Gibbs

Joanna Bingham

Eve Jones

Regional 2

Jonathan Milner

Joseph Hawkins

Robert Shillito

Jacob Braithwaite

Daniel Jones

Joseph Turner

Rebecca Clynes

Ella Cowan

Phoebe Dawson

Jessica Teale

Holly Anderson

Thanks

Kevin, Tom S, Josh, Scott & Tom B

Wednesday, 18 September 2013

Bag Pack

Hi All,

Just a reminder that the the first bag pack of the season will take place on Sunday 29th September (11am - 3pm) at Hunslet Morrison's.

The February bag pack was great fun and a brilliant success raising over £1000 for club funds. Fundraising is the best way to keep events like the Welsh Nationals affordable and also helps pay for team buses to events such as Junior and Arena League . Last season the supporters committee donated £4000 to the cost of Wales from fundraising.

If you are free on Sunday please get involved and help raise funds for future events . We are asking for each child (with a parent) to give up just 1 hour to help.

Places are limited so please register your support now. If you would like to take part in the bag pack please sign your name on the form posted on the City of Leeds notice board.

For any additional information please contact:

Liz Rogers

07534467348

lizhrogers@hotmail.co.uk

Thank you

The Supporters Committee

Kicking & Ankle Flexibility

Hi All,

Some of you may be interested in the following video showing what children can do to improve their kick.

Genetically some kids are better suited to kicking than others, but there are things that can help; and yes ankle and foot flexibility is a big part of that.

The following youtube link has the most basic stretch that can be performed on the living room floor whilst watching TV.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7m271f0CTms

This video focuses more on ankle flexibility. Foot flexibility is also important and can be done by simply reaching behind and pulling the toes upward whilst in the above stretch. If you can't sit down fully without pain, then you could place a cushion on the calves and sit on it.

This is one of those opportunities where parent's can get on board with helping with their children's kicking. These stretches should be performed at least 3-4 times per week. Any less and there will not be noticeable improvement over the coming months.

Kevin, Tom S, Josh, Scott & Tom B

Thursday, 12 September 2013

Junior League - Round 1

Well done to all swimmers who competed in the Junior League at Harrogate last Saturday. After an exciting afternoon of racing we were crowned the winners of the first round. The next round of the Junior League is the Northern Final which will be held at John Charles on Sunday 6th of October. This is our fourth year in the competition and after winning three years in a row it would be great to storm through the next round and defend our title by winning the National Final.

Round 1 Results

1st: City of Leeds = 320 Points

2nd: Borough of Kirklees = 252 Points

3rd: City of Sheffield = 216 Points

4th: Doncaster Dartes = 187 Points

5th: York = 150 Points

6th: Kingston Upon Hull = 145 Points

7th: Harrogate = 108 Points

Swimmers who competed will need to make themselves available to swim again for the team at John Charles on the morning of Sunday 6th October.

Well Done Everyone!

Keep focusing on great takeovers and finishes during training ready for the Northern Final.

Kevin, Tom S, Elysha, Josh, Scott & Tom B

Wednesday, 11 September 2013

City of Leeds October Grand Prix Meet (25m)

Hi All,

Entries for above meet held at John Charles on the 26 & 27 October will be taken on Monday 16th September and Monday 23rd September by Ophelia in the Denison Suite.

This meet is on the Regional Squad calendar and all squad members are expected to enter. Swimmers are advised to enter all 50m events, 200 IM, 100 Fly & 100 BR plus any events of your choice which you do not have Yorkshire or North Eastern Qualifying times in. If you have already achieved a Yorkshire or North Eastern time in these events do not enter them again at this meet, pick a race you have not qualified in.

Information can be found below by clicking on the link;

Event Schedule & Entry Form

Please remember this is a short course meet. Times can be converted using the online converter below. If you are entering a converted time please state so in brackets on the entry form.

Course Converter

Any new swimmers who do not have an entry time for a particular event can get one by following the instructions below;

Standard Times Formula

Coaches will start signing forms for this meet from Wednesday night.

Kevin, Tom S, Josh, Scott & Tom B

Thursday Am Training

Hi All,

From this Thursday onwards Regional squads will have the pool available until 7am. Any swimmers that attend Thursday am and would like to stay in until 7am are welcome to do so from this week. When moving up from Regional to National Age Group all mornings will be 5am - 7am, taking up the offer will provide a great opportunity to practice swimming 2 hours long course on a morning before you move up.

Kevin, Tom S, Josh, Scott & Tom B

BAG PACKING!

Let's give this Year's Fundraising a Kick Start

Sunday 29th September 11am - 3pm

Hunslet Morrison's

Penny Hill Centre, Church Street,

Hunslet, LS10

The February bag pack raised over £1000 for club funds so let's start raising earlier in the season. Places are limited so please register your support now. If you would like to take part in the bag pack please sign your name on the form posted on the City of Leeds notice board.

For any additional information please contact:

Liz Rogers

07534467348

lizhrogers@hotmail.co.uk

Regional Staff

I am sad to inform you that Elysha Wallis will be leaving the City of Leeds at the end of the month due to work commitments. Elysha has coached with the City of Leeds for 8 years and has been a great asset to the Regional groups over the last 2 seasons. I would like to thank Elysha for all her help and hard work and I am sure she will be missed.

I would like to welcome to the team Scott Sanderson who will be assisting on Regional 1. Scott is a Lifeguard and Swimming Teacher at John Charles and also coaches the Masters. Also joining us will be Tom Braginton who will assist Regional 1 & 2. Tom has swum with the City of Leeds for many years and has just started coaching. I hope you will all make them feel very welcome.

Kevin, Tom S, Josh, Scott & Tom B

Tuesday, 3 September 2013

Yorkshire Championships Entries

Entries for the Winter Yorkshire Short Course Championships at Ponds Forge will be taken by Ophelia on Monday 9th September. Swimmers should enter all the events they have qualified for. We will be available to sign forms after training on Thursday am, Friday pm, Sunday pm and Monday am. Please remember to get all entry forms to us before Monday pm as we will be coaching from 4.30pm.

Yorkshire Championships Entry Form

Yorkshire Championships Event Schedule & Qualifying Times

Thanks

Kevin, Tom, Josh & Elysha

Monday, 2 September 2013

National Junior League - White Rose Gala

Date: Saturday 7th September

Venue: Harrogate Hydro

Arrive: 04:50pm

Warm Up: 05:20pm

A kind reminder that the Team needs to be at Harrogate Hydro on Saturday 7^th September for 5:00pm. It is essential we have everyone together on time to minimise disruption to team changes. Once a team change has been made because of a late arrival or absence it is improbable that the team can be changed back.

Please ensure your child has Team Kit for the event, not only is this effective for our management of the team but we like to blind our enemies with a blaze of yellow. Therefore if you have not purchased any team kit yet, please ensure you do so from the club shop on Monday 2nd September.

As with all City of Leeds Team events, please respect that we are there as one, and children should, win or lose, remain at the end to cheer their team… as should you.

Supporting parents please remember your hats, wigs, horns, face paints etc. The louder you cheer the faster the swimmers will go.

Kevin, Tom, Josh & Elysha

Sunday Training

Just a reminder that from now on Sunday's training for both Regional Squads will be at JCC 1600-1800 (Long Course).

Kevin, Tom, Josh & Elysha

Welsh Summer Nationals Photos

Hi All,

For those swimmers that went to the Welsh Summer I have uploaded the photos for you all to have a look at. A big thankyou to Lizzie Coombes for taking them all.

Please click the link below to view.

Enjoy!

Welsh Summer Nationals 2013

Kevin, Tom, Josh & Elysha

Welcome Back!

Hi All,

Welcome back to training, hope you all had a nice restful break. The hard work will start again very soon.

At the moment we will be working hard on perfecting the skills and stroke techniques, like they were just before we broke up. The quicker the skills are in place again the quicker we can get to the hard stuff.

It was great to see so many of you at the first morning session of the season, we were very impressed.

Just a reminder that land training will start tonight with Regional 1.

Kevin, Tom, Josh & Elysha

Quote Bank!

"Kevin!, On the whole I think C Central have swum absolutely fantastic this year". Jacob Butterfield - C Central.

"Winners are not people who never fail, but people who never quit"

"I wouldn't say anything is impossible. I think that everything is possible as long as you put your mind to it and put the work and time into it". Michael Phelps.

"Train insane, or remain the same".

"Dream. Believe. Achieve".

"You can't put a limit on anything. The more you dream, the farther you get". Michael Phelps.

"I can definitely take more off my world record - a lot more. I have no doubt about that. I'm by no means putting pressure on myself, it's just the belief I have in myself ..... I'm not going to limit myself by nominating times or anything like that. I never thought I'd do 14:34 and I did. I thought I'd maybe do 14:38 or 14:39 that day, and I went nearly five seconds quicker so I don't want to limit the possibilities". Grant Hackett.

"In training everyone focuses on 90% physical and 10% mental, but in the races it's 90% mental because there's very little that seperates us physically at the elite level". Elka Graham.

"The hardest thing about climbing the ladder of success is getting through the crowd at the bottom".

"We need to create a way of working, and that's why I felt the need to set some rules. For example, we will all eat together, leave the table together - it is all about respecting each other. And being punctual is key". Fabio Capello.

"Unleash the Inner Beast!".

"Impossible is just a big word thrown around by small men who find it easier to live the world they've been given than to explore the power they have to change it. Impossible is not a fact. It's an opinion. Impossible is not a declaration. It's a dare. Impossible is potential. Impossible is temporary. Impossible is nothing". Muhammad Ali.

"Many people say you are as only good as your last race, but we know we are only as good as our next race!".

"It was not the 10 work outs I did every week for four years that allowed me to overcome my competitors, it was the ones that they missed". Graeme Smith (1996).

"It's how you prepare months before in the training pool that will determine your performance at the main event. Your ruthless attendance, quality and consistency of your training will serge you forward to a result you will be happy with!"

"Winning the Gold Medal was undoubtedly the biggest day of my career, mostly because I won the way I had prepared to run it. It was a totally satisfying experience". Frank Shorter (American Athlete, Olympic Gold Medalist) (Munich 1972).

"Go into the sport because you have fun doing it, not because of 'what if's' and dreams of gold medals. That way, no matter what happens, you win". Shannon Miller (American Gymnast, two time Olympic Gold Medalist) (Atlanta 1996).

"As the years go by I train physically harder and I am always trying to go faster, further and higher. I train seven days a week and at the end of the day, I'm pretty tired but I never wish I was anyone else. If I miss a days training I feel guilty and I know I should have done it. I'm conscientious and unless I have a very good reason to, I never miss a session. It seems unfair to train for years and miss days just for the hell of it, and if I ever start to skip days, I would realise my attitude was not right and it was time for me to finish". Olympic Champion.

"Have a clear goal in your head of where you want to be and never give up!".

"Remember what doesn't challenge you, doesn't change you!"

"Not a day goes past where I don't go to bed with aching limbs ..... I have lost friends over it ..... I have lost girlfriends because of it ..... My family hates it ..... The only person that understands it wants to beat me ..... But I love it more than anything in the world!"

"Don't let the fear of losing be greater than the excitement of winning". Robert Kiyosaki.

'Winning is great, sure, but if you are really going to do something in life, the secret is learning how to lose. Nobody goes undefeated all the time. If you can pick up after crushing defeat, and go on to win again, you are going to be a champion someday'. William Rudolph (American Athlete, three-time Olympic Gold medalist) (Rome 1960).

"It's been told that swimming is a wimp sport, but I don't see it. We don't get timeouts in the middle of a race; we can's stop and catch our breath; and we can't ask for a substitution".

"We can accomplish almost anything within our ability if we but think we can".

"In 2004 , I won a bronze. This is a silver. Maybe in 2012, it will be a gold. Slowly, slowly". Eliud Kipchoge (Kenyan Athelete, Olympic silver medalist) (Beijing 2008).

"I came out here to beat everybody in sight and that is exactly what I'm going to do. Sure, I can do anything". Mildred 'Babe' Didrikson (American Athlete, two-time Olympic gold medalist) (Los Angeles 1932).

"Before the (Olympic) trials I was doing a lot of relaxing exercises and visualisation. And I think that that helped me to get a feel of what it was going to be like when I got there. I knew that I had done everything that I could to get ready for that meet, both physically and mentally". Michael Phelps. (6 Gold Medals, 2004 Olympic Games).

"Success comes with determination to get up the morning after the hardest practice of your life and do it all over again!"

"There is nothing like the smell of chlorine in the morning, and nothing like the smell of victory in the evening"

"Enjoy the journey, enjoy every moment and quit worrying bout winning and losing". Matt Biondi. (American Swimmer, eight-time Olympic Gold Medalist, Los Angeles 1984, Seoul 1988, Barcelona 1992).

"You only get one shot, go out there and do your best". Chad le Clos (200m Butterfly Champion).

"No negative thoughts cross my mind on race day. When I look into their eyes, I know I'm going to beat them". Danny Harris. (American Athlete, Olympic Silver Medallist. Los Angeles 1984).

"When I go out and race, I'm not trying to beat opponents, I'm trying to beat what I have done ... to beat myself, basically. People find that hard to believe because we've had such a bias to always strive to win things. If you win something and you haven't put everything into it, you haven't actually achieved anything at all. When you've had to work hard for something and you've got the best you can out of yourself on that given day, that's where you get satisfaction from". Ian Thorpe.

"I concentrate on preparing to swim my race and let other swimmers think about me, not me about them". Amanda Beard.

"An athlete cannot race with money in his pockets. He must race with hope in his heart and dreams in his head". Emil Zatopek. (Four Time Olympic Gold Medallist).

"If you win something and you haven't put everything into it, you haven't actually achieved anything at all. When you've had to work for something and you've got the best you can out of yourself on that given day, that's where you get satisfaction from". Ian Thorpe. (Australian swimmer, five-time Olympic gold medallist. Sydney 2000, Athens 2004).

"No matter how you feel, get up, dress up, show up and never give up!".

"Push harder than yesterday if you want a different tomorrow".

"Champions train, losers complain".

"Success isn't overnight. It's when everyday you get a little better than the day before. It all adds up." Dwayne Johnson.

"Life is full of disappointments, failures and setbacks. None of those things can permanently stop you. You have the power to overcome anything that life throws at you. There is nothing as powerful as a made up mind. Surround yourself with people who remind you that you matter, and support you in the ways that matter most to you. No person, situation, or circumstance can define who you are. Don't give up. cave in, or stop believing that it's possible. It's not over until you win."