USMS Coaching Support at the 2008 World Masters Championships

Mark, It appears that you are really getting this organized. It would be helpful to send this same message electronically to LMSCs and Clubs for publishing in newsletters and on local websites. Betsy Durrant

2008 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP TRAINING CAMPS Come join us for team camaraderie at one of our several training camps. DATES AND LOCATIONS February 15, 16, 17, 18 Ft. Lauderdale Mission Viejo March 14, 15, 16, 17 Colorado Irvine/Mission Viejo - direct link to registration: www.clubassistant.com/.../reserve.cfm April 4, 5, 6, 7 Ft Lauderdale The training camp program is designed for dedicated Masters Swimmers who are committed to advancing their performances and skills. This program is offered to Masters Swimmers and coaches who will be attending the XII FINA World Championships in Perth. Pool time will be dedicated to conditioning and technique improvement. Swimmers will train in 50m pools and attend one to two workouts a day training and getting to know fellow swimmers and coaches. Attached is a pdf with more information on registration, schedules, fees, and description for the 2008 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP TRAINING CAMPS

I want to applaud USMS for putting in the effort to organize these camps...great job! Sadly I won't be attending the meet but might show up to one of the camps to harass the coaching staff!

Is USMS still doing all this? I thought the funding was pulled..

USMS 2008 FINA World Championship Team Member, 2008 USMS FINA Team merchandise is now available for purchase. All athletes and coaches can log on and purchase discounted team merchandise, as well as all the other items right over the web 24/7. To access this secured site have your swimmers contact coach Mark Moore at coachmark@mastersmvnswim.org All items will include the USMS FINA 2008 logo. The last day to order this merchandise is Wednesday, March 26th. All orders will be shipped to customer soon after this date. This way you will have your merchandise in time for the event and your order will ship complete. Place you order by Thursday, March 20th and receive a FREE SURPRISE GIFT! We hope that this will now make purchasing your team appointed merchandise easier than ever. Only those that have the user name and password can access the team page so contact Coach Mark ASAP! Good Luck to all those attending the event! Thank you.

Greetings USMS World Championship Team Members, The Official USMS TEAM E-Newsletter for the 2008 FINA WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS! Only 18 Days to the Start of the Meet! ***************************************************************************** Hello, USMS Perth World Masters Swimmers! Tiffany Forbes from the Colorado Front Range town of Boulder; where we actually had snowfall last night, after a day of sunny and sixty-five. It’s springtime in the Rockies, for sure! As we enter our final weeks of race preparation, a few reminders to try to incorporate into your remaining swims. If you have a watch, and better even, a coach to man it, try to be very pace aware this week. If you have not yet done so, jot down a few goal times for yourselves. Then, try to determine the splits you need to swim to accomplish each time. Try your best to achieve these goal times in some of your practices. But, don’t forget the importance of recovery, especially as you enter your taper. Focus on streamlines and turns off every wall. Be sure to practice these at race pace, so it is not a surprise at the meet. Try to hold your breath off your walls on free and fly. Work your legs, especially your dolphin kicks off your walls for free, fly and back. Try to eat as well as you can in these next few weeks. Life can always get in the way, forcing a quick drive through of your favorite fast food restaurant. But, that silly little saying is true; “we are what we eat”. So, to best prepare your body to perform well, treat it extra nice, and eat as healthy as possible. And, always remember to hydrate regularly throughout each day. As you prepare your swim bag, a few things you may want to consider to bring along may include extra goggles that are race ready; sunscreen, as we are swimming outside; an extra towel (though this may be better acquired at the hotel to maximize luggage space); and, extra swim caps (you may want to trade, too). I would suggest you bring your own water bottle to have at the meet each day. It must be empty to be carried on the airplane, however! It may be smart to check for any travel restrictions at www.tsa.org prior to departing for the airport. Most of all, be very excited you are about to embark on a swim journey all the way across the world. Your week will be filled with culture, competition and camaraderie. These meets are great venues to give the world a look at what an American really is, and for us to learn more about other people from around the world. And, you get to individually challenge yourselves in a great swimming facility while you are there. What a joy! Racing begins 20 days from the writing of this article. I will be meeting you all very soon. Safe travels to you all and we’ll see each other on the other side of the world, literally. ******************************************************************************************** Additional Meet Information ******************************************************************************************** Warm-up procedures Swimmers must enter the pool feet first in a cautious and controlled manner. No diving or backstroke starts will be allowed except in designated sprint lanes. No diving or backstroke starts will be allowed in the warm-up pool. One or more lanes shall be designated as ONEWAY SPRINT lanes during the pre-meet warm-up sessions in the competition pool only. No sprint lanes will be designated in the warmup pool. ANY SWIMMER WHO ACTS IN AN UNSPORTSMANLIKE OR UNSAFE MANNER WITHIN THE SWIMMING VENUE MAY BE CONSIDERED FOR APPROPRIATE ACTION OR PENALTY BY THE FINA MASTERS COMMISSION. Pull-buoys, kick boards, fins, and hand paddles are not allowed in the competition pool or warm-up pool. Reporting It is the responsibility of all swimmers to report to the clerk of the course (marshalling area) at least 15 minutes prior to their designated races Opening Ceremony The opening ceremony will be held at Challenge Stadium on Thursday 17 April (in the evening- time to be advised). Live bands, entertainment, bars, restaurants, and cafes will all be located in the main arena of Challenge Stadium operating throughout every day of the Championships. The closing ceremony will be held at Challenge Stadium on Friday 25 April (in the evening- time to be advised). The Great Aussie Barbecue will be held for all visitors at Challenge Stadium on the 25th April after the closing ceremony. The barbecue will include a selection of delicious Australian barbecue favorites and terrific Aussie music. This will be everyone’s last chance to soak up some true Aussie culture and farewell old and new friends. ****************************************************************************************************** Good Luck – and see you soon! Coach Mark Moore USMS Head Coach 2008 FINA World Masters Swimming Championships www.mastersmvnswim.org

Greetings USMS World Championship Team Members, The Official USMS TEAM E-Newsletter for the 2008 FINA WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS! Only 25 Days to the Start of the Meet! JUST A FEW REMINDERS: Technical meeting The swimming technical meeting will be held on Thursday 17 April at 2.00pm at Challenge Stadium. This meeting is for swimmers, coaches, and managers. Competition notes All starts will be “over the top.” The one-start rule will apply for all swimming events. Pre-seeding All events, with the exception of 400m and 800m freestyle and the 400m individual medley, will be pre-seeded, with the oldest age groups first, and with the slowest heats swum first within each age group. The 400m and 800m freestyle and the 400m individual medley will be deck-seeded from the slowest to the fastest, regardless of age or age group. Heat sheets will be available to competitors at registration. Having Problems with your online internet individual/relay entries? Contact mastersrego@wasct.wa.gov.au AND NOW A FEW WORD FROM COACH JOHN: This is Coach John Grzeszczak, from sunny Fort Lauderdale, Fl; I am one of your USMS staff coaches. I want each of to know how excited I am getting about going to Perth, and getting to meet such wonderful people! Each of you should be very proud of yourselves, you are extraordinary people. You choose not to sit on your butts, but to get out of the house and be somebody! Swimming is a wonderful sport that transcends the world and everyone’s age. Yes, it is great to be a world champion, but I for one view it a greater challenge and accomplishment to be someone and do something for my mind and body at our age. This is what Master’s is about! The time is now to start stocking up on your sleep, watching your weight, (due to taper) and swimming fast. Fine tune your minds, fine tune your push offs, starts, and turns, but most of all believe in yourself, and just go for it. I am sure that each of you has thought at workouts, this year what your goals for the meet are, and how well you want to do. You can it; it is all up to you. The work is done, by now it is time to taper and have some fun. Remember, to try and fail is okay, IT IS WHEN YOU DON’T TRY AT ALL THAT IS NOT OKAY!!! Each year on my team we have slogan to live by, this year it is “STEP OUT OF THE ORDINARY”. Each and every one of you are not ordinary, never let someone tell you, you are! You strive to be different, to excel, to be special, and you are. Remember, the old saying “you can’t love someone till you love yourself” , Well I have news for you folks, get up and go look in the mirror, because you love that person. Reach up with your biceps, make a muscle and kiss it!!!! Do it everyday, believe in yourself, and everything else will be fall into place. So get your gear ready, and have some fun. Let’s go show’em what we Americans are made of. GO USA!!!!!!!! See ya in Perth, Coach John

Greetings USMS World Championship Team Members, The Official USMS TEAM E-Newsletter for the 2008 FINA WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS! Only 52 Days to the Start of the Meet! We hope that your training is going well and are excited for this year’s big trip down under. ************************************************************************************** 2008 USMS FINA Team Merchandise ************************************************************************************** 2008 USMS FINA Team merchandise is now on the Kast-A-Way Swimwear Web Site. www.kastawayswimwear.com All athletes and coaches can log on and purchase discounted team merchandise, as well as all the other items we carry, right over the web 24/7. To access this secured site have your swimmers do the following 1. Log on to kastawayswimwear.com 2. Click in TEAMS in the upper right corner 3. Enter the username: USMSUSA 4. Enter the password: PERTH 5. Start Shopping!! ************************************************************************************** Masters World's Prep/Training Camps ************************************************************************************** There is only one Masters World's Prep/Training camp left on the west coast and it will be March 14-17. Here is the direct link to registration: www.clubassistant.com/.../reserve.cfm The training camp program is designed for dedicated Masters Swimmers who are committed to advancing their performances and skills. This program is offered to Masters Swimmers and coaches who will be attending the XII FINA World Championships in Perth. Pool time will be dedicated to conditioning and technique improvement. Swimmers will train in 50m pools and attend one to two workouts a day training and getting to know fellow swimmers and coaches. Other available sites: Colorado - March 14, 15, 16, 17 Contact Coach Tiffany (tafswim@comcast.net) for more information Ft Lauderdale - April 4, 5, 6, 7 Contact Coach John (swimjohnswim@bellsouth.net) for more information **************************************************************************************** Meet Registration **************************************************************************************** A number of people have asked for more information on registration for the XII FINA World Masters Championships. What follows is the detailed instructions on how to register. If you do not wish to register on-line you can download the forms from the website, complete them at home and post them to Challenge Stadium by March 23, 2008. Instructions: 1. Log-on to www.2008finamasters.org and click on the “Registration” link in the left-hand menu. 2. To go to the electronic registration system and register on-line, please click on that link on the webpage. ************************************************************************************** FINA World Championships Travel Information *************************************************************************************** Please note that all travelers to Australia must have a valid visa before boarding their plane; they cannot apply for a visa on arrival. Visa applicants are advised to apply for a visa at least 4-6 weeks in advance of your intended date of travel. Check with your travel agents. ********************************************** Words from Coach Mark ********************************************** "All things are difficult before they are easy" Thomas Fuller Swimmers of all levels, abilities, and ages who consistently demonstrate a positive "confidence attitude" share three common traits: Belief, Desire, and Persistence 1. They believe it's possible to improve their fitness. 2. They have a genuine desire to improve their fitness. 3. They are persistent in improving their fitness. Ask yourself – Do you possess an 'achievement attitude'? Do you believe in your ability to accomplish your goals? If so, what can you do this year to reinforce it? If not, what's stopping you from applying yourself to commit? – transform those obstacles to opportunities "Practice does not make perfect, perfect practice makes perfect" Remember each workout you should be working on: Perfect Streamlines Perfect Turns Perfect Finishes Perfect Starts Coach Mark Moore USMS Head Coach for the 2008 FINA World Masters Swimming Championships www.mastersmvnswim.org

Any word on when psych sheets will be available? Thanks!