Conference Week - Let's Get It Started!

IT'S CHAMPIONSHIP SEASON - FINISH STRONG!! YESSS!!! It is the time of the season that much of our focus has been on since the beginning. Yes, this season has grown all of us in different ways. Yes, our dual meets mattered. But, this is when we see the pay off of all of that hard work. It's easy to see the reduced work load in practice as an opportunity to "shut down." Don't fall into that trap. Stay focused, stay driven, stay engaged. You will be rewarded in the end.

CONFERENCE WEEK
As you go into this week, we need to make sure that we're doing everything we can to STAY RESTED UP throughout the week. Get enough/extra sleep and avoid adding extra vigorous physical activities. If you have a question about something that you're doing, employ the motto "when in doubt, leave it out". 

At the meet, between warm up and the actual meet, each day of Conference will be 5+ hours long. Each day, be sure to bring plenty of snacks and a couple water bottles or other drinks so that you can stay fueled-up throughout each session. Each day, eat a good breakfast and lunch (much more than just a piece of toast!), with extra carbs,

Each swimmer needs to bring a pair of comfortable, broken-in tennis shoes to wear on-deck during the meet on both days. Walking around barefoot on a hard-surfaced pool deck for five hours is more draining than you would expect. Please clean the soles beforehand so we're not tracking dirt everywhere. 

For information on the conference meet (how it is set up and scored), go to this page. 

VERY IMPORTANT SCHEDULING INFORMATION BELOW

Practice Times
Monday & Tuesday - Normal Practice Time: 3:20-5:30

( I would suggest that IF you or your athlete wants a short haircut, it might be good to get that done Monday or Tuesday after practice)

Wednesday
State Swimmers: 3:30-5:30ish Practice

Conference Swimmers: 3:30-4:15 Swimmers are in the stands finishing homework.
   *4:15-5:30 Last Practice
   *5:20 All practices will be done.

Divers

   *3:30 - 5:30 Practice: 2-3x conference list

All Athletes Post Practice
   *5:45 - All athletes head to ROSE PARK SCHOOL for Pre-meet pasta meal
   *6:05 - Dinner wrap up and Conference athletes stay to shave down

          -State swimmers stay to assist with shave down and clean up.

   *Shave down should be done about 7:45

Saturday
9:00 - 11:00ish Practice @West Ottawa 

This is for ALL State Swimmers, and those others that are planning to swim at the Second Shave meet.

We will follow this with Pizza? and Bowling (an annual tradition that we skipped earlier in the season).

THE IMPORTANCE OF THE SHAVE DOWN - Shaving is required for ALL SWIMMERS. The shave down is as much about a psychological boost as it is about removing hair. The feel that a swimmer gains from shaving (caused by the removal of a small layer of skin) gives a psychological boost that is hard to explain. Arms, legs, and chest and back should all be shaved.

Here is an article about the history and impact of the shave down.
Here is a great article about the do's and don'ts with helpful hints for the shave down.

(click on the link again when the redirect page comes up)


Conference Meet
Prelims on Thursday, February 24 
DIVERS 
   *Divers will be dismissed after 3rd Period (11:00)  

   *The Kitchen will have snack bags with a small sandwich, etc.. 
   *Divers should be on deck in Zeeland by 11:50 

~ Pool opens for Diving warm-ups 12:00 p.m.

~ Stands Open 1:30 p.m.

~ Diving Preliminaries and Semi-Finals 2:00 p.m.

SWIMMERS 
  *Swimmers will be dismissed DURING 6th Period at 2:00pm.
  *The Kitchen will have snack bags with a small sandwich, etc..  
  *Swimmers will meet at The Well to eat and then head to Zeeland 

  *Swimmers should be on deck in Zeeland by 3:00pm

~ Pool opens for swimming warm-ups 3:00 p.m.

~ Stands Open 3:30 p.m..

~ Swimming Preliminaries begin 5:00 p.m.

Finals on Friday, February 25 

SWIMMERS & DIVERS
  *Athletes will be dismissed AFTER 5th Period at 1:05pm.
      ~ PARENTS: Please arrange for your son to get picked up, get lunch, get reshaved (if necessary, and get to Zeeland)

  *Athletes should be on deck in Zeeland by 3:10pm

~ Stands Open 3:30 p.m.

~ Finals Begin (Swimming & Diving) 5:00 p.m.

FURTHER ON UP THE ROAD
Second Chance Meet  at Holland Aquatic Center Hosted by Holland - Tuesday, March 1
This will be a final meet for some, but it gives athletes a chance to swim events that they did not get to swim at the Conference meet. This means two more practice days and one more meet day while fully tapered. More details to come later.

Diving Regionals at Hamilton - Thursday, March 3 
Warm up will be at 3:00 pm  
Meet begins at 5:00 pm 

SAVE THE DATE End of the season banquet will be on Tuesday, March 15 at 6:00 at the High School. Details will be emailed to you soon.