The team has been swimming strong in the pool. As you know, we have done several time trials (50s, 100s and some swimmers swam 200 IM TT) Our workouts are typically about 3,000 meters in a given practice. Swimmers have been working hard to build stamina, speed and improve stroke efficiency.
This week on Monday, at the end of practice (September 16), we announced the SAISA team selections for each age group. We have almost 50 swimmers and can take a group of 30 athletes to SAISA. The selection process is not an easy one as we have many strong swimmers ready for competition and several very competitive age groups. We are so proud of ALL of our swimmers for showing up, honoring their teammates and themselves with their effort and for working hard to do things correctly!
The following is the messaging shared with the team before reading the names of the swimmers selected to be a part of the SAISA team.
We as coaches are very proud of this big team of 50 swimmers.
You have made the choice to show up and work hard.
As a team and individuals you have demonstrated:
PERSEVERANCE, COMMITMENT, INTEGRITY, COMPETITIVE SPIRIT, JOY FOR THE SPORT and LOVE by supporting each other in and out of the pool.
We can take a team of 30 swimmers for SAISA.
As coaches, Ms. Grace and I have had to make hard choices.
How do we decide?
WE LOOK AT….
Who is in each age group?
What does the data say?
In which events could each swimmer be most competitive?
Which swimmer's times in specific events could score points?
What does the team need?
Who is eligible to swim?
In a moment, I am going to read this list.
Let's take a couple of deep breaths. (pause & breathe)
We will all be feeling different emotions.
Some might be feeling excited, sad, nervous, disappointed, or relieved…
All of those feelings are OKAY.
Remember to be respectful and supportive of how others may be feeling.
You will notice there are some swimmers who are ‘alternates’.
If someone on the SAISA team is unable to swim at the meet, coaches will choose an alternate swimmer. Alternates continue to practice with the SAISA team.
SAISA TEAM practices will be SUNDAY, TUESDAY & THURSDAY-after school.
NON-SAISA team-practices are Monday, Wednesday & Tuesday, Thursday & Saturday mornings. Those of you who are part of SAISA team may need to adjust your practice days to be able to attend the majority of SAISA practices. If you are not part of the SAISA team, you will likely need to adjust your practice days, still come to practice---you have a new goal of at least 3 practices/week minimum.
What questions might you have?
Ready? Deep breath.
READ LIST.
Please read the information below carefully. Hang in there, I know its a LOT to read!
ALL SWIMMERS
CHANGE IN PRACTICE SCHEDULE
After the SAISA team is announced, we shift into a slightly different practice schedule including 3 SAISA ONLY PRACTICES. This means that the SAISA swimmers and alternates attend these practices (plus whatever other practice they choose to meet their commitment). The SAISA only practices allow the SAISA team to work on meet specific preparations including particular event work, relay team practices, etc. Beginning next week, we will follow the new schedule.
SAISA swimmers & alternates-SAISA ONLY practices will be Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday after school. It would be best if SAISA swimmers can attend all 3 of these specially designated practices and should, at minimum, attend 2 of the 3, when meeting the 4 practice minimum commitment.
NON-SAISA swimmers will continue to have the choice of Monday and Wednesday after school in addition to Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday mornings. Understandably, this may alter your weekly plans. NON-SAISA swimmers should continue to strive for the 4 or more practice commitment, and at minimum attend 3 practices.
OUR MS/HS Swim Team photo is scheduled for Wednesday, September 18th, 3:45-4:00 p.m.-BE ON TIME! See previous email sent to swimmer's TAISM emailfor more information about the TEAM PHOTO.
TAISM vs ABA DUAL MEET- OCTOBER 1
Information will go out by the end of this week regarding the dual meet at ABA on October 1st and how to sign up for the meet. We hope everyone will choose to participate. Participation in the meet does count towards swimmer's 4 practices/week commitment.
OTHER LOCAL MEETS
Remember----we also have a couple of local competitions coming up....There is a long course meet at the Sultan Qaboos stadium hosted by Nautilus on November 1-2nd and an ABA Invitational Sprint meet on November 15th. Go EAGLES!
SWIM TEAM SWEATSHIRTS
All swimmers have been emailed an interest form for this year's team sweatshirt (sent to TAISM email accounts). For those who indicated they were interested or might be interested in ordering a sweatshirt, I have forwarded the GROUP ORDER link to them. The cost of the sweatshirts is about 16 OMR including name personalization and shipping costs. IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN ORDERING A SWEATSHIRT please follow the link to add your sweatshirt to the Custom Ink TAISM SWIM TEAM ORDER. (LINK: https://www.customink.
The order deadline is Friday, September 20th at 8:00 AM.
Please note-we cannot accept late orders.
SAISA SWIMMERS & ALTERNATES
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
Swimmers selected for the SAISA team and alternates have received an email from the athletics office (and at practice a paper copy from Ms. Cori) regarding SAISA travel itinerary, fees and other important information. Thank you for RUSH sending your swimmer's passport so we could secure our airline tickets. The flight was fully booked and we had to act quickly to keep our spots. The athletics office will collect the 100 OMR deposit this week from all SAISA swimmers, including alternates. Deposits will be returned to alternates who do not travel.
SAISA EVENTS
On Sunday next week, swimmers will be asked to fill out a swim event input for SAISA form (swimmer's "wish lists"). Please note, final event entry decisions will be determined by coaches. We use the "wish lists" to double check to make sure swimmer's are swimming some of his/her top choice events, as much as possible. Swimmers may be entered into an event as a way to help balance the age group team's events. Each swimmers can swim up to 7 individual events across the 3 days of competition. For each age group (girls 10-12, boys 10-12, girls 13-14, boys 13-14, girls 15 + and boys 15+), in each event, teams can enter 3 swimmers. As coaches we work to balance individual swimmer's event schedule (keeping in mind the order of events) with the needs of the team.
SPEEDO TEAM BACKPACKS
SAISA swimmers have a choice to BUY OR BORROW a Speedo Team backpack we will use for travel to the SAISA meet in Nepal. The cost for a team backpack is about 24 OMR. If you would like to see one, stop by Ms. Cori's office. More information will follow regarding the backpacks.
SAISA TEAM PASTA DINNER
SAISA Swimmers (plus alternates)- SAVE THE DATE: October 14th from 5:15-6:30 PM, we will have our annual pre-SAISA team dinner. The dinner will be catered by Crafty Kitchen. After practice, we will gather together to make a "luggage tag" with our swim events for our backpacks, eat together and practice a couple team cheers. The cost should be about 2-3 OMR. I will let you know when the details are sorted.
SAISA HOSTING
Remember that TAISM will be hosting many visiting athletes this year for Boys Volleyball first season and Girls Soccer third season. As a SAISA Swim family, you will be asked to volunteer to HOST for one of these SAISA tournaments. Hosting is a great way to be a contributing member of the TAISM community, get to know a couple of fun student athletes visiting Oman and is expected of all SAISA athletes.
I know there are a lot of deadlines and important dates to remember....please do your best to get things turned in on time!
Thank you for your support.
Swim Hard. Dream BIG!
xx Ms. Cori
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