J A N U A R Y 2 0 1 6

Pisces Connect Monthly  Newsletter  of  the  Trumbull  Pisces  

Coach’s  Corner  By:  Coach  Bill  

A  Call  For  Volunteers  By:  Michael  Redgate  

On  behalf  of  the  Trumbull  Pisces  Board,  I  would  like  to  thank  all  of  the  parent  volunteers   who   have   helped   us   so   far   this   season,   especially   at   our   home  meets.   A   survey   was   sent   out   earlier   asking   parents   to   get   involved   and   a  number   of   you   have   stepped   up.   Many   have   helped   with   scoring,   timing,  donating   to   and   working   at   concessions,   and   as   officials,   starters   and   deck  marshals.  We  are   currently   looking   for  parent   liaisons   for   each   swim  group.  We  have  a  volunteer  for  our  Seniors  but  we  need  additional  ones   for  the  Age  Group,   and  Black  and  Yellow  swimmers.  We  ask   that   if  you  have  not   already  done  so,  please  reach  out  to  us  to   find  out  how  and  where  else  you  can  help.  The   reason   our   home  meets   are   run   so   well   is   because   of   our   coaches   and  parent  volunteers.  Our  annual  fundraiser,  the  Aquathon,  is  coming  soon  and  we  need  your  help  with  asking   for  donations   for  your   swimmers  –  please  see   the  article  on  this  page  for  more  details.  Additionally,  we  will  need  help  on  the  night  of  the  event.  If  you  are  interested  in  assisting,  please  contact  Tom  Racicot  or  me.  Thank  you  once  again  for  all  that  you  do  to  make  the  Trumbull  Pisces  the  best  we  can  be.    Here’s  looking  forward  to  another  fruitful  new  year  for  the  Pisces!  CHEERS!  

Get Set For AQUATHON! The Aquathon is Trumbull Pisces’

biggest fundraising activity for the year. The money we raise from this event is used to offset our team expenses, as well as, pay for additional equipment that the team needs. Last year, we raised over $7,000 and part of that fund was

used to purchase the new timing system and Pisces Records Board, which we set up last month. This year’s Annual Pisces Aquathon will be held on Friday, January 29th, at the Hillcrest Pool. Our team goal is to raise $10,000. If each swimmer raises at least $100 we should be able to achieve this! The Board has not yet allocated the funds but Coach Bill has been looking into some new technology and training equipment for the team. Each swimmer should have received a Swimmer Sponsor Form at the Black & Gold meet earlier this month. If your swimmer does not have their form please check the Parent’s Corner on our website or contact Tom Racicot. Each swimmer needs to get at least 1 sponsor in order to participate in the event. Sponsors can either donate a fixed amount OR pledge an amount for each 25-yd lap the swimmer completes in his/her allotted 60-minute session.

The top fundraisers last year were Caitlin Britell, Sean Yu and Soumya Ganti, while the top lap swimmers, by group, were Hope Ivanovich, Lach Aleksandrov and Alex Jozwa. All six winners were awarded a gift card for their respective achievement. This year, we are giving away Sports Authority gift cards donated by the store in Bridgeport. So, put your game faces on, and we’ll see you at the Aquathon!

I   would   like   to  congratulate   the  Pisces   for   our  Yankee   League   win  over   the   Bristol  Splash.   After   a  tough   loss   to   New  Milford,   and   being   closer   to   beating   Watertown  than  ever  before,  this  win  was  a  BIG  ONE!  Bristol  has  beaten  us  over  the  past  three  years  by  quite  a  few  points,  but   this   year  was  different.  We   came  together  as  a  team  and  had  some  amazing  swims.  The  Pisces  swimmers   looked   great  off   the  blocks,  off   the   walls   and   in   between   the   flags.     Again,  congratulations  to  all  Pisces  on  this  great  victory!  

Heading   into   the   Championship   season   in  February  and  March,  our  swimmers  will  be  hitting  the   peak   of   their   training   this   month   during  practice.   The   Pisces   will   continue   to   focus   on  technique  of  all  strokes,  as  well  as,  improving  their  race   stamina   by   swimming   more   yardage.   With  the   planned   intensity   of   all   this   training,   it   is  important   that   parents   are   fueling   their  swimmers’   bodies   with   the   right   kinds   of   food.  Dried   fruits,   fruit   puree,   dry   cereals,   beef   jerky,  pretzels,  Fig  Newton,  sandwich  crackers  and  seeds  are  only   some   of   the   great   snacks   that  will   keep  our  kids   energized  before   and  after  practice.   Just  remember  –  NO   SWEETS!  Let’s   all  work   together  to  make  sure  our  swimmers  are  in  tip-­‐top  shape  as  we  head  into  the  New  Year!  

CONGRATULATIONS !

SWIMMERS OF THE MONTH

LIZBETH CONSTANTE Lizbeth   likes   to   swim   both   freestyle   and  backstroke   but   it   is   the   former   that   she  favors  more.   This   little   dynamo   is   also   a  healthy   eater,   and   likes   to   munch   on  grapes  during  swim  meets.  Off  the  water,  Lizbeth   enjoys   playing   soccer,   and  considers   their   family   friend,   Gustavo  Netto,   her   favorite   soccer   player.   Does   it   surprise   you   that  Lizbeth’s  favorite  subjects  in  school  are  Math  and  Science?  We’re  definitely  not!  

MICHAE L BUCKL EY Michael’s   favorite   stroke   to   swim   is  freestyle.   He   makes   sure   to   eat   a  banana   before   swim   meets   as   it  provides   him   the   energy   to   torpedo  across  the  pool  –  like  his  favorite  athlete  and  namesake,  Michael  Phelps!  Besides  swimming,  Michael  enjoys  pounding  the  court  with  his  basketball,  and  making  beautiful   rhythms  with   the  piano.  This  well-­‐rounded  athlete   is   also   a   Mathematician   in   the   making!   Need   we   say  more?  

CAMER ON KO SAK Cameron   loves   the   backstroke   and  particularly   enjoys   and   excels   at   the  100-­‐meter   event.   Fellow   backstroker,  Olympian  Matt   Grevers,   is   his   favorite  athlete.   To   fuel   him   during   meets,   he  snacks   on   a   bag   full   of   pretzels.  Cameron   quenches  his   need   for   speed  off   the   pool   by   skateboarding   in   his   neighborhood   and   at   local  skate  parks.    Cameron’s  favorite  subject  in  school  is  Math  –  all  the  better  to  calculate  his  speed  and  velocity.  

KRI STE N R ACICO T While   most   swimmers   would   shy   away  from   butterfly,   Kristen   embraces   it   and  considers   it   her   favorite   stroke.   To   keep  her   “wings”   strong   she  makes   sure   to   get  her   proteins   from  protein   bars   before   her  races.    Kristen’s  favorite  athlete  is  the  best  swimmer   of   all   time,   Michael   Phelps.  Kristen   enjoys   playing   with   her   friends  when  she  has  free  time  away  from  the  pool.    Her  favorite  subject  in  school  is  Math.  

Age Group

Seniors DAVID D ATZ David  loves  to  fly  across  the  pool  with  his  butterfly  stroke,  and  he  truly  excels  at  it.    He   says   carrots   are   the   best   pre-­‐race  snack  for  him.    David’s  favorite  athlete  is  NFL   wide   receiver   for   the   NY   Giants,  Odell   Beckham   Jr.       When   David   is   not  busy  swimming,  he  likes  letting  golf  balls  fly  across  the  golf  course.    Social  Studies  is  David’s  favorite  subject  in  school.  

CLAIR E KE HL EY Claire’s  favorite  stroke  to  swim  is  distance  freestyle.     At   swim   meets,   she   loves   to  grab   a   peanut   butter   snack   bar   for   long-­‐lasting   energy.   She   looks   up   to   women  athletes,   particularly,   soccer   player   Alex  Morgan   and   swimmer   Katie   Ledecky.  When   Claire   is   not   swimming   in   the   pool   she   loves   hanging   out  with  her  friends  and  perfecting  her  backflip  on  the  trampoline.    At  school,  Claire’s  favorite  subject  is  Math.  

P i s c e s C o n n e c t Jan. 2016 p.2

Black & Yellow

 

 P i s c e s C o n n e c t

Team  Store  Updates  Personalized  team  backpacks  and  

jackets  have  been  distributed.      All  the  swimmers  look  great  with  their  new  

gear.    

If  you  have  any  questions  please  contact  Marc  Kosak  at  

Marc.kosak@greenwichhospital.org  

Jan. 2016 p.3

AGE  GROUP  CHAMPIONSHIPS  By:  Mary  Kristin  Ivanovich  

At   the   conclusion   of   every  Short   and   Long   Course  season,   Connecticut  Swimming   holds   the   Age  

Group   Championship   swim  meet.   Age   Group   Championships,  or   “Age   Groups,”   is   a   very   exciting   meet   where   the   fastest  swimmers   from  across   the  state  compete.     In  order   to  qualify  to  participate,  swimmers  have  to  meet  certain   time  standards  or  “cuts”   that  are  established  by  age  group  (10/under,  11/12,  etc.)  for  each  event.  Connecticut  Swimming  recently  posted  the  time  standards   for  the  2015-­‐2016  Short  Course  season.  A  link  to  the  2015-­‐2016  time  standards  can  be  found  under  the  Swim  Meets/Events   tab   on   the   Pisces   webpage,   and   on   the  Connecticut  Swimming  website.  The  Short  Course  Age  Group  Championships  are  scheduled  to  be  held  from  March  10th  through  13th,  2016.  Some  of  our  Pisces  swimmers  have  already  qualified  so  stay  tuned  to  this  section  of  the  newsletter  for  a  list  of  their  names  and  times!      

FREQUENTLY  ASKED  QUESTIONS  Do  you  have  a  question  about  the  Pisces,  meets,  or  swimming  in  general?    You  can  send  your  question  to  mkivanovich@att.net  and  we  will  work  with  Coach  Bill  to  answer  it  in  the  newsletter.  This  month,  we  answer  the  following  questions.    What  is  the  difference  between  short  course  and  long  course?  In  swimming,  the  primary  difference  between  short  course  and  long  course  is  the  length  of  the  pool.    Short  Course  refers  to  a  pool  that  is  either  25  yards  (abbreviated  SCY  for  Short  Course  Yards)  or  25  meters  (SCM).    In  the  United  States,  25-­‐yard  pools  are  much  more  common  than  25  meters,  so  the  pools  the  Pisces  swim  in  for  Short  Course  are   typically  SCY  (including  Hillcrest!).    The   term  Long  Course  (LC  or  LCM)  is  used  to  describe  a  pool  that  is  50  meters  in  length.  The   Connecticut   Swimming   year   is   divided   into   two   seasons   –   the   Short   Course   season   and   the   Long   Course   season.   The   Short  Course  season  runs  from  September  through  March,  with  meets  held  at  SCY  pools.    The  Long  Course  season  runs  from  April  through  July  with  meets  primarily  held  at  LCM  pools.  Right  now,  the  Pisces  website  lists  Short  Course  meets  under  the  Swim  Meets/Events  tab.    Once  the  Long  Course  season  begins,  a  new  list  of  LC  meets  will  be  posted.              How  are  Yankee  League  meets  different  from  USA  Swim  meets,  and  how  is  the  winner  determined?  The  Pisces  participate   in   two  types  of  meets  during   the  short  course  season:  USA  Swim  Meets  and  Yankee  League  Meets.     In  USA  Swim  Meets,  swimmers  compete  in  individual  or  relay  events  with  the  goal  of  achieving  their  personal  best  times.    In  general,  we  do  not  compete  as  a  team  for  an  overall  team  score  at  USA  Meets.  Depending  on  the  specific  meet,  ribbons  may  be  awarded  to  the  top  finishers  of  each  individual  event.        In  Yankee  League  Meets,  the  Pisces  compete  against  one  (or  sometimes  two)  other  teams  with  points  awarded  for  the  first  place  (5  points),  second  place  (3  points)  and  third  place  (1  point)  finishers  of  each  event.    Note  that  in  Yankee  League  Meets,  the  swimmers  with   the   fastest  seed  times  compete   in  the   first  heat  of  each  event,  and  points  can  only  be  scored  during   the  first  heat.    All  of   the  points  scored  in  the  events  are  tallied,  and  the  team  with  the  most  points  at  the  end  of  the  meet  is  the  winner.  

THE  PEOPLE  IN  WHITE  SHIRTS  By:  Christine  Kennedy  

So  what  exactly  are  those  people  in  the   white   shirts   doing?     And   what  exactly   is   a   DQ?   USA   Swimming  officials   are   trained   volunteers   who  ensure  that  meets  run  smoothly  and  fairly.     There   are   Stroke   and   Turn  Judges,  Meet  and  Deck  Referees,  and  Starters  and  Administrative  Officials.    

All   are   certified   through   CT   Swim   and   USA   Swimming   and  need   to  be   recertified   every   two   years.     All   of   them   love   the  sport   and  want   swimmers   to  have   the  best   experience   in   the  pool.  Stroke   and   Turn   Judges   watch   to   see   that   swimmers   are  doing  their  races  in  accordance  with  the  USA  swimming  Rules  (the  rulebook  can  be  found  here.)    Videos  that  show  specifically  what   is   considered   for   each   stroke   can   be   found   at  usaswimming.org   under   Member   Resources   >   Officials   >  Education  and  Training  >  Officials  Training  Videos  -­‐  link  here.  Swimmers   can  disqualify   themselves   for   different   things   for  different  strokes.    If  a  Judge  sees  an  infraction,  they  raise  their  hand   and   fill   out   a   Disqualification   Sheet.     The  Meet   Referee  then  comes  to  the  Judge  and  asks  what  the  infraction  was  and  can   uphold   or   reject   the   call.     In   all   cases   the   benefit   of   the  doubt   goes   to   the   swimmer.     If   an   infraction   is   upheld,   it   is  communicated  to  the  coach  by  the  Meet  Referee  and  a  DQ  will  be  listed  in  the  meet  results  for  that  swimmer  and  that  event.  Interested  in  becoming  an  official?  You  get  the  best  seat  at  the  pool,  help  the  meets  go  smoothly  and  support  your  swimmer!    If   you   are   interested,   go   to  

https://www.ctswim.org/Officials/Certifications/   or   come   speak   to   me,  Christine  Kennedy,  a  Pisces  mom  and  USA  Official.