IOWA CITY EELS
Contact: 351-3336 or swimice@aol.com June 14, 2002
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Coming up:
6/14: ICE
bills due
6/21-6/23: Birdland Meet in Des Moines
6/27: Sign-up
deadline for BLAST meets in July
6/29-6/30: Swim meets at Vinton and Mason
City
7/1: ICE
Board Meeting at Mercer 6:30 PM
7/3: Sign-up
deadline for Clinton swim meet
7/4: Coralville
July 4th Parade
7/4: Practice
at City Park only
7/5: No
practice for any groups
7/6: Regular
practice resumes for all groups
7/5-7/7: Titan
Wheel Firecracker Classic in Quincy, Illinois
7/11: Sign-up
deadline for Regionals at Amana
7/13-7/14: BLAST swim meets in Cedar Falls
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The fifty meter long course pool (LCM) is the international format that all nations compete in at the Olympics and the FINA World Championships. While most scholastic related competition revolves around short course yards (SCY) swimming every summer we join the rest of the world in Long Course competition. Our college and elite high school athletes emerge from hibernation and start training every spring in the hopes of posting times that can be compared to those with kids of similar ages from Europe, Africa, Australia, South America, and Asia.
Long Course racing requires the same skills that the short course format values – power, technique, fitness and– but in different amounts. Here I will try to explain some key points to remember before devising a race plan for Long Course meets. While I will not address in great detail how these differences apply to training please keep in mind that training for long course meets is somewhat different than that for the SCY season and practices for swimmers training on seasonal cycles will reflect this.
Power is more valued in the short course format more so than long course. Since there are more turns in a short course pool there are more opportunities to use transitional power than in long course. An example of this would be the race comparison of the 100 Breaststroke in SCY and LCM formats. A collegiate male will spend around 33% of the race starting, turning, or underwater in a short course race. In the 100 meter version the same swimmer will spend 25% of the race starting, turning, or performing pullouts. Turning, starts, streamlining, and breakouts are still important in the 50-meter pool but pure swimming becomes more important.
Technique is always important but when racing in a long course pool it is even more valued because depending on the stroke a swimmer will be taking 15 to 10% more strokes. The swimmer who is in shape and can hold their distance per stroke in the latter stages of their races is going to excel in a more dramatic fashion during the long course season. A swimmer who is strong with a lot of power and average technique will have a harder time finishing a race without more turns and with more strokes. During the 1996 Olympic Trials over 80% of the races were won by the swimmer with the lowest stroke rate and greatest distance per stroke. Gary Hall Jr. won the 50 Free and was behind at the 25 mark. He beat David Fox (2nd place) but took 2 strokes less to do so. In the 1992 Olympic 50m Free final Alexander Popov beat the US Swimming hero Matt Biondi by less than .2 of a second but took 4 less strokes (2 cycles)! That is an eternity in a fifty free. Popov and his coach devised a way to get his technique down so it could overcome the lack of power Popov had and help him neutralize Biondi’s greatest asset.
Fitness, especially aerobic fitness, is a huge factor in winning races in a long course pool. The ability to finish a race depends on how fit an athlete is because it helps maintain technique when the body (especially the limbs) get tried and zapped from going at top speed. The last 50 of a 200 Free requires a swimmer to try and sprint at top speed after already completing the first 150 meters while maintaining a very fast pace (which is generally around 85 to 90% of the athlete’s top speed). Races like the 200 Fly and 400 IM become more difficult in the long course format because even swimmers with excellent walls are forced to maintain their technique for more extensive periods of time at relatively high rates of speed. Without consistently being able to bounce off walls this builds lactic acid and induces oxygen debt at earlier stages of the races. Noted distance and middle distance Coach Dick Jochums of Santa Clara Swim Club believes that the 50 meter format requires at least 25% more aerobic work in weekly practices for events over 200 meters. Not only does this coach agree but I also think it doesn’t hurt people who specialize in events of 100 meters to get this type of work in during the week (whiny sprinters please take note).
Overall the Long Course pool is my favorite competition distance. Races are not won by tall turners in this format and they are closer at the international level because there are more strategies that can be employed. Janet Evan’s victory and WR in the 400 Free at the 1988 Olympics was won by using a negative split race plan (second half faster than the first half). Janet would never swim a 500 Free in SCY in this style because of all the turns even thought these are similar distances. I like the LCM season due to the simple fact that actual “swimmers” have more of a chance to win. In a sprint race in a SCY (or SCM) pool will favor the power swimmer. LCM races of this type see the power advantage diminish and the race be decided by who can maintain their stroke and speed during the last half. I always think of SCY as kind of our version of half-court basketball or indoor soccer – it is the same sport but not the original version. The biggest difference between SCY and LCM is that we share this more original version with the rest of the world.
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Swimmers of the Month – May
Frost – Thane Sommers
Cube – Ethan Cai & Chelsea Hartman
Moray – Jessica Smith & Keagan Recher
Summer practice schedule: As of Monday June 10th the Iowa City Eels have been running on their summer swim practice schedule. Inclement weather will cause practice at City Park to be moved to Mercer instead- look for the blue signs informing swimmers of this change. Poor weather at Coralville will lead to cancellation of the practice for that day (the indoor Rec Center has lessons scheduled at these times). Please note that afternoon practice at Mercer remains an option for those Frost and Cubes who cannot swim at Coralville because of bad weather.
Mercer Park: M-F: 4:00-4:50 PM and S: 9:20-10:20 AM
Coralville Outdoor Pool: M-F: 9:20-10:15 AM
Mercer Park: M-F: 4:00-5:10 PM and S: 8:00-9:20 AM
Coralville Outdoor Pool: M-F: 9:20-10:30 AM
City Park: M-F: 5:45-8:15 AM
Mercer Park: S: 7:40-10:30 AM
City Park: M-F: 5:45-8:15 AM
Fieldhouse: M, W, F: 3:20-5:30 PM
Mercer Park: S: 7:40-10:30 AM
City Park: M, W, F: 5:45-7:10 AM
Mercer Park: 7:45-9:20 AM
Championship practice times will be announced later in the summer. Every effort will be made to inform swimmers and their families of any changes in the schedule. Keep an eye on the bulletin boards, swimmer folders, newsletters, and the Club website.
Practice schedule changes: No PM Practice for the Eels group at the U of I pool on June 21st (Friday of DMSF meet). July 4th holiday weekend practice schedule: On Thursday July 4th there will be practice only for Morays and Eels and only at City Park. There will be no practice for any groups on July 5th. Regular summer practice schedule resumes for all groups on Saturday July 6th at Mercer Pool.
New Head Age Group Coach: The ICE Board of Directors is pleased to announce that Matt Hamer has been hired as the Club’s new Head Age Group Coach. The selection committee was fortunate to have interviewed several fine people for this position but Matt’s experience with younger swimmers and history with the Club made the final decision a bit easier. This is a new position for the Club but as currently envisioned Matt’s primary focus will rest with the Frost and Cubes training groups. Matt is to assume the Head Age Group Coach position on July 15th. Congratulations Matt!
Long Course Championships: ICE will again host the Iowa Summer Long Course Championship Meet at Mercer Park, August 2-4, 2002. This is a combined championship for both age group and senior qualifiers. The age-group swimmers will compete in timed final events during the afternoon sessions; the senior event qualifiers will swim preliminary heats in the morning sessions, with finals for the fastest swimmers during the evening sessions. This meet is a MAJOR fundraising event for our club, so we need everyone's help. Volunteer sign-up sheets will be posted in early July. All families are asked to work two or three sessions during the meet in order to adequately cover all nine sessions, so please sign up early to get your first choices. Concessions and hospitality will also need baked goods and other goodies for the meet or a $5 donation for those that aren't able to supply items. If you have any questions about the meet, or would like to get involved in the planning stages of it, please contact Jan Lawler at 354-9005 or BLawler251@aol.com.
More on the Long Course Championship: We are
currently forming a committee to sell ads for the summer championship
program. If you are interested in assisting with the ad sales, or know of
a company that would be interested in purchasing an ad, please contact Jan at
354-9005 or BLawler251@aol.com.
Once again this year we will be offering the "sponsor an event"
during the long course championships as a fundraising opportunity for
families. Ads will also be available to purchase for your swimmer to wish
them luck during the meet. Watch for details in July.
ICE Merchandise: With the switch in times for the summer season, Vicki McBreen will be available at Mercer on Mondays from 4:00-5:30 PM for all of your swimming needs. She will also be around at several of the team meets this summer. You can e-mail Vicki at cvmcbreen@juno.com or try calling her at 339-9434.
Officials Corner: another
installment by past ICE President and current ISI Co-Chair of the Officials
Committee Bryan Lawler
In the previous two articles I discussed the philosophy of officiating and the responsibilities of the Meet Referee. In this installment I will go over the role of the Starter.
The official at the starting end of the pool with the microphone is the Meet Starter. The Starter’s sole purpose is to ensure a fair start for all the competitors. While this seems simple and obvious enough, actually achieving this purpose takes training, practice, a good eye, good judgment, and patience.
As you know from my previous article, the Meet Referee is in overall charge of the meet operation to include the other deck officials. The Meet Referee is in control of when all is ready to begin the next heat of swim competition. Just prior to the completion a heat, the referee will blow a series of 4 or 5 short whistle blasts to alert the swimmers in the next heat to get ready. Once the pool is cleared and the timers are ready and timing system is reset, the Referee will blow one long whistle blast to have the swimmers in the next heat step up on the blocks or to step into the water for the back stroke/first leg of a medley relay. The Referee will then signal the Starter with an outstretched arm that all is ready for the start. The swimmers are now under the jurisdiction of the Starter.
The Starter is responsible for ensuring that no swimmer gains an unfair advantage during the start. The Starter accomplishes this by first getting the swimmers to their starting positions with the command – TAKE YOUR MARK. When the “TAKE YOUR MARK” command is given, all swimmers must immediately assume their starting position and remain motionless until the starting signal is sounded.
This is where the Starter’s good eye, judgment and patience come in. Each swimmer has his or her own method for getting into their starting position. Some swimmers move to their starting position very quickly, while others do so more slowly and deliberately. Also, some swimmers come down into the typical starting position, but then rock back before becoming stationary. The Starter must use sound judgment to decide if a swimmer is taking too long to get into his or her starting position. Each swimmer should be able to use their own method, but only if it does not hinder the other swimmers. If one swimmer moves too slowly into their starting position, then the other swimmers have to hold their position for a longer time, which expends energy.
In addition, there are many variations of the starting position. The only requirements are that a swimmer must move at least one foot at the front of the starting block when the “TAKE YOUR MARK” command is given and they must be stationary before the starting horn is sounded. Swimmers do not have to grasp the front of the starting block nor do they have to bend down as most swimmers do. The Starter must have a good eye to accommodate these differences while ensuring that every swimmer is, in fact, stationary before starting the race.
Sound judgment and patience are required to ensure a proper balance is achieved between accommodating each swimmer’s starting method and position, and, ensuring that one swimmer does not unduly delay the start for the other swimmers. If the Starter feels a swimmer is penalizing the other swimmers by taking too long to get into the starting position, the he or she can stand the heat up and begin the start procedure again. Remember, the goal is to ensure a fair start for every swimmer.
The Starter has given the “TAKE YOUR MARK” command and the swimmers have taken their starting positions and are stationary. The Starter must now give the starting signal. This will normally consist of a horn for the swimmers and a strobe light flash for the starters. Judgment comes in again as to when to give the starting signal. The swimmers should not be kept in their starting positions too long as they expend a great deal of energy in the process. In addition, the longer the Starter holds the swimmers, the greater the chance a swimmer will jump before the starting signal. On the other hand, an experienced Starter will avoid getting into a predictable pattern so that swimmers are not tempted to anticipate the horn.
A swimmer who moves before the starting signal is given can be charged with a False Start if both the Starter and Meet Referee confirm it. Under the “No Recall Starting Procedure,” when there is a false start, the heat is NOT recalled and the race is swum. After the heat is completed, the swimmer who started early will be disqualified. Again, both the Starter and Referee must confirm that a swimmer started early before a false start disqualification can be issued.
Every swimmer is entitled to a fair start, and the Starter is responsible for ensuring they get it. Now that the swimmers are in the water and racing, the Stroke and Turn Judges take over. The next installment will cover their role.
Please contact me at blawler@universalclimate.com or 354-9005 if you have any questions about officiating or are interested in becoming a swim official.
New timing equipment: If all goes according to plan we should have access to a new Daktronics timing system in time for the Long Course Championship in August. In cooperation with the booster clubs at both West and City High, the Eels will be part owners in a system that will provide much improved timing capabilities for all competitive swimmers in the area. Our previous system was showing it’s age and needed replacement. The new system will replace the starting equipment, the touch pads, and the timing console. As part of the agreement with Daktronics there will be a training session for operating the new system and all interested individuals are encouraged to attend. This is especially relevant if you have a swimmer in Junior or Senior High School as the same timing system will now be used for all swim meets in the Iowa City-Coralville area. The system will hopefully arrive later in June and details regarding the training session will be announced at that time.
Spring Meltdown wrap-up: The 2002 ICE Spring Meltdown turned out well for all of the swimmers and the Club. We had some 239 swimmers this year and a profit of about $4,100.00. Last year the Meltdown brought in 220 swimmers and a profit of about $3,100.00. The operation of the Meet went fairly well and we received numerous favorable comments from our out-of-town visitors. The Meltdown is a bit of an unusual Meet- early in the long course season and attractive to many teams from out-of-state- but it is a fun event and one that seems to always attract a pretty good turnout. Thanks again to all who helped out!
Tri-athletes and Leptospirosis: Dr. Greg Gray sent along an article about the incidence of Leptospirosis in Tri-athletes. A copy can be found in the front of the file cabinet at Mercer or on our website at www.iceels.org.
July 4th Parade: The Iowa City Eels are on participating once again in the Coralville July 4th parade. Details will follow in the coming weeks. We could still use a trailer of some sort for use as a float or simply as a means of conveyance for the swimmers. If you have access to such a trailer please contact Kelly at 339-7579 or keleyn@inav.net. The parade was enjoyable for all last year so, if you are going to the parade anyway, please consider joining your ICE club mates in the fun!
Final note from communications: The long course season is about to begin in earnest. With the summer practice schedule underway and the DMSF meet in Des Moines next weekend things are moving into high gear. This time of year it is especially hard to maintain contact with the Club membership so it is very important that the bulletin boards, folders, newsletters, and e-mails are checked on a regular basis. As always, if you are having problems, contact me either via e-mail (keleyn@inav.net) or by phone at 339-7579.