Volume 1 Issue 5
17 April 02

HAMILTON AMATEUR SWIMMING CLUB
Box 9237
Waikato Mail Centre HAMILTON
Club Pool,
16 Victoria St.
Ph (07) 838 1232

SUMMER IS OVER!!! But Still Things To Do.
The summer swimming season has come to an end, except for National Opens in Auckland next week. However swimming does not come to an end.  Coming up we have plenty to do.
The Hamilton Swimming Club Prize giving, AGM and working bee, not to mention winter training and the usual winter meets especially our own on 6th and 7th July 2002 at Waterworld Te Rapa. Details follow.

PRIZE GIVING
Date: Sunday 28th April 02
Time: 2:00pm
Prize giving this year will be held at Hamilton Boys High School.
The venue is the Staff room, accessed off the front entrance on Peachgrove Road. Follow the signs upstairs. PLEASE BRING A PLATE.

WORKING BEE
After the finish of the Summer Season and following a short break, we need to ready the pool for the winter training.
We will have a working bee Saturday, 20th April 2002 from 9am to Noon.
If you can help, bring old clothes to wear, gardening gear, brooms etc for a general tidy up. We hope to see many of you there.

HASC AGM
Date: Sunday 19th May 02
Time: 2:00pm
The venue this year will be Hamilton Boys High School.
The meeting as with the prize giving is the Staff room, accessed off Peachgrove Road entrance. Follow the signs upstairs. ALL FOOD PROVIDED.

LOST PROPERTY
As usual at the end of the summer season we are left with a significant number of lost property items.
Some of this includes unclaimed items from the public, but a significant number are from within the club.
These items will be available for claiming by their owners up until this weekend coming. Any items left after the working bee will be donated to the Salvation Army.

WINTER TRAINING
All swimmers / families will by now have received the Winter Training Notification (11th April 2002). You will notice that due to the lack of lane space at Gallagher Aquatic and Waterworld we will be training all squads except for the "Penguins" and "Seals" at the Club Pool this winter. The "Penguins" and "Seals" will be training at Gallagher Aquatic.    Note changes: National Gold Squad starting date should read 22 ^nd April. All other squads start 6 ^th May 2002, and Marlins only train once on Friday Evening.

THE 10 COMMANDMENTS OF SWIMMING.    Here is something to ponder. With acknowledgement to Taranaki Swim Centre. See The Swimming 10 Commandments on their web site at http://www.geocities.com/swim_taranaki/otherinfo/tencommandments.html

1.       THOU SHALT NOT IMPOSE YOUR AMBITIONS ON THE CHILD. Remember that swimming is your child's activity. Improvement and progress occur at different rates for each individual. Don't judge your child's progress based on the performance of other athletes, and don't push your child based on what you think they should be doing.

2.       THOU SHALT BE SUPPORTIVE NO MATTER WHAT. There is only one question to ask your child: "Did you have fun?" If meets and practices are not fun, your child should not be forced to participate.

3.       THOU SHALT NOT COACH THY CHILD. You have taken your child to a trained coach; do not undermine that person by trying to coach your child on the side. Your job is to support and love your child no matter what and the coach is responsible for the technical part of the job.

4.       THOU SHALT HAVE ONLY POSITIVE THINGS TO SAY AT A SWIM MEET. If you are going to show up at a meet, you should cheer and applaud, but never criticize your child, other children, the coaches or officials. Always strive to set a good example for your child.

5.       THOU SHALT ACKNOWLEDGE THY CHILD'S FEARS. A first meet-or every meet-can be a stressful situation. Don't yell or belittle, just assure your child that the coach would not have suggested his or her swimming if your child were not ready for it.

6.       THOU SHALT NOT CRITICIZE THE OFFICIALS. If you do not have the time or desire to volunteer as an official, don't criticize those who are doing the best they can.

7.       HONOUR THY CHILD'S COACH. The bond between coach and player is a special one and one that contributes to your child's success as well as fun. Do not criticize the coach in the presence of your child. It will only serve to hurt your child's swimming.

8.       THY CHILD SHALL HAVE GOALS BESIDES SWIMMING. Giving an honest effort, regardless of the outcome is much more important than winning. An Olympic swimmer once said, "My goal was to set a world record. Well, I did that but someone else did it too, just a little faster than I did. I achieved my goal and I lost. That does not make me a failure. In fact, I am very proud of that race."

9.        THOU SHALT PLACE YOUR CHILD FIRST ABOVE EVERYTHING. Ask yourself this question: are your child's goals more important to you than they are to your child? Remember that the focus of youth sports should be fun. Children are constantly changing, and their goals, interests and participation in activities will change.

10.     THOU SHALT ENCOURAGE RESPECT, SUPPORT, & HAVE ENTHUSIASM FOR TEAMMATES AT PRACTICE & AT SWIM MEETS.

I think we all need to re-evaluate our goals and motives consistently and constantly, this may be a good benchmark to use for that evaluation.    What do you think? (Club Captain)