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| Forget improving times in off-strokes at this B-meet... DONUTS! |
I'm the head coach of a community swim team that participates in NVSL (Northern Virginia Swim League) competitive "A" meets, every Saturday morning for six weeks during the summer. But less than half the total team -- only the top three athletes in each event -- compete on Saturdays.
The entire team (including regular "A" swimmers) gets to compete each Monday night in developmental -- or "B" -- meets. The meets aren't scored, though ribbons are awarded to swimmers based on the place they finish in their heat. Everyone loves tangible rewards!
And for years, as both a swimmer and a junior and then assistant coach, I've been ignorant of how much organizational work goes into preparing for and pulling off each of these events.
I'm beginning to get an idea: It's a lot.
Earlier today -- a non-swimming Sunday mind you -- I spent about two hours with our team's data manager preparing cards for tomorrow night's meet. Basically, each athlete will swim between one and three events at a "B" meet, and require a roughly four inch-by-four inch card with his or her name, event, and spaces for timers to record their handiwork -- for each event.
Swimmers should sign up for the events the would like to swim on Friday mornings at practice. But do we have 100% attendance each Friday? Not even close. At best, we end up with about a third of the team accounted for heading into meet entry mode.
Meaning, I need to choose strokes for each non-signed up swimmer. And I need to base this decision -- for about 140 children -- on age, observed skill level, observed interest, possibility of moving up into an "A" meet spot on the ladder, and eligibility due to performance at the previous week's "A" meet (There are a number of rules -- if you want clarification, comment at will).
So we try to make everyone happy. We try to give everyone as many opportunities as possible to drop time (inexperienced swimmers may drop 30 seconds or more in a given event, over the course of the summer, as their technical learning curve can be steep).
And then there's the rounding up and handing out of the aforementioned cards during the meet. This requires the Herculean efforts of multiple cat-herders (or multiple-cat herders? readers' choice). As coaches, how can we compete with the constant allure of the concessions stand and parents recklessly disregarding the "wait 30 minutes after eating before swimming" rule?
Summer: Colossal donuts, hot processed cheese nachos, Fun Dip... Not only does their presence taunt my typically growing appetite in the middle of a "B" meet, but their distant existence decimates any sense of a "Team Area" we may have initially established.
But what is there to do? It is, in fact, summer league. A lot of work... so the kids can have a lot of fun. Corny? You betcha. Now where's my donut?
