Tuesday, June 30, 2009

Giles @ Concord - June 30th

The Giles Jets are traveling to Concord College in Athens, WV, for a meet against the Concord C-Lions. Meets against Concord are always fun, because our swimmers are so well matched in nearly every event. Plus, many of our swimmers participate in the winter swim program at Concord and are coached by John Lamb, the Concord Head Coach, making this a truly unique experience. But we have numbers on our side, giving us an important edge. Its going to be a great meet. Let's Go Jets!

Directions to Concord University in Athens, WV
Travel 460 W to Princeton, WV.
Turn right onto I-77 N and travel to the Athens, WV exit…its just a few miles on I-77
Turn right onto Rt. 20 and follow road to stop sign.
At stop sign, turn left and travel towards Athens.
At stop light, turn right toward Concord University
Turn left onto the Concord University campus and follow the road to the Pool / Athletic Center
Park at Football Field and the Pool is across the road.
Total Travel Time: about 1 hour from the Pearisburg Town Pool

Wednesday, June 24, 2009

Practice Schedule for June 24 to July 3

The CORRECT practice schedule for the next couple of days is:

Wednesday, June 24: CASTLE ROCK POOL 7-9 pm
Thursday, June 25: TOWN POOL 7-9 pm
Friday June 26: CASTLE ROCK POOL 6-8 pm

Monday June 29: CASTLE ROCK POOL 7-9 pm
Tuesday June 30: MEET AT CONCORD (arrive 4:45 pm)
Wednesday July 1: CASTLE ROCK POOL 7-9 pm (to be confirmed)
Thurs July 2: TOWN POOL 7-9 pm
Friday July 3: NO PRACTICE for the holiday

From Monday July 6 through the end of the season we will be at TOWN POOL nearly all the time. We may have one or two Castle Rock days, but that will be announced.

Tuesday, June 23, 2009

Victory at Tazewell !!!

GILES JETS - WE DID IT!!

The Final was Giles - 370 Tazewell - 276.

Congratulations to all the great swimmers and parents for making this a reality. Most long time swim team folks have a hard time remembering the last time we beat Tazewell in their own pool. Well, this will be very easy to remember!

Let's Go Jets!

Monday, June 22, 2009

Season Opener: Giles at Tazewell - June 23rd

Tuesday June 23rd we travel to Tazewell for our season opening meet. We are asking swimmers to report at 4:45. Our warm up time is 5:15 to 5:30. The meet starts at 5:30. For the last two years, we almost beat Tazewell in their pool, then we beat them both years when they came to Giles. So look for a very competitive meet this year.

Directions to Tazewell Pool from Pearisburg Town Pool (about 1 hr 30 min)

Take 460 West from Pearisburg to Tazewell.

As you approach Tazewell watch for the Ramey Chevrolet Car Dealership on the left. This is located just before the FIRST Tazewell exit, which is Rt 460 Business.

Take the first Tazewell exit (exit 5), Rt 460 Business, which will take you into Tazewell.

At the first traffic light, which is about 1.5 miles from 460, turn right onto Route 61 WEST.

Cross the double train tracks and turn left at the red light (this is still Rt 61 W).

Go about 0.3 mile and you will see Lincolnshire Park and Pool on the right.

Thursday, June 18, 2009

Mock Meet 2009

The Mock Meet is TONIGHT at the Pearisburg TOWN POOL. Arrive at 6:45 so we can start setting up at 7 pm. Everyone will receive instructions about what to do and how to do it. We need help setting up, and if everyone pitches in it will go fast.

There is a full description of the Mock Meet below.

We will NOT be taking the team photo tonight. The photographer had to go somewhere else on assignment. We will reschedule probably for the first home meet.

Attached are the event ENTRIES by name and the Meet Program (Heat Sheets). Everyone is doing one individual swim and just about everyone is in a relay race. If your swimmer is not in a relay right now, it is likely that there will be someone out and they can fill in. I will let you know.

As always, the entries will be posted on a bulletin board at the meet. Sharpies will be provided for the kids if they like to write their events on themselves.

Please be ON TIME. We need to start right at 7 pm, so arrive early. We should be done in a couple hours.

Thanks and Let's Go Jets!

Wednesday, June 17, 2009

Donut orders DUE - WEDNESDAY JUNE 17th

Thanks for your help with the donut fundraiser.

The donut forms and money MUST be turned in tonight (WEDNESDAY JUNE 17). If we have to cancel practice due to rain Michelle will be at the Pearisburg Pool Parking lot to take up orders. It is VITAL to get them turned in so that we can turn in an accurate count. If the forms are turned in late it will mess up our totals so please do this tonight.

Thanks again.

Sunday, June 14, 2009

Practice Schedule Next Two Weeks

Here is the practice schedule and locations for swim team this week:

June 15 - Monday, Pearisburg Town Pool. 7-8 pm for 9 yrs and under, 8-9 pm for 10 and up

June 16 and 17 - Tues and Wednesday, Castle Rock Pool 7-8 pm for 9 yrs and under, 8-9 pm for 10 and up

June 18 - Thursday Mock Meet - ARRIVE AT 6:45, meet set up begins at 7 pm. TEAM PICTURES. See description of Mock Meet Below

June 19 - Friday, Castle Rock Pool: NOTE TIME 6-7 pm 9 yrs and under, 7-8 pm for 10 and up.

June 22 - Monday, Pearisburg Town Pool. 7-8 pm for 9 yrs and under, 8-9 pm for 10 and up

June 23 - Tuesday, AWAY MEET @ TAZEWELL: Arrive by 4:45 pm. More details soon.

June 24 - Wednesday, Tentative - Castle Rock Pool 7-8 pm for 9 yrs and under, 8-9 pm for 10 and up

June 25 - Thursday, HOME MEET against Welch: Arrive by 4:45 pm. More details soon.

June 26 - Friday, Tentative - Castle Rock Pool: NOTE TIME 6-7 pm 9 yrs and under, 7-8 pm for 10 and up.

Castle Rock Pool: In Pembroke, Turn between the Subway / Amish Furniture store and take Castle Rock Rd all the way to the Castle Rock Recreation Area. You will pass the baseball field / Treasure Island area on the right as the road turns sharply left. Continue up the hill and down and up again and you will come to the entrance. Drive into the area and follow the road as it curves to left. The pool is to the right - There is plenty of parking.

PLEASE COME AND PRACTICE WITH US...These pool parties at Castle Rock are VERY expensive and we need to get some bang for our buck.

Remember - Swim meet at Concord on June 30th. Arrive at 4:45. More details soon. NO MEET July 2 or July 7 due to the 4th of July. Practice schedule for this time will be announced soon.

LAST THING: Please be sure to fill out your permission form and meet attendance sheet ASAP. This will help me build the team roster and plan the meets.

Thanks to all

Saturday, June 13, 2009

Mock Meet Thursday June 18

On Thursday June 18th we will hold our annual Mock Meet. Swimmers and parents are asked to arrive at the pool at 6:45. Swimmers will get a list of their events and parents will help set up the meet and get assignments and training for duties during the meets. We will set up the pool for the meet starting at 7 pm, then the meet will start. (Normal meets start at 5:30). This meet should only last a couple hours...depending on getting all the bugs worked out, etc.

Purpose: This is a "mini-meet" designed to give new swimmers and parents a taste of what a swim meet is like, and it gives the team a chance to test all the equipment needed for the upcoming meets.

Families: Probably most important, this meet gives parents a chance to try out the jobs they will be doing during the meets. Some examples include: clerk of course (organizing swimmers in each event), timer (stopwatch duty during each race to get the swimmer's time), starter (announces each event and starts each race), runner (picks up time cards from each lane after each race and other paperwork and delivers them to the scorer's table, also pick up and deliver other items around the pool as needed), scorer (records swimmer's times, places in each event, records points awarded, scores meet), working concessions (selling food items or swim related items), Children's keeper (help small kids know when to go to the clerk of course, help kids move from clerk to starting blocks, helps find kids that don't show up at the blocks at the right time, etc), and stroke and turn judge (judges the swimmers as they swim to ensure they follow the rules for each stroke and race).

If you are new, you will be taught everything you need to know about how to do the jobs you are interested in doing. Most jobs are easy, some require a bit of training, but all are important. Every family is expected to help out in some way during the home meets. Most duty shifts are for half a meet, so it is not really that hard to help out. Again, we will help all new parents (and returning parents) learn what to do and how and when to do it. You will have lots of help and guidance. Equally important - setting up for the meet and taking all the equipment down after the meet requires lots of help from parents. The coach will be very busy coordinating swimmers before the meet and finalizing meet results after the meet. The swim team officers and volunteer coordinators will help everyone know what needs to be done.

The meet coordinators will explain all this in more detail at the Mock Meet and there will be more discussions before the first home meet.

Swimmers: We will have 18 events, or races, at the Mock Meet. (Normal meets have 64 events, give or take.) Event 1 will be boys 6 and under 25 meter freestyle. Event 2 will be girls 6 and under 25 meter freestyle...up to event 12, which is girls 15-18 50 freestyle. The list of events for each swimmer will be posted on a bulletin board (see below). For the mock meet, every swimmer will swim one individual freestyle event, and each swimmer will be "racing" against other swimmers in his/her gender and age group. The last 6 events will be relay races, where groups of four swimmers will form relay teams that will race against each other. These teams will be made up of boys and girls together. Again, 6 and under teams will race against each other and so on up to the oldest swimmers. (In regular meets, most swimmers will swim 1 to 4 events and 1 or 2 relay races depending on age, skill level and swimmer preference).

I will post on a bulletin board the list of swimmers participating in the meet and in which events they are swimming. Swimmers will often write their event numbers on their arms so they won't forget. Then swimmers will listen for the announcement of each event. When they hear their event number called, they will be told to report to the clerk of the course. This will be in the corner nearest the pool steps (by the tennis courts). Once they arrive at the clerk, they will be given a small card with their name on it which will tell them the event number and what the race will be (which they will already know from the bulletin board posting). The card will also tell them what lane they will swim in for the race. If the event is a relay, the card will have the names of all swimmers on the relay team. The clerk will put the kids in order (based on what lane they are in) and the kids will sit in chairs until it is time to go to the blocks. The clerk will tell the kids when to go to the blocks and a Child keeper will lead the kids to the blocks and help them stay in order. Once at the blocks, the timers will get the swimmer's card, and the starter will announce the event number and what the race will be. At that point, the starter will tell the swimmers to get on the blocks (or beside the blocks for those kids that are not comfortable with the blocks yet), take your marks, and a buzzer will sound to start the race. At that point, the swimmer will swim the race. When the swimmer touches the wall, the timers will stop their watches and record the swimmer's time on the card. When all swimmers have finished the race, all the swimmers will be told to exit the pool, and the next event will begin. Swimmers will go to the waiting area to rest and the cards will be taken to the scorer's table for processing. Swimmers then listen out for their next event to be called.

Swimmers are expected to cheer for their team mates as they swim. This can be the most fun part of the meet. It is my hope that we can do some team cheering and yelling before the meet starts. Team spirit is a great morale builder and it helps calm the nerves before the meet. More information about the regular meets will be posted soon, including directions for away meets, events, jobs, etc. Please check back regularly.

LET'S GO, JETS!

Friday, June 12, 2009

Practice Monday June 15 at TOWN POOL!!!!!

Hello All,

We have a deal worked out with the Country Club for practices, but we don't have the final arrangements worked out in time for tonight. So no practice tonight. Sorry for the late notice. I was trying to finalize everything but can't quite yet.

PLEASE NOTE: WE WILL BE AT THE TOWN POOL ON MONDAY FOR PRACTICE. I have reserved a pool party for us so its assured (weather permitting!) On Monday I will have the schedule finalize for practice at the Country Club vs Town Pool. Most of July will be at the Town Pool too since we have lots of reserved practice times too.

Thanks and have a great weekend.

Thursday, June 11, 2009

No Practice Thursday June 11 - New Practice Location Soon

I am pleased to announce that the Country Club in Pearisburg has agreed to let us hold practices at their pool. We have to coordinate schedules first, but this will help us out. Right now we are looking at the regular schedule of 7-8 and 8-9 each day. I will post a schedule as soon as possible. We have lots of days reserved at the Town Pool, too, so watch for the location of practice as well. All the meets, including the Mock Meet on Thursday June 18th, will be at the Town Pool. Just practices at the country club.

Right now, we don't have a schedule and I don't know if tonight is okay, so we will not have practice. I don't like missing tonight, but we just don't have everything worked out just yet.

Thanks to all

Wednesday, June 10, 2009

Stay tuned for news on a new practice location

Hello,

Just a reminder that there will be no swim practice tonight due to a pool party at the Town Pool. Plus, I think the thunderstorms would make it tough for us anyway!

We are in the final stages of working out a new venue for holding swim practices at regular times. Things will be finalized tonight, and I can give you all the information tomorrow.

We are still going to hold all our home meets at the Town Pool, including the Association Meet.

I know this has been a huge distraction for us, between the weather problems and the pool parties. I am asking all of you to stick tight with us and know that good days are ahead for the team. I still want to go undefeated in the regular season (we have lost only to Tazewell in their pool the last two years) and win the Association Meet (this will take some work). We have what it takes. We just have to get it done.

Thanks to everyone. Please stay tuned. Jim

PS: please let me know if you need to be added to our email list!

Tuesday, June 9, 2009

AVON ORDER PICK UP...and new EMAILS

Hello Team,

AVON ORDERS: Michelle Burton will be at the Giles Senior Center (adjacent to the pool) from 6:30 to 7 pm tonight to hand out Avon orders that folks need to pick up. Please see her there RAIN OR SHINE. We need to get these items to our supporters. PLEASE: we still desperately need funds so keep up the great work on fund raisers. Next up is Krispy Kreme donut sales - Yum.

Email: We have an email list serve we use to communicate important notes and messages. If you aren't getting the messages, I don't have your email on the list. Please send me a note at gilesjets@yahoo.com and I will add you right away!

I like to have kids' emails and parents' emails so everybody knows what's going on. So please send me as many contact emails as you like to be sure everyone is included.


We are working on alternate venues for practices in the month of June. It may take a day or two, but we will get ths worked out and we will have plenty of time to get everyone strong in time for our meets.

New swimmers: Please hang in there with us. This is unprecedented and it is taking us a little time to work around it. We have a great team and you will be glad you stuck with us! We will work on strokes and technique and strength together.

Thanks to all. Jim

Monday, June 8, 2009

Pool Party Conflicts with June Practices

Hello,

I regret to inform you that there are pool parties scheduled all week from 7-9 pm, and 9-11 on Thur and Friday. This effectively blocks us out of practice all this week. The same is true for the rest of the month of June.

We have lots of reserved pool time during the month of July, especially leading up to the Association Meet, but that does not solve our immediate needs.

I ask that you not confront or challenge any of the life gaurds or managers of the pool about this. Please allow the swim team leadership to negotiate pool use and changes directly on behalf of the team. Please understand that the pool has the obligation to raise as much money as possible, and they get a lot more from pool parties than from swim practice. For them, it is a simple business decision mandated by the Town.

The swim team leadership and I are working on a number of alternates for practice, and we are trying to resolve this as quickly as possible. I will keep you informed. Please watch here for Blog updates and an updated Google Calendar.

Thanks.

Friday, June 5, 2009

No Practice Friday June 5th or Monday June 8th

Hello,

We will not have practice on Friday June 5th or Monday June 8th due to pool parties.

My schedule has been crazy over the past two weeks, and with the rain and pool parties we have been having a really slow start. PLEASE hang in there with us. I will be back in action next week and we can hopefully move forward quickly to get ready for our first meet on June 23 (at Tazewell). Public schools are out on Thursday and things always pick up after that.

I am VERY grateful to all the parents and swimmers who have been helping with practices, including coaching, assisting, equipment, organization, etc. Thank YOU.

New folks - I hope your swimmers are doing okay. I haven't been there to encourage them or answer questions or give much support. I hope everyone will stick with it for a while longer and you'll see how fast folks improve and get stronger.

FUND RAISERS: thanks for working on this. We need to raise funds, and a lot, too. We plan to purchase new starting blocks, but we need the money to do this, and soon. Thanks so much for participating and helping the team.

See you on Tuesday! Let's Go Jets!

Wednesday, June 3, 2009

Wednesday June 3rd CANCELLED

We are cancelling swim practice for tonight, Wednesday June 3rd, due to thunderstorms in the area. The radar suggests we will not have much of a break in terms of storms for a couple hours.

See you Thursday...I hope.

Please remember that we are taking the team photo at 8 pm tomorrow (weather permitting). Please allow the young swimmers to stay a few extra minutes after practice, and please have the older swimmers arrive about 10 minutes early for this.

Let's Go Jets!