Update -- October 21, 2008

Dear Divers, Parents, and Supporters,  

A week and a half until our "Nightmare" is over!  (HMMM, that event title could work on many levels, given my mental state recently ;)

We called a team meeting today and elected our club's athlete rep to the HDA -- Ashley Maginot!  The HDA will soon have her nose to the grindstone doing all kinds of committee work MWAHAHAHAHAH -- I mean congratulations!

We also had a team discussion after the vote about my frustrations with what I perceive as an ongoing lack of commitment/respect from a number of team members.  The main focal points of my "lecture" regarded coming to workouts fully prepared (i.e., with SHOES for dryland...not a new theme if you search through update letters, and also with a lack of focus during dryland exercising and stretching) and also communication regarding absences from/lateness to workouts (i.e., it's the athletes'/families' responsibility to communicate well in advance to the coach when they will be missing workouts, or when the RARE circumstance should cause tardiness).

The upshot of the my position is this:  if you care about your diving and want to become the best diver you can be, I really want to give you my all.  But such caring is shown by regular attendance, coming to workout fully prepared, and communicating in a timely fashion.  If you just want social hour with no responsibilities, I don't want you as a member of Tropic Lightning Diving Team. I will be happy to contact other coaches and see if they want such divers in their programs, and refer you over, if that's what you want.  I think anyone who is paying the diving fees for this team knows that I don't do this for the money -- I'm beginning to think that, because I am so "affordable," people don't value what they get and don't consider it necessary to be properly involved, supportive, and respectful.  

OK, rant over -- on to the positive things from this month

OCTOBER  ACCOMPLISHMENTS: 

Tate learned her 001D 5M, did her 002A by herself on 3M and is improving on her 201A 1M, but getting there!  Emily has learned her 001D 5M independently, and is doing her 102C with a full approach now!  Kellar and Kacie are doing 401C 1M, and Kacie has added 102C to her repetoire.  Mikayla just came back froma  loooong break and is getting back into the swing of things.   Angelica, our new 6 year old diver, has learned front and back jumps tuck and straight with full approaches and a standing front jump straight from 3M!!  Dimi has learned many jumps and a 001 on 5M.    Alena has gotten off all her jumps and lineups on 5M.  Joanna learned 202A 5M.  Linnet learned 201B and 403C 5M.  Ashley is working hard on getting her 400 spinning actions back.  Kai learned 303B 3M.    Madison has learned 403C 3M and moved on to independent reverse dives!  YAYAYAYAAY!! Coach Jeff has improved his hurdle greatly and enjoys the added height and power on his dives, and is improving his back spinning action on platform (5231D and 203B looked hot last Saturday!).

UPCOMING

"The Nightmare After Halloween" meet -- November 1.   Definite trip to Mission Viejo, CA, for the Chris Vonk Memorial, December 6-7 -- Contact Coach Jeff to confirm that you are going on this one!

High School Season starts in November, and we will be changing schedule after the HDA Championships on November 23 -- when the pool gets really cold, we will go to weekends only for winter, trying to stay at the warmest times of the day (noonish), and return to normal schedule in March.  I recommend that young'uns take a break during the cold months so they don't end up hating diving because of the weather!  Last year was too hectic and trying for me, juggling HS season and trying to make winter "dryland" training workable.  I shan't repeat that.

REMAINDER OF OCTOBER WORKOUT SCHEDULE

Wednesday, Oct 22, Kaiser 4:30-6:30 PM

Thursday, Oct 23, 3:30-6:00 PM at Schofield

No workouts Friday, October 24 - Monday, October 27, Coach Jeff in NYC for Wedding

Tuesday, Oct 28, 3:30-6:00 PM at Schofield

Wednesday, Oct 29, Kaiser 4:30-6:30 PM

Thursday, Oct 30, 3:30-6:00 PM at Schofield

Friday, Oct 31, 3:30-6:00 PM at Schofield (note change in time and location from normal Friday Workouts!)

Saturday, Nov 1, "The Nightmare After Halloween" Meet, set for 10 AM warm-ups, 11 AM start time

Okies, That's all for now! 

Jeff