March 28, 2008

CONGRATULATIONS! Lakeside won its 37th consecutive Kentucky State Championship, won the 8-under State Championship, dominated High School Region and State Meets, had 18 swimmers make the Junior National Championships, were the girls were 2^nd and the team 7^th overall and placed two swimmers on the USA World Championship Team this past season. We are also were named a USA Gold Medal Club for the 5^th year in a row! This was the culmination of a great season, and was reward for all the hard work put in by everyone involved with the team. Every swimmer did a great job and the staff is proud of your success. It should be a great long course season!

The Staff recently met prior to and after the Championship meets to discuss group movement. Two of the primary areas we looked at were the large number of Seniors we lose in the Fall and that a large number of swimmers just moved into their current groups last Fall. Based on the expectation of moving a large number of swimmers again this Fall, we did not move many swimmers this spring. The staff will coach to the level of the current group and we felt that swimmers could be challenged and many would be better served by staying the few months of the Long Course season with their current groups and then would be even better prepared for the next level. Please feel free to contact Mike DeBoor on the overall process and thinking in this matter, please contact your swimmer’s coach first on the individual questions.

In an effort to continue maintaining a higher quality program and to allow current younger swimmers the opportunity to advance we have determined that it is necessary to follow the below policy regarding “year-round” swimming.

To be guaranteed a spot on the Team in the fall of 2007, 11 and older swimmers must be training and competing with Lakeside over the summer and winter seasons. If you do not participate with us over the summer we will make it a top priority to assign you to a group for the fall, however swimmers who have committed to swimming year round will take precedent.

Please review the following information on Grouping in full. If you need to discuss your individual situation, please do so with your current coach FIRST, and as soon as possible.

LAKESIDE 2008 SPRING/SUMMER GROUP ASSIGNMENTS

Please note that swimmers listed in a new group are being invited and must accept the increase in commitment to become a member of the new group. Swimmers or families who feel they are not yet ready to accept that increase, need to meet with their coach and discuss the situation. There are a number of times that swimmers are advanced too soon, so please contact your coach if there is any hesitancy on moving to another group.

The process of assigning groups always proves to be one of the most difficult things we must do. Our decisions are based on a number of factors; meet performance, training, attendance, maturity, lane space and our future expectations of the groups. Swimmers and parents must understand that we realize the social aspect: the desire to be with friends, the competition and comparing, and the multitude of other approaches or views swimmers and parents have about swimming and other athletes. Please remember that over three hundred swimmers have been split up into training groups and that lines must be drawn; however, I can assure you that every swimmer will be given the opportunity to grow and develop over the season. Please be patient and realize there may be adjustments to groups based on what we see in practice and how individual swimmers perform.

Below is the current information regarding Grouping and Advancement within the program.

ADVANCEMENT WITHIN THE PROGRAM

Generally speaking, swimmers are grouped according to ability level. At the entry level, age is probably an equal consideration. We want these swimmers to feel comfortable within their peer group. Later in their development, however, ability takes precedence. It's important that the upper groups contain swimmers of similar ability for the sake of practice management.

Coaches are in the best position to decide when swimmers are ready for advancement. They are familiar with the demands and expectations of the next group and observe the swimmers daily in the practice environment. Parents, on the other hand, have a natural bias, which often precludes an objective analysis. In some cases, the swimmer really wants to move up, but such feelings normally have a large social component. Parents can easily identify with the necessity to explain to children the difference between wants and needs.

All swimmers satisfying the prerequisites, performance standards, and personal development expectations for a particular group will be considered for advancement within the program. Advancement could take place depending on group numbers, team breakdown, and the coaching staff’s decision based on individual swimmer’s needs. The coaching staff will make all decisions.

2008 Spring/Summer Groups Changes go into effect after Spring Break