Coach's Corner
Welcome all new and returning members of CBAC!

New Coaching Staff - Your CBAC assistant coaches are Brooke Peterson, Rob Davis, Kathleen McCellan, Maura Lee, Julie Nealon, and helping as her time permits, Mindy McLoughlin.

CBAC Board - There are some recent changes in the CBAC Board that you should all know. After many years of hard work, Paul Kram and Russ & Liz Dobson have decided to step down from the Board. I am sure you will join me in giving them a huge THANK YOU for all their past efforts. Their departure, along with those from the Charles County contingent, left several vacancies on the CBAC Board. With gratitude, I am announcing that the following people have decided to serve as new board members: Trevor Richards-Vice President (acting President), Kathy Gabrelcik-Secretary, Liz Richards- Treasurer, Cathy Doering-Ways & Means, Linda Davis-Records & Entries, and Patti Lindblad-Membership Chair. Marty Kitner has stepped forward as Head Timer, and Joan Bauk & Cathy Coll are continuing their commitment to do the buying for concessions. Keep in mind that all of you will receive calls from them asking for assistance with our first home meet later this month. Please be prepared to support your team and keep your eyes open for sign-up sheets.

By-Laws - With the competitive season upon us, I have decided not to pursue any major changes to the CBAC By-laws or structure of the club at this time. However, with the collaborative support of Board Members, we hope to formulate a mutually beneficial plan that would take effect as late as next Spring or Summer. I will keep you posted.

As our Nation pulls together to face what seems an uncertain future, I've decided that our team could use its own theme to remind us that working together achieves more: "Esprit de Corp" -- A spirit of enthusiastic devotedness to and support of the common goals of a group.

Newsflash:

The first board meeting of the new season was held on Sept. 26th. The topics discussed were the upcoming home meet, team financial situation and budget for new season, upcoming pool closure and the new committee to study the issue, and high school swimming.
The next board meeting will be held on October 24th at SMC (meet at the pool) at 6:00 pm. Please feel free to attend and get involved!

The New Parents Meeting was held on October 3rd. We hope it was an informative session for all who attended! There are some copies left of USA Swimming's "Parents' Handbook" and the "Swim Parent Survival Guide". Please see Liz Richards or Cathy Doering at the pool (or drop a note in our mail box) if you would like one. Also available for your use is the P.E.A.K. Kit (Parent Education and Awareness Kit) which contains the 15-minute video "Sport Parent". Feel free to borrow it any time.

Volunteers Needed! Senior Swimmers not participating in the Home Meet will be expected to volunteer on deck or in concessions. CBAC Board Members can sign your school's Community Service Folder to confirm your participation. Every CBAC family will need to provide a volunteer - even if your swimmer is not participating. We are urgently looking for "session supervisors" for concessions, as well as timers, concession workers and other positions. Your help will enable us to continue to run outstanding meets and to raise funds for our team. Sign-up sheets will be posted next week!

Calendar:

Oct. 13-14 - All Freestyle Meet, ASC, no time standards, 6&U, 7-8, 9-10, 11-12, 13-14 and Open. Men and Senior Women will swim Saturday (7:00 am warm-up), Women 6&U thru 13-14 will swim on Sunday (7:00 am warm-up).

Oct. 27-28 - CBAC HOME MEET, Slower than 2001 "AA" time standards, 9-10, 11-12, 13-14 and Open. Sign-up sheet posted on the team bulletin board.

Look Ahead:
Nov. 3-4 - 10 & Under Meet, EA (Edgewood Middle School), no time standards.
Nov. 10-11 - A & Over Meet, RAC; 11 & Over equal to or faster than 2001 "A" time standards, 10& Under equal to or faster than modified BB-A time standards; Age Groups 10&U, 11-12, 13-14, & Open.
Nov. 24-25 - Thanksgiving Meet & Mini Meet, GBSA; slower than 2001 "BB" time standards for Age Groups 9-10, 11-12, 13-14, & Open; No time standards for Mini Meet for Age Groups 6&Under, 7, 8.

Parents' News

For Your Information....
The competitive season is about to begin! Don't forget to sign up your swimmer for some of the upcoming meets. USA Swimming sites the following as being some of the aspects of swimming that kids consider fun:
*The excitement of competition
*Improving skills through challenges
*Being successful.
Let's help keep the fun in swimming!

Meet Sign-up Procedures:
The sign-up procedures for swim meets are as follows: Swimmers' names should be placed on the Sign-up Sheet which is posted on the Team Bulletin Board. If you have an escrow account for meet fees, it will be debited for the total entry fee for that meet. Escrow account updates will be placed in your mailbox when the balance falls below $20.00. If you do not have an escrow account established, you will receive a statement showing the meet entry fees due. Please make all checks payable to CBAC and place them in the "Meet Entry Fees" folder in the mailboxes. Detailed information about the meet is available on the web at mdswim.org. These Meet Notices have travel directions, session times, schedule of events and other pertinent information.

Escrow Accounts:
If you would like to set up an escrow account, please contact Liz Richards at the pool or drop a note and check in the Richards' Mailbox. Most host teams charge $4.00 per individual event and CBAC assesses a $3.00 fee per swimmer per meet (to help cover coach travel costs) so you can expect an average 2-day meet to cost about $27.00. Most families open their accounts with $50.00 and reimburse them as needed throughout the season. As noted above, updates are placed in the mailbox when the escrow balance falls below $20.00. This is a very convenient way to cover meet entry fees if your swimmer attends several meets each season.

Striving for Excellence....
Have you ever wondered how Coach Chuck decides which events your swimmer will participate in during a meet? You may wonder why your swimmer competes in his or her weaker events, or in the longer races when sprints are preferred. USA Swimming teaches today's coaches that specialization in swimming should not occur until the post-puberty and adolescence period (+/- 15 years old). Prior to that stage, training should focus on skill development and athletic formation. Also, both winning and losing should be treated as positive teaching situations with an emphasis on self-improvement, competence, and striving for excellence. For these reasons, Coach Chuck asks our swimmers to use all 4 strokes and to swim short, middle, and long distance events. The focus is always on technique and strategy while improving on the swimmer's previous time - not on winning the race. - Liz Richards, editor

A Note About Officiating.... by Trevor Richards
Randy Morris will be holding two Officials Clinics next week - Monday, October 8th and Thursday, October 11th from 6:00 to 7:30 pm. at his home. You can call him at 301-872-4266 for information. When I attended Randy's clinic last year, I wasn't quite sure what to expect, but found it to be very informative and interesting. I went on to do my five apprentice sessions over the course of the winter, and by spring was "officially" an official! I have found all the people I've worked with to be pleasant and helpful, and of course very happy to see new officials coming aboard. You can work as often as you like - I have, in fact, worked most of the meets that our son attended since taking the clinic because I enjoy being on deck and helping the sport of swimming. All the swim clubs welcome an extra hand and our swimmer certainily enjoys my involvement. I would urge you to attend the clinic next week if you think this is something you might enjoy. There is no commitment - you just need to spend $30 to become a non-athlete USS Swim member and you will need to buy your "Maryland Officials" clothing. (Don't forget - you get free food at the swim meets! Always sign up for the Annapolis Swim Club meets - they have the best!) See you at the clinic.