Thursday, July 31, 2008

Finals Party-Sunday August 3 5-8 pm

Please join us on Sunday after Finals are done, from 5-8 pm at the North Pool for our End of year picnic and awards party.

The schedule is:
5:00-6:00-Picnic! The team is providing Danny’s Pizza and Famous Dave’s Barbecue. Families with last names starting with A-M please bring a side dish to share; if your name starts with N-Z please bring a dessert to share.

6:00-Team Meeting! We have business and announcements for the families, as well as board elections for next year.

Following the team meeting, Coach Jay will begin recognizing our swimmers for all their hard work this year!

Bring drinks for your family and the chairs that you bring to meets.

See Mark Fischer or me at the picnic to sign up for next season’s RSL training! Also, if your year-round swimmers have fins/flippers that they’ve outgrown, please bring them on Sunday to donate to the team for next season. Coach Jay would like to incorporate them into practices.

Call me if you have questions, 736-8291.

Wednesday, July 30, 2008

Finals Volunteer Update!

Please see what jobs are available by checking the Meet Volunteer link located to the right of this post. We need to have all jobs filled to help the meet run smoothly on Saturday! Email or call Carey if you haven't done so already!

Finals Jobs and Schedule Change

Lightning families,

If you have not signed up for jobs at Finals and your child is swimming, you need to contact Carey Pohanka ASAP via email (capohanka@verizon.net) or cell phone 226-5804. There are a few slots available in the morning and more in the afternoon. The afternoon shift has been divided into 2 sections, so there are more jobs, but there are also more swimmers.

We received notice today that the afternoon shift will begin at 12:30 pm instead of 1:00 pm, so our warm up for ages 11-18 is now at 11:15 AM, and swimmers need to check in at 10:45 am. The Dahlgren RSL also says “At this time the base is not going to allow folks to drive up to the pool and drop off their stuff and then go park. To me, it is a little bit of a walk to the tent areas from where they are having the teams park, so you might want to let your folks know to make sure their coolers have wheels”

The good news for morning swimmers is that you should be finished by 11:00 am, as this is the time they’re planning to have the 1st afternoon warmup session. Don’t forget that the coaches need morning swimmers to check in at 6:15 am, with a 6:45 am warmup.

Message from Coach Jay

Lee’s Hill Swimmers,

Congratulations to all of Lee’s Hill Swimmers on a great season. I am very proud of you all for what you have accomplished this season with all of you improving and cutting time. We hope that you have had fun swimming for the summer and will join us next summer. Swim Finals are approaching us quickly, you all have been training and practicing very hard for this day. I wish every one of you the best at finals and all I ask is you go out, do your best, and have fun. Remember to cheer for your teammates.

I will be at finals to cheer you on and if you need any thing, but this is your day to shine.
SWIM HARD, SWIM FAST AND GOOD LUCK.

Coach Jay

Directions to Dahlgren Pool

DAHLGREN - 6 LANE, 25 YARD POOL. Jenkins Road Bldg 1193, Dahlgren, VA 22448

DIRECTIONS: Rt. 3 East to King George High School stoplight at Rt. 206. Left on Rt. 206/Dahlgren Road. Follow straight through Rt. 301 stoplight and Potomac Drive stoplight to NSWC main gate ~ 10 miles. Enter main gate of NSWC showing PICTURE I.D. Continue 4 blocks to a right turn on Jenkins Road at the Credit Union. Right on Jenkins, continue 2 blocks. Dahlgren Aquatics Center Indoor Pool is on the right. Parking can be found at the Credit Union after 5 p.m., along right side of Jenkins Road, past the pool in front of the Parade Field. Do not park in the residential area across from the pool!! or in CrafTech parking lot. **Because of the entrance requirements to the base, you may want to allow extra time. Be aware that random security checks are made on cars. Ample parking & deck space.

For South side families, you may choose to follow Rte. 17 to Port Royal, then take a left at the red light onto 301; follow the signs to the main gate, which will be right turn at the red light at the Rte 206/301 intersection in Dahlgren. Travel time should be about 45 minutes from either route.

Please note that Finals parking near the pool is restricted to coaches and RSL officials. A list of swim team families has been provided to the Security gate, so you should not have trouble getting through the gate.

No Practice today!

Due to chlorine problems at the North pool, the coaches are cancelling the remaining practices for this morning. We hope the problem gets resolved today so we can resume practice. Please check the blog and email for more updates!

Tuesday, July 29, 2008

Finals Details!

Please click on the link below to access a document provided to us by the host team, Dahlgren.
Please note that only timers, coaches, and other poolside workers may remain on the pool deck. Spectators will be required to leave the deck immediately after their swimmers are finished. This will mean a lot of back and forth for the parents, but the pool capacity is a major concern. I cannot stress enough how important this rule is going to be---if we exceed pool capacity, the Fire Marshall will suspend the meet!
This map give an idea about our team location as well as the other amenities for the meet:


I will include a larger version in an email.

Please keep checking back for further details!

Monday, July 28, 2008

Top 10 Things to do for FINALS WEEK!!!

10. Come to Stroke and Turn Clinic on Monday, Tuesday, and/or Thursday from 6:45 to 8:00pm, weather permitting!

9. Come to practice EVERY morning this week! 13-up swimmers start at 7am (except Friday), 9-12 swimmers start at 8:30 and 8 and under swimmers start at 9:30.

8. Parents sign up for Finals Jobs! Email Carey Pohanka at capohanka@verizon.net or see her at practice to sign up. If you have a child swimming in Finals, you need to sign up to work!

7. Plan to be at our year-end Awards Picnic on Sunday August 3 from 5 pm-8 pm at the North pool. If your last name starts with A-M, please bring a side dish; N-Z please bring a dessert to share. Bring your own beverages. More details later this week.

6. Check the Lightning Flash Newsletter blog often for updates!

5. Thank all the coaches for all their hard work and time that they have devoted to the team this summer! Even though our win-loss record isn't what we planned, each swimmer has achieved personal improvements, and we thank the coaches for all they have done for us!

4. Sign up at the Awards Picnic for next season RSL training! We have a severe shortage of trained workers for Clerk of Course, Stroke and Turn, Scoring, Referee, and Starter. This shortage threatens our ability to participate in RSL events. We need to know that there will be qualified parents who are willing to help fill these vital roles for next season.

3. Serve on the LHST Council! The Council elections will be held during the picnic on Sunday, and we have open slots to fill for Equipment Manager, Fundraising Chair, Concessions Co-chair, and At-Large member. Call Amy at 736-8291 for more details---and pick up the phone if I call you!

2. EAT! Friday morning we will have a pot-luck breakfast that begins at 8 AM at the North pool. Bring a breakfast goodie and enjoy our last practice day with teammates!

1. SWIM LIGHTNING FAST ON SATURDAY! Check in for 10 and under swimmers is 6:15 AM (sorry:( )and for 11 and older swimmers is 10:45 AM. Directions to Dahlgren pool will be posted later in the week.

Fins!

If your swimmer has a pair of fins (aka flippers) that are too small, please donate them to the team! Coach Jay would like to incorporate them some in practice next year, and the team will buy some fins. I know there are 3 pair that are too small for my kids in the garage. If you've been involved in year-round swimming, you probably have some too. Check the basement, garage, storage shed, etc. and bring those fins to the pool!

Sunday, July 27, 2008

Message to Swimmers

Lee’s Hill Swimmers,

This is our last week of practice before finals. It is vital that you attend these practices to prepare for finals. We will start morning practices at 7am for the 13-18 age groups. Any 11-12year olds are welcome to join in this practice. Practice times are as follows: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday 7-8:30am 13-18yrs, 8:30-9:30am 9-12yrs, 9:30-10am 8yrs & Under. Friday’s practice is at regular time 7:30-8:30am, 8:30-9:25am, 9:25-10:00am and the Breakfast will start at 8am. All events for finals are in and cannot be changed, I have a copy of the events for each swimmer and we will be practicing them.

If you are not swimming at finals and still around the area, please come to practice to support your team and have one more fun week with your teammates.

If you have any questions please let me know. See you at the pool bright and early

Coach Jay

Tuesday, July 22, 2008

No Stroke and Turn Clinic Tuesday Night!

Our coaches are working on Finals seeding, so there will be no clinic tonight, 7/22/08.

Sunday, July 20, 2008

Message from Coach Jay!

Swimmers and Parents

Tomorrow is our last meet before finals on August 2nd. We swim at home against Dahlgren, please be at the pool by 4:30pm for check in and we have first warm ups. We still have two weeks left of practices so please make every effort to you come to practice on and regular bases. Starting Monday July 28 to Thursday July 31 we will start the early morning practice at 7am. I would like to invite any of the 11-12 year olds to join in this practice if they wish. Practice times are as follows 13-18yrs 7-8:30am. 9-12 8:30-9:30 and 8 and under 9:30 to 10am this is for the week starting July 28 – 31st. On Friday August 1st regular time schedule will apply, we will also have our Last Day breakfast on August 1st starting at 8:00am. I would like to invite parents and swimmers to this and it is a pot luck breakfast. So make your favorite breakfast dish. Hope to see you all there. If you have any questions please let me know.

Thank you
Coach Jay
540-710-9767
usa_aus@verizon.net

Saturday, July 19, 2008

Monday Meet Information!

I hope you enjoyed the bye week! We have our final home meet scheduled for Monday July 21. This week, if we have to have a makeup time, it will be on Wednesday July 23. The RSL Seeding for Finals is on Saturday, so all meets must be completed before this. Hopefully the weather will cooperate and we’ll get done Monday night as scheduled.

Don’t forget to check which jobs you’re signed up for on Monday. See you at the pool!
Amy

Wednesday, July 16, 2008

Finals Heat Sheets!

Parents, you have an opportunity to congratulate your swimmers for a job well done in the Finals Heat Sheets! Please check our communication box for the folder with forms to submit an ad from you by Monday, July 21. If you have questions, please email Peggy at psmcnult@aol.com.

Sunday, July 13, 2008

FINALS from Coach Jay!!

Dear Parents and swimmers

I would like to take this opportunity to thank you all for all your help so far this swim season. We have one swim meet left before our finals on August 2nd. I would like to ask you all for your help in planning for finals. Finals are a big event where all the teams in our division come together and participate in one last meet. When we plan for meets it takes us a couple of days to place swimmers in events and most times we have changes to make on the day of the meet. This takes me a couple of hours to do, but with finals I do not have that luxury. Once I submit the meet planner in for finals, it can not be changed. The planner is submitted on July 23 and it is very important that I know by then the exact attendance and who will absolutely miss the finals. We are only allowed 6 swimmers per event to include Freestyle and for some age groups this means that some swimmers will only have an opportunity to swim in one event. I will make every effort to put each swimmer in an event for the finals. This is why it is so important that I have an accurate head count of all participating swimmers to ensure each of our events are adequately covered and everyone has the opportunity to represent Lee’s Hill at our final competitions. Every no show impacts the entire team and takes away from someone else’s opportunity to compete. Please make every opportunity to clear your calendars for this event, Aug 2nd or let me yours plans to be away no later than July 23rd. If you have any questions or concerns please see me during or after practice, call, or e-mail. Many thanks!

Coach Jay

Thursday, July 10, 2008

Meet is on tonight!

See you at the pool at 4:45!

Wednesday, July 9, 2008

Message from Coach Jay

Tonight’s meet has been reschedule to tomorrow Thursday, if you know that you can not make tomorrows meet please e-mail me by 12 noon. The Meet will start at 6pm we will start were we left off which I believe event number 23. Please be at the pool by 4:45pm as we will have a 20min warm-up for each team.

If for some reason we do not have the meet tomorrow it will be on Saturday morning.

Practice will be at regular time tomorrow.

Monday the 14th we will have a special coach, Coach Bob from the Ray’s will be here to practice with the 9-12 yrs from 8:30 to 9:30am this will be an hour long practice. Please make every effort to be at practice and to make Bob welcome.

See you at the pool

Coach Jay

Meet postponement UPDATE!

Thank you to all our families who stayed around tonight while we waited on the weather to clear. Unfortunately it didn't happen quickly enough, so we have to continue the meet.

The current plan--pending approval from the LHCA office and the pool management-- is to continue the event from event 23 at 6 pm tomorrow, Thursday July 10. If we do not get this approval, the meet will happen Saturday morning from 7 am-10 am. I will be on the phone at 8 am with Hilary at the LHCA office and hope to have an answer to pass along to you.

What we need from swimmers and families: 1) contact coach Jay via email by NOON if you WILL NOT be able to swim on Thursday evening; 2) please be flexible in filling in jobs for the remainder of the meet, especially concessions and setup. Cathie Kraynak is the Meet Director for tomorrow, so please check in with her!; 3)PLEASE check the blog and email for updates which will be posted as soon as information becomes available.

PRACTICE will be normal for Thursday morning! Meet arrival times will be announced at practice and via the blog.

Thanks again for all your hard work and patience tonight! We want our swimmers to have every opportunity to get their qualifying times for finals!

Wednesday July 9 Meet !

Tonight’s meet is still ON as long as there is no thunder/lightning. We will swim in the rain! Swimmers need to be on deck at 4:30 pm today. If we have lightning, the meet will be delayed and hopefully restarted tonight. If that is not possible, the makeup date for continuing the meet is Saturday morning with swimmers warming up at 6:15 am and the meet starting at 7 am.

Make your plans for our raffle tonight: a round of golf for 4 at the Lee’s Hill Golf Course! Be sure to buy your tickets early and spread the word!

Be aware that there will be cones restricting some parking tonight near the pool to allow for emergency access to the pool and safe parking at the entrance to Grayson Lane. See a board member is you have questions! In the pool parking lot, please be sure you park in a marked space. Thanks!

Finals are August 2 at Dahlgren Pool. You can include a message to your swimmer or advertise your business in the Finals Heat Sheets! Forms are in our communication box and need to be turned in to Peggy McNult by July 14. Also, if you have a swimmer who will “age out” this summer, please send a 3-4 line bio to psmcnult@aol.com also by July 14.

If you are not able to swim at finals, you need to let Coach Jay know ASAP. Once the finals entries are completed, NO changes are allowed! If your swimmer is not available, please make sure the coaching staff is aware of this so that all eligible swimmers who are planning to swim can be included. Entries in finals are significantly different than entries in dual meets, and we want to maximize our chances of scoring points at finals!

If you haven’t got your Lee’s Hill t-shirts or towels, please see Kristie ASAP! We want to show our team spirit at our last 2 meets and Finals!

Tuesday, July 8, 2008

Finals Information!!

RSL Patriot Division Finals will be held at Dahlgren on Saturday August 2. More details are coming soon! The Heat Sheets that are sold at all the divisional Finals are being put together by our Lee's Hill RSL rep, Peggy McNult. To have a message to your swimmer included in the heat sheets, please check the communication box at the pool for a form. All input is needed by July 14. This is a great opportunity to encourage your swimmers or advertise your business!

Swimmers who will "age out" are also recognized in the heat sheets. If you have a swimmer who is 18, please send Peggy a 3-4 line bio so he or she can be included to psmcnult@aol.com.

Check back for more information!

Home Meet vs. Austin Ridge- July 9!

We will host Austin Ridge tomorrow evening for our 2nd home meet! Swimmers need to be at the pool at 4:30 and check in with the coaches. Parents don't forget to check your meet assignments and report to work as scheduled. Stacy still needs some critical jobs filled for the meet, so please check the list and help if you can.

Thursday, July 3, 2008

No Practice on July 4th

Happy Independence Day!!

See you Monday at the pool!

Wednesday, July 2, 2008

Lee's Hill Lightning at Fawn Lake TONIGHT!

Hey swim families! It's time to trek back out for our final away meet of the season (until Finals in Dahlgren!). Here are the directions to Fawn Lake if you weren't able to make the last meet there:

From 95 take Rt. 3 West towards Culpeper. Go approximately 10 miles and make a left onto Rt 621. (It is a left turning lane and a white church on the right). Go about 2 1/2 miles to the stop sign. Go straight about 1/2 mile and entrance to Fawn Lake will be on your left. Go to the guard house and tell them that you are here for the swim meet. Stay straight on Longstreet Drive. Park in the dirt lot on the right ONLY!! The lot where the tennis courts are. You may not park in the front circle unless you are handicapped. Ample parking and deck space.

It is critical for swimmers who are entered in the meet to actually show up and swim. We are getting close to RSL Finals, and the coaches are trying to qualify as many swimmers as possible.

Swimmers should arrive at 4:30 today and check in with the coaches. Our warmup will begin at 5:30 pm. Parents, please wear your Lee's Hill apparel and support the team!

Lee's Hill Lightning-Swim Lightning Fast!!!