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Welcome back to swimming lessons for Term 1, 2012! The first term of the year is always a busy time of the year with many of our younger swimmers starting school for the first time and school carnivals for the older children. As always, Term 1 is also the home of our Annual Intra Swim School Carnival which has an Olympic theme this year to celebrate the fast-approaching London 2012 Games.
This term is also the peak of the Summer Season for our competitive swimmers with local, regional, state and national championship meets all on the calendar. The Olympic Trials are now only a matter of weeks away!
Whatever is in store for you we hope you have a great term!
Yours in swimming,
McKeon’s Swim School
If you’re having trouble viewing this newsletter, it can be viewed online by copying and pasting the following link into your internet browser: http://www.mckeonswimming.com.au/swim-school/newsletter-term-1-2012.html
Contents
1. Learning Bilateral Breathing
Why learning to breathe to both sides is a good idea
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2. Bring on the Olympic Trials!
Competitive Program update
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3. Benefits of Baby and Pre School Swimming
Swimming lessons are an important part of your child's early development
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4. Have Fun Racing at our Annual Swim School Carnival!
All swimmers in Minnow and above are invited to join in the fun!
Read More
5. SwimSAFER Week
All swimmers aged 2 years and over will have important safety skills reinforced during Week 5 of Term 1
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6. Help us Support People With MS
We're supporting people with MS by participating in the MS 24 Hour Mega Swim. Find out how you can help!
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7. Diary Dates
Important dates to remember – put them in your diary!
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Learning Bilateral Breathing
Learning to side breathe is one of the most important accomplishments for both children and adults who are learning to swim. However, one of the most common wonders of the swimming world is why should you breathe to both sides – known as bilateral breathing.
Some of the benefits can be summarised as:
- Creates a balanced, symmetrical stroke without overloading any muscle groups on a particular side of the body which some say can help prevent injury
- Breathing bilaterally on every third stroke creates a good rhythm allowing for breath control to be further developed
- Breathing to both sides gives the swimmer greater awareness of their stroke and their surroundings. This is particularly of benefit to those who like to swim outside in the ocean
Many swimmers will have a preferred side to breathe and will often revert back to one-sided breathing in a race situation. However, learning to breathe bilaterally is an important skill that should be practiced in lessons and training sessions.
Here at McKeon’s Swim School, swimmers are taught bilateral breathing in Learn to Swim and are encouraged to maintain the habit through the Mini Squad Program. If you would like more information regarding bilateral breathing please speak to one of our Deck Supervisors at your next lesson.
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Bring on the Olympic Trials!
It’s a busy time of year for our competitive program swimmers and coaches with a range of club, district, regional and state championships taking place recently.
Coach James gives his State Age Championships wrap here (Video).
Many of our swimmers are now preparing for the following upcoming meets:
- Australian Open Water (Perth) Friday 17 February – Sunday 19 February
- NSW Country Championships Saturday 25 February – Sunday 26 February
- Olympic Trials (Adelaide) Thursday 15 March – Thursday 22 March
- Australian Age (Brisbane) Monday 9 April – Saturday 14 April
Best of luck to all our swimmers who will be competing for Wests Illawarra – look out for the Olympic Trials which will be broadcast on the Ten Network / ONE HD!
Congratulations to those swimmers who helped Wests Illawarra win the South Eastern Swimming Association Championship recently – a great team effort!
For more information on Wests Illawarra Aquatic Swim Club, visit their website.
http://westsillawarraaquatic.wordpress.com/
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Benefits of Baby and Pre School Swimming
From the data to date, “swimming” parents have indicated that their children reach developmental milestones earlier than same age peers in the general population. This suggests that there is the possibility that swimming does add capital to young children in their physical development as well as language, social and overall intellectual development. This is very encouraging. However, further detailed testing will be required to ensure that these results are accurate and not the result of proud parents over-reporting their children’s abilities. The child testing which will commence in 2012 will either confirm or challenge this claim.
The 2011/12 survey has been launched and is available online. This can be accessed from the Early-Years Swim Project website: www.griffith.edu.au/education/early-years-swimming/
You can also read an article featured in the Illawarra Mercury where we outline some of the benefits of baby swimming lessons here.
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Have Fun Racing at Our Swim School Carnival
Our Annual Intra Swim School Carnival is one of the highlights of the Swim School year! The Carnival is open to all swimmer who in the Minnow level or above and is a great opportunity to have a fun afternoon of racing in a fun, friendly environment.
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Saturday 24 March
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UOW Aquatic Centre
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12:00pm arrival for 12:30pm Parade of Competitors and 1:00pm Racing
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University pool entry: $3.50 swimmers, $1 spectators
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Entries due by Wednesday 14 March
Due to 2012 being an Olympic Year, we've chosen to name our teams after some of our favourite Australian Olympic swimmers:
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Team Huegill (Unanderra Green – Team Captain Coach Candice)
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Team Sullivan (Unanderra Gold – Team Captain Coach Rachel)
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Team Trickett (Towradgi Blue – Team Captain Coach AJ)
Team Captains Candice and Rachel have made a video to get you excited! Be sure to get involved, dress up, and support your team!
For more information, including programs and entry forms, ask at the front desk when you’re next at the pool, or visit our website.
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SwimSAFER Week
A key component of our swimming program is to teach children to be safer around the water. While we teach water safety on a regular and ongoing basis, at times it is necessary to provide a more intensive water safety lesson.
That being the case, Week 5 of this Term (Monday 27 February – Saturday 3 March) is designated a SwimSAFER Week where we place a particular emphasis on water safety skills and drills in a significant portion of regular swimming lessons. Our water safety program is nationally accredited by Swim Australia and consists of practical experiences designed to help your children react more predictably in an aquatic emergency.
All swimmers from Angelfish (Infants 2 years – 3 years) to Shark Squad will automatically take part in this vital lesson. We ask that swimmers in these levels arrive at their lesson with old clothes over their swimwear so that clothed survival sequences can be practiced. This is really a great skill to practice as emergencies don’t only occur with children wearing swimming costumes and goggles. Remember to bring a plastic bag to put the wet clothes in after the lessons!
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Help Us Support People With MS
We've again entered a team in the MS 24 Hour Mega Swim at the University of Wollongong on the 3/4 March.
The MS Mega Swim is a 24 hour swim-a-thon designed to raise awareness and much needed funds for those suffering with Multiple Sclerosis. There are currently over 20,000 people in Australia that have been diagnosed with the disease, with that figure likely to increase as detection methods become more advanced.
Funds raised from the event will go towards the further development of local community scholarships. These scholarships are designed to provide programs and services to local MS sufferers and give them the support they require in order to go about their daily activities.
To sponsor us or to join our team, visit the Mega Swim website.
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Diary Dates
SwimSAFER Week Monday 27 February – Saturday 3 March
Be sure to attend lessons this week as there will be a specific water safety focus. Children should wear old clothes that can get wet over their swimming costumes to their lesson
MS 24 Hour Mega Swim Saturday 3 March – Sunday 4 March, UOW Aquatic Centre
McKeon’s Swim School has entered a team in the Wollongong 24 Hour Mega Swim to raise money for MS. To join us, support us, or to find out more, visit http://events.megaswim.com/?McKeons+Swim+School
Re-enrolment Week Monday 26 March - Saturday 31 March
Re-enrol this week to confirm your place for Term 2, 2012
Changes Week Tuesday 3 April – Thursday 5 April
Re-enrol this week if you wish to change your lesson time for Term 2, 2012 Last Day of Term 1 Thursday 5 April
Last day of Swim School for Term 1 Easter Holidays Friday 6 April – Monday 9 April
McKeon’s Swim School closed for the Easter long weekend Autumn Holiday Program
Autumn Holiday Program
Week 1 Tuesday 10 April - Friday 13 April
Week 2 Monday 16 April - Friday 20 April
Read more about our Holiday Program
First day of Term 2 Monday 23 April
Lessons recommence for Term 2
ANZAC Day Public Holiday Wednesday 25 April
McKeon’s Swim School closed for the ANZAC Day Public Holiday
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Did you know that we’re on Facebook and Twitter? Facebook and Twitter are a great way for you to connect with us. You can leave us feedback at any time and we will keep you updated with all the latest swimming news.
You can connect with us at www.facebook.com/mckeonswimming and www.twitter.com/mckeonswimming
For a printable, text only version of this newsletter click here
Winner Best Swim School SwimSAFER Promotion, Swim Australia Awards, 2011
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