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Roadmap
to Improvement
Many
of you have asked how to get to the next Level, how many days you
should be practicing to accomplish your goals and what do you need to
do to improve. The Programs page has been updated to provide you with
an overview of our club, then details each MCSC Level to help guide
you to the next Level. Click here for the Programs page to view the Swimmer Levels Detail.
Goal
Planning
One
of the benefits of the Morris County Swim Club is our commitment to
allow swimmers to define their goals and set their practice schedule
to meet their goals. Many swimmers have considered their
pathway to success, but now the MCSC can supplement or help guide you
via our goal planning tools. The MCSC coaches are here to provide
your training and assist you with setting your personal roadmap to
success and implementing the strategies necessary to attain your
goals. There are various goal templates. Print out one that works for
you and work with your coach to clarify and refine your goals.
Discuss the goals, keep track of progress with your coach and other
mentors and keep focused on your objectives.
Goal Worksheet Monthly Training Plan, Weekly Fuel Log and Performance Log
Seasonal Plan Phelps Seasonal Plan USS Goal Setting
Your Top Times versus US Swimming Motivational Standards
Your Top Times Versus NJ Swimming Short Course Gold/Silver Standards
Motivational and Time Standards
NJ Swimming uses Bronze, Silver and Gold Time Standard definitions. The stanadards are based on the times necessary to make it to the NJ Championships, or Junior Olympics. If you make Gold Times, you qualify for the NJ Junior Olympics. If you make Silver Times, you qualify for the Silver Championships, or one last opportunity to achieve a Gold, or JO qualifying time. Bronze Times are all times below Silver Times.
US Motivational Standards are designated as B, BB, A, AA, AAA and AAAA and are by Age Group, just like NJS Bronze, Silver an Gold Standards. USA Swimming gathers the times from every swimmer at USS meets and sets up these motivational standards every 4 years. Roughly speaking, if you have "A" times, you'll qualify or be very close to qualifying for the NJ Junior Olympics. If you make "AA" times, you'll be close to Zone cut times. If you have a "AAAA" time, you're a very fast swimmer and need to behave so you're an excellent role model for other athletes on the club! On our motivational report vs the National Time Standards, once you achieve a standard (eg "BB"), the motivational time gets highlighted in green. As you close in on the next standard time (eg "A"), the standard will be highlighted in yellow.
The chart below is a rough approximation comparing the various sets of times to help you identify your goals:
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Summer
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High
School
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NJ
Standards
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USS
Motivational
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USS
Meets
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Contribute
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B
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Contribute
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Silver
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BB
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Gold
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A
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Meet
of Champions
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AA
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Zones
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AAA
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AAAA
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Sectionals
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Jr
Nationals / Nationals
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Olympics
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Dryland
Training
The
MCSC will now employ dryland training for all Levels. Before every
practice, swimmers will complete a dryland exercise routine.
The
basic routines will include push up's, sit-up's and stretching before
pool practice time. It's always been important for the swimmers to
arrive on time, but now it's even more important to arrive 10-15
minutes early, giving the swimmers ample time to get to the pool
deck, prepared with their water bottles and get their dryland work in
before pool practice begins.
At
MBS, Level 4 & 5 swimmers will have expanded hours as we begin
rolling out a thorough dryland training program.
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Level
5 practices at MBS in the Spring will be from 4:30-7:00 on weekdays,
10:30-1:00 on Saturdays and will stay with 10:00-12:00 on Sundays.
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Level
4 practices on Monday, Tuesday and Thursdays will begin at 5:00 and
10:45* on Saturdays (* we're still figuring out the Saturday start
time). Level 4 & 5 swimmers should be ready to get in the pool
by their new start times, but with shorts, tee shirts and sneakers
(not crocs, etc) on. The dryland training will include physical and
mental activities.
How
these initiatives impact you
The
dryland changes will mean being more prompt arriving for practices.
Though we realize that everyone already has very busy schedules, the
MCSC feels strongly that the dryland efforts will help build swimmers
all-around strength and confidence. We urge you to make every effort
to adjust your schedules to include the full practice times.
The
other efforts are works-in-progress and the MCSC will roll out the
goal-planning over time. If you want to get a jump start on
goal-planning, don't hesitate to speak to your coach about your
goals. The Levels and Groups we have aren't changing your practice
times, but are providing you with guidance towards the future.
"Success isn't determined by achievement of your goals,
your success is determined by how you live each day and the effort
you put in toward reaching your goals!"
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