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WELCOME
To West Virginia Swimming's new web site. As a new site, you will want to check back frequentley as we add content and features. Please feel free to suggest ideas for the site to our LSC Chairman Tom Phillips swm4life@suddenlink.net .
Thank You!!
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Mission Statement
Adopted at the Fall Meeting of the LSC, 09/23/2007
The West Virginia LSC is committed to the excellence and improvement of our sport by striving to inspire and enable our swimmers to advance and achieve all they can in the sport of swimming and life. Supporting and developing our athletes is foremost; by creating a positive environment through meets and other opportunities such as clinics, programs and organized leadership roles. We strive for the advancement of support members of the West Virginia LSC through education, clinics and programs for their enrichment and the improvement of the aspects directly affected by their positions within the LSC. We provide support and guidance to our member club teams so they may in turn: Enhance each swimmers aquatic abilities so they may have competitive success on a state, regional and national level; Emphasize the physical, psychological and social development of each individual; To promote the sport of swimming in their area.
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2008 SOUTHERN ZONE INFORMATION AVAILABLE
CHECK IT OUT ON THE SOUTHERN ZONE LINK
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OPEN LETTER TO THE MEMBERSHIP OF WEST VIRGINIA SWIMMING
OCTOBER, 2007
For over two decades West Virginia Swimming has sponsored a team and participation in the Southern Zone Age Group Championships.Due to reduced participation by our swimmers and the fact that over the last three years we have lost $4200, the House of Delegates of WVS at the Fall Meeting, September 23, made a dramatic change in how we support this event.
For 2008, WVS will not provide transportation or housing for the team. These responsibilities will now be on the shoulders of the individual clubs and swimmers. WVS will provide a coaching staff consistent with the number of swimmers attending as well as covering entry fees and a team uniform.While this might appear to dilute the concept of an all-star team, this is the policy for LSC's in both the Central and Eastern Zones for their respective championships.
It has been the goal of WVS to cover approximately $250 per swimmer of the cost of attending this meet. Over the last three year period the average was over $500 and last year the amount was over $700! For 2008, WVS will reimburse attending swimmers who meet the reimbursement criteria $300. The criteria have been changed slightly and can be downloaded from our website.
It is the opinion of your General Chair that the Southern Zone Age Group Championship is still the premier event to attend for many of our swimmers. And, that by not attending, many are losing a valuable opportunity in developing their swimming career or having a life-remembering experience. However, it is obvious that this opinion is not supported by many of our other club coaches. I would hope this turns around as further support will be dictated by sound financial considerations as well as a goal to meet the needs of our swimmers.
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This past week, I attended the USA Swimming annual convention in Garden Grove, CA. Over three and a half days of meetings on the operation and governance of our sport, I participated in 32 hours of meetings and forums. The scope of these meetings covered registration, the 'SWIMS' system, Southern Zones, legal and financial requirements, planning for the 2008 Olympics and the 2009-2012 quadrennial, and new programs focused on our age group swimmers and potential new swimmers. The meetings started as early as 6:45AM and ran to 9:00PM or after every day except the last.
I have been involved with West Virginia Swimming since 1967 when the Amateur Athletic Union was the umbrella organization governing swimming and many other sports. With the passage of the Amateur Sports Act in the 70's, WVS became a fully incorporated entity operating under the national governing body (NGB) of swimming in the US. While we have never had huge participation by parent volunteers, I believe we have reached a low point in that arena. There are quite a few of us "old-timers" who will like be leaving the sport over the next few years. If our membership wants a viable organization to remain in place for the future, it is incumbent that we start getting parents -- not coaches -- involved. You need to step up to the plate and take ownership of an organization that supports your children.
As for how other LSC's are doing? At the Southern Zone meetings this past week, the average number of participants per LSC was SEVEN. Including WV, there were 3 LSC's who had a total of two representatives - obviously many LSC's are doing much better than we are.
Get involved and get involved NOW!
Tom Phillips, General Chairman
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Special Notice to Members of the USA Swimming House of Delegates & All USA Swimming Clubs:
Pursuant to USA Swimming Rule 504.8, the USA Swimming Board of Directors has decided to amend Rule 103.2.2 (page 43 of the 2007 Rules & Regulations) which specifically applies to teaching racing starts to provide as follows:103.2 WATER DEPTH –.2 /M/ Teaching Racing Starts – Minimum water depth for teaching racing starts in any setting from any height starting block or the deck shall be 6 feet (1.84 meters) measured for a distance of 3 feet 31/2 inches (1.0 meter) to 16 feet 5 inches (5.0 meters) from the end wall.This decision has been made with the advice and consent of the Safety Education Committee, the Rules and Regulations Committee, and legal counsel. The purpose of this action is to further protect novice swimmers from accidental bottom strikes while they are learning to execute racing starts. This change is effective immediately.Please direct any questions about this announcement to Bruce Stratton, Chairperson of the Rules & Regulations Committee. His email address is: bruce@strattoncpa.com.
Dave Thomas, Sport Development Consultant
USA Swimming
One Olympic Plaza
Colorado Springs, CO 80909
719-866-4578 phone
719-866-3573 direct
719-330-3824 cell |
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