The Weekly Spartan Splash
Week of January 2 - PHS Swimming Newsletter
What's new in swimming this week?
Dual Meet vs. Kingwood Park this Friday and SENIOR NIGHT next week.
Our final dual meet will be next Thursday, January 12th. We will hold senior night that evening, so do begin to make all necessary arrangements.
LEAVING FOR KINGWOOD PARK
Grades are in!
Reminders about elibibility:
ONLY RC2 matters for eligibility!! Your semester 1 (S1) grade can be passing, but if RC2 is at 69 or below in any course, you become ineligible.
Honors/AP courses must now be at 60 and above! Scores of 59 and below are now ineligible.
Grades became final at 8:00 AM on January 2nd. Eligibility loss/gain occurs at the end of the school day this Friday (January 6th). Friday's meet is the first whose eligibility was determined by RC2.
Championship Season is here!
Region meet: top six finishers in each event from the district meet.
State meet: top two finishers in each event from the region meet automatically qualify.
Next eight fastest times from all A final heats in all regions will qualify as call-ups.
TAPERING
What is taper?
In early taper (now):
-Reduce drylands to body weight only, no lifting of actual weights!
-Do not play games (even recreational) or engage in activities that can injure you.
-The top five most popular injury-inducing activities in our team's past include (listed in order of rank):
1) Basketball
2) Skateboarding
3) Touch football
4) Wrestling/play fighting at home
5) Running/jogging
-Establish a solid sleep pattern. Get your eight hours, no more, no less!
-Eat right. Carbs in the morning. Protein/carb mix at lunch. Proteins @ EARLY dinner.
-Do not eat after 5:00 PM. Not only will this be nutritionally better, it improves sleep!!
At peak taper (near/beyond regions):
-NO dryland workouts at all
-No chores that involve heavy lifting during this time.
-Stay off your feet whenever possible.
-Maintain all sleep/nutrition habits from early taper.
Taper FAQs:
Common questions from swimmers:
A: NO. This is what you've worked for. You will not see those results if you will not taper.
Q: What if I am not convinced that my individual effort has me ready for taper?
A: TAPER for better or worse. If you are worried about your individual effort, then tapering will not hurt your times at all. If your in-season workouts did not prepare you for taper, then the only effect of tapering will be your time drops not being as drastic as they otherwise would have been. If your in-season effort to this point is a worry for you, complete this taper cycle and then address the issue next season.
Q: What if I just really enjoy workouts/drylands? Can I continue because that is what I am used to?
A: This is a common mistake that many goal-oriented athletes make. Do not let yourself fall into this trap! Continuing regular workouts will definitely diminish your performance. Understand that you have earned the taper and embrace it!
Common questions from parents:
Q: No chores at all?
A: Please refrain only from chores that are physically taxing and only for these few days of the year! Most yard work, anything that involves lifting heavy objects are primary concerns. Cleaning rooms, doing dishes and laundry and other such chores are not a concern!
Q: What's with the mood swings?
A: It is not common, but athletes can experience these particularly when they are in their first taper. This could be a true test of patience for some of you.
Q: They're moody and not helping with chores. May I please hurt them?
A: Please don't. Especially if they're in a relay. In the very least, wait until after the final qualified meet.
Lettering late in the season.
Lettering can occur at any time by swimming TWO TISCA times (even though TISCA is long over). Letter also occurs when a swimmer qualifies for TWO region events.
TISCA TIMES: two of the times required may be swam in any official meet this season with the same standards for qualification (fair start/officials present/touchpads used). A second option remains in that qualifying for the regional meet in at least one INDIVIUAL event will earn a letter.
In addition to qualifying standards, you must remain eligible in ALL grading periods (offseason included) in order to remain eligible for lettering.