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Summer Training Schools have broken up for the summer, but we haven’t! In previous years the club has closed for a two week period in August followed by two weeks of reduced training sessions leading up to the start of the new season in September. However, this year, as there has been so much disruption with the timetable since the closure of Haverhill Leisure Centre, we have decided to run a training schedule throughout the month of August.
Unfortunately, due to matters beyond our control there will be amendments to training times at Culford on some days for some squads, these are shown below. Thursday 31st July, Combined T2T and T2C session, 5:30pm – 7:00pm Thursday 7th August, Combined T2T and T2C session, 7:30pm – 9:00pm Sunday 10th August, Masters session 8:00pm – 9:30pm Thursday 14th August Culford sessions cancelled. T2T squad are welcome to swim with T2C’s from 6am – 7:30am at Bury Thursday 21st August, Combined T2T and T2C session 6:00pm- 7:30pm Monday 25th August, Bank Holiday No training at either Bury or Culford Thursday 28th August, combined T2T and T2C session, 6:00pm – 7:30pm, All other sessions remain unaffected. Obviously, after a hard season, intensive training will not begin until September so many of the August sessions will be devoted to preparation and technique. Dan returns from the USA on 16th August and we are looking forward to benefiting from his coaching experiences. Over the next few weeks many new faces will be seen at sessions as we have 20 youngsters waiting for trials. If you know anyone interested in joining West Suffolk Swimming Club please advise them to contact either Debbie on development@westsuffolkswimming.co.uk or via membership on the website. Swimathon Don’t forget, our swimathon takes place on 7th September with monies raised being shared between the club and CLIC sargent. If any swimmer requires a sponsor form please contact a coach or committee member. Remember, for the new timetable to be sustainable and to ensure we have funds for pool hire once Haverhill re opens we need this event to be a success 
Training Timetable Update Since the closure of Haverhill pool the coaching team have been talking to swimmers and parents with a view to fine tuning the interim timetable. Some notes on the changes to the timetable and a copy of the updated timetable are now available to download. This version of the timetable is being released during the week beginning 7/7/08 and will take immediate effect. Coaching Team Chairman’s Newsletter Dear Colleagues
I am pleased to announce final details of the WSSC Club Championships, Annual General Meeting and Presentation Evening. The Club Championships for 2008 are being held over three weekends in July. The event list and entry forms have already been circulated. The timing of the events will be as follows: Session 1 – Friday 4 July - 6 to 8.30pm
Session 2 – Saturday 5 July - 4 to 7pm
Session 3 – Sunday 6 July - 4 to 7pm
Session 4 – Saturday 12th July - 4 to 7pm
Session 5 – Sunday 13th July - 4 to 7pm
Session 6 – Sunday 20th July - 4 to 6pm The final weekend will be an exciting one. In addition to the final event (100 Individual Medley) we will for the first time be holding a 50m “skins” event. The details of this, rules and entry criteria will be circulated by the coaching team shortly. Those of you who have seen the skins run at other galas will know that this is a noisy and exciting event. Those of you who haven't witnessed this before are in for a surprise. The final swimming events will be immediately followed by the WSSC Annual General Meeting.
A notice has been posted on the notice boards at Bury and Culford. Follow the link here to see a copy of the notice. At the AGM, we will be electing management team members and officers. Nomination forms can be obtained by clicking on the link here. Current management team members and officers will be available to discuss the different roles, so if you think you have the background, skills or simple enthusiasm to support the club in a particular role, please speak to me or one of the other officers. The AGM will be held after the final swimming events, between 6 and 7pm on Sunday 20th July. Immediately following the AGM, the club will hold the Presentation ceremonies for BAGCAT and Age Group winners from the 2008 Club Championships. This is your opportunity to celebrate the achievements of WSSC swimmers and to meet and mingle for one final time before the end of the season. I look forward to seeing you at the Club Championships and to your attendance at the AGM and presentation evening. Pete Saggers
Chair WSSC
June 2008 Chairmans Update Dear Colleagues
I thought I should write to all members to give you an update on a number of issues:
Haverhill closure and the new timetable Firstly, I must give you an update on progress towards implementing the new swimming timetable, which we are bringing in during the period of the closure of the Haverhill pool.
The details of the timetable were published a couple of weeks ago and since then, I have received only a small number of formal comments and/or objections to the timetable.
I wanted to take another opportunity to emphasise that the timetable is very much aimed jointly at offering as much flexibility to all squads and members whilst also encouraging as many Haverhill swimmers as possible to remain with the club. The closure of the Haverhill pool gives our members who swim at Haverhill tremendous difficulties, most notably with travel, and I believe that the timetable offers the majority of them the flexibility to manage their commitment to the club.
However, as I have mentioned in previous newsletters, the timetable is an interim one. The club must be given the opportunity to test the programme for a couple of months and make any necessary adjustments in the light of experience of the new timetable. I expect that some small changes will be required but I hope that these will be marginal, not wholesale.
The Management team have agreed to make one small change to the implementation of the new timetable. The new programme will commence on Monday 16th June 2008, not 1st June as previously published. This change recognises that the Haverhill pool will be available to club members right up until the day of the closure; this fact was not apparent when the announcement was originally made for the new timetable. WSSC Open Meet, May 2008 In regard to the Open Meet, I am pleased to tell you that the event was one of the most successful licenced meets organised by the club. We had a record number of entries from visiting clubs and the weekend ran about as smoothly as anyone could have hoped for. I can tell you that the weekend provided one of the best competitions I have attended, home or away.
I am very grateful for all the support members provided at the Open Meet. The event ran smoothly as a result of the dedication and commitment made by a small band of volunteers. I am particularly grateful to:
Sheri Pettican, for taking the lead role of Promoter and Event Organiser;
Gill Briars and Tracey Buckle, who worked tirelessly to organise food and refreshments for the officials and volunteers;
Sharon Perry and Struan Banfield who together with others from the Masters Squad, did such a fine job with the BBQ;
Jo and Mark Sarah, Judie McCourt, Sheona Fraser and others, who efficiently managed the “whipping"; and the transfer of swimmers from the hall to the pool;
Don and Pat Neate, who as always ensured that the event was properly subscribed with officials and time keepers; and finally.... And finally, of course, I am obviously very pleased for the WSSC swimmers who used the event as an opportunity to achieve regional qualifying times. Well done to those who will be representing the club at this year's ASA East Region Age Group Championships.
WSSC Club Championships I am pleased to announce that the 2008 Club Championships will be held over two weekends in July;
4,5 and 6th July plus 12 and 13th July. The final details of the programme are still being worked on and I hope that we will be able to publish the event programme and entry-forms very soon. WSSC Annual General Meeting 2008 I am pleased to announce that the Annual General Meeting will be held on Sunday 20 July 2008.
Normally, our club AGM is held in November but the Management Committee have unanimously agreed to bring the AGM forward to July 2008. This brings the AGM into line with other clubs and indeed with the County and Regional meetings. I intend to hold the AGM in conjunction with the “Presentation Evening"; for the Club Championships. As above, the detailed programme for the AGM will be finalised and published shortly. Kind regards
Pete Saggers
WSSC Chairman 26/5/08 A call for those willing to become an official It takes a number of officials to be able to host any gala or even the simplest of time trials. These events are essential for swimmers to monitor their progress and to gain experience of competition. Recently, a number of parents have asked that we hold such events on a regular basis - we are really keen to do this but NEED officials.
Many of our current officials are parents of senior swimmers, some of whom have now left the club and it is unfair to continue to ask them to give up their time if the trials are primarily aimed at children in younger squads.
May I urge you to consider becoming a “Judge level 1” ( time-keeper and inspector of turns) . Even if you will only consider time-keeping, I will contact the ASA East region to ask about a course.
There is NO ongoing commitment of a set number of sessions when trained. I have handed out a number of forms and would appreciate a reply promptly, in order that I do not hold up those who have confirmed their interest. If you have questions, please contact me,
Jill Briars ( parent of swimmers in Bury Skills 2, T2T and T2C squads) The club will forward any emails. WSSC Haverhill Leisure Centre Closure Timetable Dear colleagues,
I am pleased to publish the new WSSC swimming timetable (click here to download or view a copy), which we expect to be in operation from Sunday 1st June 2008. The timetable will operate during the period that the Haverhill centre is closed for refurbishment.
The programme is designed to offer flexibility and choice for all swimmers, and will be regularly evaluated to ensure that the programme meets the needs of swimmers and coaches.
As a result of discussions with the coaching team, the programme offers some additional pool time to certain squads and with this additional pool time, swimmers will be able to be flexible with their approach to training.
Above all, the programme is designed to support our intention to retain and increase the number of swimmers in the "junior" squads (Nemo, S1 and S2). Thereby increase the overall number of swimmers in the club. This is intended to ensure that there are a viable number of swimmers in the Club when the Haverhill centre re-opens next year. The Rational:
To maximise accessibility for all swimmers and allow for natural progression through the Club by including extra bridging sessions base upon estimated squad numbers.
Fair distribution of the most popular training sessions particularly those at the weekends.
To meet the coaching LTAD criteria for each squad in terms of total pool time allocated.
Timetable sessions to meet the total training time stipulated by the Head Coach for each squad.
To attempt to meet the expressed concerns of members who contributed to the consultation process The timetable provides for members: Nemo
2 squads of 12 swimmers using the training pool only, for a single 1 hour session at the weekend, for each squad.
Total training time - 1 Session / 1 hour.
Nemo+
A single squad of 12 swimmers, using the training pool only for two 1 hour sessions, as a bridging squad to the main Club squads (S1).
Total planned training time - 2 Sessions / 2 hours.
Transition (S1)
End of week and weekend sessions should be accessible to all. Training in tandem with Rookies (S2), so as to make for easy transition between the squads.
Total planned training time - 3 Sessions / 4 hours.
Rookies (S2)
Wednesday and weekend sessions should be accessible to all. The timetabling of a flexible Wednesday, so as facilitate maximum attendance and bridging to County (T2T).
Total planned training time - 4 Sessions / 5.5 hours.
County (T2T)
Weekend sessions should be accessible to all with mid-week evening training sessions timed to be flexible. Training in tandem with Regional (T2C/T2T+), so as to make for easy transition between the squads.
Total planned training time - 5 Sessions / 8 hours.
Regional (T2C/T2T+)
Weekend sessions should be accessible to all with multiple training opportunities throughout the week, which will afford sufficient training time for those aiming to compete at the highest level.
Total planned training time - 7 Sessions / 11.5 hours.
Disability
Morning session timetabled to suit the most proficient. Training pool used exclusively for the younger disability swimmers that we aim to recruit to the Club.
Total planned training time - 3 Sessions / 3.5 hours.
Masters
Masters squad can swim 2 pool sessions each week. 4 sessions are available across the week, including the weekend and a mid-week morning.
Total available training time - 2 sessions / 2-3 hours.
West Suffolk Squad
During the Haverhill closure period, existing full members may opt for “West Suffolk Squad" membership (subject to a notice period of a "clear calendar month"). With the exception of Nemo and S1 squads, swimmers in the full programme have the opportunity to train on four or more occasions. "West Suffolk Squad" membership allows swimmers to reduce their training frequency to a maximum of three sessions (one of which must be a morning session) with a membership/training fee of £30 per month. This option can also apply to those Masters who wish to increase their frequency from 2 to 3 sessions.
I realise that the programme will not meet all the needs of all the swimmers but I hope that a flexible approach will satisfy the majority. The programme must be constantly reviewed and it may be necessary to make some small amendments but I very much hope that this new swimming timetable will prove successful.
As a first step, I would recommend that you make arrangements to discuss the programme with your coach as soon as possible.
Kind Regards
Pete Saggers
WSSC Chairman Haverhill Closure / Membership Update As the planned closure of the pool at Haverhill draws near, the coaching team & management committee are finalising a revised training timetable, to run from June 2008 onwards. However given the disruption to the Club that the closure will inevitably cause it's likely that some of you may consider resigning your membership. As a consequence I would draw draw your attention to the following clauses in the Club Constitution: 5. Resignation
5.1 A member wishing to resign membership of the Club must give to the Secretary written notice of his resignation and serve a notice period of not less than a clear calendar month. A member's resignation shall only take effect when this (Rule 5.1) has been complied with.
5.2 Notwithstanding the provisions of Rule 5.1 above a member whose subscription is more than two months in arrear shall be deemed to have resigned. Where the membership of a member shall be terminated in this way he shall be informed in writing that he is no longer a member by notice handed to him or sent by post to his last known address.
5.3 Upon resignation the remaining balance of the annual membership fees will be due for payment to the club within thirty days.
And to the fact that ASA Constitutional Law states:
7.9 No person who is or has been at any time a member of an affiliated club and has outstanding financial obligations to that club may join, attempt to join, or remain a member of another affiliated club.
Details of the Club's current squad and membership fee structure may be downloaded from the link on this page. Regards
Mark Sarah
WSSC Admin Officer Squad Fees Attached is a document to clarify the current membership / training fee structure. Coaching Structure 2008 / 2009 This document sets out the coaching structure for the coming months.
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