What Comfort Zone: 1st Swim Meet of 2011 Season

February 23, 2011 YISS had our first swim meet of the 2011 season. It was held at SFS (Seoul Foreign School), which is about 30 minutes away from YISS.

______________________________________________

This Season... thanks to an awesome coach and husband!

Thanks to Tim, this year's season will be a little different from last. He persuaded the coaches and aquatics directors of the other schools to change how the meets were arranged. In stead of having 4 or so meets where just about all the teams were at each meet( held on Saturdays)... and then finish the season with the Championships, which really wasn't much different from the other meets; it is now run more like a college program. We have some meets on Wednesdays after school, and a few on Saturdays. Also, instead of all 10 teams being at each meet only 4 or so teams will be at each meet. So, while we attended the meet at SFS on the 23rd, about a week later another meet was held at another school, where the remaining teams competed. This system will work out for the better! We will have less Saturdays taken up by swim meets, the meets won't last as long (only about 2-3 hours), the swimmers will get to go against each team 1-2 times before the championships, and then the championships will actually feel like a BIG important meet. Championships is April 29 and 30th this year. All 10 teams will be at the meet; we will split the meet up into 2 days. The first day(Friday) will begin at 1pm and will hold the first 1/2 of events, the second day(Saturday) will start around 10am and will hold the 2nd 1/2 of events along with awards ceremony.

ANYWAYS, enough on the process of meets, I'm sure you don't care that much... I am just very proud of how much influence Tim has had on the other schools programs. They all respect him, and recognize that he knows what he is talking about, and really wants to change things for the better. --Tim told me the other day that many of the other coaches attach him in their emails regarding their swim team, even if the email isn't meant for him. They just want him to see what is going on and they respect his opinion. -- I think this says so much to what he has accomplished the past 2 years here in Seoul, and shows the type of administrator he has become! Way to go Tim!!!!

______________________________________________

The Team

Our team this year consists of close to 30 swimmers! I counted up the the other day and we have: 5 Seniors, 6-7 Juniors, 15 Sophomores, and 6-7 Freshman. Tim and I are the only coaches this year, our 3rd coach from last year, Sam, moved back to the States. So far it has gone well. We have 5 practices a week (M,W,F 4:30-6 and T, TH 6am-7:20am).

______________________________________________

Me... The assistant coach

As last year, I am the unofficial photographer for our team; along with being the assistant coach. At the meets I cheer on the team, coach some, and mainly take pictures. For example I took over 240 pictures at the first meet. Anyways there are pictures below... I just wanted to make one more comment on our team... Tim and I were SO proud of them at the first meet. They swam well, yes, but they put everything into the meet. Not once did we have to tell them to cheer on a teammate or to put their iPods or phones away (as we had to several times last year). Their team spirit rose above and beyond our expectations, and we couldn't have been more proud of them for that fact! They may not be the fastest in the water, but they have the most support while they swim! Tim had a few coaches comment on this, and mention they were jealous of our student's school spirit. WAY TO GO GUARDIANS!!!!!

______________________________________________

Okay Now for some Photos