The Power of Potential Camp 2011 is over..bring on 2012!

The 2011 Power of Potential Camp is over...and what a great time we had!!!!!

Over 150 swimmers, their families and some outstanding coaches attended the camp and made the whole experience one big celebration of swimming.

And we are already planning for the 2012 Power of Potential Camp, to be held in Echuca once again, on October 5th, 6th and 7th 2012.

Special thanks to Russell - the world's best swim camp organiser, Anita for her great coaching skills and leadership, all the coaching team, the staff at the Echuca pool, the families, the swimmers, KFC and Subway Echuca and the people of Echuca for all contributing to the success of the camp.

Come and join us in October in Echuca in 2012.

Wayne Goldsmith

Final Camp Program: Power of Potential 2011

Hi Everyone.

This is the final post before we all come together in Echuca in a few days time. I can't wait.

One important message - the weather forecast is for the possibility of some rain on the weekend so be prepared - (although the pool area is completely enclosed and indoors).

This is the Final Camp Program for the Power of Potential 2011: please note a few time changes.

POWER OF POTENTIAL SWIM CAMP 2011 – FINAL PROGRAM

 

Saturday 8^th October 2011

TIME	White	Red	Green
6 am – 7:30 am	Pool session: Take 2 sec off your 50 PB time
7:45 – 9:00 am		Take 2 sec off your 50 PB time	Pool session: take 2 sec off your 50 PB time
9:15 – 10:15 am	Split session: 30 minutes dryland / mental skills	Split session: 30 minutes dryland / mental skills	Split session: 30 minutes dryland / mental skills
10:30 – 11:00 am	Morning tea
11:00 – 12 pm	Pool session: flying into fly.	Pool session: flying into fly.	Pool session: flying into fly.
12pm – 12.30pm	Lunch break: Warren Lowry (with coaches)
12.30 – 1.30 pm	Warren Lowry
1 pm – 2.00 pm		Pool session: better brilliant backstroke	Pool session: better brilliant backstroke
1.45pm – 3:30 pm	Pool session: backstroke / general fitness	3pm: partner stretching	3pm: partner stretching
3:30 pm – 4:30 pm		General fitness	General fitness
4:30 pm – 5:00 pm	Personal challenge session

Sunday October 9^th 2011

Time	White	Red	Green
6 am – 7:30 am	Pool session: learning to relax: feel the power.
7:45 – 9:00 am		Pool session: feel the power.	Pool session: feel the power.
9:15 – 10:15 am	30 minutes dryland / 30 minutes theory	30 minutes dryland / 30 minutes theory	30 minutes dryland / 30 minutes theory
10:30 – 11:00 am	Morning tea
11:00 – 12 am	Pool session: better, brilliant breaststroke	Pool session: better, brilliant breaststroke	Pool session: better, brilliant breaststroke
12 – 1 pm	Lunch – Parents session – ALL Parents Welcome.
1 pm – 2pm	Group session: team activities / building the world’s best swimming team
2 pm – 3:00 pm	2- 2.45 pool session:  fabulous freestyle	2.15 – 2.45 fabulous freestyle	2.30 – 3.00 pool session: fabulous freestyle
3:00 pm – 4:00 pm	Peak performance: combines all skills into a performance situation	Peak performance: combines all skills into a performance situation	Peak performance: combines all skills into a performance situation
4.00-4.30 camp concludes – certificates and prizes awarded. Final question and answer session.

Also, here are five final tips for getting the most out of your camp experience:

1. Have a safe journey to the camp. Parents - if you are driving, slow down and take time to enjoy the journey.
2. Make a check list of all the things you need to bring and tick them off as you pack them. The important items are: All swim gear (cap, goggles, fins, paddles, kick board, pull-buoy / band); a water bottle with your name on it, snacks, towels etc. Think of the camp as a two day swim meet: come prepared!
3. If you are ill or injured bring all the medications etc. that you need to the camp and please let us know if you have any health problems when you check in;
4. Bring some things to help you rest. I know that sounds funny, but resting and recovering are as important as learning and training. If travelling to the region and staying overnight, bring your own pillow and some ear plugs so you can get some quiet, restful sleep. Bring warm clothes to the pool so you can be comfortable between sessions. The more you rest, the more you will get out of the experience;
5. Bring a great attitude. People learn best when they are enjoying what they are doing so please come with a smile and an attitude that this weekend will be a wonderful experience: one which helps you get a little closer to realising your swimming dreams;

Apart from that, come prepared to learn, to be challenged, to work hard and to have a great time with some fantastic people.

See you soon!!

Wayne

World Class Expert on Recovery at the 2011 Power of Potential Swim Camp

Warren Lowry, one of Australia's leading recovery and physical performance experts, will be joining the 2011 Power of Potential Camp team in Echuca.

Warren is considered one of the leading thinkers and practitioners in recovery, posture management, massage, flexibility and physical performance in Australia and has worked with some of Australia's most successful athletes and teams.

He has been involved with numerous Olympic and professional teams including:

• Australian Olympic Team - Athens 2004
• Australian Triathlon Team - 2002 to Current
• Beijing Olympic Team - 2008

He also developed the T-RACK - an innovative flexibility and mobility enhancing tool used by world champion swimmers and triathletes. (And I can tell you from personal experience it is outstanding for anyone with a stiff and tight upper back!).

Warren will be talking with the swimmers and coaches about how to enhance swimming performance and will taking them through some practical activities to help them better understand recovery, stability, mobility and flexibility. Warren's sessions are not to be missed!

While you are in Echuca, check out Warren's practice at 66 Sturt Street, Echuca Victoria or call for an appointment on (03) 5480 1991.

You should also check out Warren's web site at  http://www.echucasports.com.au/ 

Last week for 2011 Power of Potential Swim Camp shirt orders.

This is an Important Message to everyone who is thinking of attending the 2011 Power of Potential Swim Camp in Echuca.

We are finalising our camp shirt orders this week. Owing to the time it takes for printing and delivery, we will be confirming our order shortly.

If you have not registered and paid for the Swim Camp by this Friday, September 16th 2011, 6 pm Eastern Standard time, you will not be able to receive a camp shirt.

If you have registered but not finalised payment, please try to do this soon - I would hate for you to miss out on a camp shirt.

The camp shirt features an original design created specially for the 2011 Power of Potential Swim Camp by the brilliant young animator, artist and designer Amy Mack. These shirts are sure to become collector's items!

You can still register for the 2011 Power of Potential Swim Camp after this Friday but you will not receive a camp shirt included in your registration fees.

Thank you - see you in Echuca.

Wayne

Top Ten Questions About the Power of Potential Swim Camp 2011

Hi there!

This post is for all the swimmers and their families coming to Echuca for the Power of Potential Swim Camp in October 2011.

This will answer most of your questions and help you prepare for what will be a great experience for everyone.

Question 1: What should I bring to the camp?

Answer: Bring everything you would usually take to your regular swimming training sessions. Here's a short checklist:

• Goggles
• Cap
• Fins / flippers
• Kickboard
• Pullbuoy and Band
• Paddles
• Towel
• Water bottle

Very important!!! If you are an asthmatic or take medication for any condition please ensure to bring your usual medication with you. Also please advise camp staff if you have any medical issues, illnesses or injuries when you check in. Your safety and well being is our top priority.

Question 2: What about meals?

Answer: Meals are not provided. You should come to the camp each day with snacks, foods and drinks to get you through a full day of swimming and learning. Think of it like a two day swim meet. Some things to pack in your bag could include:

• Water and / or sports drink
• Sandwiches or rolls (lean meat, cheese, chicken, salad)
• Fruit
• Fruit Muffins
• Pre-cooked noodles or pasta
• Sports bars / gels
• Museli bars

Also, plan to look for a healthy meal option on Saturday night so you can recover from the first day of the camp and get ready to get the most out of the second day.

Question 3: Will I be able to keep up?

Answer: Of course!!! The swimmers will be divided into groups of approximately equal ability. Once the camp starts, we may need to change swimmers from one group to another as we better understand their swimming abilities and fitness level.

We will notify all swimmers about which group they are in as soon as possible.

Question 4: What about mum and dad? Can they stay and watch?

Answer: Parents, carers and guests are very welcome to stay all day and watch any pool sessions. The only restriction on this is that it is preferable that parents don't try to talk to coaching staff while they are coaching as it is our commitment to provide a safe, enjoyable learning environment for every swimmer and we would prefer nothing to distract us from this most important task.

Question 5: Who will be coaching me?

Answer: Wayne will be the Head Coach for the camp and will work with every swimmer. During the pool sessions, swimmers will be working with qualified, accredited and experienced swimming coaches - our Group Coaches. We will also have coaches working on technique, skills, turns and other important aspects of swimming.


Question 6: What happens when I arrive in Echuca?

Answer: When you arrive in Echuca, head to the Pool and come to the registration desk. Tell the nice people at the registration desk your name and they will mark you off as having arrived. You will also be given your camp name tag, camp shirt and swim cap.

The registration desk will be open briefly from 5pm to 6pm on Friday October 7th.

The registration desk will also be open from 5:00 am on Saturday morning October 8th but it is strongly recommended that if possible swimmers register on the Friday afternoon.

Question 7: What will we be doing at the camp?

Answer: Learning some new things. Having fun. Meeting new people. Making new friends. And if we have time, we might even do a few laps.
There are three rules that we ask everyone to keep to at the camp:

1. Be on time and on time means be at the pool, ready to go ten minutes before your Group is scheduled to start.
2. Whilst you are at the camp, we are one team: one great big swimming family. We respect that you are all from different Clubs and may have different approaches to training but while we are together, we are one unified team, focused on helping each other realise our full potential.
3. There is a zero tolerance policy to violence, bullying, harrassment and foul language. The camp's success will be built on respect and honesty.  

Question 8: What can I do to prepare for the camp?

Answer:  It is a good idea to try and do some regular training over the next few weeks but there is no need to do anything special. Come to the camp fit and well and ready to learn.


Question 9: What about my home coach?

Answer: All coaches are welcome to come along. There is however a fee involved. Coaches who don't attend can contact Wayne before or after the camp to discuss any issues or concerns they may have. It is recommended that when you get back to your home program, you talk to your coach about what you did, show him / her your camp program and show them some of the things you learnt at the camp.

Coaches who are attending the camp should attend the Camp Coaches Workshop, to be held at the pool on Friday evening from so they can be fully briefed about the camp, the program, the schedule etc.


Question 10: So what's next?

Answer: I have some homework for you.

On a piece of paper, write your name at the top and then write down your answers to these three questions:

1. I believe that my strengths, that is the things I am best at doing are:
2. I believe that I have the potential to be anything and do anything because I..(finish the sentence);
3. The one thing I really want to learn at the Power of Potential camp is

When you arrive, please put your homework in the "homework box" - which will be in the registration area.

Apart from that, try to get some regular training in between now and the camp. Get yourself ready for what will be a great learning experience and we will see you in Echuca.

Time to Get Swimming for Summer!

Well, it's time to dust off the goggles, find your swimming costumes in the bottom of your wardrobe and get your swimming towel from the dog's bed and get back in the pool.

And what better way to start the season than to come and join us at the Power of Potential Swim Camp in Echuca, Victoria, October 7th-9th 2011.

We will be working on swimming skills like dives, starts, turns and finishes, swimming technique and dryland training.

There will be a focus on working with every swimmer to help them develop the confidence, self-belief and mental skills to unleash their potential as swimmers and as people.

It will be a little bit of hard work, a lot of learning and an incredible amount of fun. Don't miss it!

So, come to Echuca in October and kick your 2011-2012 swimming season off with some real power....the Power of Potential!

New Book: Longer and Stronger: Stretching and Strengthening for Young Swimmers

• Want to learn how to improve your flexibility?
• Want to learn how to get stronger?

Then this book is for you.

I have written a book called Longer and Stronger: Stretching and Strengthening for Young Swimmers which is available now.

The book contains ideas, information and innovations on all aspects of stretching and strengthening for young swimmers and includes some great color photos showing actual demonstrations of practical exercises designed to enhance your swimming.

Click on the photo for more information.

Wayne Goldsmith