SWIMMING {three}

"I swam the race like I trained to swim it. It is not mathematical. I just let my body do it. It is a lot easier if you let your body do what it is trained for." ~Ian Thorpe, Australian Olympic Swimmer

"Results" 

A mother helping his son find his results outside the pool facility

"Officials"

 Their job is to make sure all swimmers do what they're supposed to do.  They pass out DQ slips enough to make young swimmers' hearts sink.  Heartless? Far from it.  On the contrary, they make a better swimmer out of you!  You learn from your mistake and hopefully correct it during practice.

"Still"

The in-between time after the warm-ups and before the races.

"Heat/Lane"

Figuring out their own heat and lane helps them become responsible swimmers.  Less stress on parents.
 

"Caffeine"

If you have to wake up at 5 am to drive, sometimes more than an hour, to your destination you will need one of these shots to survive at least half of the day.

"On Your Mark!"

 

"GO!"

Actually it's a loud bullhorn buzzing, "GO!" 

"Rays"

Rays as in light pouring into the pool area after hours of fog.

And Rays as in Manta Rays.

"Waiting with My Shadow"

"All Warmed Up"

And all wet!

"Girls: 11-12 yo"

"100%"

"Practice is 90% physical, 10% mental...Meets are 10% physical, 90% mental."

"Backstroke"

"Streamline"

"Good Job!"

One man practicing sportsmanship is far better than a hundred teaching it. ~Knute Rockne

"GO! GO! GO!"

   

"Girls 8 & Under"

"Never ever too young to start" 

"Timing Device"

Every millisecond counts!

"Events of the day"

Writing their events with permanent markers on their arm/hands prompts swimmers what to swim next.

"Racing flags"

These flags prompt swimmers how far they are from finishing while doing their backstrokes

"Last minute coaching"

"Okay, remember everything you practiced. Streamline, 4 strokes..."

"Plunge!"

"Ready to Fly"