Weather Policy- Pool Communication

Jones Center has done a better job this year of staying open yet if closed we will try to post info here and send out an additional email blast.

Pool will be closed for Maintenance March 29th for "one or two weeks"

Swim Clinic: We are tentatively looking at March 12th and 13th....stay tuned.

C U at the Pool

Pool Open

What is so special about the 1st workout of the month? ....we do the broken mile! That's right- after about 1,000 warm-up we do 1,650 yards broken up as follows:

Start by doing 11 lengths (275 yds), then 10, 9, 8......3,2,1, resting :10 between sets. Subtract 1:40 from your total time to get your mile time. Enjoy!

Friday Jan 29th, 2010 -Practice Canceled

Pool will be closed Friday morning due to bad weather. Have fun doing your dry-land workout and hope to see you all next Tuesday.

1 hour swim

We had a great swim this morning. Looks like about 35 swimmers! Thanks to everyone for their hard work including timers and officials!!! Check back for more photos and times! Great Job Masters!

EMERGENCY RULE CHANGE & tomorrow's swim

First a reminder- the 1st group of the 1 hour swim starts at 6:30am tomorrow morning at the walton fitness center in Bentonville, come to swim, time or both! See you there. Group team photo too!!!

EMERGENCY RULE CHANGE

Due to the change in Masters swimwear rules published by FINA January 16, 2010, and
pursuant to Article 601.4.8, the USMS Rules Committee and the USMS Executive
Committee have approved the following emergency changes to the USMS swimwear
rules. These changes are effective immediately for short course meters and long course
meters competition. The changes are effective June 1, 2010 for short course yards
competition. Note that the new swimwear rules no longer allow modesty/privacy wear
underneath the competition suit nor zippers or fasteners of any kind except for a waist tie
on a brief or jammer. The new swimwear rules will not govern the One Hour Swim
being conducted January 2010.

Changes to the swimwear rules are underlined below.

102.14 SWIMWEAR

102.14.1 Design-The swimsuits worn for competition shall be nontransparent and conform to the current concept of the appropriate. The referee shall have authority to bar offenders from competition until they comply with this rule.

102.14.2 Swimwear shall include only a swimsuit, cap and goggles (a nose clip and ear plugs are allowed). Arm bands or leg bands shall not be regarded as parts of the swimsuit and are not allowed.

102.14.3 In swimming competitions, the competitor must wear only one swimsuit in one or two pieces. All swimsuits shall be made from textile materials. Except for open water competitions, for men, the swimsuit shall not extend above the navel nor below the knees, and for women, shall not cover the neck, extend past the shoulder, nor extend below the knees.

102.14.4 Only swimsuits complying with FINA swimsuit specifications may be worn in any U.S. Masters Swimming sanctioned or recognized competition.

102.14.5 Exemptions to the foregoing restrictions may be granted to a swimmer, on a case by case basis, by the Chair of the Rules Committee or designee. Exemptions will be granted only for conflicts due to the swimmer's verified religious beliefs or verified medical conditions.

A Procedures for applying for an exemption will be established by the Rules Committee and posted on the U.S. Masters Swimming website.

B No exemption to these restrictions will be granted for a swimsuit that will give the swimmer a competitive advantage.

C The decision of the Rules Chair may be appealed only to the entire Rules Committee whose decision shall be final and binding on all parties.

102.14.6 Swimmers are not permitted to wear or use any device or substance or swimsuit to help their speed, pace, buoyancy or endurance during a race (such as webbed gloves, flippers, fins, etc.). Goggles may be worn, and rubdown oil applied if not considered excessive by the Referee. Any kind of tape on the body is not permitted unless approved by the Referee.

102.14.7 Advertising-Products involving tobacco, alcohol or pharmaceuticals containing drugs banned under IOC or FINA rules may not be advertised, but the advertiser's name only may be used. Offenders may be barred from competition until they comply with this rule.

This Saturday 1 hour postal swim starts at 6:30am Bentonville

We have room for 9 more swimmers for this Saturday's One Hour Swim! There is more excitement building for the Social than the swim...might be the rumor spreading about Champaign and OJ?

Details:

2010, 1 Hour Postal Swim Event
Objective: To swim as far as you can in 1 hour.
When: January 23, 2010 (bad weather backup date January 30th)
Time: Two heats (Heat 1, 6:30AM & Heat 2, 7:45 AM)
Location: Walton Life Fitness Center, Bentonville, AR 72712
Registration: On Deck but please RSVP with Jeff Spencer with your heat preference (1 or 2).
Cost: $7.00 (Must have USMS Registration $37/pp-we will have registration available on deck also) http://www.usms.org/reg/
BYOLC: Bring your own lap counter/timer
Social: Potluck following Heat 2 at Jon and Lori Terlouw's home- Let me know if going and what you are bringing.
https://www.clubassistant.com/club/meet_information.cfm?c=1308&smid=1761

upcoming events

The date is set for the Rogers Polar Bear plunge. Feb 13. All proceeds benefit the Special Olympics. Is anyone interested in forming a team and wearing crazy costumes?

Our 1 hour swim is also quickly approaching! Hope everyone is getting ready. Remember you need to be a registered member for this event, but it is easy. You can click on the masters link on the right of this page, or even sign up the day of the event! Hope to see everyone there!

Fast Freezing Friday-Pool Open

Pool will be open Friday morning! C U at the Pool.

Tues, 1/5/10- Polar Bear Plunge

Jones Center will be open Tuesday morning....you are welcome to join us at 5:30 AM to take the covers off and hook up the lane lines. We will be doing the broken mile to start out the new year. Snow Angels optional:)

C U at the Pool. Jeff

Top 10 Long course rankings

Below is the link to the final Top Ten national rankings for Long Course 2009. Congratulations to Arkansas swimmers Paige Grunnagle, Mary Lew Anders, Leanna McClendon, Lynn Palmer, Carolyn Haefner, Dorothy Burke, William Keller, Gordon Kidd, Brad Eichler, Marvin Schwartz, Larry Golden, Trip Strauss, Frank Lorge, Doug Martin, and the Bullock trio: Ian, Ryan, and Jillian Bullock Young. ARKM had 46 top ten swims in 2009, far and away the best year ever. The full list of top ten swims by year for ARKM can be found at:
http://www.usms.org/comp/tt/toptenlmscsummary.php

Special congratulations to Calvin, with two #1 swims, and Ryan, with a #1 swim. Dorothy, Ryan, Ian, and Marvin all had 5 top ten swims.

(the photo is one of my friends in Sweden who took a polar bear swim for the holidays, notice the ice next to them, brrr...)

Holiday Swim Schedule/ Registration

2 Things:

Jones Center Schedule: The next 2 weeks we will practice Tuesday and Wednesday 5:45 to 6:45 AM. Take Christmas and New Years Day off :)

2010 Registration: Go online to http://www.usms.org/reg/ and re-register or join Masters Swimming. Membership is $37 per person.

Merry Christmas, Jeff