Para Athlete chair Laura Dennison has two great opportunities to share with our para swim community - Gateway to Gold and Paralympic Sport Club Boston. These two awesome opportunities for athletes with disabilities involve the identification and development of para swimmers. For more information, contact the event leads on the flyers or reach out to Laura via email.
FINA Officially Make "Lochte Turn" Illegal
After Ryan Lochte went rogue at this summer's World Championships with a new breast-to-free turn in the 200 IM, FINA has issued a clarification to its rule on IM turns: "Being on the back when leaving the wall for the Freestyle portion of the Ind. Medley is covering more than one quarter of the distance in the style of Backstroke and is, therefore, a disqualification. Backstroke swimming is only defined as being on the back."
Read more about the new rule on Swimming World's website and look for the next edition of Streamlines.
April is Adult Learn to Swim Month!
The Governors of Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont have all issued proclamations of "April as Adult Learn to Swim Month." We in the NELMSC are ready to celebrate!
Fifteen masters teams, representing all five states in our LMSC, are running Swimming Saves Lives programs and offering free swim lessons to adults in their local communities. A huge shoutout to these program directors, and all of the masters swimmers on these teams, who are donating their time as swim instructors this month:
Maine
Maine Masters: Tim Lecrone, Alford Youth Center, Waterville
Penobscot Bay Masters: Susan Rardin, Penobscot Bay Y, Rockport
Massachusetts
Cambridge Masters Swim Club: Sue Jensen, Harvard University/Blodgett, Cambridge
Martha's Vineyard Masters: Elizabeth Lytle, YMCA of Martha's Vineyard, Vineyard Haven
Simon's Rock PaceMakers: Bill Meier, Simon's Rock @ Bard College, Great Barrington
Pittsfield Polar Bear Masters: Georgette Keator, Pittsfield Family YMCA, Pittsfield
Worcester Area Masters: CJ Dickson, Central YMCA, Worcester
YMCA of Greater Boston: KerriAnn Foley, Boston
New Hampshire
Granite State Penguins: Karin Stokes, Londonderry & Salem Workout Clubs, Londonderry & Salem
Rhode Island
MWR Lobster Swim Club: Denise Vieira & Mike Garr, Chafee Fitness Center, Naval Station, Newport
SwimRI: Paul Dow & Doug Sayles, Newport Athletic Club, Newport
Vermont
Burlington Area Sink or Swim: Kim Fry, The Edge, Williston
Johnson State Masters & Norwich University Masters: Cara Hancy, Johnson State College, Johnson
UV Rays: Catherine Pearson, Upper Valley Aquatic Center, White River Junction
Stowe Masters: Charlotte Brynn, The Swimming Hole, Stowe
FREE ADULT SWIM LESSONS!
Research shows that adults aspire to swim more than any other fitness activity. Yet according to the Centers for Disease Control, 37% of American adults cannot swim the length of a pool. It's not too late! If you know anyone who never learned how to swim, is afraid of the water and/or needs to improve their strokes or breathing technique, contact any one of the masters teams above or email swimmingsaveslives@gmail.com to schedule free swim lessons.
GIVING BACK
The Swimming Saves Lives program provides the perfect opportunity for masters swimmers to give back
to the sport they love by sharing their expertise and passion with beginning swimmers. If you'd like to volunteer to be a swim instructor this year or next, send an email to swimmingsaveslives@gmail.com. Training tools (a 10-page training manual and accompanying video) are provided.
INTERESTED FOR 2016?
Would your masters team like to run a Swimming Saves Lives program in 2016? Please contact Sue Jensen, the New England SSL program coordinator, at swimmingsaveslives@gmail.com to receive SSL Program Overview that will provide all the details for getting a program up and running. Grant money received from the Swimming Saves Lives Foundation to our LMSC will cover all your lane space rental and lifeguard salary expenses.
Coaches Workshop Scheduled for March 28th
NE-LMSC Coaches Chair, Crystie McGrail, has a fantastic coaches workshop lined up focused on open water swimming.
Three local open water experts - Jennifer Dutton, Elaine Howley and Greg O'Connor - will discuss best practices and theories/ techniques for training in the pool for open water, training in open water and open water safety.
There will also be plenty of time for interactive conversation and questions for the panelists.
Date: March 28, 2015
9:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. (lunch included)
Worcester, MA - specific location details to come
We will limit the workshop to the first 30 coaches who register. For presenter bios and registration, visit the Coaches section of the website.
Breaststroke Rule Change - Effective Immediately
There is an immediate rule change in the breaststroke:
“101.2.3 Kick — After the start and after each turn, at any time prior to the first breaststroke kick, a single butterfly (dolphin) kick is permitted, following which, all movements of the legs shall be simultaneous and in the same horizontal plane without alternating movement. The feet must be turned outwards during the propulsive part of the kick. Scissors, alternating movements, or downward butterfly (dolphin) kicks are not permitted except as provided herein. Breaking the surface of the water with the feet is allowed unless followed by a downward butterfly (dolphin) kick.”
Click on the photo to the right for a fuller description. If anyone has questions or wishes to discuss this or other USMS rules, contact Officials Chair Bill Ewan at Bill.Ewan.W1VH@gmail.com.