Mustang Monthly - Internet Edition
March 2005
Think About It
The following is an
excerpt from an interesting article called “A Nation of Wimps” by Hara Estroff
Marano
“No one doubts that there are significant economic forces pushing parents to invest so heavily in their children's outcome from an early age. But taking all the discomfort, disappointment and even the play out of development, especially while increasing pressure for success, turns out to be misguided by just about 180 degrees. With few challenges all their own, kids are unable to forge their creative adaptations to the normal vicissitudes of life. That not only makes them risk-averse, it makes them psychologically fragile, riddled with anxiety. In the process they're robbed of identity, meaning and a sense of accomplishment, to say nothing of a shot at real happiness. Forget, too, about perseverance, not simply a moral virtue but a necessary life skill. These turn out to be the spreading psychic fault lines of 21st-century youth. Whether we want to or not, we're on our way to creating a nation of wimps. “
You can find the entire article at http://cms.psychologytoday.com/articles/pto-20041112-000010.html
As I read through the article, I couldn’t stop thinking about how lucky I’ve been to be involved in swimming my whole life. I learned at an early age how to deal with disappointments. If you’re in swimming for any length of time at all, you will run into trying times. I learned that when faced with an up-hill battle, there are two ways I could handle the adversity. One was feeling sorry for myself, and in turn stopping any progress. My other option was to acknowledge the problem and to immediately start working towards a solution.
A word that came to mind while reading the article was “perseverance”. There were times that I would go months, even years, without going a best time. I began to understand early in my swimming career that as long as I kept working hard at practices and kept dreaming of better days, things would get better. I know that I would not be as mentally tough or as able to focus on the task at hand if I hadn’t been a swimmer.
I remember when I was upset and frustrated my Mom would ask me if I had given everything I had. If I had, then I had nothing to hang my head about. If I hadn’t, well…”If you’re going to something, then do the best you possibly can.” I’m glad my Mom helped me realize that dreams are worth working for and that a skinned knee along the way is part of the journey. The valleys help make the mountains look so impressive.
-Mook
Championship Poem
Robert K. Cooper, author of “The Other 90%” wrote this motivating poem:
“Love as if you will live forever,
Work as if you have no need for money,
Dream as if no one can say no,
Have fun as if you never have to grow up,
Sing as if no one else is listening,
Care as if everything depends on your caring,
And raise a banner where a banner never flew.”
Speaking of banners…..it’s about that time again to go win another Sectionals and another TAGS banner! LET’S GO MUSTANGS!!!!
Time Trial Policy for the Championship Meets
Athletes vying for relay spots must post times in individual events in order to earn a spot on an existing relay for the championship meets. Our policy is that time trials will only be used to help qualify a relay, not to earn a spot on an existing relay for the championship meets.
Energy Drink Warning
Athletes are always looking for an edge and sometimes that gets them into trouble. Please be careful when turning to “energy” drinks that have high levels of caffeine. Problems may arise in younger athletes and in athletes who drink these beverages on an empty stomach.
Late Swimmer Pick-up Policy – as stated in the team handbook:
"There will be a financial penalty for arriving late to pick up swimmers. Parents are expected to arrive at the pool at or before the designated ending time for their swimmers' workout. If a parent has not arrived to pick up their swimmer within 15 minutes after the scheduled ending time of the workout, a $15 late fee will be charged. This late charge will be paid directly to the coach who stayed with the swimmer."
Please be considerate to the coaching staff and be on time
to pick up your swimmers. The coaches
also ask that parents and siblings stay in the spectating areas to watch
practices. Those areas are in the
upstairs stands at Loos and CFB, and in the stands at the deep end half of the pool at
Thank you for your help concerning these matters.
Scheduling Notes
Spring Break: Our break has been changed to March 21-25th.
At this point we are still unable to
workout at Loos Natatorium. Therefore, all workouts normally at Loos will be
held at the Carrollton-Farmers Branch ISD (CFB) Natatorium. All new swimmer try-outs normally held at
Loos, will be held on Tuesdays at the CFB Natatorium starting at 4:30pm.
The CFB Natatorium is located on the
northeast corner of
Workout times at the CFB Natatorium
are as follows:
RED/BLUE 4:30 – 5:30 PM (M – TH)
NATIONAL 4:30 – 6:00 PM (M – F) (There are no morning
workouts)
GOLD 6:00
– 7:30 PM (M – F)
SILVER 6:00 – 7:30 PM (M – F)
BRONZE I & II 5:00 – 6:00 PM (M – F)
MASTERS These workouts are suspended until Loos reopens
Gold, Silver & Bronze Swimmers
who normally swim at Loos may choose to workout at
Bronze
6:00
p.m. - 7:00 p.m. Monday through Friday
Silver I
6:45
p.m. - 8:15 p.m. Monday through Thursday
4:30
p.m. - 6:00 p.m. Friday
Silver II
4:30
p.m. - 6:00 p.m. Monday through Friday
Gold
4:30
p.m. - 6:30 p.m. Monday through Friday
Social News
- End of the year banquet – Each year we hold a banquet to recognize the efforts and accomplishments of our swimmers. Additionally, we honor the graduating seniors, vote in the next board of directors and finally watch a video of swimming season. This year we will once again be holding the banquet at SMU starting at 5pm on Sunday, April 24th. There will be more information coming soon but please mark that date on your calendar. It is a lot of fun and a great opportunity for your swimmers to hear of their peers’ accomplishments!
- TAGS Decorating Party - As you may know if your
swimmer has participated in TAGS before, but may not know if this is your
swimmer's first time to qualify, there is a parade of teams at 9:00 am on
Friday morning of TAGS just prior to prelims, in which each team parades
around the pool deck after their team name is announced. The kids
carry posters, wear "headgear", decorate their faces, etc., for
team spirit. It's a lot of fun to participate in and to
watch. The Watters family is hosting a "decorating"
party at our house on Sunday, March 5th from 4:00 - 6:00. We
will provide pizza, drinks and poster boards for the kids to
decorate. We are asking for each child to come with any art
supplies (markers, glue, glitter, etc.) that you may have on hand.
Also, if anyone would like to help out by supplying pompoms, shakers, bead
necklaces, etc. please let me know. In an effort to conserve
resources we'll stay with a red, white and blue theme again because
we still have some leftover Hawaiian lei necklaces, posters, etc. from the
summer. We are located at
Call for Volunteers!
The Dallas Mustangs is assisting SMU Swimming in hosting a B/C meet to be held April 15-17, 2005 at the SMU Perkins Natatorium on the SMU campus. We will need approximately 10 to 12 volunteers to assist in hospitality, awards, and clerk of course. Mustangs Bucks will be awarded to those who volunteer. If your child is competing in this meet, this would be a good opportunity to volunteer since you will be there anyway. If you are interested in volunteering, please contact our meet director, Jim Cuaderes, to express your interest. Jim can be reached at (214) 340-1938 (home), (214) 880-8113 (work) or you can e-mail him at quadlawyer@aol.com or jcuaderes@littler.com. Please help us make this meet a success!
