Once again, I find myself writing like forever since my last post.....sorry. We've had lots happen since my last post, but I'll touch on just a few. One, I felt that overall the Pilot meet went really well. We had some superb performances and the facility was fabulous.....so that qualifies as a good meet -- plus we had lots of SE cuts and a couple of close calls with swimmers that have never achieved a cut.

Two, we had a team meeting yesterday for all USA (year round) swimmers and it went well. We talked briefly about leadership and then they had an opportunity to share what their personal vision of SAC was including values required to fulfill that vision and some rules to enforce those values. They each put it privately in writing and I've really enjoyed reading what they've written and shared about what they want SAC to be. With the info that they shared w/ me, I'm going to collectively collaborate a team vision statement, some team values, and some team rules. And then we'll live by that vision - and if anyone can't be a team player and live be our vision and values - tough, sianara, adios, hasta la vista. If you weren't able to be at the meeting and would like to contribute, feel free to email me at coachjosh@sevieraquaticclub.com with your vision for SAC and some values necessary to be that team.

Anyway, summer team stuff has kicked off and we've hit the ground running. Last year (or so I was told) we had the highest number of pre-teamers enrolled at 25(ish) ever for our team. This year, we are already over 40!!! I'm not gonna lie; it's been a little hectic/stressful, but totally awesome! 40!! That's amazing. Anyway, if you happen to be a parent of a pre-teamer and you're reading this, please trust me when I say that we will continue to do a better job of teaching your child. We continue to add more instructors and they will do a GREAT job. But you should have seen it (I wish we had a video of my face when I realized it) when last Monday (our first day of summer practice) - and at the time we had 31 pre-teamers and I'm telling you, EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM was there the first day. With the water being so cold, I was totally shocked.....but a good shocked. But I'd say that each day gets better and we're working the kinks out more and more.

Yo! My, my how time flies! I can't believe it, but we celebrated our 1 year anniversary in Tennessee yesterday! So today last year would have been my first SAC swim practice. Wow. And what a year it has been. I gotta tell ya that I wouldn't have changed a thing and couldn't have asked for a better year. I love my family, love my job, and love being alive. But in this last year God has provided for our family in so many ways.....it amazes me, but it shouldn't surprise me. We've gotten by financially, found a house we like, found a church we like, expect a new baby soon, and the list goes on. It's been a pretty good year....thank you to those of you who have helped make it good for us!

On a different note, we had a disappointing turnout for practice this morning. But those committed swimmers who did show up got a GREAT workout in and swam great. With the Pilot meet coming up next weekend at the new pool, I'm anticipating some solid swims from some of our swimmers. I must admit however, that I haven't felt all that good about our commitment in general from our big kids. A handful of us have been OUTSTANDING and they're poised for success. Others.....not so much. I'm amazed at how many expect to swim well when they consistently show up to 3 or 4 workouts per week (I'm not talking just occasionally - I mean frequently). But I have a newsflash, it's pretty much impossible to swim your fastest (best times) on 3-4 workouts a week. If you're not interested in swimming your best, that's fine....I honestly am fine with that. But if you are a swimmer (in ANY program/team...yes this is for former swimmers of mine too) and are expecting to be successful on 3-4 workouts per week and you're expecting a coach to make you successful on 3-4 workouts a week, you better have God as your coach. Because it's going to take divine intervention for you to swim your best.

I'm not saying it's easy to make it to practice 9 times a week. I'm not saying that it's really fun to train in 75 degree water (now 76 degrees). I'm not saying it's fun to swim when you're sore, tired, and even not feeling well. I do understand that things come up and sickness/accidents are generally unavoidable. But if you have a desire to be successful you have to be committed. And 3-4 workouts a week isn't committed enough. Again, if you only make it to that many practices a week and that's all you can make....that's fine....I'm SERIOUSLY okay with that. But PLEASE don't expect to swim great (best times) and PLEASE don't put that responsibility on our program.

Please don't hear me wrong. I love our team. I love our swimmers.....you guys are great. I just want to make sure we have realistic performance expectations and maybe we can evaluate and/or think about the meaning and result of commitment.

Greetings. A couple of things: One, we had a great time and turnout yesterday at the winter USA banquet....thanks to everyone that made it possible. The food was especially yummy and we brought home enough food so that Amy doesn't have to cook until Thanksgiving 2009. Two, we ended up having a pretty good turnout for the stroke and turn clinic for parents on Saturday. I think the unofficial number was 12 including several new folks - so that is great. Thank you very much to those of you who were in attendance and Sandye for getting Starbucks coffee....uummmm - Starbucks :) Anyway, a third thing is that we will not be having breakfast at my house this Saturday after practice. We will be having practice, but not breakfast. Mainly because of the Sevier County HS swim banquet at 11am, but also because most of you have B.O. There are about 17 other things that I need to write but unfortunately I currently don't have the time. Bye!

Holy moley, the votes are unanimous as of now that 80's music ROCKS! That's awesome!

For those of you USA swimmers this winter, don't forget about the banquet this Sunday at 1:30 - I greatly look forward to seeing you and your families there.

Also, I want to shame some parents into coming to the stroke and turn clinic THIS Saturday at 8 am. I mean, come on, just drop your kid off at practice and go to the stinking clinic!!! I'm telling you, there are teams a third of our size that have twice as many stroke and turn judges....that's no joke and a SAD state of reality. Ask me how many people we have signed up for the clinic as of now? Oh, thanks for asking......ZERO!!!! We have a guying coming from Knoxville to teach this class at the great Sevier Aquatic Club and we are going to have NOT ONE person there!?!?!?!?! This could be an extremely embarrassing moment......not for me (I'll be doing my job & doin it well), but for us as a team.

Let me shed some light onto your basket of knowledge regarding GKAISA and us (SAC). One, most of those involved in GKAISA from Knoxville don't have too terribly much respect for us. However, that is starting to change.....mainly because we run a year around USA program that feeds our summer league team and we are subsequently, pretty good. However, we are the only team in GKAISA that is a year around USA team also participating in GKAISA. Now that's made some folks not so happy because that obviously gives us an unfair advantage? Like their teams aren't loaded with Pilot swimmers (at least the ones who score points for their team)? Anyway, what's going to happen is Tom is going to come down to Sevierville and run a clinic for the two people on our team that are already certified stroke and turn judges and then he's going to let everyone in GKAISA know that the only year around USA swim club in their league can't even run a meet because they can't get enough flipping volunteers to support their own kids sporting event!!!

If it isn't obvious, I'm not happy about this.

So it's been forever since I wrote here...my bad. It's sort of been hectic round here. I'll try to get back into the swing of things...key word there - try.

The team recently bought a big ole speaker for multiple uses...one of which is to blast music during practice. It's fun....we've generally been jammin to 80's music. I'm actually sorta surprised at how much our kids dig 80's music. I'm a product of the 80's....so I'm particularly fond of them. Like...Warrant, Pat Benatar, Heart, Jeff Healey, Aerosmith, and so much more. Wow....that's good stuff.

stroke & turn

If you are a SAC parent and haven't heard about the stroke and turn clinic being held at our pool, please read the following!

Summer swim is just around the corner!!  We are going to have a Stroke &
Turn Clinic at the Sevierville Community Center on May 3rd at 8:00am.
This is a wonderful opportunity for all parents to learn more about
Summer Swimming. We currently only have 3 parents certified in
Stroke and Turn, with 5 meets this summer we need as many parents
as possible to come to the clinic.    The Stroke and Turn Clinic is a great
way for parents to learn about swim technique and the rules of swimming.
Stroke and Turn judges also have the best view of the pool at the
meets!!!  It does not matter how many seasons you have been swimming,
this clinic will help you learn more about the sport, and is a  fun way to
be involved at the meets.   If you have any questions please call or e-mail
me 712-1665!

Looking forward to seeing you at the meeting :)
Sandye Horne 

Okay, this is me talking again......PLEASE BE IN ATTENDANCE.......we desperately NEED your help!!!!! The fact that we only have 3 parents is a very bad thing. I could elaborate on this, but I'll stop there and leave it to your imagination as to what I may think about the fact that we only have 3 parents to do stroke and turn. If you're worried about your lack of expertise or knowledge....don't. It's a piece-a-cake job and it's also why we have the clinic.....to teach you what you need to know! But we seriously have to have several folks step up to the plate and do this. Don't be the one who says, "So and so would do such a better job and I'm sure they'll do it anyway......so I won't bother......it'll get taken care of.......it always does." Don't be that guy! Thanks- Coach Josh

Good evening....sorry it's been forever since I posted anything....busy, busy, busy. Anyway, it's my birthday today.....yep....33 years old/young today. I've had a really good day - I got to spend some good quality time with my family earlier in the day and all else went well. 33 sounds old, but I really don't feel that old yet. I think because I'm surrounded by youth I still feel a part of that youth.....by association I'm young - wish it worked that away. But I've taken good care of myself (I'd like to think I'm still in pretty good shape) so physically I don't feel old or worn out yet.

Speaking of good shape, I'm going to take a moment and brag on myself....I don't do this often. But not long ago at morning practice I was explaining why we were doing ply-metric/jumping drills......if you can jump higher, you can go further off of the wall on each turn. I told them that the stuff worked for me because as a skinny, short (5'11"), and white boy, I could dunk and still could. Of course no one believed me and I had to prove myself to them. I subsequently went down to the basketball court (not warmed up) where everyone could see and proceeded to hammer a one handed tomahawk dunk.

Anyway, enough of that. But speaking of morning practice....I'm reminded that we will not be having morning practice this Friday. I'll be headed off to Florida for our SES spring meetings. We will still have practice both Friday afternoon and Saturday morning. Amy, Hanah, and Becca will be running the show and it's important that everyone still come to practice. But due to my absence, we will not be having breakfast at our house this Saturday....sorry. I've really been enjoying having the USA II kids over though....I hope everyone else is enjoying it as much as me. Welp, have a great tax day tomorrow!