Welcome back SAS Eagles UPDATE!

August 17th, 2010

Tryouts are complete and we are formulating the Aqua Eagles Team for this Fall 2010 season. Team selections will be posted by Monday Aug. 30th and an email will be sent out to those ES and MS students (via the parent’s email) . Swimmers you did an amazing job and the coaches thank you for your preparedness and efforts at tryouts. If you missed the tryouts contact the Aquatics Center and we will arrange a time to see you swim.

Practice will start on Monday Aug. 30th with the 8& U blue team, 9-10 Blue Team and the 11-12 Blue Team from 3 to 4 pm. 13-14s With Dryland 3-4 and swimming 4-5.  HS 4 to 5 swim training.

SWIM CLUB: If you are looking for more coaching and practice time at SAS you can join the SAS Puxi Swim Club which will run on 12 Wednesdays and 7 Saturdays from Sept. 15th until Dec. 2010. ES swimmers can sign up for an hour each of the days and MS & HS swimmers can sign up for one or two hours of training. Choose just Wednesdays 5 to 7 p.m. or Saturdays 9 a.m to 12 p.m. or both. See the registration from for details sas-swim-club Fall 2010

Welcome back to all you returning Aqua Eagles (parents and swimmers alike) and new Aqua Eagles to be! Your coaches are back, rested and ready to start off the new swim year. We have a couple new faces among the coaching staff that are here to help support our ever growing program. So you will meet them at the pool this week.

Speaking of pool time, here is this season’s try out schedule, practice times and other important information:

Tryout Times:

Returning Aqua Eagle Members Grade 2 to 5 Aug. 23 or 24th 3:00 - 4:00 pm

Returning Aqua Eagle Members Grade 6 to 8 Aug. 19 or 20th 3:00 - 4:00 pm.

New students Grade 2 to 5 @ 3pm Gr. 6 to 8 @ 4 pm. Aug. 25th only

We invite good swimmers to try out for Fall Season Swim Team. Space on the team is very limited. Selection is based on time and technique in selected competitive strokes. Qualifying times for swimmers are posted here on the blog. Timed strokes for 7 & 8 year olds: 25m freestyle, backstroke and breaststroke; for 9 & 10s: 100m Individual Medley and 50m Choice; for 11 & 12s 50m of each stroke and for 13-14s 100 IM. Attend only one of the practices.

You must be able to swim least 100 meters in three of the four competitive swimming strokes with good technique, and train with appropriate rest intervals for one hour. Swimmers selected will be divided into one of two teams; ‘Blue’ for the fastest swimmers and ‘Red’ for developing swimmers. All members are eligible to compete in local meets and SAS Intra Meets. Additionally, Blue members are eligible for traveling meets if they obtain the meet’s qualifying times and coaches’ approval.

Swimmers will be notified via email if they made the team by Aug. 30th. The list will also be posted here on the Blog and at the Aquatics Center.

Regular Practice will commence as follows:

· Age 7-8 and 9-10 Blue and Red Team: Wednesday Sept. 1st

· Ages 11-12 and 13-14 Blue Team: Monday August 30th, Red Team on Wednesday Sept. 1st

Practices days for the months of September and October:

· Blue Team Age 7-8 and 9-10: Monday – Wednesday – Friday from 3:05 to 4:05 pm

· Red Team Age 7-8 and 9-10: once or twice on Tue.-Wed.- Thur.- Fri. from 3:05 to 4:05 pm

· Blue Team Age 11-12: Mon.-Tue.- Thurs.- 3:05 to 4:05 & Fri. 3:05 to 5:00 pm.

· Blue Team Age 13-14: Mon.-Tues.- Wed. & Thurs. 3:05 to 5:00 pm

· Red Team Age 11-14: Wednesday from 4:10 – 5:45pm

It is expected that students commit to attending their practices and weekend swim meets they qualify for. We realize students will have family and homework obligations to fulfill. If you believe a balance between these obligations can be maintained we welcome your involvement on the swim team.

Before you Tryout the Aquatics Center must have the Permission Form handed to your coach (these forms are at the pool and attached on the blog). You will not be allowed to tryout without these forms completed and signed by a parent or guardian.

Grade 2 students must be picked up at SAS aquatics center. Grade 3 and above can take the After School Activity (ASA) Bus home. If your child is not picked up on time by a parent or designated adult guardian it greatly decrease the level of safety. ASA buses have bus monitors on board, however these monitors do not stay at the drop-off sites.

For more information don’t hesitate to contact your coach or Jon (jon.biros@saschina.org).

See you at the pool,

Coaching Staff

permission-to-participate-swim

qualifying times ages 7-14

registration form

Aug.Octpractice Schedule

Third Place in Thailand Tropics

May 26th, 2010

Twenty-one well-tuned swimmers from Pudong and Puxi raced their heart out to top off another triumphant year of swim successes at BIS Phuket’s Long Course International Invitational. Thailand’s tropical temperature were perfect for this 50-meter outdoor pool event as our swimmers continued their paths to year end personal best times and successful team finishes. When the two-day event was completed the Aqua Eagles swan to a thrilling third place over all against 18 teams, just behind Singapore’s Orchid Country Swim Club and BIS Phuket Flying Fish and second place in average points just behind the Orchid’s.

Photo Slide Show:

Swimming strongly for valuable points were 8&U girls Tina Wang, Juliette Dajani, Linda Li, Poem Lin, and Megan Wang; 8&U Boys Nolan Liu, David Xue, Julian Kim, Alexander Tang and Ethan Young; 9-10 Boys Matthew Xu and Alex Dixon; 11-12 Girls Jessica Hu, Vivian Zhou and Vivian Xu; 11-12 Boys William Huang, Josh Wang and Tristan So; 13-14 Girls Carina Seah and 13-14 Boys Daniel Kong and Eric Hong.

Top scoring swimmers in their age groups for the Aqua Eagles were:
13-14 Girls Carina Seah Pd;
13-14 Boys Eric Hong Pd
11-12 Girls Jessica Hu Px
11-12 Boys Tristan So Px
9-10 Boys  Matthew Xu Px
8 & Under Girls Tina Wang Px
8 & Under Boys David Xue Px
Click here for Full Event Results bis-flying-fish-meet-results.


The BIS Invitational was an appropriately challenging meet for our swimmers and a wonderful venue in the tropics as swimmers, parents and coaching capped off the tour playing in late afternoon surf of a Phuket beach. Traveling coaches Carpouzis, Biros and Yu would like to extend their gratitude to all 14 parents that accompanied the team to Thailand. We truly appreciated all the tasks you took on such as marshaling, fan support, dining arrangements, photography etc. You all helped make this season ending trip a success and pleasure.


A Shining 2nd Place in Hong Kong

April 27th, 2010

The SAS Aqua Eagles placed second overall in the prestigious Hong Kong Mantas Swim Meet!  Puxi swimmers had a great meet with many personal best times.  Congratulations to Josephine Mah 1st place in 9-10s, Tina Wang 2nd place in 8-U, Linda Li 3rd Place in 8&U and Lydia Oldham 3rd place in the 15 & Over category.  Well done swimmers!  Next away meet is in Phuket and it is not too late to enter.  Let me know by Thursday April 29th if you want to book your travel arrangements with the team or by May 7th if you will book independently.

Swimmers, click to see your times and placings at the Mantas meet meet-results-april-24th25th-2010 and indiv-scores-april24th-25th-2010

Aqua Eagles Headed to the Islands! Hotel update

April 17th, 2010

May 21st to 24th BIS Phuket 2-Day Meet, 50 meter Long Course Event – 5 Age Groups

Click on Link for all information. phuket

Hi Parents of 11-12 and Coaches :
We have over 20 swimmers now traveling to the BIS Phuket Meet.

We have confirmed the hotel for our stay.
PHUKET GRACELAND RESORT & SPA
190 Thaweewong Road, Patong District, Amphur Kathu, Phuket 83150, Thailand
Tel: (6676)-370-500 Fax: (6676)-370-550
http://www.phuketgraceland.com/

The cost for the deluxe twin share is 360 RMB / per swimmer / night.  This includes breakfast.

There are other room options, Lily will take care of the booking these for you.  Please get in touch with Lily before the end of next week. Registrations will be due to us on or before May 7th.

Happy Holiday,
Jon Biros
Aquatics Director

Aqua Eagle Update April 15

April 1st, 2010

Find below Aqua Eagle Activities remaining on our calendar this school year. We have three meets you to be involved in.  I encourage you all to swim in the April meets. Spring is traditionally the start of the Long Course swim season (50 meter length pools) and a few of you will compete in Long Course events this summer.  If so I hope you can make at least one of the Long Course events. Click here for the 2010 Junior Olympic Standards  10_juniorolympic (note these JO times can vary slightly from from one zone to another).  Note the time for Long Course Meters (LCM), you will see that these events take longer to swim than Short Course Meter events (SCM).  This is because the turn and push-off followed by underwater dolphin action or the breaststroke pullout is faster than you can swim the stroke.

April 17th.  SAS Spring Sprints @ Puxi.  Click her for the program of events and times ss-morning-program1, ss-afternoon-program1. The entry fee of 35 rmb, which would normally go towards the cost of the awards, will be donated to World Swim Against Malaria for the purchase of anti-mosquito nets. Refer to the following site for more information about this organization and your donation  http://www.worldswimagainstmalaria.com/

April 23 to 26. Hong Kong Mantas 50 meter long course Meet. Click here for the meet program meet-program-2010-previewhk.  SAS will have 41 swimmers attending this meet.  Good luck to these swimmers.

April 24-25. Shanghai Swim League Championships @ Shanghai Community International School (Puxi). Click here for registration ssl-regdetailsap2425, and meet details scis-invitational-april-2010.

May 18. School Wide Swim Team Awards Event @ the PAC puxi. This is an auditorium event for Elementary and Middle School Aqua Eagles from 3:15 to 4:45 p.m.

May 21-24 . British International School of Phuket 50 meter long course meet.  Registration forms and travel details will be out shortly.  Click here for their invitation form bis-phuket-flying-fish-invitational.

If you have any questions about these events please contact your coach or me.

Swimmingly,

Jon Biros

Hong Kong Mantas

March 19th, 2010

HK Mantas 50m LC meet is April 24-25.  For SAS swimmers event entries click here mantas-entries for SAS. The team departs Friday and returns Monday. This is a full 2-day meet with a banquet Sunday evening.  Click here for the meet information with events mantas-invite-10, and click here for the travel details and price mantatravelinfo1Space is limited and registrations are due Monday March 29th. Let your Coach know ASAP if you intend to go and what events you would perfer to swim. Payment is due April 1st in Pudong and April 2nd in Puxi.  Lily our travel agent will be at the Aquatics Centers for payment (and also for Bangkok refunds).

Bangkok Blues

March 16th, 2010

Swimmers and Parents the IS Bangkok Splash Meet to be held March 20 and 21 has been cancelled.  For details check your emails or contact me, Jon Biros Aquatics Director SAS Puxi at: jon.biros@saschina.org or phone 1391-662-0241.

Keep the flame burning over the summer!

March 12th, 2010

As the weather outside gets warmer we are reminded that summer is almost upon us and the school year will soon be coming to an end. As coaches we want to make you aware of some of the summer swim camps available during the summer.

Summer swim camps can be beneficial for our swimmers on so many levels. Obviously, training at these high levels for part of the summer maintains or even increases the athletes physical ability for the next year. But, it can also stimulate their enthusiasm for the sport by meeting and training with other students of like interests.

Summer Swim Opportunities 2010 in USA

Here are a few swim opportunities for SAS swimmers this summer:

1.  USA Swimming recommended swim camps, this is not current, but a helpful list of professional swim camps recommended by USAswimming held nationwide.  There is even a Camp in Buffalo, NY:  http://www.usaswimming.org/USASWeb/ViewNewsArticle.aspx?TabId=0&Alias=rainbow&Lang=en&ItemId=1042&mid=45

2. TERRAPIN SUMMER SWIMMING PROGRAM
INTERNATIONAL SUMMER ELITE TRAINING AND COLLEGE ENTRANCE EDUCATION PROGRAM. Come spend the summer with the nationally ranked Terrapins Swim Team in beautiful Northern California. Our summer training and competition program is specifically geared for the international swimmer who wishes to improve their swimming and learn what it takes to attend some of the most prestigious colleges in the United States
* Train with one of the top swim clubs in the USA.
* Every practice is with our full time, award winning TERA coaching staff and benefit from their emphasis on technique, race preparation and strategy.
* Participate in local, regional and national championships (as qualified) as affiliates of the Terrapin Swim Team.
* Not a swim camp! You train with our elite team including members of the USA National and Junior National Teams.
* 50m outdoor facility in beautiful Northern California
* 40 minutes from San Francisco, Napa and Silicon Valley.  One hour to beach.
* Seminars on college recruiting, NCAA regulations, college admissions.
* Take SAT college prep classes available in cooperation with Ames Seminars. Improve testing and essay skills in prep for college entrance exams!
* Most of our past participants have been international swimmers or Americans living overseas. This program has been invaluable in exposing them to USA Swimming and gaining knowledge and exposure in the college swimming recruiting process.
* Please note that because this is a training program and not a swim camp, participants are responsible for their own accommodation/parental supervision.
http://www.collegeswimrecruiting.com/terrapinsummerprogram.html

3. Walnut Creek Aquabears. Home of the best USA-Swimming experience in Contra Costa County. The City of Walnut Creek, CA
www.walnutcreekaquabears.org/

4. Stanford Swimming Camps: 2010 Camp Dates
Session 1: June 19-24 (Directed by Skip Kenney)
Session 2: June 26-July 1 (Directed by Skip Kenney)
Session 3: July 3-8 (Directed by Lea Maurer)
Session 4: July 10-15 (Directed by Lea Maurer)

2010 Camp Prices
Overnight Camp: $975
Extended Day Camp: $875

Swimming Program
• Two pool sessions per day in the Avery Aquatic Center, training site of the 2008 Olympic Team
• Daily videotaping and critique of each individual

Camper Eligibility
These camps are for girls and boys, ages 9-18, involved in a competitive program: from U.S.S. age group, national qualifiers, high school swimmers, and summer league swimmers - who can swim 50 meters of all four competitive strokes: fly, back, breast and freestyle.

Camp Features
• Resident campers are housed in Stanford Campus Housing with 24-hour supervision by mature, qualified live-in staff
• Staff members, selected for their experience in coaching and dealing with children, are both instructors and counselors to the campers. Their friendliness, enthusiasm and maturity are as important as their teaching skills
• Guest appearances by Stanford Swimming Greats
http://www.gostanford.com/camps/swim-camps.html

5.  NBAC Swim Camp, Baltimore, Maryland, held in July including a week (July 26-30, 18 spots left in the day camp) before the Junior Olympics. This is the swim club the trained Michael Phelps and Katie Hoff and would be a good choice if you are on the East Coast for the Junior Olympics.  This swim club won the 2010 swim team club excellence award by USAswimming.  http://www.nbac.net/teaminfo/summercamp2010.php

6.  USA Junior Olympics, Newport News, Virginia, August 2-6 (must become an AAU member, $45 plus registration on line, and meet qualifying times to compete) http://application.aausports.org/clubapp/Flyers/EC14F131-9CB1-4BDF-9C4B-0C25E4494035_flyer.PDF

7.  AAU Swimming which has other swim meets around the USA, some meets are available to enter as individuals, some swim meets must be with a team, note to swim AAU meets you must join as a member.  Members do not have to be from a specific country.  http://aauswimming.org/

If you have questions or are interested in the NBAC Swim Camp and USA Junior Olympics, please feel free to contact Pudong Swim Mom Renee Johnsson at 137-6479-8812 or Home +8621 5027 7137

Your Coaches

APAC Swim Champs

January 26th, 2010

Well done SAS px and SAS pd in the annual APAC swim meet. Puxi Boys captures an honorable 2nd place overall, Pudong Girls 3rd overall. Amongst other highlights the Puxi girls swam their hearts out and captured a 2nd place in the 4×50m free relay. For details and results click here
apac-meet-results-full, apac-team-scores, apac-individual-scores.

Candy Cane Meet Update Sat. 2p.m.

January 21st, 2010

Well done swimmers, coaches and parents; thank you for a great meet. Click here for Saturday’s results candy-cane-results and scores candy-cane-scores.  Next up is our IS Bangkok meet.  Top swimmers in each age group will be selected to swim at this meet. Travel options vary from departing on Thursday the 18 and returning Monday the 22nd or Sunday the 28th of March.  Registrations will be emialed out to selected swimmers and the list posted on the blog.  If you have questions about your status on this trip contact your coach.