Doping Control at Spring Nationals:

Coaches, do you have athletes attending Spring Nationals? If so, the
following is of importance to you!  All athletes attending the meet are
eligible to be drug tested. Whether it is the first time an athlete is
attending nationals or the fifth time, please make sure the following is
done as soon as possible in preparation for the meet.

1.  Call the US Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) Drug Reference
Line at 1-800-233-0393 to determine the following:
a.  Are all medications being taken allowed
to be used? (Remember, oral decongestants such as Sudafed are prohibited
in-competition!)
b.  Are any medications considered to be
restricted? (Examples:  Asthma inhalers, Insulin, Flonase, Flovent,
Rhinocort, etc).

2.  If an athlete is using restricted medications he/she
must do the following IN ADVANCE of Nationals:
a.  Download a declaration of drug use form
from the following link:
http://www.usa-swimming.org/programs/drug_testing/Drug_Decl.pdf.
b.  Complete the top portion of the form and
SIGN IT (parents must sign if the athlete is a minor).
c.  Take the form to his/her physician and
get the remaining portion of the form completed. 
d.  The form is invalid if it is not signed
by the prescribing physician and the athlete/parent.
e.  Ask the doctor to write a statement of
medical necessity (this is required in addition to the declaration of drug
use form).
f.   Fax both the statement and the form to
719-866-4257 IN ADVANCE of the meet.
g.  Check with USA Swimming to ensure that
any forms on file are current. 
h.  Declaration of Drug Use forms are valid
for ONE YEAR from the date they are signed by the physician. 

3.  Questions? 
a.  Contact Stacy Michael, USA Swimming Drug
Control Coordinator, at 719-866-4962 or smichael@usa-swimming.org

Club Toolbox Tip #2 February, 2003
Section 4
Disability Swimming brochures and Outreach Manual
These are wonderful resource materials for athletes with special
needs.  The brochures cover the sport for athletes, coaches, parents and
officials.    The Outreach Manual contains ideas that will help ALL clubs
regarding fundraising, writing grants, getting pool space, etc.

If you received one of the original/first mailings of the Club Toolbox,
these materials were in your update packet in 2002.  If your club toolbox
was shipped in late 2002, these materials were already included in Section 4
of your box.

Want a Club Toolbox?  USA Swimming will send the to clubs for free. Fill out a Club Profile.

Are You a Pressure Parent?

The following survey has been taken from the Amateur Swimming Association of
Great Britain. If you answer yes to one or more of these questions, you may
be in danger of pressuring your child. It is important to remember that the
parents' role is critical and should be supportive at all times to ensure a
positive experience for your child.

1. Is winning more important to you than it is to your child?

2. When your child has a poor swim, is your disappointment obvious?

3. Do you feel that you have to "psyche" your child up before competition?

4. Do you feel that winning is the only way your child can enjoy the sport?

5. Do you conduct "post mortems" immediately after competition or practice?

6. Do you feel that you have to force your child to go to practice?

7. Do you find yourself wanting to interfere during practice or competition
thinking that you could do better?

8. Do you find yourself disliking your child's opponents?

9. Are your child's goals more important to you than they are to your child?

10. Do you provide material rewards for performance?

EXPECTATIONS
by Jeff Pearson, Head Coach, Sierra Marlins Swim Team 

          One of the basic truths is that you tend to get what you expect from life. If you start the school year expecting to be an A student, then you will most likely be an A student when the year is up. The same is true when it comes to swimming. If you expect great things and stay true to your expectations during your preparation, then great things will almost always happen. If you expect that the taper won’t work or that you are going to “choke” at the big meet, then that will also tend to happen. As a wise man once said, “Rarely does one exceed his own expectations.”  

            It is very common for young people to have expectations that are unrealistic. Unrealistic expectations tend to frustrate and demoralize an athlete. Your expectations for yourself should be formed by stringing together a series of smaller goals in a realistic time frame. It doesn’t make any sense for a B swimmer to say that he is going to make the Olympic Team in 2004 without first giving some serious thought to what needs to happen today, tomorrow, next week, next month, etc.. for that to become a reality. The key is to have expectations that excite you, but that you can justify as reasonable. Then, get to work and make it happen by staying true to those expectations over time. Also, remember that things will never happen exactly as you plan, but the final goal is achievable if you stay flexible and positive as you hit those road blocks.  

This week, examine your expectations with respect to school, swimming, family and friends. Then, picture yourself as if all your expectations came true: Do you like what you see? Can you visualize a logical path that leads you toward those expectations? If the answer is “Yes” to both of these questions, then you are probably on the right track. If you do not, then give some thought to adjusting your expectations. Remember that your thoughts are very powerful in forming who you will become and nobody’s expectations are as important as your own.