March 2016

Easter break from 25th March to 28th March inclusive:-
No training on:-
- Good Friday
- Easter Saturday
- Easter Sunday
- Easter Monday

Please note there is also NO morning session on Monday 5th April.

All other training days & times are as normal throughout the Easter holidays.

13th November 2015

Samantha Travis, one of our volunteer coaches has been nominated and is a finalist in the ASA awards for ASA Volunteer of the year Award.

Sam is one of three shortlisted nominees which recognises the dedication and extra special effort Sam has put into her role as a Volunteer Coach, Fundraiser, Skills Assessor, Judge and Committee member.

Good luck to Sam at the Awards evening tomorrow in Loughborough, we are all rooting for you to win!

14th October 2015

Please find attached an updated calendar of our training sessions until Christmas.

Please note the changes. We have moved to Knottingley this Sunday (18th October) straight after the skills session. The times are exactly the same as JCCS training.

In addition, on Sunday 1st November, the development camp is at Knottingley and in training follows this from 2pm-6pm - also at Knottingley.

Finally, all the camp days are confirmed 10am-4pm during the October half term.  These are free, to replace the training missed due to competitions this part of the year with the exception of masters swimmers who will be contacted separately.

Some sessions have been moved around slightly.  This is to adjust for coaching purposes and to give the competitive swimmers a rest after a weekend of competing and before a full weekend of training.

September 2015

Leeds Mermaids Caps are now available from Jacky, Jo and Tracy at training sessions.  The cap is essential club kit for training and competitions. Cost - £5.50

18th July 2015

Please chech the attached document for training dates, venues & times including dates for planned competitions.  This is subject to change, so please keep checking the website.

17th July 2015

We have a Bag Pack organised for Sunday 6th September at Morrisons Hunslet.

The Bag Packs raise a lot of money for the clubs and are very difficult to get in supermarkets.  We only have two per year and the Club will really benefit if as many swimmers attend as possible.

We need 11 swimmers per slot and for every 4 girls we need one adult. ( Adults cannot pack)

Can all swimmers wear City of Leeds/ Leeds Mermaids tops, black leggings and trainers, or if you haven’t got your top yet- a blue or yellow one.

Parents- if you could wear a blue top and black trousers so we are recognisable too that would be great

Book your place by clicking the button below.  (Simply type your name/s and select time slot.)

10thJuly 2015

This weekend the Sunday session is at Knottingley with slightly different pool times to normal so please look carefully at the schedule below.

 Sunday- Knottingley

E-Squad- 1pm-3pm
12&U combo and 13-19 combo squads 3pm-4pm
All other squads 1pm-4pm ( figure competition and trials)

Saturday- Kippax -  I have organised a professional dancer and instructor to come in (Kathryn) and a diving coach (Taylor) so the timetable is slightly different (see below)

Junior/Senior and 13/14s:
9.45am-10.15 land
10.15-11.45am pool
12.20pm-1.20pm land with Kathryn in activity room downstairs
1.30pm-2pm warmup and synchro laps
2pm-3pm diving with Taylor in deep end

12&U competitive
12.15 arrive and go to activity room downstairs
12.20-1.20pm land with Kathryn in activity room downstairs
1.30pm-2pm warmup and synchro laps
2pm-3pm diving with Taylor in deep end

12&U combo and 13-19 combo

2pm- go to activity room downstairs ( need to wear land training kit) for land with Kathryn 2pm-2.50pm
3pm-4pm Skills/ diving with Taylor

Many Thanks
Sarah

4th July 2015

Message from 12&U Team Managers

I just wanted to say, on behalf of Tracy & I, (Jo) what a pleasure it was to be a Team Managers at Warwickshires today.  It was a long hot day and there were disappointments to deal with, but the attitude, effort and behaviour of all the girls made them a credit to their parents.  They did themselves proud.

They achived 4th position in the Team competition and represented the Club brilliantly.

9th July 2015

Please read the timetable below to check training times as there is a different session running, as we are planning to hold a trial session for National Age Groups and Scottish Nationals competitive squads.

Schedule for the day:

1-3pm figures competition ( 12& U competitive team, 13-14 competitive team, Junior/Senior competitive team)

1pm-3pm E-Squad training- skills session

3pm-4pm routine swims / 12&u rec squad session skills session and 13-19 rec squad skills session

• 13/14 team

• 12&U lap 1

• Junior tech team

Selection for Nationals

This Sunday will be the selection for the 13-14 competitive squad and this represents the cut off for gaining skill 3 to join this squad so that focus can be made on patterns and places. The selection will include a figures competition and routine swim. Swimmers who cannot attend will have their figures and routine swim video’d on a separate session and need to email to organise this asap.

The 12&U’s selection for Nationals will be on Sunday, however there will also be the opportunity to trial on Wednesday 15th or 22nd if you cannot attend this Sunday ( if this is the case and I don’t already know please can you email me to let me know preferred date, or we can organise a suitable alternative). The trial involves 4 figures and a routine swim. The 22nd July represents the cut off for achieving Skill Level 2 to trial for a place in this squad. Swimmers who cannot attend will have their figures and routine swim video’d on a separate session.

The Junior squad will take part in the figure competition for practice, but there will not be a selection as there are no more than 8 athletes with the correct skill level.

Swimmers who have not yet got the required skill level for the competitive team, but are working towards skill levels in a competitive squad will take part in the figure competition on Sunday as part of their training practice as well as swimming the routine they have practiced.

Written and some verbal feedback will be provided to the swimmers following the selection for 13/14 and 12&U’s. I will communicate when this will be as it will depend on when all swimmers have been seen performing the figures and routine.

The selection will also be based on day-to-day training and performances at other competitions. A trial is useful to bring in other coaches/ judges and other opinions in order to be as objective as possible. Please see attached selection document for more details ( this is part of the training scheme hand book)

Below is the list of swimmers who are eligible to take part in each category of the competition.

12&U figures competition ( skill level 1-3) Figures: 1. Ballet leg, 2. Barracuda, 3. Kip, 4. Walkover front

Tilly Budd, Zoe Boulter, Niamh Cooper, Eleanor Crabtree, Anna Dennison Barbosa, Pru Hubbard, Eve Peckett, Cerys Puttick, Frankie Ross, Leila Thompson, Predine-Utting Simon,

13/14 figures ( skill level 2-4)Figures: 1. Ariana, 2. Barracuda spinning 360, 3. Heron, 4. Catalina

Jessica Arnold, Samantha Breen, Olivia Burton, Millicent Costello, Isobel Davies, Megan Ingle, Ellie Jefferson, Catherine Porter, Saskia Seddon, Grace Steadman, Jasmine Stainsby

Junior figures ( skill level 4-5) 1. Porpoise twist spin, 2 barracuda split, 3. Ibis continuous spin, 4 jupiter

Rosie Barrington, Abigail Devanny, Georgia Fielding, Rachel Lee, Chloe McLelland, Katie Pearce, Rebecca Richardson, Alyssa Ward, Lauren Wyke

There will be normal training sessions as shown in the times in the schedule for E-Squad and the 12&U and 19&U rec squads.

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED! We need two scorers, one caller and one chaperone for the figure competition, if you are able to help in one of these roles on Sunday for the figures competition please can you let me know.

Finally- a big well done to all the swimmers who competed in Warwickshire’s last Saturday- some great results! And good luck to all swimmers competing in the Beacon Games on Sunday

19th June 2015

Please see below for information about a Team Managers course.

When we enter competitions we need to provide Team Managers to look after the swimmers - it's usually a requirement that they have attended a team managers course.

If we can't provide a Team Manager we can't enter the competition, and therefore we urge you all to consider volunteering for this rold and to attend and help out at future competitions.

At the moment we only have one Team Manager - for the 12&U age group and an E squad parent has attended the course on 20th June.  

We don't have anyone to manage the 13+ age group which could mean that we can't enter that squad in future competitions if nobody steps up.

Please either contact us with the Contact page on the webiste or speak to the Club Secretary (Jacky).

22nd May 2015

Please find attached information about a Basic and Advanced Assessors course. As a club we need to supply assessors whenever our swimmers are entered for skill assessments and therefore it is important that the club has sufficient qualified assessors to enable our swimmers to take their skill levels and progress.

Please consider taking this course - if you are interested in attending, let the Club secratary know.  Your daughter (and/or son) needs you to get involved!

The next basic (Skills 1 & 2) course is on Sunday 14th June commencing at 8.45am, at JCCS and costs £15.  The Advanced course (Skill 3) commences at 1pm.

22nd May 2015

Please check the training schedule below for changes which will affect you:

Saturday 23rd May- Training at JCCS NOT Kippax ( same training times as kippax) we will be in the main pool.

Sunday 24th May- Normal training ( Plus Beacon session)

Monday 25th May- Bank holiday ( no training AM or PM)

Tuesday 26th May- Normal training

Wednesday 27th May- Normal training

Thursday 28th May- Training Cancelled

Friday 29th May- TBC

Saturday 30th May- Kippax as normal

Sunday 31st May- Knottingley sports centre

17th May 2015

Attached are ASA Codes of conduct for swimmers and parents that Leeds Mermaids requires all members, both parent and swimmers, to sign and return to the Club Secretary.  These are the codes of conduct that the Club expects all swimmers, members and parents to follow.

Please also find below a reminder of the correct routes to air grievances or complaints:

1. If the grievance/complaint is related to training please contact Head Coach Sarah Speers (sarah.speers@leeds.gov.uk)

2. If the grievance/complaint is about the head coach personally, please contact Adrian.hinchcliffe@leeds.gov.uk

3. If the grievance/complaint is about the facilities during gala/competition/skill assessment please contact the venue directly

4. If the complaint/grievance is about conduct/behaviour or an issue during a competition/assessment/gala where you/your swimmer(s) are representing Leeds Mermaids please contact the Leeds Mermaids Chair, Jo Boulter (neiljoboulter@aol.com) or the Secretary, Jacky Cooper (Jacky@spooc.co.uk)

Unless your child is in imminent danger please do not raise your grievance/complaint directly with volunteers or officials at a competition/gala/assessment. All Officials and Volunteers give up their free time to manage and run events and we would not want to get into a position whereby the club is no longer invited to attend competitions/galas/assessments due to inappropriate behaviour, or where we do not have any club members willing to volunteer at such events.

The Club Committee would also like to remind all swimmers/parents that they are representing Leeds Mermaids when attending competitions/galas/assessments and by agreeing to participate they are agreeing to follow the codes of conduct.

Sunday 10th May

We have just received the following from the organisers of the competition at Knottingley.

"The balcony at Knottingley Sports Centre can only accommodate 100 spectators. We will ensure that the numbers are controlled by a member of staff and a band system. As agreed the only spectators on the balcony will be those who have their competitors in the water or who is waiting to compete. When the competitor has finished the spectator will swap with a spectator who is waiting to watch their competitor. We will provide an area for the spectators who are not on the viewing balcony."

They have also stated that swimmers will not be allowed to use the balcony. So all swimmers must stay in the changing room or around the pool.  Can you please make sure that they have their packed lunch, snacks and water with them.  

A copy of the running order will be published once received.

28th April 2015

Here are the dates to add to your diary for changes in training in upcoming days and months.

MAY

Friday 1st- Monday 4th May Training Cancelled (British Championships and Bank Holiday weekend) The Tour de Yorkshire is coming to Leeds as well so may be a good opportunity for a day out?!

Tuesday 5th May- Saturday 2nd May- Training as normal

Sunday 10th May- Training cancelled due to Yorkshire Novice competition which all coaches are volunteering at.

Then training resumes as normal.

Affected dates due to galas:-

Training will be in Knottingley

17th May

31st May

28th June

Knottingley training times:

E-Squad - 1pm-3pm

12&U combo - 1pm-2pm

13-19 combo - 3pm-4pm

Junior/Senior Squad - 1pm-4pm

13/14 competitive squad - 1pm-4pm

12&U competitive squad - 2pm-4pm

Summer Break (provisional)

3rd August- 16th August

partial resume - 17th August (no mornings)

fully resume - 24th August.

It is undersood that schools go back quite late (7th September 2015), so the Club  would like to run summer camps in the week of 1st-4th September. Please can you let Sarah know if your school will start before then or if it clashes with Cobham.

February 2015

Plese see the PDF file for details

30th January 2015

This Sunday ( 1st Feb) and next Sunday ( 8th Feb) are still at JCCS as normal and then please follow the dates below which indicate the changes in times and venue:-

Sunday 15th February- Knottingly

Thursday 19th February- Provisional camp day ( not confirmed) 10am- 4pm and also 5am-9am for Champs squad ( who can also do 10am-4pm camp) ( £20 pp)

Sunday 22nd February- Knottingly

Sunday 1st March- Knottingly

Sunday 8th March - JCCS ( normal)

Sunday 15th March Training cancelled as there is a gala at JCCS and the Novice competition at Knottingly. Older swimmers are encouraged to watch/ help out on the day. Swimmers over 16 are able to help Judge the competition.

Sunday 22nd March- JCCS (Normal)

Sunday 29th March JCCS (Normal)

Sunday 5th April- Easter Sunday (Cancelled)

Sunday 12th April- JCCS (Normal)

Sunday 19th April- JCCS (Normal)

Sunday 26th April- JCCS (Normal)

Training times for Sundays at Knottingly:

Champs squad: 1pm-4pm

13/14 national squad: 1pm-4pm

E-Squad: 1pm-3pm

12&U national squad: 2pm-4pm

12&U combo squad: 1pm-2pm

13/14 combo squad: 2pm-3pm