Years ago the High Performance (Sask First) Management Committee worked extremely hard to develop a program with the vision to create, implement, and maintain a high performance training program for Saskatchewan’s Elite Level Synchronized Swimmers. This program is athlete centered and fosters the recruitment and development of strong National Stream Athletes. The goal is to provide a strong unified identity for all athletes in the province as members of the HP (SF) program.
Sask Sport is very impressed with Synchro Saskatchewan’s Sask First Program. They plan to use our submission for the Canada Winter Games Program Assistance Grant as a model for all sports to consider adopting. This is wonderful for our sport as it ensures future funding for our High Performance (Sask First) Elite Program.
The Sask First program has received awards from the Canadian Synchro community for its initiatives to develop national stream athletes. All of the guest clinicians that have visited our province compliment this unique and desired program. Saskatchewan is the only province that offers such a program and many outsiders talk about the need for such programming to exist in all provinces.
Who is eligible to be a participant in the High Performance (Sask First) Program?
The Sask First Program Quad Plan (2003-2007) defines a Sask First Athlete as every Tier 6 and 7 athlete who is seeking qualification to divisional and National Championships. These athletes must be registered with Synchro Saskatchewan.
Synchro Canada’s competitive structure states that high performance is designed for swimmers who are perfecting Superstar 3-7 skills (Junior and Senior FINA). Keeping in line with Synchro Canada’s competitive structure and the current Sask First Program the Sask First Management Committee decided that the above mentioned athletes be considered elite athletes and members of the 2003 to 2007 High Performance (Sask First) Program.
Program Objectives:
Elite Athlete Recruitment and Retention
- Increased opportunities for all Elite athletes to improve skills and succeed, whatever center they are from, through shared training opportunities and information
- Increased mentorship and a feeling of belonging through group work
- More efficient recruitment through involvement in “provincial athlete development camps”
Coach Development
- Provide appropriate upgrading, training and support for coaches of Elite Athletes and coaches who are level 3 and beyond
- Work with coaches of elite athletes to develop appropriate “Yearly Training Plans”
- Provide the opportunity for cross-coaching among clubs and age group levels
- Involve coaches in the process of developing High Performance (Sask First) Program
Communication
Facilitate shared communication among the HP (SF) Committee, athletes, coaches and parents
The High Performance (Sask First) Athlete Training Program:
All Elite Athletes in the province train together at centralized training camps under the leadership of the High Performance (Sask First) Director Laurie Wachs. Centralized weekend training camps provide all Elite athletes and coaches the opportunity to share in a common vision. Shared goals help athletes and their coaches from clubs across the province achieve standards that are in line with those developed by Synchro Canada for elite level athletes.
Camps alternate between the major centers of Regina and Saskatoon and take place over a weekend. The Sask First Director plans all camps, working through a Yearly Training Program. The camps consist of training in the following areas: technical skills (figures and routines), flexibility, conditioning, strength training, mental training and self-esteem development, and nutrition. This season (2006/2007) program athletes attend three monthly training camps taking place between October and December. All three camps will be two days in length, starting on Saturday and ending on Sunday.
Local and out of province, elite level clinicians are utilized at camps. This season we are very lucky to have numerous coaches attending the camps.
As well, the program makes use of the “Saskatchewan Sports Science Program” to help develop athletes in the areas of mental training, nutrition and overall conditioning.
Rationale behind the program:
· This program is fair and equitable for all elite athletes of all age levels
· To provide the opportunity for all Elite athletes to pursue their high performance goals as individuals within a team format
· This program offers consistency. All Elite athletes are striving for common age/skill related National standards
· To provide a program that offers a strong unified identity for all elite athletes in the province
· This program improves the Elite athletes’ ability to train at an increased level of excellence while also teaching Elite athletes the integral skill of “How to compete”
· This program provides a smooth transition into “Canada Games Year” ensuring that the Trials and Selection needs and processes for Canada Games Teams are taken into account
· To provide the opportunity to develop and establish standards for coaches that are involved in the (Sask First) High Performance Training Program
· To provide a program that administers professional development funding for coaches who are level three and beyond
How does your National stream athlete/coach benefit from the program?
In order to provide consistency for the athletes, coach development is an integral component of the program. In conjunction with the High Performance (Sask First) events, learning opportunities are provided for coaches. All coaches in the province are encouraged to use the same focus and objectives when teaching skills, which leads to consistency. Strong club coaching benefits the athlete.
Camps provide a forum for communication among Elite coaches and improve the coaches’ level of expertise in their, technical, practical, and theoretical skills by working with and learning from each other and outside clinicians.
Mini competitions are held with the intent to provide competition experience for athletes and training/development for judges. These competitions reduce the stress on athletes, parents and coaches, and allow each athlete to train and compete at her best.
Ultimately, an equitable, professional program that brings athletes and coaches together from all clubs in the province (whether these clubs have one or twenty national stream athletes) ensures the recruitment of new athletes to the National Stream Program. Shared success, achievement of goals, and consistent support keeps swimmers swimming and clubs growing.
By making this a group effort, the Saskatchewan Team (Synchro Sask Athletes, coaches, staff, judges, parents, and volunteers) is assured a positive outcome in the future.
Has the program had success thus far?
The majority of the athletes on the 2003 Canada Winter Games started in the SF program in the first year of the quad. We feel our selection process achieved the desired result of placing the best nine athletes in the province on the Canada Winter Games Team. We achieved excellent performance results from this group of young women at the 2003 Winter Games. Interesting to note; the majority of the athletes on the current Games Team started in the last year of the last Quad (2003). This demonstrates how the cycle works – The non-games athletes in year four of the Quad are developed as the next Games Team.
Every year since the inception of the program we have seen the club programs achieve increased success and climb in standings at Western Divisionals and Nationals. The program places high standards on National Stream athletes and their coaches. This has led to athletes and coaches having higher expectations and more confidence in themselves at competition. Success breeds success – once athlete’s and coaches’ experiences success they are motivated to continue to attain that level of success or even set their goals higher. I think this was apparent in Saskatchewan (Saskatoon Aqualenes Tier 6 Team) winning our first ever “Team National Title” last year at Tier 6 Nationals.
The High Performance (Sask First) Program is a group effort. Team Saskatchewan which includes athletes, coaches, staff, judges, parents and volunteers will continue to flourish if we continue to work together, cooperatively, and with enthusiasm to ensure that high performance synchronized swimming continues to thrive in this province.
The High Performance (SF) Management Committee:
High Performance (Sask First) Chair – Leanne Smith
High Performance (Sask First) Director – Laurie Wachs
*Club Representatives – Manon Guenther (SAQ) and Amanda Lewis (RS)
Athletes Representative – Laura Gawley
Member at Large – Pat Cooley
Synchro Sask President (Lorraine Smith)
VP Sport Development, Synchro Sask – Arlene Geisler
Club representation on the committee is crucial, as they are your link to the SF program. Any questions or concerns about the program should be forwarded to your club representative who is responsible to speak to these issues at committee meetings. Club reps are responsible for education of club membership regarding the Sask First program. It is the responsibility of the club rep to relay committee decisions and rationale behind these decisions to club membership.
Final Detailed High Performance (Sask First) Camp Schedule
Enclosed is a detailed pool schedule for High Performance (Sask First) Training Camps for the upcoming season. Note that there are only three High Performance (Sask First) Training camps this season (last season there were four). The pools have been very accommodating and all camps will finish on Sunday afternoon so the athletes can return home on the pm bus or at a reasonable hour. I have tried to keep location switching during camps to a minimum.
Please contact your Club High Performance (Sask First) Rep or High Performance (Sask First) Director, Laurie Wachs (651-2500 or
lwachs@sasktel.net) if you have questions or concerns. I am looking forward to a productive and rewarding year!
The dates of this season High Performance (Sask First) Camps are as follows:
Camp #2 – November 18th and 19th in Saskatoon:
Guest Clinicians; Amy Smith, Tech Director and Jessica Chase, Former Olympic Team Member, Heather Hynes, Sports Science Nutritionist (Other clinicians TBA)
§ Saturday, November 18th
12 to 2pm (Pool - Bailey), 2pm to 4pm – Classroom/Supper Break, 4pm to 7pm (Pool – Bailey)
§ Sunday, November 19st
8am to 1pm (Pool – Bailey)
1pm to 3pm – Classroom Activities/Lunch
Camp #3 – December 9th and 10th in Regina: Guest Clinician TBA
§ Saturday, December 9th: 8am to 1pm (Pool) 1pm to 5pm (Classroom Activities)
§ Sunday, December 10th: 7am to Noon (Pool - Lawson), Noon to 3:30pm (Classroom Activities)
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