Thanksgiving Weekly Update: Week of November 24

Jackson Leonard

Week of November 24th

 

It’s been a pleasure to see how many swimmers made it to the pool this Thanksgiving week! From Nova/Fireball swimmers competing for Turkey costumes made by Coach MacK to full Friday PM practices to our returning alumni, EPIC has been vibrant and exciting this week. 

 

I want to personally thank the alumni who returned for Thanksgiving practices; the effect of FAST’s focus on World Class Character for decades was apparent- alumni were respectful, helpful, engaging, focused on being a part of practice and not just a visitor. It was enjoyable for our Senior level athletes to ask questions and learn from our alumni as we prepare for mid-season racing. 

 

From all the FAST coaches, we sincerely hope everyone had a pleasant Thanksgiving and is enjoying time with friends and family.

 

Character Value of the Week: Sportsmanship

Respecting opponents and officials, win or lose.

One man practicing sportsmanship is far better than a hundred teaching it." Knute Rockne

 

Swimming is challenging for a variety of reasons. One of which is the fact we can only control our own efforts. We are not in control of how fast others swim. Sportsmanship means we always maintain a level of respect for our competitors, no matter the result. 

 

While we frequently see professional golfers or tennis players smash a club or racquet after a poor shot, we (parents, family members, coaches, teammates, spectators) also often feel the same level of internal embarrassment for the athlete who cannot control their emotions. Sportsmanship requires a level of self-discipline and higher level understanding that we cannot control the outcome, only the process. 

 

What does this look like for us?

Good sportsmanship:

    Finishing a close race that ends in being out touched by a competitor and reaching across the lane line to shake the hand of the person who beat you. 

Poor sportsmanship: 

    Finishing a close race that ends in being out touched by a competitor and ripping one’s cap and goggles off, tossing them behind the timers, and slapping the water out of frustration. 

 

Good sportsmanship:

    Finishing a race with a new best time (by .04) and smiling, congratulating others, and celebrating with teammates. 

Poor sportsmanship: 

    Finishing a race with a new best time (by .04) and pouting, shaking your head in dismay, and throwing a temper tantrum because you ‘didn’t drop enough time.’ Meanwhile, your teammates may not have gone best times at all (or worse, also gone their first best time by a few tenths in a full year). If you pout and are angry after going a best time by a few tenths, how does that make your teammate feel when they have a breakthrough swim of a similar degree? 

 

Good sportsmanship:

Sometimes relays are disqualified by the smallest of margins on exchanges. When a DQ happens, it happens to the entire relay, not just for one person. Someone exemplifying good sportsmanship would comfort all members of the relay, congratulate everyone on their best effort, and refocus the group on the next race.

Poor sportsmanship: 

    In the same scenario, someone exemplifying poor sportsmanship would sulk alone, avoid warm down and feedback, and gossip with others about how the DQ is the sole responsibility of one person, who is to blame. That type of behavior is immediately negatively impactful by creating division and frustration through blame, and negatively impactful in the long-term by creating distrust and cliques between teammates who seek to blame others.

 

Practice Adjustments:

 

Week of Dec. 1st-

    Race Prep Adjustments: Arete specific, NAC participants

Monday: done 20-30 mins early

Tuesday AM: optional AM

Tuesday PM: done 25-35 mins early

Wednesday PM: done by 6:15 p.m.

    Race Prep Adjustments: Arete specific, Winter Junior Nationals & B. Spahn participants

Thursday AM: optional AM

Thursday PM: done by 6:45 p.m

Friday AM: optional AM

Friday PM: lift @ Valor 5:00 -6:00 p.m., swim 6:15 -7:00 p.m.

Saturday AM: normal 6:45 - 9:30 a.m. 

 

Upcoming Events:

 

   

  • FAST Private Lessons: monthly availability with multiple FAST coaches

  • FAST Age Group & Senior Clinic: Racing Starts

  Partnering with: Gatorade for goodie bag giveaways

  • November 30th, EPIC, 9:00 - 11:30 a.m. 

  • ONE (1) space remaining!

  • Swimming in College: Information for High School Aged Families

    • In-Person: Coach Woody, CSU; Coach Rylee O’Neil

    • Virtual Panel: Olivia Asay (Div. I Swimmer at University of Iowa)

 Who should attend: high school aged swimmers and interested family members.

 Submit questions for the panel ahead of our meeting: QUESTION SUBMISSION

  • FAST Advanced Stroke Clinic: Breaststroke with Lucy Bell

         Partnering with: Nuun for goodie bag giveaways

  • December 21st, EPIC, 9:00 -11:30 a.m. 

  • THREE (3) registration spaces remaining!

  • Arete athletes: The Way of Excellence: Brad Stulberg- An Evening in Boulder

    • Wednesday, January 28th

      • Coaches will drive vans for Arete athletes. There will be no Arete practice that evening. 

      • An opportunity to learn about high achievement, tendencies of those who are excellent in their respective arenas, and feedback from a content expert and best-selling author.

    • 5:45 p.m. departure from EPIC

    • 6:00 - 7:30 dinner and discussion

    • 8:45 p.m. return to EPIC 

      • If you can attend:

      • ‘Commit’ to the event so we know how many vans to reserve.

      • RSVP using the link under the event in “Team Events” to ensure a place at the event.

 

Upcoming Events: Dates & Details TBD

  • Monday, January 26th, 2026: 

    • Family Information Presentation: Nutrition Made Simple

      • Guest Speaker: Valor Elite Nutritionist

      • Location: SCHEELS, 2nd floor meeting room

      • Time: TBD

      • Practice this evening will likely be a unique combined practice day so athletes, family members, and coaches can attend.

  • January 2026

    • 10&Under Popcorn Variety Clinic- NEW TOPICS, DIFFERENT LEARNING PATTERNS

  • February 2026

    • AG&SR Clinic: (open to FAST and all Fort Collins high school swimmers)-

      • Championship Relay Exchanges & Race Quality Finishes

  • Late March 2026

    • Advanced Stroke Clinic: Freestyle

 

Administrative Reminders & News:

Be a Changemaker for FAST! 

Direct your support to one, or any combination, of our funds (Athlete Travel, Scholarships, Facilities&Equipment, Athletic Performance) or support the team with your time and focus as a USA Swimming Official!

 

Sponsorship/Donation Progress:

Thanks to the local businesses and individuals who have supported FAST through the Sponsorship program or through charitable donations, FAST is able to invest back in our athletes. 

 

Following our Facilities & Equipment Capital Fund policies, FAST will purchase 20 SwimBridge Buoys to begin using at practices in December 2025. Swimmers from every group (Nova ⇒ Masters) will use SwimBridge Buoys at practices throughout each week. 

 

SwimBridge Buoys are all foam, commercial grade buoys that attach to lane lanes. The buoys are meant to be a physical goal point for athletes to kick under without touching before surfacing. Coaches should strategically place SwimBridge Buoys to match the underwater kicking skills of each group. We will move the SwimBridge Buoys farther away from the walls as underwater kicking skills improve. 

 

We are looking forward to the development of underwater kicking skills for many seasons to come! 

Thank you, again, to our Sponsors and Donors who helped contribute to this training addition.

 

If you are interested in supporting FAST athletes by signing on as a Sponsor, Partner, or Donor, please visit our “Support the Team” tab on our website; or scan the QR codes attached.