Eagle Club Swimming - American Elementary School

Welcome

Welcome to Eagle Club Swimming,
on behalf of our coaching staff and our swim community here at SAS.

Most of the information regarding our program can be found on this website through the tabs above, but if there’s anything we missed or you’re curious about, feel free to contact us. We look forward to seeing you soon!

The Eagle Club Swimming Team
The Eagle Way. Every Day

The Eagle Way
Overview

The Eagle Way

At SAS we believe our student-athletes learn a great deal by participating in interscholastic athletics, and we constantly strive toward the goal of the "well-rounded individual." Grit, ownership, determination, perseverance, achievement, sportsmanship, teamwork, and communication are but a few of the valuable lessons that can be attained through athletic participation, the building of self-esteem and self-confidence are ongoing processes during practice and competition throughout at a season.

By providing a variety of athletic experiences for student-athletes, our program helps students develop important habits and attitudes that prepare them for adult life.

Additionally, athletic competition naturally fosters school spirit and develops pride in the school and community for participants, students and spectators. Consequently student-athletes and coaches are expected to exhibit the highest level of conduct, both on and off the playing fields, as they are representatives of their team, school and community.

Indeed, student-athletes and coaches are expected to demonstrate proper respect for one another, opponents, opposing coaches, teachers, officials, spectators and the community. Competitive athletics provide excellent opportunities to teach our student-athletes the virtue and significance of the SAS core values:

Compassion • Fairness • Honesty • Respect • Responsibility

We call the modeling of these core values whilst in the pursuit of excellence: The Eagle Way.

Students who choose to participate in SAS athletics at any level are making a choice that requires self-discipline, sacrifice, grit and ownership. Parents, siblings, friends are also asked to make sacrifices as a result of a student’s participation in SAS athletics. Sometimes this takes the form of foregoing parties, early morning practices, uniform purchases, and housing foreign guests for IASAS events. All stakeholders must be aware that participation in athletics is a privilege, not a right. The privilege of being an Eagle must be earned every day.

In conclusion, we take great pride in our athletic program here at SAS. We invite you to become an integral member in our athletic family. We believe that student-athletes are role models for our entire community. Consequently we are on watch to ensure that the Eagle Way standard is upheld.

Go Eagles!

Overview

Coaches

Aquatics Coordinator

Andy Hailey

Andy Hailey

As an accomplished coach with over 15 years of experience, a qualified Physical Education teacher, and holder of an MSc in Performance Coaching. I have dedicated my career to enhancing athletic performance across various disciplines. With a diverse background in aquatics, I have successfully coached athletes ranging from learn-to-swim enthusiasts to international-level competitors. In my role as a coach, I have had the privilege of leading two large swimming programs, nurturing talent, and fostering a culture of excellence. Whether guiding beginners through their first strokes or fine-tuning the techniques of competitive athletes, my commitment remains unwavering—to empower individuals to reach their personal best.

My journey in the realm of swimming began early, fueled by a passion for the water. Having competed at a national qualifying level in the UK in swimming, I understand the intricacies of competitive sport and the dedication it demands. As an athlete, I proudly represented Great Britain as an age-group triathlete. This experience not only honed my skills as an athlete but also provided valuable insights into the demands of multi-disciplinary sports. I have enjoyed working with coaches through governing bodies and directly on poolside, I am passionate about coach education and love to be on deck collaborating with teams.

Throughout my career, I have had the privilege of working with athletes of varying calibers, from aspiring amateurs to professional triathletes. My coaching philosophy revolves around holistic development, and strategic training methodologies to unlock each student’s full potential.

Beyond the pool, my personal interests reflect an active lifestyle. Surfing, cycling, and spending quality time with my two sons are among my cherished pastimes. These pursuits not only rejuvenate me but also instill a sense of balance that enriches my coaching endeavors. As a supporter of Crystal Palace FC, I have a passion for football. A cool connection with SAS is that the team's colours are red and blue and are also nicknamed the eagles!

Head Coach Competitive High Performance

Oneida Cooper

Oneida Cooper

Oneida, born and bred in South Africa likes to think of herself as a citizen of the world. She represented South Africa for over 10 years; competing at the Commonwealth Youth Games, Mare Nostrum Series, All Africa Junior Champs and the Youth Olympic Games to name a few. She received a full swimming scholarship to the University of New Hampshire (Division I) where she captained her team to two championship wins and graduated with a double major in Psychology and Women’s Studies.

Oneida’s coaching career began in 2017 when she opened her own swimming school (Bubble Babies) aiming to focus solely on learn-to-swim and the love of the water. Naturally her club grew and the demand for a competitive squad drove her to start Coopers’ Aquatics which was home to a number of age group champions, extreme open water swimmers and some of the best triathletes in Africa.

A philanthropist at heart and a burner desire to empower her community, Oneida started her own non-profit organisation Making Waves Together South Africa. A skills development non-profit that teaches children and adults from underprivileged communities how to swim. She was fortunate to partner with Nkosi’s Haven, an HIV/AIDS home to pilot her 6-weeks water safety project that successfully managed to teach over 120 kids to be water safe.

Oneida’s love for people and ability to connect with those around her has allowed her to work with some of the most talented athletes. She aspires to be the coach that she never had and uses her psychology to truly connect with and allow her athletes to achieve their true potential.

Head Coach Development and Swim School

Julia Antonava

Julia Antonava

Coach Julia was born and spent her childhood in Belarus. Since being a kid she joined a swim team and swam competitively representing her school at different levels of local and national competitions. Her passion for water sports continues with her kayaking competitively throughout her college years.

Getting a bachelor’s degree in Physical education and sport allowed her to transfer her knowledge and experience to the younger generation of swimmers. She started her coaching career as a senior coach at Olympic Reserve Tennis Centre back in Minsk and worked closely with a squad of tennis players who used the swim class as a part of their recovery and recreational program.

With the popularity of triathlon and open water competitions, she continued working in a local swim club whose aim was to prepare and help their clients to participate in long-distance swimming events such as Ironman, Oceanman, Bosphorus, etc. To support their athletes she was swimming side by side with them at the Le defi the Monte Christo 5K race challenge that traditionally takes place in Marseille every year.

With her passion for traveling, she accepted a job opportunity in China to perform in the underwater ballet and mermaid show. That was a fun and full of experience chapter of her life that introduced her to Asian culture and amazing Sichuan cuisine.

As a Head of the Development swim program, Julia joined the SAS and Eagle Club swim team in 2022. She enjoys working closely with kids of all ages and helping them not only to develop and improve their skills to step into the competitive stage but also make it a fun and memorable experience of their school years.

Hobbies: traveling, water sports, dragon boat paddler

Development Swim Coach

Derrick Soh

Derrick Soh

Derrick brings a wealth of experience to his role as Swim Coach at Singapore American School, with over a decade dedicated to coaching and lifeguarding within the international school and club community in Singapore.

His journey began at the Singapore Civil Defence Force in 2012, where he served as a Physical Training Instructor, Swimming Instructor, and Lifeguard for trainees and recruits. Since then, Derrick has remained deeply passionate about swimming, constantly seeking opportunities to develop and refine his skills.

He holds certifications including Lifesaving 1, 2, and 3, along with the Bronze Medallion Award from the Singapore LifeSaving Society. Additionally, Derrick has completed Level 1 theory training through the National Coaching Accreditation Programme. His qualifications also extend to Water Safety Instructor and Lifeguard Instructor certifications from the American Red Cross, complementing his ASCA Level 2 and AUSTSWIM Teacher of Swimming and Water Safety License accreditations.

Derrick is always open to fresh ideas and initiatives that align with his values and goals, striving to support students in achieving their best results and continual progress in the pool.

Competitive Swim Coach

Khidir Salim

Khidir Salim

Coach Khidir’ knowledge in Sports and Exercise Sciences and Biomechanics in Sports, he possesses deep intricacies of human body movement and sports performance optimisation.

With several years of dedicated experience in swim teaching and coaching across various sports, Coach Khidir has cultivated a coaching philosophy centered on empowering individuals both within and beyond the realm of athletics. His approach focuses not only on refining technical skills and enhancing performance but also on fostering personal growth and development. He believes in nurturing capable individuals who excel not just in their chosen sport but also in life.

Through his coaching, Coach Khidir strives to instill values of discipline, resilience, teamwork, and leadership, which goes beyond the confines of the sporting arena and equip athletes with the tools they need to succeed in any endeavor they pursue. He prioritizes creating a supportive and inclusive environment where athletes feel valued, motivated, and empowered to reach their full potential.

By emphasizing the importance of goal-setting, self-reflection, and continuous improvement, Coach Khidir aims to inspire a lifelong passion for learning and achievement. Ultimately, his goal is to not only produce successful athletes but also to cultivate confident, well-rounded individuals who are prepared to tackle challenges and thrive in any aspect of their lives.

Swim School Manager

Scott Ng

Scott Ng

With a passion for nurturing aquatic skills and fostering confidence in the water, Scott has dedicated the past six years to the art of teaching swimming. Armed with a wealth of experience and a suite of qualifications, including NROC Level 1, ASCTA Bronze, and ASCA Level 3 certifications, he stands as a beacon of expertise in aquatic instruction.

Specializing in learn-to-swim and developmental swimming levels, Scott approaches each lesson with a blend of patience, enthusiasm, and technical proficiency. His commitment to providing a safe and supportive environment allows swimmers of all ages and abilities to flourish under his guidance.

Throughout his career, Scott has honed his teaching methodology to cater to individual learning styles, ensuring that each student receives personalized attention and instruction. Whether it's instilling basic water confidence in beginners or refining stroke technique for advanced swimmers, he possesses the versatility to adapt his approach to meet the unique needs of every swimmer.

Beyond technical proficiency, Scott recognizes the transformative power of swimming, instilling valuable life skills.

Swim School

Welcome to the Eagle Swim School!

We look forward to helping your child improve their swimming skills while having fun as they progress through our Eagle Club program.

Register here through SchoolsBuddy

Open to	Elementary school students (kindergarten through fifth grade)
Lesson times	Mondays to Fridays Kindergarten to second grade: 3:15 p.m. to 3:45 p.m. Grade three to five: 3:45 p.m. to 4:15 p.m.
Expected contacts	One swim (two are possible subject to availability)
How to join	Register your child based on their grade level and on the day you wish for them to attend. Students will have time with the swim school teachers to place them into levels 1-5 based on ability.

There is no longer an evaluation process for new students, evaluations will happen during the first 1-2 weeks of the season.

Goals: To develop water confidence, teach vital water safety skills and correct stroke technique for a lifetime of safe, fun swimming.
The Eagle Swim School follows a 5-Level structured curriculum based on stroke development and water literacy skills. Our skills-based program provides a step-by-step pathway to swimming proficiency with mastery. Please see below for each level’s Skills Progressions and Advancement Goals.

*Swimmers who can successfully and consistently demonstrate the Level 5 Skills and Advancement goals can be considered for the Development Squad and Competitive Squad.

For more information on the Eagle Swim School program please contact swim school manager, Scott Ng or our Head of Development and Learn to Swim, Julia Antonava.

Competitive Swim Team

To ensure your child is in the right team to help them gain the most out of swimming as a member of the Eagle Club Swimming community, we take into account their swimming ability as well as their grade level to help develop well-rounded student-athletes.

This allows for a philosophical alignment with the school’s focus on academic and sporting balance, as well as a reduced risk of overtraining, injury, and burnout. We encourage swimmers of a similar age to have appropriate social and emotional development.

Participation at a particular team level is at the discretion of the coaching staff and is based on observations made during practice throughout the season.

New swimmers? Please watch out for try-out day notifications or contact the relevant person below:

Julia Antonava
jantonava@sas.edu.sg

Oneida Cooper
ocooper@sas.edu.sg

Schedule 2024–25

Individualization is the key

We know that not all swimmers are created the same; many of them will be at different stages of their swimming journey:

Strokes, distances, strengths, and ages: we will aim to make it as personalized as possible
Social and emotional well-being are the hallmarks of our program
There will always be a place for your swimmer in the Eagle Club Swimming community.

Core Values

Everything we do in the Eagle Club Swimming community is underpinned by the Eagle Way values below.

COMPASSION • HONESTY • FAIRNESS • RESPECT • RESPONSIBILITY

All of the above Eagle Way values are very important to our community, but one, RESPECT, perhaps helps us the most on our individual and team swimming journey.

RESPECT

RESPECT

Team Rituals and Expectations

Team Rituals and Expectations

As with any strong team, we do of course have certain ways that we encourage our members to behave. Here are some ways you can make a difference to not only your own swimming, but to that of your teammates.

LEAVE the outside world at the pool gate—it’s time to swim
GREET your coach and teammates every practice
THANK and SAY GOODBYE to your COACH when you leave
THANK your TEAMMATES who you have been training with
BE PRESENT WITH YOUR TEAM and support your teammates at meets
BE PUNCTUAL for practices and meets. Anything less is disrespectful
PICK UP and PUT AWAY your swim gear after each practice
ALWAYS bring your WATER BOTTLE (No water bottle? No swim!)

MEET THE TEAMS

Click on a team name to find out more.

Development Swim Team

Schedule 2024–25

New swimmers? Please watch out for try-out day notifications or contact the relevant person below:

Julia Antonava
jantonava@sas.edu.sg

Oneida Cooper
ocooper@sas.edu.sg

Development B

Open to middle school (sixth through eighth grade)
Available contacts: Four swims, no minimum sign-ups – up to four

Definition of the team:

This is our recreational squad for middle school students and it is open for everyone to join.. This is the building technique stage, we continue developing the strokes and polishing fundamental swimming skills. The stroke technique is further developed ahead of endurance training, based on the understanding that the former is an essential precursor to future excellence. We are encouraging our athletes to begin participating in swim meets but with an emphasis on appropriate competition formats. Focus on individuals’ physical, social, and emotional development.

Requirement to join: Swimmers must be able to swim 25m without stopping 3 strokes (fr, bk, br) and be able to do a dolphin kick.

Code of Conduct: Being coachable, punctual to practice, and upholding the Eagle Way Values.

Requirement equipment: Swim cap, goggles, kickboard, pull buoy, fins, water bottle.

Desirable achievement goals:

Being able to swim 4 strokes 50 m without stopping and proper technique.
Being able to swim 100 FR with flip turns and 100 IM
Being able to do FR and BK flip turns
Being able to dive and understand start referee commands

Development A

Open to middle school (sixth through eighth grade)
Available contacts: Four swims, minimum two sign-ups – up to four

Definition of the team:

This is our pre-competitive squad. This stage is the time to build the “engine”. The emphasis here is to improve aerobic(endurance) and anaerobic systems with more focus on improving race skills (turns, dives, etc.). The training is less intensive then in a competitive squad but with increased mileage and intensity than recreational.

Students have an opportunity to compete but it is still optional.

Requirements to join:

Being able to swim 4 strokes 50 m without stopping and proper technique.
Being able to swim 100 FR with flip turns and 100 IM
Being able to do FR and BK flip turns
Being able to dive and understand start referee commands

Requirement equipment: swim cap, goggles, kickboard, pull buoy, fins, snorkel, water bottle.

Freestyle: Strong continuous kick, breathing to the one or both sides with the face close to the surface, rotation, and a visible catch, pull, and finish. Able to correctly differentiate and complete stroke-specific drills.

Backstroke: Strong continuous kick with proper head and body positions. Rotation, visible catch and pull, correct recovery phase (thumb out of the water, pinky entering the water). Able to correctly differentiate and complete stroke-specific drills.

Butterfly: Simultaneous kick, undulation, the timing of the stroke (2 fly kicks per one arm cycle), the direction of applying force (swim forward not down)

Breaststroke: Simultaneous narrow kick, toes out, the timing of the stroke (1 kick 1 pull), visible gliding.

Desirable achievement goals:

Average milage 2500-3000 per session
Being able to swim 200 IM and 400 FR with good quality turns and UW
Being proficient in all turns (IM turns, FR, and BK turn)
Being proficient in dives and BK starts
Understanding of the pace clock, swimming terminology, and abbreviations (if it is written on the board)

High School Development

Open to high school (ninth through twelfth grade)
Available contacts: Four swims
Expected contacts: No minimum sign ups up to four

To Qualify: Swimmers should be able to swim 50 meters of 3 stroke (fly optional)

Code of Conduct: Being coachable, punctual to practice, and upholding the Eagle Way Values.

Definition of the team:

The emphasis for this team is to continue mastering their technique + race skills and improving their aerobic and anaerobic systems. Focus on training rather than competitions, but still provide them lots of opportunities to compete in different sorts of competitions in order to develop a sense of belonging and make them feel a part of the swim community. At this point the knowledge and skills have gained will lead to either excellence or continued participation in physical activity for life. In other words at this stage there are different pathways available, As volume and intensity increase Train to Compete and Train to Win stages become possible, if they decide not to pursue the highest level of competition they can leave the excellence stages at any time and enter the Active for Life stage.

Requirement equipment: Swim cap, goggles, kickboard, pull buoy, fins, water bottle.

Freestyle: A consistent, strong flutter kick with proper body and head position, and rotation. Visible high elbow catch and pull as well as the ability to demonstrate a high elbow recovery phase. Must have some semblance of bilateral breathing. Able to consistently perform flip turns. Must be able to swim a 100 Free without stopping.

Backstroke: A consistent, strong flutter kick on the back with proper body and head position, and rotation. Visible catch and pull, correct recovery phase (thumb out the water, pinky entering first). Must be able to demonstrate a UW dolphin kick off of walls, as well as have an understanding of backstroke flip turns. Must be able to swim a 100 Back without stopping.

Butterfly: Must be able to maintain a consistent and simultaneous dolphin kick throughout the swim. Being able to swim with the correct timing (2 kicks per one arm cycle). Both arms ideally recover above the water, with legs together for a dolphin kick (not breaking stroke). Must be able to swim a 100 Fly without stopping.

Breaststroke: Must be able to display flexed feet during kick cycle (no whip kick), being able to swim with correct timing (1 pull 1 kick). Must be able to swim a 100 Breast without stopping.

Skills: Swimmers should be able to consistently show proper underwater and breakouts past the flags.

Goals: This group will work primarily on technique and stroke development while encouraging a continued love of swimming.

Elementary Development

Definition: The Elementary Development Swim Squad is a logical extension of our Swim School. Kids who successfully finished Level 7 of our Swim School as well as other young athletes who are able to swim 25m Freestyle, Backstroke, Breaststroke and 25m Fly will be invited to join the team and continue mastering their strokes as well as learn to be part of the team.

Age: Grade three–five
Attendance: Four days a week
Minimum number of sign ups: Two (as it allows young swimmers to effectively build up new skills)
Equipment: googles, swim cap, water bottle, kickboard, pull buoy, short fins.

Goals and expectations:

Good focus and listening skills (coachability)
Positive attitude and discipline (being at the practice on time; 3.15 in the water)
Being responsible for equipment. It is essential to have swim caps(especially girls) and goggles, fins and kickboard.
Knowing basic pool rules and lane etiquette.

Swimmers will focus on:

Continue developing all 4 strokes (free, back, breast, fly);
This stage is focusing not only on technique correction but also developing aerobic systems. The mileage and intensity will be increasing progressively. By the end of the stage swimmers should be able to cover 1000-1500m per session. Interval type of training will be introduced.
Race skills improvement: turns, dives and underwater. Learn to understand referee commands and basic race strategy.

Mastering all of these skills and achieving the goals described above will allow young athletes to be eligible to move into our competitive teams should they wish.

The Eagle Way Every Day!

Water Polo

Eagle Club Water Polo

Dive into the thrill of water polo with our inclusive and dynamic program, designed to foster teamwork, skill development, and a love for the sport. Whether you're a seasoned player or just dipping your toes in for the first time, our club offers something for everyone.

Join us in the high school 25m pool on Wednesdays for an exciting afternoon in the pool:

Elementary school session: 3:15 p.m. - 4:15 p.m.
Middle school and high school session: 4:30 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.

Led by experienced coaches, our sessions focus on building fundamental skills, game strategies, and promoting sportsmanship in a supportive environment.

At Eagle Water Polo, we believe in the power of inclusivity. Our program welcomes players of all skill levels, backgrounds, and abilities. Whether you're aiming to improve your technique, make new friends, or just have fun, you'll find a home with us.

Cost $100 for the season. Any questions, please contact Andrew Hailey. Registrations open at the start of each season through SchoolBuddy.

Elementary School

Welcome to our Elementary Water Polo Club, designed for students in grade three to five! Our club offers a fun and exciting introduction to the dynamic sport of water polo. Young athletes will learn essential skills such as swimming, passing, shooting, and teamwork in a safe and supportive environment. Our experienced coaches focus on developing water confidence, physical fitness, and sportsmanship. Through engaging drills and friendly matches, students will build friendships and enjoy the thrill of water polo. Join us to dive into fun, improve your water skills, and become a part of our vibrant water polo community!

Middle School

Join our Middle School Water Polo Club for an exhilarating experience tailored to students in grade six to eight! Our program focuses on advancing water polo skills, including strategy, teamwork, and endurance. Under the guidance of experienced coaches, players will refine their swimming, passing, and shooting techniques through structured drills and competitive games. The club fosters a sense of camaraderie and sportsmanship, encouraging students to challenge themselves and grow as athletes. Whether you're new to the sport or looking to enhance your skills, our club provides a supportive environment for all levels. Dive in and be part of our dynamic water polo community!

High School

Join our High School Water Polo Club for students in grade nine to 12! This club focuses on improving your water polo skills, teamwork, and fitness. Our experienced coaches will help you enhance your swimming, passing, and shooting techniques through engaging drills and friendly games. We emphasize sportsmanship and camaraderie, creating a supportive environment for all skill levels. Whether you're new to the sport or looking to get better, our club is the perfect place to develop your abilities and have fun with water polo. Dive in and become part of our high school water polo community!

Swim Meets

Types of Meets

Types of Swim Meets

Open Meets: These are open to anyone, like our own Eagle Invitation Meet. Sometimes a time must be entered, excluding swimmers from swimming an event for the first time.
Qualifier Meets: Swimmers must qualify in each event in order to enter. If you do not qualify, you can't swim. We do not ‘fudge’ qualifying times!
Tier Meets: Standards are also used, but often swimmers can actually be too fast for a meet. This allows for a smaller meet with swimmers of similar ability such as our May Madness Meet.
Selection Meets: IASAS and ACSIS-swimmers are selected to present the strongest team for a meet's criteria at a representative level for SAS.
Club Nights: Open to Eagle Club Swimming team members with different events each time. These are perfect for our novice swimmers.

Entering Meets

Below is the process for entering meets:

First you will receive a meet notification email from the coaching team, which will have all the upcoming meet’s details including date, time, location and the events that can be entered. Only swimmers who the meet is appropriate for will be invited.

Please discuss with your swimmer what they’d like to swim or contact your coach and ask for advice if you are not sure. Then confirm your participation and choose your swimmer’s events in the Google Form provided.

How many events? More than 3 swims in a session is too much for most kids, but 3 is about right.

Coaches will review all entries before approving them.

Meet Entries

Don’t be late! Deadlines are set by the meet host; not us. Coaches check and approve each swimmer’s entries before we email the meet entry file to the host. We will contact you if there are any issues. We are not able to make changes after the deadline.

Beware meet fines! Singapore Aquatics meets often have fines for either pulling out of an event (scratching), or not showing up at all. Without a medical certificate, entry fees are forfeited. All meet entry payments and fines will be made through SchoolsBuddy.

Meet information: Reporting times, heat sheets, or meet programs are sent out only to those entered following a team leaders’ meeting (usually held on a Thursday afternoon).

Accreditation passes for certain meets, such as those at OCBC Aquatics Centre need to be collected from the High School pool office BEFORE the meet—normally on Thursday afternoons or Friday mornings.

Singapore Aquatics requires athletes to register and pay an annual membership.

At a Meet

Watch, enjoy, and support: We love to have supporters at meets! It goes without saying that you are always welcome to watch your swimmer practice at school.

Post-race feedback: Please limit your post-race feedback to congratulations and other positive comments based on the effort of your child, not the race outcome or time.

Leave it to the coach: The coaching staff will see each swimmer after their race and give constructive feedback. Please remind them to check in with us!

Many ways to win: We see some great things come out of races with times that are not personal bests (PBs). Turns, streamlines, starts, breakouts, pacing, etc. are all things we are looking at in each swim. It’s great if we’ve been working on one of these points and they show improvement.

A marathon, not a sprint: It is not until the swimmer is much older that the outcome (final result) might be the focus, but even then, we are looking at improving all of these above aspects.

What To Bring

Goggles: Make sure you have a spare that you have worn before – never a brand new pair for a meet!
Towels: Realize your swimmer will be there awhile, so pack at least two.
A DRY Change of Clothes: For after the meet (to remain dry in a swim bag they must be in a separate compartment or Ziploc bag!).
Something Warm to Wear: Swimmer’s gym areas can be COLD, especially when you’re WET!
Deck Sandals/ flip flops: There’s plenty of ways to pick up infection and get injured around the pool. MUST wear flip flops on EVERY pool deck - inside or outside!
Something to sit on: Example: Yoga mat, old blanket, or anything that will be comfortable to sit on.

Food: It is better to bring snacks. They usually have snack bars at the meets, but the lines are often long and most of the time they sell a lot of junk food. Suggestions for items to bring: Drinks: fruit juice,sports drink; snacks; granola bars; fruits; yogurt; cereal; sandwiches. Once you have attended one or two meets this will all become very routine.
Sunscreen: Many of our meets are outdoors so we need to take sun protection as seriously as our swimming. Get a waterproof type and put it on before you get to the meet (it needs time to soak in). Put it on again after a couple of hours.
INHALERS/MEDICATION: If your child is asthmatic, this is the most important thing they own. Different environments have different triggers that can set off an attack. Please let one of the coaches know if they should have something to hand – especially epi-pens!
Baby or Talcum Powder: To "dust" the inside of a swim cap or to help put on tech-suits which are VERY tight.
Toiletries: Swim shampoo, conditioner, hairbrush, comb, contact solution, feminine products, deodorant, etc. in case you like to shower after meets.
Ear Drops: (For those prone to ear infections). Typically a vinegar/alcohol solution in a glycerin base - you don’t want to deal with swimmer’s ear. Use after practice and meets.
Extra Plastic Bags: For keeping things dry (various sizes)
Entertainment Items: Books (for reading and school work), phone/iPad (with earphones), small games, playing cards , Uno, etc. There’s lots of time between events! REMEMBER; do not leave expensive electronics in the swimmer’s rest area!

A Successful Meet

Success is knowing that 100% effort went into executing skills that have been practiced.

Success is finishing and doing something better than last time.

Success is having fun!

Even the pros make mistakes. We celebrate growth, and work hard to fix mistakes that were made while performing. Without these mistakes, we won’t improve.

It is not who collected the most medals, or even who dropped the most time. The real measure is who learned the most from the competitive experience

The most important part of the meet experience is the team. Sharing experiences, cheering for your teammates, and having fun together—this is what swimming is about.

Meet Results

There are a few ways that you’ll be able to see your swimmers’ results.

The first, and most fun, is watching them swim live at the meet.

Secondly, following each meet the meet organizers send us the full results, which we will send out to you, if your child swam.

Finally there is Meet Mobile. This is a handy little app that gives you access to almost real-time results at swim meets. Time, place, improvement, and splits are all shown. Meet Mobile is available from the App Store and Google Play for a small annual fee. For more information on the Meet Mobile app, please click the link: https://www.active.com/mobile/meet-mobile-app

Travel Meets

Schedule

Communications

Communications to You

The Poolside Press - Usually sent at the end of every month and contains highlights, updates, and general whole club information.
From the Coach - Team/Swimmer specific emails will come from your child’s coach
Meet Entry invitation emails - You will receive these from the coaching team to sign up and choose your swimmer’s events for a meet.

Note: Coaches will use official communication channels. We will mainly use email to communicate with you.

Communications From You

Swimming-related?

Coaches First: Your coach knows your swimmer best. If they will miss a practice, are sick, or have special requirements, please email your swimmer’s coach directly. Coaches will also know which events your swimmer should and should not enter at swim meets—if you are unsure, please ask! You can reach the whole Coaching Team at swiminfo@sas.edu.sg.

Questions about registration or payments? Please email the Eagle Activities & Athletics (EAA) office (eaainfo@sas.edu.sg).

Absences from practice? Please email the EAA Office (eaainfo@sas.edu.sg) before 2:00 p.m. if your child is at school but will miss practice be. Please copy in your child’s teacher and coach too. This helps everyone to know where your child should be.

Please remember your salutations, as well as your ‘please’ and ‘thank you’.

Lines of Communications

As an SAS community member, you will know how we value being able to go to the source and share accurate information (while assuming positive intent) to maintain the highest of standards when interacting and communicating. To help this, please follow the order below when emailing with any comments or concerns.

1) Your swimmer’s coach. You can also reach the whole Coaching Team at swiminfo@sas.edu.sg
2) The Aquatics Coordinator, Andy Hailey (ahailey@sas.edu.sg), Head Coach Competitive High Performance, Oneida Cooper (ocooper @sas.edu.sg),
Head Coach Development and Swim School, Julia Antonava (jantonava@sas.edu.sg) or Pip Colley (pcolley@sas.edu.sg) in the EAA office (eaainfo@sas.edu.sg)
3) Your child’s School Counsellor/Dean
4) Your child’s Deputy Principal

Equipment and Gear

Please make sure you have the equipment below and bring it to every practice. We recommend all swimmers pack their swim bags the night before, to avoid forgetting anything.

All swimmers: Goggles, swim cap and water bottle.

Elementary Development and Competitive: Kickboard, Fins**
Middle school Development: Kickboard, Fins**, Pull buoy
Middle School Competitive: Kickboard, Fins**, Pull Buoy, Frontal Snorkel
High school Development: Kickboard, Fins**, Pull buoy, Frontal Snorkel, Hand Paddles
High School Competitive: Kickboard, Fins**, Pull Buoy, Frontal Snorkel, Hand Paddles

**Please make sure the fins fit-many of our swimmers feet grow so quickly. This is to avoid cramps.

Team Uniform: We don’t have a team swim suit that is mandatory to wear for racing.
Swim caps: These should be worn at every training session. We will give swimmers team caps for training, warm ups and racing.
Wearing the same swim caps brings us together as a team. Studies show that wearing a team uniform creates increased confidence, greater sense of unity, a sense of team spirit and loyalty, too. These are things that every sports team can benefit from.

Equipment Storage: You may store your equipment at the pool. Please make sure you have a mesh bag to put it all in and a carabiner to hang it up.

Team kit: All Eagle Club Swimming kit, see here for the items available, can be ordered before the start of each season during ordering windows via this website.

SAS Eagle Club Swimming