Season's photos online!

A huge shout out right now to Ms. Kim Newton who has faithfully trudged up and down every pool deck at every meet and taken photos of every single kid throughout the season. She's uploaded and tagged a massive number of photos online for you to look at, download, print, ect.

Please check out the albums by doing the following:
1. Log on to picasaweb.google.com.
2. Sign in with Username: bvstbarracudas and Password: barracuda

Thanks to everyone for a truly incredible season. We'll see you at the banquet tonight! 6pm, don't be late!

Coach Luke

Meet entries NOW ONLINE!

Hello all!

Please note that all City Meet, including relay and individual entries are now up on the blog!

Check the links on the right.

Also, some final reminders:
1) Pizza Party tomorrow. Make sure you've paid Ms. Elyce Riocard or bring your money to the party! Also, don't forget your white shirt for tye dye!

2) We DO have practice the next 2 days for the young'ns, and the next 3 for the older group. 11-ups: You'll swim with Coach Ray from 8:45-9:30a. Remember, that practice is IMPORTANT...don't miss!

3) Banquet is next Tuesday. I really want to see everyone there. This date is DIFFERENT than the one that was published at the beginning of the year due to some conflicts that came up after the fact. It will start at 6pm at the club. Make sure you're there!

See y'all in the morning! Thanks to everyone who showed up and enjoyed this morning's downpour with all of your favorite people :)

Coach Luke

Practice still on!

Hello all!

Some ominous looking clouds this morning, but we've practiced in a downpour more than once before, and I have a feeling we might get a chance to do it again.

Please come unless you see or hear lightning! I haven't seen a few of you for a little while... :)

Coach Luke

Pizza Party!

Hello all!

Just a quick reminder about Wednesday's pizza party at the pool!

First, don't forget that the party starts at 5pm. We will be swimming and enjoying pizza, so make sure you don't miss it!

Secondly, don't forget that you need a white shirt! We'll be tye-dying them to get ready for this weekend's big meet!

Remember, this is our last week of practice...make sure you're there! Attendance has been a bit...sparce. Also remember that my entries are due on Tuesday, meaning that tomorrow morning is the LAST DAY to tell me you won't be at the meet.

If we sign you up and you don't show, we still have to pay for you! So please make sure you're a responsible team member and help us avoid unnecessary expenses.

Details for that meet are now up! Thanks for your patience.

Coach Luke

NO UPPER DIVISION MORNING PRACTICE!

Good morning again! So shortly after my first post I walked to to my car and realized that my window had been broken in! Bummer. Nothing valuable was taken (read: I don't own anything of value...) but it's a bit of a mess at the moment.

I need a bit to clean this up, but will still have my second practice today (9:30-10:30). Everyone is welcome, but keep in mind that I'll be the only coach there this morning so things might be a little more self-directed. Sorry for the inconvenience! Thanks for your understanding.

Coach Luke

rain, rain, go away!

Good morning Barracudas!!

It's a little gloomy out, but I'll be at the pool, provided we don't have any lightning or thunder!

I won't be able to post again from there, so if the weather gets really severe, assume we're cancelled.

See you at the pool!

Coach Luke

Times-Picayune Article!

Hello All! I hope you enjoyed a nice evening INSIDE because of all ofthis crazy weather. Don't forget that night practice will not takeplace this week.

I JUST got results and am working on gettingthem uploaded. In the meantime, take a look at the wonderful articlethe Times-Picayune put out about us last week (I just found it!)

Jayne's quote is my favorite! :)

http://www.nola.com/picayunes/t-p/stbernardpicayune/index.ssf?/base/news-8/1277357760284040.xml&coll=1

I'll see you all at practice tomorrow.

Coach Luke

A and B Meet results COMING SOON!

I wanted to take a quick moment and say a huge thank you to everyone who turned out and swam at the big meets this weekend and last. We had some of the most incredible swims of the year, added 4 more "A" qualifiers, and represented the team so well. And while we finished a VERY respectable 6th at the "A" meet, we were recognized as the most spirited, sportsmanlike team with the Team Spirit Award! I received myriad compliments for the team's conduct, performance and spirit, and the league could not be happier to have you all swimming with them. Everyone should embrace those words with pride.

I'll have updates about the meets and some of the incredible swims we had later tomorrow. In the meantime, Coach Luke needs a nap...

I'll see you at practice MONDAY! Don't forget to turn in your RSVP sheet for Blue Bayou, photos and pizza party! They're due early next week.

Coach Luke

Friday Practice!

Hello all!

I hope everyone is holding up and ready for a weekend of intense meet action!

I just wanted to drop a note and let you know that morning practice for my upper division (8:00-9:30) will be cut in half. Please don't come until 8:45! I will be at the pool swimming, in case anyone does show up early, but you'll have to just sit and watch me. There won't be a lifeguard on duty. The second practice will also be shorter, and kids should be out of the pool no later than 10:15.

Entries for this Saturday's A meet will be up on the blog later tonight! Can't wait to see y'all in action this weekend!

Luke

Afternoon weather...

It looks like it may be storming today, according to the forecast. Keep your eyes peeled and know that we'll swim in rain, we won't in lightning/thunder. I noticed that a healthy number of swimmers were missing this morning, meaning I'm expecting a big crowd tonight, so make sure you stay tuned to the weather and (hopefully) the blog for updates. Most likely, I won't be able to call it one way or another unless it's really bad, so use your common sense!

A quick note about morning practice - Please remember that this is our MAIN practice. If you can make it, I expect you there. Evening practice is set up explicitly for swimmers who cannot make the mornings because of camps, parent work schedules or other conflicts. We have fewer coaches, less lane space, a greater range of swimmers, and less time in the evening. So as we get into the last few weeks of practice, remember that sleepiness is no excuse! Get up and come out!

See you (hopefully) tonight! 

Coach Luke

Meet still on!

Despite some morning showers, the weather is looking great right now and we're planning on a great evening in the sun.

Don't forget, we need swimmers at the pool by 4pm. Bring water and shade, if you can!

We'll see you tonight.

Coach Luke

THURSDAY MORNING PRACTICE CANCELLED, important meet info!

Hello all!

First, as most of you witnessed, our Monday meet was blessed by a little kiss of rain...OK so it was a wee bit more than that, but sometimes, so it goes. I'm still taken aback by the amount of energy our parents put in, and I have faith that round 2 will be even better.

In the meantime, some important updates.

1) The meet was re-scheduled for Thursday @5pm. We warm up at 4:15. Please be there by 4! If you were already signed up and still plan to come, you don't have to do anything! Just show up again. IF, however, you can't make it for any reason, I need to know ASAP. E-mail me at lukemorin@gmail.com, or come to practice tomorrow morning and let me know.

2) Because of this major meet switch, and the fact that we have B Meet on Saturday and ANOTHER meet Monday, the coaches have decided to give everyone a day to sleep in a bit. Thursday morning we will NOT be having practice as we will all be working quite hard enough on Wednesday. Night practice will still be on for Thursday from 6-7, and we will try to expand our capacity to accommodate a larger crowd.

3) B meet sign-up ends TOMORROW MORNING! I'm still missing many swimmers, especially from our younger group. If you cannot be at practice to sign up, make sure you e-mail me no later than 9am on Wednesday. No late entries are permitted for this very fun and important meet!

Thanks, and I'll see you all tomorrow!

Coach Luke

New Meet info up!

Hello All!

I'm sorry to be such a slacker on the blog...as we enter the second half of the season, I'm pledging to be better. Thanks to the loyal readers who log on and use this resource!

Three quick notes - 

1) Nearly the entire team is signed up to participate in tonight's meet. The parents, club board and coaches are working very hard to showcase the pool for this exciting event. Our warm-up is at 4:30pm. Therefore, please be at the pool BY 4:15 to stretch and be in the pool.

2) Don't forget the two keys to success in tonight's meet -- water and shade! Use 'em.

3) New meet info is up for this weekend's "B" Meet, and next Monday's dual meet. It seems fast, but Monday is the last day to qualify for an 'A' time! Be ready to swim hard and fast as we prepare for this vital time!

Thanks for checking in, I'll see you all at the pool!

Coach Luke

Meet Updates!

Hello All!

First, a BIG thank you to everyone who turned up at the meet today. Even though I know that playing in Slidell in the rain is everyone's favorite thing, you all took a frustrating situation with the weather and handled it very well.

As many of you who didn't even get a chance to swim can attest, the meet did not get far enough for us to call it off, meaning that it has been rescheduled for this Thursday! So far, the weather looks...maybe just damp, not apocalyptic. Our warm-up will be at 4:30, meaning you need to be there BY 4:15p. Everyone did a great job of being on time today when it didn't really count, so show it off again.

Please note that IF you can be there, please let me know. You will be entered in the same events you were already in for the meet. If you CAN'T be there, I just need to know as well so that I can scratch you. Wednesday practice is the deadline to let me know. (e-mail me at lukemorin@gmail.com if you won't be at practice!)

Finally, some shout outs for some excellent swims today....

Our motto this year is Spirit, Sportsmanship, Dedication, Excellence. So, I have my shoutouts for the following today.

Spirit

...Nathan and Noah Balbon for some serious skin art. Whoever drew the bubbles the competition has been told to eat up has some serious street cred!

Sportsmanship

...Dominic Collara for being a gentleman. It takes a true sport to go back after a race and congratulate your competitors!

Dedication

...Johnathon Baudoin and Eddie Howard for giving a second go. After getting a little too close for comfort to the bottom of the pool on their first starts in a VERY shallow pool, both were ready to go and even offered to go off the blocks again in the next race if needed.

Excellence

...Marisa Buras, Abby Liccardi and Maigan Morales for smokin' hot speed. With some serious competition and some awesome speed, all three girls cut HUGE amounts of time from their swims in Wednesday's meet.

Congrats to those swimmers! I'll see you all at the pool tomorrow!

~Coach Luke

Meet Results, Top Times up!

At the expense of his already pitiful social life, Coach Luke spent the afternoon getting results entered and uploaded to the blog.

Check the "vital links" column to the right!

A full recap of the meet will be coming this weekend! Enjoy your days off, and CONGRATS on an excellent first meet.

~ Coach Luke

Practice is on...unless the lightning comes!

I'll be there at 6. I've decided that I live too far away to know what the status at the pool is, and I don't have a good enough grasp on the crazy bayou weather yet to cancel, so we'll plan on swimming!

Of course, use your common sense...if you see lightning or it starts to rain, stay home!

Coach Luke

Meet Results, tonight's practice

Hello all -

I wanted to first start by congratulating everyone who participated in our first meet. It was an incredibly exciting and heartening event and gives me a lot of confidence in our team and parents as we continue with the year. I'll have a full recap of that meet and some serious shout outs once I have results ready. I'll be working with our computer operator tomorrow to get those results loaded and posted ASAP! Look for that on Friday afternoon.

We also have our first evening practice this evening from 6-7pm. There have been some storms throughout the day and the forecast calls for a chance of afternoon rain. I'll post an update at 5, but count on practice being on unless things really start getting out of control.

I'll see some of you tonight!

Coach Luke

New Blog Features!

Hello All!

I wanted to start by thanking everyone for 2 incredible weeks of practice so far. I can't believe how hard everyone has worked and how far we've come.

I wanted to point out that I added a few things to the blog sidebar for your viewing pleasure...

1) There is a section at the top called "Next meet". This has all of the latest information on our next campaign (or 2) including date, time, locations and MAPS! Since most of our meets are in Slidell, I'll link up our page to let you know when and where we'll be swimming to make sure you have all of the information you need.

2) Qualification times, order of events. These PDFs are posted online in the "Vital Links" information section. They show you how the meets run and what times an "A" swimmer needs to earn. I'll also be posting meet results and individual top time reports in that section, so be sure to keep checking it!

That's it for now! I'll see you all tomorrow for our first meet!

Coach Luke

Still on...

I'm not hearing lightning or thunder yet, so practice will be "on" until that happens!

Use common sense, and if you hear thunder or see rain, don't plan on coming.

See you at the pool, keep your fingers crossed!

Coach Luke

Practice update!

Hello all!

The weather outside isn't looking perfect right now and we've had some calls about practice.

I'll preliminarily say that it's still on because it's not raining where I am, but looking outside and at the satellites, that could change quickly. I will post a final call no later than 4:30p. If it's raining or lightning, count on a day off.

Check back for updates soon!

Coach Luke

First practice Monday!

Hello swimmers!

Welcome to the Barracuda blog and thanks for checking in. We have our first practice Monday and I can hardly wait to get this season kicked off! I have a few notes for our first day below.

Parent meetings -

We'll have 2 - One at 5p for the younger kids and one at 6p for the older kids. You'll meet the coach (if you haven't already) and learn more about registration, the season schedule and the parent volunteer positions that we so desperately need filled. Please do your best to be on time, and we won't take too much of yours.

Practice Times

We'll be practicing after school for the next 2 weeks at the club. These first weeks are always important so please do your best to be at every one. Practice times for those weeks are in the right-hand column.

Some notes about what you should bring to practice:

*A swim suit and towel! It seems obvious, but don't forget that we'll be in the water every day (weather permitting). Even though it's perfectly fine to wear trunks (boys), you'll be surprised at how much easier it is to move through the water with a pair of jammers or a speedo.

* Goggles. Even beginning swimmers will find that getting through a practice without a pair is really tough. My personal recommendation would be to get a pair like this (http://www.tyr.com/shop/tracer-racing-metallized-p-851-c-68_70_71.html) that are "metallized" because they reflect the sun and help protect your eyes...well worth the $20! Check places like Wal-Mart and Academy for this equipment.

* Water! You might not notice that you're sweating while you're swimming, but hydration is always a #1 priority. Make sure you're prepared with a water bottle every day.

* A positive attitude and a smile. Remember, if you've never swam before, the first few days can be tough! Stick with it, work hard, and watch yourself improve every day. Swimming can feel tough, but your coaches are always happy to support you and help you be the best you can be every day. Sometimes putting a smile on your face during tough times is the most powerful tool you have.

Thanks for reading, and I'll see you Monday!

Coach Luke

Welcome! All about our team!

Hello!

Welcome to the official blog of the Buccaneer Villa North Swim Team! Frequent updates and information will be posted here throughout the season, so bookmark this now! bvbarracudas.blogspot.com

The club is holding a membership OPEN HOUSE on May 8 at Buccaneer Villa (8330 Patricia St, Chalmette, LA). There, we will have a short informational meeting about the team and you'll have the first chance to sign up, meet the coach, order a suit and get any other questions you may have answered!

Here's the key information you need to know TODAY!

What you need to know:

Season:

May 17-July 10

Informational Meetings:

May 8 @ Open House (3 p.m.), May 17 @ First practice (5 p.m.)

Morning practice starts:

May 30

Season Dues:

$100 for members, $125 for non-members (plus $10 insurance fee)

Come try out the team, and recruit your friends. Our top priority is to provide a safe, fun environment for kids to socialize, compete and build up important swimming skills.

We can't wait to see you there!

Coach Luke