Saturday December 10th
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Hard to believe it was six years ago that our daughter was filled with questions and angst about finding the college that was the right fit for her academically, and also a good fit for her swimming-wise. But once she signed her letter of intent to Georgia Southern University, she somehow knew that she couldn’t let up just because she had been accepted; she trained just as hard throughout her entire senior high school year, and the summer.

As Swimming World Magazine’s Michael J. Stott writes in his article, “So You Want to Swim in College?” signing a letter of intent is signing a letter of commitment (Coach Ted Salade, Poseidon Swimming Head Coach) and from Colorado State coach Chris Woodard, “….signing a letter of intent is not a sign that you have arrived and its certainly not permission to stop training”
Check out Michael J. Stott’s entire article, in the November 2011 Swimming World Magazine. It will tell you what to expect and how to prepare in the months before you walk onto that collegiate pool deck that will be your “home” for the next 4 years.

Jump in. Two little words. The first time I remember hearing them was from my dad. I was about 5 or 6. “Jump in. I’ve got’cha.” And with that kind of encouragement and support, I did. I jumped off Wilkinson’s dock into Lake Memphremagog ,Vermont. I knew it was good to jump in and try new things and I was going to do that my whole life. Somewhere along growing up, I forgot.

Years later when my water -loving, dog-paddling daughter expressed an interest in swimming on a summer team, we jumped in the car and signed up. Her dad and I received a 20 page handbook complete with maps to pools, swimmer’s rules, attendance expectations and parent job assignments for each meet. I thought “what have we jumped into?” She jumped in and never looked back . Seven years later she was off to fulfill her dream of swimming on a college team.

During those years of volunteering, fund-raising, officiating, car pool driving, and being a swim parent, I found out “ what I had jumped into.” I had jumped into an environment that mostly encourages, energizes, demands hard work, and teaches time management , resilience and dedication. I learned that “Jump in” is a brilliant philosophy for living and one that I want to embrace. I heard my dad again, and remembered what I had forgotten.

Jump in. Who knew those two little words –said to every swimmer and diver everywhere-can be a philosophy for living one’s life. Whether you’re on a starting block or a 3 meter board, whether you’re a Masters’ Swimmer or 15th in the world in the 100 meter butterfly, aiming for the London Olympics, jump in and try.

Jump in. Who knew that those two little words would push me to try this blogging thing on Jaws Swim Shop website, and ask for you to jump in, too! If you’re reading these words, jump into this with us! Share your thoughts, stories, and memories of swimming and diving right here. Tell us about an up and coming diver or swimmer who deserves to be recognized. Encourage good sportsmanship, advocate for learn to swim, support US divers and swimmers as they reach for a place on the 2012 US Olympic Swim and Dive Teams.