Aloha, Meadow Dolphins!

I am Coach Tony, and it is my absolute pleasure to welcome you to the “New and Improved” Meadow Swim and Tennis Club! The 2008 Season is here, and it is time to jump into the new pool!

 Many long hours have been spent transforming Meadow into a state of the art facility. I was fortunate to be able to watch its metamorphosis, along with many other curious members. I can truly appreciate some of the history at Meadow, having raced in the old pool as a child and teenager. In fact, I am pretty sure I fell in the old baby pool a few times as a youngster.

 The new pool is beautiful and enormous. It’s just what a team like Meadow needs to grow and improve, and reach for the next level. Now is Meadow Swim Team’s time to feel what it means to have such a wonderful oasis to call home. Now is our opportunity to use our new home to better the Meadow community, the OMPA, and ourselves as individuals and as teammates.

 I am a huge supporter of Sportsmanship. I cheer for every member of our team and every swimmer in the OMPA. Nothing makes my job more rewarding than seeing a swimmer excited by learning something new, or getting a best time, or who achieves their goal. Likewise, nothing made me more proud than to hear a non-Meadow parent comment to me “how nice and polite those Meadow kids are” this fall while I was coaching for Orinda Aquatics. 

 This season, I challenge all Meadow swimmers, parents, and coaches to go beyond their normal idea of Sportsmanship. To me, Meadow Sportsmanship is about being positive, spirited, unselfish, helpful, polite, honest, and gracious in victory, as well as defeat. This season is about every swimmer on our team and in our league. I ask myself constantly “How can I make someone else’s day better?” I imagine everyone wears a sign that reads “Make me feel important.”   I want us all to be successful, because we worked hard and achieved our goal.  My goal is to help make Meadow successful through hard work, determination, and a never-ending supply of Meadow Sportsmanship.

Coach Tony Ravnik

Coaches’ Roles and Responsibilities

For the 2008 season, there are three levels of coaches: Head Coach, Senior Coach, and Junior Coach.

The Head Coach is in charge of the team and the coaching staff.  The Head Coach provides training for the entire coaching staff and plans the workouts for the season.  The Head Coach is certified in lifesaving techniques.  The Head Coach reports to the Swim Chairs, the Executive Committee and ultimately the Meadow Board. 

Senior Coaches have graduated from high school and have shown proficiency in coaching the team.  All Senior Coaches are CPR certified. Senior Coaches may fill in for the Head Coach on occasion and run age group workouts.

A swimmer can become a Junior Coach when he/she has completed his/her high school freshman year.  The family of the Junior Coach is either a current member of Meadow, has sold their Meadow membership within one year of the current season or is a member of another OMPA club.

All coaches will wear the Meadow coaches’ swimsuits or trunks when in the water.  On deck, coaches will wear a Meadow shirt or jacket from any season.  During meets, coaches will wear coaches’ polo shirts.  In addition, all coaches will receive t-shirts at the beginning of the season and for OMPA.

Coaches will never leave the deck or lane without being covered by another coach.

Coaches in the water are coaching.  Coaches are there to share their experience in swimming with the swimmers and to positively impact the swimmer’s technique and enjoyment of the sport at all times.  They will be respectful of your child’s time to learn in the water and parents and other swimmers will be respectful of their time to teach.

All Coaches receive lunch from a predetermined menu each day and coaches appreciation luncheons will be conducted on Friday afternoons.

All questions or concerns regarding the coaching staff can be directed to the Swim Chairs or the Head Coach.

Our coaches are available for meetings by appointment.  Appointments can be made by calling the Swim Team phone at 254-6815 or emailing Tony Ravnik at tonyravnik@hotmail.com.