Andrew and Marieke ready to show kids how to race

Swimming Victoria
Published: Jun 13, 2012 03:39:49 PM Updated: Jul 11, 2012 11:01:36 AM

Swimming Victoria’s new junior participation program, ready.set.race, will be hosting its end of semester Competition Night at the Melbourne Sports & Aquatic Centre on Friday 22 June. Australian Swimming champions Marieke Guehrer and Andrew Lauterstein will lend a hand in helping kids experience the ins and outs of a competition event in a safe, fun and inclusive environment.

The event will see kids aged between 5 – 14 participate in a series of 25 metre races and learn about techniques specific to swimming events like diving off the blocks, touching the wall and marshalling.

The aim of the night is to help kids experience what competing in a swimming event is like, and to provide an encouraging and fun environment for them to learn in. As ambassadors of ready.set.race, both Marieke and Andrew will be on hand to pass on their words of wisdom to participants, and help the children learn about the various elements of swimming.

ready.set.race aims to bridge the gap between Learn to Swim and Swimming Clubs by engaging young swimmers who may not have otherwise continued participating in organised swimming activities once they graduate from their swimming lessons.

Children who are new to swimming and have not previously been a member of a swimming club can enrol to become a ready.set.race member via the website www.vic.readysetrace.com.au. Members of ready.set.race can then register to attend the Competition Night.

FAMILY FUN NIGHT

WHEN:	Friday 22 June 2012, 6.30pm – 8.30pm
WHERE:	Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre (MSAC), Albert Park
COST:	Free for ready.set.race enrolled swimmers and one adult. Extra children $5, extra adults $8.
WHO:	Kids who are new to swimming (i.e have not been in a swimming club before) and can dive from the side of the pool, swim 25m competently and swim freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke and/or butterfly competently.
WHY:	Meet Australian swimming champions and get their signatures, Compete in swimming races against kids your age, Dive off the blocks and finish by touching the touchpads on the wall, Get your time to work towards improving next time, Win fun prizes and ribbons for competing in races, Check out the amazing swimming pools at MSAC, Learn what a swimming event is like!

EVENT OUTLINE

6.30pm	Entry opens. Australian swimming champions Andrew Lauterstein & Marieke Guehrer signing autographs!
6.45pm	Warm up begins! Marieke and Andrew will get you ready to race!
7.15pm	Start the night with fun races where you will get to swim with and against Marieke & Andrew!
7.30pm	Competition races begin. 25m races in Freestyle, Backstroke, Breaststroke, Butterfly and Relays. Races will be run in age groups.
8.15pm	Event presentations and participation prizes.
8.30pm	Event Finishes.

WHAT SWIMMERS NEED TO DO

ENROL:

Make sure they are enrolled for ready.set.race 2012 Semester 1 online at www.vic.readysetrace.com.au Click on enrol and then login with user name and password.

REGISTER:

Login into the ready.set.race website and register for the Competition Night on 22 June 2012.

If you can’t remember your login details please contact Catherine Tate on the details below.

ENQUIRIES:

Please contact Catherine Tate, Club Development Coordinator, on 9926 1410 or catherine.tate@vic.swimming.org.au

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