Play SKWIM with the game's inventor at 1 pm on Saturday, June 22 at Northside pool

A special friend is coming to town for a short visit, and we're going to be hosting a special event -- a SKWIM game with the inventor of SKWIM, Kevin McCarthy, from the state of Washington.

Get your friends and family and join us at 1 pm at outdoor pool at The Pittsburgh Project, 2801 North Charles Street, (corner of Wilson), on Saturday, June 22, 2019. 

All ages and abilities welcome. Pay $3 at the gate to enter or free with your city pool tag.

This summer we got a mini-grant from Pittsburgh Play Collaborative to spread the aquatic game throughout the region -- and champion water safety as well as the concepts of playing well with others, sportsmanship, teamwork and plain-old fun! 

Plus, this summer, we're happy to report that the pool at The Pittsburgh Project is open again -- unlike in 2018 when serious plumbing upgrades became necessary. A wonderful staff has gathered too.

If you can't make it on Saturday, we also gather to play water polo and SKWIM every Tuesday and Thursday evening from 6 to 7:45 pm, weather permitting, at Citiparks Ammon Pool on Bedford Ave in the Hill District. 

More updates throughout the summer with our google calendar at https://4Rs.org.

BTW, one of my goals is to get a new bottom on the pool at The Pittsburgh Project for next year -- and a SPORTS COURT bottom seems perfect for UWH and our needs. Come check out the pool and offer your ideas. 

Fwd: Scholar Athlete Award 2018-19

---- Forwarded message ---------

From: American Water Polo

We are accepting nominations for the 2018-19 American Water Polo Scholar Athlete.  We are honoring any AWP athlete who qualifies under these set of criteria: Student-athlete must have at least a 3.20 cumulative grade point average (on a 4.0 scale). If no GPA scale is used, then an 87/100 is required. If your school uses a different grading system, please include an explanation in your submission. Athletes must be a member of American Water Polo. Athletes of all ages are eligible.  Athlete must present his or her report card or transcripts in one of following ways: Email information to member@americanwaterpolo.org (PDF, Screen Shot,) Fax (610) 277 7382 Mail in to 129 West 4th St Bridgeport, PA 19405 The deadline for this award is June 30th, 2019 If you have any questions, contact Damon Newman at member@americanwaterpolo.org Click here to unsubscribe. American Water Polo 129 West 4th St Bridgeport, PA 19405 610 277 6787

Fwd: Carol Scholarship Application 2020

---- Forwarded message ---------

From: American Water Polo <service@findjoo.com>

Hi Mark Rauterkus, Ron Gonen, a former athlete from the University of Massachusetts and Young Athletes of America Water Polo Club, has established a $5,000 scholarship available to water polo athletes aged 14-19 who exhibit leadership or the potential for leadership based on the values of teamwork, sportsmanship and community. Named in honor of his mother, the purpose of the scholarship is to provide an athlete with limited financial means the opportunity for high level training and instruction. Funds can be used for academic endeavors such as private high school tutition with a water polo team. Attached is the formal application process. The deadline for the application is July 1st, 2019 Please send all application material to office@americanwaterpolo.org Contact us with any questions. Click here to unsubscribe. American Water Polo 129 West 4th St Bridgeport, PA 19405 610 277 6787

Wayne's World: Q&A with WG - could be the best interview ever

Wayne's World: Q&A with WG: Renowned coaching professional Wayne Goldsmith joins Jason Pine on Radio Sport Mornings each Wednesday after 10am. This week, Wayne takes calls and texts

12 days of Christmas

Written for a middle school girls team. 

Twelve Days of Christmas, traditional style where every preceding LINE gets repeated with each new verse added to total. 

    - First Day of Christmas, 1 no breath flip turn

    - Second, 2 two hand touches

    - Third, 3 fist pumps of emotion

    - Fourth, 4 poolside press ups

    - Fifth, 5 seconds rest

    - Sixth, six various stroke drills *

    - Seventh, 7 strokes of partner pulling (or kicking)

    - Eighth, 8 descending 25s

    - 9th, 9 underwater fly kicks after a dive

    - Tenth, 10 med ball trunk twists

    - Eleventh, 11 lengths of backstroke

    - Twelfth, 12 (x-yard) Individual Medleys

Totals:

if x-yard = 100-yard, then 12 x 100 IM = 1,200 yards

(Could be 200 IMs, or even 50-yard or 25-yard IMs.)

550 backstroke

30 med ball truck twists

4 x 9 dives with underwater fly kicking (Bob Gillett style)

5 sets of 8 x 25 descending = 1,000 yards

36 press ups

12 flip turns without breathing

* Tips for the SIX stroke drills wild-card is going to take a blog posting. Stay tuned.

--

Ta.

Mark Rauterkus       Mark@Rauterkus.com 

Executive Director of SKWIM USA, a 501(c)(3)

The Pittsburgh Project - swim coach and head lifeguard

Middle School Swim Coach at The Ellis School

Former Varsity Boys Swim Coach, Pittsburgh Obama Academy

Sabbatical for 2018: PPS Summer Dreamers' Swim & Water Polo 

Pittsburgh Combined Water Polo Team

http://CLOH.org

412 298 3432 = cell

Fwd: 2018 Pittsburgh Dirty Dozen Bicycle Ride

---- Forwarded message ---------

From: Dirty Dozen

Dear riders and friends of Danny Chew:

Another year has gone by and this year's edition of the Dirty Dozen is fast approaching. You are invited to participate in the 36th annual running of the event, which will be held on Saturday, November 24th. Proceeds will benefit Danny, who is overall director of this challenging ride he co-founded. If you register by November 3rd you will receive an additional discount on your entry fee.

Here are some of the changes in this year's ride:

• New starting location. The ride now begins at the Rhododendron Shelter on Lake Drive in Highland Park. By straight-line distance this is less than half a mile to the north and west of the Bud Harris Cycling Track, and can be reached by traveling north on Stanton Avenue.

• Official-finisher ribbons will be mailed out after the event to ensure that all riders who certify their official-finisher status will receive one. Instructions for certifying official-finisher status will be included in your registration packet.

• Separate women's event. Women wanting to compete can choose to ride in either the first group, competing directly against the men in an open event, or in the second group, which is reserved for women only.

Here are the links for this year's ride:

Main 2018 event page: http://www.dannychew.com/ddinfo.html
BikeReg registration page: https://www.bikereg.com/dirty-dozen-2018
The main DD page is here: http://www.dannychew.com/dd.html
Starting location: http://maps.google.com/?daddr=40.4789109,-79.9104809

We hope you will be able to ride this year and conquer all of the hills.

Sincerely,
Jonathan Pratt

2018 Dirty Dozen

412-Blast Email: Great time for a community cleansing. Schedule enclosed for your consideration.

Some are saying that today is "historic" in regard to the Supreme Court nomination drama unfolding in Washington D.C.

I think it is time to take a deep breath, jump in a swim pool, practice and model "playing well with others," and of course, wrap up by taking a good scrub, shower and cleansing. Let's prepare to live a another day.

I'm on a mission to promote "playing well with others," and can you your help, as soon as tonight and tomorrow and throughout the days to come.

Background:

The focus of my swim coaching for the past decade has been in the city of Pittsburgh, Now, it is growing to a much wider reach. I'm still at some city school pools, but we're offering aquatic experiences at South Park, Mt. Lebanon, Chartiers Valley and Moon.

9/27

Tonight, Thursday, the adult water polo players, https://Renegades.4rs.org, are going to help out with a game night with the new squad of scholastic players we call Pittsburgh Combined, https://waterpolo.cloh.org at South Park High School.

9/28

Tomorrow, Friday, from 7:15 to 9 pm, kids and adults (mentors, guardians, parents, coaches) are invited to our first SKWIM and water polo practice at the new, indoor, high school swim pool at Mt. Lebanon. Rookies welcome. Fun aquatic game play with a disk. Learn and perfect appropriate counter-attacks, offense and defense.

MeetUp page:

• https://www.meetup.com/pittsburgh-free/events/254993954/

Gratis try-outs too.

10/2

Then on Tuesday, from 7:30 to 9 pm we go to another venue for the first time, Chariters Valley's high school pools. There we've got two pools and can play water polo in the deep tank and younger kids can work on teamwork, sportsmanship, fitness and swimming with the SKWIM disk and mentor leaders in the other pool.

MeetUp page:

• https://www.meetup.com/pittsburgh-free/events/vjzwgqyxnbdb/

Summary:

Sign up. SKWIM up. Scrub up and by all means -- live another day in healthy ways in our robust communities.

Peace.

Thanks for the consideration. Hope to see you, squeaky clean, out and about in the community soon.

Call if you have any questions or want to be removed from this list. Feel free to pass along the invite to others as well.

----

Mark Rauterkus Mark@Rauterkus.com

Executive Director of SKWIM USA, a 501(c)(3)

The Pittsburgh Project - swim coach and head lifeguard

Middle School Swim Coach at The Ellis School

Former Varsity Boys Swim Coach, Pittsburgh Obama Academy

Pittsburgh Combined Water Polo Team, https://waterpolo.CLOH.org



https://CLOH.org



412 298 3432 = cell

MeetUp in Mt. Lebo

• https://www.meetup.com/pittsburgh-free/events/254993954/

Great times at Highland Park Pool for water polo games with NCAA teams and Renegades

Wow. Great day. Thanks Citiparks.

Trib coverage of water polo at Highland Park Pool on Saturday

https://TinyURL.com/water-polo-trib

Pass the word. Bring a lawn chair, snacks and some cold drinks in a cooler. Plus, your swim suit, of course. Pool opens in the shallow end at 1 pm. Just pay the day rate if you don't have a pool tag. 

Fwd: Let me introduce myself: Head Coach OHIO University Swimming and Diving

I graduated from Ohio University. For four years, I was also the assistant coach for the Men's Swimming and Diving program -- a team that does not exist any longer.

In many ways, Ohio University is dead to me. My sons did not consider Ohio University because the opportunities I had in the late 70s and early 80s are no longer afforded to the young men of these recent generations.

Women's swimming was a thing at Ohio University when I was there as well.


------ Forwarded message ---------

From: Mason Norman

If you are having trouble viewing this email, click here. Mark, This introduction is a long time coming. Let me start by introducing myself. My name is Mason Norman and I am the new head coach of the womens swimming and diving TEAM at OHIO University. It is a pleasure to be welcomed to such a storied program and athletic department. I am delighted to become part of the legacy that the swimming and diving program has created spanning many decades. I am arriving to Athens by way of the University of Kentucky where I spent the last five years as an assistant coach and associate head coach for the last year. My wife, Samantha, and I have one daughter, Emorie, who will be two in September. We both swam in college together at Wingate University in North Carolina where we met while in school. My coaching philosophy focuses on the whole person of each student-athlete. My goal as a coach is to teach and demand growth in four areas of life as a college student athlete at OHIO: academic life, athletic life, social life, and spiritual life. If the members of this TEAM have grown in each of these areas during their time with the OHIO swimming and diving FAMILY, we have done our job. The environment of the program is going to be one saturated with positive energy. Positive energy breeds love, love breeds success. The communication among the staff and the TEAM will always be open and honest, just like a FAMILY. Every single day we will have a put your hand on the wall first mentality as we raise the expectations and build a championship culture. The program will always have a caring, players first culture, providing the student-athlete with what they need to have the best experience possible at OHIO. As a TEAM, we will be disciplined, respectful, and give back through selfless service throughout each year. I am excited to begin this amazing adventure at OHIO and look forward to all the experiences that I will have! I look forward to meeting each one of you personally if I am able.  My door is always open. Please feel free to contact me directly. I have provided my cell phone number and email below. As this program moves forward, please understand there will be many changes, but there are many traditions that I would like to keep that make this program unique. We will begin to connect with the alumni group through this email service. I would love for each one of you to follow the program and social media accounts for the team and staff to gain more access into our story as a program. GO BOBCATS! #TheNewOU | #BleedGreen | #BeAllHere Head Coach Mason Norman (859) 684-0514 normanm1@ohio.edu @masnormOHIO This message was sent by Ohio University Women's Swimming and Diving, 1 Ohio University Ave, Athens, OH 45701, US

Fwd: Book Musial Moments for your summer program

------ Forwarded message ----------

From: St. Louis Sports Commission's Sportsmanship Foundation

Book Musial Moments for your summer program The St. Louis Sports Commission has created an innovative program fostering civility, respect and selflessness among young people in the St. Louis region. Inspired by the great Stan Musial, the organization is visiting schools and summer programs in the metro area to introduce the concept of "Musial Moments" and to instill the qualities of sportsmanship on and off the field. Presentations are led by Solomon Alexander (a.k.a. The Sportsmanship Guy), the director of the Sports Commission's Sportsmanship Foundation. Through a fun and interactive 45-minute session, students are motivated to care about sportsmanship and to be good to those around them - just as Stan the Man did during his illustrious career and life. Funding from Sports Commission supporters enables this program to be offered at no cost to participating groups. To bring Musial Moments to your school or youth organization, call 314-345-5130 or email salexander@stlsports.org. The following schools and youth organizations have hosted Musial Moments assemblies since the program's inception in 2015: Bob McCormack's Youth Basketball Camp Bayless High School (2) Fort Zumwalt High School (2) McKinley High School  Duchesne High School Great Circle St. Rose of Lima (DeSoto, Mo.) Bristol Elementary Woerner Elementary (2) Forsyth Elementary Central Elementary (Roxana, Ill.) Mathews-Dickey Boys & Girls Club (2) Halls Ferry Elementary (2) McCluer High School Ritenour Middle Holman Elementary Robinson Elementary LeMasters Elementary Danforth Elementary Johnson-Wabash Elementary (2) Robinwood Elementary Commons Lane Elementary Sherwood Elementary Carondelet Leadership Academy Henderson Elementary Pembroke Hill School (Kansas City, Mo.) Jackie Joyner-Kersee Center The J in Creve Coeur St. Alban Roe School Hazelwood Northwest Middle Academy of the Sacred Heart (St. Charles, Mo.) St. Charles Borromeo School Shenandoah Valley Elementary Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater St. Louis - Adams Park Christian Academy of Greater St. Louis Parkway South Middle St. Ferdinand School Fort Zumwalt North Middle Wohlwend Elementary Mary Queen of Peace School

St. Louis Sports Foundation, 308 N. 21st Street, Suite 500, St. Louis, MO 63103

Lifeguard shortage and more

Citiparks needs 50 additional lifeguards and the summer season is here.

Guards needed at The Pittsburgh Project and elsewhere too. 

This lifeguard shortage stinks. I want to step up and help to shift the tide. 

#1. I can help as a catalyst so we can have LIFEGUARDS (and junior lifeguards / friends) march in the Pittsburgh LABOR DAY PARADE. This should be a joint effort. It can be an event we promote all summer and be a capstone celebration for the end of a SAFE SUMMER and a reminder for the kids to get certified in the winter for working in future summers. 

Our presence in the parade should be early in the lineup so that our people can depart downtown in time to get back to their work sites at the region's various swim pools. Monday of Labor Day weekend is a workday for most who work at outdoor pools. 

How do we get onto the agenda for the parade marshalls? 

Can Citiparks be the "sponsor?" 

#2. I am doing other PR efforts on my end too. Email blast. Website. Social networking. They are also behind the curve for hiring at The Pittsburgh Project. But there, with the guest house, we can supply room and board for those interested in working here. We may need to import some workers for TPP, local pools and Citiparks. With our opportunities to play in a college water polo match and coach kids water polo in the summer, we can make efforts to recruit potential employees to college swim and water polo teams. 

#3. A digital badge to bestow to kids (and adults) who pass the Pre Lifeguard Swim Test is also available and being made ready for much wider deployments. Mindshare. Planting the seed of the idea to do the Nobel work as a guard in due time. 

#4. More can happen in 2019 as I get a focus upon a bigger role at The Pittsburgh Project. How about a Nipper Camp and Lifeguard Games? 

#5. I am going to Seattle to speak on Tuesday with Kevin at the Washington Recreation and Parks Association conference. Title of talk: For Water Safety, the name of the game is SKWIM. 

#6. Let's also make a local water safety booster group, among friends. A few have been BCCed. Perhaps I can host a monthly conference call that turns into a podcast resource. 

Thanks for all you do. 

Act 47 recommends -- Throwback to June 30, 2004 and the Trib

Pittsburgh has a new acting director of Citiparks in early 2018, and I'm excited to meet with him about some fun summer plans.

This is a snip from the Tribune, June 30, 2004 when a divided council passes the Act 47 plan. The headline in this part read: Key recommendations of the Act 47 recovery plan:

Playing well with others, in the city, took a beating in those times and never fully recovered.

My Quora Answer to a sports question:

How do you explain why people like sports to someone who doesn't like sports?

by Mark Rauterkus, Swim & Water Polo Coach

Sports are games. The games have rules. The realm of these rules and game play makes an alternative reality. This is pretend importance and escape from life. This is high drama of meaningless outcome. Entering the bubble of sports is fun.

Sport is unscripted too. Outcomes are uncertain. Think mystery. Who wins and who is the goat is for all to see. Sport often delivers new terms and jargon. The language gets twisted in sports with new meanings and pretend signals with superstition and superstar play. GOAT, for instance, means GREATEST OF ALL TIME.

Sports put humans at their very best in my opinion. We go higher, faster, longer in quests for greatness. Be the strongest and be a better self every week, every day, hour and minute growing a passion of excellence.

There are some take-home messages from sport for life. The lessons of sport can transcend into life. Sports should help, illustrate and encourage society and individuals to be better. Through sport and because of sport, rise up and be a better citizen, student, parent, professional.

If one does not like sports, well, fine. Different strokes for different folks. Try golf instead. Golf gets a pass into the world of sports because the thought of bashing small balls with such great force and accuracy is to scary to imagine out of the context of sports.

Email blast: Crisis

Reaching out via email.

https://pairlist6.pair.net/pipermail/412-public-news/2018-March/000052.html

Ellen, Ex-Obama Swimmer, goes to college and stars in an insurance commercial

Way to go Ellen!

Thinking more about Tech Captains

Curling Trivia in Pittsburgh

Creating Literate Olympians Here!

Back in the day, I helped to start the Pittsburgh Curling Club. I wasn't around for long, but I was there at the outset. We should be curling on the South Side. 

In curling, the team that wins the game / match buys the first round of adult beverages. 

Update for swimming

Noah Jamison, 10th grade, Obama, was officially notified that he has qualified for the PIAA Swim Class AA Championships at Bucknell starting March 15, 2017. He qualified with his fast performances in both the 200 IM and 500 free at the recent WPIAL meet. Noah set a new school record in the 500 free, 4:54.01, bettering a previous record from more than four years ago that was held by Erik Rauterkus, the oldest son of Head Coach Mark Rauterkus. This year marks the ninth consecutive year Coach Rauterkus has led PPS athletes to the state championships, and in 2017, three athlete get to compete: Jamison, Sead Niksic, 11, and Amilia Niksic, 9. The later two were automatic qualifiers. Sead is seeded second in both the 100 fly and 100 back.

More at http://Swim.CLOH.org