Department Focus: NAIS Manila Barracudas Swim Team

16 September 2019

Samuel Gipson (9 posts) Head of Secondary View Profile

From when I took over the responsibility of leading the Barracudas Swim Team, the philosophy has always been about the importance of training hard; focusing on the minor details needed to perform at your best, and racing against yourself, not others.

Going out hard and strong in your first race will give you a personal best time (PB) that can be used to drive you on every time you step onto the starting blocks. The main goal for all team members is to beat their PB every time they compete in a race.

If all of the above is in place, high race rankings and medals will follow soon after.

2019/20 Coaching Team – new additions

The two old timers, Mr. Sherratt and Mr. Gipson, have been joined by two fantastic additions to the coaching team for the new academic year.

Mr. Pancracio Bacatan Jr or Coach PJ

Bringing with him 30 years of competitive swim teaching and coaching experience, Coach PJ certainly has a lot to offer in terms of support with technical excellence and efficient swimming technique.

Mrs. Lexy Buchan

NAIS Manila’s new English and Drama teacher just happens to have swum competitively at British University Championship level, with her claim to fame being a race against double Gold British Olympic medallist, Rebecca Adlington.

With an elite swimming background, Mrs. Buchan has already had a positive effect on the swim training programme.

Competitions

The NAIS Manila Barracudas compete in all the top international school swim meets in the Philippines, including Brent (September), BSM (March), ISM (November & April).

Since its introduction in 2017, the team competes in the Regional NAE Swim Meet hosted by BSKL.

Although being the smallest school to enter last year, NAIS Manila pulled off a shock victory after being crowned SEA NAE Regional Champions 2019.

We look forward to more of the same when the team travel to Kuala Lumpur in May 2020.

14th September 2019 Brent Swim Meet

Competition Results:

23 Individual Heat 1st Place victories
19 Individual Top 10 Over-all Placings
2 Gold medals
2 Silver medals
38 Personal Best’s broken (76% of all swims,-106.65 seconds worth)
11 NAIS Manila School Records broken

brent swim meet group photo

Leadership

The NAIS Manila Swim Team is not all about performing.

There is a big emphasis on leadership and ensuring the older swimmers develop their leadership and coaching skills.

swim coaching team

Above:

Gyuri (Y7) doing a superb job as Team Captain at the September 14th Brent Swim Meet. Supported by Kirara (Y9), Adam (Y9) and Mrs. Buchan (Swim Coach).

I wanted to help my younger brother, Kazuki in Y3, and the newer members of the team become better swimmers, so I decided to help out as an assistant coach during the Swim Squad B / Development Team for Tuesday Enrichment Lessons. Kirara - Year 9 Student

Training

There has been a number of NAIS Manila pool facilities improvements over the past 18-24 months.

This, and the fact the coaching team have pulled together to increase the amount of times swimmers can train on a weekly basis (from two to four times weekly), has had a huge impact on what the swimmers have been able to produce on race days.

Team A currently train on a Thursday during EL times, while Team B train during Tuesday afternoon EL sessions. Morning training is open to both A and B team members, running on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays between 6:10 – 7:10am.

swim1

NAIS Manila Barracudas are already excited about starting to prepare for the next big swim meet at ISM on November 9th.

Looking forward to another successful meet.

Mr. Sherratt

If there are any interested parents or students who would like to know more about the NAIS Manila Swim Team and how they can join the team, please email simon.sherratt@naismanila.edu.ph