CHENANGO COUNTY – Another exciting season of GCAT swimming is quickly approaching. The Greater Chenango Aquatics Team is proud to announce its fourth Long Course season of USA Swimming. Registration begins March 25, 2015.
The website swimtoday.org wrote that "a swim team can be one of the greatest sources of exercise, camaraderie and fun. By joining a swim team, your child gets so much more than just exercise. They get to be a part of a community of 400,000 dedicated beginners, competitors and Olympic swimmers who all share the same passion. Education. Motivation. Confidence. According to the 2014 State of the Competitive and Fitness Swimming Industry Report by Sports Marketing Surveys, the exclusive research provider to the Sports & Fitness Industry Association, nearly 80 percent of parents overlook swimming when choosing organized sports activities for their children after they learn to swim. Most notably, parents whose children had never tried swimming perceived it to be less fun than other sports. However, parents of swimmers rated the sport at the top in fun, teamwork, confidence-building and health and fitness once they gave it a try."
The coaches at GCAT want to spread that message and make sure all parents know just how great the sport of swimming can be. Swimming allows kids to see quick improvement compared to other sports, builds self-confidence, self-esteem and focus, teaches time management and organization, helps kids learn how to compete, win and lose gracefully, creates an exercise for life and swimming is more fun and easier to learn than parents and kids ever imagined.
GCAT programs offered this season include a six-week Stroke School for anyone new to competitive swimming or interested in refining technique. Swimmers will work on developing all four strokes, proper head position, bodyline and balance through play, starts, turns and finishes as well as developing good swim habits for the purpose of long-term development and injury prevention. Everyone will receive instruction and feedback throughout the six weeks. This camp is for those new to swimming, those interested in pursuing competitive swimming as a sport and those who would like to refine technique.
GCAT also offers a regular 15-week competitive season for those swimmers who would like to be more competitive and advance to the next level of swimming. Emphasis is placed on conditioning and proper training of the body’s major energy systems, race strategy, nutrition and the swimmers will start or continue a dryland or strength training program. GCAT Swimming uses a “progressive” approach designed to develop swimmers both physically and mentally in a systematic fashion for long-term advancement in this sport.  
Later in the season, a six-week Varsity/College program is being offered for all swimmers who would like to get ready for their upcoming college or high school varsity swim seasons.
The Greater Chenango Aquatics Team is a parent-owned club founded by the head coach and a group of hard-working parents that have a passion for the sport of swimming.  The team is a collaborative effort with the team name, colors and mascot voted on by the swimmers of the community, which incudes Greene, Oxford, Sherburne, Bainbridge Guilford, and surrounding areas.   It is the club’s mission to develop a partnership with the parents, athletes, and coaches in order to pursue swimmer success in and out of the pool.
Last season, the GCATs finished strong with many swimmers improving and making the “A” and “AA” cut times with an Adirondack League record holder (“AAAA” cut time), league champions, an Eastern Zone qualifier, and a top three finisher.
The GCATs compete in the Adirondack Swimming League against teams in the Utica, Albany, Madison and Chenango County area. The major focus surrounding this program will be encompassed by the USA Swimming vision statement of “to inspire and enable our members to achieve excellence in the sport of swimming and in life.”
In line with the USA mission, the club is committed to promoting excellence through character development, self-discipline, personal responsibility, physical fitness, proper technique and most important, fun!
All practices are held at the Norwich High School pool Monday through Friday. The team is open to all of Chenango County and surrounding areas ages 6 to 21 years old. Registration is being held Wednesday, March 25 at the Norwich High School cafeteria from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. For more information, please inquire at gcatswimming@yahoo.com or on Facebook www.facebook.com/swimgcats.
There are no benchwarmers in swimming!