Black Dog Swimming

Purpose:
The purpose of Black Dog Swimming is to offer competitive swimming to the community, to provide opportunities for athletes to achieve at their highest capabilities, and to provide the necessary foundation for swimmers who desire to participate in other competitive swim programs such as high school and collegiate teams. The Club’s training program emphasizes two main concepts: developing skills in all four strokes and the progression of athletes over the long term. The values of commitment and of personal responsibility are an integral theme woven into all programming.

Competitive swimming teaches the value of goal setting and pursuing an individual’s potential as well as the appreciation of the value of physical fitness. Since swimming is a time-intensive sport, it requires swimmers to learn good time-management skills.

History:
The Club began in the late 1960’s at the request of community members who desired to have a competitive swim program for area youth. By the late ‘70’s, a volunteer board of directors was in place to guide the future course of the Club. Six coaches have served in the capacity of Head Coach since the Club was founded.

Coaching:
Head Coach Rocky O’Neill has served the Club since 1985. Rocky grew up in St. Paul and swam for the St. Paul Midway Y, Kellogg High School, and Hamline University. Peers in Minnesota Swimming, Inc. recognized O’Neill as the Age Group Coach of the Year in 2001. He has served many roles within the governing body of Minnesota Swimming, Inc. as well as the United States Swimming Association and American Swim Coaches Association.

Several former coaches have gone on to coach Division I collegiate teams. Among those are Dennis Dale, Men’s Head Coach at the University of Minnesota, and Steve Ekelcamp, Coach at Florida Atlantic University.

Membership:
The Club currently has over 200 members that are divided into four teams based on age and ability. Club membership is open to any swimmer age six to college age who has minimal proficiency in two of the four competitive strokes. The Novice team includes beginning swimmers from age six to ten. Swimmers will advance through the Bronze and Silver teams until they achieve membership on the Gold team, which primarily serves experienced swimmers 13 years old through college age.

Workouts:
A typical workout week for a Gold level swimmer would consist of training for 2-3 hours per day, six days a week. Some swimmers swim up to 6 or 7 miles per day (this equates to 440 lengths of a 25-yard pool). The club holds practice at four different pools in the area.

Club swimmers most often pursue their own swim goals through meet participation in up to fourteen different events spanning four strokes and combinations of them over distances ranging from 50 yards to one mile. Swimming faster times in an event allows the athlete to participate at higher levels of competition. Many levels of competition are available to challenge swimmers from the beginning level up to the national level. Meets are held locally yet some swimmers travel to Milwaukee or Des Moines and beyond.

Achievements:
The Club boasts many achievements. Black Dog Swimming consistently places among the top 3 clubs in the state. Numerous athletes have achieved All-American status. At any given time, approximately a dozen former Club members are competing in collegiate level competitive swimming. Swimmers have also participated in various national championships and at the Olympic Trials. The Club has also won regional competitions in Milwaukee, Des Moines, Winnipeg, and Rochester.

Introduction:
“I initially joined the Black Dog Swimming because my best friend was a member and she told me she had a lot of fun swimming. That was nine years ago and I’m still having fun! The Club and the sport of swimming mean much more to me, however. Swimming is the best all around cardiovascular conditioning sport there is. Swimming is a life-long sport. In addition to the physical component, the sport has given me life skills such as goal and priority setting, time management, and an understanding of commitment, dedication and the value of a good work ethic. Those skills have influenced me as a person, a student, and a teammate. Swimming is now a part of who I am, my identity.”
-Anonymous Black Dog Swimmer

Contact Us:
If you have any questions about Black Dog Swimming, please feel free to contact Coach Rocky O’Neill at 952-440-1033. Correspondence can be addressed to Black Dog Swimming, P.O. Box 1022, Burnsville, Minnesota 55337.