ZAP, founded in October 1999, employs professional coaches with extensive backgrounds in the sport of competitive swimming, education, and behavioral science. ZAP coaches plan and oversee the overall operations of ZAP. All ZAP coaches are members of United States Swimming, the American swim Coaches Association, and are highly educated. Our three full time coaches all have advanced degrees and our entire staff has or is in the process of earning a bachelor’s degree. Additionally, all coaches have extensive backgrounds in swimming either as athletes, coaches or both. ZAP coaches are committed to providing the best and safest environment for all of our swimmers while keeping an objective view of what is best for the overall team. Our program is designed to empower all our swimmers to become champions both in and out of the water. Regardless of age or duration of swim career, each swimmer is an important and valued part of our team. We count on all members to contribute to the betterment of our program and expect each swimmer to continue to uphold the strong traditions of excellence and integrity that we have within our program. Our carefully structured training program affords each swimmer the opportunity to experience personal success and improvement. The basis of our strategy is producing long-term participation and success in our sport, rather than overnight stardom. Our coaching staff has established a plan designed for our athletes' career development. The plan provides a structured route that each swimmer travels leading to development as a whole person; physically, emotionally, mentally and socially. It also empowers and motivates each swimmer through progressive levels towards final fulfillment as a young adult. Each swimmer has a different plan, hence the approach towards their training will differ from others accordingly. Training Groups ZAP coaches are dedicated to providing the best program for our swimmers. ZAP affords swimmers the opportunity to strive for personal success with heavy emphasis on helping and contributing to the success and growth of the team. ZAP is continually evolving; our coaches are constantly updating and improving ZAP according to the needs of our current swimmers, but overall team and individual success is a two-way street! Coaches are in total control in matters affecting both training and competition. In Agons 6, 7 and ATENTE, as each swimmer matures and swimmer/coach trust and communication is developed, decision making will be between the coach and the swimmer.It is their education and experience with young athletes that allows them to make the best and most objective decisions for the development of each swimmer. Agon group placement is based on the age, ability level and the amount of commitment demonstrated by each individual. Once assigned to an agon training group, each swimmer is expected to complete the developmental skills within their group in order to progress to the next level. Advancement to the next logical training group will be made upon completion of requirements and when it is in the best interest of a swimmer and team. ZAP coaches accept sole responsibility for stroke instruction and training regimes. Practices are based on sound scientific principles and are geared to the specific goals of each agon group as well as the team goals set each fall at training camp. Agon training and learning groups are established using a combination of age, ability and commitment criteria. Each group has a minimum standard that must be met prior to moving into the group. The ZAP competitive groups require each swimmer to regularly attend scheduled competitions in order to maintain eligibility in the competitive team. ATENTE is the only group with a formal attendance requirement but swimmers in all agons are encouraged to attend practices regularly with the number of practices increasing each week according to age and duration of swim career. The spirit and will to win are important, but not as important as the spirit and will to PREPARE to win! Competition The coaching staff makes the final decisions concerning which meets ZAP swimmers will attend in line with the rules of SCS AND WHAT IS BEST FOR OUR TEAM AND OUR SWIMMERS. Events a swimmer enters including the selection of the relay teams is also at the coaches’ discretion, but are selected in accordance with team and the individual swimmer’s goals. At meets, the coaches supervise the team warm-up. After each race the coach will offer encouragement and/or constructive criticism regarding the swimmers performance. It is not necessarily what place the swimmer finishes that is important, but rather what the swimmer (and coach) learned from the race experience. Racing is just as much of a skill as learning the strokes. The final time and place in a race is just a portion of the total performance that is critiqued and valued. Our swimmers and parents must take responsibility for making the most out of the outstanding environment that ZAP provides. Swimmers must be committed to attend practice sessions consistently as well as competition. The family must be committed to helping the swimmer reach his/her goals. The parents’ role to offer love and support regardless of their child's performance, and to emphasize communication between the coach and swimmer based on trust. Clinics and private Instruction ZAP offers stroke and dive clinics to supplement regularly scheduled training sessions. Stroke clinics are optional and are intended to benefit each swimmer by providing them with additional instruction on strokes, turns, starts, race strategy, and/or other appropriate topics. Attendance is recommended for all participants and a clinic fee typically is assessed to help cover costs. In addition to clinics, many of the current coaches are available for private instruction. Parents must contact the coach concerning the place and time for the instruction. Private lessons are paid to the coach directly. Parents and swimmers are discouraged from seeking private instruction from outside the ZAP coaching staff as this information may conflict with the club’s method of instruction for fast swimming and cause more confusion than good. Parent Communication Communication between the swimmers and coaches is vital to their personal success, as is communication between coaches and parents. We send most communication home via email and each family has a file in the ZAP locker room at MIS for hard copies not available electronically. We realize, however, that some times additional dialogue needs to happen. ZAP coaches are available for consultation via email any time, phone during office hours (10 a.m.-2 p.m.), or in person by appointment, free of charge. We want to give all conversations the full attention they deserve but this is impossible while coaching or when walking into or away from a practice session. Email is the best way to reach us as we may respond during lulls in the day or evening and give full attention to the matter at hand. Parents may observe Monday practices only. All other practices sessions are closed unless otherwise noted.
DeAnne also has taught in the traditional classroom, preschool through seventh grade. Preyer now coaches and runs ZAP full-time. Since leaving classroom teaching to lead ZAP, the organization has grown from a competitive swim team of six, to a full-service swim program including School of Fish, Fun & Fitness, FAST, Jr. Guard Preparation, ZAP Masters and of course, the ZAP swim team, serving over 1000 swimmers of all ability levels and desired levels of commitment. DeAnne also serves on the Board of Directors for Southern California Swimming as the Coaches' Representative of the Pacific Committee, is the Coaches' Rep and Senior Coach Rep for the Pacific Committee, is a Board member of the Palos Verdes Peninsula Coordinating Council and volunteers as the coordinator of the Backpack Flyer Program, and volunteers in her son's classroom at Dapplegray Elementary School. As a member of USA Swimming and the American Swim Coaches Association (ASCA), DeAnne continues her education by taking classes and workshops for coaches and business leaders.
After graduating from USC with her Master's in Social Work (MSW), Shari headed to Sacramento to work in the state Legislature, and later as a lobbyist for the National Association of Social Workers. It was in northern California that Shari returned to the pool as a swimmer for Davis Aquatics Masters, and she fell in love with masters swimming. Twidwell returned recently to the southland to realize a dream long shared with her sister to build an aquatics/wellness center on the peninsula for the entire South Bay community. In addition to heading up the ZAP Masters team, she is the Head Age Group Coach for ZAP, serves on the Board of Directors for Southern California Swimming as the Adapted Swimming Chairperson and is President of the ZAP Foundation. As a member of USA Swimming and the American Swim Coaches Association (ASCA), Shari continues her education by taking classes and workshops for coaches.
Jeff
Preyer, M. Ed.
Click here to see photos of Jenn's new baby, Olivia, born October 13 at 3:45 a.m. She was 19 inches long and weighed in at 7 pounds. But she's growing fast!
Valyn
Carenza-Pack,
Garrett Brown
Kathie
Wickstrand-Gahen
For the safety of your children, ZAP goes above and beyond to make sure we provide the best possible environment and role models for our kids. We perform background checks on all ZAP coaches and assistants, in addition to background screening required by USA Swimming.
If you have any questions, or would like additional information about the ZAP Staff or Team, please call DeAnne at: 310-750-6732 |
ZAP
Coaching Philosophy
DeAnne
Preyer, M. Ed.
Shari Twidwell, MSW
Jeff grew up in the South Bay and played every sport imaginable. He was
voted 1986 Student-Athlete of the Year at his high school and went on to play
football at the University of California at Berkeley where he earned his
Bachelor's Degree in psychology. Jeff also earned his Masters of Education
degree with an emphasis in curriculum development. Before joining the
ZAP staff, Jeff was a math/science/humanities teacher for ten years. In 2000,
using his skills as a certified personal trainer, he started the company, Jump-Start
Fitness which focuses on teaching
gross motor and basic sports skills to children ages three and up. He now coaches
with ZAP full time as our Agon 5 coach and runs our non-competitive programs.
Jeff is also available for private swim lessons through School of Fish. As
a member of USA Swimming and the American Swim Coaches Association (ASCA),
Jeff continues his education by taking classes and workshops
for coaches.
Jennifer
Brown
Ranier Roque